Old Man Still running

p.m. treadmill

I'm in my Boston taper now, backing off on miles and just staying loose this week.  Oh, I will have a longish run left Friday night.  Did a hilly treadmill workout this morning, 5-15% incline, 7:30 pace, holding on to the front.

Plans for Friday on Antelope Island.  I'll start around 7 p.m.  Jim Kern will crew for me for the first 50 miles.   Jim Skaggs will drop a gallon of water for me at the first aid station location.   I'm on my own for the first 18.9 miles because there isn't crew access.  I should finish that loop by 10:30 p.m. and then Jim Kern will crew me at least every six miles.  The goal for the first 50 is to get done in 9:30.   That will give me a 1:30 head start on all the 50-mile runners who will be chasing me down.   Looks like there could be some rain on Friday.  Hopefully it will be gone before evening.

Four very easy miles.  

Last night went up to Jim Skaggs' and helped assemble the 580 or so race packets.   It took us over three hours. (six of us).   Wow, there will be a lot of runners on the island on Saturday.   Looks like weather Friday night may be somewhat miserable, cold rain turning to snow.   Looks like most of the course will get less than an inch of snow when it does turn to snow.   Oh well, it will just be an extra challenge.   It is better to face the rain/snow and dark on fresh legs than after 14 hours of running which is usually the time when you run during the night in a 100-miler.  Looks like the first part of the course that climbs up to 4800 will be having flurries/snow Friday evening. That is better than rain.   I'll probalby be going slower than planned.

Big-time taper.  No running going on, just rest.  Didn't sleep well last night, crazy dreams about running on Antelope Island.   Hopefully I'll sleep well tonight.  Looks like I will be running in a wet windy winter wonderland Friday evening.

I hope to finish in at most 22 hours.   I now plan to start at 6 p.m.  The milestones I will have in my mind are:   Reach the Ranch (32.8) by midnight.   That is a 6-hour 50K+.  Should be possible unless the weather is really bad.   Return to the start (50) by 3:30 a.m.  That is a 9:30 50.   That could be a problem if I end up having to sit in my crew car to warm up at times.   Do the next loop and return to the start (68.9) by 8:00 a.m.  That is when the 50K runners will start.  I would really like to get there before they come running at me.   From there, it is up in the air.   Getting back to the ranch (82.8) by 11:00 a.m. would be super. Fast 50 milers would be passing me, those who can do the first 32.8 in five hours.

After work heading the Antelope Island to start my  100-mile run.   Hopefully this entry will be replaced by a 100-mile race report.   Taper pains are hitting me.  I hate them.  Typical is that it feels like you pulled a muscle but you never did anything to pull it.  It will usually be sore for a day or so and you worry about it affecting your race.  Almost always it has no affect after you get warmed up.

Weather looking better.   Hopefully it will be in the form of snow, not rain.

Read my full race report.

Quick update before I go to sleep.  I ran 100 miles on Antelope Island.  I got permission from the race director and from the park.   I ran the 50-mile course twice, starting the evening before the race, finishing the first 50 by 4 a.m. and then merging in with the 50-mile race  that started at 6:00 a.m.   About half the field caught up with me.  Lots of shocked runners when they discovered I was keeping up with them yet had run 50 extra miles.  My two 50-mile times were 9:48 and 12:17.  Not bad.

My time was very good, second best 100 time I've had. However, I had lots of stomach problems that really slowed me down and the cold during the night made me have long stops to warm up in my friend's car.  However, the trails are smooth and very fast, so the times I felt good, I could really cruise and make up time.   Because of all the stomach/bonking issues, I lost at least 5 pounds.  A pretty painful way to lose 5  pounds in less than one day.

Lots more later.  I need sleep.  It was a tough,  fun experience.