Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Jan. 23 to Jan 29

An odd week with some work, some travel to dog shows, and time for a reduction in mileage. The miles logged this week were good with all systems in full working order, no aches or pains and the fatigue not as noticeable.
Highlights: A nice 7 miler with Traysen at home on Thursday; this was a good outing considering Wednesday was a very long day of 20+ hours. A couple of nice runs in Ocala, FL with Traysen. Oddly enough, it was a bit cool (although still good for tshirt and shorts) at 630am! Needless to say, there was not one step of hill training on these two runs! Lastly, a nice 8 miler in Peachtree City, Ga rounded out the week. As mentioned before, this is my old stomping grounds and the  cart paths are endless. Even with Traysen along, I tried to run in the dirt, leaves, etc as much as possible on this run. (That pavement is going to kill the hips and knees.)

total miles for the week: 33.0
Total miles for 2012:   222.0

Monday, January 23, 2012

Jan. 16 to Jan. 22

With another work week ahead, the miles will be a challenge. As always it is about making choices: either forego other activities and get the miles in or whine 'cause I didn't get the miles in. The choice is clear and easily made!

Jan. 16: Well, the choice was made for me today! It was out the door and off to work very early. Flew to LAX and then flew the LA Lakers to Newark. A very long day indeed.

Jan. 17: Waking up in Newark with a one leg flight to Atlanta after a short night, , running on the treadmill was not even an option. (Did I mention getting in the miles this week was going to be challenging?) Luckily, once at home with Mom and Dad, the rain had stopped and Paddy, the dog, was ready for a walk. Out the door for a 2 mile fast paced stroll with Dad and Paddy and then nice 6 miler at a fast clip. Total miles today was 8 with the walk.



This would be running near Newark Airport.



Or a walk with Paddy the dog! It was worth waiting for an afternoon walk and run!


Jan. 18:  Running in the southeast in winter is almost a treat with the cool damp temps. This morning it was a dark departure and about 40 degrees. The first mile or so was with way too many clothes and after dumping half, it was an awesome 11 miler! Fayette County has finally added a paved path along Redwine Rd that leads to town. Oddly enough, as a kid, going to town was a big deal since it seemed like we lived way out in the boonies! It was only 4 miles but it sure seemed like quite a bit farther to a young kid. Now, running to town is not nearly enough miles and to get the full distance of 11 miles required a trek through various neighborhoods. These neighborhoods used to be cow pastures which I used to run through or ride horses through!





Jan. 19:  A basic slog fest of a 6 miler. Mostly a walk, but sometimes that's how it goes. The important thing is the legs and butt were out there!

Jan. 20:  With plenty of sleep, a great 10 miler was in store today. Traysen and I took off quite late (730am!) and blazed through the 10 with no effort. These runs are always a hoot and provide inspiration on those days when the slogfest occurs.

Jan. 21:  Today was the longest run of the week with 19 miles on the agenda. Traysen opted to boycott the whole mission so I was out the door at 620am with just enough daylight. Those first few miles in the cold air brought an easy spring to the step which included  a nice solid 1 mile climb around the 7-8 mile mark. All was going well heading into the half way point but then all &)))$$$#$@@@ broke loose! I was up ....and then I was one with the dirt. The classic chest, right knee, right elbow plant!!! Nope...no tree roots, no rock poking through the dirt....basically a benign stretch of dirt road tripped me up! This one took a few minutes to move past. A ripped up knee and no air in the lungs were slight cause for concern; however, some forced efforts to pull some air back in and off  I went...at a slow walk, then a slow trot, and then back up to full speed within 10 minutes of impact. The knee? What's a few more holes in the skin with a bit of blood spewing? The remainder of the run went just as well as the first half before the head over teakettle incident.
More on falling: For those that run trails, there will be falls. They just come with the territory...sometimes it is rocky, tree root infested territory! The key to these deviations from the vertical progress is to first, not panic or freak out that there is most likely blood coming out of some newly created orifice or that you may not be able to breath with no air in the lungs...not to mention the forward momentum has been completely bashed to the ground! While it is important to take a moment or two to  assess the damage to determine if you can continue, it is actually better to get back on your feet and slowly start moving again. The longer you sit on the ground and whine about it, the quicker the muscles shut down  and become cold. The usual associated stiffness can often set in quickly also  and your mental well being has already taken a huge blow so it is better to regain composure and start moving. Now, this is not to say that all falls allow us to start moving again. Some are very serious and seeking medical is sometimes needed. It's a judgement call to say the least.



Sunrise this morning.

Jan. 22:  Well, the damage from yesterday's fall was not too bad. Some early morning stiffness, some bumps and bruises, but there were 13 miles on the agenda today! And so out the door with a slow start. Quickly, however, it was up to full speed and a wonderful outing! The minor aches and pains subsided, becoming  almost an effortless outing. One oddity was the lack of confidence in the step. By this, I mean the mind was playing very close attention to NOT falling! Each time I pondered going head over teakettle again, my step was much more cautious.

Summary:  A great week of running! Even with a digger on Saturday, the body and mind are at full steam ahead!  As mentioned, trail running and falling go hand in hand...or is that foot n foot?
Total miles for the week: 67.0
Total miles for 2012: 189.0...which is 30 miles ahead of last year at this time...so much for cutting back on the miles!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Jan. 9 to Jan 15

With work this week, getting the miles in is going to be a challenge. But as I always say, "it's a choice...run the miles and forego other mundane activities!"

Jan. 9th:  To the basement gym with Trayen for biceps, shoulders, abs and wall squats. Have you ever tried to wall squats with a 90 pound doberman leaning  on you? He always adds a new twist on my workouts. Then we were out the door for a  brisk 8.0 miler. Despite this being the 8th day in a row of running, the effort was a strong one and the legs felt great.

Jan. 10th: Off to work before daylight and then flying all day. A day off from running was in order.

Jan. 11th: Waking up in Spokane, a favorite layover, it was a pleasant 8.0 miler along the river. The good news is that I was able to discover the trail continues for several miles north of my usual turnaround point so it was easy to get a nice out n back run in.

Jan. 12th: In Washington DC today and even though a beautiful day outside, it was to the hotel gym. In order was a workout of chest, triceps and abs; a sloppy effort with a healthy dose of fatigue built in! This used to be a favorite layover, but since we stay in downtown DC and getting to the trail along the Potomac River is almost impossible, I opt to hit the treadmill and elliptical. This mornings effort was 6 miles on the ellip and then 6 miles on the recumbent bike. I use a 3 to 1 ratio when on a bike....3 miles on the bike equals 1 mile of running. So the running total was 8.0 miles today. (Can't remember where I came up with the 3 to 1 ratio, but it seems logical enough and the bike allows for a brief period of cross training and something new for the head and legs. )

Jan. 13th:  Still a favorite layover, the short San Fran is always a welcome part of the schedule. Staying at the Westin along the Bayfront Trail is a nice run to the south, ending in the Coyote Point, a beautiful park encased in Eucalyptus trees. Even with not much sleep and the end of a 4 day trip, it was a nice effort of 8 miles. The shorts and t shirt weather may have had something to do with the easy, carefree run.



Bayfront Trail near SFO Airport.

Jan. 14: It's the first day back from a 4 day trip with a few country crossings. What more can I say....the run was blah! However, 12 miles was in order and that is what we did....it was a slow go, but Traysen dragged ole Mom up the hills and through the woods. Git 'er done!!!

Jan. 15:  After watching the NFL playoff game with the NE Patroits and the Denver Donkeys til the 2nd touchdown by the Patroits (which all happened in the first 8 minutes of the game!), it was to bed early on Saturday night. Good thing because Sunday was a long run day and then a long day.
Met with running buddy, Lori, for a wonderful 10 miler in Red Rocks, Bear Creek Park and then back out for an easy 6 miler, going solo. Lori is a great running inspiration. She has a nice steady pace and never gives up on an uphill!!!! Of course, she and I look a bit funny running together....she goes "plomppp, plomppppp" while Sarah goes "plod, plod, plod,plod, plod, plod"....We differ in height by several inches!



Yes, this is what we run!



We also run this mundane type of trail. Very beautiful area for exploring, whether running or leisurely stroll.

Summary: A good week of running, especially in light of a solid work week. The training is going well and the 100K race in April is still looming in the plans.  One aspect of running ultras is the unknown. Sometimes we are not sure of ourselves or our abilities to run a given distance or a given time, but as the training continues, the confidence builds. It's all about pushing yourself beyond your comfort level and realizing YOU can do what is "out there." Personally, pushing the mileage up this fast in an effort to get ready for the farthest distance I have ever run is definitely going beyond the comfort level. However, I have the confidence that my body and head can handle it.
Total for the week: 60.5 miles
Total for 2012: 122.0

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Jan. 2 to Jan.8


The first full week of the new year and it is one mostly of time off from work. Physically, the ole body could use a rest week, but with the upcoming work schedule, it is best to "make hay while the sun is shining" and get some good miles in.

At the moment, I am reading Relentless Foward Progress by Bryon Powell, somewhat a "how to run an ultra" volume.  As with many aspects of ultra running, the book is full of inspiration and other words of wisdom from experienced ultra runners. One such paragraph from Krissy Moehl:

"How often in life do we have the opportunity to inspire ourselves?...Pushing your physical limits, putting yourself to an unknown challenge is personally inspiring. It inspires you to get out of bed in the morning and train no matter what the weather. It inspires you to learn more about nutrition, training, and equipment to help you accomplish the task. To make it to the starting line is personal inspiration and to pull off the feat is an accomplishment hard to match. It is a very personal goal and one that will fulfill a soul."

As an ultra runner, we often do find personal inspiration within ourselves; however, it is also through each other that we find inspiration. Those fellow runners who have run a race you hope to run, those who have achieved fitness levels you aim to achieve, and through the encouraging words passed on to each other we find inspiration. My own inspiration: the pure joy of running itself, the benefits gained both mentally and physically, the ability to enjoy the outdoors by own two feet, and the ability to pass on to others what I gain from running. That last piece of inspiration has always been a big reasoning for this blog...to inspire others to believe in themselves and to push themselves beyond perceived limits.

Monday; Jan. 2: After a very late night in LAX, three hours of sleep and a return flight to Denver, it was a day off.

Tuesday; Jan. 3: Out the door not too early, it was a nice 8 miler around the house. A bit of an achy back (no idea why) made for a slower trot.

Wednesday; Jan. 4:  Finally getting it together and down to the gym at 5am for abs, wall squats, back, and triceps. (up to 2:15 for three sets on the wall squats). Then out the door with Traysen for a quick 7  miler, some of which was in the dark. Can't beat that early morning light when you almost need the headlamp and but then again you don't.

Thursday; Jan. 5: Traysen was being one lazy boy today so it was a nice solo outing on not much sleep. A quick 8 miler was the order of the day. As I have mentioned before, sometimes even a sleepless night will yield a quality run the next day; never will figure this one out.

Friday; Jan. 6:  Down to the gym with two dogs in tow. Savanna, the longhair mini dachshund, and Traysen did their best to push Mom through legs and abs today. Then out the door with Traysen for a slogfest of a 6  miler.

Saturday; Jan. 7:  With snow predicted on Sunday, today was the long run day. Traysen and I took off about 615am. After 10 miles, he was done and I was done dealing with him. (The boy cannot run a straight line and he has to "water" almost every tree.) Back out the door for another solo outing of 4  more miles. A great run in some wonderfully cold temps.

Sunday; Jan. 8:  Well, the weatherman/woman/whatever was way off on this prediction. Only an inch of snow at the house and nothing in the Springs, so quite an early start to meet good running friend, Lori. A Garden of the Gods start at 630am in the thick fog had us staying on the roads for a couple of miles. With a bit of daylight, onto the trails we went for an awesome 4-5 miles and then peeling off for a few more solo miles. Total today: 11.0 miles.
Garden of the Gods is always a favorite running spot.



The early morning light with a light dusting of snow.

Summary: An excellent first full week of the year. At the moment, the head and body are  ready for some focused training. With those thoughts, the 100K race goal comes to mind and after searching every known ultra race calendar website available, I have chosen the Jewel 100k in Dalton, GA on April 7th. Being three months away, the mileage will increase quite rapidly from the 45 a week to 80 a week. While many folks would raise the eyebrows at that one, I know my body can handle it and my training base has been very solid for a long time, especially over the last few months. So, doing the back to back long runs most weeks along with a medium length run mid week will get the head and body ready for the new distance. Also, this race is at almost sea level, has only  a few "hills," and is not too technical on the trails. The biggest challenge will be that it is four loops on a 15+ mile loop!!!! It will be a mindset not to get all wrapped up over that issue. So, it looks like the focused training for a race has begun and so far, it is going very well!
Total miles for the week: 54.0
Total for 2012: 62.0

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, 2012

The last week of the year is here and with that it is time to wrap up the mileage totals. As mentioned, a goal of 2900 miles for the year has been set and honestly, the specific number just came to mind when I realized the mileage of this year was going to exceed the mileage of last year; 2784.0 an all time high in one year. Analyzing the time frame of when I crossed the 2784 mile, the goal of 3000 miles for the year was just too much given work, winter, and other commitments. So, 2900 it is! This will be the most mileage I have ever run in one year. Will there be a goal of 3000 miles in one year? Only time will tell.
So, starting this week there are 38 miles to go to complete the mission.

Monday; Dec. 26th:  A short night in Cincinnati and then one very long leg to Seattle produced a lazy bum today. Plus it was time for a day off. A very relaxing afternoon in the rainy northwest was a much welcome relief.

Tuesday; Dec. 27th:  UP n at 'em early in Seattle. To the treadmill for a nice 8 miler, some abs and a some wall squats.  Then a full day of flying and ending the night in Salt Lake. Nothing special about this effort; just some nice miles at 9:00/ mile pace with some hill repeats. Those wall squats are kicking my butt!!! Literally!

Wednesday; Dec. 28th:  Given a fairly early start to the work day, it was  off to the treadmill at the La Quinta in Salt Lake. While not a favorite location (meaning the treadmill at this particular hotel), the cramped room does allow the window to be opened to allow the cold outside air in. Most likely hotel management would not understand my efforts to heat the outside of the Salt Lake basin?!
A nice 8 miler was the order of the day while listening to AC/DC, Tone Loc, Motley Crue and even a George Winston or two!

Thursday; Dec. 29th: Here we go with the first day back from 6 days of being on the road. Lazin' around til 645am, Traysen and I made it out for a slog fest of 7 miles. Great to be back in the hills and altitude of home.

Friday; Dec. 30th: Well, you would think almost 12 hours of sleep would produce a nice run, but unfortunately, it was a bit of a slog fest. Just slow to get going and never really picked up speed! It was an 8 miler with Traysen and the course is set to accomplish the 2900 mile goal.

Saturday; Dec. 31st:  Here it is ....the goal of 2900 miles is looming and it is time to git 'er done! With a commute to LAX today, it was out the door very early, in the dark, at 540am. After much prodding, Traysen the doberman reluctantly plodded along for the 7 miles. And a wonderful run it was; cool, dark, slowly becoming daylight, and no other creatures except me and Traysen.

Sunday; Jan. 1, 2012:  What seemed to be an easy trip on paper turned into a bit of work! Getting to Denver slightly late on the 31st, waiting on a crew van, etc at the airport and a long drive to downtown, it was a very late night. Crawled into bed only to be shattered back to life with the hotel fire alarm! In the 24 year airline pilot career, this was a first! Luckily, it was a false alarm except for the drunken idiot who pulled the handle and woke the entire neighborhood up!!!! (Yep, I'll remain a lady and not voice my real thoughts of the drunken idiot!!!)

Nevertheless, after some sleep, it was  down to the hotel gym to start the year right. A weight lifting session of biceps, shoulders, abs, and wall squats was a solid start and then a nice 8 miler on the treadmill. Hill repeats were the order of the day: 6 x .25 mile at 3% incline at 6.6mph pace.

Summary:  Well, it happened...the 2900 miles for 2011 is complete and the body is healthy and ready for more miles. A return to focused training has come to mind and the start of a new year is a perfect time to renew the training. More on that later.
Weekly Total: 45.0 miles
Yearly total for 2011: 2901.0
Yearly Total for 2012: 8.0