12 drizzly miles

I knocked out 12 miles tonight on what was the best I've felt on a run in probably over a year.  I did 6 miles with Jens, then dropped him off and knocked out the other 6.  I averaged right at 7:20/mile, which is pretty good for my current fitness level.  I still need to drop some weight, but tonight's pace is encouraging.  Once I add in some speed/tempo work and lose a few pounds, the average should start coming back down to where it should be.  I know its going to take a while, b/c I didn't let myself get in terrible shape overnight.

Hill Repeats

Tonight, Jens and I did hill repeats in the dark on trails out at St. Edwards.  The climb is about 3/4 of a mile up some pretty steep, technical terrain.  I took a headlamp and clipped a light on Jens and we ran 3 round trips.  Nothing amazing, but got in about 4.5 miles on tired legs.  Looking forward to working my way up to 5-6 repeats.

New distance PR for Jens

This is what Jens looks like after 8.2 miles. It is also what I will look like after my long run tomorrow.

Cool weather, long run

I switched my long run to Sunday this week to take advantage of the cooler weather that blew in Saturday night.  I tackled 3 hours and 40 minutes of trails going St Edwards -> Forest Ridge -> Bull Creek and back.  Typically, on that run, I might pass a few people in St. Ed's and a few in Bull Creek, but Forest Ridge is usually empty.  Today, I was shocked to run into about 10 total people on my passes through.  That's a lot of traffic on those trails.

I felt pretty good for the majority of the run, but definitely started slowing on the last 45 minutes.  I've got some work to do to get my endurance back up to tackle a longer race or two at the end of the year.  The cooler weather is making it a heck of a lot easier to throw down some mileage though.

Jens' first 10K!

It wasn't an official race, but I took Jens on his first 10K tonight.  Its still ridiculously humid out, can't wait for the cool front to come through in a few days.  I knocked out 10 miles last night as well.  It feels good to start putting in some good mileage again, but I still have a long way to go to get my fitness where it should be.

Way too long

Much too long between posts, but I took a much-needed mental break from training over the summer.  I still ran/swam/cycled, but didn't really have any structure.  I did a few races here and there, but didn't take any of them too seriously.  Now that the summer is over, I need some pounds to drop along with the temperature.  I have a few fall races in mind, but I've not registered for any thus far.  However, I'm doing some structured running, along with some other supplementary workouts.

I'm also pretty excited about coaching several people to their first 50 milers this winter and spring, along with potentially attacking a new distance for me.

Its time to get the train back on the tracks and moving forward.

Re-united with my first love...

After a three year split, tonight I was reunited with the Cascadia.  In trail running, the Cascadia was my first love, and we had a wild romance spanning about 5 years.  The relationship started in the mountains of Vermont and carried me through a long, rough day at Bear Mountain, NY.

Then, the Cascadia changed.  Something just didn't feel right.  "It's not me, its you."  I tried to make it work, but we just didn't mesh anymore.  We reluctantly parted ways, occasionally re-uniting.  Over the next few years, I bounced around from shoe to shoe, but nothing felt right.  Oh, some relationships started out great, but in the end, they all fizzled.  Friends told me that the Cascadia change.  It was back to its old ways.  But I just couldn't believe it.  Finally, I was reunited with the Cascadia through a third party, and tonight we went on a short date.  Things are looking up, my friends...

Jens, the runner

After being cleared by the vet last week to run up to 3 miles, I took Jens on his first run tonight.  We ran about a mile and a half, and then stopped so he could play with his friends.  There's a group of dog owners that assemble every evening to let their dogs play in the park.  Jens played for about 20 minutes, and then we ran the 1.5 miles back home.  He had way too much energy even after we got back.  For now, he's capped at about 3 miles, but he's going to put in a lot of miles in his lifetime...he just doesn't know it yet.

Now, I just have to figure out how to teach him to cycle, so he can mimic his namesake.

The mental game

Ben was just behind me, pacing me.  I was struggling mightily to walk up a short incline.

"Its pretty sad that I have 4 hours to cover 14 miles and I'm not going to be able to do it." [regarding finishing sub-24]

It was just before I hit the Dam Nation aid station for the first time on my final lap. That statement resonated loudly and wouldn't leave my head. 4 hours to cover 14 miles? Even though I knew how slow I was going, I couldn't comprehend not being able to cover that distance in four hours. But I knew the pace I had been moving at. My 90 year old grandmother would have easily been able to pace me. I was coming to the realization that it was impossible to cover that distance, even with four hours to spare. But still, the thought wouldn't leave my head, so I made a decision. I was going to break 24 hours or go down in flames. I figured if I wasn't going to break 24 anyway, nothing would change if I cracked...I had enough time to walk it in under the cut off. The fatigue was almost overwhelming, my ankles were swollen, and my feet throbbed with pain on every footfall. I pushed and pushed harder. I almost completely stopped talking to Ben and focused. One foot in front of the other, only walking briefly each time my body revolted, shutting down. I had to will myself to start running again each time.

3 hours and 45 minutes later, I crossed the finish line of my first 100 miler, and Joe Pursitis handed me a sub-24 hour buckle. I had proven exactly what I told a some people only days before. Ultras are run in your head.

First run post-100

I did a short ~3ish miles tonight just to see how my body is recovering.  I took it really easy, but I felt fantastic.  This week I will give a shot  at putting in some decent mileage to see how I respond.  I'm still a little in awe of running 100 miles.  It doesn't seem possible.  I can't wrap my mind around running that far or that long.  Somehow I did it.

Finished!

Sub 24! ~23:45. What a crazy experience. I'm still not sure that it happened, or how I just ran that far.

Update #8

Scott is on his final loop. He has had some ups & downs throughout but has stayed focused & really powered through the low points. He is running the toughest/longest stretch now & I will join up with him at the last aid station to finish up his last 4.4 miles of his first ever 100 miler!
He seems determined to finish under 24 hours & at this point he's on pace to do so. Most likely meeting up with him at 4am. Finish line updates to follow shortly....

Update #7

Through 60 miles in 12:30.

Update #6

2 loops done. 3 more to go....

Update #5

Temps are heating up a bit, but Scott is still in good spirits & running smart. Just came through mile 36.

Update 4

Moving at a good pace...just came through mile 23.

Update 3

Loop 1 completed, 4 more to go!

Update #2

Still going strong at mile 15.6!

Update 1

Looking fresh & strong @mile 3!!

It is imminent

I'm waking up in 5.5 hours. Then, I run. Katie will be posting updates on my blog tomorrow.

100 Miles of food

That's what will be fueling me this weekend.

Strangely enough, I'm completely calm about the weekend..  I don't know if its that I've gotten to a point where I'm no longer nervous before races, or that it just hasn't hit me yet.  Less than 36 hours until "go" time.

Rocky Raccoon

Next week at this time, I'll be in a great deal of pain or I'll be asleep.  Perhaps both.  I've kept it pretty quiet up until now.  I'm running the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler next weekend.  The reason I kept it quiet is that I've made multiple attempts to get to the starting line of a 100 miler, but I've ended up injured each time.  I don't feel like I've put in the kind of miles that I should have, but at least I'm getting to the starting line this time.  After that, it's all about just moving forward.  My only goal is to get across the finish line before the cut-off.