Made it into the pool and onto the bike on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. On Wednesday just hit the bike. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I hadn't lost a ton after being off of the bike for a few months while I had focused on my run. My knee and IT band felt just fine. No running this week at all. I'm going to try to run a few miles on the treadmill on Sunday. In addition to hitting the pool and bike I started back on core exercises. Thinking that I need to research a few different core exercises to mix up my routine, along with squats and perhaps a yoga class or pilates once a week.
Being back in the pool was a bit of a challenge as I've lost my form and I've got to get back to focusing on form and efficiency in the water. It continues to be a weakness but over the next 60 days I'll have a 1.2 mile swim dialed in. An ocean swim with no wetsuit, mind you.
All of my trail running has given me a great base to build on as I enter triathlon training season. Still need to buy a mountain bike and plan out my late spring training on it.....still have plenty of time.
Tomorrow I plan on hitting the pool again along with a the bike for an hour spin or perhaps actually getting on my B2 Pro outside. Having ridden the STX course and run it as well, I definitely have the home field advantage over the young bull. I just have to hope that my IT band/knee heals up and i can get in enough run traning to have a 1:35 half marathon after smoking the bike in 2:35....we'll see.
Gotta get my sleep, so I can train, think, etc....
Cheers!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
First day back at Training
Well, after taking a solid week off to lick my wounds form the RR100 I resumed my training schedule. My next event is the 70.3 IM STX on May 1, 2011. I've got a young bull to slay that day.......
Actually got back into the pool this morning at 5:00AM and followed it with an hour spin class. My left IT band/knee is still giving me some minor problems, but confident I can work thru this issue. I've got an appt with my Doc next Friday to xray it and make certain that nothing serious is wrong.....thinking not....but rather be safe than sorry.
So I'm excited about being able to train again and to have a simple focus, which is to have a great time in STX.
Going to get some sleep - a long day.
Cheers!
PT
Actually got back into the pool this morning at 5:00AM and followed it with an hour spin class. My left IT band/knee is still giving me some minor problems, but confident I can work thru this issue. I've got an appt with my Doc next Friday to xray it and make certain that nothing serious is wrong.....thinking not....but rather be safe than sorry.
So I'm excited about being able to train again and to have a simple focus, which is to have a great time in STX.
Going to get some sleep - a long day.
Cheers!
PT
Monday, February 7, 2011
RR 100 Results ...........
At the 6AM start the temperature was 18F. It was a bitter cold beginning to this race. When training for an event like this you always just hope and pray that the weather will cooperate, because running 100 miles in and of itself is difficult enough without the weather complicating matters. Well today the weather was a challenge in the morning, was really quite beautiful during the day and then the temps dropped like a rock once the Texas sun set. While I have to say the weather wasn't my issue on this day, injuries on the course ended my 2nd attempt at a 100 mile trail run.
Leading up to the race I trained well, got lots of rest and generally feeling pretty darn good about my chances. Having DNF'd in Leadville and taking on a much flatter course in TX I really thought that this was going to be my day. Every event you learn something new about the sport, yourself and equally important others around you. My experiences in triathlons, 50 mile endurance runs and an attempt at LT 100 gave me a solid informational base both physically and mentally in approaching this race. I knew that I was physically fit for the race. I also knew that i was mentally fit for the race....albeit probably debatable by the naysayers.
Being mentally fit means understanding the course, your limitations and being able to adapt and handle what the day throws at you. Sometimes its good and sometimes not so good. For the most part the race was a success, despite the fact that I didn't actually complete the event. So why was the day a success? I successfully completed 80 miles, the furthest distance to date. I got injured on the course which then resulted in another injury which compounded with fatigue and weather caused me to sit down at mile 80 and take an inventory of the situation. I knew that with 7.5 hours left in the race that it was going to be a huge challenge to finish in under the 30 hour cutoff, given the fact that it had just taken me 8 hours to complete the previous 20 mile lap. Not to mention, I knew that I was pretty beat up. I did think that with the sun rising in 2.5 hours that it might provide me with the energy needed to pick up my pace, however, the little rollers on the course had become almost insurmountable on the 4th lap as both left and right legs/feet were injured and trying to go up or descend was painful to say the very least.
My pacer, Tim Engel, was pushing hard for me to keep going at the mile 80 aid station. He was going to his car to get more clothes to wear for the last lap and final push, but before that I told him that it wasn't a good idea to go on and that it was time for me to call it quits. He told me to think about it while he went to the car. I knew that I was done, he knew that I was done. So with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands I was very very happy to be sitting down and at complete peace with my decision to stop. I was happy that I had completed 80 miles and didn't want to really hurt myself. I knew that I had beat up my IT band and wasn't quite sure weather I had fractured my right foot or not, only knew that I couldn't put too much pressure on it when walking. So as I sat there at 4:30AM sipping my hot chocolate, waiting for Tim to return and enjoying the fact that I was done, I began to feel a little light headed, my ears began to ring, then my face got hot and then a cold sweat. I knew that my blood pressure was dropping and that I was going to pass out. As I sat in the chair I calmly asked a volunteer at the aid station to get a medic because i was going to pass out. He didn't hear me the first time so I repeated it again. It was one of the last things i remembered before waking up as i was being tossed around in the back of my rental car as Tim was taking me to the local ER.
Not a fun way to end the race, but a reminder of the fact that running this distance is not normal or probably good for the body. As usual, a lot was learned during this race and many more experiences gained. It was a bunch of fun, a challenge to say the least and will keep me coming back to chase the elusive 100 mile goal.
For now, signing off.
Cheers!
Leading up to the race I trained well, got lots of rest and generally feeling pretty darn good about my chances. Having DNF'd in Leadville and taking on a much flatter course in TX I really thought that this was going to be my day. Every event you learn something new about the sport, yourself and equally important others around you. My experiences in triathlons, 50 mile endurance runs and an attempt at LT 100 gave me a solid informational base both physically and mentally in approaching this race. I knew that I was physically fit for the race. I also knew that i was mentally fit for the race....albeit probably debatable by the naysayers.
Being mentally fit means understanding the course, your limitations and being able to adapt and handle what the day throws at you. Sometimes its good and sometimes not so good. For the most part the race was a success, despite the fact that I didn't actually complete the event. So why was the day a success? I successfully completed 80 miles, the furthest distance to date. I got injured on the course which then resulted in another injury which compounded with fatigue and weather caused me to sit down at mile 80 and take an inventory of the situation. I knew that with 7.5 hours left in the race that it was going to be a huge challenge to finish in under the 30 hour cutoff, given the fact that it had just taken me 8 hours to complete the previous 20 mile lap. Not to mention, I knew that I was pretty beat up. I did think that with the sun rising in 2.5 hours that it might provide me with the energy needed to pick up my pace, however, the little rollers on the course had become almost insurmountable on the 4th lap as both left and right legs/feet were injured and trying to go up or descend was painful to say the very least.
My pacer, Tim Engel, was pushing hard for me to keep going at the mile 80 aid station. He was going to his car to get more clothes to wear for the last lap and final push, but before that I told him that it wasn't a good idea to go on and that it was time for me to call it quits. He told me to think about it while he went to the car. I knew that I was done, he knew that I was done. So with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands I was very very happy to be sitting down and at complete peace with my decision to stop. I was happy that I had completed 80 miles and didn't want to really hurt myself. I knew that I had beat up my IT band and wasn't quite sure weather I had fractured my right foot or not, only knew that I couldn't put too much pressure on it when walking. So as I sat there at 4:30AM sipping my hot chocolate, waiting for Tim to return and enjoying the fact that I was done, I began to feel a little light headed, my ears began to ring, then my face got hot and then a cold sweat. I knew that my blood pressure was dropping and that I was going to pass out. As I sat in the chair I calmly asked a volunteer at the aid station to get a medic because i was going to pass out. He didn't hear me the first time so I repeated it again. It was one of the last things i remembered before waking up as i was being tossed around in the back of my rental car as Tim was taking me to the local ER.
Not a fun way to end the race, but a reminder of the fact that running this distance is not normal or probably good for the body. As usual, a lot was learned during this race and many more experiences gained. It was a bunch of fun, a challenge to say the least and will keep me coming back to chase the elusive 100 mile goal.
For now, signing off.
Cheers!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
It's a Chilly Night in Texas......
We made it to Houston this afternoon on time, surprisingly, despite snow and ice storms that have hit the south. I';m so tired of the cold weather. When I picked out this early season race, I was thinking about a warm, low altitude venue. Tomorrow morning the temperatures are suppose to be in the mid 20's, yep, that's right, the mid 20's...WTF?? So I do have plenty of gear and will be very well prepared.
The sun rises around 7PM and sets around 6PM....Tomorrow night the temps will get back down below freezing, which is when things will get a little tricky. Hopefully, I'll be able to shake the 72 mile DNF monkey off my back. I have a game plan for tomorrow, but it's a loose plan. That's the way I like it ...loose.
I've trained well for this race. Definitely have not over trained. I have no injuries or even minor tweaks entering this race. I have gotten plenty of rest, eaten well and mentally have prepared for a very tough 24 hours. My goal is simple, watch the super bowl on the big screen back at 9651 Masonwood Way. That's perspective.....
WIth that said, it's time to get my 7 hours of sleep. I'll be texting updates to my posse throughout the race....
Cheers!
PS - Go Big or Stay Home.
The sun rises around 7PM and sets around 6PM....Tomorrow night the temps will get back down below freezing, which is when things will get a little tricky. Hopefully, I'll be able to shake the 72 mile DNF monkey off my back. I have a game plan for tomorrow, but it's a loose plan. That's the way I like it ...loose.
I've trained well for this race. Definitely have not over trained. I have no injuries or even minor tweaks entering this race. I have gotten plenty of rest, eaten well and mentally have prepared for a very tough 24 hours. My goal is simple, watch the super bowl on the big screen back at 9651 Masonwood Way. That's perspective.....
WIth that said, it's time to get my 7 hours of sleep. I'll be texting updates to my posse throughout the race....
Cheers!
PS - Go Big or Stay Home.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tick Tock goes the Clock......the Countdown Begins...
I'm 57 hours out from the RR100....There has been a lot of time invested in training and planning for this event. A 100 mile race is a challenge by anyone's standards, so when asked if I'm ready, the short answer is...as much as I'll ever be. It't 9:25PM in Denver and I'm in bed chillin out after watching my Orangemen whip up on CT. I got in a 3.5 mile run on the Tmill this am. A busy day at the office and just finished up responding to a series of emails.
Post work got in an 80 minute massage at Massage Envy, which is better than not getting one, but just barely. They never ever listen to me when I say ... all i want is for you to work my hamstrings, quads, calfs, achilles and feet. They spend 75% of their time on back and neck before getting to my legs.....every damn time...oh well...like I said better than nothing.
I've got a busy day planned tomorrow and then getting to bed early. Going to get in an easy run on the Tmill again in the am. No injuries or tweaks. Feeling really good going into this race, other than I haven't had very many long runs other than the SF50 in early December.
Tired right now...signing off.
Cheers!
Post work got in an 80 minute massage at Massage Envy, which is better than not getting one, but just barely. They never ever listen to me when I say ... all i want is for you to work my hamstrings, quads, calfs, achilles and feet. They spend 75% of their time on back and neck before getting to my legs.....every damn time...oh well...like I said better than nothing.
I've got a busy day planned tomorrow and then getting to bed early. Going to get in an easy run on the Tmill again in the am. No injuries or tweaks. Feeling really good going into this race, other than I haven't had very many long runs other than the SF50 in early December.
Tired right now...signing off.
Cheers!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sing me to Sleep...I'm Tired and I want to go to Bed...The Smiths
It's about 80 hours out from the race and I'm trapped in a winter freeze with temps in the negative teens in Denver. Not only not cool....actually damn cold. This morning the snow talked to me as if it were in the same amount of pain as I was, but only more. Nobody was happy today...tried to fix that with a massage and a nice dinner back at the hotel. Eating light this week, wanna drop a couple of pounds before the race. Man, it's going to be a tough 24 hours in Texas.
I'm tired. Going to get up in the am for an easy treadmill run and solid bfast, then off to the rock pile...assuming the jeep will start.
No worries.....
Cheers.
PT
I'm tired. Going to get up in the am for an easy treadmill run and solid bfast, then off to the rock pile...assuming the jeep will start.
No worries.....
Cheers.
PT
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