What was chasing you.

At some point during a conversation somebody will ask me how far I run. Maybe after I recount the distance of one of my long runs I get the ubiquitous “ what was chasing you” comment. Usually followed by them saying I would have to be chased by a bear, lion, mad man, etc.

Well there is someone chasing me and when I stop running he gains on me. It is me when I was in my late 30s. Staying ahead of him is what drives me to bike, swim, and run.

A picture is worth a 1000 words so here it is.

All dressed up with no place to go.

Pre-race day carb loading done. Duffel bag packed. Garmin and cell phone charged. Clothes laid out. Favorite orange toboggan and several layers of clothes packed to prepare for several temperature variations at race time. Race nutrition (Lime Sublime GU Gels) packed and post-race (Cool Mint Chocolate Cliff Bar) packed. Shoes, socks and crocs are laid out. All systems are go... well almost.

This is Friday the 11th of February and the Black Warrior25/50K race is not the 12th, but the 19th. So I am all dressed up with no place to go. How did this happen. I guess I entered the wrong date some how on my wall calendar and never re-checked the date on the website like my friend Brad. It was Brad who informed me Friday night that I was a week off. It is kind of nice to be ready a week ahead. Well not really, I am sort of unprepared physically. I lost a couple weeks to a sore knee 4 weeks back. Now I have an extra week to get back where I was.

With the setback I opted out of the 50K and changed to the 25K race. It will be good practice for McKay Hollow Madness. Saturday February 19th I should be in Bankhead forest. Being a week ahead is better than over sleeping on race day.

2010 in Review

I thought I would review my training and racing for 2010. Last year I turned 50 years old. I would like to build some empirical data that my training methods work. So far I had a really good year. I am close to a PR in 5K and 10K distances. I ran my first ultra marathons and qualified for Boston in my first marathon. 2010 has been a very good year.

2010 at a glance:
Biked 1223.6 miles at an average of 16.6 mph
Ran 1409 miles at an average pace of 8:06 min/miles
Swam 83.8 miles at 1.49 mph (56 hours and 17 min)
Logged nearly 12 hours on an infernal stationary

2010 Race Results:
McKay Hollow Madness - 2:50:30
Cotton Row 10K - 43:29
Priceville 5K - 20:26
Toray 5K - 20:16
Frosty Freeze 5K - 20:22
HiWaay Triathlon - 54:52
2010 Rocket City Marathon - 3:33:56
2010 Black Warrior 50K - 6:36:35
2010 Dizzy 50K - 5:20:32

This year I would like to run a few more sprint triathlons and improve my 5 and 10K times. I would like to run Dizzy 50 again and maybe the Mountain Mist 50K. This year I hope to keep injuries to a minimum and be able sets some PRs.

Nice Long Run

Ran 15 miles this AM. A little achy but it was not constant and I finished strong.
I was able to average an 8:16 pace and finish faster then I started. II did manage to fall when I looked back to check on my running partner. I had left the trail and as I turned back on the trail my trusty left ankle rolled.

I was a little skinned up and my knee has been a little achy from the prior injury. I think I am ready for the 25K Black Warrior race.

I also scored a spin bike today. (Bladez Spin Power)It had been brought back by someone and they sold it to me for 100.00 off the original price. Hey you can't beat a sale. I guess I will be scrapping Grendel the infernal stationary bike very soon.

Getting back to where I was.

One bad outing cost me a couple weeks of running and training for the Black Warrior 50K. The injury was a setback, but it forced me to focus on my core exercises, biking, and swimming. It also made me appreciate being able to run. I realized how much I crave it now.

I ran for the first time yesterday and had some soreness, but it got better as I ran. I was a little achy after the run, but feel really great today. Tomorrow I will try running again and see how it goes.

God gave me my birthday present 2 days early... it was great to be able to run again.