Old Man Still running

It is time to start daily training again.  I took several days off to let the hamstring settle down. Treadmill.   It was rough, but OK
 

Treadmill again.  Much better.   I'll try to work up to increased miles.  Just paranoid about muscle pulls.   I registered for Across the Years 72 hour race.   I'll give three days a try.  I think I can compete for the win if I can get back into race shape without injury.  I need to lose about 7 pounds too.

Treadmill and a couple outside pavement. Legs feel like they are getting more used to daily workouts.   I'm warming up faster, less pains.

Ran around Lake Mountain again but chose a much longer route.  Started at 4 a.m. from my house and ran down Redwood Road for about 16 miles, went about three miles past Soldier Pass road and ran a gental ascending road to the east for a few miles that linked up with the power lines that run on the east side of Cedar Valley.  At that point it became frigid.  My speed decreased like crazy because if I ran faster, the breeze would freeze my hands even though they were in mittens.   I was over-dressed for the 40-degree temps on the east side of the mountain, but under-dressed for the low 20s in Cedar Valley.  Amazing.  It was pretty painful and I was just pleading for the sun to rise.   Because there were no fences out there...nothing, no structures, just the powerlines, the road at times would be blocked by huge piles of tumbleweeds from the big wind storm earlier in the week.  At times there was no way through or around, so I had to just dive in and step on piles to get through.  I was glad I had long pants on to avoid the thorns.   I had to do this several times.  Finally dawn arrived but it was colder than ever.  I could see ice fog on the west side of the valley which means they probably were in the teens.  It is amazing how this valley traps the cold air.  Finally the sun crept up, but it still took another hour for it to warm up above freezing.  At mile 29, still on the straight dirt road on the west side of the mountain, I ran into Zac Case of Eagle Mountain who finished his first 100-miler a couple weeks ago at Pony Express.  We ran togther for a mile and then he took off.  I soon came to a tree where I had dropped off water last night.  I changed out of my warm clothes and then enjoyed running in the warmer morning.   I ran clear to Unity Pass, through the Ranches and then to home.  My legs felt much, much better than last week.  I must be getting back in shape.  I was so discouraged last week because it was so very hard. But this week it was easier and I completed this 41-mile loop faster than I ran the 33-mile loop last Saturday.  Great training for Across the Years.