Less than 2 weeks out........

Last week finished up with about 30 miles of run training along with cross training in the water and in cycling classes. Feeling pretty good. Started this week with a 10 mile trail run at 6.000 ft of altitude and 40F temps. A challenging run. Discovered my cold dry air exercise induced asthma - that resulted from my run on Sunday afternoon. Symptoms were identical to Leadville, which interestingly enough occurred at night when the temps dropped. So i'm thinking that I may that riddle solved for 2011 Leadville races.

Work is busy, but going to manage stress levels going into next week. Got a great massage tonight - lower back and legs were the focus, feeling brand new. This week I will be getting in 25-30 miles and then followed by 10 miles during race week just to stay fresh. 2 days out from race will get massage and will stretch and stay limber.

With this being the last race of the year - really looking for a good performance. This is a very very challenging course. No real flat straights to loosen up. Either your ascending or descending on this course. Strategy will need to be thought thru and managed on race day.

Life is good.

Cheers

3 Weeks till NF 50 Trail Run......Game On!

Managed to finish the week, STRONG! Got in a 10 mile run on Friday morning followed by calf and core work out. No issues with the right high achilles - that's HUGE! Yesterday I got up at 6AM for a 15 mile run with a local young bull and a bunch of U-30 triathletes. It was a beautiful blue sky morning, 55F when we started and 60's when we finished.

The course was all pavement, except that I tried to run on the grass, thru downtown Nashville. It was a hilly run which was good for the quads and prep for NF 50 Trail Run, which has more hills than calves and quads can handle. We averaged a modest 9 min/mile pace. The goal was to just put time on the legs and train at a slower pace. This is important because you do not want to go out too hot on a 50 miler, else you pay for it with a down on one knee BONK somewhere in the 30 mile zone.

Post run I iced down my right achilles and sucked down amino acids, recoverite and Aleve. It did the trick. I woke up this am popped some more Aleve, vitamins and H2O. Today is a cross training day. Swimming at the WCRC, long course, which will help the cardiovascular and endurance, with 1.5 hours of swimming. Going to jump try to get in a 2 hour bike ride before the swim. Would like to get in 3 hours of training today.

This week is a very important week to stay focused on staying healthy and not overdoing the training. I expect to get in 25 miles, all on the treadmill, 90% of which will be at a 10% grade or greater. 2 weeks out starts the taper, which admittedly I suck at, it is the hardest aspect of training. 1 week out is all about rest and staying loose while keeping weight off. Currently at 182lbs this am - which is 6-7 pounds heavier than I need to be for the NF 50 Trail Run. Thinking I go into the race at 177-178lbs, given the distance and need for strength. If I go in too light I will fade in the late stages of the race. That aint gonna happen.

Cheers!!

Training Resume's ........in San Francisco

Exactly 2 weeks post fall, I flew out to SF to meet the young bull for an attempt at running on the North Face Endurance 50 mile Trail Run. Two days before I went to a bone and joint doc who advised me to let my ribs heal for another 2 weeks. He also said in the interim I could do so cross training to keep my butt in shape. So with that I hit the pool and did a spin class. Two days later I was on the trails in Muir Woods National Park with the young bull.

By mile 3 on Saturday morning exactly 4 weeks out from the race the muscles in my back had loosened up and despite some minor discomfort I felt great!!! Game on young bull!! We managed to get in about 15.5 miles on the very hilly course a few miles outside of SF. My legs felt like they had a 2 week layoff. They were fresh for the run, but post run it felt like I'd been thru the meat grinder.

Saturday was a beautiful morning. We ran thru the fog, into the sun and back again. The temperature was probably mid to high 50's. The course itself is not very technical, unlike the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Trail Run. It is however, almost as hilly and challenging as the ascent and descent in Leadville, only minus the effects of altitude. See Pic below taken from the Muir Woods side of the Golden Gate bridge.




On Sunday am we managed to grind out 10.5 miles in the windy, foggy, rainy weather on muddy trails. On sore legs, the quads and calves were talking to me the entire time. At 4 weeks out, the timing was perfect to trash my legs and then load up on amino acids and proteins to build some muscle for the race. On Monday, we both flew out and back to work. Fortunately my #1 massage therapist was available on Monday night for a 90 minute rub down and work out some of the soreness in my quads, achilles and calves. I've been getting lot's of rest post SF training weekend, while doing some cross training - swimming, biking and running each morning. Run's have been 3 miles each day on the treadmill - so not to beat up my achilles - and allow my legs to recover, while I suck down proteins, antioxidants, alleve and lot's of water. Feeling good but tired. Getting up at 4:45AM for a 5-6:30 swim class, followed by a 5 mile run.

The plan for Saturday is to get in 10-15 miles on the soft treadmill. Realizing that this is different than trail running, just simply trying to keep the wear and tear off the legs while still getting in my miles. Also, will go for a two hour bike ride on Saturday as well. Goal is to get in 4 hours of training continuously so I'm prepared to put my body thru a sub 10 hour time at the NF50.

Cheers!