Marathon Training - Day 99

Sunday, June 7, 2009: I took the day off from marathon training today. Just some ranch chores, horsing around work, and hitting the softball across the pastures for some swinging practice. Marathon training log: 0 miles ... no recordable cross training, either.

Marathon Training - Day 98

Saturday, June 6, 2009: A change in the weather today with strong north winds and cool temperatures. There was even some fresh snow visible at some of the higher elevations. I got out for my run a just about noon and decided to duplicate the eight mile run up to Lupine gate. It seemed a rather normal run, with the exception of the bear I saw while on the downhill run (about 1/2 mile from the turnaround gate). Unfortunately, I was slow in my remembering to get my camera out, but, I did take a picture of the woods area where the bear went up the hill. Interestingly, close viewing of the image did not show a bear, but rather a deer hidden in the woods. The bear might have been there somewhere too, however; I could not see it in the image. It was a bit of a surprise to see the hidden deer, what with a bear just going up that way, but maybe it was a doe hiding with its' fawn. The remainder of the run was finished uneventfully. Mileage log for today -- Run: 8.3 miles.

Marathon Training - Day 97

Friday, June 5, 2009: We're starting to push the limit for clear and dry running days in a row, however, I got another one today. It was sunny, with just a little breeze, and some cooling shadows remaining, as I did the eight-miler up to Lupine Meadows gate and back. I ran the full distance and felt pretty good. No cross training has been done as I write this, but I may still do a bike ride and some softball hitting, before the weather changes on me! Marathon Training Log: Run 8.329 miles.

Marathon Training - Day 96

Thursday, June 4, 2009: Another of a string of sunny and dry days. Perfect again for a training run (if I would only start earlier in the day when the temperature is cooler). Instead, I began my training run shortly before noon.

Since I did the long run yesterday, I decided to make today just a short four-miler. It was an out and back on the black-top and then just a mile up Sherman Road. I was able to do a full time run for this training outing (although still not very fast). Let the training log show: 4.1 miles; Cross Training bike ride later in the afternoon: 13.4 miles.

Marathon Training - Day 95

Wednesday, June 3, 2009: A cool sunny day meant deciding to do the long run, finally! I filled a couple of water bottles, one to drop at the one mile mark (that also became the the nine mile mark, and the 15 mile mark). I carried the other up the pass toward Ashley Lake. It was a sunny and pleasant mid morning when I started the run. This was a day when I thought I would give the bruised leg a try for the distance of anywhere from 10 to 16 miles. The run up the hill was pretty good with some walking during the steepest sections, but, mostly jogging and slogging along. I did the turn-around at about 5.2 miles. Doing the trip back downhill felt pretty good. So, at the water bottle drop I decided to head up the gravel road to the Lupine Meadows gate. I did do a walk/run mix up the road to the gate. Again, the downhill was a bit easier, so I was able to mostly run. For the final mile section on the black-top, I did walk a bit during the return to the ranch. Overall, it was good distance effort, even though it was not a speed record. Mileage log -- Run (walk, too): 16.43 miles.

Marathon Training - Day 94

Tuesday, June 2, 2009: I've had to make some adjustments to my planned training schedule for the last week or so. A bouncing ball that short-hopped into my left shin last Wednesday has resulted in a bit of a bruise and some modified running abilities. Today (yesterday, and even the day before) should have been one of my long runs of 20 miles or so. Instead, I just did the quick two-miler yesterday and today managed only a six miler. I did my run today during the late morning and just ran the Batavia black-top to the Sherman Road gravel route for another out and back. Horses along the Batavia section managed to pose for a few photos. Later in the day, I also did a cross-training bike ride into Kalispell. Log for the day -- Run: 6.231 miles; Bike: 13.53 miles.

Marathon Training - Day 93

Monday, June 1, 2009: It was a late afternoon quick run today. I used the run as a warm-up for my softball game tonight. I did just a quick two-miler run out to the Sherman Road cutoff and back. No special other cross training, just the evening softball game. Marathon training log: 2.112 miles.