There is nothing better than a good run. There are days when the trail just floats under your feet. The weather is perfect and you witness some natural miracle. The miles add up and you feel great when it over. Those are the days you live for.
Then there is the bad run. The midweek runs can become boring. You are getting your work in. You may not feel very fresh and there are days that you would rather sit it out. Those aren't the days I'm talking about. The bad run is a run when you are planning on putting in some good miles and things start falling apart early and often.
I had one of those today. I was planning on running 10-13 miles today. Fortunately I hadn't planned for more this weekend. The first 2 miles felt alright. I got into mile 3 and I started feeling heavy legs, slight numbness in my left hamstring, strange thirst and my stomach was disagreeable. I looked for an excuse to quit. Was I risking injury by "pushing it" today? I started to tell myself that this was a sandwhich weekend between 2 long runs. I didn't have to do it. I realized this was weakness. I pushed on. Things did get better. My stomach behaved itself and the numbness went away. My legs did feel heavy and I wasn't fresh but I finished 11 miles in a respectable time.
I felt satisfied. On some levels these runs are more satistfying than the great run. I could have quit. I would have regretted quiting all day and probably the following week. I finished the run and was able to go about my day with no regrets. These are the runs that I feel you have to get through to be a runner.
I don't look forward to the next one. The next one may be longer. The next one may be harder. Hopefully I push through again.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
No Substitute for the Long Run
I finally got in a long run. I've been having some great runs for the 7-13 mile distance. I've had some personal best times and I have felt strong. I've been playing ball twice a week and I believe that it has helped my strength and wind. I can't remember the last time I had a long run. The body doesn't lie.
I needed some motivation. My route had to be on the streets. I had to make it a point to point run so I wouldn't cut it short. Beer = The Great Motivator. My favorite bar is Falling Rock Tap House in Denver. I knew I wouldn't have to persuade Meg to meet me there. The distance was a shade under 21 miles. Perfect route!
They were tapping Pliny the Younger. Had I known, I would have run a bit harder. They ran out minutes before I arrived. I "settled" for a barley wine brewed by Mountain Brewery called Lawyers, Guns and Money.
It seems I need to relearn fueling each year. The run heads North along the Platte River. I figured there would be plenty of opportunity to get water. I was wrong. I ran out of water and ran dry for a couple of miles. I only had one gel pack. I hit a bit of wall. After finding some water I felt revived. I was slower than I would have liked but I was happy with how I handled the pain and pushed through it. I miss those runs. Despite being on pavement it was great route.
I have a bit of work to do to break 4 hours at Georgia but Saturday was a good step in the right direction.
I needed some motivation. My route had to be on the streets. I had to make it a point to point run so I wouldn't cut it short. Beer = The Great Motivator. My favorite bar is Falling Rock Tap House in Denver. I knew I wouldn't have to persuade Meg to meet me there. The distance was a shade under 21 miles. Perfect route!
They were tapping Pliny the Younger. Had I known, I would have run a bit harder. They ran out minutes before I arrived. I "settled" for a barley wine brewed by Mountain Brewery called Lawyers, Guns and Money.
It seems I need to relearn fueling each year. The run heads North along the Platte River. I figured there would be plenty of opportunity to get water. I was wrong. I ran out of water and ran dry for a couple of miles. I only had one gel pack. I hit a bit of wall. After finding some water I felt revived. I was slower than I would have liked but I was happy with how I handled the pain and pushed through it. I miss those runs. Despite being on pavement it was great route.
I have a bit of work to do to break 4 hours at Georgia but Saturday was a good step in the right direction.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Ready or Not Here it Comes
Despite the turn in the weather I have a new energy and sense of purpose with my runs. The GA marathon is coming up in 34 days and Collegiate Peaks is 75 days out. Daylight savings is 27 days away. Days are getting longer. Now we just need temps to start rising and melt some of the snow we have received.
I'm still pounding the pavement. The trails are snow packed right now. They are actually in decent running shape. Time has been tough to come by lately so I've been running out the front door. I can't wait to get back on the trails!
I wouldn't say my training for GA has been ideal to this point but I'm at a manageable point. I got back up to 13 miles for a long run this weekend and ran a personal best time for that distance. I'll try to get a 18 mile run in this weekend before taking it back a step the following weekend. March 3rd I'll get up to a 22-23 mile run and have a 20 mile weekend the weekend before the race. I'm really hoping the trails are in good shape for the long run. I'm dreading the prospect of long training runs on pavement.
GA will be challenging. The course has over 1,500 feet of vertical climb. I've been to Atlanta a few times but I don't know it well. I am excited to run through the city and get to know the lay out. I am flying in Saturday morning for the Sunday race. I'm banking on the low altitude giving me a little bit of an advanatage.
I'd like to beat George Bush's time of 3:44:52. That will be difficult considering where I am at right now. At the least I'd like to break 4 hours.
From there it is onward and upward to get ready for CP. I plan on taking a week off after CP before ramping it back up for the summer. Keep moving forward......
I'm still pounding the pavement. The trails are snow packed right now. They are actually in decent running shape. Time has been tough to come by lately so I've been running out the front door. I can't wait to get back on the trails!
I wouldn't say my training for GA has been ideal to this point but I'm at a manageable point. I got back up to 13 miles for a long run this weekend and ran a personal best time for that distance. I'll try to get a 18 mile run in this weekend before taking it back a step the following weekend. March 3rd I'll get up to a 22-23 mile run and have a 20 mile weekend the weekend before the race. I'm really hoping the trails are in good shape for the long run. I'm dreading the prospect of long training runs on pavement.
GA will be challenging. The course has over 1,500 feet of vertical climb. I've been to Atlanta a few times but I don't know it well. I am excited to run through the city and get to know the lay out. I am flying in Saturday morning for the Sunday race. I'm banking on the low altitude giving me a little bit of an advanatage.
I'd like to beat George Bush's time of 3:44:52. That will be difficult considering where I am at right now. At the least I'd like to break 4 hours.
From there it is onward and upward to get ready for CP. I plan on taking a week off after CP before ramping it back up for the summer. Keep moving forward......
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Run Rabbit Run
Run Rabbit Run recently announced that they will be adding a 100 mile trail race in addition to their traditional 50 mile trail race. Fred Abramowitz, aka Harvey from the Hutch, is the race director for RRR. Prior to last year's 50 mile race Fred hinted at the fact that they were trying to create a race that would attract some of the world's best ultra-runners. With lotteries and lack of prize money it has been a challenge to have a true championship field. In order to accomplish this, his goal is to build a $100k purse. As of February 2nd, $12,500 have been raised.
Colorado Runner Magazine reports a strong field is building with the early entrants. Geoff Roes, Mike Wolfe, Timothy Olson, Dave Mackey and Karl Meltzer lead the current entrants. Kilian Jornet is reportedly considering the race as well.
This race has a bit of a twist to it. The amatuer runners will be given a 5 hour head start. The elite runners will have to run through the field. A typical race has all runners leaving at the same time with the elite runners leading the way. The lead runners have a clear path ahead. This race will allow the amatuers an opportunity to witness first hand the race unfold in front of them. This is pretty cool but I wonder how the elite runners feel about having to work through the masses.
The 50 mile course will follow the same route from the base of the Steamboat Springs ski area to the Rabbit Ears and back. The 100 mile course will have a vertical gain of over 22,000 feet. Terrain will consist of 7 miles of road running, some dirt roads and a lot of single track that makes RRR a very appealing race. The mixture of road and trail may draw from the idea that a chamionship race should test varied skill sets. Although the race is primarily a trail race, I can't help but notice some similarities to the Ultra Race of Champions course in Virginia. UROC put a lot more emphasis on the road with 46.4% of the course consisting of pavement. Maybe Fred is just giving a much deserved nod to the city of Steamboat Springs by having the course run through the city's streets.
Geoff Roes won UROC in 2011 and has to be considered the early favorite. Kilian could challenge for the favorite with his strength in attacking vertical. This could be a very fun spectator race with several spots to view the runners.
Last year's RRR was a very well run race with great volunteers. I have no doubt that Fred will put on a world class event. The 50 mile race was voted 2010 Colorado Ultra Martahon of the year. I would be willing to bet that this year's 100 mile race will receive similar national recognition.
The map is not available yet but the website does have a brief description.
http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/100-mile-course
Colorado Runner Magazine reports a strong field is building with the early entrants. Geoff Roes, Mike Wolfe, Timothy Olson, Dave Mackey and Karl Meltzer lead the current entrants. Kilian Jornet is reportedly considering the race as well.
This race has a bit of a twist to it. The amatuer runners will be given a 5 hour head start. The elite runners will have to run through the field. A typical race has all runners leaving at the same time with the elite runners leading the way. The lead runners have a clear path ahead. This race will allow the amatuers an opportunity to witness first hand the race unfold in front of them. This is pretty cool but I wonder how the elite runners feel about having to work through the masses.
The 50 mile course will follow the same route from the base of the Steamboat Springs ski area to the Rabbit Ears and back. The 100 mile course will have a vertical gain of over 22,000 feet. Terrain will consist of 7 miles of road running, some dirt roads and a lot of single track that makes RRR a very appealing race. The mixture of road and trail may draw from the idea that a chamionship race should test varied skill sets. Although the race is primarily a trail race, I can't help but notice some similarities to the Ultra Race of Champions course in Virginia. UROC put a lot more emphasis on the road with 46.4% of the course consisting of pavement. Maybe Fred is just giving a much deserved nod to the city of Steamboat Springs by having the course run through the city's streets.
Geoff Roes won UROC in 2011 and has to be considered the early favorite. Kilian could challenge for the favorite with his strength in attacking vertical. This could be a very fun spectator race with several spots to view the runners.
Last year's RRR was a very well run race with great volunteers. I have no doubt that Fred will put on a world class event. The 50 mile race was voted 2010 Colorado Ultra Martahon of the year. I would be willing to bet that this year's 100 mile race will receive similar national recognition.
The map is not available yet but the website does have a brief description.
http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/100-mile-course
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