training – An Outdoor Life

August 27, 2024August 29, 2024

Do Hard Things 18-month BIG plan

I have BIG plans for the next 18 months. I’m not getting any younger and so I need to do all the races that I either didn’t finish the first time or races I’ve been obsessing about for years.

This is me in 2019, at the Leadville 100 starting line:

I’ve been obsessing about Leadville since 2012. I raced the 10K when I lived in Colorado. Finished the Leadville Marathon in 2019. DNF’d Leadville 100 in 2019. And DNS Leadville 50 in 2023.

This week I went down the rabbit hole of researching top finishers in my age group of these races to see what I could learn to help me finish Leadville 50 and 100 and this is what I learned: they finished HARD races leading up the Leadville. One runner I researched lives in Tennessee and she finished races like Beast of the East, Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker, Georgia Death Race – all races that warn you to not attempt unless you are fit and mountain extreme ready.

It was an eye opener 1) because I think I can do anything and 2) I thought I trained hard in 2019 but I didn’t finish hard races leading up to the big race.

Now, I want to finish any 100 no matter the course or location. So it’s part of the plan but Leadville has to be part of this plan.

It just does.

Therefore, here is my plan to share with you, subject to changes, additions, subtractions. My only rule to myself is that when I register, I have to show up. You are probably thinking that is the bare minimum, sheez. However, I do have a tendency to get scared and anxious, and not show up. But I’m older now, the least I can do is show up. I’m going to show up. I’m going to follow the plan and DO HARD THINGS.

My BIG plan started this month with the 50K Miner’s Lady, which unfortunately I twisted my ankle on a downhill section and limped through my first, and only lap; it was a 5 lap course. I’m rehabbing my ankle as I write this story about my Do Hard Things 18-month BIG plan.

Here is my plan for the rest of 2024.

September – Panther Creek 10 Miler
October – Mammoth Cave 50K
November – Philly Marathon
December – Lookout Mountain 50M

These are not big, scary races, however, I’m approaching them as base training and building distance and strength. Training will include lifting weights, core work, running LeConte A LOT, cross training and solid recovery. When all goes well, I’ll sign up for the 2025 races.

But here’s a sneak peak of what I’m thinking about, plotting and planning for 2025. It’s BIG. But I’ve always had big goals, big dreams and think I can do it all.

Tasali Ultra, Black Canyon, Roaring Gap (this is a re-do), Monument Valley (I’ve always wanted to run here), Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker (Big, Scary), Umstead, Ultra Race of Champions (re-do), R2R Grand Canyon (big dream), Chattanooga 70.3, Leadville 100 (re-do), Continental Divide Trail (dream), Ironman Florida (re-do).

May 4, 2023May 5, 2023

Trail running in the Blue Ridge Mountains Virginia

The trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains was a great discovery trip. I didn’t want to leave the dogs and I certainly didn’t want to bring Chet to be kenneled after only having him two weeks. But I did it and headed north to Virginia to run a 25K trail run.

Mark flew to Knoxville and then on Friday we headed to Stuarts Draft, VA to stay in a cabin at Sun Retreats, the basecamp for the race.

When I signed up for UROCK it was December and I thought for sure my training was heading to the point that 60 miles was a good lead up to Leadville. However, moving wrecked havoc and motivation tanked. Adopting a dog prevented me from the routine that is needed to train properly.

We ran the 25K and had a great race. It was a beautiful course.

There were several river crossings.

Gorgeous trees.

This race gave me everything I needed to get my butt in gear to meet my training and racing goals for this year.

I’m ready to train seriously for Leadville 50 and 100.

This past weekend gave me all the motivation to get to the park and run mountains, to get back to the me who loves training on trails.

Thanks to my BFF Mark who made this all happen.

And, we visited Brother Bill and Lisa and got a tour of their amazing lake near Roanoke.

December 15, 2018March 27, 2020

Today in Pictures

The grind up the hill. It wasn’t a steep hill it was just never ending.

By the numbers: 1,123 ft of climbing: up and down and all around. Kicked my butt.

I won! I don’t win much when playing with Jeff. But this was a good hand. I miss you Obama.

June 8, 2018March 27, 2020

Prep for North Face Endurance race Massachusetts

Today is the day before the big race that will define the next 3 years.

No pressure.

This North Face Endurance race in Massachusetts is touted as one of the toughest trail runs, meaning that the DNF percentage is pretty high due to terrain and elevation change. A few months ago I was thinking that I would start and just do what I can. If I didn’t finish, at least I will start – no matter what.

Now, since my training has gone well and I feel good I really want to go ALL IN. I’m going to finish – no matter what.

I want to do the races that I’ve been dreaming about and planning for since 2014 – ultra distances culminating in the biggie – 100 miles.
Tomorrow’s race is now about how to pace and finish a tough trail run at a shorter distance – 26.2 miles*.

I’ve tried over the last few years to sign up for 50 miler and that will force me to train for it; and that just hasn’t worked. It worked for Ironman but a 50 miler was so intense and I couldn’t do the training miles.

So much has changed this year.

I’m highly motivated and my training is going well. I’m 100% vegetarian and 80% vegan (darn pizza and ice cream, but I’m working on it). I feel like I recover better from hard training and I’m a bit lighter (still working on that too). While I’m not living in the mountains (like in Colorado) or surrounded by mountains (like in Tucson) I live in a hilly place and the mountains are 45 minutes away.

I’m working it.

Since I’m not on social media anymore I don’t follow the ultra runners to stay motivated like I used to do. Now, I watch a lot of YouTube videos and subscribe to newsletters and magazines. But the key is doing the training, following the training plan and staying focused.

Today, one day from race day, I am going to walk and hike but no running. I’ve been tapering all week so I’m going into tomorrow’s race well rested. I’m going to finish this darn race: 26.2 hard trail miles at Wachusett Mountain Resort.
I have all my post-race food ready for me and on Sunday, my recovery day, Mark arrives for week! Woo hoo! He will be training on some hills in Concord all week and hopefully escaping the heat and humidity of Houston. Temps and humidity percentages looks good so far.