It's been a long time since I have updated this blog.  I have decided to be better about posting.  A lot has happened over the past 2 years.  I am still running, still keeping the weight off and still trying to improve.

Our family has also grown.  My son Dane and his wife Stephanie had a son born January 26, 2012.  His name is Bracken and he celebrated his second birthday this year.  My daughter Sage married a nice young man name Pierce Robertson and my daughter Zoie and her boyfriend Chuck had a little boy born in May of 2013.  Dane and Stephanie have also recently told us they are having another baby in May of 2014.  It will be another boy!

In 2013 I ran the Saint George Marathon again along with Snow Canyon Half  Marathon, Cedar Canyon Half Marathon,  Dogtown Half Marathon, Expedition Saint George Relay and Red Rock Relay-Dixie and countless 5Ks and 10Ks.  I've found that I need a motivator.  If I pay the entry fee for a race, it seems to make me more motivated to train.

My mom passed away on July 2, 2013 of lung cancer.  I found a lot of solace in my running during that time. I also devoted my Saint George Marathon in her honor.  I even had a custom shirt made for it.  I still miss her but I have had some special spiritual experiences as well which have convinced me she is still around and looking over us.

In 2013 I also started wearing a new brand of shoes (new for me.)  They are called Altra and the shoe model is Torin.  They are "zero Drop" shoes which means the sole is all the same width rather than the more common "wedge" found on most running shoes.  I can't believe the difference it made in my running and recovery.  My knees don't hurt, I don't get shin splints and I just feel better after a run.

I will try and update this blog more often and I plan on sharing running experiences and tips as I come across them.

I know...I know...it's been almost a year since I have posted anything on this blog.  Life got so busy.  In October 2011, I entered "The Saint George Runner's Series."  This program would allow me to gain entry to the Saint George Marathon.  I competed in the required races and was granted entry to the Marathon!  I worked very hard all summer and was able to run it on October 6, 2012.  I finished it with a relatively respectable time of 4:41.  Wow...when I started this adventure in 2008, I would never have believed I could run 26.2 miles!  I was so happy after the race, that I promptly signed up for the "Runner's Series" again and have already completed one of the required races.  I ran the Snow Canyon Half Marathon on November 3, 2012.  I finished that race in 1:56.  I now weigh 195 and have been able to stay below 200 since about September.

Life's good!

I've been doing good! Running at least 5 days a week...usually 6. I've been going about 6 miles a day. My weight loss is coming down as well...slowly but surely. At my weigh in yesterday I was 209. I've been eating better and that really helps. It's a continuous battle though. The weather has been cold, but not too much rain or snow. I can handle the cold. I had a head wind yesterday. On an unrelated front...I'm a grandpa! My son and his wife had their baby thursday night! Cute baby boy. I hope I can be a good grandpa.

A work in progress

I have stuck to my goal the last few weeks. Today I was finally able to run for 45 minutes with no stops! At my weigh in last Friday I was down three pounds. I was hoping for a little better result but I will take it. I also saw a bald eagle in the tree where I usually see my friend the hawk. I am glad I was out there to see it. It was cold this morning. 5 degrees when I started.

I hate failure

Christmas holiday was rough. I had no self control when it came to eating. Combined with the fact that I was not able to run because my feet were killing me. Every time I tried to run, I suffered for several days after. I ended up taking All of December off running, trying to heal up. It must have worked. I started running again at the New Year and I seem to be feeling fine. I was also able to buy new shoes and I think that helped a lot too. Weighed in today and was a whopping 220. I've got some work to do!

The Battle of my Buldge!

Several years ago I started running to lose weight. At the time I was 255 pounds. I worked hard losing 60 pounds and achieved the weight of 195. After reaching that, I was able to maintain for quite awhile. A series of setbacks happened and I gained 25 pounds. I am now working again to get back to 195 or even lower. Today I checked and I weigh 212! Wish me luck!

Butch Cassidy 10k

I ran the Butch Cassidy 10k in Springdale,Ut this morning. it was cold, snowing, blowing and muddy...but I loved every minute of it! My daughter in law Stephanie, ran the 5k and is 6 months pregnant! I was proud of her! I missed my goal of running it under an hour by 1:30. Given the conditions, I'll take it! Thanks to my wife Tracy for being there. Also my son Dane who had been training to run, but broke his leg a few weeks ago playing softball. They made great cheerleaders!

Red Rock Zion in the books

My son Dane and I ran with a 12 person team called "The Fit, The Fat and The Elderly"  for the Red Rock Relay this past weekend.  It was a difficult relay but we made it through.  My legs totalled 21+ miles.  The total mileage for the relay was 187 miles.  Dane's legs were just over 19 miles.  Our team finished in the middle of the pack.  It took us nearly35 hours to complete.  We had fun during the down time and I really enjoyed the quality time spent with my son.  Thanks Dane!

First Triathlon Attempt

I participated in my first Triathlon this past weekend.  It was The Lunatic Triathlon in Price, Utah that I spoke of in an earlier post.  I got ready for it by swimming for an hour three days a week, running two and mixing the bike in sporadically. 

The race consisted of a 5k run, 9 mile bike ride and 300 meter swim.  I finished in 1:11 (One hour, eleven minutes.)  I felt great during and after the race.  I am going to work towards racing in a longer one in the future.  For a starter, this one was great!

I rode the bike portion on my old, heavy, Diamondback, mountain bike.  I did buy some "slick" tires for it, but in comparison to the road bikes I saw, it was real heavy.  May have to look at buying a lighter road bike if I am going to continue the triathlons.

RRR In the books!

Red Rock Relay in Moab was spectacular.  Even though I spent most of my childhood years in the area, I saw scenery I had never seen before.  It was a great day for running.  My first leg was in the Castle Valley area...a gradual, uphill, 3 mile run.  The weather at that point was a tolerable 60+ degrees.  ( The cooler the better as far as I'm concerned!)  The views were spectacular!  I couldn't take pics while running and all I had was my phone, but I did post a pic on my Facebook page if you are interested.  My second leg was an 8 mile, "melter!"  By the time I started my second leg, the sun was out and burning hot.  It was 80+ degrees by that point and was a total test of my mettle.  I made it but not without the help of some nice ladies who took pity on me and stopped every few miles to offer me the cooling comfort of sponges dipped in ice cold water.  They kept me going...I wish I could remember what team they were from but they definately won the sportsmanship award in my book!

Humbled

I have been so humbled these past few months.  It only took me two weeks to return to work after the surgery in October.   But it has taken me months to get to the point where I could run every day without pain.  Finally this last month or so I have been able to get back into the swing of things.  My dad, one of the only people who follows this BLOG, reminded me that I hadn't been very diligent in maintaining it.  So.....

I am participating in the RED ROCK RELAY in Moab this weekend.  It is a 70 plus mile race with a team of 6 runners.  It will be my first true test since the Cedar Mountain Half Marathon last September.

In June I am running a "sprint" triathalon in Price Utah.  As the name suggests it is a shorter version of a regular tri.  This one is a 300 yard swim, 20 mile (i think) bike ride and a 5k run.  Plenty long for this rookie!  I
t is called the Lunatic Triathalon because it starts at 10:00 PM.  Get it?  Luna...tic?  Should be fun.  Been swimming biking and running in preparation.

December Runs

I had a bad chest cold so I took awhile off.  It was a mistake.  I have really suffered from that.  I feel like I am starting from square one again.  I finally got off my butt and drug myself out the door today.  I was glad.  It was a nice day to run.  About 35 degrees.  Saw my friend "The Hawk" in his usual perch high up in the cottonwood tree near the alfalfa fields north of Enoch.  Seeing him made the day.  Took it easy and felt OK at the end of the 3 miles.

wpjammdta

Recovery

Well....I had the knee surgery on October 22.  It was a successful surgery and my knee felt better immediately.  I was back to work in two weeks.  I started running again that same day November 8th...slowly but surely.  I had missed nearly 6 weeks of running just because it hurt too much to run and my knee would "lock up" and I was unable to straighten it without causing more pain.

Today I ran my favorite Enoch 5K route.  It was the first time since I got back in the saddle that I felt good the whole way!  I finished in 32 minutes.  Cardio is coming back and the soreness is abating!  My weight stayed pretty good considering I really didn't do much while waiting for the surgery.  Right now I am at 213.  My goal is to get under 200 by April.  (That's when I have to pass the department PT test and we have our assessment for the Apple Wellness Program the city makes us do each year!)  I don't ever want to be back up around the 250 mark which is where I started in March of 2008 when I began running.

Cedar Canyon Half Marathon

Wow...what a day.  I ran the first ever Cedar Canyon Half Marathon.  The route started at Woods Ranch and went down Hwy 14 to the Main Street Park.  It was fun but hard.  I was still sore from the Red Rock Relay the weekend before and was only able to run one day this week.  I felt great the first 8 miles then got hit with a case of "the trots."  I had to run hastily up a few side canyons to relieve the cramps but I was able to finish.  I made it in 2:08:00 which I felt was good considering the intestinal problems. Today I am real sore.  The mostly downhill route took it's toll on my knees and back.  I am glad it's over but already look forward to another race soon.  I'm going to have my left knee scoped soon so I will be out of commission for a few weeks after. 

Red Rock Relay

Well...it's only been a few months since I posted here.  I am truly embarrassed.  In my last post, I mentioned I was training for two events, both in September.  Well...the first one is in the books! 


RED ROCK RELAY
I ran with a ream called the Fit, the Fat and the Elderly.  We completed the 2nd annual Red Rock Relay.  It was a 186 mile race that went from Brian Head to Zion National Park.  We finished 97 out of 179 teams.  Not bad for a bunch of housewives, and couch potatoes!

What a riot we had!  It was honestly one of the most physically, emotionally and mentally challenging things I have ever done in my life.  I ran a total of 22 miles in three different legs over a 24 hour period.  No sleep, hardly any food and not nearly enough water.  Wow... 

Next up...this weekend I will run the first Cedar Mountain Half Marathon.

I haven't been very diligent in keeping up my BLOG.  I am training for two events now, both in September.  The first is the Cedar Canyon Half Marathon and the second is the Red Rock Relay.  (See their link at..... http://www.redrockrelay.com)  I have been putting in some good, quality runs and I feel great.  It's been very warm so I am especially thankful I am on a shift at work that allows me the time to run in the early morning.

Early Morning Run

Got out early this morning.  Had some training at 8:00 so I headed out before the sun was up.  Ran a six mile loop (Enoch 10K Route.)  It was nice and cool.  The sun was just coming up as I was finishing.  I felt awesome.  The ankle is feeling much better.  I still have the dull pain in my left "glute" but it doesn't hurt while I run....just after.  Looking forward to this shift change so I can do more early morning runs...love 'em!

A Break in the Rain

There was a little break in the rain today.  Just enough to let me sneak in a run between work  at 13:00 and a mandatory training at 14:00.  Went a little over 4 miles and felt great.  Right after I finished, it started raining again...almost like it was waiting for me to finish!  I thought it was cool.  Getting ready for the RAGNAR (RedRockRelay) in September and the Cedar Canyon Half Marathon two weeks after that. Gotta have these goals or I don't have the motivation to keep going.

Windy Run

Ran today despite the wind.  I felt pretty good for not running as much in the past few weeks as I liked.  Went about 5 miles but took an hour to do it.  It was rough but worth it.  I let a co-worker talk me into participating on a team for a RAGNAR 24 hour race in September.  It is called the RED ROCK RELAY.  182 miles from Brian Head Ski Resort to Santa Clara Utah, near Saint George.  Nervous but looking forward to it at the same time.