Getting in a groove

We are starting to see the warmer weather.  I know, 25 degrees is not great but at least it is an enjoyable run.  Been running more outside lately…  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 a variety of 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 I used the 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 total body workout to grab whatever I can to stop me from sliding down.  Really can feel the workout in the arms as well as the legs.  

 

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

 

Been reading many blogs of other ultra people I met and there are many interesting issues.  What I have learned is this is truly an individual thing as to what works and what does not.  I always provide my thoughts but emphasize that they need to test things on their own.  Although, I learned so much from people openly sharing and that is the key to success in my mind.  Not to be afraid to test and test the body and monitor how it reacts.  I also came across and interesting article cal "Leadville from Scratch -May 2006 From zero to 100 in a year"  (http://www.trailrunnermag.com/article.php?id=100&cat=3)  The author did not succeed but had some good information.

 

Anyway, looking forward to getting out there with you all again on the trails.  Thinking about organizing a Wednesday night weekly group run 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 save that for Buck Hill.  Although, I have heard the hill may be closed to walkers/runner after last year's issues.  It had become a popular location and the hills vegetation was so destroyed by walkers/runner and that was the start of a major erosion issue in August.  So I may have to look at another hill.  I am thinking the one at the Anderson Nature Center in Eden Prairie may be a good one…

 

Carry on…

Some things are not the same...

Running on a trail and running on the road are not the same! I know that sounds simple but I had a rude awakening 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 trial on the way home. On the way to work, I was in the grove, staring hard at the road, as if there were going to be rocks, roots or other impediments. Well, I just strolling along and kept going right through the intersection where I had the stop sign and the car did not. Close call, scare the crap out of me and made me recall, it has been so long since I have been on the road, I need to watch out. Felt so stupid!

Running has been going well staying above 30 miles a week, lift weights 4 days a week, ride stationary bike 70-100 miles as well as the elliptical. I am watching what I eat but no weight loss the past two weeks. Just keep pushing on, I have faith that once I can get outside regular, this will help. I feel the quality of the workout indoor can not match a good outdoor workout. I thought I was outside with regularity in February in past years? Could just 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… on the trails, as I appear to be a little to stupid for the street! Looking forward to some great group runs for the spring and really looking forward to the Superior 50K... Carry on…

Run Toto Run

The dogs I am familiar with would have a hard time running this past weekend. At least my girlfriends 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 rather kind to those of us 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 and it was ear infection, sinus infection and bronchitis. After five days of antibiotics and two inhalers, I was breathing better, although still questioned the strength in the lungs and not working out for five days.

We left he 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 went into a panic. I left the inhaler at the Hotel. My girlfriend was running the 5 K so I decided not to tell her or she would have went back to get it. (That is the way 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 go 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 start was onto a nice open are 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 the Garmin, I was averaging a 14 min mile and felt comfortable. There was some ice and little mud, I was actually surprised based on the course description that there were several parts that 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 trough the day. I came through the first loop very comfortable 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 not so bad then the mud really 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. Everytime my foot went it, I would pray the shoes and foot came out with it as the suction was unbeliveable. Now it could be that a 245 pound guy also went deeper into the muck than other, but I found it more difficult to lift my feet through the mud than to run. As I continued to have difficulty breathing, I made the decision 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 of 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 from the challenging course it is without ice to mud, to the ultimate test in 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 making my goals. I often wonder if they are setbacks or excuses generated from fear of a second failure. I and sure these negative and difficult thoughts are just part of my mind not allowing me to set myself up to fail again. 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 am going to run that race and try to rid me of the ghosts and other creatures, which haunt me. So I do run, because I enjoy it! This is really strange. 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 clod 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 set 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 will have to face if I really want 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 who are going down there and for those who could not make the trip, carry on… You are an inspiration and we love that there are other people like me out there who like to run, long distances. A final story is my girlfriend was with a client last week. She told him her boyfriend is going to run the 50 K in Kansas City and then try the 100 mile in September. She said the kind elderly gentleman leaned over and touched her arm softly, with a real 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 us with confidence and enjoyment. Carry on my friends…