Old Man Still running

Feeling pretty recovered today, just about ready to run again.  The cool autumn weather is so wonderful to see.  Makes me want to go up into the Uintas.  Long range forecast for Wasatch 100 looks great, cool like today.

Did a recovery run, running up Timp, my 66th career summet.  The parking lot was almost totally full at 2:30 a.m.  Ran up, passing about 100 kids.   I took it easy, but was very pleased that I felt strong and fast, could run hard uphill for long stretches if I wanted and it seemed easy.  Got up in 2:20.  It was a bit chilly with some frost in the basin, but got warmer further up.  Some kids were heading down as I went up, I think they hit the first snow field, (no big deal) and turned around.

I think BYU kids are getting dumber...need to get out more.  I was asked silly questions as I ran down.   One guy, "Are you going down?"  How do I answer that one?  A girl always asks, very concerned:  "Why are your running?"  Guys moving slowly in the basin, "How much further is it?"  (They can look up and see the summit).   Then there are the kids that see me coming with my light blazing and act like a deer in the headlights, no clue what to do.  They just freeze in the middle of the trail.

I counted 375 people on the trail.  This is the second busiest day on the trail.  I was tempted to do a double, but no way with that traffic.  It will even be worse on Monday, the biggest day of the year.

I ran into about seven people who either I knew or they knew who I was.  So I had fun stopping to talk to a bunch of people.  The dawn light was incredible as I neared the bottom.  It was a nice morning.  Got home before my wife and son woke up.

Went up Timp again, my 67th summit.  Took son Kevin up to the top for the first time.  We started at about 2:45 a.m. and passed everyone on the trail ahead of us except one guy.  Got him up in 2:55.  The altitude really slowed him down near the top but he made it.  When we got back to the saddle, it looked like there were about 30-40 young hikers there, sitting around trying to stay warm.  I said, "Don't stop here, go up to the summit, it is a lot nicer.  It doesn't count unless you go to the summit."  Kevin took his time getting down so I just sprinted around in fast spurts and then waited for him and talked to hikers.  Had a great time.   Toward the bottom, there was almost a constant stream of hikers going up.

I tried some new things with my Hokas, additional insole inserts to give more support to avoid so much over pronation and also taped the big toes first with cloth tape and then with duct tape. All seemed to help protect the toes better.

Wasatch 100 on Friday.

Heat training.  Tried to spend an hour in the hot tub at the pool doing some leg kicks to get the heart rate up.  I think this is just as effective at the sauna method people try to use.  I also think that you don't have to do this for weeks, like some Badwater people do, just a few days helps a ton.  Man, it was hard and I hated it, but I could feel the affects.  Next session will be easier.

When Alexander Basin and Lambs Canyon arrive, I'll be happy I did this.

That was rough.  Detailed report later this week on my blog.

Start fine, ran near Phil Lowry for first 3.6.  On Chinscrapper climb, I discovered I lacked strength on the steep climbs.  That would be the case for the entire race.  However, I could run strong on any mild uphill.  Go figure.

Reached top of Chinscraper 12 minutes slower than last year.  Got some time back running 7-minute miles down to Francis Peak aid.  After Bountiful B, delayed another 10 minutes visiting the bushes.  Now, clearly running in mid pack, it was easy to run passed anyone.  But it was fun to run with friends I usually don't ever see.

Got to Big Mountain (mile 39.4) nearly an hour slower than last year.  Another 10 minutes in the bathroom and 10 minutes to change shoes, etc.  Last year I only had a two minutes top.

Wow!  Now with Hokas on, I was flabergasted how fast I could run (with the exception of steep uphills). The difference was dramatic.  I could really blast down the trail and no longer pick around the rocks. By the time I rached Alexander aid station, I had passed 23 runners (I counted them)  I passed several more before Lambs.  I was back in the game.  Somehow I made it up the next steep climb and then really flew.  I ran up the Millcreek road very fast, passing another dozen runners.

But, as usual, after Millcreek, my stomach shut down, and I had to back way off.  Why?  Hard run up the road?  Temperature shift and longish stop at the aid?  Altitude?  Don't know. Next time I won't even stop there. Near Dog Lake, I finally went on a side trail away from all the runners passing me, so I could rest in peace, laying on the ground.   I did this twice more before Desolation Lake.  When I came out of the woods after the last cat nap, I discovered that I was now running back with the runners who I had passed eight hours earlier.  Pretty depressing.

I had bacon with me, and that helped.  At Desolation Lake, the Coke tasted great, a good sign.  But as I sat by the fire, my body started to go through recovery, so I jumped up and knew I needed to get going again.  On the way up to the ridge, I sat down with another runner, also having stomach problems.  I joked with people as they passed, inviting them to join our party by the side of the trail.  Just a pitty party of two guys trying not to puke their guts out.

Finally, on top of the ridge, I pulled out of it.  I started to run very fast, again passing runners.  I looked at my Garmin and my pace at the time was 7:30.  I felt great.  At Scotts, I only stopped for a couple minutes and saw Paul Grimm there, who I had passed 30 miles earlier.  When I left, I told the runners around who were all walking, "It is time to run!"  I then sprinted off, feeling much better.

I got into Brighton three hours later than I hoped, and had a long stop, changing some clothes to solve a chafing problem.

The climb up to Point Supreme was bad.   I just couldn't handle steep climbs.  But once over the top, I lead a group of runners to Ant Knolls.  There, I enjoyed pancakes and sausage.  The haul climb was pathetic and very hard.  But once on top of the ridge after I recovered, I flew again, feeling great, singing and clocking better than 8-minute miles, sprinting into the Pole Line Pass aid station.  They invited me to stop and sit, but I refused.  I was on a high and wasn't going to lose it.

But all the steep climbs to Rock Springs eventually took the wind out my sails and I knew I could no longer realistically beat 30 hours, so I went into cruise control the rest of the way.  The dust in my shoes tore my feet up, but I didn't stop and just grinded it out to the finish with very painful feet.

I had highs, and lows.  But it was a finish, and this year is all about 100-mile finishes for me.  My lack of strength on steep uphlls is probably due to running 100 miles just 13 days before.  So I didn't let it bug me.

Recovery going very well.  It never fails, if the stomach slows me down, the legs just don't really get sore because I'm dogging it.  After CCC100 two weeks ago I was sore from 4-5 days.  This time the soreness is already gone.  The only problem I have is a very sore and swollen elbow.  Funny thing is that I hit that elbow during a fall running down Timp a week ago.  The elbow just started to swell up last night.

I'm a mess.  Better this week then next.  Yesterday I was down for the count with stomach flu, felt like I was running Tahoe Rim all over again.   Then, I finally went to the doctor for my bad elbow that I fell on 11 days ago on Timp.  They drained it and said it is infected.  Got a shot in the butt and can hardly walk now.  Oh the fun!

Another day at the doctor.  Today they x-rayed the elbow.  Shoot....not busted.  It would have been cool to say I ran Wasatch with a busted elbow.  For the second day they shot up my butt with antibiotics and in the other butt today a corizone shot.  Seems like it is starting to work, the swelling is coming down.  Tomorrow I go back in for Day 3 and they should have the culture results back so they will know which antibiotic I should be taking.   I had worries that this would keep me away from Virgil Crest 100 next week, but now I'm encourage.  Last night I was up almost all night in pain.  I've been looking at catlogs for a nice hook.

Virgil Crest 100.  That area got hit hard by the hurricane and still is very wet.  Looks like more rain the two days before the race and maybe race day too.  Looks like my kind of race.  I certainly have had plenty of mud slogging training this year.

On the downside, I see I scheduled my return flight for Sunday, so I sure better finish by 29 hours, because I then have to drive 4 hours to catch the return plane in Philly, then fly a very long flight home.  This could be very ugly.  Last time I tried do to this on the day I finished Vermont it was pretty bad.  The people on the plane thought I was going to die.

Well, I think I'm getting better.  Elbow feels much better although still big. 

Went to the doctor.  My doctor for years retired, so I'm going to a new young doctor who took many of his patients.  First thing she said to me today was, "I found out that you are famous."  I thought, oh boy, here it comes.  Sure enough, she looked at my records closer and it had some note about my crazy running.  She found my blog and now is a gushing fan, said she thought about me as she was trying to push through 5 miles this morning.  So much of my visit this morning was talking to her and another doctor about my ultrarunning.  They both must have wasted 10 minutes with me asking running questions.

It is comforting to know that she understand and appreciates what I do, even concerned to make sure I'm healed up for my next race.  She told me if I have further problems to make sure I come in early next week to she can help get things improved before the weekend.

Turns out the fluid from my elbow didn't grow a bacteria culture.  Good news, the bursa isn't internally infected.  But I probably had a skin infection.  The bursa got big probably just from the trama and maybe it decided to get inflamed when the skin infection started for because my body was whacked out from Wasatch.  Who know?

Anyway, the elbow fills much better.  I can move it with very little pain and it no longer is hot to touch.  The steroid shot had me awake all night and the antibiotics gave the the runs, but I'll live.

I behaved today and took it easy, recovering from the crazy health issues from the week.  The elbow swelling went way down and now feels pretty fine.  That is a relief.  They gave me some drugs to take but after reading the side-effects, it wouldn't be wise with a race this week, so I'm just hoping to fully heal on my own in a few days.

The late morning was spectacular.  Went out for my first run in a week.  Wow, haven't run a step in six days.  The legs felt fantastic.  Just ran eight miles on the Jordan River Parkway, enjoying the beautiful morning.  My brother and his sons were up hiking Twin Peaks and had a miserable time in the cold wet bushes and snow at the top.  I was glad I skipped that one.

Getting focused on running Virgil Crest 100, in New York, on Saturday.  Over the weekend studied the course and read race reports from last year.  The course reminds me of the Tahoe Rim 100 format, just lower altitude and cooler/moister conditions.   It really looks like my kind of race and conditions, most of it windy single track in the forest.

The more I think about it, this is crazy running three 100s in four weeks.   But I feel recovered and ready.  The stupid elblow swelled up again this weekend and got hot, but doesn't hurt much.  So, I on the stupid antibiotics, but refuse to take the steroid.  Spooks me to think what a body under 100-mile stress would react after taking that stuff.  Not willing to risk.

Last night I called a family I found, taught, and baptized into the Church on my LDS mission in 1978.   They live 20 minutes from the start.   I'll stay with them a couple nights.  Should be fun.  They are really excited.   I lived in this town for six months and knocked on the doors of about half the homes.   Later in 1981, we moved to a city 40 miles away where I worked for IBM for nine years.

I think the elbow is coming down a little now so I won't look like a freak as much.

Looking at Virgil Crest 100 competition for Saturday.  56 entrants.  22 100-mile rookies who probably won't compete for the win. 13 more back-of the packers.  But that leaves 20 that can comptete.  There are five that really should beat me, including one with elite speed.   So a top-5 finish would be really good.   I have a string of four bad 100 performances going, I hope to break this.  In my favor is low altitude which should keep the stomach happy, and possible poor conditions.  Sloppy with rain usually jumps we way up in the standings since I just ignore it.   Cool weather, high of 65.

Looks like my wishes for a rainy race may come true.  On Friday there could be a half inch of rain dumped on the course and then 50% chance of rain on Saturday, race day.  Should be interesting.  I'll bring the rain gear.  All my friends running the Bear will be running is sissy, pleasant weather.

In NY.  Taking it easy.  Previewed some sections of the course.  Wow!  The sections I went on were wonderful soft forest trails, look very fast.   I checked out several intersections which will help me not get confused.   Rain likely, but it looks like the trails drain pretty fast.  It is very humid, but not very hot.  It will be interesting running in humidty.   All systems go.

Ran out in Central NY.  First day was rainy, cool, humid.  Very muddy in spots that slowed everyone down.  Finished first 50 in just under 13 hours.  Started really cruising at mile 75-85.  But then the morning sun came out.  My body just isn't adapted to heat/humidity like that.  At mile 90, had to lay in a cot for ten minutes.  By mile 93, I was in a bad way, probably heat stroke, scariest 100-mile experience yet. Dizzy, ashen looking, going 1 mph. They sent someone back from the mile 96 aid station to walk me in the last mile.  Layed on the ground at the aid station for quite a while applying ice. Came pretty clost to DNFing at mile 96.  Finally felt somewhat better.  Asked buddy Phil Rosenstein to run with me to the finish, didn't dare do it alone.  He did and somehow I made it.  Last 10 miles took me nearly 5 hours. Ran that same section in 1:45 for the first 10 miles of the race. Recovery has been very hard.  Six hours later finally starting to fill a bit better.  Learned a good lesson about trying to do hot/humid 100s without humidity training.

Finally bounced back this morning after about ten hours of sleep.  Took three days which is typical recovering from a hot finish.  Boy, I just don't want to do hot 100s any more.  I do so much better running in 40-50 degrees.

Legs feel pretty good, minor blisters healing, no injuries.  At about mile 80, I did bang my patella tendon hard jumping over a big rock and it swelled up immediately.  Its doing OK.

I did post my race report at: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=895

My training focus now shifts to the flats for Across the Years in 92 days.   I'll use Pony Express Trail 100 as a good training run.   I'm almost ready to conclude that at my age that the place I'm most competitive are on flatter 100s.  It was just a tough season on the mountain 100s, with no great performances.

Still recovering.  Still felt sick yesterday afternoon and evening.  Nine more hours of sleep.  Better, hopeful.  Pattern is by afternoon I drag and still can't stand going out in the sunlight.

Each night by 7 p.m. I'm exhausted and have to sleep for at least an hour.  Finally feeling pretty normal this morning, we'll see as evening approaches.   My main recovery issue right now is my big left toe.  The nerve endings came to life and are pretty painful and constant.  They had me dreaming last night again running the VC100 course.  Usually that toe is pretty numb from all the pounding over the years, no big deal, but nerves decided to wake up.  Hopefully it isn't a ingrown toenail, we shall see.   I think I hammered that toe pretty good last weekend, so it is just finally trying to get back at me.