Update!! Woot!!

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

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

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

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

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)