Posts

Posted on

Week 16 Recap, Leadville 100 Training

It is the biggest mileage week: 56 miles ran. 62.7 when I include hiking. This may be why I felt like ca-ca today on my trail run. I’m waiting for Garmin to synch to Strava to get total vertical for the week.

This week I ran a 10 mile mid-week run. For the 100 mile training plan there are a few long-ish mid-week runs. This week I opted for a fast-ish road run but in the future it’s all trails, baby!

Saturday I drove up to New Gloucester to pre-run the Pineland Trail Running Festival’s course. The plan was to run a full loop – around 15 miles. However, the groups got split up and we lost the way. Plus, I was talking to some runners before the group run started and forgot to put gel/food in my hydration vest. I realized the error when I was suddenly starving at mile 6.

Along with lack of food and 100% humidity and the endless hills – I was, again, feeling like ca-ca. I decided to cut the group run short and headed back to the car for a grand total of 7 miles and 800 feet of elevation gain. My legs were sore. I drove in my car longer than I ran.

Here’s how the week played out:

I had to move a bunch of runs around due to running the Pineland course and then not getting all the miles in that I needed. I didn’t get two days off which is probably why my legs are wrecked but also getting a massage the day before a long run isn’t advised. But, again, I had to work everything in without ideal scheduling.

Next week is the Peak Ultra in Vermont. I’m starting my taper Monday and trying to keep keep the legs fresh before this mountain trail run on Saturday. And just 20 days until the 50 miler.

Posted on

Mid Week Training Update, Shoe Review, Breakfast, Finisher Glass

Thursday, May 2. It’s been a good few days, training-wise. I’m eating well, completing my miles, doing weights and core.

Saucony Koa ST Trail-Running Shoes

I like the Saucony Koa. I ordered them a few weeks ago because I wanted a trail shoe that wasn’t zero-drop. I love my Lone Peaks but I also need to mix it up a bit. For the first time I read a bunch of reviews before buying online at REI. These had pretty decent reviews for the terrain I’m running on. I will need to run in them a few more times for a full report and grade – but I like them so far. I like how grippy they are. I’m not crazy about the lacing system. About seven years ago I had Salomon trail running shoes with this lacing system and I could never get them tight enough so I’ve never gone back to that brand.

The Pineland finisher glass.

I want this glass. At the end of the day on May 26 I hope it is in my possession. This is race #3 of the five-race series for 2019 to be my dream year.

Breakfast

I’ve never been much of a bacon fan. I bought it for the first time in a decade this week. I’ve added two slices every morning and it really fills be up and I’m not starving by 11 a.m.

So this is my update heading into the weekend, and doing the mileage I was supposed to do last weekend. The only problem mileage-wise is Saturday because I’m going up to New Gloucester to preview/run the Pineland course. I’m also getting a massage from my favorite masseuse who fixes all my muscle and tendon issues.

Today’s Run. Not super fast but on the hilly, rocky, wet trails.
Posted on

Week 17 Training Recap

Average Resting Heart Rate: 51

Total Vert: 7,200

Miles: 45.7 (includes hiking)

Let’s start with the Good this week:

Total Vertical – 7,200 is the highest number to date since training started on January 21. I got in more hiking this week including an attempt at Whiteface in the White Mountains. While the snow is gone on the trails in Concord there is still plenty of snow and ice an hour north of me.

Resting Heart Rate – average heart rate is getting higher, to a better number. 47 is just too low even for a fit athlete. As I look at my watch just now Average Resting bumped up to 55. This means no dizziness and just feeling better all around. I’m not sure why it plummets like it does, and I actually think it may have something to do with humidity but I will continue to monitor.

Weight Training – I’m back in the weight room and I love the new routine. I started on a machine that will hopefully help me do a real pull up.

Hiking in the Whites – hiked in the Whites with Alex, his pup and Winnie. I love being in the White Mountains and we hiked into the Sandwich Range Wilderness. (Should’ve snapped a photo of the sign.) I always love being in a wilderness.

Injury Free – I’m injury free!

The Bad/Unfortunate

I didn’t hit the big mileage that I planned for this weekend. Saturday was a bust after running 11 miles on the Concord trails including Carter Hill (the photo above), falling and injuring my left pinky that doesn’t bend from being broken in 2014. I was nervous about the swelling and getting worse so I headed home. At 14 miles I called it. Once I was home I didn’t go out on another loop. Motivation was low on Saturday from the pain and cold temps. I need to work on this dedication/motivation issues when I need to finish training plan miles. Sunday started with a 4am wake up call and drive to the trailhead to meet Alex. The hike was awesome – not too steep at first and a bit of a monorail most the way. The mileage was supposed to be around 8 but we turned around at the first icy ledge that seemed like certain death for curious dogs. But the bad part is that I really thought I’d come home and run 13 miles and I didn’t. Hiking was the highlight of my week!

I had a head cold all week. On the weekdays when I knew I had to do mileage (a pro in the middle of the con statement), I did the miles but felt awful most of the time.

Today, Monday, April 29 it’s time to regroup and commit to miles, weights, stairs, hiking and night runs. My cold is over and I’m injury free. Time to get strong and get ready for the next 30 miler milestone on May 11.

Posted on

Game of Thrones, Season 4 Daenerys Targaryen

I gave into popular culture and started watching Game of Thrones.

I tried a few time over the last year and never made it past episode 1 on the first time and second try. Then finally on the third try I made it past episode 3 and knew I would watch until then end. I only made the third attempt because my co-worker/friend told me, who happens to read A LOT, it is truly just a great story – well told – minus the blood, gore, nudity (full frontal female nudity only, shall I say) and a lot death, which I abhor.

One month later I’m binge watching Game of Thrones, which is ill-advised but I really don’t listen to anyone. I’m on Season 4.

GoT came at a good time – I’m training for the ultra race, the ultimate race, a race I’m not sure I can finish but mentally I need to think I can. So, recovery this race season is Game of Thrones.

The character I love: Daenerys Targaryen. Why? She knows what she wants. She turns a bad situation into the best situation. She has great mental energy.

I say that not knowing what happens in the final season that is on HBO right now – which I don’t have.

Right now, okay maybe tomorrow (it’s been a long weekend of not meeting goals) I’m going to feed my desire to achieve by taking in everything this character embodies.

Okay, maybe the last quote was more political than personal but the personal is political – so there.

Week 17 recap tomorrow.

Posted on

Heading into a big mileage weekend

It’s Saturday and I just got back from a warm-up hike with Winnie.

4 miles around Marjory Swope

And hitting Jerry Summit twice for some added vert.

Now it’s time to head out for 25 miles. I’ve been fighting a head cold that is now heading into my lungs but it’s very minor. However, yesterday running up hills was hard!

I’m heading for the hills west of Concord and not sure what the mileage of the first loop will be. The plan is to come back to my house to refuel and then head out again to finish the miles. It’s wet and muddy out there but I’m up for the challenge.

Tomorrow is a hike up north for a 4,000 footer and then a 13 mile recovery run. This is it. This is what I have to do to get strong and be ready for 100 miles.