Make Tracks for the Zoo Race Report

Posted on May 19, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

The most impressive 1/4 mile you’ll ever hear about… Ok, so I’m a bit biased.  My three year old son just ran his first race today and he did an incredible job!

SONY DSCWe arrived at the start a bit early so Joseph could go through his pre-race rituals (climbing trees and talking with other racers).  SONY DSCIt was hot, but he had hydrated on the way over and he felt good.  At a little before 9, we got the notice to line up and we shuffled forward with the other racers.  I was pacing Joseph and it was evident that, in the 6 and under category, more than a few runners had pacers as well.

Our plan was to run to the turnaround point and run back. I’ve found simple plans usually work best.

The horn went off and we got moving.  It was a little congested at first, and Joseph wasn’t really able to hit his stride until we had gone about 50 feet or so.  Then it opened up and he started to feel out a sustainable pace.  We kept on for the next few hundred feet when potential disaster struck.  A collision with another runner sent Joseph to the pavement. He was distraught and had a small contusion on his knee, but after a brief inspection and kiss, he was ready to go again.  As we neared the halfway point, however two more obstacles lay in our path.

The first was the Children’s Hospital mascot.  He was unfortunately extremely lovable, so we had to give him a hug.  This may have cost us some time, but Joseph felt energized after the hug- for about 20 seconds.  Then, obstacle two- the Missouri State University Bear, Boomer, was lying in wait around the corner.  He also required a hug and then with a very polite, “thank you” and “good bye”, we were off again.

SONY DSCIt was hot, and my son soon demonstrated a passion for trail running as we left the road and ran in the grass for a little while.  SONY DSCWe soon saw mommy, and then it was back on the street and a sprint to her.  With only a few feet to go, we picked up the pace and crossed the finish line, receiving a ribbon SONY DSCand a well deserved drink from the volunteers.

SONY DSCThen it was off to run through the fire hydrant spray for about 1/2 an hour.  SONY DSCIf I need a lift on my next run, all I have to do is remember this picture! :) SONY DSC

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Disaster in Perspective and Finishing in Your Age Group- DWD Gnawbone 50k

Posted on May 14, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

I cried because I had little sleep because of a backed up toilet and what I think was a rabid deer, until I met a man who had driven 10 hours and slept in his car with his family to run this race….

That being said, the other lesson I learned was that sticking to a plan actually worked.  First, on training: I knew there would be hills and I knew it wouldn’t be as bad as Louisville, but my hill and strength sessions seems to have paid off.  Even the steep hills (the worst coming later in the race) didn’t have me gasping for air or pausing every few steps like fish at the Eiffel Tower (metaphors aren’t my strong point).  But enough about me, here’s my report.

IMG_1828We started at 6:15 am in what I’ve always known as “blue-dark”.  Just light enough to see the person in front of you, not so much every root and rock.  After my DNF, I was determined to be prepared:

  • Sleep? Check (kind of).  The family came down and we stayed in a “cabin” rather than camping.  However, we had to move rooms due to a rodent incident and then the toilet backed up in the second room.  The net result was about 5 hours of sleep (about 4 ½ more than the last race, so I was loving it!)
  • Water/Fueling? Check.  I would only drink water, eat at the aid stations and drop an S-Cap an hour (it was pretty cool outside, so I didn’t need to overdose on sodium).   I also used the Camelbak Octane XCT (NFI) with a 3 liter bladder so I would only have to stop when I wanted to.  I also carried a few waffles in case I got caught starving between two aid stations.
  • Drop bags? Check.  We had the opportunity to have two drop bags, one at 10 miles and one at 20.  Since it was going to be wet and muddy, I had a pair of socks and shoes in the 10 mile bag and the same in the 20.  My Hokas were in the 20 mile bag just in case I felt I would need the extra cushioning to help me through the last 10 miles.

So, back to the start.

Leg 1- 3.8 mi- “I’ve Been Slimed” My plan was to take the first hill (mud and 500 feet of elevation gain) slowly.  I planned 20 min miles, I did 14 ½. The mud was pretty bad, but having run the ½ marathon here in 2011, I knew what to expect.  From there, I finished off the first 4 miles in just under an hour. Ahead of my schedule, but not killing myself.  The aid station had bananas, so I picked up my first meal of the day.

IMG_1829Legs 2-5 14.1 mi- Various ups and downs, some nice views as we ran around a lake.  Walked the hills when they got a bit too steep, ran the downs.  My plan was to be at a little over 4 hours through 18 miles.  By the 18th mile, I was at 4 hours, 13 mins.  It was like I planned it! I will admit that about mile 15, I started focusing on the drop bag at mile 20.  I had passed up the 10 mile drop bag because my feet weren’t too wet, but a few dunkers and some rocks had me fantasizing about the Hokas.  It became the vision pulling me forward to mile 20.  Little did I know that sometimes dreams can become nightmares…IMG_1831

The last 3.4 miles to the aid station is called “Devil’s Daughter”.  A lot of water, mud and muck with a  few hills thrown in.  IMG_1830It’s evident in my times (16, 14 and 20 min miles) that running was not an option because of the terrain and having to pick your way through the fun.  Because I felt good, though, and had pace myself I did something I’ve never done- passed people.  It was a strange feeling, and one I hope to repeat! IMG_1832

I hit the aid station/drop bag point, changed into the Hokas and bounded off with dry feet and renewed cushioning.  Mile 22 slightly changed that perspective.  The leg is called “Stairway to Heaven” for a reason.  There are two hills, one short, one longer, both “fun”.  The first hill is a hands and knees, grab what you can, pray you don’t slide, uphill struggle.  It’s only about 200-250 feet, but it was slick and I passed some people as they slid by me (I was going up, they were on their way back down).  The shoes I had changed out of had much better grip than the Hokas, but there was no going back.  Handhold by handhold, I scaled the hill.

What waited for me next was at mile 24.  The “Stairway to Heaven” itself.  A staircase that seemed to go on forever, but in reality a 400 foot high hill that someone thoughtfully built a staircase into. 17 minutes and 43 seconds later, I was through that nightmare and into the 2nd to last aid station.

I then settled into horse trails (behind a few horses churning up the mud even more) and was caught by the guy from the beginning of my report.  We kept a decent pace and chatted through the last 5 miles, slipping here and there, descending the extremely muddy ski slope near the end and then wading in a waste deep stream while his daughter paced us for the last mile.

Ski Slope Hill- Muddier than it looks!

Ski Slope Hill- Muddier than it looks!

He had come down from Michigan the night before, slept in the car with his family, they had run the 10k and they were going back later that day.  People I know call me crazy, but there’s always someone out there that will outdo you!  Our great conversation kept my mind off of the last 5 miles, and I finished with a PR at 7:26:52.  The time was good enough to finish in my age group, but not in the top 5. :)

Overall, very happy and it got my head back into things after the DNF.  Dances With Dirt is a great organization.  Aid stations were stocked and friendly and apart from the accommodations the night before, a great time was had by all.

War Eagle 50k in less than 3 weeks!

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Lessons Learned from the Swamp

Posted on March 16, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

I ran the Dances With Dirt (DWD) Green Swamp 50 mile trail run this past weekend, and I was claimed by the swamp at 39.93 miles.  I still had about 12 miles to go thanks to a wrong turn earlier in the day, but I was done mentally, which convinced me that I was done physically (before I fell in the swamp, was bitten or eaten by something, or decided that wrasslin’ gators was a good idea).  So what happened?

Basically, a lot of things, but in my analysis, like the butterfly effect, it all stems from one bad (in hindsight) decision I made that started a chain of events.  Some call it communing with nature, going primitive, sleeping under the stars, camping.  Whatever label you place on it, if you’re not experienced (looking in the mirror), I found it’s not a good idea to have your first experience be at a race site before you’re attempting a 50 miler that you’ve never run before.  It all started innocently enough…

IMG_1710I had everything set up and ready to go in a matter of minutes.  Got to meet two of my neighbors, who were down to run the marathon and 50k respectively.  I had forgotten my sleeping bag, so got a ridiculously inexpensive 45 degree one from a local sports store (it was only supposed to get down to 50 that night and I assumed that the bag, plus my socks and fleece would carry me through the night).  Grabbed some dinner at a local Italian place and got ready to settle in for the night.

Lesson 1: Now, camping at a race start is not like a campground.  You’re pretty close together, and although we had settled in fairly early, not everyone else had.  It wasn’t loud, nor was anyone being inconsiderate, I just didn’t realize how much noise there was “in nature”.  Oh, and then it started to get cold.  I think I finally got an hour or so of sleep and woke up freezing.  Either I have a low cold tolerance (highly possible), the weather forecast was wrong, my sleeping bag’s rating wasn’t thoroughly checked before it left Shanghai, or a combination of the three.  My feet, even taped and with socks on, quickly lost feeling and my face soon followed.  Getting up to go to the port-a-john every few hours probably didn’t help, and all in all, I think I got about two hours of sleep.  No problem, right?  I’ve dealt with sleep issues on long runs before!  The difference, though was that on both of those runs I had a crew there to make decisions for me.

As the race directors started to set up at 4:30 the next morning, I decided to go ahead and get up and pack the tent.  First and only smart decision I made.

IMG_1713 The race started in the dark at 5:30.  It was still about 50 deg, so started with the fleece.  The first loop was 5 miles and after that we’re back at the start and drop bags, so I dropped both the fleece and my light there around X:XX.  During that first hour, I was leading a small group, so didn’t stick to my 4:2 pace, didn’t drink water and took no electrolytes.  Lesson 2: Stick with the plan you made when rested and thinking clearly…

Heading out into the next 20 mile loop, I was again with a group and reluctant to settle into my pace.  I had some ridiculous notion that I was upholding a reputation and kept running.  I had started drinking after the second hour (I had a coke and a banana at the start, so I might have been on schedule), but had completely forgotten about my electrolyte pills.  I was on a pace for a 9 hour finish, much to fast for my inexperienced, slow self.

Through the sand, through the mangrove swamps we moved on.  OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA I was backing off on the pace, bringing it more in line with my original plan, but getting tired and I missed some very obvious “wrong way” signs coming out of the “traffic jam” aid station at 24 miles and added another mile or so before being turned around by runners doing the half marathon.  It was also warming up, but I felt OK as I came back to the start, ending the first half.  I tweeted my progress and my hope to finish the second half in 6 hours (completing the first half in just over 5).  I was hurting, so had planned to take some ibuprofen, forgot, got about half a mile away and reasoned that I’d be back in 4 1/2 miles so no problem.

Actually, the second loop was run in reverse, so the 20 mile loop was first, followed by the 5.  Once I realized that, I really started to doubt my ability to finish.  Lesson 3: Pay attention…

So, my pace continued to slow, and I was appearing to hit the deeper sand more often, struggling to keep any kind of reasonable pace.  At mile 30, I was really slowing down, taking much more frequent walk breaks, and down to just under a 15 minute mile.  Mentally, I started into a zone I’d like to call “I’m stopping for them, not me”.  I started thinking about my drive back to my sister’s and how tired I’d be if I kept going.  How I’d miss a planned dinner with them on my last night.  How I might not make it up for my flight, denying my wife and sons the opportunity to see me as soon as possible on Sunday.  In other words, it would be selfish not to stop.  Then, I got passed by a turtle…OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

That wasn’t so bad in and of itself, but when he started giving me a hard time, I knew I was in trouble.

When he broke into the Harlem Shake, I started looking forward to the next aid station and getting off the course…

Luckily, it was manned (it wasn’t on the first loop) and one of the great volunteers (in my haze, I’ve forgotten his name, but he was a snowbird from Michigan) drove me for what seemed like an hour back to the start. (Did I mention how great they all were?)OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

So, I need sleep. I need to stick with the plan and not get wrapped up in the race. I need  to pay attention.  I need to plan a race so I’m not worrying about being selfish.  And, most importantly, I need to stay away from turtles.

In perspective, a 40 mile DNF (did not finish) isn’t the end of the world.  I’m in one piece and working towards the 2014 mile goal for the year.  Maybe now, I’m a bit wiser too. (yeah right).  Next race is in May- 50k in Indiana…Time to pick myself up and get moving again!

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Run until it’s DONE!- New challenge for 2013-14

Posted on February 26, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

As most of you know, we’re nearly there in fully funding the new school for SouthSide!  Thanks to your generosity, we’re going ahead with groundbreaking THIS THURSDAY!  To celebrate how close we are (and hopefully get us across the finish line), I’m taking up a new challenge for 2013/14, and I hope you’ll join me!

We’re calling it Run until it’s DONE!, and the challenge is as follows.  Starting at groundbreaking (Feb 28) and for the next 12 months, I will run 2,014 miles in a combination of races and training.  We’ll finish up when we open the doors next year!

To put that in perspective:

  • It’s about a 1/2 marathon for every child we can accommodate in the new school, or
  • It’s a marathon every week (plus another 10 miles or so), and
  • I’ll burn about 260,000 calories (that’s 788 cheeseburgers!) :)

“How can I get involved?” I hear you say.  We’re working on that right now, but rest assured, whatever you’re motivated to do- run, donate, help out at SouthSide, we can accomodate it!  Full details on support coming soon!

So, I’m starting Thursday, and I’ll post my progress every week.  I’ll use my GPS watch to track progress, so you’ll be able to follow along.  We’re going to races around the country, so it should be a bit of an adventure!  I’ll post my races as I sign up for them, I hope to have all of them, and my training mapped out on the site in the next few days.

We’ll also bring you stories about the great kids at SouthSide you’re helping every month.  This is my inspiration, and I hope by sharing some of their stories, you’ll find a reason to be inspired, or just smile.

Finally, I’d ask that you spread the word!  Every time I talk to someone about the kids or the great work the staff and board does at SouthSide, a little inspiration grows.  Help us plant that seed.

See you on the road!

The idiot

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Louisville Lovin the Hills- 1st Ultra of the Year

Posted on February 13, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

The sea was angry that day my friend…Of course, I was in the foothills of Louisville, Kentucky, so not really relevant…

I had made the trek down from St. Louis the day before, the entire family coming to support me (or more accurately, visit the water park adjacent to our hotel).  I was now standing near the start line, a sunny 28 degree day, waiting for the “go” signal.  I was a bit nervous because I had changed my training to see if it made a difference and I was about to find out if I’d made a terrible mistake.  In my short ultra career, it had been drilled into me that miles was the training answer.  Not one to love doing the same thing over and over, I decided to switch things up in December.  I reduced my mileage (10-15 miles would be my longest single training run for a 50k), include a “speed” day and a “hills” day, and do leg strength training.  The net result was fewer hours training, more time with my family, and hopefully at least as good a result in my races.

Which brought me to Louisville and the Louisville Lovin the Hills 50k.  Originally, I had signed up for the race as a “training” run for my 50 miler in March, but it was becoming apparent that this one might be more difficult, even though it was 19 miles shorter! (Why do I underestimate these things?) The elevation profile on the site said there was 5200 feet of gain during the run, putting it on par with my Dogwood Canyon 50k I had run in October.  That one, if you remember, took me almost 9 hours, so I was in for some fun!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe run started a little after 8, and I had 3 layers on top and only my shorts and compression socks below. (Note I have no financial interest (NFI) in any product I talk about on this entry) On my feet were a pair of VivoBarefoot Neo Trail shoes that I had put a sum total of 7 miles on, and an UltrAspire Kinetic hydration vest that had zero miles on it.  I had Clip2 in my bottles, experimenting with them as well.  Nobody said I was smart.  My goal was to hydrate/fuel every hour with a bottle of the Clip2 (24 ounces ~ 150 calories), supplement with food at the aid stations, and use S-Caps when needed.

The first section was flat to downhill, and after about 2.5 miles we hit our first serious hill.  Everyone (there were 15 mile racers on the same course) bottled up a bit there as it went to single track and we trudged up the hill.  It wasn’t the 15° incline of Dogwood, but it wasn’t easy.  Here I learned the valuable lesson that, like Derek Zoolander who couldn’t turn left, I couldn’t go right and reach one of the bottles on the vest.  Super.  Luckily, during the run a few of my compatriots felt sorry for me and either helped me get it out or get it back in after they saw me writhing around like I was trying to swat a bee off my back. (note- must work on right shoulder flexibility)  So, back in the race, I hit the first aid station at mile 5.7 in 1:10 and was feeling pretty good.  Grabbed a banana and motored out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe next section was the very definition of single track.  Barely more than a foot wide, we negotiated the sides of hills that luckily weren’t greasy with mud.  My pace was still pretty good, but because of the difficulty in reaching my bottles, I had fallen off the pace in staying hydrated.  I justified it by convincing myself I wasn’t thirsty, but in hindsight probably should have had a bit more to drink.

At this point (mile 10, 2 hours into the run) my feet (that I had mostly taped) were feeling pretty good with the exception of my second toe on my left foot (that I hadn’t taped).  It was sitting next to one that I had, and decided that rubbing was a good idea. A bit of pain that would be my constant companion for the rest of the day.  My drop bag (with new socks, a stick roller to get the lactic acid out of my calves and thighs, and some ibuprofen) was at a place called Scott’s Gap.  I didn’t know how far it was, and when I asked at mile 15, was told “I think it’s at mile 22″. While this was technically correct, it was at the beginning and end of the loop known as Scott’s Gap.  Luckily, mile 19 was the beginning and mile 22(ish) was the end.  I needed the stick roller both times I hit that aid station.  To explain, I had used the 5200 feet estimate from the website as a proxy on how many more hills I had to go.  By mile 19, I was very near that number and feeling it.  I was told Scott’s Gap was a “killer”, but my watch wouldn’t lie, right?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Scott’s Gap took me an hour to navigate and it was only a little more than 3 miles. (the first 1/2 mile was a 10° incline and then it got fun) It nearly killed me with what felt like a lot of elevation gain and a lot of straight up and down trails.  Luckily, two things helped me.  The first was the realization that after Scott’s Gap, I only had 9 or so miles to go (less than double digits!) and the second was a fellow runner who I had seen off and on during the race. I caught up with him after leaving the Scott’s Gap aid station for the second time. We ran together, talked, pushed each other and made it through the final 9.  He was running his first 50k and he was a 3:30 marathoner. I wouldn’t have finished as quickly (a relative term) without him.  I was slower on the ups and he was a bit slower going downhill, but we ham and egged it to the finish.  (there was a bit of nice scenery on the way)OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Both my quads cramped about 150 yards from the finish, so my assessment is that I left most of it out on the course.  I finished in 7:57, nearly an hour quicker than Dogwood, and if Garmin is to be believed, Louisville had about 1000 more feet of climbing.  Regardless, a good run. Here’s the link if you really want to experience the entire experience!

Louisville Lovin the Hills by 8728753 at Garmin Connect – Details.

The volunteers were great, the runners were kind and the chili and vegan options at the end (as well as the massage therapist) were well worth it!

I’m convinced the training change was effective (although I was sore for longer after) and I’ll take the lessons learned (taping, fueling, hydration, training) and incorporate them into the next month before the 50 miler.  As mentioned on my tweet, I have a new challenge to help the kids at SouthSide Early Childhood Center, and I’ll have something out on that next week!

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Gear Review: North Face Torpedo Jacket

Posted on January 31, 2013 by 1inspiredidiot

So, my first review of a great jacket.  Sorry for the time between posts.  More inspirational stories, an update on the success of my diet, my training regime for my next races, and my next run for SouthSide (which will really be a year long challenge, but more on that later!)

Here are my impressions of the North Face Torpedo Jacket:

 

Wind Resistance   A
Comfort   A
Convenience   A+
Style   A
Front View

Front View

All runs were in sub-25 degree temperatures (I know that’s nothing for you up north, but them’s the cards I was dealt) with one of the days being pretty windy (various weather websites had the “how it feels” temp down to 15), and one of the nights being a half marathon called the Shivering Icy Trail Run (I may post a race report once my fingers finally thaw).  Because I don’t mind running in extremes as long as I can create a comfortable environment bubble around me, I used it as a shell over two thermal layers.  Sans the shell, the wind would cut through these layers like a scythe, as was evident by my having to cut my planned 20 mile run short because the gloves I was wearing were not up to the task.I’ve test-driven the North Face Torpedo jacket on more than a few cold days here in St. Louis, and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed.  I started looking for a good light, yet wind and water resistant jacket when my bulkier jacket became too cumbersome and my lighter jacket that I use for running in the Spring and Fall was not up to the task of cutting the winter wind.

Wind Resistance- A

While not completely blocking said wind, the jacket performed very well.  On longer runs, I employ a run/walk pattern and during the walking bits is when I need heat retention.  The jacket took more than a few gusts full on and I only felt the slightest discomfort on either my core or my arms (hands, as mentioned before, were another story).

Comfort- A

SONY DSCEven though I don’t swing my arms like Phoebe when I run, I don’t like to feel restricted.  The jacket was true to size and even with two thermal layers underneath, I felt like I could move very well.  Because it’s light, I wasn’t weighed down (although if you do ever feel weighed down by a running jacket, you probably should consider adding some upper body conditioning exercises to your training routine) and the collar was felt-padded (not sure of the technical term), so even fully zipped, I didn’t experience any chafing.  There’s no cord to draw the bottom tight, which I find nice, but not necessary as long as I tuck my other layers into my bottoms.

Convenience- A+

The jacket has two front zip pockets that I used for both keys and my iPod.  I like the fact that North Face connected the interior liner of the pockets so it could be used as additional.  My favorite, though, is the dual back pocket.  SONY DSCFirst, an accessible pocket that could be used for a water bottle or food, and a zippered pocket to hold the keys you don’t want to put in the front pocket.  Counting the interior pockets, that’s six total!  It doesn’t have a dedicated music player pocket, but I’ve always found the holes to push through your earphones fiddly (another technical term), so I don’t consider that a negative.

Style- A

Good reflective strips, choice of colors, and I just look good running in it! SONY DSC

So, a great jacket that I will be using for a while.  Questions initially about water resistance, were laid to rest during the Shivering half marathon.  It was cold, then rainy, then sleety, then ridiculously cold over the course of a few hours and the jacket kept me dry (can’t say as much for my gloves or shoes, but my torso was fine!)

Finally, quick poll- since I’m a bit of a gear geek, I’m happy to review more products I use, but if it’s a waste of your time, let me know. I’ll go with the majority.

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Changes for 2013

Posted on December 2, 2012 by 1inspiredidiot

A little early for New Year’s resolutions, but as I’m only a few months away from a 50 mile run in the swamps of Florida, I decided to try some changes now and see how they work.  First up, diet.

Diet

Now, I’m not trying to lose weight, but I’m aware that I could eat better than I currently do.  I frequently give in to the dark side, so I wanted to see if a disciplined approach to improving my nutrition would work.  To that end, at least for the next 4 months, I’m going to go on the Vegan/Paleo/Cheat diet.  “Sounds intriguing!” I hear you say to yourself, “How does it work?” (By the way, I also hear some of the other things, but I’m not going to put them in print).

Here’s my plan.  I will follow a comboVegan/Paleo diet when I can, which basically means breakfast and lunch. I have the most control (because it’s just me) over these meals for the most part, so I think I can stick to it.  I will eat fruit (and the odd vegetable) for breakfast every morning.  I may take in the odd egg, but rarely. If I drink a protein drink, I will use almond milk to mix it.

At lunch, it will be salad, generally without a meat product in it, but if I have to, turkey will be consumed. I may also have soup.  For dinner, I will focus on simple lean meat and vegetables.

What I won’t be eating are processed foods, grains, refined sugar, and processed oils.  So no chips, tortillas, rice or bread, yikes.  But fear not, I haven’t tried and failed to cut these out of my diet (especially chips) before for nothing.  Here’s where the genius of the “cheat” part comes in (thanks to my wife who knows me well).  Three times a week, I’m allowed a cheat.  Chips and salsa, breakfast burrito, etc. The condition is that a cheat is confined to a snack or a meal, not the entire day (I tried and failed to negotiate that).

So, basically, I’m going to try to eat better and see if reducing my grain and processed food intake improves my health/performance.  I think the VPC diet sounds better than what I just wrote.  If it doesn’t work, I will declare it all a fraud and go back to what I was doing before, as is my right.  If it does work, expect a book next year in time for the Holidays.

To muddy the waters further, though, I will also be changing a few things about my exercise routine…

Exercise

I hesitate to use any actual commercial name for what I’m doing, because my version is usually so far from what is recommended, I could probably be accused of misrepresentation.  That being said, I’m loosely basing my additional training on CrossFit, and I’m adding more hill training to my regime (regimen?)

Essentially, I’ll be adding three strength workouts (squats, deadlifts and presses) during the week and will do a “workout of the day” or WOD on the days I’m not running (or on the days I don’t get to run very much).  I will also decrease my mileage a bit, so that I’m only doing one “big” weekend (20 miles on Saturday and then again on Sunday) a month.  What I hope to accomplish is greater strength with fewer hours, giving me more time back to spend with the family.  The test will be Green Swamp 50 miler in March.

Inspired yet? :)

The idiot

———————–

Week 1 Update

Well, after the first week of trying this, I actually counted 7 cheats on the diet.  I need to do a little better if I’m going to actually see if this works.  I also did my first WOD from CrossFit.  After finishing, I thought “that wasn’t so hard” and only discovered the next morning that I was supposed to do what I did 3 times!  No wonder.  Also, because of work (he so easily blamed), I didn’t get nearly the miles in I wanted to.  Green Swamp is in 14 weeks.  Time to pick it up!

On to week 2!

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