The Long Run

Good run through the quiet, foggy, cool morning. My hamstrings felt like I had worked them out yesterday which kind of had me puzzled at first, must have managed to give my legs a workout while painting the fence yesterday.

Ran with Eudair and some of the others. Day late putting this in so I don't remember much else, but I'm pretty sure it was a good run.

Ran for about a mile with Rudy, ran some by myself, then the last mile with Eudair and Diane. Forgot my light this morning, whoops. Better not do that on Saturday.

It was fun and challenging. All in all a good time. Finish time just under 8:35, which amazed me since I had to slow down quite a bit. It's funny how paces under different conditions mean different things. I remember looking at my watch and seeing the pace at 12:45 and thinking "Awesome!! I'm under 13:00" Other times I didn't even look for miles and miles. The hills and the heat made it a humbling experience - in no way humiliating, but very humbling. 50 miles is a long way to go.

Started out in the dark, running behind two or three other people including a woman named Heather who was also wearing Brooks Launch like I was (made me feel better that I'm not the only dork who doesn't wear trail shoes on a trail run!). I think the first 5 miles was the most enjoyable, somewhere around a 10:00 pace.

After the warm up loop, passed through the start and saw Jenny, Sean, and MPR. Start of the first big loop went well. Ran on sections of trail I had never been on including a long narrow gulley which I had to walk most of. I caught back up to the people I ran with for the first 5 miles, then came up behind Andy Barrett. Andy has done a ton of races and I thought to myself I should not pass Andy since he knows what he's doing and I don't.

We chatted a bit and he would look at his watch and say he was going too fast. Finally I asked if I was messing up his pace, he said yeah, he was going a little faster than planned since I was behind him. So, I got in front of him and put some space between us. The rest of the first loop felt great with a few miles under 9:00 pace.

Shortly after the start of the second loop I started to think I was in trouble. I had been running by feel and enjoying the day, but I wasn't pacing myself. I was taking no walk breaks. 50 miles is not 62 miles, but it is also not 26 or 31 miles. I made an effort to purposely slow down a bit.

At 23.4 miles I went down pretty hard. Landed on my right side with the force spread between my hip and shoulder. There's the moment when you're not sure if you are hurt or not, fortunately I wasn't, got up, brushed myself off and got going again, a little more mindful.
I reached the aid station where Dawn S. was volunteering, stopped for a bit, then Andy B came up from the trail and went by me. I started running behind him again, felt good but kept a good gap and eventually let him go again.

Another trip past the two pits and the last aid station. The hills had grown a little taller but were still not that bad (glad I at least was able to come out a few weeks earlier and run these hills two sets of out and back).

Coming back up Tucker hill, I saw Eudair running toward me. We ran back to the starting area where Franco took my picture and they helped me switch out my bottles. I put some ice in my pockets and kept going. Andy B. was there again and I stayed behind him again for a bit before letting him go once again.

The mental boost of seeing Eudair, starting the third loop and catching back up to Andy soon started to fade.  Walking again became my friend. I had listened to some music but soon was not in the mood to listen to it. Instead, the most comforting sound was when I was walking, there was a breeze and I could hear it whooshing through the trees overhead.
I'd walk a bit and then say to myself, ok, just an easy jog for a bit. No set run walk schedule, just walk for a bit and then try to make it to the next up hill or maybe the next mile or half mile point on the garmin.

Saw Dawn at her aid station for the last time then made my way out to the pit again. Would stop and chat here and there with people walking the 50K. I was thirsty, but my stomach was full of fluid, almost but not quite sloshing, I was sweating and would stop here and there for a bathroom break, so although very thirsty I was not yet dehydrated.

Reaching the last aid station was a huge boost. The volunteers were super encouraging, told me my place and said "Just 5 more miles!" Yes, I can do that I thought.
For the third trip through the hills, they had grown a little taller still and I think they added one or two more onto the course. I looked at my watch and saw 8:18. I didn't think it was possible but it looked like I could still beat my 50 mile time from Iron Horse.

So, I did the best I could to keep going. Came up to a couple who was walking the 50K, they told me "one mile out". Another big boost. I looked for the white stripes on the trees that marked the designated camping areas because that was a sign of being almost done.
Up the last section of hill and finally DONE!!

Got my finishers mug and filled it with ice and mountain dew twice. Saw Andy B. who it turns out I was one minute behind. And then I sat for about 45 minutes. Actually, I'd stand for a bit and then sit down, but basically did nothing. I was hurting and drained, but felt really good deep down inside.

A lot can happen in 50 miles.

Ran with Eudair, started out about 8:40 pace and gradually picked it up. Wore my brooks launch which I had worn on Saturday, still a lot of dust on them, but a little less now. Those shoes seem to be happy everywhere. Hung out and chatted with various people after the run. Unfortunately a cat was run over on Starkey Blvd. near Towne Ave.

Later in the day someone posted about how their cat had gotten out of their house and was missing.  Fortunately it turned out that it wasn't their cat which later did come home.

Was seriously thinking about not running this morning, but could hear the birds chirping so decided to join them. Nice, cool morning with a little breeze. Saw Lisa and Nikki heading back from their run.

Glad to be feeling good and I hope I can call this a complete recovery from the race.  

Ran with Eudair (almost started by myself as I didn't see anyone at first), we ran out to the 4 mile water stop with a short trail section cut through.

Saw Dan French and Marcia then we all headed out to about the 5 mile point. Eudair and I got back onto the trails by the water stop and zig zagged out to the power lines. She had been running slower before the trails, but really picked it up. Ran through one section of recently plowed road with very loose sand (but fortunately not dry).

As we got to the power line trail a big (about 50) flock of storks took off into the air.

Got back on the bike path and picked it up a little more to get back in time - was only planning on 10 but the extra trail excursion added a little more on but was well worth it.

So, the trail portion was kind of spur of the moment.  I think I might do more of my return trips on the trails.  It is nice starting out with other people and being more social.  On the way back, with it fully light out, it's nice to run on the trails.

Slow start with comfortable pick up, another perfect morning for running.

Finished up with 6 x 20 second strides which I hadn't done in I'm not sure how long.

These are a great thing to do when you haven't been able to do any speed work.  It reminds you that yes, you can still run fast if you need to.

Did warm up mile and half or so with Mike, Beka, Melanie and a new guy. After that I was pretty much on my own except for saying hi to people here and there.

The last few miles got faster, with one of them at 6:50.  It didn't feel like I had to try very hard to get a faster pace this morning, maybe something to do with waking up my legs with the strides yesterday.

Did a few weights after the run. Nice morning and legs didn't feel heavy today.

A bit warmer out this morning. Took it easy for the first 3.5, then did a 3.5 mile tempo run (about 6:40 pace), followed by mile cool down. Felt a little bit of rain during the cool down.

I think the splits were something like: 6:43, 6:45, 6:40, and then 6:20 for last 0.5 

I need to remind myself that I can still run fast if I want/need to after having done a lot of slower miles.

Ran most of the t-shaped route. Cool but very moist this morning.

I  like to wear these lighter shoes now and then because they really help me feel if I'm using proper form or not, they are very comfortable.

After the run, attempted 100 push-ups without stopping.  I made it to 91, not too bad for the first attempt in quite a long time!

Started at Longleaf with Bob T, Mike, Beka, and one other guy. I quickly fell back and was running by myself, but eventually caught up with Bob for a quick stop at Craig and Diane's house.

Then, ran with Bob until inside Starkey park which was nice as I had been feeling a bit low on energy. Talking with someone else makes the run go by much nicer. Then, ran by myself a bit, before catching up to Kim L. and Rachel G. We ran together for a bit before I turned off the bike path to run off road a bit and then back towards Longleaf.

 Parts of this run were a bit of a struggle and I never quite got up to that feeling really good pace which just happens to pick up with the same or less effort and more relaxation.  But, it wasn't bad also.

Rain held off but it was a little bit muggy.  We need the rain.

Back home in time to take Thomas bowling and enjoy my recovery breakfast of Dr. Pepper and bacon,egg,cheese sandwich  (also had time to gulp down a muscle milk on the way there).  Only one more week of bowling after this, then I'll have a little more time.

Nice to have some 50's weather this morning. Took it easy for the most part with a little bit of pick up in the middle. Mostly ran by myself, but caught up with Eudair for the last mile. Did some weights after the run - bench press, curls, overhead tricep press.

Went to Starkey and had the privilege of being tour guide for a short trail run. I kept the route simple (so I wouldn't get lost). Ran on bike path to the power lines, turned right, then came back on the main hiking trail (just follow the orange signs). Ran with Michelle, Kim L. , Rachel G. , her son Forrest, Rebecca D. , Charlene, and Dixie. Eudair was with us but thought she was behind us, so sped up looking for us and finished about 10 minutes early I think.

Nice surprise sighting of Elizabeth H. and Wendy H. heading out.

 I was glad that this worked out with a nice turn out.  Other attempts in the past have not sparked much interest.  It's not for everyone, but for anyone thinking of trying trails but didn't out of fear of the unknown, it's good to try it out at least once.

I kept the run short as I had been getting run down during the week enough I skipped my run yesterday, so today was a day to enjoy company, reflect, and recharge.

Went to the Y for a mixed run. Warmed up on the bike for 5 minutes, then did 2.5 miles on the treadmill (21:21), 3 miles outside (24:37), then back inside for some strides on the treadmill (0.92 miles in 7:00). Also did leg extensions and shoulder presses.

Not that it matters too much, but I just changed my blog title again.  I changed it to 2:58 Quest.

I'm going to do one more ultra race for now (50 miles from Marathon Key to Key West on 5/19), then get back to the faster stuff. 

My brother called me to say he got into the NYC marathon via the lottery but was going to defer the entry for a year and asked if I could run it with him (at least start out together, he wants me to run my own race).  So, I'm going to try and get a qualifying race.  They've raised the standards for guaranteed entry for males 45-49 it is now 1:25 or faster half marathon or 2:58 or faster full marathon.  I think I have a chance to get this if I focus the right way, which is to not be too focused, train smart and keep life in balance in terms of what is important.