Feb. 13 to Feb. 19

Off on a new week of running and with vacation, it should prove be a great time for many miles.

I was recently asked "How often do you change running shoes?" The basic answer is "Not often." Several sources, including Sportsmedicine.com , indicate we should change running shoes every 350-550 miles. OH, very funny....for those of us who about 2500 miles a year, that comes out to just over 7 pairs of shoes a year! (based on changing every 350 miles). Let's see....since a new pair typically cost about $100, that's $700 a year for shoes. Not too bad for a hobby that some of us take very seriously. The real gotcha is in the breaking in of a new pair of shoes. Personally, new shoes are a menace. Even with my own knowledge of what works for my feet and what doesn't work, it is a best guess as to whether a new pair is going to be able to go the distance and not cause issues. I written in the past that a New Balance 1123 has been a great shoe for these feet; however one flaw is that I constantly clip the opposing ankle due to the very wide, straight lasted  mid sole. On the last shoe buying venture (always at my favorite store, Smith and Davis in Fayetteville, GA), I bypassed those NB 1123s and went to a Saucony Pro Grid Lite and a Adidas Kanadia trail shoe. So far, the Sauconys are proving to be a great shoe, very light weight, and have provided enough stability for trail running. The Adidas shoes are still in the closet. As for when I change shoes: it depends on the shoe. Once I see it is breaking down around the toe box and not providing enough stability in the forefoot, it is time to retire that shoe. As for mileage, I have no idea how many miles I put on a pair of shoes before retiring that shoe, but it is certainly far more than 550 miles!
Changing shoes is as personal as running itself. Some folks prefer a new pair every couple of months while others of us tend to run the things to death. It is a matter of finding what keeps you from getting injured and what allows you to run your best.

Monday; Feb. 13th: So much for the miles today. Needed the day off.

Tuesday; Feb. 14th:  It's Valentine's Day....nope, no chocolate here....Just an early session in the gym for abs, wall squats, triceps and biceps. Then out the door solo for a brisk 9.0 miler. Traysen seems to have kinked his left front leg and is now being called, "Gimp Hound." A great run that was almost effortless!

Wednesday; Feb. 15th: A chilly start to the 10 miler that was again, effortless. Not sure what has brought on these easy runs, but they are just a hoot!

Thursday; Feb. 16th:  Meeting up with Sandra at 630am in Garden of the Gods yielded a nice 6 mile effort on the outer loop trails; with work looming, Sandra was done and I took off for another 6 miles, covering some the same trails with a few twists. A very nice 12 mile effort on a beautiful morning.

Friday; Feb. 17th:  One lazy family here! None of us stirred until 6am! Finally out the door for a slow 6 miler. Time for a very easy day as I head into the weekend with about 42 miles of running scheduled!

Saturday; Feb 18th:  An early start with a half inch of fresh powder on the ground and about 15 degrees,  a great start to a long run. This run went amazing well with plenty of energy, plenty of endurance, no aches or pains, and a nonstop, steady trot effort of 25 miles. It is runs like this that make long distance running worth the passion.

Sunday; Feb 19th: This will now be known as the "Girls Run with Horses" run. Sandra, Lori, Lynne and I met at Marshal Sprague Park in Colorado Springs for a bright n early outing on the Falcon Trail at the Air Force Academy. Much to the delightful laughter of Lori and Lynne (aka...long legs 1 and 2) Sandra and I provided much entertainment as we blundered over the fence to get to the access trail. Through a few gates and we found ourselves trotting down a dusty trail and to our surprise, we came up a herd of about 15 horses. Being comfortable with these varmits, I suggested we continue to follow them down the hill as they trotted in front of us. As they slowed we soon ourselves running amongst them for awhile and of course we were now going in the wrong direction. Luckily, Sandra said we needed to be "way back up there" so it was a reverse back to the proper trail and onto the Falcon Trail. An amazingly beautiful single track, complete with lots of rocks, tree roots, some snow, some ice and some wonderful cruiser sections with nothing but sand and dirt, this trail has something for everyone and I find it a refreshing outing from nonstop steep hills. With our detour to play "round up" we covered 18 miles. Way to go Lori, Lynne, and Sandra (who just completed her first back to back long runs this weekend!!!).



Total for the week: 80.0
Total for 2012:  447.0

Summary: A great week of running with plenty of quality training with some great friends. At this point, it is interesting to note that the only ailment is a bit of a blister on the left foot. Nothing serious, but just an annoyance on these last two long runs. The training is going perfectly well and hopefully that will continue.

Feb. 6 to Feb 12

Back to running in the high altitude and hills this week with a brief excursion to Dallas, TX for work. The goals are lots of miles and to finally get my sorry butt back in the gym!

I have been reading The Lure of Long Distances by Robin Harvie. Not quite what was expected in this novel, but interesting nevertheless. The author describes how he developed the goal of running the Spartathlon in Greece;  below is an except from the website, describing the origin of the event.

The Spartathlon revives the footsteps of Pheidippides, an ancient Athenian long distance runner, who in 490 BC, before the battle of Marathon, was sent to Sparta to seek help in the war between the Greeks and the Persians. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Pheidippides arrived in Sparta the day after his departure from Athens. Inspired by the report of the Greek historian, in 1982 five officers of the British Royal Air Force (RAF), who were also long-distance runners, traveled to Greece, led by Colonel John Foden. Their purpose was to ascertain whether it was possible to cover the 250 kilometers separating the two towns in one and a half days. The enthusiastic British team showed that the report by Herodotus was entirely plausible.
A man is indeed able to cover 250 km in less than two days and in fact in less than 40 hours. After the success of the project, the architect of the feat, John Foden, began to envision the establishment of a race that would bring long distance runners to Greece from around the world to run on the trail of the ancient runner Pheidippides. The next year a multinational team of British, Greek and other enthusiastic supporters of the idea, led by Michael Callaghan, a philhellene, organized the First International Spartathlon (Open International Spartathlon Race), wherein the name for the race combines the Greek words for Sparta and Feat.


http://www.spartathlon.gr/en.html

While training for this epic event, Robin gives insight into his childhood and how those years developed  his need and desire to become a long distance runner. He relates several stories of how he and his brother spent hours exploring the country side of his Denmark home and all the while, he was becoming one who was unknowingly lured to long distances covered by the feet. Robin also relates the reasoning's or maybe some insight as to why some of us choose to run vast volumes of miles. One such relation describes runners as "solitary figures" and when asked why they run these miles, many describe various reasons, various crosses to bear, and various tragedies and various positive events that have inspired them to run; however, with all due respect to these mundane "reasons" long distance running comes down to a way of life. To run ultra races (any race over a marathon), takes a commitment; however, it is also a way of life with the efforts needed for training, for rest, for nutrition and those of us who run these races (or just run the long distances)willingly choose this way of life. For us it is not a sacrifice, not a burden but a wonderfully simple way of living our lives in a way that is meaningful to us.

Monday; Feb. 6th:  A very slow start to this day but finally Traysen and I made it out the door for a basic 7 miler.

Tuesday; Feb. 7th:  After getting my sorry butt down to the gym (three weeks off!!!) for a session of abs, back, and triceps, it was out the door....solo, without Traysen....It was about 10 degrees and he opted to hang out with dad in the gym....why do I think he is smarter than Mom? Well, smarter or not, he missed out on a very nice 12 mile run! Wonderfully cold and crisp with plenty of energy today!

Wednesday, Feb 8th;  Work called  for a day off!

Thursday; Feb. 9th:  Sleeping in a bit in Dallas, my slacker butt finally wandered down to the gym in the late morning. After working chest, shoulders, wall squats, and abs, it was to the treadmill and ellip. Even though the weather was perfect, there is no where to run in this part of Addison, TX. Honestly, it is all concrete and roads with way too much traffic. So, with 11 miles on the agenda, it was a combo treadmill and ellip. effort. A nice workout with some hill repeats on the treadmill and lots of AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Billy Squier music!

Friday; Feb. 10th:  A good early start for a 15.0 miler today. Traysen opted to stay home and be a lazy dog!

Saturday; Feb. 11th: A slow start today but Traysen and I made it out for a chilly 7.0 miler. Nothing special, just a nice jaunt around the house.

Sunday; Feb. 12:  An early start at Red Rocks with 11 degrees! Ran the first 6.5 miles solo then met up with Sandra for a beautiful 12.0 miles that took up the Inteman Trail, Section 16 and back into Red Rocks. There was just enough snow to make it amazingly pretty while also providing some traction on the icy sections. Sandra, being the smart one, opted to say that 12 was enough, I took off for another 6.5 miles which took me through the Hogback Trail in Red Rocks. This is a nice steady, long climb...a great way to end the 25.0 miles for the day!

Summary: An awesome week of running with a long effort of 25.0 miles and one medium effort of 15. miles. Everything seems to be working perfectly so the training continues. I was recently reading the course description for the upcoming 100K...it went something like this: up the hill and then down the hill, around the barn, up the hill, down the hill, then through the creek, up the hill, down the hill and then through the woods to grandma's house we....(Opps....that's another story)...this  is shaping up to be a wondefully challenging event.
total miles for the week: 75.0
total miles for 2012: 367.0

Jan. 30 to Feb. 5

In Atlanta all week with the folks will prove to be a great time for some good mileage on the trails in Peachtree City, Ga. Since Savanna, the Tart Dachshund, is showing for 4 days a few of those runs will have to be afternoon events, which is not a bad thing.

Monday; Jan. 30:  A day off was in order since it was a late night arrival from Ocala, FL.

Tuesday; Jan 31: Out the door early near the house for an 8 miler. A bit sluggish, it was still nice to get out in the early morning cool air.  Traysen had a great time barking at numerous squirrels, squirrels with antlers, and a few passing bicycles!

Wednesday; Feb. 1: Time for a long run of 22 miles!! Out the door well before daylight and leaving Traysen at home with the grandparents, it was a parking lot start at Braelinn Village. (no headlamp or flashlight) Once there was just enough daylight, to the trails and many wonderful miles of bliss! The routing took me south for quite a distance, wandering around the outskirts of a few subdivisions, through some woods, and finally back to the car for some water at about the 15 mile mark. (no water bottle holder or camel back). Downing the H2O, back to the trails and ending the effort with an hour on the Stinky Trail! No kidding, that is the name! No, it was not stinky! It was actually very beautiful and full of rocks, tree roots, leaves, and a few small hills! I had read about this trail and wanted to give it a try; it was pure trail heaven! Overall, a nice long effort but not as much energy as I had hoped.



The Stinky Trail in Peachtree City, GA; honestly, it did not stink!

Thursday; Feb. 2:  With dog showing today, out the door way before daylight. Traysen opted to sleep in again so it was solo AND in the dark! Once there was enough light so as not to bust the face, off to the trails it was! A wonderful 13 mile outing that went quite well. I am learning how to run on the side of the cart paths, in the dirt, leaves, rock, roots, and hopping the occasional dog droppings. This part of the country just doesn't have the vast mileage of dirt trails that Colorado is known for, but luckily, I can make it work in Peachtree City by running the few dirt trails available and then resorting to running along side the paved cart paths.



These paths are over 100 miles in length!

Friday; Feb. 3rd: With Savanna, the longhair mini dachshund, showing early, it was an afternoon run with Traysen. A nice cloud cover kept us somewhat cool as well as our romp through the bike trails near the Hwy 74 Soccer/Baseball Complex. An odd assortment of trail that winds around itself about 4 times to cover only about 2.5 miles! Needless to say, we loved the dirt, rocks, and tree roots and after 2 laps or so, we opted to run the empty soccer and baseball fields. A nice 8 miler.

Saturday; Feb. 4th: Again, with dog showing early, Traysen and I were out on the trails (paved paths today) around the hottest part of the day, about 1pm! Oddly enough, even with us cold weather souls, it was an awesome run on a beautiful day. An easy 10 miler with a couple of stops at the ponds for Traysen to cool off.

Sunday; Feb. 5th:  With the last day of dog showing in Atlanta, it was out the door at almost daylight for a misty, cool , humid 9 miler. Traysen opted to hang out with his Grandma and scarf as many treats as he could. Even though it is February, the afternoon was warm and very sunny...can't ask for better weather in the middle of winter.



Summary:   An awesome week of running in the Atlanta area with some dirt, some paved paths, some rocks and tree roots....and there was that one tick!!! YUCK! Yes, those little bug things that dogs get was stuck to ole Sarah.....ewwwww!!!!

Total miles for the week: 70.0
Total miles for 2012:  292.0

The Dork and his Mom!

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

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!

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

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