Doesn't Get Easier

North Face Endurance Challenge 50K

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Member Since:

Aug 10, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR - 3:05 (3:06 at Boston)

Completed a dozen marathons and a handful of 50 mile ultras.

Short-Term Running Goals:

Consistent aerobic and strength training.

Christie Clinic Half Marathon 4/27/24

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sub 1:35 in half marathon.  Then might consider taking a shot at full marathon again.

Personal:

I started more dedicated running and racing in my thirties.  Eventually I developed symptomatic bradycardia and SVT which required a cardiac pacemaker implant and a cardiac cath ablation.  It has taken a long time to get back to running consistently again.  Counting my blessings and trying to remain more balanced with fitness.

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Miles:This week: 5.12 Month: 74.95 Year: 258.75
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
178.661.000.000.00179.66
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
14.700.000.000.0014.70

One longer run because I had the time without having to get up stupidly early.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.000.000.000.008.00

Crawled out of bed with a full blown cold or other sinus issue. Hope I can shake it quick because I want to up my miles.

No second run because I feel like garbage. See what tomorrow brings.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Fever and chills = no run

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
7.000.000.000.007.00

Easy miles during lunch. Feeling about 80% today, still congested. Getting hotter out as well.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.000.000.000.0010.00

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
14.000.000.000.0014.00

8 + 6 mi

After last week's mess of illness I hope to get in a better week mileage wise. Very hot and humid again so the lunch run was a struggle. Have a constant headache focused in the front behind the eyes. More than likely the beginning of a sinus infection. Starting nasal rinses.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.000.000.000.0010.00

Run before work was a slug fest again due to the weather. Planned to go at lunch but still not feeling right with sinuses and congestion so blew it off. Plus it was a scorcher outside. We are in need of rain and cooler weather in these parts. Another tough summer for running.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
7.500.000.000.007.50

Ran on the mill during lunch as I didn't want to battle the heat. Ran the last mile at 2% incline and 9.0 mph. Heart rate climbed from 100 to 120 during the mile.

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Race: North Face Endurance Challenge 50K (31.06 Miles) 05:02:00, Place overall: 45, Place in age division: 10
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
31.060.000.000.0031.06

Competed in the North Face Endurance Challenge 50K in Wisconsin. I covered the same course last year, albeit part of it, but ended up with a DNF for the 50 mile race last year. Weather conditions were excellent this year. Temps started in the low 40s and climbed to about 60. Mostly sunny with a slight breeze. Total elevation change over the course is only about 3600 feet. I wouldn’t consider the course highly technical by any means, but there are a lot of small steep rocky hills with some flat sections scattered throughout.  The prairie sections had long gradual inclines.

 

First 10 miles: 1:21:20 split

Dean Karnazes started us off at 7am. Gave him a high five while leaving. This section is mostly wooded trail. Sun was just coming out so there was plenty of light in the woods. I had some depth perception issues when the shadows are just right. Stung by a hornet on the back of my calf. This has happened to me several times during trail races for some reason. Ran the flatter sections faster.

 

Second 10 miles: 1:29:10 split

Fueled with gels every so often and drank water only by thirst. Wasn’t sweating nearly at all until the prairie sections in the open sun. Then things felt much warmer. Legs were getting more wobbly and had an ankle roll at mile 18, but was able to shake it off. I was trying to enjoy the prairie scenery a bit too much. Always have to be on your guard on trails.

 

Last 11 miles: 2:12:00 split

Back into the woods again meant short rocky hills one after another. Legs were stiffening up around mile 23 and so I started to march up the hills. I think this made matters worse. Anyway, did a run & walk mix for about 4 miles. This section of the race was also where the horse trail turns into soft sand. It’s basically like running on the beach. Some parts can be covered more easily on the trail edge, but many sections you just have to trudge through it. I was losing a lot of time at this point and people started to pass me. Mental games started as I contemplated another DNF. Lots of self doubt and wondering what in God’s green earth am I doing out here trampling around the woods. Last stop at mile 28 I did the unthinkable and sat in a chair with a cup of chicken broth in my hand. All of the food looked like one bite from a hurl, even the M&Ms! So all I stuck to was liquids. I only sat down for a minute to finish the broth. I then stood up and was surprised that my legs weren’t as stiff and sore as I thought they’d be after a sit. Started moving again at a slow jog and after another mile I was moving pretty good and not feeling as bad. This was kind of shocking. It was like a switch was clicked so I forged ahead. The real bonus was no more sand either!

 

I was a bit of a wreck at the end with a ton of emotion. I was just happy to finish the darn thing, but also disappointed by how much time I lost at the end. A couple of 25 milers in training would have gone a long way in minimizing the meltdown. Obviously need to work on hills more, but the IL landscape makes this hard to do. Still not sure what to do about fuel either. Gels and sports drinks make me sick to my stomach after mile 25 and I was too afraid to try something new. I think fuel would have helped the last 5 miles. Not sure what to do here, but won’t worry about it until I try something longer race wise. The family and I hung out for a little while after the race, but I needed a shower and food badly so we hit the road. My final place and time are estimated based on a quick review of my results before leaving. 

Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.800.000.000.008.80

Back at it. Ran over lunch, feeling pretty good, done in 1:09.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.500.000.000.005.50

Felt like a treadmill run. Worked the incline and the last 15 minutes did 3 x 2 min hill + 3 min flat.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
11.531.000.000.0012.53

Really nice morning for a run outside. Taking it easy as usual, but did feel faster today. Total time 1:41:23 (8:05 pace), avg HR 99, and max HR 117. I checked out my running log and it shows for a similar run back in March 2008 my avg HR was 121 bpm. I can tell that I feel like I'm about 20 bpm low. My heart will just not go like it use to while running and it's causing me to fatigue earlier. Only solution appears to be shorter races and a pacemaker if the rate keeps dropping. Normal living has not been impacted at this point.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
13.300.000.000.0013.30

Ran 8.6 mi in the morning and 4.7 mi during lunch hour. Getting a bit tired of the 2-a-day routines so going to cut back to more once a day and make Tues and Thursday the 2x days. Ah, what does it matter. Probably change it again next week.

Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
7.770.000.000.007.77

Hilly route on the TM over the lunch hour. Randomly set the incline at 4-8% for 1-2 minutes during each 5 min segment of the hour. Fast finish on the last 0.5 mi.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.800.000.000.008.80

General aerobic run outside during lunch. Getting the tired out of energy feeling again during the first 30 minutes. Other than that I was good to go.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.000.000.000.0010.00

A slow 10 miles before work.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
10.700.000.000.0010.70

Ran 10.7 miles in 1:22, could tell my fitness is not the best. I mean the legs are not there and were stiff at the end.

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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
178.661.000.000.00179.66
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