A 3-mile rest run

I felt pretty good for the first two miles of my run, but at 2 1/4 miles I could tell I was starting to get tired, so I turned around and returned. Being tired today was expected, because Monday night I only had 4 hours sleep, and Tuesday night I had no sleep. I did have two naps on Wednesday, totaling 5 hours sleep. I was busy making changes to my leigh.org site to add DNA testing for genealogy, and I just kept working through the night. On Wednesday night I had a good 7 1/2 hours sleep, but I need more sleep than that to recover from two nights of sleep deficit, and I was thus tired on Thursday during my run.

Our weather is still nice, more like September than the end of October.

A wicked good 7-mile run!

One of the New England phrases that my kids picked up during our 17 years there is "wicked good", meaning the best possible. That's how I think of my run this evening. I left home after the sun had set, and by the time I finished the 1.5 miles of the new path, it was getting dark. For 5 miles I felt strong and thought I could go on forever. I did start feeling tired during the last 2 miles, but I continued my strong running and finished without the "dragged out" feeling that I sometimes have when I get tired. The temperature was in the low 50s (F) and high 40s during the run, and that helped me to continue a strong run. When I say strong run, I'm not saying that I was pushing myself to go faster. I'm saying that I felt strong, and that feeling continued with me to the end. I let my body set the speed it wanted to go. My wakeup heart rate was 53 this morning, a bit higher than earlier in the week.

I wore one layer during the run, and my core felt fine all the time. My arms did get slightly cold toward the end of the run, no doubt due to more blood being diverted to the core as the outside temperature started to fall.

Just a comment on getting a bit tired during the last two miles. I'm not running very fast, and it took me 1 hour 45 minutes to do the 7 miles, including a few stops for picking up litter and some walking breaks. I ran for 1 1/2 hours before I started to get tired, and that's pretty good for my present condition.

Oh Oh, that guy looks dangerous

My wife doesn't like me to run after dark, because she is worried that I might be attacked or something. The Jordan River Parkway is isolated, and there are lots of trees and bushes that border the path. I keep telling her that it is safe there, but tonight I began to wonder about that.

I had finished my run and was stretching in the tunnel under 9800/10000 South. I saw a car pull up, and a big guy dressed in a black robe with a white sash around his waist got out and began looking for something by a picnic table. I thought to myself, "I hope he isn't looking for a victim for a human sacrifice." Then a girl got out who was dressed in a long white robe and looked like a Greek goddess. I got really worried when the guy and girl got back in their car and drove over by me. I thought, "Oh Oh." The car stopped, and the guy said, "Have you seen any clues? We're on a scavenger hunt." With relief I said, "I'm just a runner and have been running south of here." He said, "OK" and went back to the picnic tables and looked some more. Just as I was walking to my car, another car filled with Greek gods and goddesses or whatever drove up, and the people got out and began looking. So, as I keep telling my wife, it is a safe place to run after dark. Right.

A tired 7-mile run

Even though my wakeup heart rate was 51 this morning (and yesterday morning), I was tired during my 7 miles. I held up pretty good, although I took frequent walking breaks during the last couple of miles. I've slept well the past two nights, but my body needs additional time to recover from my couple days of inadequate sleep. Unless I really pep up on my Saturday run, I'll run 7 miles next week, too.

Today was a nice day for running. Lots of sun, and the temperature was in the low 50s (F) when I left, but there was a cool breeze. After a couple of miles, I removed my wind breaker.

Ran an enjoyable 5 miles as it was getting dark

When I started the run, the sun was down but there was still plenty of light to see things. However, after I finished the 1 1/2 mile new segment of the path and started south on the older path, it was starting to get dark. I enjoyed the run. I've been sitting at my computer for most of the day, and it felt good to get out and move around.

I didn't take my wakeup heart rate this morning because I only had about 4 hours sleep each of the past two nights, and I knew my heart rate would be high. I took a two-hour nap before my run, and that helped. I felt pretty good during the first 3 1/2 miles and then got a bit tired. However, I finished the five miles OK and felt fine even though I was a little bit tired.

I wore long pants and my wind breaker jacket during the run because I knew the temperature would drop once the sun was down. I was a little warm during the first part of the run but felt fine during the last part when it was dark. I forgot to check the temperature when I left home, but it was probably in the low 50s (F) or high 40s.

The 6 geese were still a honking when I ran tonight

I saw several flights of geese tonight that flew over me at an altitude of about 100 feet. Two of the flights landed in a nearby pond. One flight had about 20 geese in one leg of the V formation, and a single goose in the other leg. That single duck was the only one who was honking. It appeared as if he were in command of the flight. They flew over me and landed in the pond. While the geese landed, the single goose stayed in the air and watched the rest land. Shortly after that, I saw another V formation fly over me and land in the pond. I only heard one goose honking, but I couldn't tell which goose was making the noise.

Ran 7 miles again on the Jordan River Parkway

I ran 7 miles on the Parkway this evening. I was busy all day doing yard work, and I left home for my run about an hour before sundown. The temperature was in the low 70s (F) when I started my run and was in the low 60s when I finished. I was on my feet all day and was thus tired during my run, but it was a good run. The first part of the run was on the new northward path, and I finished the run by going south on the older part of the path.

Last update of the new northward path of the Jordan River Parkway

As I had expected, the workmen are finished with the new segment of the Jordan River Parkway that goes northward from 9800 South in the Salt Lake valley. The path looks nice, has nice curves, goes through a lot of Russian Olive trees, and has nice views of the river. The path is exactly 1.5 miles round trip from the large Jordan River Parkway sign next to the parking lot. It looks like the path will get a lot of use, because I passed about a dozen people on the new path this evening.

6 Geese a-honking while I ran

Please excuse me for changing the Christmas carol from laying to honking. I was on the return leg of my run this evening, the sun had gone done, and it was getting dark. At least 11 or 12 swarms of geese flew over me, about 200 feet above me, honking wildly. I don't know if their honking was a form of sonar to keep the geese together in the V formation while they flew in the darkness, or perhaps like the lights on airplanes to keep geese in one swarm from crashing into geese in another swarm. Several swarms of geese flew over me at the same time, and this continued for a couple of miles of my run. Whatever the reason for their honking, they were making a lot of noise, and I knew for a minute before they arrived that they were coming. But about 10-15 minutes after it was dark, the geese stopped flying over me -- apparently they were bedded down for the night.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... 6 geese a honking ...

The following picture is from the web. Click for a larger image.

Added a half-mile to my mid-week run to give 7 miles

I ran 7 miles on the Jordan River Parkway. I ran in the late afternoon, and it was a nice day for running. The temperature when I left home was 62 (F), and I was comfortable in my one-layer of a T-shirt and shorts. The sun was close to setting when I drove home, but it was still above the horizon and was shining in my eyes and making it hard to see while I drove. I enjoyed the run but was getting tired during the last mile. I didn't have much to eat during the day and was probably running out of energy. I had a boiled egg and two peaches for breakfast, a few pieces of candy at my mother-ion-law's house, and another boiled egg just before I left home about 3 pm for the run. Not much fuel for a day's activity and a 7-mile run....

It is close to 1.43 miles round-trip on the new northward path, and I'm enjoying running that and then finishing my run going south like I've been doing for three years.

My wakeup heart rate this morning was 53, but I didn't feel as energetic as I did on Monday. Probably a side-effect of only 5 hours of sleep Sunday night and insufficient food today. I had good sleep on Monday and Tuesday nights, but the effect of insufficient sleep usually hits me a couple of days later. If I get good sleep during the next three nights I should be fine on Saturday for my next run.

Update on northward Jordan River Parkway path

The new path on the Jordan River Parkway that goes north from 9800 South is almost finished. The workmen have finished the two-strand barbed wire fence, and the farmer's horses were grazing peacefully in their pasture when I ran the path this afternoon. The workmen have put dirt/gravel along most of the edges of the path to fill in the 4-inch drop-off from the top of the asphalt to the ground, giving a nice slope from the asphalt to the ground. They are putting wood chips on the dirt added to the edges to give a natural looking finish to the path. The path looks very nice and is fun to run. I was told by two workmen that they aren't finishing the last hundred yards or so of the path, because the city didn't buy that land. I don't know if this was a mistake by South Jordan City or if that part of the path is actually in West Jordan City. At any rate, I expect they will be finished with their contract with South Jordan City when I do my next run on Saturday.

While I was running south of 9800 South, I stopped to talk with one of the Park Rangers. He asked me what I thought of the new path, and I told him it was "great".

I ran my weekly 5-mile rest run

The sky was overcast and a cold breeze was blowing during my run. The temperature was in the mid 40s. I wore two layers (T-shirt and wind breaker) and my running shorts. It was a nice run. I let my body set the pace, and I felt like I was cruising down a highway in my car. I haven't felt that way for quite a while, and it felt good!

I only had 5 hours of sleep last night. I woke up and didn't go back to sleep. I got up thinking I would return to bed after an hour, but I never made it back to bed.

Today's update on the Jordan River Parkway path north from 9800 South

This morning the workmen installed about half a mile of barbed-wire (2 strands) fence. They have another half-mile left and will probably do it tomorrow. When I ran that segment of the path this afternoon, they were shredding tree limbs that had been cut when the new path was created. There were several piles of wood chips next to the path, and I don't know if the workmen will remove the chips or leave them for the city to pick up and use.

Finished the week with a 6.5 mile run on the Jordan River Parkway

I've slept well the past two nights, and my wakeup heart rate was down to 54. A storm front is going through the area this weekend. The sky was overcast during my run, and the temperature was in the low 40s (F). I saw snow flurries a few minutes before I left home, but they were gone by the time I started my run, and the only "storm" during my run was a light sprinkle of rain. It was a great running day. I didn't measure my pace, but I felt stronger today, and I think I ran a slightly higher pace. I didn't carry water on the run because of the cool temperature. I picked up litter along the trail, stuff that was blown in. People who use the Parkway are pretty good about putting trash in the bins along the path.

Update on the northward path of the Jordan River Parkway

No work has been done since Thursday on finishing the last 100 yards of the path. Instead, the workers are installing a long (about 1/3 mile) fence to keep horses enclosed in their pasture. The workers are also putting dirt along the edge of the asphalt to give a shoulder to the path (the asphalt was about 3-4 inches higher than the ground around it). This work on the shoulder is about one-third finished.

I saw a crane this morning

As I was running past a fishing pond south of 106th South, a crane skimmed over the water and then as it neared me, it rose to a higher height over the water. It was a gray color, and I'm guessing it was a Sandhill crane. I say this only because I found a picture via Google of a Sandhill crane, and the bird was a gray color. I passed the pond on my way back but didn't see the crane. I don't remember if the bird I saw had the red on its head, as shown in the following picture from Google.

Ran a slow 5-miles today

I ran 5 miles on the Parkway today. I went north on the new path and then came back and went south on my "usual" path. I haven't gotten as much sleep this week as I need, so I didn't run the 6.5 miles that I expected to run. I was getting tired when I finished, and I was glad I hadn't gone any further. It was a beautiful day. The temperature was in the 60s (F) and the sky was sunny with nice clouds. A storm front will be coming through this weekend and a bit of snow is expected.

Update on another new path on the Jordan River Parkway

About half a mile south of the 9800 South entrance to the Parkway, another path is being constructed. I mentioned this a few day ago. The new path will go west and then turn south for a hundred yards and then go on an angle to a residential area that is north of the Mulligans Golf Course. The new path is to give people in that area an access to the Parkway. I stopped and talked with a workman, and he said they will be finished with the path in a couple of weeks.

Another update on the northward segment of the Jordan River Parkway

As I expected, they've paved the rest of the path. I had thought the path went all the way to the border of West Jordan City, but one of the workmen told me today that they still have about 100 yards to go. The remaining part has been dug and the black "cloth" laid on the ground. Also, some roadbase has been put on the cloth. They still need to add more roadbase, level and compress it, and pave it. When I talked with the workmen, they were installing a fence to keep the horses that I've mentioned in previous posts from getting into the Parkway.

I noticed that next to the dam at the end of the Parkway path, water was being diverted into an irrigation canal. There are quite a few irrigation canals that traverse the Salt Lake valley.

Ran a comfortable 4 miles

I haven't had enough sleep this week, so I didn't want to push my body very hard. I ran 4 miles instead of my planned 5 miles. I went out in the late afternoon and finished my run about half an hour before darkness. It was nice being out, and there were quite a few people on the Parkway path.

Update on new path going north from 100th South

The new Parkway path is paved with asphalt up to the 2nd wire fence, exactly 0.5 miles from the beginning of the new path. When I reached the end of the asphalt in my run this afternoon, I saw a big roller compacting the roadbase in the last part of the path. I expect they will complete the paving tomorrow or Thursday. The new path is nice to run and gives some different views of the river, including the dam at the boundary with West Jordan City.

Ended the week with a 5-mile rest run

I ran 5 miles this morning, going slow and enjoying the cloudy and raining morning. The rain was heavy during the night, but during my run there were just sprinkles. My wakeup heart rate was 54. I thought I would be the only runner out during the rain, but there were several others, including two high school girls who are visiting from the state of Washington (I stopped and walked with their uncle for a couple of minutes. He is from Utah and drove them to the Parkway).

This week was an unexpecrted rest week from my running

I felt fine on Monday when I went to bed, but an hour later I was up with severe diarrhea. Severe meaning I passed stool and water every half hour or so. I was up the whole night except for an hour sleep around 3 or 4 am, during which I messed up my bed. I still had diarrhea all day Tuesday, although it wasn't quite as bad as during the night. I slept better Tuesday night but still had a touch of diarrhea on Wednesday. I felt fine on Thursday, and my wife and I took her 91-year old mother on our annual trek through the Utah mountains to see the fall colors.

I have no idea what caused the diarrhea, but my son and his wife had it a couple of weeks ago, so some bug is making the rounds....

Update on the new Jordan River Parkway path

I made my weekly run on the new Jordan River Parkway path that is being constructed from 9800 South to the West Jordan City boundary at 9400 South. The path has been dug to the WJC boundary and roadbase has been laid and partially compacted (the roadbase needs more compacting). The first wire fence that I've mentioned in previous posts is down, but the 2nd wire fence is still up. The end of the path is a couple hundred yards past the 2nd wire fence. There is a dam in the river near the end of the path. They might start the asphalt paving this week.