the earlier the better!

When I'm feeling down or just downright lazy I need to remind myself how great it is too start the day with an early morning run.  Unless it's really cold AND raining there really is no excuse for me not to get in 2-3 early runs a week.  Yes, it takes a bit of planning and getting things together but it is so worth it when I'm done.  Not only do I have the satisfaction of my run being finished for the day, I'm relieved of the pressure of having to get in a run after a tough day at work.  The run after work plan has NOT been working at all and it shows with my mileage being really low.  And, it showed with my performance or lack of it at Rocky Raccoon 2 weeks ago.

Shan, Diana and I ran the 5 mile loop at LBL this morning.  We had a good run.  They continued on as I had to be to work early today.  Planning on an easy 7 miler tomorrow from the office to LBL around the 4 mile loop their for a total of 7.

As of now I'm not committed to any runs besides Run like the Wind 6hr and hiking the Bandera 25k with Misty.  I've definitely decided against anything at Huntsville in Feb.  Past that there are a bunch of choices thru March and April.  Part of me wants to get some of my pride back at the Hogs Hunt 50k on April 16th.  It's the same course as Rocky Raccoon 50k with a different name.  The bottom line is more consistent training miles!!!

darkness

Got up at 5am this morning and got in a 5 mile run in the 'hood.  I was worried I'd have to test my mettle against mother natures predicted rain but it was dry and stayed that way for the hour I was out.  I was a bit slow starting out but felt better as I warmed up.  It always nice to be out and about in the early morning darkness.

circle of life

I gave Marc G an 11 mile tour of Barton Creek this morning.  We started at the HOL and ran the main trail, cut off on the side trail to Rick's spot.  I hadn't told him about Rick before so I told him about how Rick died and about the running miles and events he and I ran together.  On the way back I thought about the circle of life and how I'm continuing it by showing Marc the trails I run.

down again

Less than a quarter mile into my run in Bull Creek yesterday afternoon I went down AGAIN!!!  Once again I don't know what I tripped on but this time the landing was on the huge rock plate that is the "trail"......no dirt this time.  Thankfully I'm wasn't too badly injured.  I continued on and did 4 miles.  My right knee is skinned up pretty bad and right hip is bruised too.  I iced my knee yesterday evening and loaded up on vitamin I.  It's all feeling better this morning and with a few days rest I should be good to go Saturday morning with my scheduled 10 miler at Barton Creek.

Tuesday evening I got in an easy 2 miles on Townlake or Butler Park or whatever we're calling it now.

It seems there's been lots of "firsts" lately.   This would mark my first event not having my Mom to call afterwards.  She was always eager to hear what were almost always positive and sometimes jubilant reports on my runs.  When I first started doing the "longer" runs I think she thought I was a bit off, but as time went by I think she got it.  Over the past 4 years I've had Rick to think about and call on for strength during runs.  Now I'll have Mom and Dad as well.  While I'm on the subject of drawing strength I cannot discount the huge hug that Misty gave me on my way out the door Saturday morning.  Just the thought of her disappointment for me if I were to DNF is enough to keep me chugging along during a race!!

My days of being able to gut out a decent 50k on minmal training are over. Gone are the days of having an "automatic" top 3rd finish.  Due to way too much going on on Saturdays lately and too much emotional eating and beer drinking I ran the Rocky Raccoon 50k yesterday in 6:51 and finishing 76th of 87 finishers.  Time wise, this was my 3rd slowest 50k yet.  I'm going to count it as my slowest one though in regards to finish time/ effort.  I've run the Bandera 50k twice, my slowest being 6:53.  Almost anyone reading this blog will know that those nearly identical times don't come close to comparing when taking into account the difficulty of the Bandera course.  In Dec '04 I ran 6:55 on this course but that was truly a training run in lieu of the RR 100 mile that Feb.  On this run I gave it everything I had, I had nothing left at the end.

On the glass half full side, at the age of 51 I can go out and run 31 miles in under 7hrs on only 147 miles of running over a 2 month period.  Another positive is that I ran almost even spilts.  At the turn I came in around 3:15 and  left at the 3:24 mark.  I had been eating gels regularly, taking my electrolytes and eating at least a little bit at every aid station so I shouldn't have been out of gas but I was!

When I headed out for the 2nd 15.5 mile loop I surely thought I'd be finishing in 7:30.  I plugged and plugged on the 2nd loop and then with about 5 miles left I realized I had a good shot at breaking 7hrs and continued pushing.

For the near future Saturday mornings are going to be spent regaining my endurance.  I've got Sam's Run like the Wind 6hr coming in 4 weeks and the Rocky Raccoon 50 mile in 3 months and hopefully at least 2 other early spring events as well.

Oh, and I had Misty to call as soon as the race was over and reported to her that although I was slow I had the time of my life out on the trail again!!

do I or don't I?

Do I still have it?  I suppose I'll see tomorrow and in the upcoming months.  With only 147 running miles the last two months due to depression, being super busy at work, weekends being filled with too much social time, I can't help but wonder about my commitment to continuing as an endurance athlete.  Also, the continuing tingling in my left knee has me feeling very mortal as well.

One of the voices in my head the last few days has me considering stepping down to the 25k at Rocky Raccoon this Saturday, not having run a step since last Thursday makes me question whether I should do the 50k.  That voice justifies the drop down in distance by saying that with being off work tomorrow I can get in a 10 miler in Austin before we head to Cissy and Gene's house in Coldspring.  That would still give me 25 miles for the weekend AND I'd be back to C and G's in time to see the entire UT Tex Tech football game.

The other voice says, stop being a wimp, do the run, get the finishers award and another notch on my Ultra gunbelt.  You're really in pretty good shape.  You did have some really good miles in June, July and Aug and don't forget last Tuesday's run was a 10 miler in 1:44!!........and Sam did a very difficult 50 mile in Bandera last Saturday too on fairly minimal training miles, in other words on GUTS!!!!  Your psyche needs the ultra finish too.....no matter if it's slow.  You need to get it done.

great 10

Shan and I had a great 10 miler this morning!!  We had a nice slow start....warmed up after a mile or so, didn't push the pace too much and had a very satisfying finishing time of 1:44.

I really needed that run.  It was great to catch up with Shan and I needed a good run to help pull me out of my doldrums some.  2 good ten mile runs the last 3 days are gonna help with that I think.

Even though my mileage has been shit the last few months I still can't get Rocky Raccoon 100 mile out of my head.  I'm feeling like I need something big lately.  I'm already signed up for the Rocky Raccoon 50k.....am planning on the 6hr at Run Like the Wind and then Bandera 25k with Misty.  If I can squeeze in one more good 30 miler on January 21st I might just have a 28-29hr RR 100 in me yet!!