Running the day after...

So...after surviving the disastrous crash at a whopping 1 mph, I was very worried that I wouldn't be able to run the next day.  I had planned a 10 mile run and had been looking forward to running through the beautiful park.  However, with the soreness from the crash (including the giant knots from the bruises in my legs) I really wasn't sure I'd be able to pull it off.  When I woke up the next morning from an awful dream where someone was shooting me repeatedly with bullets in all the places that I was sore in real life, I realized my body certainly wasn't happy.  I crawled out of bed and said, "running ain't happenin'" and made my way to the shower.

While showering, the guilt associated with a missed workout began creeping up on me.  What was I going to do instead of running?  Sit at the hotel and be bored off my rocker while the rest of the crew goes mountain biking? I certainly couldn't join them for another bike ride (I'm not that crazy!).  The more I thought about it, the more disappointed I became.  I had really looked forward to this run and seeing the beautiful scenery in Zion.  I quickly peeked out the hotel window and saw this:

Ummm...how could I not want to go for a run out there?  Blue skies?  Gorgeous scenery?  I was sold.  I luckily had packed a lot of different types of running gear and I was able to accommodate my rather, uh, unique injury.  My legs were very sore and tight from the fall, but I figured that a run would do them good.  Even though I had just showered, I set off to go run the local bike path and get outside in the sun.

I am so glad I sucked it up and went!   I was rewarded with breathtaking sights along my run!  Here is a quick sampling of some of the what I saw during my 10-miler:



These pictures are straight from my camera phone--no touch-ups.  Don't you wish you could've joined me on my run?  If you haven't been to Zion before, you really need to take a trip.  It is unlike any place I have ever seen.  Southern Utah in general is pretty awesome with Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands, etc. So much to see!

This picture was so difficult to take that even though it sucks, I am posting it.  Proof I was there!

When I hit the 5-mile point where I needed to turn around, it perfectly coincided with the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion.  This is a beautiful region with huge red-rock monoliths.  There was also a fast-paced river full of spring runoff.  I stopped and sat down on the river bank and soaked my hot feet in the FREEZING river water and just enjoyed the scenery.  This wasn't a run where I was in a hurry or trying for a particular pace.  I just wanted to be out and really get to see the park from a perspective I hadn't before.


I sat on the shores for about 20-30 minutes and then decided it was time to head back.  Unfortunately, I ran out of water around mile 7 and it was so hot that I didn't dare risk continuing to run without water so I ended up walking about 1.5 miles before I was able to refill my water bottles.  Lesson learned--hot weather means a lot more water consumed.

I burned a lot of calories (1,483!) and got to see some of the beauty this world has to offer.  Even though I was slower than normal due to the heat, elevation, and soreness from the crash, I was so glad I had gone on the run.  Something was definitely better than nothing!  Admittedly, it was a very tiring run and there were parts where I wanted to quit and turnaround (probably when my heart rate hit 231...umm...no bueno), but I kept going and didn't regret it at all.

If you look at my splits you can see they are all over the place, but that was likely due to my ADD while looking around at all the sights and not wanting to run past something and miss it.  The river was flowing so fast and its raw power was something to behold.  I couldn't look away!  Also, there may have been a giant hill that I ended up walking portions of.  Minor details, minor details...

Anyway, the takeaway from this is that when you have the means and ability to go out and test yourself and push yourself, do it.  You will be rewarded in more ways than one.  This run was MUCH better than sitting in a hotel room!

Also, on an unrelated note I am pretty stoked because today I won Sabrina's awesome giveaway--Hungry Girl's Cookbook 300 under 300!  BOOYAH!  I needed this book more than you know.  I've been struggling to find good meals that fill me up but don't make me want to cry when I count the calories.  I'll review some of the recipes once I get the book.  YAY!

So readers--what's the most beautiful scenery you've ever seen?  I love to travel and I am always looking for a new place to fall in love with!