2007 St. George Marathon Training Log

By randy
updated 5 months ago

I'm going to try to keep a log of my daily runs to see if I can start figuring out what elements combine to make a good run or a bad run.

Saturday, August 11:
Woke at 4:30, ate 1/2 banana and a couple handfuls of trail mix, drank a couple cups of water and maybe 12 oz of Power Aid then met at the “True Church”. Eight of us car pooled 20 miles up Highway 18 to the entrance to Brookside and started running about 5:30. The morning was cool and felt good after a hot and sometimes muggy July.

We planted water and Gatorade at 4 spots and, at the top of Snow Canyon, about mile 13, I also had a Payday candy bar and ate about half of it. After we passed Snow Canyon we got out of the shadow of the mountians and into the sun and it turned hot.

Finished running about 9, total time about 3:26 but that included stops for drinks and to water the trees (we usually walked while we waited for someone).

By elapsed time our average pace was just over 10 minute miles but, by the GPS, we tracked a few sub 8 minute miles and a bunch in the 8 and 9 minute range.

I felt good for the entire run.

We stopped at Great Harvest Bread for a drink and a slice of fresh bread.

Monday, August 27:
Up at 5, water & trail mix, out the door at 5:20. Fairly cool but muggy with the remnants of Huricane Dean. As we ran the rain picked up, which was fine, but then we got into a lightning and thunder show like I haven’t seen for quite a while. We cut the run a little short & I gave Debbie a ride home. On the radio I heard that there had already been 4 lightning caused fires in Washington county. I also heard that it was the rainiest day we have had since January 2005 with 1/2 inch at the airport (some areas got more). Nothing like living in a desert… Ran about 8 miles, felt a little stiff and sore from Saturday.

Saturday, September 1:
Up at 4:30, water 1/2 banana, trial mix, Bruce picked me up at 4:45, met the others at the finish line at 5, car pooled 17 miles up “the course” (Highway 18). Started to sprinkle a little on the way up, picked up a little when we started running then after a few miles it was coming down in buckets for about 4 miles, let up again at about the Snow Canyon turn off. Not a good day, nausea, diarrhea (fortunately I made it to the toilets at Chucka Walla), back ached, knees ached, toes ached, dizzy…All in all not one of my best days running.

I have a theory as to why: 1. I didn’t eat well yesterday. I had a late, small lunch then a couple of bowls of cereal for dinner. 2. I ate too much “movie pop corn” at the movie.

I actually felt pretty good starting out and all the way thru the rain and even part way down past the Snow Canyon turn off before it hit me. I think I just ran out of fuel and my body stressed as I tried to keep pushing it. I finished the 17 miles but at a run/walk.

Saturday, September 8:

Up at 4:30 for the last long run before the marathon. Water & boiled potatoes, met the others at the finish line at 5. Drove up the course 23 miles (the turn off to Baker Reservoir). Normally I would do the last long run three weeks out but I’ll be gone next Saturday so had to do it today. Felt pretty good on the run, started feeling it about mile 19. At mile 20 we had a water drop & Bruce was there (he only ran 13) so I stopped at 20 and took his car to the finish line (he finished the last 3 with the others). I had to take my daughter, Rachel, to SLC to check out apartments as she is moving there in Nov. So, my longest run for this marathon will be 20 but I’ve done that several times so I should be ok.

Wednesday, September 5:
Up at 4:30, water & small dish of boiled potatoes. (I have a friend who thinks potatoes are an excellent carb source before a run so I thought I’d try.) Bruce picked me up for regular Wednesday run in Snow Canyon. Felt good, strong all the way up, finished strong at the top, no queasiness, which is a little unusual, in spite of the fact that I pushed very hard. I wonder if the potatoes made any difference. I’ll try them again. Felt good on the way back down. In the dark again for most of the run. Near the bottom on the way back we passed a walker. Just after we passed we heard an “umph”. We looked back and she had fallen on her face, cut lip, scraped nose. We helped her up & made sure she was ok, walked with her to the turn off to her house. Ran 9 miles.

Wednesday, Sept. 12:
Up at 4:25, trail mix, potato and water, picked up Bruce at 4:50 to meet the others to car pool to Snow Canyon for our regular Wednesday run (9 miles). Was a little sluggish (headache) to start but felt good and finished strong at the top, almost sprinting the last couple of blocks. Could this be the elusive “runners high” I hear about but experience only infrequently? It’s dark again now for most of the run. With no moon this morning the stars were bright, the Milky Way washed across the sky and the Big Dipper hidden below the northern horizon when we started but eventaully becoming visible, pointing to the North Star where we could make out the dim stars of the Little Dipper. To the east Venus, the brightest object in the sky, peeked intermitently out from breaks in the cliffs. I’m becoming a believer in potatoes as a pre-run snack. Again, no nausea inspite of pushing very hard going up…

Thursday, October 4:
Up at 5, water, oatmeal cookie, out the door at 5:15 to pick up Bruce, drove to Becky’s house for what used to be our normal Thursday run until she moved to SLC. She was back down to run the marathon. Ran 6 miles. Had body aches when I woke up. Wife and daughter both had strep in the last week or so so hope I’m not getting it. Felt better after the run. This is the last run before the marathon on Saturday. I think I’m ready but I’ll see for sure on Sat.