at the AAR meeting in Chicago<\/a>, I managed to pass by yet more runners, one vowing to see me again \u201con the way back up.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThe way back up\u201d consisted of a looooong<\/span> meandering climb over our second mountain. I did see that guy again breifly, but then joined another fella who seemed intent on passing people. Next came an even longer descent, more switchbacks, long cross-ridge sections, and a stretch paralleling a road headed back toward town. One guy caught up with me there and I asked if it was downhill from here. \u201cYep,\u201d he lied<\/span>.<\/p>\nSo I kicked it in a bit, passing a few more as we started a gradual climb and a sudden switchback taking us away from town. By this time my legs were exhausted. \u201cNo more hills,\u201d I thought to myself plaintively<\/span>. I had also started to develop blisters from all of the ups and downs, so it began to feel as if each step was on a razorblade.<\/p>\nSoon we were at the the summit <\/span>again <\/span>(of the second hill we\u2019d climbed, but this time much closer to town), and a lone volunteer stood with water at a table cheering us on, \u201call downhill from here!\u201d <\/span> Luckily I was just behind a woman who knew the course who kindly let out a, \u201cnuh-uhhh,\u201d and wagged her finger jokingly at the smiling volunteer. On the way down we chatted a bit: her knees were killing her, I told her about my razorblade bilsters. She said there was just one more rise, then pure downhill as we re-entered town.<\/p>\n\u201cOkay,\u201d I thought, \u201cI can handle one more \u2013 but just one<\/span>.\u201d I was exhuasted. The downhill became even more difficult than flat running, as I worked to keep balance and to slow down suddenly with each 90 degree turn on the switchbacks. I knew we were nearing the end but my legs and feet were at it. They were done.<\/p>\nI eased up considerably, trying to maintain a balance between out-of-control fast and slowing to a walk. I lost sight of the woman I was chatting with and let two others pass by me, then a couple more runners after that. For the first time that I could remember, I was finishing weak<\/span>. While others were kicking it in for that last mile, I was just trying to stay upright. As we hit a dirt road approaching down one woman I had passed earlier came up on me fast and then, bam, she tumbled into the road. I stopped, asking if she was alright, but she popped right back up and was off.<\/p>\nIt was only the last 200 meters, finally on relatively flat concrete, that I could sprint. All those muscles (that I didn\u2019t know I had) that had been working to keep me from falling forward or off to one side could finally relax as I powered toward the finish line<\/span>. And power I did, almost catching up with a few of those who had passed me on the downhill. But just so happy to be done!<\/span><\/p>\n~<\/div>\n
I finished 30th<\/a> out of 101 men with a time of 1:08:21.1, which put me ahead of all but 14 of the 126 women. So 44th overall out of 227 runners<\/span>. Not too bad.<\/p>\nThe rest of Saturday was devoted to resting, including a nap and a very nice dinner out with the family. Sunday I popped my blisters and even managed a few sets of tennis with Julie (and very much looking forward to more). Then I was off to Star Trek<\/span> with my 13 year old nephew, where he chose front row for us as I picked up popped corn.<\/p>\nThen Monday I found myself with really bad mid\/lower-back pain. It could be from the run: breakdown of muscles causing kidney damage, lack of hydration causing bladder damage, incorrect posture causing back muscle damage<\/span>. It could have been a strain from the tennis (doubtful, we played light). Or\u2026 It could have been induced from watching a movie 8 feet in front of me on a 50 foot screen. My guess is that it\u2019s a combo of the movie and back-strain from the up\/downhills on the run.<\/p>\nAnyhow, between that, my gimpish feet, and a scarred hand (a result of a shoelace malfunction on a run a week or so ago), I\u2019m a beat-up unit. But I still tried Monday night to reach that 25 mile goal<\/span>. In the end, or about 1 mile into the run, it was the blisters that got the best of me. I\u2019d run a bit, then walk. I even tried running faster, which didn\u2019t seem to help (hey, it was worth a try). So my 25 mile week became a 22 mile week.<\/p>\nAhh, C\u2019est la vie<\/span>. Once my feet heal up and presumably this back pain goes away I\u2019ll be back at it. Thanks to all for the support thus far!
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<\/a>Tuesday: 6.2 miles