Old Man Still running

miles for the week

Miles for the week, mostly treadmill.  Crappy weather.

treadmill

treadmill

treadmill

treadmill

It has been many years since I've been on this blog.  I might try it again to record daily training. In 2016 I ran 4,742 miles, most ever for me in a calendar year.  I also finished 12 100-miler, also most in a year. 

50K at the Olympic Oval in 4:47.  Training for Rocky Racoon 100 in two weeks.  Feel ready.  It has been five years since I ran there.  In 2012, I ran it but finished with a massive stress fracture in my tibia and couldn't run for six months.  In 2013, I tried to return, but the leg started bothering me and I decided to not run, good decision.  But since that race in 2012, I've finished 36 more 100-milers and despite my advance age of 58, I'm good to go and still pretty fast.  I hope for my 87th career 100-mile finish, and my 6th at Rocky.

4 miles in the evening

Since I left the blog in 2013, I've concentrated on doing a weekly very long run.  For me, it allows me to run more 100-milers, I recover much faster, and stay injury-free as I am very careful about my pace.  Each Saturday I hope to do a 50K run if possible if I find some place interesting to run. In 2016, I did 45 runs of at least the marathon distance or more and the average distance of those runs including the races was 59 miles.  So far, for 2017 I've run four runs of at least 50K or more, so a good start.  I've now run 315 runs lifetime of 50K distance or more.  Here are some of my detailed thoughts of the frequent long run.

Miles for the week, 84, mostly treadmill.  Weather sure has been crappy and I hate to go out and run when it is so cold.  Look forward to Texas next weekend running Rocky Raccoon 100 for the 6th time.  Should be warm and some rain.

134 miles last week.  Ran Rocky Raccoon 100 for the 6th time and finished in 25:04.  Disappointed, but a finish is a finish.  Soon after mile 80 at 17 hours, I bonked hard and could barely run.  It took three hours to recover and then I ran pretty hard to the finish. Just need to always pay attention to fueling better.  I suspect I was low on electrolytes. The bad cold I had certainly didn't help much either.  Oh well, next 100 in two weeks. My race report is at: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=3687

Very low mileage week for me.  Slow recovery from my 100-miler last Saturday.  Usually I recover within 4-5 days, but the quads and calfs remained sore until today.  That crazy cold sunk in as a sinus infection causing me to go to the doctor for the first time in three years.  That probably also slowed recovery.

But I did get in my 50K run today.  Still every week this year with at least a 50K run.  I first ran 12 miles on the treadmill and then went out into the pleasant 38 degree-post rain weather and ran on pave trails an a little on gravel trails.  Ran Murdock Canal then jumped on a Highland Trail to the mouth of American Fork Canyon.  Then Cedar Hills Parkway Trail, and then decended to grab the Murdock Trail for the return.  That was a 19 mile random run, averaging an easy 11:18 miles.  My left quad felt mushy and heavy, still needs rest.  Jackpot 100 next Saturday near Las Vegas to try to grab my 88th 100-mile finish.  If all goes well in about a year I'll reach my 100th and can quit this craziness.

Saturday I ran Jackpot 100 and placed 5th with 20:48:58, my best 100-mile race time in six years.  Ran in 14 hours of rain.  For some reason I do well in mild rain, about a half inch.  It was my 88th 100-mile finish.  My race report is at: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=3704

I am totally frustrated with a runner who I discovered cheats ultras with the help of his wife nearly every race he runs.  I was shocked to first discover this two years ago when I detected that he short-changed an out and back during a 100-miler by at least two miles. Then I discovered that he cheats all the loop courses he runs by either cutting them or finishing a loop, going to his tent or car, waiting a loop's time, and then going out and recording the loop.  He chooses races that can easily be cheated and many times wins them, I think to keep his sponsorships.  I've detected cheating now in five races I've run with him.  It is pretty easy to detect because I'm not that far behind him.  He's lost any conscience regarding cheating.  For this race I brought my son to watch him and we caught him cheating a lap with video. I couldn't believe it, so sneaky and disgusting. I don't really want to "out" him, can't without more evidence and instead trying to warn race directors at races he signs up for.  I hope they will care enough, catch him, and DQ him.

Just 33 restful miles for the week.  I've recovered and decided to run another 100 in a week near Las Vegas, a new 100 and a free entry.  New 100s are always adventure runs.  There will always be hicups and problems, you just have to go into with an attitude of having some fun and not being conserned about competing.  It will be a 25 mile loop course done four times.  Weather will be pleasant, a little too warm, but I can deal with it.

On the subject of the cheater runner, I've been in contact with the RD for the next race he will do.  It is a race I detected him cheating in last year.  The RD was already aware of this runner, knew his name before I told it, because of other complaints from runners.  So, it sounds like they will take some action this year.  I now recall two years ago was the first time I detected him cheating in a 100-miler.  During an out-and-back, I detected that he cheated an out and back.  I was shocked but not certain.  I looked at my Strava data yesterday to check the milage.  He would have had to travel six miles in the time I ran two to catch up to me.  Impossible because he had a huge rugged slow 1,000-foot climb and descent to do, along with two more miles on top of a mesa. He cheated nearly an hour off the course.  So he even cheats on non-loop 100s.  Wow.

Miles to end out the month

Ran Trashed Trail 100 near Las Vegas.  It was really rugged and tough in high winds and was about 102 miles.  The field was small (12), and the winds caused all but three to quit.  I came in second with 31:10.  My race report is at: http://www.crockettclan.org/blog/?p=3721  I'm trying to finish three 100-miles within four weeks.  Two down, one to go.  Next Antelope Island Buffalo Run 100.