I added the Mid State Massive knowing that I’m never going to get into the Vermont 100 since I’m 108 on the waiting list. A few nights ago after a great training day, I registered for the Midstate Massive. I’ve been reading blogs and watching YouTube videos about the race. My plan is to volunteer at the Vermont 100 and see what the 100 mile race is all about and learn everything I can. My plan prior to Leadville included volunteering at an ultra and it just didn’t happen. This time – IT MUST.
Here is my list of all the things I need to do to finish a 100 miler that I didn’t do while training for Leadville:
Run at night
Hill repeats
Speed work
Strength training
Walk a lot
Volunteer at a 100 mile race
Why do I need to finish a 100 mile race?
I want to know what it’s like to cross a 100 mile finish line. I want to understand what my body has to do in order to run 100 miles. I need to finish what I started. I want the buckle.
Back to the present: today is a long bike ride and run. However before that a short mountain bike ride on the Concord trails.
Sometimes I laugh when I ask someone how’s it going and they say “livin’ the dream”. And think, are you really? Is that cynical or sarcastic? Or do they genuinely mean it?
What if they were to answer: “oh my gosh, I’m so lucky to have this life and I’m so grateful?”
Perhaps not as socially acceptable.
That is my answer today, if asked, maybe, at the right time, in the right place.
Seriously. Today. My Life. I don’t want to sound too happy or too ….. I don’t know, because there are so many things not to my liking right now (not being at race weight, my dogs eating my comforter, gas prices, a pandemic, anything in the news, not running according to the plan).
But here are the things that have made me happy this week and I want to remember them:
Despite carrying my shoes to the sofa, this dog is pretty awesome. I get to ski as part of my job. I feel really good about this. Lucky. Wear a helmet. This is all this means. Seriously, this is where I work. I biked outside this week. This truly makes me happy. This doesn’t really make me happy but it’s reminder that Goldie needs more exercise. I’m going to run with her more.
It is 5:30am and it light outside. I love spring. I’m so excited to take the dogs on the trail and go for a run this morning; even after a few hard days of training I’m excited to run!
The last two days were amazing and hard – it’s back to endurance training. I guess I need to call it that because I’m simultaneously training for Ironman and a 50 Miler. I’ve never successfully done this so it’s going to be interesting.
Swim: I still can’t get a “convenient” lane at the pool. I sign up, I’m waitlisted. When a session opens it’s usually 45 minutes before and I miss the email. Or I sign up and get a lane and I have a meeting or something that prevents me from getting there. Then I deregister. Come On!
Bike: The weather is perfect for biking now. I biked on Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s hard not being in bike shape. As I rode I thought about how much I truly love biking. I love it more than any other sport. I refuse to bike indoors during the cold months because I truly believe it will make me hate biking. Like all the years before, I suck at biking for the first week or so then get stronger and stronger. This spring I will be equally tri-biking and mountain biking. We will see if it makes a difference.
Run: I didn’t run much these last two days because the bike kicked my arse. My legs were. fatigued and my back sore. I ran after the first bike ride because I really needed to run. But alas, three miles doesn’t really cut it. It’s okay: I’m back on track and will run this morning.
Weights/Core: Back to the gym for Week 2. I really like the circuit workout I do. All of a sudden I look up and an hour has gone by. I love sweating and just feeling strong. And wearing a mask while working out isn’t that big of a deal.
Everything is Good. Hard. Fun. Difficult. Complicated. This outdoor life is good. The training life is good.
This week I recovered from the 14-hour hike in the White Mountains last Saturday. It was a tough day. I realized after finishing that I just need to train better and get stronger for these long hikes. I want to have epic adventures and need to be strong all year long. I just started back to weight training mid-June and I wasn’t hiking for long periods of time. It’s time to get back at it.
I have some work to do.
Franklin Falls mountain biking trails, Mighty Chicken
I rode Franklin Falls for the first time and the trails were spectacular. They are touted as not technical but I thought they were pretty challenging. Not as challenging as the the trails I ride in Concord but harder than Bear Brook. It was great fun discovering a new place and riding with Sonja and Jay. This trail system has very few rocks but so many roots. Mighty Chicken trail was mighty fun. I look forward to getting more familiar with these trails since they are just a 35 minute drive from my house.
This week I ran, swam, biked and lifted weights. Not at the volume I should be doing but going in the right direction. What will be important in the next few weeks is long run/hikes back to back to get ready for the 3-Day Ragged Race (if it doesn’t get canceled).
It’s been an adventure-filled week of mountain biking, running in the humidity, swimming in lakes and rivers, and dogs wrecking my stuff. News about Ironman Mont Tremblant came this week. They offered some options about transfering to a 2020 race or postponing until next year. I have until June 29 to make a decision. Options include Lake Placid, Wisconsin, Chattanooga and Texas. All really great options that would get me training hard. I told Mark I’m going to concentrate on running this year and just postpone until next year. However, stranger things have happened since I may be up for more adventure and craziness.
Mont Tremblant options……
Mountain Biking I bought a season pass for Bear Brook. It was time. I love this place. And since I never take pictures while biking all I have is a screenshot from Strava of a fun adventure on Sunday.
Running Running has been difficult with a sore back (thanks dogs) and the heat. I had dog training on Saturday mornings for the last 6 weeks so runs sometimes were cut short. I didn’t have that excuse this past Saturday. Long runs are my nemesis and this needs to change pronto.
Gunstock 50 miles is coming up in September.
My mid-week runs have been decent and certain hills I’ve been getting stronger. This coming Saturday I’m running/hiking with my Leadville friends so I know I’ll get in 22 miles.
They promise water at Lake of the Clouds.
Presidential Traverse I’m so excited for Saturday and running/hiking the traverse with the same people I ran/hiked the Pemi Loop with last year. I’ve been wanting to do the traverse for so long and now I get to. I even had an opportunity to hike it mid-week with another group this week but I couldn’t make dog kenneling and logistics work, but that would’ve been epic and helped training for Ragged Mountain.
The YMCA is opening more options this week and I will start weight training this morning. I don’t want to overdo it before the Presidential Traverse on Saturday but I’m excited to get back to getting stronger.
Having a beer with my dad at the Atlantic Grill on Sunday. Happy Father’s Day.
The week wouldn’t have been completed with some sort of destruction of property. I wanted to give Goldie another chance at free reign of the house while I biked and came home to this:
Goldie’s destruction of property. She is lucky she is so darn cute.
This week is the last full week in June and then it’s on to July.
