The day after last Saturday’s nightmarish trail run, I went to Shoes & Brews to buy this new pair of trail running shoes.  The New Balance Leadville 1210s.  This is how you recover from a bad run; you buy a new pair of shoes.  Running’s not complicated.

This was my first visit since they opened.  How brilliant is this?  They sell running shoes and related gear.  And they sell a unique selection of tap beer in an attached pub.  I still wasn’t feeling up to par Sunday, so I can’t critique the brews.  But I just like having the option.  They organize group runs along the Longmont Greenbelt on Saturday mornings and supply Scratch sports drink along the route.  Check them out.

I got some good runs in during the work week, although my legs felt heavy most days.  Felt so much better this morning though.  I went out early on the LoBo Trail for 21 miles.  The temperature started out well below 60°.  It was only 64° three hours later when I finished.  Rain clouds hung low, nearly kissing the ground.  I love Colorado clouds.

The cool weather supported a fast pace.  My goal wasn’t speed of course, simply the miles.  I suspect I started out fast to stay warm.  I ran a consistent 8:30 pace the first 12 miles.  I ran into Chris Price after 6 miles.  He ran 15 miles at a 7:30 pace.  Wow.  By 15 miles, I slowed down to a 9 minute clip.  My overall average came out at 8:50 per mile.  Makes me think, with similar conditions, I can expect to run a 9 minute pace for the Boulder Marathon in October.  Hope so.  Chris will be running as well and I suspect I might hang with him for his first two miles.  He starts out slow at around a 9 minute pace.  He’ll speed up to a 7 or so minute pace.  I imagine I’ll speed up to 8 minutes and then settle down to 8:30.  Then 9 minutes.

I started to feel fatigue today at 12 miles.  My arm started to hurt after 15 miles.  That’s not unusual in a marathon, that muscles you would not normally associate with running begin to hurt.  In addition to breaking in my new shoes, I experimented with two new nutritional supplies.  I loaded up on 70 ounces of Skratch in my Camelbak.  With the cool weather, I only drank about 30 ounces.  Scratch is brewed in Boulder.  It’s highly valued by runners and analysts for its even digestion on long runs and bike rides.  I also ate three Hammer Gels, one at 6, then 10 and again at 12 miles.  I was quite pleased with these gels because normally they make me want to puke.  These were so flavor neutral that I didn’t even need to rinse out my mouth after eating them.  I didn’t experience any gastrointestinal distress today so I think both these products will work out nicely for the marathon.  I’m considering wearing my camelbak so I can drink something more nutritional than the free Gatorade at the aid stations.