Ready for the Run

This Saturday was my longest training run, 50k.  All went okay and there were no major issues.  Just lots of running and lots of walking.  Last time I ran a 50k it was in the snow and ice, I finished in 8:17.  This go round I finished in 7:17.  My running time was 6:30 so I felt good about my outcome, with :47 minuets of rest stops.  Then I started freaking out.  I entered my times into running calculators and figured I will be real close to missing the cut offs.  Two weeks ago I ran a marathon, last weekend I ran two half marathons close to 2:00 with a nasty migraine in between and then ran a 50k this weekend. Maybe race day I will be more rested.  
   My first mile of yesterdays run was in 12:22.  I felt a little slow for the first mile, but I said to myself, if I can hold this pace all day I'd be happy with that.  My overall running pace was 12:26.  Right on target.  I am thinking that come race day I will shoot for 12-13 pace with 5-10 minute rest stops I should be fine.  How do you run 50 miles? Let me count the ways.  It's only a 50k and half marathon and a 10k.  I like to think of it more as 1+1+1+1+1+1......
    This week I ran 13.1 on Sunday a 10k on Wednesday and 50k on Saturday.  Throw in walking 6.5 miles for my commute to work, a 5k fun run, and swimming a mile I have had one monster week.  If I can do this I hope I can do 50 miles.

Gear Review Update!

A few weeks ago I got some new running gear.  My North Face Hat is living up to par.  It is a great hat that keeps me cool on hot days and moves sweat off my head.  The smart wool socks got a real chance to work on a recent trail run.  The early morning dew soaked my feet after 2 miles.  4 miles into the run I took off my shoes to ring out my socks.  14 more miles with wet feet and no blisters.  Smart wool really works!  The other piece of gear I got was a CamelBak FlashFlo running bladder.  It worked great to have water on the run at all times.  What didn't work is the way the pack rides.  It doesn't!  I tried it out for 9 miles on the road and was able to make it work by really tightening the belt, but it hurt my intestines it was cinched so tight.  I took it out for a spin on the trails and after one mile if that I wanted to throw it in the woods.  It would bounce so bad and I couldn't get it tight against my back.  I tried to wear it over one shoulder, didn't work.  I ended up taking it off and carrying it by hand till I was able to ditch it in the car.  Since it once contained water and doesn't have the original tags on it I cannot return the idem.  So I am stuck with it for now.

Getting There

I am glad this week is a down week in training.  It has been very warm outside.  My legs are feeling better.  Two days after my marathon that I did for a training run my back got tight as well.  With some extra yoga and stretching.  Not to mention fluids and food,  my body feels recovered.  I adjusted my schedule around and flopped some workouts and added a swimming section to the middle of a run.  I never ran after swimming before.  My legs felt like jello, but it was a good feeling.  I was going to run 20 this Saturday and then 6 on Sunday.  However I changed that to 13.1 and 13.1, with my 50k next weekend I wanted to get distance but keep it light.  I don't think I will attempt a 50 miler next year, but who knows.

Dark Corners of my Mind

1:30am and I am contemplating biting my phone the pain is so great.  I cannot move at all.  Muscle cramps in both my calves have rendered me useless.  Que brain freak out in 3..2...1... My mind begins to wonder to bad places.  I wonder if I should give up the 50 miler and drop to 26.2.  Maybe I should drop my training level and build back up.  Maybe I should not run my 26.2 this weekend.  I could just need compression socks or sleeves.  It feels like I have two golf ball bruises in my legs.

   I fell back asleep and never got out of bed.  I woke up and felt like my legs could seize up again any minute.  I could barley walk with out holding on to the wall.  Took a shower and wrapped my leg with an ace bandage.  This is my first bump in the road this year.  Every running year I have a little hiccup, freak out, and recover.  I hope this one is short.  My mind is still in a dark, bad place.

Ultra Running

What is Ultra Running?  The classic definition is anything longer than a marathon, 26.2 miles.  At times I feel like an ultra runner training for a 50 miler.  Other days I feel unqualified to wear the ultra runner badge.  I began running three years ago to lose weight and get into shape, other than round.  Actually you have to go back further than that to high school.  I ran cross country and hate it, mainly in part to my pedestrian pace.  Bringing up the back of the back was my forte.  My first "race"  was a 5k that I finished in some 35 odd minutes, last on my team.  I opted for the golf team the next year, something that fit my pace a bit more.
    Back to 2010 when I started to run for fitness, I ran the same 1.33 miles over and over again trying to better my time.  Soon after feeling mastered at that distance I increased to 2 mile runs.  The next logical step was to try my hand at a 5k.  My first official 5k was the Race To Wrigley I finished in 29:02.  The logical progression would be 5k, 10k, half, marathon, ultra?  In each of the race distances I wanted to improve on my previous time.  One winter on a whim A running buddy talked me into doing a 50k event.  It is only 5 loops of a 10k course.  Easy enough I thought,  8 hours and 17 minutes later beer and chili on a cold winters afternoon never tasted so good.  After that I felt like I could label myself as an ultra runner.  But every time I run 27 miles or more is that the only time one can truly call themselves an ultra runner?
     In a few weeks I will be running 31 miles for a training run and hope to get good time on my feet but still better my last 50k time.  After I run 50 miles will I want to better my time, or increase distance again?  Who knows, maybe I will not want to ever run again.  I like to push my body and see what it can do.  I run for the high and to improve myself.  I want to find a distance that my body cannot succeed at.  I failed at my first marathon 20.8 miles and I was done.  But I didn't let that stop me.  The next year I came back and finished.  I finished a 50k in the snow that seemed easier than 26.2.  So this year I am on a quest to finish a 50 miler.  Who knows what is next....till next run!