Old Man Still running

Six month aniversary of the day I first got the stress fracture.  Remarkable improvement.   The joy of running is finally coming back. 

Previously it only involved very concerning pain.   Good progress.   Ran 9:00 pace on the treadmill for quite awhile with 10% incline.  Very little pain.

Run mostly on golf course.  Pain still felt, discouraging, but I have to remind myself that a couple weeks ago I couldn't do this.  Better than 12:00 pace.

I sent in my withdrawl for Cascade Crest 100.  Today was the deadline to get some of the entry back.   I would have had to decide to buy the plane ticket in the next few days, and I know I won't be pain-free in a week.

So, instead, I'll focus on adventure runs and enjoying running again.  Maybe I'll pace someone at Wasatch.

Next race I'm signed up for is Northcoast 24-hour.  8 weeks away.

Got up at 1:45 a.m. and drove up to do a moon-lit run of Timp.  Started around 2:45 or so.  I was very surprised that I didn't feel any pain in the leg so I pushed it a bit harder today.  Fitness felt good and strong, but I purposely held back somewhat.   At the slide area below the basin, I met son Ryan heading down.  He had started a few hours earlier and said he made it up in 2:45, great for his 3rd time ever, and in the dark.   I caught some hikers resting above the basin who had watched my fast-moving light.  They were impressed with my speed.  It is nice to hear speed comments again.   A couple guys at the saddle asked if I had met up with my son, they must have talked to him.   I blew by a couple more groups and headed up to the summit, reaching there in 2:34, slow for me, but better.   I signed the book and notice some dude had put down double figures for his career summit.  I looked.  It was jun, who went up yesterday.   I marked mine, 69th.

Now the test, going down with a lot more weight on the leg.   It went very well.  I hardly felt any pain.  My new Stinson Evo Hokas are a problem.  Just not enough support to keep the problem foot from turning in.  I'll work on the shoe.  I also ordered some MaFates which have better support.

Early dawn arrived in the basin.   The smoky sunrise was stunning over Heber.  The wildflowers exploded with colors.   Down below the basin, I saw 4 moose.  Two of them ran ahead of me on the trail and were determined to stay on the trail for a quarter mile or so.  They would stop, look back at me to see if I was still coming, and then run ahead again.  I had a very uncomfortable feeling chasing moose.  Not good.  Finally they left the trail.

I ran into a bunch of hikers during the last mile.   It was a beautiful morning.   I had been able to keep a run going all the way down.   Wow, what an improvement since my first attempt 12 days ago.   I finished in 4:14.   Not overly speedy, but solid.   I was very timid on the downhill.

During the day at work, no pain in the leg.   Well, it looks like I will still try to run Cascade Crest 100.   The RD extended the time to decide.  Since I had such a big improvement over the last 12 days, I should improve even more over the next 22 day.

Timp Summit #70.   I started about 8 p.m. in the evening.  It was really nice to have the trail mostly to myself.  As I entered the basin, I could see some lights on the saddle.   I caught up to them as we arrived at the summit.   The gushed about my pace.  They were going to sleep in the summit hut.   They asked how many summits that was for me so I told them.

The way down was pleasant, but half way the leg started to hurt so I slowed down.  But then the crowds started to arrive, all the hikers who start around midnight.   These groups are about a clueless about hiking as the families are around dawn.   I would come at a group with my light blazing and calling out greetings, etc.   Still so many looked up to my and did the "deer in the headlights" thing.   They would just freeze or not make any move to move over.  It was pretty funny but also annoying because I had to come to complete stops at time in order not to plow into somebody.   Truly, deer in the headlights.  They had no idea what to do with someone coming down the trail toward them.  The number of people was amazing.

When I passed some groups with plenty of room, I had fun going full speed and heard some "wows" as I pranced through the rocks at great speed in the dark.  It was nice to really do some full speed downhill for the first time.

During the last mile, I opened it up a little, but this is always an area that I fall,  Sure enough, I didn't see a hole near the side of the trail and went down after just passing a couple.  It was a true face plant because I hit my chin on the trail.  I skinned up my knees, and was covered in dirt, but otherwise OK.

When I reached the parking lot before 1 a.m., I was shocked to see that the lot was totally full with people inventing parking spaces, including one guy who nearly blocked me in with his truck.  I did totally block in three cars next to me.  They will be thrilled when they returned.  I made a comment to them, but they took no action and left to go up the trail.

I saw a friend there who asked how many trips I was doing.  I had hoped to maybe do a double, but I told him I was just doing one. However, as I sat in my car watching all the crazy people trying to invent parking places, I decided to do another trip.  I got all ready and went to the faucet to fill up, but it was turned off because of the construction.   I didn't have enough fluid with me.  I could have gone down to the campground, but I would have lost my parking, so I just decided to head home.   Some guys had to help guide my car out of the lot so they could take my spot.  At 1:30 a.m.  people were already parking far below the campground.  Amazing!   I've never seen this many, even on Labor Day.   I'm sure the nearly full moon had something to do with it.

 Probably a good thing I didn't do another trip.  The face plant beat me up pretty good and the leg was a little sore.  

Road run on JRP.  Pace on the flats has improved by over 3 minutes per mile compared to three weeks ago, limited by pain.

First week over 50 miles in six month.   Nice.  About 9,000 feet of climbing.