15 miles that wasn't....

So this week has been a real roller-coaster of emotion. My cat has been really sick. She has been the only real constant in my life the past 12 years so it has been pretty hard to deal with. I am not sure she is going to be ok and it is rough. So I apologize if anyone had been checking to see if I made 15 miles this week. I did...sort of. More on that in a bit.

I went out a little after 9 on Saturday. I set my alarm but must have done so incorrectly. I really like to be on the road my 8 at the latest. Just feels like I lose quite a bit of my day if I get out too late. I read that many long distance runners are out by like 4:45 or 5. Someday that may be the way to go...but quite frankly, I need it to warm up and get lighter so I can see.

My hamstrings had been really tight sense Wednesday's 7 miles run on the treadmill. They were pretty tight for about the first 4-5 miles of the run, then kind of loosened up a bit. I had some heavy food the night before and it took its toll on me. I actually had to stop at a gas station and use the restroom. I think that kind of zonked me. I will say though that I was able to get back into a groove, albeit a little slower. That gives me hope...if not speed. I need to figure out something with the chaffing. I won't go into details...but I have tried the Vaseline type things and I still get some horrible places. Something needs to change....

The best part of my run was seeing another runner out on the outskirts of town. He was probably in his mid 50's and out with his dog. He gave me a friendly smile and a wave....asked how I was doing and continued on his way. Just made me feel good inside.

The last 5 miles were pretty hard for me. A had a lot of pain in quite a few areas. I kept chugging though and got through my route. I made it is around 2 hours 32 min and 17 secs...give or take. Horrible time. The worst part is that when I went to make the route map it comes up as only 14.7 miles...what the heck? I followed the same route last week and then added the rest of my old route that is 2 miles and should have hit 15 on the nose. It is frustrating in a way that I can't really explain...to think you achieved your goal and then didn't....really bums me out. Hope this week is better. Thanks for reading.

My route:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Harney+St&daddr=E+Harney+St+to:Spring+Creek+Dr+to:Russell+St+to:Snowy+Range+Rd%2FWY-130+to:Reynolds+St+to:41.320784,-105.557585&hl=en&geocode=Fap4dgIdwAa1-Q%3BFRKBdgIdWk-1-Q%3BFVc8dgIdzRi1-Q%3BFeA9dgIdzMG0-Q%3BFUx1dgIdpSa0-Q%3BFZaRdgIdPgm1-Q%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=41.321009,-105.564494&sspn=0.013827,0.026779&ie=UTF8&ll=41.316271,-105.581102&spn=0.013828,0.026779&z=15

And then....
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Gibbon+St&daddr=N+13th+St+to:N+15th+St+to:Univertsity+of+Wyoming+to:Univertsity+of+Wyoming+to:E+Harney+St&hl=en&geocode=FXR1dgIdIP20-Q%3BFWZsdgIdKvq0-Q%3BFe5kdgIdHAW1-Q%3BFW9mdgIdS0e1-Q%3BFYJodgId5k-1-Q%3BFRCBdgIdUFG1-Q&mra=cc&via=1,2,3,4&sll=41.3174,-105.566983&sspn=0.013828,0.026779&ie=UTF8&z=15