Here we go

Alright, the training is over.  I'll do some light running and play a couple of basketball games this week but all the meaningful training is in the bag.  Collegiate Peaks 50 milers looms just 6 days away.  I feel ok with my training.  I would have liked to have gotten a few more long runs in and some more runs at elevation but overall I think I'll be ok. 

50 miles is still such an unknown distance to me.  Run Rabbit Run was my first 50 and the conditions were epic.  Snow, rain, mud, puddles, freezing/near freezing temps and wind.  Half that race was just survival.  In a lot of ways the adventure of that race trumped the 50 mile task at hand. 

Conditions this week are looking promising with temps in the low 60's and some clouds with a chance of showers.  This race is going to be a grind.  I have agonized about the 6 miles back up the hill after the half-way turnaround.  I'm not sure how my body is going to react to 10-12 hrs on my feet.  The longest I have logged on my feet is 5 hours.  I'm banking on the adrenilin of the race, the frequent aid stations and the abiltiy to run without a pack t0 push me through.  All said, I'm pretty pumped up.

Tonight I am enjoying a glass of Woodford Reserve.  It will be my last drink of the week.  My diet is pretty good but I do have an addiction to fast food.  I'm cutting that out the rest of the week as well.  Time to get everything in the body harmonized.

I was able to get down to the Manitou incline this Saturday.  I had a couple hours to cilmb while Meg, Bre and JJ did some shopping in Manitou Springs.  The trail is a staircase of crooked railroad ties that shoots 2,000 vertical feet in 1 mile.  I topped out at 29:28 the first time and 32:13 the second.  It was pretty awesome and unrelenting.  Today I am feeling it.  My goal is to get 6 repeats in one day before Leadville.  I plan on making this trail a monthly habit.  Trinity Brewery and the only Dunkin Donuts in Colorado make the trip down there that much easier.