Training in Montana

4 miles at lunch while a severe thunderstorm was looming. Thankfully made it back to the Y, showered, and walked back to the office before it started. Nice amount of rain, little bit of hail. My 3rd mile I ran at MP, which I think is going to be 7:30. That seems brutally fast, not sure if I'll keep that or boost it up a bit. Just looked again and my A goal is a 3:19:59, which is a 7:37 pace. That's still way faster than what I've been running the past 24 months, but I'll give it a go for the next 16 months.

AP: 8:20

5 miles at lunchtime, ran up to the rims and back. This heat training is working. It was 81F with low humidity and it didn't seem all that hot. Definitely didn't feel as great as 50F would've been, but it's getting easier. I'm mainly doing it because mornings are hard for me lately, but being able to run in heat is a nice side effect.

Ran at night, for the first time in many moons. I was too lazy to get up early, and busy during lunch, and I'm pacing Friday night, so I figured I'd run after I was done with church meetings. Headed out the door after 9 pm and it stayed light for a while. Band of clouds filled the horizon or it would've stayed lighter longer, but I only used the headlamp the last mile coming home. Great temps as it cooled down yesterday quite a bit, 64-61F, with a West wind felt great. Legs felt good, no worries. Excited to run Friday night up a long incline. Love running in the mountains, fun to run at night, and excited for some mud as apparently we will become well acquainted.

One of the coolest outdoor experiences of my life. I ran through a high-walled forested canyon all night long, and it rocked. A nearly-full moon, clear skies, and great temperatures. Started at 7:15 pm at Footbridge aid station, and we mostly walked to the Jaws aid station, the turnaround point, arriving just before 3:30 am. What a night. Angela started getting sick (we think food poisoning) a few miles before I started running with her, then was sick more and then threw up. She rested for about an hour, walking a little ways between resting spots, then finally after throwing up the last time it seemed to expel the gunk and she was okay the rest of the time, but it weakend her greatly. I'm amazed she left the turnaround point to head back, but she did. She made it 77 miles before dropping due to blisters and feeling horrible. She's a tough cookie.