Getting in a groove

We are starting to see warmer weather. I know 25 degrees is not great, but it is an enjoyable run. I've been running more outside lately—a great break from that treadmill. I sure notice the difference between the two. This only reinforces in my mind that preparation for a long race (50 to 100 miles) requires various training, as you never know what to expect. Treadmills, tracks, Buck Hill, trails, pavement, walking, and crawling all have their benefits. 

 

Last year, one of the memorable parts of the Superior 100 was when I used my arms more than I thought.  Pulling me up the hill or gripping a tree to hold me up.  I have a hill on my lunch run that is quite steep and right now a little slippery.  I will try (success at all times so far) to get up the hill.  It takes a total body workout to grab whatever I can to stop me from sliding down.  I can really feel the workout in my arms as well as my legs.  

 

Training has consistently run between 7-10 miles, feeling natural again.  My weight is still in the high 240s, which seems strange as my diet has been monitored. It could be better, but not bad.  Either way, I could also need to take a day off.  I have noticed in the past, after a long period of working out at least once, if not twice a day, that when I take 2 days off, I drop over 5 pounds.  I feel water-saturated and have not taken a day off from running since February 13th.  That is 15 days of at least 3 miles daily, with at least half being over 6 miles.  On 9 of those 15 days, I rode the exercise bike and elliptical machine.  Lifting weight three times a week (although not structure) has also been included.  So I will not worry about my weight yet. It will drop after a few weeks, and we will get outside more.

 

Been reading many blogs of other ultra people I met, and there are many interesting issues.  I have learned that this is truly an individual thing about what works and what does not.  I always provide my thoughts but emphasize that they must test things independently.  However, I learned so much from people openly sharing, which is the key to success. Feel free to test the body and monitor how it reacts.  I also found an interesting article called "Leadville from Scratch -May 2006 From zero to 100 in a year" (http://www.trailrunnermag.com/article.php?id=100&cat=3) The author failed but had some excellent information.

 

Anyway, looking forward to getting out there with you all again on the trails. I'd like to organize a weekly group run on Wednesday night along the Minnesota River once the spring flooding clears.  I love this trail as there are some hills, but not killers.  I hate the killer hills, so I saved that for Buck Hill.  Although, I have heard the hill may be closed to walkers/runners after last year's issues.  It had become a popular location, and the hill's vegetation was so destroyed by walkers/runners that it started a major erosion issue in August.  So I may have to look at another hill.  The one at the Anderson Nature Center in Eden Prairie may be good…

 

Carry on…

Some things are not the same...

Running on a trail and running on the road are different! That sounds simple, but I had a rude awakening on Saturday. I decided to run the road to work and then the trail home after work, as this would give me 4 miles on the road, followed by 10 on the trail on the way home. On the way to work, I was in the grove, staring hard at the road as if there were rocks, roots, or other impediments. Well, I just strolled along and kept going right through the intersection where I had the stop sign, and the car did not. Close call scared the crap out of me and made me recall, it has been so long since I had been on the road, I need to watch out. Felt so stupid!

Running has been going well, staying above 30 miles a week, lifting weights 4 days a week, riding a stationary bike 70-100 miles, and the elliptical. I am watching what I eat but have had no weight loss in the past two weeks. Just keep pushing on, I have faith that once I can get outside regular, this will help. The quality of the workout indoor can not match a good outdoor workout. I was regularly outdoors in February in past years? It could be with the nagging cold and congestion I am having issues getting outside. Either way, I have the 100 to train for and need to keep pushing… on the trails, as I appear to be a little too stupid for the street!

I'm looking forward to some great group runs for the spring and am really looking forward to the Superior 50K. 

 Carry on…

Run Toto Run

The dogs I am familiar with would have difficulty running this past weekend. At least my girlfriend's dogs prefer to play in the mud, not run in it! But it sure was fun… As I woke Saturday morning, the sky was cloudless, and the temperature was kind to those who entered the PsychoWyco 50 K. I was concerned about the weather not just because of the course conditions, but on Monday, I finally went to the doctor to check my 5-week-long head and chest issues, which were an ear infection, sinus infection, and bronchitis. After five days of antibiotics and two inhalers, I was breathing better, although I still questioned the strength in the lungs and not working out for five days.

We left the motel at 7:00AM and arrived at the park at about 7:30. Parking was full, so we parked along the access road entering the park. I set up my drop bag at the station and panicked. I left the inhaler at the Hotel. My girlfriend was running the 5K, so I decided not to tell her, or she would have returned to get it. (That is how she is… actually, this was her first trail race, and she was a bundle of nerves.) I thought if I had trouble, I would see her at the first split, and she could get it and bring it to me at one of the aid stations.

As the race was preparing to start, I ran into Les, Julie F., and Maria. Nice to see faces. That was the only time I saw them also. The race started in a nice open area that quickly came to a crowded corner as we hit the trails. It was about a mile into it when we were all spread out and able to run on a mostly single-track trail. According to Garmin, I was averaging a 14-minute mile and felt comfortable. There was some ice and a little mud. Based on the course description, I was surprised that several parts were runnable. 

About 7 miles into the race, I started to wheeze. I was concerned as I had a hard hack cough that came with it. I knew I would have to have my inhaler if I had any hope of getting through the day. I went through the first loop comfortably in about 2 hrs and 45 minutes. I noticed my girlfriend was not there and was not sure what happened. After 20 minutes, I decided to proceed, thinking I would just take it easy and hopefully finish. 

The second loop was a nightmare. The first 2 miles were alright, and then the mud became an issue. I hate to give it a simple name as mud, as this was more like slick, slimy clay. It was unavoidable. If you stepped onto an uneven slope, you would slide. I fell several times throughout that second loop. At one time, I was wheezing bad, and I decided to sit there, grabbed a bunch of mud, and formed it into a pot…  It was clay. Every time my foot went it, I would pray the shoes and foot came out with it as the suction was unbelievable. Now, it could be that a 245-pound guy also went deeper into the muck than others, but I found lifting my feet through the mud more difficult than running. As I continued to have difficulty breathing, I decided that at about 16 miles, I wouldn’t finish the 50 K. My cheat burned. The only way to control breathing was to assure I was not exerting myself as much as I had been. I enjoyed the mud, played in it a little, The second loop took me 3 hours and 40 minutes and I stopped at that time. They gave me a medal for finishing 20 miles, which, on this course, was, in my mind, an achievement. I did not see Les, Julie, or Maria for the rest of the day, but I am anxious to get their reports on the course and the day. As I said, I did two loops and quit. Each loop could not have been more opposite as the course changed from a challenging course without ice to mud to the ultimate test of trail running ability.

Psycho…. Here I come … or am I already there

Since I failed the Superior 100 at 77 miles, there have been little setbacks to stop me from achieving my goals. I often wonder if they are setbacks or excuses for fear of a second failure. These negative and challenging thoughts are just part of my mind, not allowing me to set myself up to fail again. These are little things we all deal with in life. Aches, pains, stupid human tricks… I just wonder. Although I do not care if I ever run another mile, I will run that race and try to rid myself of the ghosts and other creatures that haunt me. So I do run, because I enjoy it! This is really strange. It might even be psycho… So I guess this race I will partake onto tomorrow is appropriately named. Psycho… That is what I think I have become. Psycho-Londell

This week has been no different with challenges. Although my weight has continued to decrease slowly (246 on Sunday), I still struggled with the cold flu feelings. As previously written, I caught a cold running n the cold New Years Day. Now, I have nursed it since. It seemed to get worse. Last week Sunday (6 days ago), I finally went to the doctor after a 6-mile run was difficult. Well, as shown in the picture, he drugged me up. Not just a cold or flu but an ear infection, sinus infection, and bronchitis. Two inhalers and two sets of pills. Great, only days from a 50K that I hear can be pure hell. I wanted to call it a day and not go. Then I viewed this as just another challenge I would face if I wanted to get that nightmare that I quit Superior out of my head! 

So I took my last dose of the antibiotic today and I will leave for Kansas. My head is light, and I still have chest congestion, but I will give it a try… No, I will finish… Wish well to all going down there, and for those who could not make the trip, carry on… You are an inspiration, and we love that other people like me out there like to run long distances. A final story is my girlfriend was with a client last week. She told him her boyfriend would run the 50 K in Kansas City and try the 100 miles in September. She said the kind elderly gentleman leaned over and touched her arm softly, with an honest, sincere voice, and said, “Is he normal”… That says it all. We are an unusual bunch, but I find mostly a happy bunch that can challenge anything life throws at us with confidence and enjoyment. 

 Carry on my friends…