Sat 10/13 - AM 90 minutes easy, Sinclair Wash to Ft. Tuthill

pre-breakfast run, very stiff and achy to start. Left high hammie in particular feeling stuck, not able to get as full a range of motion with left hip as a result for most of the run. Out-and-back putter for the last day in Flagstaff. Felt like a different person after stretching after the run.

Fri 10/12- AM 2 hours, AZ trail to Fisher Point and back

Not to be denied, I made to the vista even though it left me a dehydrated mess the last 40 minutes. Tried to take a different route on the way out, got a bit lost and found myself 4.5 miles from the desired scenic overlook at 45 minutes into the run. Spent almost all of what effort I had left in reaching that point, with about 7 miles left to get back. Despite taking walking breaks, I stopped running for good about a mile away, too fried to continue. The terrain wasn't that challenging, but I wasn't feeling that spry at any point. Having fluids would have helped immensely, but I didn't think the run would take that long. Map distances look to be a bit sketchy in places, compared to the signs on the trail.

Thu 10/11 - double, 1:50 total

AM - 90 minutes, Arizona trail to FR 301. Intended to go as far as Fisher Point but going too slow and feeling too tired to make it, so I had to turn back early. Legs sore and tired, as is the rest of me. Made for an uninspired effort. In need of more rest. Sunny, breezy morning, warm but not hot.

PM - 20 minutes very easy, Lone Tree to Lumberjack Stadium. A shakeout for stretching. Still flat and tired.

Wed 10/10 - double, 1:35 total

AM - 35 minutes in Sedona on the Courthouse Butte/Bell Rock trail. Legs felt okay until I hit the first short downhill (of many) and my I felt my quads. Not that bad after loosening up however. Overall felt better than I ever thought I would after yesterday. Much warmer in Sedona than at the higher elevations.

PM - 60 minutes, Buffalo Park to Oldham. Trying to go easy on my legs a bit with a relatively flat loop. Felt quite tired to start, got moving a bit after halfway, then tired again near the end. Feeling some twinges in adductors.

Tue 10/9 - AM Grand Canyon hike, 4.5 hours incl. 90 minutes of running

Bright Angel trail down, South Kaibab trail back up. Including the stretch of the Rim trail to get from car to trailhead, estimated 17 miles total. 6800' to start, 2400' at the river, 7200' at the end. I had originally planned on a shorter route that cut out the last 2000' or so of descending to/climbing from the river, but being stuck behind the world's most stubborn mule train leader forced me to walk along, staring at a mule's ass, for 3+ miles. This after three other mule trains stopped to let me pass. Stupid cowboy jerk. The senior citizen I ended up walking with was heading to the river and back for the 14th time, in blatant defiance of the first edict laid out here, so I figured I could do something similar. After finally getting around Wilford Brimley and his cheeky band of mule-riding, shit-eating southern tourists at Indian Springs, ran down for the next 40 minutes or so through spectacular scenery of the inner canyon and along the river and over the bridges. Started back up planning on running for 15-20 minutes at a time with 5 minute walkig breaks. This plan lasted until the second walking break ended, I tried to start running again and couldn't move after two minutes. The last 4 miles or so were almost entirely walking, becoming increasingly more strung out and dehydrated all the while. Packed all manner of calories, they barely lasted me. Refilled the camelbak twice, but didn't refill it enough the second time at the river. As a result had a near-Margaret Bradley experience (without the getting lost part, thank goodness) on the way up when the water ran out sooner than I would have liked. Finished as dehydrated as I've ever been. It's difficult to explain how relentlessly hard it was to get up from the river via the S. Kaibab trail. I know people run such things but I have no idea how. The ascent broke me thoroughly, a brisk walk was all I could manage near the end.

Mon 10/8 - AM 100 minutes very easy, Observatory Mesa

Feeling tired, legs still sore from Saturday. Took a leisurely stroll as a result, barely picked up the pace from very easy to easy near the end. Still, felt pretty tired by the end. Clear, sunny, and windy, mark it down for the rest of the week. Had an afternoon run planned but pulse remained high after a post-lunch nap, so there was no point. Planning on visiting the canyon tomorrow, it should be warmer there.

Sun 10/7 - double, 2 hours total

AM - 80 minutes very easy, Campbell Mesa. As expected, barely able to move after spending yesterday morning racing and the afternoon/evening/night traveling across the country. Woke up to temps about 50 degrees cooler than what I ran in yesterday. Got bored after an hour and cut the loop I had planned short, otherwise I would have been out there puttering even longer. Matching set of sore tender hamstrings today, not surprisingly. Quads sore too.

PM - 40 minutes, Sinclair Wash to Lone Tree. Still very easy, not quite as sore as the morning. Stretching helped with that. Very windy all day I'm noticing.