Fatuous Drivel

Update!! Woot!!

2010-02-19T20:36:00.002-06:00

All my latest post can be found on my Facebook account (link is up top).

I have put my ultradistance running on hold for a bit. I am really burned out with all the time I had to spend running the trails, when I should have been home with the family. Currently, you can find me (and my wife!) at Crossfit Bartlett. Crossfit is our new addiction! booya!

Returning to the Trails

2009-08-23T11:24:00.003-05:00

Today was my first "long" run since early June and since starting Crossfit Bartlett. I didn't have any of my old aches and pains, had plenty of energy, felt great, and ran without problems. I was very pleased with the way I have strengthened my body through crossfit and believe it has improved my running. Today's run was only about 10.5 miles, but still...it's been almost 3 months since running anything over 5k (except for one 5 miler)! Crossfit Bartlett was the obvious reason that I felt strong during the entire run! Had I not had to be home by 11, I would have continued running.

Next week (weather and wife permitting), I will attempt my solo 50k at Bartlett Park.

My Blackberry Bold gps stated that I ran 9.2 miles, but it is obviously not accurate in the woods! All the bikers and other runners say that all loops together at the Stank is about 10.5 miles. If anyone has a more accurate mileage, let me know.

Crossfit

2009-08-03T18:14:00.002-05:00

After Ouachita in April, I wanted to ramp up my mileage in prep for the third annual Bartlett Park Ultra...which was my first (40 miles). I was having a hard time staying motivated to run long, much less run at all.

Jeff Genova sold me on trying Crossfit to increase strength, endurance, and stamina, therefore help me run longer and faster. I joined Crossfit Bartlett in June and set my sights on Bartlett Park in August.

Since June, my longest run has been 14 miles (and that was early June). I wanted to do the prescribed Crossfit workouts, so I cut my mileage dramatically. Some weeks I didn't even run (except for Crossfit workouts). I wanted to see if Crossfit actually helped my running, without really even running (long)!

Bartlett Park is this Saturday. Aside from a bit of low confidence from the lack of long runs, I felt great about a 50k , so-so about a 40 miler, and if-y about a 50 miler. The weather forecast is for a high of 92, which is a helluva lot better than the past two years! Two new trails were incorporated into the race. The stars were starting to line up!

Jennifer's (my darling wife) father passed away yesterday. His memorial will be held Saturday. I had the utmost respect for this man, his family, and my wife. Even if I had trained, paid for air travel, and was to run Western States this weekend, I would not even think of going. My wife, my mother-in-law, and two brother-in-laws deserve my respect and attendance.

So...Bartlett Park will wait until next year! I may do a solo 50k next weekend if anyone cares to join me (which would negate the "solo" aspect, but that's ok)!

Ouachita 50

2009-04-18T22:27:00.003-05:00

This was my second running of the Ouachita 50. I missed the 50 mile cut-off at mile 37 last year. I wanted redemption, but redemption was not to be found this time. Threatening thunderstorms and a slower pace helped my decision to drop to the 50k race. I contemplated continuing the 50 miler for hours. The decision had to be made before the Northshore AS (16 miles) and since I was running about 10 minutes slower than last year, I thought it best not to be chasing the cut-offs so close.

The first four miles consisted of about 2.5 miles of road, followed by a steep stair-step descent onto the Ouachita Trail. The trail opened up and was fairly smooth for a bit, deceiving the runner into thinking the race would be a cake walk.

Within the first five miles, we have to almost rock climb up Pinnacle Mountain. As fun as it may sound to climb about 1000 feet within a quarter mile on boulder size rocks and then descend the same about a half mile on loose rocks the size of a water cooler...it was!

After Pinnacle Mnt, we ran around the base back to the first AS and then out to run around Lake Maumelle. Rocks were every-fucking-where. By the time I could get up to a decent running pace, I had to slow down to jump over/around rocks that littered the trails. This became very annoying after the first five minutes.

The turn-around for the 50k was at mile 17. Then we ran back the way we came, skipping the Pinnacle Mnt rock climb...thank God. We only had a few rain sprinkles throughout the day, but when I hit the last 5k, the heavens opened up with a downpour and thunder/lightening. I was so damn glad I dropped to the 50k and felt pity for those still on the trails!

My energy level dipped a few times, but I never hit any big walls. I stuck with H2O and Liquid Shot (EFS), with some AS treats for flavor. After a short lull around the marathon point, I kept a good pace until the finish (which was very surprising!). Robert Kyle and I crossed the finish line together in 8:21, tied for 52nd place (out of 80 finishers). I was happy with my run and more happy to be done. I felt that I had enough energy left to run another 20 miles, but I was damn glad that I didn't have to.

I am confused about 50 people finishing before me. When runners started passing me as they were headed to the finish, I started counting them. There is no way that I could miss anyone, as we were running an out and back course. I recall counting 20, before loosing interest in keeping track. I know positively that another 30 runners did not pass by. No friggin' way. I passed five on my return journey to the finish. So, even if I give room for error and say that 35 runners passed me and then I passed 5...where the fuck were the other 20 runners?!?! The final results and splits are not published yet, so I cannot check that...so the mystery remains. I am NOT saying anyone cut the course short on purpose...I am just trying to figure it out.

Anyway...I'm sorry that my report kinda sucks, but I have lost interest in writing a more detailed one.

One last thing...I finally met Jeff Genova. He's a great guy and a helluva ultra runner (5th in the 50k)!

...more photos at Picasa.

Next Race

2009-04-06T21:05:00.002-05:00

I registered for Ouachita 50 tonight with some hesitation. After Sunday's crappy run (15m), I wondered if I was ready for Ouachita (which is a lot tougher than the MS50 last month). Ahhh..fuck it. I missed last year's cut-off by a mere 15 minutes, so I am feeling somewhat comfortable for this year. The race is just a week and a half away, so this week(end) will be my last long run(s)...but, with it being Easter weekend, I am not sure exactly how far a long run will actually be.

March recap (202 miles):
3/30/2009 — 4/5/2009: 60.0 Miles (pushing towards Ouachita)
3/23/2009 — 3/29/2009: 25.7 Miles (maybe too much on previous week!)
3/16/2009 — 3/22/2009: 50.6 Miles (best week in a while)
3/9/2009 — 3/15/2009: 17.4 Miles (recovery week)
3/2/2009 — 3/8/2009: 61.5 Miles (includes taper and MS50)

Back in the Saddle

2009-03-14T15:39:00.002-05:00

Hoping to finally make a intelligent decision, I took the entire week off since the MS50. It was hard, but nice not to worry about getting in the mileage with the shitty weather we've been having. My body needed the break, as did my endocrine system.

I hit the roads today due to all the trails being full of water and mud. Normally, I detest running the streets because of all the jackass drivers flying by and all the car exhaust you have to endure. If I am running with Jennifer (who has yet to venture into the woods with me), then I can run the streets all day.

Today's run felt great. No aches, no pains, no problems. Ten miles in two hours, even with a lot of stopping to get Marley caught and re-leashed. She likes to run free and there was a few areas during the run that I could unleash her.

I am still debating on running the Germantown Half Marathon tomorrow. If I skip it, I will hit the streets again...hopefully with Jennifer this time!

Mississippi 50

2009-03-10T19:12:00.009-05:00

They say that the third time is a charm. They were wrong. It took me four attempts to finally finish a 50 mile trail run. Thrice in 2008 I tried a came up short. First was MS50 (missed cut-off by 30 minutes); second was Ouachita 50 (missed cut-off by 15 minutes); third was Bartlett Park (planned on 50m, but stopped after 50k...the temps with heat index was 130).

Carl Touchstone Memorial Mississippi 50 is held each March in the DeSoto Nat'l Forrest outside of Laurel, MS. I ran it last year, but bloated like a whale on the third 12.5 mile loop and missed the cut-off. I didn't care at the time, I just wanted someone to stick me in the gut and let all the air out. I decided to run the MS50 again this year because it is a "easy" 50 miler.

This year's course was changed due to yearly forrest burns. Instead of four 12.5 mile loops, we ran three 16.7 mile loops (with two out-n-backs). The course was fairly dry, except for a couple of creek crossings and a mud bog. The course flat, save for a few small climbs. We had an eight hour cut-off to complete two loops (34m), leaving four hours for the last 16.7 miles.

I decided to forgo any hotel/motel and camp out at the start area. Approximately twenty feet from my small tent, a posse of rednecks decided to have a family reunion (actually they were horse riders there for the weekend) for what seemed like all damn night. They were loud and obnoxious...totally inconsiderate of anyone else in the camping area. They even left their damn generators running all night. Needless to say, I tossed and turned all night. I finally got up before 0430 to break camp and get ready. I thought about singing a few loud David Allen Coe songs to wake the rednecks, but they wouldn't have heard me over the generators.

We all gathered at the start, saying our hellos/good-lucks and taking pictures. At 0600 we started running. I wanted to start more conservative, but that went to the wayside for a bit. Four miles to the first aid station was were the majority of the water and mud were found. This was an out/back, so we got wet/muddy a total of six times over the 50 miles. I tried to stay somewhat dry, but it was of no use.

Aid station 2 was around the 9 mile mark. Only 5 miles from AS1, but it seemed an eternity. I knew that once the sun was up that this stretch of trail would be a bugger and needed to remember to fill up my water bottle at AS1 each time.

AS3 was about 5 miles from AS2. AS4 only 2-ish from 3; AS5 was actually AS4 after another out/back...then about 2.3 miles to the start. The biggest mind-fuck was getting from the start to AS2 (total of almost 10 miles). This section of trail was long and boring. The more I counted the miles, the worse my disposition. I tried to block it out and just run, but once the temps started to climb up to 80, it was hard to keep a good pace. Once I passed AS2 on each loop, it was all good. All the other aid stations are bunched up, so this made it easy to just run AS to AS.

At AS4, the 50k runners can skip the out/back and head to the finish on their second loop. When I got to this point, I almost dropped down to the 50k. My right hamstring was cramping and I was starting to bloat a bit. I knew that I would regret doing this, so I put on my big boy pants and kept running the 50 mile course. If I was going to fail to reach 50m, then I was going to at least fucking try...damn it.

I finished loop 2 with about ten minutes to spare. My left foot had been hurting for a few hours due to being wet, muddy, and sandy. I knew there would be multiple blisters, but was wary on removing my shoe/sock. Before the last loop, I decided to take time out to take care of the foot or I may never make the last loop. I had a bucket of ice water that I used to wash my foot and quickly donned another Injinji sock. I knocked all the sand/dirt/twig/etc out of my shoe, put it back on and hit the trail for one more damn loop. My foot felt much better! I should have taken care of it earlier...another lesson learned.

The last loop seemed like the shortest. Maybe because I knew it would be my last loop and that nothing was going to stop me from finishing. I was the last runner to start the last loop and saw only three others on the first out/back. One of the runners was Paul, whom I had been somewhat running with the first two loops. He was approximately 2 miles ahead of me when I saw him and I figured I would see him again. Before reaching AS2, I would catch a glimpse of him in the distance. I felt the need to catch him. This helped me keep my pace up and gave me motivation. Once I caught Paul, we would continue the remainder of the race together...pushing and pulling each other. We talked a lot about running and past/future races which helped take our minds of the remaining miles. We only saw one other runner and she was too far ahead to even think about catching.

After the last out/back, Paul and I knew we would never make the 12 hour time limit. We pushed it for all it was worth, hoping Dennis (RD) would allow us to at least finish. We saw Dennis in his truck on the gravel road about a mile from the finish. He was making sure we were still alive and moving. The last 200 yards is all gravel road and I decided it was well past time to put it in the highest gear I had left and finish the race on empty. I wanted to cross the finish line with Paul, but he was lagging too far behind. I felt great to have just enough energy left to run those last 200 yards in a drunken sprint! Right before crossing the finish, I turned a ran backwards. I wanted to do the Jurek roll, but I was too tired. Fuck it, I was done either way!

After getting my race mementos from Dennis and telling the few people remaining thanks and goodbye, I staggered to my car to wash up a bit before my five hour drive home. There was no band playing at the finish, no cheerleaders, no tape to break, not even a sandwich. Being the very back of the pack kind of sucks! I was proud to finish, no matter what the time.

=========

Race nutrition:

Since I have had bloating problems in the past, I decided to stick with water for liquids and used EFS Liquid Shot for cals. Other cals came from various aid station fare, mainly PBJ's and Coke. I did have some bloating, but that was controlled with Pepsid and belching loudly. My energy level dipped a few times, but I never really hit the wall. There was a time when I had the intense desire to lay down for a nap, but I quickly snapped back into the race. I think my main need that I forgot to address was sugar. My legs were still in the race, but my mind was slipping. Sugar is a good fix for this.

I also took S!Caps throughout the race, but kept the dose low because the EFS had electrolytes as well.

=========

More photos on Facebook and Picasa sites.

A Run in the Snow

2009-03-01T14:07:00.003-06:00

It rarely snows in Memphis. We usually get ice, which sucks ass. It started snowing yesterday afternoon and did not let up until after I went to bed. Unofficially, 8 inches of powder was reported. Of course, today's sunshine is destroying our late winter wonderland!

Marley and I hit the neighborhood streets late yesterday afternoon for our first snow run. We made it 4 miles before deciding that we had enough. I planned on getting up early this morning to run Bartlett Park before everyone else got out there and messed up my snow.

The alarm buzzed at 0600 and I promptly turned it off, checked outside, and went back to bed. So much for running the the virgin forest snow. Up and at 'em around eight and out the door after ten. Marley and I hit Bartlett Park before 10:30. At least five sets of tracks in the snow told me that we went the early birds.

The trails were snowy, wet, and muddy. Before making it to the bridge on the white trail, my feet were already soaked with the freezing water and mud. I tried my best not to run in the water, but it was difficult to run through eight inches of snow off trail. I figured my toes wouldn't fall off in the two hours I had planned on being out there, so all was well.

There were a lot of limbs and whole trees across the trails, weighed down by the snow. By the time I got up to a decent pace, I had to detour or duck under/around down foliage. It was slick in some places and I almost did the splits a few times.

I called it a day after six miles and went home to bathe Marley. She was very stinky and muddy. There are more photos on my Facebook page (link is at the top of this page).

Test Post

2009-02-21T20:26:00.001-06:00

This is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real post, you would have been directed to the nearest emergency exit...
Sent via BlackBerry Bold

Blah Blah Blah

2009-02-21T20:17:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the lack of post (for the two of you who actually read this blog!) and even more sorry for the lack of mileage. After last Sunday's 20 miler, my hips just ached and I had no energy to run. Hopefully I get my ass out to the trails tomorrow to meet up with my ultra friends for my last long run before the MS50. We'll see if I am too lazy...

Today's Long Run

2009-02-15T19:36:00.002-06:00

I tried a new fuel for today's run...EFS Liquid Shot. Seems to have worked ok. No stomach distress or bloating and plenty of energy. It tastes like a vanilla milkshake, which was a plus.

Today's Run

2009-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00

Today's Long Run

2009-01-25T19:08:00.002-06:00

Temps started around 24 degrees and made it up to a steaming 32 by the end of the run. We had seven (including me) runners and Marley start from the visitor's center in Shelby Farms. Two more joined at Germantown Road. One got lost and one stopped short. All in all, it was a great run with some great people! No issues, no problems (except for the frigid weather!).

DFL...but 27 Minutes Faster!

2009-01-18T17:59:00.011-06:00

I was the dreaded Dead Fucking Last in today's Swamp Stomper 50k. I also finished 22 minutes faster than last year's time, so I am ok with the stigma DFL! My garmin time was 8 hours, 8 minutes, and 8 seconds.

The weather was perfect for running in the woods. At the start, the temps hovered around 37 and made it to 51 as a high mid-afternoon (most were already done, but...of course...I was still out in the woods). Supposedly, 150 runners started the race, but I think the number was much lower. Only about 25 finished the 50k (about half of those who registered for the 50) and around 80 finished the 25k. I'm not sure why so many dropped to 25k, which made for a lonely second loop for me.

The first loop was near perfect. I ran with Michael and Clint to the turn-around (9m) and then decided to push on a bit faster. Michael caught and passed me around mile 14 and started his second loop before I even made it out of the woodline for 25k. I still felt strong and had energy. I had Heed in my Camel Bak and a mix of Power Gel and Sustained Energy in multiple squeeze bottles for my nutrition plan. This seemed to be working ok, but I began to bloat around mile 20.

The second loop was about 20 minutes slower than the first. Except for runners passing by me on their way to the finish, I was alone. I had my ipod to keep me company, but that became more of a hindrance than a help. The red loop has always been a mother, but running it alone makes it even worse. There are so many climbs that makes it very depressing when you think you've reached the last climb only to descend and climb again.

When I started the red loop for the last time, I found out that I was the last runner and I was 20 minutes behind the person in front of me. I tried to push it slightly, hoping to catch sight of her. I didn't want to burn out with another 10 miles to go, but I didn't want to fall further behind. At the next aid station, the volunteer couldn't remember when the last runner came through. The next two miles were the worst of the entire race. Still no sight of any other runners.

At the next aid station, I was informed that the previous runner had left there about 10 minutes prior. I tried to push the pace to at least get sight of her and hopefully catch her at the turn-around (mile 25-ish). Michael passed me on his way to the finish in this section, looking as strong as he was from the beginning. A few others passed on their return trip. I finally caught sight of the next runner as she passed me headed the other way. I knew that she was now at least two miles ahead and I had zero chance of catching her. With another 7 miles until the finish, I decided to take it easy (or easier) and just try to finish within 8 hours.

My gut was bloated, making running very uncomfortable...not painful, just uncomfortable. I tried to maintain a good, steady power hike and keep my time per mile around 15 minutes. At times, my Garmin stated that I was hiking a decent 13 min pace. I really need to re-evaluate my race diet and get this bloating taken care of (Sherpa John is helping me).

The final ascent to the finish was the most difficult. Mid-way up, I just wanted to lay down and give up. I was at the 8 hour mark and still had about a quarter mile to the finish line. I kicked myself in the ass and got moving. I crossed the finish line in 8 hours and 8 minutes (official time), with about 10 people cheering me on. I was dead fucking last, but at least I finished with my head high...and 27 minutes faster than last year!

The entire picture set is posted on my picasa.

Swamp Stomper 25k Training Run

2009-01-11T14:41:00.001-06:00

I had forgotten how much of a bitch the red loop was! Now I remember...

2008 in Review

2009-01-01T17:13:00.005-06:00

A new year has arrived in which I hope to improve my family life, my running, and win the lotto!

The best time of 2008 was running 100's of miles with the love of my life, Jennifer! She was not a runner before and has gone from not running at all to a half marathon in less than one year!

Total mileage for 2008 = 2036.70

January - Swamp Stomper 50k (8:30): very cold...witch titty cold, in fact. I went out too fast and bonked hard. Hopefully I learned something.

March - Mississippi 50 (37.5m 9:15): my first attempt at 50 miles. I made it to the start line late and missed the last lap cut-off by 30 minutes.

- Germantown Half Marathon (2:06): I ran as a bandit. PR for me!

April - Memphis Ultra 6 Hour: 24 miles of fun with friends!

- Ouachita 50 (36m 9:45): second attempt at 50 miles, once again missing last cut-off by 30 minutes.

May - Scenic City Trail Marathon (6:15): I under estimated the elevation of Chattanooga!

July - Firecracker 5k: my wife's first race (I ran bandit with her)! I still have yet to get her on the trails, though.

- Diamond Head Fun Run: not a race, but fun to run Waikiki and Diamond Head while on vacation!

August - Bartlett Park Ultra (50k 9:10): it was even hotter than last year's race! Original plan was for 50 miles, but stopped after 50k...one of the my smartest moves of the year!

October - Tour d'Esprit 24 Hour: stopped after 50k due to pain(s).

November - Wade's Big Adventure (3:23): great short trail run with great friends!

December - St. Jude Marathon (5:22): I paced with my wife for her first half marathon! She did great and I am very proud of her! And I still have yet to get her into running trails!

2008 Mileage:

2008 Per Month:

Marley...

2008-12-22T06:24:00.001-06:00

I bought Marley on Saturday and took her immediately to Bartlett Park for an 8 mile run. After the first few miles, she became accustomed to running next to me on the leash without putting a tree between us and clothes-lining us. The weather and the Christmas holiday have kept us out of the woods since, but we hope to return this weekend.

St. Jude Marathon Report

2008-12-16T14:33:00.002-06:00

At David Ray's request, I give you the report...

It was fucking cold and crowded. This was my third road marathon and I have still yet to think of a real good reason why I would want to run a fourth. Over five hours of constant pounding tends to hurt a wee bit, especially for a big boy like me.

The absolute best part of this marathon (besides raising $$$ for the children of St. Jude!) was running the first half with my better half! This was my wife Jennifer's first half marathon and her first run over ten miles. I wanted to pace her most of the half just to make sure she was ok. I told her we would start out slow and then slow down from there, but she would have none of that. Hell, at times I had trouble keeping up with her! At mile 9-ish, I decided it was time for me to put my arse in a higher gear and left her to run her own race.

I felt good, but knew my goal of sub-5 hours was long gone. I caught up with Leigh Tanner at the 12 mile mark and chit chatted a bit. I told her to mosey on and stopped at the half turn-off to see Jennifer finish. I waited for what seemed like 10 minutes, but probably was more like 5 when I saw her cruising toward the finish line. After exchanging congrats and I love you's, I started the second half. The time clock now read 2:32:55...definitely not breaking sub-5!

The second half was fairly uneventful. Being so far back, I didn't have to fight for water or gels and had much of the road to myself. I passed a lot of lonesome runners in the next 7 miles and still felt good. I even had a good burst of speed around mile 17 that surprised me. At mile 19, I ran into an old high school friend who was entertaining the runners. I stopped for a few minutes to chat with him before moving on. No need to rush now, I just wanted to enjoy the run and the sunshine.

By mile 20, my hip and knee started to hurt more. My energy level was dipping, so I increased the gel consumption. Jan Show passed me here (same place as last year!), looking fresh and happy (she finished about 20 minutes ahead of me). I really need to get with her on strategy!!

During the next few miles, my hip/knee pain increased forcing me to slow down (as if I weren't already moving slow enough!). I could feel my energy leaving my body and the self-doubt replace the void. I didn't hit the wall until mile 25. The final 1.2 miles were a bitch. I struggled to keep up a shuffle and my legs were starting to cramp. They put a nasty little uphill section at mile 25.5 and I cursed them under my breath. The final quarter mile was thankfully downhill and I cruised in at 5 hours and 22 minutes (2 min slower than last year). After finishing and eating, I felt good without problems. If they asked me to run another 6 miles, I think I could have with little problem.

Maybe I could have finished a sub-5 if I had not paced Jennifer for the first half. This is irrelevant, because I wouldn't have missed running with her even if it meant a 6 hour finish for me! The next half marathon for her will be in March (Germantown) and, if she wishes, I will run with her then also! If not, then I will smoke her ass...and be waiting at the finish to see her in!

Back To The Trails

2008-12-14T19:43:00.003-06:00

It's time to gear up for the Swamp Stomper (Jan 18th). With coaching help from Sherpa John, I will start my training over with low week day mileage and long runs on the weekends. My problems in the past was ramping up the mileage too fast, causing all sorts of aches, pains, and injuries...and burn out.

Y2K? No, My 2K Damn it...

2008-12-14T19:36:00.006-06:00

Almost past the 2k mark! Had I known I was so close, I would have gone the extra 0.7 on the treadmill today! I just had my shower, so no more for today...but, tomorrow we cross over 2,000 miles.

2008 Stats
Distance: 1999.3 Mi
Time: 404:28:23(16 days, 20 hours)

Snotty

2008-12-13T21:23:00.007-06:00

My sinuses have been freely flowing one minute and then stopped up the next. Three days of Thera-Flu have yet to clear my head. I don't have any body aches, so I guess I should be at least a bit thankful.

Two runs on the treadmill for a total of 10.2 miles cleared the sinuses for a bit, but once I got off the dreadmill, the Niagara Falls of snot continued. Of course, a bit latter and it was the Hoover Dam of snot.

St. Jude Marathon

2008-12-06T19:44:00.001-06:00

A Boring Week

2008-12-04T19:14:00.002-06:00

I have run only 5 miles this week. I hate taper week. Hopefully, all my injuries will be resolved during this lazy, boring week. I can't wait for Saturday's marathon...I can finally run!

This will be my wife's first half marathon...first anything greater than 5k! I know she is ready and will do fine, but she is worried about the race and most worried about the weather. The projected low of 29 and high of 50 sounds like perfect running weather to me!

A Stranger's Panties

2008-11-27T16:57:00.004-06:00

Alternative title: Turkey Day Fat Ass 20k

We are in Ripley, TN at my wife's parents for Thanksgiving. I figured this was a great opportunity to run a route that is new. I set out after breakfast, hoping to cover 5-6 miles and make it back in plenty of time for lunch. I had some pain behind my right knee that I attribute to squatting and kneeling on the floor while putting the treadmill together the other night. I needed to run, but did not want to cause any injuries a week before the marathon!

I ran down the highway and into town (around the 5k mark) and all felt ok. Since I had no idea where to go next, I assumed taking a right would be ok...and then a left...and then another left. Hell...I will just run until I hit the 10k mark and then reverse course. As I crossed a railroad trestle, I noticed a pair of white panties lying on the sidewalk. Strange sight, but thought better of picking them up and taking them home to the wife! I doubt she would like them and, besides...she has plenty already.

For those of you who are not familiar with Ripley...you ain't missing much. It's a small town out in the country about 50 miles north of Memphis. Running through the countryside is a pleasure, but not knowing where the hell I was going was a concern. I passed a little store and thought it best to stop for more water and a Red Bull. Since it was fairly cool out, my water consumption was low and I knew my current bottle would last at least 8 more miles.

Using my iphone gps, I located myself on the map and planned out a route back into town and back to the in-laws. My hip and knee were doing ok, but a little stiff. I kept a slow pace so I wouldn't aggravate them. Lunch time was approaching quick and I figured I still had an hour's worth of distance to cover. At an intersection, I was unsure if I should take a left or right. I chose left, but reversed to the right after a hundred yards. Still not totally sure if I was heading in the right direction, I looked down a noticed those white panties again! Then I was positive in my directions! Our family dinner was saved by the panties of a stranger!

The run was great and I enjoyed the wonderful weather we are currently having! It's a good feeling to be running (semi-) pain free again. Total mileage for the day was 12.30 in a bit less than 2.5 hours (11:44 pace).

Finally...

2008-11-26T00:36:00.001-06:00

We have finally purchased a treadmill. It was a BITCH getting it out of the box and upstairs! It must weigh at least 400 pounds! Assembly was fairly easy...if you actually read the directions! After I got it setup, I ran a slow 5k on it while testing all the bells and whistles. I plan to wake 45 minutes early each workday for a run to increase my mileage without decreasing my family time.

[EDIT] My alarm went off at 0415. I did not get to bed until well after midnight...needless to say, I turned the alarm off and got another 45 minutes of sleep. Oh well...

Sent via iPhone 3g

Jumpin' Jehosaphat!

2008-11-24T18:24:00.002-06:00

Short on time, I wanted to push today's run as fast as possible (for my fat ass). I hit the 5k mark in 28:34 and then finished the run with an easy cool down for a total of 4 miles. Of course, this is not blazing fast for most runners, but coming off an injury and lack of mileage the past two weeks, I felt like I was flying.

No pains, aches, or troubles! Hopefully, my recent injury is now considered history.

Injury Update

2008-11-23T18:16:00.003-06:00

Jennifer and I started our run after lunch, hoping the temps would be higher (no such luck). The sky was overcast and the temperature hovered at a balmy 44 degrees. I was hoping my hip/knee crap had gone away and Jennifer was hoping her knee/calf pain had done the same.

Our plan was for a easy half marathon on the Wolf River Path. This was to be her last long mileage run before her first attempt at the St. Jude Half Marathon (her previous long run was 10 miles). By mile five, her right knee was troubling her enough for us to walk back to the car and call it a day. I think it's ITB that is causing her pain due to the increase in mileage on the streets. Her "coach" (me!) suggested that she keep the mileage low on the streets and try to stick with the elliptical until the race. I want her to make it to the starting line healthy!

Me, on the other hand...I had some lingering aches in the hip, but not enough to slow me down or cause any worry. After we left the WRP, I went home, changed clothes, and hit the gym for another 10 miles...bringing my daily total to 16 miles. I also worked the legs with the weight machines prior to running. I expected to be in a bit of pain today, but was pleasantly surprised.

Today's run was dx'd due to household chores and Christmas shopping. My hip and knee have felt great today and I hope to be back running the streets again! Two 25 mile weeks have been ok to rest, but it's sure boring!

Time Off

2008-11-21T14:47:00.004-06:00

My hip/knee pain is still present, although it seems to be fading. I went to my chiro yesterday for an adjustment and he suggested I use a wedge in my right shoe (since my right leg is somewhat shorter than the left). We'll see how this works on tomorrow's run.

Except for nine miles on Monday, I have not run another step. I am hoping to be rid of my injury(ies) well before the marathon, leaving me enough time for a few semi-long runs...but time is running out. I will attempt a half marathon with my better half tomorrow and if all goes well, another half on Sunday. If the pain recedes and I am able to run, I will jack my mileage back up to 50 for next week and 20 for the week before the marathon on December 6th.

Once the marathon is over, I can retreat back to the trails and start my prep for the 2009 Swamp Stomper in Shelby Forrest. I can hardly wait to be back in the woodline.

Ouch!

2008-11-13T20:16:00.004-06:00

After Wade's, I started my street running in prep for the St. Jude Marathon. I am on my second pair of Adidas Adizero XT's, which have served me well on the trails. They are very light, but not very thick-soled. Changing from soft trails to hardball without changing my shoes was not one of my brighter ideas.

Last Saturday's long run turned fairly short due to right knee and hip pain due to...you guessed it...running in the Adizero's (which have well over 300 miles on them). The first run was with my better half, Jennifer. She is training for the half marathon, so we ran the Chickasaw trail at Shelby Farms. After ten miles, we said adios. She headed home and I went to the Wolf River Path for more running.

The car ride from the Ranger's station to WRP is only about five minutes, but I stopped at a gas station for a snicker bar and a coke on the way. Then I parked at the Chik-Filet and used their "facilities". All in all, it was about 45 minutes before I attempted to run again. I guess that my old body decided to cramp up a little from all the sitting. Add that to the worn out trail shoes and my right knee and hip were screaming. I tried to run through it. I tried to walk through it. Nothing seemed to help. After six miles of pain, I called it a day. After an easy four miles on Sunday, the pains were still present. It was long past time for a break.

Four days without running or gym time and new pair of Brook's Adrenaline GTS 8's, I hope my body is ready to resume running. The knee pain is gone, but the hip pain seems to prefer to hang around. My daily job consist of me sitting on my ass all day and that tends to aggravate the hips...but I have to bring home that paycheck!

Wade's Big Adventure

2008-11-02T12:03:00.003-06:00

I made it to the starting line with plenty of time to socialize. Multiple calls to mother nature seemed to have cured my lower GI issues and I hoped it would remain that way. It's a bitch to wander off the trail to find a secluded spot to do number 2, but when you have to...you have to.

The race began on time, with the 18 milers leaving ten minutes before the 8 milers. I held pace with the rest of the Memphis Ultra crew on the outbound section and enjoyed the banter and companionship. This is quite a welcome change from my usual solitary runs. My piriformis issues started to haunt me around mile 6, but I was able to keep up with the team. Right before the turn-around, I had to slow pace and start my stretches to hopefully alleviate the oncoming problems. The team continued to rock on...hopefully I wasn't sandbagging them too much!

After the turn-around, I stopped for some better stretching on the ground. I took two Aleve and two S-Caps! and turned on the ipod. I was back to being alone and prayed the music would keep me moving at a decent clip. Five other runners passed me as they headed to the turn-around. At least, I consoled myself, I wasn't DFL.

The five runners behind me never caught up, nor did I catch anyone in front of me. I did see the runner behind me on the levee, but he was at least a quarter to half mile back. I put the hammer down to insure he never got any closer.

FEED ME!!

I finished in 3:22:59. Maybe I could have done better...I know I could have done worse. It was great to run with the Memphis Ultra crew and I look forward to running many more miles with them in the future.

This was my last trail race for the year, so I will start my training for the St. Jude Marathon (December 6th). The transition from trails to hardball means more speed, but also more aches and pains. After the marathon, its back to the trails for January 2009 edition of Swamp Stomper.

Well...shit.

2008-11-01T07:02:00.001-05:00

First, overindulging on meat lovers pizza the night before a race is not a good idea. After many pit stops, I finally arrived at what I thought was the starting area with 20 minutes to spare. The problem was there was no one there! A quick call to my friend Cliff (sorry to wake you, Cliff!) and I find out that the race does not start until 8. Well...shit.

I am actually happy to be an hour and a half early. I had skipped my java at home and now had time to stop by Starbucks for my fix and to...well...you know.

It's 0700, so I have plenty of time to spare...and, well...stretch.

Sent via iPhone 3g

Update On My Ass

2008-10-26T20:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's long run was to test my sore ass. I was somewhat pain free the first 10 miles. After that, I had to spend time stopped on the trails stretching. The run went well, until I ran out of gas at mile 17. Besides an omelet for breakfast, I forgot to eat anything else or take anything with me...except water and a Clif bar. Doh!

Today's run was ok. Stiffness in my right calf, but my arse didn't bother me too much. Once again, some stretching during the run helped tremendously.

This Saturday is Wade's Big Adventure. I ran into Wade Saturday as he was out marking the white trail on the WRT. I am glad he picked the white trail...it's more of roller coaster ride that the others.

Pain in the Ass

2008-10-17T19:49:00.004-05:00

I have not run for the past few days in hopes of healing up a nagging hip injury. My right hip has bothered me off and on for some time and, after last weeks long run, it has become more of a problem to run without significant pain or an altered gait (which creates even more problems!). I have diagnosed the problem as Piriformis syndrome

Here's what I look like after a dozen miles:

Hopefully the rest (with a lot of stretching) will be enough to allow me to run this weekend! I am not planning any runs over 10 miles since I have run long the past few weekends. There are two weeks to go before Wade's Big Adventure and a bit over a month for the St. Jude's Marathon, so I need to stay healthy and whole.

Today's Long Run

2008-10-11T20:37:00.002-05:00

Getting ready for Wade's Big Adventure:

I had no idea if I was on the correct trail for Wade's (on the east side of Germantown Rd). There was a lot of overgrowth on some sections that made it very hard to run. Briars, brambles and sticker bushes were the norm. Every now and then, I would see orange trail marking tape hanging from trees, so I tried to follow. The trail petered out onto a sand bar on the Wolfe River, so that's were I turned around. I followed another trail half-way back, which was better maintained. This part of the trail had marking tape everywhere and there was no clear sense of direction. I was enjoying my run and still had water, so I just ran willy-nilly until I finally made it back to the original trail.

I took a right turn to exit back to Lowe's...well before I was supposed to and ended up with a 40 foot gully full of water blocking my way. I had run through this same gully earlier and it was bone dry! What the fuck?! Of course, looking at my GPS after the run I could see that I was not where I thought I was! I was out of water and figured I would follow a trail to the north and exit into the adjacent neighborhood and take the streets back to G'town Rd. This was probably not a great idea in the trail turned almost non-existent and very wet.

I finally made it back to the Circle K mini mart and had a quick lunch break. The next portion of the run was on the all to familiar white trail, heading to the ranger station for the next water refill. After that, I hit the Chickasaw trail and then about half of the Tour de Wolfe, exiting the park at the dog area and running back to G'town Rd and back to my car.

The 40 Runner’s Commandments

2008-10-05T14:18:00.001-05:00

Borrowed from Carey Smith's blog:

The 40 Runner’s Commandments
by Joe Kelly

1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.
2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.
3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.
4. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.
5. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.
6. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.
7. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.
8. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.
9. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.
10. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.
11. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.
12. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.
13. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.
14. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.
15. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.
16. Don’t always run alone.
17. Don’t always run with people.
18. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.
19. No matter how slow, your run is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.
20. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.
21. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.
22. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.
23. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.
24. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.
25. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.
26. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.
27. Don’t try to outrun dogs.
28. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.
29. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.
30. Without goals, training has no purpose.
31. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.
32. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.
33. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.
34. “Winning” means different things to different people.
35. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.
36. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn’t look good in tights.
37. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.
38. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.
39. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.
40. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.

Tour d'Esprit = Tour d'Pain

2008-10-04T16:10:00.004-05:00

All seemed right before the start. I felt great and had no injuries. My initial plan was to cover 50 miles within the first 12 hours and then take it easy for the remaining 11 hours.

I needed to maintain about a 14 minute pace to reach 50 miles in 12 hours. Thinking my pace would slow after 6-7 hours, I tried to push the pace somewhat at first. All was going great until mile 16-17. My left knee slightly buckled and felt like someone had pushed a small stick into the lateral aspect of it. My initial thought was that I tore a ligament. I stopped running and tried to stretch it out. I then ran another 10 feet and the pain came back. I decided to continue to walk and the pain subsided. Thinking I had dodged a bullet, I began running the next lap. For about half a mile I took it easy, slowing my pace and praying for the best. The pain returned and so I just figured I would power hike and re-evaluate later.

At 8pm, Jennifer and Sydney brought me a delicious dinner of pizza! We sat in my little camp and chowed down. After a wonderful treat of pizza and seeing my beautiful wife, it was time to get back on the track. Sydney (who is 8) wanted to run a lap with me. After walking the first quarter mile to warm up and test the knee, we ran about a 13 minute pace the remainder of the lap. After saying our goodbyes, I got back to business.

The pain would come and go, depending on my pace. When it felt good, I ran. When it felt bad, I walked. I tried to keep the walking pace between 14 and 16 mpm. I was getting very discouraged and worried about my knee.

After 31 miles, I decided it best to pack up and not cause any further injury. It was a very hard decision and I took a lot of time making it. I felt like a failure, but knew if I had continued I would regret it.

I have yet to see the results of the race, but when I left James Holland was around 50 miles and Elizabeth Holliday was right behind him. They were both still running fresh! Jan Show was at mile 38 and was not slowing down. I hope they all did well as the night wore on!

Side note: I have decided to keep all races under 50k until I can get my weight under 200. I am at 225 now and my knees are taking a pounding running ultra distances. Hopefully by March '09 (the next MS50), I will be ready for a race greater than 50k.

EDIT: The results are in....I came in 2nd in my age group (the man in 1st just had 41 miles). Overall winner was James Holland with 93 miles. Elizabeth Holliday ended up with 81 and Jan Show with 76 miles. Ten time attendee Harry Strohm had 35. Full results here.

Taper?

2008-09-27T18:33:00.003-05:00

I had to get in one more long run before the dreaded taper. The weather is just too beautiful not to be out running Shelby Farm! I ran the Chickasaw Trail and Tour d'Wolfe twice to finish with 21 miles. My right knee did not want to cooperate and I tried to run through the pain...which changed my gait...which then caused right hip pain. Fuck. It's a bitch being old.

I Hate Tapering

2008-09-25T09:42:00.001-05:00

The Tour d'Esprit is 8 days away. Now it's time to taper...which I hate to do. My weekday mileage is at 20 and I plan on doing at least 20 this weekend before the complete taper.

....

2008-09-19T19:49:00.003-05:00

Don't you love this weather?! It makes running outside so much easier and enjoyable!

I am on track for my upcoming 24 hour run (Tour d'Esprit), two weeks from tomorrow. My goals are multiple...

1. Actually keep moving for the entire 24 hours! Last year, I climbed in the tent after about 9 hours and slept for 7 hours before returning to the track.

2. Make 50 miles within the first 13 hours (hopefully around 10 hours...but I am a pessimist!).
3. Make 75 miles within the 24 hours (if all is going great, then see goal #4).
4. Make 100 miles within the 24 hours.
5. Have as much fun as possible.

Tonight's run:

Uploaded - 9\17\08

2008-09-17T10:35:00.002-05:00

Test post from iphone using Shozu.

Mile 10...

2008-09-13T12:55:00.001-05:00

...of today's run (taken on the yellow trail at Bartlett Park).

I Made It.

2008-09-01T10:14:00.003-05:00

I really did not think that I would top 200 miles for the month of August...but, by damn it, I did! In fact, I made it to 204 miles. This is nothing compared to people like Anton Krupicka, but hey...I have a full time job and a family (nothing against Tony)!

I took Friday off, thinking I would not even get close to 200 anyway. I even slept in late and was fairly lazy Saturday morning. Once I finally hit the road, I was planning on just 8-10 miles. Well, one mile turned into two and two into four, etc, etc. I finally arrived home with 16 good miles in the bag and felt good enough for another 4.5 later in the day. Sunday was 12 at the gym, with another 4.7 at night with Jennifer. To make this long story short...I ended up with 72.7 for the week and 204.7 for the month.

Hopefully, the hot Memphis summer is coming to an end and we can run outside more in the near future.

Saturday's first run:

2008-08-30T12:04:00.004-05:00

Taken and submitted via iPhone.

Powerlines Run

2008-08-30T12:04:00.003-05:00

Part of my Saturday run. I was tired of dodging cars, so I ran up the powerlines alley. I wonder how much EMF I absorbed?!

Taken and submitted via iPhone.

My Aching Hips...

2008-08-25T12:50:00.003-05:00

I took a much needed rest last week. My hips were feeling rusty and somewhat painful...which I contribute to an increase in blacktop mileage. I was hoping to top 200 miles for the month, but with only 7 days left and about 70 miles short, I doubt I will attain my goal. Oh well...I guess I can try harder next month.

I spent the weekend in Pensacola for my youngest son's 18 birthday. While it's great to see both of my boys, it is a very long trip for only two days! Sitting in the car for 8 hours at a time doesn't allow for my hips to feel any better. I guess I am getting old and will have to accept that fact and learn to live with it! Of course, my job consists of me sitting on my ass a lot during the day...so that doesn't help as well. Getting old is a bitch.

Is Summer Over?!

2008-08-09T21:34:00.003-05:00

After missing the last two days worth of running due to laziness, I finally hit the streets. The weather was perfect...at least compared to the past month. It was an excellent run of 9 miles on the blacktop, all non-stop.

Another Crushing Blow

2008-08-03T14:13:00.004-05:00

Another 50 miler pissed to the wind (or to the heat!).

First...have I said how hot it was yet? Well, it was hell hot! Official temps were 106 (actual) with a heat index of 133! Let me repeat...a heat index of 133 degrees!!

The first loop was great. No problems. Two potty breaks. I was sweating like pig (yes, I know...pigs don't sweat), but all systems go. Eight miles in 1:45, fifteen minutes to spare according to my 50 mile plan. Reload supplies, hit the outhouse, and back on the trail at the 1:55 mark.

The second loop went slightly slower, but still on track. My nutritional plan seemed to be working ok. Finished loop two at the 4 hour mark. Loaded the Camelbak and grabbed a Red Bull and hit the trail for loop three.

The chatty cathy's (3 women who you could hear a mile away just cackling) were gaining on me. I refused to allow this to happen, so I increased my pace slightly. Their annoying banter faded as I increased the distance between us. Around mile 17, I hit the wall and I hit it very hard. Well shit. I used Sustained Energy the first two loops and switched to gel on this loop (the S.E. was tasting nasty in the heat). My energy output was now far exceeding my energy input. I had a Nutella sandwich on this loop, but it didn't seem to touch me. The plan was to have Jennifer (my darling better half) bring me a McDonald's cheeseburger and chocolate shake after this loop, so I focused on that and moved forward the best I could.

Loop three was completed around the 6:21 hour mark. Slowly, but surely, I was drifting away from my 50 mile plan. Oh well...just keep moving!

Loop four began with a delicious cheeseburger and shake in hand and after a much too short visit from my angelic wife. I was in good cheer, but moving slow. A couple of miles into loop four and I was getting very depressed. All I wanted to do was lay down and sleep (a bullet to the head seemed like an excellent idea). A few people zoomed by me on their fifth and sixth loops and I could only wish that I was moving at their speed. My 50 mile plan was dx'd and my new plan was to survive to the mid-course aid station and drop.

When I finally made it to the aid station, I sat down and took an ice cold sponge bath (no, not in the nude). A few PBJ quarters later I felt a ton better. Another runner (Mike Wallace) and I decided to stick together and finish at the 50k mark. We hooked up with two others and walked the yellow trail. Back to the mid-course aid station, they all stopped and I kept moving. I was feeling a lot better and wanted to run.

I crossed the finish line in 9:10:54. I was totally beat. My pride wanted another loop to make at least the 40 miles, but my body knew better. Maybe I need to stick to 50k's for a bit longer before moving up to 50 milers.

The saying goes :excused are like assholes...everyone's got one" and I have many...

1. The heat was killer. It slowed all the runners. It killed me.
2. Lack of long distance training. Except for races, I don't think that I have had one training run longer than marathon distance. This came back to bite me in the arse.
3. Did I mention the heat index of 133?!
4. Lack of back-to-back long runs.
5. Don't forget about the heat.
6. Vacation in Hawaii = 6 extra pounds!
7. It was hell hot.

Pitiful (for a proclaimed ultrarunner) 2008 runs by distance (everything over 25 miles were races):

Finished!

2008-08-02T15:52:00.001-05:00

50k...

Oasis!

2008-08-02T11:44:00.001-05:00

This was the aid station mid-course. You hit this station twice each loop.

Hitting the Wall

2008-08-02T11:21:00.001-05:00

Mile 17.66...I'm in hell.

Loop 3

2008-08-02T10:33:00.001-05:00

Damn! It"s hot!

One Loop Done...

2008-08-02T08:24:00.001-05:00

Loop 1 done...5 more to go. Very hot!

Testing 1, 2, 3

2008-07-29T14:01:00.001-05:00

Test post using Blackberry mms. Now I can post from anywhere using my Blackberry! Maybe I will do multiple updated posts from the Bartlett Park Ultra this Saturday...that may bore everyone to tears, though!

Ready for Bartlett Park

2008-07-26T14:28:00.002-05:00

My mileage for the month has absolutely sucked. I think/hope I am ready for my third attempt at 50 miles (Bartlett Park Ultra, next Saturday). I ran the BPU course today as my last long run. It was very hot and humid and rained to make a nice muddy mess.

Vacation is Over

2008-07-26T14:19:00.003-05:00

Sadly, our vacation to Hawaii has come to an end.

We did get a few runs/hikes in while in Waikiki.

Waikiki to Diamond Head and back (with stops for lunch and site-seeing):

Waikiki to the side of Diamond Head:

I have about 800 photos posted on my Picasa.

Aloha!

2008-07-21T01:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates!

Right now, I am in Hawaii with my beautiful bride, celebrating our forth anniversary! Not much running, but we've walked what seems more than a thousand miles!

Anyway...I'll be back in town on Friday and plan on running the BPU volunteer's run as long as I am not too jet-lagged!

Mahalo and aloha!

Update

2008-07-13T21:01:00.003-05:00

We spent the weekend in Hot Springs, AR at the amusement park/water slide with the kids. It was very hot, but we all had a great time!

I did get to run both Saturday and Sunday in the "mountains" of Hot Springs, so I was even more ecstatic.

Saturday's run:

Sunday's run:

My mileage is half of what it should be, but I can't seem to get (and stay) motivated! My third attempt at a 50 miler is in less than three weeks and vacation starts in two days, so my mileage will probably remain mediocre, at best! Hopefully, I will have time for a few decent runs while in Hawaii!

Firecracker 5k

2008-07-07T17:13:00.004-05:00

The 2007 St. Jude Firecracker 5k was my first race, which then led straight to my first 40 mile ultra, Bartlett Park. And so my ultra career began.

This years St. Jude Firecracker 5k was my lovely wife's first race and she did great! Her time by my watch (I ran bandit to pace her) was 34:30 and her chip time was 35:07. It was very hot and humid and, under those circumstances, I have to say that she kicked ass. Not the fastest by a long shot, but she finished with a smile on her face and a desire to run more races...so it was a success.

Next for me is the 2nd annual Bartlett Park Ultra on August 3rd. Last year the temps & humidity came close to the century mark and I am quite sure it won't be any different this time. It was my first ultra and I covered 40 miles in under 12 hours. Sure, some of you can walk 40 miles in that time...but I was proud to just finish it!

I have attempted two 50 milers this year and missed the last cut-off in both. Bartlett Park will be my third attempt at 50 miles and I will be damned if I don't make it!

Me Again...

2008-06-27T13:12:00.004-05:00

The lack of updates is directly correlated to my lack of interest in blogging lately. I'll try to get better though.

My wife and I have been running together a lot lately and it's been a wonderful change of pace! Our usual distance is 7-8 miles in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. She has improved vastly in a short time and seems to actually enjoy being out there sweating next to me. Her current 5k time is 34:16 and she can maintain under a 5mph pace through 4.5 miles without stopping. I am extremely proud of her! I still haven't conned her into the woodline for a bit of trail running, but hope is not lost!

My running has increased in the past few weeks. Last week, I made it past the 60 mile mark with two long runs of 16 and 24 miles. I have been somewhat lazy this week with my running (only two runs = 10m) and have felt very tired. I was hoping to pass 200m for the month, but I am short about 26 miles with only 3 days left. My yearly mileage has past the 1,000 mile mark! Hopefully, I will stay healthy throughout the year and pass the 2k mark by Christmas!

June:

Weekly Distances
6/23/2008 — 6/29/2008: 10.2 Mi
6/16/2008 — 6/22/2008: 60.1 Mi
6/9/2008 — 6/15/2008: 47.4 Mi
6/2/2008 — 6/8/2008: 45.1 Mi
5/26/2008 — 6/1/2008: 31.9 Mi
5/19/2008 — 5/25/2008: 34.9 Mi

For the year (1016 Mi):
June: 174.1 Mi
May: 140.3 Mi
April: 150.0 Mi
March: 215.1 Mi
February: 134.7 Mi
January: 202.1 Mi

Update

2008-06-12T16:58:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates (to the few people who may actually read this blog!).

My running has been on a upswing this month (so far). Except for a few trail runs, I have been staying on the blacktop. I have run Bartlett Park so damn many times that I am beginning to really dread going there. Shelby Farms is great, but it's slightly out of the way for weekday runs. Shelby Forrest would be a welcome break, but it's a 30 minute drive to get there. So...the streets of Bartlett have been my mainstay this month for weekday runs. I have even run before work the past two days! It's a bitch to get up and make my old, tired body to move that early!

My lovely wife has been kicking ass on her running! I ran with her the last two afternoons (so damn hot outside!) for 7 miles and 7.66 miles, which to date, is her longest runs! I have yet to convince her to hit the trails, though. I am still working on that.

The weather is very hot and very humid. It's good for becoming heat acclimated for the upcoming summer...but, it's still a pain in the arse! Running on the treadmill is never much fun, but at least the gym has air conditioning (and a bathroom, and a water fountain, etc).

New Shoes

2008-06-06T21:46:00.002-05:00

My new shoes finally arrived today! They are Adidas Adizero XT, a light-weight trail shoe. The initial run was on the streets because I didn't have them time to run the trails. The adizero's are very light, but still have enough support to feel great on the blacktop. I averaged 9min/mile for this run, so I am happy with my new shoes so far!

More of the Same

2008-06-05T21:06:00.004-05:00

Another run at Bartlett Park, but this time my body cooperated. I kept the pace steady and tried to only hike the uphills. My energy level stayed up and I was able to finish the run with a smile on my face.

On the most previous run at Bartlett Park, I used Clip2 in my Camelbak as my "energy" drink. The Clip2 has a supposedly has a light raspberry taste, but to me, it tastes like dookie. I used it a lot last summer with great success. There was one packet left, so I thought to try it again. The stuff works, but if I use it again I will definitely add some kool-aid flavoring!

For yesterday's run I used HEED. During the Mississippi 50, I had severe bloating issues that I blamed on HEED mainly because I used it for the first time during the race. I had two packets of HEED left from previous SWAG bags and wanted to test it again...during training this time.

The flavoring of the HEED leaves much to be desired...to say the least. It does taste better than Clip2, though. I had a 24oz hand-held with HEED and another with tap water. Pulling from both during the run, I had no real gastric issues except occasional belching. The training run with HEED went a lot better than the run with Clip2, so I will continue to run with HEED for the time being.

http://www.veoh.com

2008-06-05T17:59:00.001-05:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Is It Summer Already?!

2008-06-03T10:04:00.003-05:00

Saturday's run was at Bartlett Park. The original plan was for two laps, but that was revised before I made it half way through the first. It was hot and humid, without even a slight breeze. I did great for the first few miles and then steadily declined from there. My energy just disappeared. What started as a run ended up a hike. They say that there is no such thing as a bad run...but I have to wonder sometimes.

Sunday's run was mostly on the blacktop. I carried two hand-helds of H2O and a flask of gel. I figured that if I ran out of water, I could stop at a gas station and purchase more. The weather was the same as Saturday, the only difference being that I didn't have the comfort of the woods to shade out the sun.

I started the run without direction as to where I wanted to go. After a few miles, I found myself in a farmer's field off of Hwy 14. I did not feel like running back the way I came, so I went to the far end of the field to search for a way out to the highway. The woods were very thick and, I am quite sure, full of poison ivy and ugly spiders. I followed the woodline south, hoping for a passage out. Finally, I gave up and crashed through the woods and finding the highway. My shoes were full of burrs, stickers, and mud. I made my south on Hwy 14, toward Old Brownsville Rd. My plan was to refuel at the gas station but, of course, decided to keep moving since I had (what I thought) plenty of water left.

Needless to say, I ran out of water a short time later. Fuck. It was so damn humid and I was sweating like a pig at the butcher (pigs really don't sweat...but you get the picture). Not a damn store in sight. Quail Ridge Gold Course was in my current direction and I knew that they had water coolers on the course. I made it there still coherent and refilled both bottles. The golf course is only a couple of miles from my house, so I figured I would survive to run another day.

Yesterday's run was on the treadmill...boring, but I know exactly where the water fountain is!

No Rest For the Wicked

2008-05-26T20:29:00.003-05:00

Except for stiff, painful quads, hamstrings, and calves...I felt great Sunday morning. It was a sunny day and very humid. A great day for a trail run!

To add insult to injury, I wore my Five Fingers. I thought it would be fun to inflict further pain on my calves...punishment for running like a wussy the day before.

It turned out to be great run without any pains (except for a blister)! Now time for a couple of days rest before I start training for Bartlett Park in August. Forget taking time off...too much down time would drive me nuts anyway.

Scenic City Trail Marathon

2008-05-26T19:32:00.005-05:00

My third marathon (first trail marathon) is now in the books. My overall goal was to finish in under 7 hours...my second goal was to finish without injury. My unofficial time was 6:14:58...first goal accomplished. I did not have any injuries or even a blister...second goal accomplished. I arrived to the start area about an hour early. I wanted to make sure I didn't repeat my late arrival error at the MS50 again! Check-in was uneventful and quick, so I still had a lot of time to waste. Once the morning ritualistic potty break was tended to, I caught up with Michael and Drew. I also ran into another local ultrarunner, Bill Luton and his wife. David Ray was there and I had the pleasure of meeting him (sorry I couldn't talk longer, Dave!). The race started without much fanfare, albeit a few minutes late. After a bit of blacktop running, we enter the trail. The congo line was long, but moving at a decent warm-up pace. After a mile, the smart people started their run/walk routine and the rest of us breezed past them. I was behind Michael and Drew until right before the first aid station. I couldn't catch my breath and had to slow to a walk. Looking at my Garmin, I noticed my heart rate was pegged out at 181...which is above my max! Well, shit. After walking a bit, my HR would get down to about 165, which is still too high considering I was walking. Of course, I was sweating profusely as my body was trying to regulate itself to lower my HR. After the first aid station, my HR stayed in the 170's when running and the 150's when walking. I felt ok and continued at decent pace without any problems. On training runs, my heart rate usually averages 145. I wasn't sure what was going on, but figured I would keep going and walk as needed to keep it from hitting max again. In the back of my mind I kept thinking about how a continuously high HR was going to sap all my energy as the day wore on. Well, shit again. The trail was well maintained, but had a shitload of rocks and roots for your tripping pleasure. Although I never bit the dust, I did trip...a lot. Each time I caught a root I would catch my balance with an awful forward lunge. This re-aggravated an old groin pull injury as well as pissed me off. After a few trips I thought a couple of Aleve would relieve the pain. Of course, it would have been great to actually have some Aleve, but I forgot to bring any! Well, shit once again. Historically, RD's have let it be known that the runners should not ask for pain meds and that they wouldn't give them out anyway, so I didn't bother to beg the aid station workers. By mile 9 and countless more trips, my hip was very, very sore. The pain affected my gait, which then caused my opposite side knee to hurt. Let me tell you...it's a bitch being old. Of course, I never paid attention to the pre-race speech, so I assumed we would pass the start area (and our cars) after the first loop. I needed my second water bottle and wanted to drop off my camera. Well...we didn't pass go and I was not able to get to my car. In hindsight, this was actually a good thing for me. My hip was hurting and I was feeling sorry for myself. If I had the chance to go by the car, the temptation to drop may have been too great. The second loop was lonely. Except for one runner passing me in the opposite direction (he decided to call it a day) and the aid station workers, I never saw another soul. I tried to power hike as much as possible and even ran a bit, but the day was taking its toll on my old, fat ass. The second aid station on the loop came up around mile 17 and I said rules be damned...I needed some pain meds! The young lady reached into a large medical bin a whooped out ibuprofen and Tylenol! Well, shit! I should have asked for drugs 15 miles ago!!! After downing 3 ibuprofen and refilling the h2o, I was on my way. Within the next 30 minutes, my hip/knee pains had faded enough to run without hurting. The next (and last) aid station was at mile 20.72, as noted on my Garmin 305. When the worker said I only had 2.2 miles left I could only stare in disbelief. Maybe the elevation changes were fooling my trusty Garmin shy of almost 4 miles. Who knows, but I was not about to protest and request the "extra" miles! The mileage on the Garmin at the end of the race stated I had run a mere 23.49 miles in 6:14:58. Thank God it was over! I was somewhat happy with my time, although I believe the course was not a full marathon distance. My last marathon (St. Jude, Dec '07) was 5:20:31, so an extra 54 minutes and over 5,000 feet in elevation change was ok enough for me. More pictures here.

Time for a Break?

2008-05-17T20:35:00.001-05:00

The past two weeks have been very crappy for me as far as running goes. My mileage has decreased drastically, mainly because of lack of time and motivation. My body is just not into the running mode. I have felt very tired...almost exhausted. I have run four ultras since the end of January, so maybe it's time for a break. Maybe my system needs some extended rest. I guess I'm getting old!

I did have two great runs. A 21 miler on the yellow trail at Shelby Farms last Saturday and a 8.3 miler at Bartlett Park this morning. Today's run felt great and my body seemed to be getting back into the groove. I have the Scenic City Trail Marathon in one week, so I will take it easy the rest of the week.

After the trail marathon, I will take a much needed break. The next race will be in July (Midnight 50k). Then the wife and I are going to Hawaii for our anniversary! I hope to run up and around Diamond Head!

Long Run

2008-05-11T15:52:00.002-05:00

Saturday's long run was at Shelby Farms on the yellow trail. I parked at the ranger's station instead of the kite area to add just a tad more distance to the run. Twice from the ranger's station to Germantown Rd via the yellow trail came to 21.5 miles.

The first outbound (5.4 miles) took 1 hour 4 minutes. I knew I could do better, so I pushed just a bit harder on the first inbound and came in 7 minutes faster by my count. Not much to brag about, but negative splits are rare for me!

The second outbound and inbound took a lot longer than the first, but hey...I needed to practice my "power-hiking" anyway! I also stopped at the Shell station on G'town Rd to fill up with H2O, Coke, and Pringles!

For the first lap, I ran in my trusty Nike Free 3.0s. These are my "go-to" shoes for non-technical trail running. For the second lap, I ran in my new Zoot Ultra Tempos. These shoes are made for triathletes, but I figured they could work for me as well. I was not disappointed with the Zoots, but at the same time, I was not overly impressed either. I may wear them for the trail marathon coming up, but need to get more miles on them first.

Today was supposed to be another long run of around 10 miles, but (as of 4:18pm) I have yet to get outside to run. Household chores come first!

Ouachita Video

2008-05-07T20:08:00.003-05:00

I forgot to show ya'll this short video of me on the downside of Pinnacle Mountain during the Ouachita 50.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

2008-05-07T19:45:00.003-05:00

I never cease to amaze myself (or my wife) at how stupid I can be. Today's run was at Bartlett Park. My plan was to run after work, before the rain came in. I haven't run here in some time and wasn't sure of the condition of the trails with all the rain in the past month(s). I also haven't run in my Five Fingers in a long time. So...my bright (stupid) idea was to run Bartlett Park in Five Fingers!

The trails were a total mess. There was long areas of mud bog throughout and the creek had about six inches of "stanky" water in it. With the FF's, I had no traction whatsoever. I lost count of the number of times I fell on my ass because my feet slid out from under me. Once down in the creek, I thought I would never get out! The sides were very slick, so I had to move down to where I could grab ahold of some roots and pull myself up.

The FF's force me to a mid-foot foot strike. I am by nature more of a heel striker, so the mid-foot strike starts to hurt my calves and hips after a few miles. I kept my pace slow and my feet under me the best I could.

All in all, I had a great time in the woods and in the mud! Today is my 41st birthday and I am just happy to be able to still run!

Long Run

2008-05-03T20:29:00.002-05:00

I ended the day at 7pm with 20.63 miles on the blacktop (I figured the trails would be too wet and muddy today). All attempts to start my run early this morning were thwarted by my laziness. I finally hit the road around 11:30, which allowed only about 90 minutes to run before I had to get back home and get the car to the shop for an oil change. This first run was 9.16 miles. I wanted to keep running, but other appointments needed tending.

The second run was 11.45 miles. I wasn't really wanting to run by this point, but I knew that my ass needed to be out there. Midway into the run, I ran out of gas. I only brought one Hammer gel for fuel, which didn't help much. I finally made it back home in a somewhat respectable 2 hours and 15 minutes...having walked ALOT during the run and the entire last mile.

After a Recoverite drink and a delicious dinner, I feel ok. No pains and not too tired. I am planning on running at least 15 miles tomorrow on the trails at Shelby Farms to finish out the week.

Run #2
Run #1

Scenic City Trail Marathon

2008-04-30T07:54:00.002-05:00

Doesn't this look like a shitload of fun?

Here's the motionbased view (click me!) showing elevations.

Recovery Complete; Training Begins

2008-04-29T21:29:00.003-05:00

My body seems to have recovered significantly from the last two races enough to begin training for the Scenic City Trail Marathon on May 24th. I ran an easy 25 miles last week without too much trouble or pain. It was slow going, but still going. Today's run was right less than 9 miles at a 9:25 pace. My legs tired a bit mid-run, but I was able to keep the pace up. I wanted to run further, but did not have more time. I am now 5.3 miles short of 700 for the year. Since tomorrow is the last day of April, I will run at least the 5.3 miles even though Wednesday is supposed to be a weight day. Oh well...weights can wait til Thursday.

Today's splits:

1 10:27 (forgot my phone on top of my car and had to go back!)
2 9:25
3 9:04
4 8:49
5 9:13
6 8:49
7 9:57
8 9:30
9 6:47 (0.7 miles)

Not too shabby for an old man!

Ouachita Photos

2008-04-27T16:05:00.004-05:00

Almost forgot to show my pics of the Ouachita 50!

Here's the link.

Stepping Back

2008-04-21T17:31:00.002-05:00

I have decided to scale back my ultra races for now and concentrate on training with more long runs. I have DNF the two 50 mile attempts and this really pisses me off. So, I will drop a few races on my list and concentrate more on 50k races. The next 50 miler will be the second annual Bartlett Ultra in August.

As for training, I will do more long runs and less runs under 8 miles. I'm thinking that I should do the following (for example):

Mon - off
Tues - 5 to 8 miles
Wed - weights
Thurs - 5 to 8 miles
Fri - off
Sat - 20 to 30 miles (depending on upcoming races)
Sun - 10 to 20 miles (depending on upcoming races)

With the children's school functions, dance, baseball, and band there is not much free time to run during the week. Add in the my wife wants to run also and you have a logistical nightmare. The weekends are a little easier to manage, especially if I start my runs around 6am.

I keep having to tell myself that I have only been running since last May and not to get too discouraged. My goals were set slightly too high and hopefully I can get them reset without too much difficulty.

Still Not There

2008-04-19T21:56:00.003-05:00

The morning was crisp with a full moon slowly descending in the horizon. At 6am, we were all lined up at the pavilion gate. Without much fanfare, we started the race. I wanted to be as conservative as possible...without killing my time. The first three miles were on blacktop and then we hit the Ouachita trail.

The ascent up Pinnacle Mountain was a mother fucker. The descent was not much better. On the way up, we had to scale small boulders...climbing around like goats. On the way down, the trail consisted of large rocks that you had to carefully set on or you could tumble down and break your damn neck. Once on the other side of the mountain, we circled back around to the first aid station and then headed west.

We popped out of the woods, crossed our first of many highways and ran down past the "iron bridge" to the spillway. This area was very muddy and slow going. The remaining trail up to the first cut-off at the Northshore aid station was littered with rocks and small creek crossings. If you did not remain hyper-vigilant, you would end up on your face. I tripped quite a few times, but was always able to catch myself before eating dirt.

Once past the Northshore, we crossed yet another highway and continued to skirt Lake Maumelle. The mudpuddles continued to get bigger and I gave up trying to keep my feet dry. My North Face Arnuva Boas were falling apart. I could see my toes on my right foot through a tear caused by rocks & sticks. The other shoe was not much better. Oh well...I knew that I had a dry pair of Nike Free's in my drop bag at the turn-around.

I had a little more than two hours to make it 10 miles to the next cut-off. Doing some quick math in my head, I figured I could make it without any problems even if I only power-walked. Fuck...was I wrong! I made the next aid station with less than 30 minutes to the cut-off...and more than two long miles to go before getting there! There were three of us...and we all high-tailed it through the woods. It seemed that the entire distance was up-fucking-hill! Fuck a duck! I ran as hard as I could and when I couldn't push anymore, I power-hiked my ass down the trail until I could run again. With a mere 30 seconds left, I made the cut-off (26.6 miles in 7 hours). All three of us made it. We were spent. Dead. After fueling up, it was time to run again to make the next cut-off (10 miles in 2.5 hours). I decided against changing shoes or socks, since it would take up too much time.

More quick math in my pee-brain, I figured I would power hike to the next aid station and then run/hike the remaining distance. At the aid station, I ate a delicious turkey sandwich and some chocolate and thought all was right with the world. After running about 1/10 of a mile, both calfs decided to seize up. Fuck another damn duck. I had been taking an S!Cap every hour or so and decided to pop two to help loosen up my legs. I walked a few miles until I was able to run again. My energy level was low, but my spirits remained high. My quick math had once again let me down. At the unmanned water station, I caught up with a older gent. We discussed our time/mileage situation and decided that we had to run a 5k in less than 30 minutes to make the final cut-off. He decided that this was impossible for him, so I left him to his own fate. Of course, this was impossible for me also, but I have been labeled a retard for a reason.

I missed the cut-off by 15 minutes. My day was over. I had covered a little over 36 miles in 9:45:40. I felt that I could have made the whole 50 miles in the remaining 3 hours, but the volunteers said otherwise.

All in all, I had a great time! Climbing Pinnacle Mnt was outstanding! The views from the top are well worth the pain that would surely come the rest of the day.

Mistakes made...
- I spent too much time worrying about keeping my feet dry (which they didn't). I need to just plow through the damn water and mud and quit wasting precious time.
- I did not ingest sufficient calories. I was worried about repeating my gastric issues from the MS50 last month, so I didn't drink enough water (it was 80 degrees) or enough liquid cals (Perpetuem) and did not eat enough. This was not evident until after the halfway point and probably too late by then. I did not have any gastric distress though!
- My Camelbak burned the shit out of my back. I had too much unneeded crap in it, making it very heavy. Even now, my back hurts more than anything else.
- I ran a 6 hour race five days prior. My body did not have sufficient time to prep for this race.

Lessons learned...
- Eat more, drink more...but within reason.
- Carry less shit. I carried everything and had even more in my drop bag. How much of it did I use? Not much! My Camelbak probably weighed a good 10 pounds.
- Keep an even and steady pace. Don't start too fast and don't walk so much. Once again, my energy level could have been much higher.
- Don't run a 6 hour race five days before your 50 miler! I should have skipped the Memphis Ultra 6 Hour, but I still enjoyed running both!
- North Face Arnuva's suck.

After all is said and done, I believe that I have improved since the MS50 in March. Ouachita was 10 times harder in my opinion, even if you took Pinnacle Mnt out of the picture! Of course, if I took Pinnacle out, then I would have made the cut-offs easily! I will continue to train and improve and will be at this race next year...and finish all 50 damn rocky miles!

Memphis Ultra 6 Hour Endurance Race

2008-04-13T17:35:00.005-05:00

Although the turn out was lower than expected, we all still had a great time! The course was great and even had a swampy, muddy, standing water section to run through...at no extra charge!

Thanks to the Memphis Ultra crew (Holly, Drew, Michael, Claire, Ella Kate, Patrick, Ann Marie, Mr. Dodd) for putting on a great race and keeping us all fed and safe!

I ended the day with 8 laps (24.42 miles per my Garmin) and tied for first place with Michael. I offered to Indian wrestle in the nude for the prize, but he declined. Of course, had he not taken it easy on me all day, he would have many more miles. And...had Drew not arrived three hours late, and had Patrick not stopped early to drink beer, and had Holly actually run more instead of taking care of everyone...then I would not have won the grand prize. Lucky me!

The best part of the run was the end. No...not because it was over! As I turned the final corner, I saw a beautiful sight that almost brought me to tears (of course, being a manly man...that wasn't going to happen in public!). My lovely wife came out to see me finish six hours of running. This meant a lot to me and I am forever grateful to her for putting up with my running!

Be Free of Yourself...

2008-04-12T15:45:00.001-05:00

This is how I feel after a couple of hours of running...

Tagged

2008-04-10T08:16:00.004-05:00

I was tagged by Travis Liles to play a little game called "six word memoir". I also stole his post format (as he stole from Bad Ben Holmes)...so be warned these are the types of things I will do when tagged.

Here are the rules:
1) Write your own six word memoir
2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4) Tag at least five more blogs with links
5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Lately, my body has felt so damn tired...all the time. I don't have real specific pains, just general aches all over. I have two ultras in the next 10 days. After that, I will attempt to take some time off and let my body get back to normal.

Here is my six word memoir:

"mother fucker, I am so tired"

Now, time to tag ...Patrick, Michael, Dirty D

Update

2008-04-06T13:06:00.002-05:00

My weekly mileage has dropped from the 60's (two weeks in a row) to the 30's (the last two weeks in a row). One excuse for that is all the damn rain, which forced me inside the gym to run the treadmill (uhg!). Another excuse is all the after school activities the step children have that involve me taking and picking them up. And the last excuse is that my youngest son was in town all week. Regardless of all my lame excuses, there was plenty of time that could have been dedicated to running, but I was too lazy. I need to start getting up earlier than my normal 4:50 am to get in some extra mileage now that spring is here!

In one week, I will be running in the 6 Hour Memphis Ultra. My plan is to run at least 25 miles at a leisurely pace. The Saturday following is the Oauchita 50, so I don't want any injuries!

Last two non-treadmill runs:

April 5th:

March 27th:

Back to Normal

2008-03-24T07:07:00.005-05:00

Spring break is over and the step-children are back from their trip to Disney with their father. I am glad that they are back, mind you...but this alters my available time to run. We have band, dance, and baseball practices to tend to once again after a week of freedom. So it will be a while before anymore +60 mile weeks of running (which my body won't mind!).

In the past two weeks I have run slightly more than 126 miles without physical injuries. By the end of each week, I felt dead...but elated to be able to cover the miles. I averaged 10 miles each run, with the longest run being 16.6 miles (I need to go longer, damn it!).

My wife has also increased her mileage in the past couple of weeks! Her long run is now above 7 miles (up from 4 miles just two weeks ago). I am very proud of her and look forward to running many miles with her! Now, if I could just get her on the trails...

Easter weekend runs:

Sunday:

Saturday:

Friday:

Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T21:49:00.002-05:00

Running in the Windy City of...

2008-03-18T20:24:00.003-05:00

...not Chicago, but Bartlett. Today's run was very, very windy. It seemed that no matter which direction I was headed, I was still running into the howling wind! Tired legs and lack of motivation killed yesterday's planned run and almost did the same to today's, but I forced myself outside to get in at least 4 miles before the rain started (which, at 8:26 pm, has yet to hit). I finally got into a groove after a few miles and ended with 10.11 miles in 1:42 (10:02 pace). Not bad for an easy run (except for the winds).

Germantown Half

2008-03-16T15:31:00.002-05:00

All went well today at the race. No problems except a sore ass and tight hamstring & calf. I (once again) started too fast and had to slow it down and settle into a 9:30-ish pace. A few stops to stretch out the legs and one stop to socialize with some ultra friends on the sidelines. Great race...made even better due to the fact that I didn't cough up $45 (I did not use any aid provided by the race...except a few cookies at the end!).

Great to see that Mike, Holly, Drew, and Lauren ran like the wind! Their finish times make me feel real old(er)! Congrats to Kristi & Brad for finishing in great time, especially since neither have ever run that far before!

My time: 2:06:06 (9:33 pace)
My Splits:
1 8:50
2 8:53
3 9:04
4 9:08
5 10:03
6 9:40
7 9:49
8 9:39
9 10:20
10 9:46
11 10:17
12 9:49
13 9:49
14 1:02

Saturday

2008-03-15T19:47:00.003-05:00

Today's run almost didn't happen. The weather sucked all damn day. I thought about going to the gym to run the treadmill, but that didn't sound too fun. I finally decided to head to Shelby Farms to run on the paved paths and prayed it would not rain again. Although it did not rain, the wind was blowing hard and the temps were in the low 50's. Not too bad, but I prefer better.

My pace was too fast for the first 6 miles and I knew that I would pay dearly for this mistake later. I kept it steady for 10 miles and then my right hamstring and calf muscles started to lock up. I tend to sweat profusely when running due to being a fat ass...and today was no exception. Trying to keep my gut from bloating again, I had kept the water intake to bear minimum (20 oz H2O for entire run) and only had one gel (at 6m mark). I had a S!Cap at the start and another at the halfway. Figuring all this, I assumed that I was dehydrated and was experiencing some lactic acid build up in the legs. Oh well...I stopped to stretch several times and had to walk for a minute of so during mile 12, but I kept moving forward.

This story is getting too long...so, to sum it all up:
Total: 13.16 miles in 2:07:03 (9:39 pace) (PR)
10k time was at 56 minutes and change (PR)
Splits:
1 9:25
2 8:37
3 8:57
4 9:04
5 8:37
6 9:19
7 10:25
8 9:25
9 9:59
10 9:45
11 10:42
12 10:10
13 11:48
14 1:45

I am amazed at my endurance level since the MS50 two weeks ago. That race, even though I fell short of 50 miles, was a turning point for me. Before then, I would walk way too much in practice runs and races. I didn't have the confidence needed to successfully finish a marathon, let alone an ultramarathon. Now I do have that confidence and I can force my fat ass to hold a decent pace throughout each run.

On the Road...Again

2008-03-13T19:54:00.004-05:00

Today's run was supposed to be a short 4 miles before dinner. I really didn't even feel like running. My legs were starting to feel a little dead and my right hip and ankle was sore. Since it's supposed to rain tomorrow, I felt it necessary to run today (and rest tomorrow).

I set out a little after 4pm. Other than being windy, the weather was great! I decided to run somewhere other than my normal 4 mile route. I went through a few neighborhoods that I have never seen and ended up back on Old Brownsville Rd. This road is fairly narrow and the cars love to speed by. I spent a lot of time in the ditch...trying to not become road kill. Right on Oak for a bit and then a right on Broadway took me back to the five-way. My brain said to take another right and head home, but my body wanted more miles. So...more miles it got. I ended up with 8.4 miles in 1:21:16 (9:39 pace). I felt great and wanted to see what my time would be at 13.1 miles, but my wife had told me that dinner was served at 6pm and I know it wouldn't be wise to be late.

No gels, only 20 oz Propel (only drank 3/4). Once again, no gastric issues. For my long run on Saturday, I will start adding Perpetuem back into it and see if it causes any issues.

Splits:
1 9:28
2 8:48
3 9:59
4 9:38
5 10:21
6 9:36
7 9:49
8 9:55
9 3:51

Another Great Run

2008-03-12T20:10:00.005-05:00

I hit Bartlett Park this afternoon for multiple reasons. First was to obtain an elevation profile for the Bartlett Park Ultra (Aug 2nd). Second was in hopes of continuing a (so far) great week of running. And lastly...the weather was beautiful and I needed to be in the woods.

A lot of muddy and wet areas throughout the trails slowed my pace, but all in all I kept it steady without much effort. I only took one gel and 24 oz of water and had no problems with bloating (I usually drink 40 oz of water for this course...which would tend to bloat me).

Tomorrow's plan is for slow and low mileage. Friday will be an off day (it's supposed to rain). Saturday is for long run and Sunday for recovery run (G'town Half Marathon).

Studly

2008-03-12T10:36:00.005-05:00

First...you gotta love daylight savings time! With the extra hour of daylight, I can get more than a few miles in well before dark!

I wanted to see if I could top my great runs on Monday with one complete run yesterday. I started out around six-ish, figuring I had at least an 90 minutes before dark. I wanted to run at least 6 miles before even thinking about heading back to the house. I also wanted to run without any extra fueling (except one gel and 20oz of Propel) to see start ruling out things that cause gastric distension in previous runs. I am happy to report no gut problems during the entire run!

I intentionally kept my pace below 10min/mile to see how far I could last. Once again, I know that this pace is fairly slow for most of you, but it's truckin' for my big ass. I was able to keep pace except when having to wait on traffic. I wanted to keep running after 10 miles, but it was getting late and I was getting very hungry. I was extremely pleased with the run which was another PR for me!

Splits:
1 9:56
2 9:11
3 10:00
4 9:13
5 9:29
6 9:30
7 10:05
8 9:23
9 10:27
10 9:31

G'town Half Marathon

2008-03-10T20:46:00.002-05:00

I've decided to use this Sunday's Germantown Half Marathon as a recovery run from Saturday's long run. They are asking $45 to register...just to run 13 miles. I refuse to pay more than most ultras, so I will run as a bandit. I could run on the trails by my lonesome, but it's nice to run with a group of people so I can gauge my progress.

Anyone else care to join me?

Training Begins...Again

2008-03-10T20:19:00.002-05:00

After the MS50, I took off the entire week. Although I wasn't too sore, I figured a week off would allow my system to get back to normal with rest.

My plan for Saturday was to hit Bartlett Park in the early AM before the snow started to melt. I was dressed out and ready to go when I was called in to work. By the time I finally got to Bartlett Park that afternoon, the snow had melted from the trails and it was like running up through a very cold and muddy creek. I ran the white trail up to the Outhouse loop and then headed back down the fire road to Memphis-Arlington Rd. Tired of running through all the water, I hit the streets for a few miles, ending back at my car with a little over 5 miles.

I wanted to run Sunday, but I had too many other things to do. So, I had to wait until today for another running fix.

Today's runs were split into two. The first part was on the treadmill at the gym while I waited on my step-son to finish band practice. I ran 4.1 miles in 36:48 (8:59 pace), which is a treadmill PR for me (I know...it's slow for most of you). The second run was on the streets after I got home. This was 4.55 miles in 42:02 (9:14 pace), which is another PR for me! I almost scrubbed the second run due to being tired, but figured I would run at least a couple of easy miles. By the end of the first mile, I was feeling great and kept running.

And so begins my training for Ouachita 50. I will most likely run just the 50k, but will decide later.

Today:

Saturday:

MS 37.5 Miler

2008-03-02T10:05:00.002-06:00

For whatever reason, I thought the race started at 0630. When I pulled up at 0600,
I saw everyone already lined up at the start. Well fuck. I quickly filled my two hand-helds (one water, one Perpetuem), took an S!Cap, grabbed two flasks (one gel, one Sustained Energy paste), choked down a Carnation Instant Breakfast, through on my race vest and made my way to the starting line. By this time, 8 minutes had elapsed and there were no runners in sight. Not knowing the route, I hoped that I was running the right way! My Garmin had yet to pick up a satellite, so it was yet to start recording. Fuck, fuck, fuck...what a way to start a race.

Within the first few miles, I passed some people which made me feel better. At least I knew that I was on the correct trail! There was a creek crossing after the first aid station. About five people were trying to cross it without getting wet. I quickly crossed (and stayed dry!) and, by my count, I had now passed 8 runners. At mile 10-ish, I see Michael, Patrick, and John. This part of the course is an out and back for about one mile total, so I figure that I am only about 12 minutes behind them. OK...feeling a a lot better now.

My car is parked about 200 yards before the starting line. I stopped to refill my stuff, grab a bag of S!Caps and Aleve, more gel, another Carnation and contemplate on taking a roll of toilet paper with me for the next lap. Leaving the toilet paper, I finally manage to move my ass past the starting line with a first lap time of 2:42:12. Not bad for a late start!

Before starting the second lap, I pay a visit to the port-a-potty. I had to wait in line for what seemed like an eternity. With my business finally tended to, I begin lap number two. A few of the people I had passed earlier were now in front of me. I thought about flying by them, but think better of it. There were still 3 laps to go and I knew that I would have to run my race and not worry about them.

All felt fine at this point. No pains to warrant worry and my energy level was good. I decided to pay more attention to my run/walk plan of 10:2 to help conserve energy. One of those I had passed earlier came into sight, about 1/2 mile ahead of me. When I caught up with him, we decided to pace each other for the remaining part of the lap. He would lead for a while, then we would switch. This worked well and it was nice to have someone to talk to. Don was running the 50k, so he wasn't in too much of a hurry. For me, the cut-off was looming large in the near future. We parted ways and I picked up the pace. Lap two was completed (after stopping at the car to replenish and change shirts) at the 5:49:22 mark. Decent pace, but slower than my original plan of 5:30:00.

During the previous couple of hours, my stomach began to bloat. This is normal for me and it's usually cured with more S!Caps and a lot of belching. Starting lap 3, my gut continued to swell. This became so uncomfortable that I was unable to run. I slowed to a crawl for the next four miles. Each time I attempted to run, the pain forced me to stop. I tried everything to relieve the pressure/pain. I even went so far as to stick my fingers down my throat to force vomiting (unsuccessfully). I stopped drinking because my stomach would not empty. I had only urinated once (at the end of lap 1) and I had yet to have any desire to urinate again. Thinking that emptying my bladder may help, I forced a small amount of urine out. Of course, this was no help. I crept through the miles, hoping the pain would magically disappear. At the second aid station, I decided to fill up my hand-held with water instead of the Heed I started drinking on the first lap. This seemed to help some and I was able to start a slow trot. By this time, the only way to make the cut-off was to run the next 6 miles within the next hour. Believing this to be impossible at this point, I mentally gave up. I figured I would take it easy and not cause any further injuries.

After the first pass through aid station 3, I started an easy jog. I knew that I would never make the cut-off, but I wanted to get to the finish line as quick as possible. My gastric distress was now manageable since switching from Heed to plain water (not sure if Heed was the problem), so I tried to keep the pace somewhat respectable. A lot of 50m runners were flying past me on their final lap. It was great to see them doing so well, but discouraging all the same. At mile 35, I physically gave up. I was so disgusted with myself. Lap 3 was completed at the 9:45:41 mark. I missed the last lap cut-off by 30 minutes.

If not for the severe bloating, I think I could have made the cut-off with at least 10 minutes to spare. The first half of lap three killed my race. I have never tried Heed before, so I am unsure of it's contribution to my problems, if any. I know that I shouldn't try anything in a race that I haven't already tested before, but the heat/humidity was on the rise and I was afraid it might do me in. Or was the bloating due to 3 cans of Carnation Instant Breakfast? There is a lot of sugar and fat in each can, so I thought they would be a good source of cals/carbs. I have used them before, but never more than one can.

What to make of the lack of urination? Does this mean I was dehydrated? Does this mean my hydration was fairly level? Even after the race on the way home, I only urinated twice in the whole 4.5 hour trip back to Memphis.

Today, I feel ok. Other than a few aches and pains, all seems fine. I did have one small blister on a toe, but nothing else. I did drink some Recoverite after the race, so maybe that helped.

Overall (besides the bloating), I felt my nutritional needs were met. Except for a few low spots during lap three, I never hit the wall...never bonked. My planned 10:2 run/walk pace worked well and I would have made the cut-off if not for the painful gastric bloating. My body held up fine except for some tightness and slight pain in my right achilles and knee.

Oh well...with the lack of long runs this year, I guess I shouldn't have expected much. I did have fun and met some great people...and that is the whole purpose of being there.

Lap (12.5 mile) splits: 2:42:12 5:49:22 9:15:41

Race Calander Changes

2008-02-24T17:10:00.003-06:00

I have decided to forgo the 3 Days of Syllamo this year. I don't think I will have recovered enough from the MS50 to enjoy even one race, much less all three. In place of 3 Days, I'll stay local for the Germantown 1/2 Marathon.

More races in doubt:
The website for the Nashville Ultra is still not up, so I have to guess that the race is not going to happen. I continue to see it listed on the Ultrarunning mag website...so all hope is not lost. I will probably skip the Nashville Marathon as well. I so hate running on pavement!!

Removing 3 Days and possibly the Nashville Ultra will free up time and resources to get ready for the Ouachita 50 miler in mid April.

Adding a few races from the Rock/Creek Trail Series to fill out the year. Now only time, money, and health stand in my way!

Rock/Creek Trail Series

2008-02-24T17:06:00.002-06:00

New Tennessee trail race series listed in TrailRunner mag:

March 29, 2008
Rock/Creek River Gorge Race
10.2 mile / 6.5 mile

May 24, 2008
Scenic City Trail Marathon & Half Marathon
presented by Vasque

June 20–22, 2008
Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race
22 mile / 18 mile / 20 mile

August 9, 2008
Greenway 5 Mile Trail Race

October 4, 2008
Rock/Creek StumpJump
50k & 11 mile
Registration opens April 1, 2008.

November 15, 2008
Upchuck 50k

December 20, 2008
Lookout Mountain 100k / 10k
presented by Vasque

Link to the website.

Last Long Run

2008-02-23T13:24:00.002-06:00

We had a large group of trail runners this morning at Shelby Forrest. About ten tortured souls set out at 0731 from the top of the red loop, heading toward Poplar Lake. The plan was to run to the lake and back twice. Some decided to keep running after that. The temp was hovering around freezing, which makes for good running.

My nutrition plan was simple: Sustained Energy in my flasks, Perpetuem in my hand helds, and h20 in my Camelbak. I also took along a few gels and two Boost drinks. I once again forgot to bring any solid foods! Next time I will hopefully remember. I also mixed up some Recoverite after the run.

All in all, it was a great run! I stubbed my toes a few times and fell twice. My right second toe has a nasty blood blister, but no other problems. Everyone was happy and upbeat, looking forward to upcoming races. It's great to socialize with other trail runners.

There is less than one week until the MS50. I think I am ready. I hope that I am ready. I will probably run the MRTC 10k tomorrow afternoon at a leisurely pace and then cross-train until the race. I want to be fresh for the MS50, but not rusty from lack of running!

Today's Run

2008-02-17T15:40:00.002-06:00

Shelby Farms...overcast and very, very windy. After initial 7 miles, I was set to run the red trail, but the wind was so strong and I was getting very chilled in my sweaty tech shirt...so I called it a day. So much for long runs this weekend! The Mississippi 50 is in less than two weeks and my longest run this year was the Swamp Stomper 50k on 1/20. I am worried that I will not even come close to making the cut off for the 50 miler. I can just do the 50k, but I would feel like a wuss since I signed up for the 50 miles.

No Long Run For Old Men

2008-02-16T20:32:00.003-06:00

My long run for the day never happened. My wife and I spent a lot of today looking at plans for our new house in Tipton county and did not get back home until past three. Wanting to get at least some running in today, I hit the street at 3:30. By 3:45, the rain began. I was damned if I didn't run, so I kept moving. The rain wasn't too bad and slacked off in about 30 minutes. At least it was warm! I knew those poor souls running Sylamore this morning must have had some ugly weather, so I couldn't wuss out on my measly little run! Two hours later I was back home and dinner was ready. Who can complain about that?!

Happy Trails

2008-02-12T19:32:00.000-06:00

After work Monday, I decided to test my Nike Free's out at Bartlett Park. Cliff and Liz Sander's truck was in the parking lot, so I was hoping to catch up with them. Thinking they were running the traditional counter-clockwise direction, I ran opposite figuring we would meet at some point on the trail. They must have run the same direction because we never crossed pathes. Cliff and Liz are great people who I hope to run more with!

Anyway...no problems with the lack of cushioning (as long as I didn't kick any roots) and I kept a good pace most of the run due to the shoes being so light. Traction was not an issue, since the trail was dry.

Today's run was on the dreaded treadmill due to the ugly, cold weather. I can't wait for summer! I would rather run in 120 degree weather than this crap!! The forecast is calling for rain all weekend, which will really put a damper on my planned 50k practice run (I should have signed up for Sylamore!!!!!!!).

New Shoes, New Energy

2008-02-09T20:11:00.000-06:00

My Nike Free 3.0's finally arrived Friday. At 7am this morning, I put them on and hit the streets of Bartlett for a test run. Once my body adjusted to the minimalistic shoe on blacktop, the ride felt great! These shoes are feather light, but still have some cushioning. My Five Fingers weigh about the same, but have no protection whatsoever, which is why I couldn't wear them anywhere but the trails.

My test run was initially to be 4 miles, but I went ahead and kept running for 7. I would have run more, but I had to be back at the house by 0830. No blisters, no bruising, no knee/hip pain...all is well and I give this shoe a passing with flying colors grade.

We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at houses in Tipton county, where we plan on moving in the early summer. Once home, I knew it was time to run again. At 5pm, I hit the streets again. I ran to the gym (3.56 miles), did 5 miles there, and ran home (4.4 miles). Grand total for today = 19.95 miles in my new Nike Free's!

I also ordered another pair of Nike Zoom Airs, which weight just slightly more than the Free's, but have alot more cushion for the pushin'. My shoe inventory will be set for a couple of months.

A New Week

2008-02-05T18:45:00.000-06:00

After Saturday's run at Bartlett Park, I decided to take Sunday off for some much needed rest. Since the weather was so wonderful on Monday, I figured I had enough rest and that it was time to hit the street for a quick run.

The first mile was a bear. My legs felt dead. Twice I almost called it quits. The only thought that kept me going was the upcoming MS50 (slightly over three weeks away). I knew that if I couldn't push past my discomfort for a quick run, then I would not fare well on race day. So...I pushed on. Mile two was a little better. I started to get into a groove. At the end of the second mile, I stopped for a stretch. This simple act seemed to bring new life into my dead legs and I took off feeling great. The initial route is 4.5 miles, but I figured that it would be a waste of good weather to end the run that soon. So, I kept on running down, around and through Quail Ridge Golf Course. Since it had been raining, the golf course was empty. I ran on the cart paths and down the fairways. It was somewhat wet and slippery, but quick all the same.

Today's crappy weather did not allow me to run outside. Since I didn't make it to the gym and we have yet to get a treadmill...I'll call today another rest and recovery day (sounds better that way!).

Rocky Raccoon 100

2008-02-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

Congrats to Kevin, John, and Rob in their outstanding finish in the 2008 Rocky Raccoon 100 mile Endurance Trail Run!!!

6th 17:41:12.30 Kevin Dorsey

24th 20:36:49.70 John Manley

154th 28:48:07.85 Rob Apple

Maybe next year I will be ready to take on 100 miles! Right now, I am worried about covering 50 (32 was hard enough)!