Sunmart 50 fast approaching

Well, I only have a few weeks of training left before my first 50 mile race...or should I say...run! I doubt I will be racing. I did have a great week of running this past week, though, culminating in a long, comfortable 23 mile run on saturday at Redbud. It was feeling pretty easy, and I am feeling better and better about my first attempt at 50 miles.

This weekend, David and I are going to run Steamboat Mountain again. It's an excellent workout, and we are going to run it, and then turn around and run it the other way...so it will be a 26 mile run with some pretty good hills!

Running the Mineral Wells Trailway

This has been an interesting week of running. I started out on Monday wanting to run the trails and cross country course over at Sherrod Park at ACU, however, it had rained the night before, and I didn't want to run in the mud. So, I went to Redbud and ran an easy five miles. Tuesday, I went back to Sherrod Park and ran my hill circuit. It turns out to be a pretty tough run as I made a loop out of the Cross Country course, the trails there, and back out onto the pavement for a run down to Washington street, all the way to Highway 80 and back. It's about 6 miles of nothing but intermittent hills. Wednesday was a rest day.

Thursday was an interesting day, as I ran another 6 mile run down Industrial boulevard, all the way out past the airport and back to my home. Friday, I did a recovery run of four miles, just taking it easy.

Saturday, I got up at 5:00 a.m. and drove to Weatherford, Texas to run the Mineral Wells Trailway, a trail that used to be the railroad tracks from Weatherford to Mineral Wells. It's a 20 mile trail. I ran a 10-mile out and back, and the trail was beautiful and peaceful. I took a 20 oz. bottle of gatorade with me, and it started getting warm right about the midpoint in the run. I ran out of fluids around mile 13, which was not good. I made it back alright, but was thoroughy dehydrated when I was done.

It was a good week, leading up to the Palo Duro Canyon 20k this weekend. I'm looking forward to this run...it should be an adventure.

Heading for Palo Duro Trail Run

Well, my running the last two weeks has been intense. I have been training mostly in the hills and trails around here. Trust me, if you look in the right places, there are some good training hills. I have made a nice training loop out near ACU. Sharrod Park has some trails...they are not very long, but really interesting to run through. I run the established cross country course that ACU uses, go through the trails, and then move out onto the streets like North 11th Street, I believe it is...which brings you to another pretty good hill or two. Then, if you go farther on, you can hit Washington Street which is also a good course for some hills. You can get about 10 miles of rolling hills that are fairly challanging if you do it just right.

Nothing can top Steamboat Mountain, though, and the run we all did out there a few weeks back was great. I have been going out to the State Park and running through those trails and hills, and then running down the highway toward Lake Abilene where there are a number of good hills that I combined with some long distance work. That whole area offers some nice surprises as far as training goes....if you don't mind the occasional "road kill" on the side of the highway.

This week, I will go out toward Coronado's Camp and run through the hills out there, including a 20 miler that should be pretty interesting. There are some tough hills, especially out there where all the windmills are sitting.

Another run David and I were talking about to get prepared for the 50 mile race in December at Sunmart, is to go out to Steamboat Mountain, and run the 13.2 mile course, and then turn around and run it the other way. I may actually attempt that before the Sunmart 50.

I have gotten hooked on running ultras, but am looking forward to the spring, where I am going to try to really "up my speed," by running some 5 and 10k's, as I would like to get my marathon time back down close enough to qualify for Boston.

The 10k at the Balloonfest was a really cool, well done race that I enjoyed. I was just using it as a speed workout, mostly, and wasn't prepared to enjoy it as much as I did. Next up for me, is the Palo Duro 20k Trail race in Canyon. I'm really looking forward to that. I have heard it is a tough run...but I love trails more than anything. AFter that, the Sunmart 50 is getting closer and closer. Only 9 weeks left! I'm doing a 20 miler this week, then after the Palo Duro run, I will be upping the mileage on the long runs...and will begin training on the trailways between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. It's a 20 mile trail, one way, which allows for some really long, trail runs, with no traffic, no dogs, and practically no people.

Pushing on with abandon! 11 more weeks till Sunmart 50 Mile race!

These past two weeks have been incredible running experiences. One of the best workouts over these past two weeks was the Steamboat Mountain run. It was a great workout, and the hill was tough as nails, as usual, but I want to go back and train out there before my ultra...I think it would give me a great deal of confidence. Since that run, I have concentrated on one-mile repeats, and runs between 6 and 10 miles each over hills and trails, not counting the long runs of 12-14 miles.

I am running the Balloonfest 10k this weekend as a speed workout. Plus, it will be a nice change of pace to end the week with. Because next week, I start my real long workouts for the ultra. I am running the Palo Duro Canyon run in Amarillo in October as a prelude to the 50 mile race at Sunmart. But, my training starting monday will emphasize longer runs, hills, speed workouts (one mile and one-and-half-mile repeats) and back-to-back long runs on the weekends to teach myself to run on tired legs.

I am also thinking of adding in more weight lifting, and some power walking to my routine.

Hill workouts and the cyclists

Well, yesterday, I celebrated my "back-into-the-swing-of-things" workout with a nice run at the State park. I decided to invent a combination workout. It consists of an hour run through a hilly section of the area, which includes a couple of fairly long hills right in the middle of the course. I ran for 15 minutes as a warmup and then ran 3 of those hill intervals, with a one minute rest in between. Afterward, I continued on with the rest of the run and headed for the trails to complete the one hour run. It was a great run that combined a steady run over a rolling hills course, hill intervals, and trail running that was a perfect training run for Palo Duro. I left there inspired and enthused again.

At one point, I was about to attack one of the hill intervals when a group of cyclists appeared over the hill and began to ascend the hill I was about to run up. I started out at least 50 yards behind them and caught them halfway up the hill, passed them and then outran them to the bottom of the hill. It was great watching them struggle up the hill as I passed them on foot. They must have thought I was insane!

I know that life is full of ups and downs, but I always feel better when I face it head on and conquer my worst enemy....me!

Marching toward the Ultra with Gusto

Well, now that I have had my one break down, I am ready to get back into the swing of things. I took a day off and my attitude shifted back to my running mode. Running can definitely get tough when you are training hard. My body is fine, but I think ultra training is more mental than physical. I can handle the tough runs once I get out there, but sometimes, I have to make myself go. The temperature definitely has had something to do with my attitude, as well.

I am going to complete this 50 mile race if it's the last thing I ever do....and who knows...it might be! Ha....!

Getting burned out?

I think maybe I am getting burned completely out on running. As much as I love it, I am thinking of quitting. I am so tired of fighting the weather, worrying if it is too hot, or too cold, or too windy...waking up sore every morning, thinking and planning the next run, or the next rest day, or worrying about missing a running day, or not completing the proper mileage that day and then feeling guilty. I am right in the middle of one of the most grueling races I have ever faced, and I'm not near enough ready for the 50 mile event! I am ready to throw in the towel, literally.

I am thinking that joining a good gym and just staying in good shape would make more sense. Why do I do this to myself?

After all the negative talk, though, I know I will rest today and come back tomorrow with a new attitude. When it gets right down to it, sometimes when it gets really tough, I tend to want to quit! That's how I felt this morning, just quit and be normal like everybody else.

Or...I could just cut down on all the super miles, and the plans to run 50 miles, and say to heck with it...just find some cute little 5k's and have fun with running, not taking it so seriously, but something inside me won't let me do that. I have to keep challenging myself. So, what happens when I finish the 50 mile race? Will I not be happy with that? Will I have to do a 100 mile race? Lord knows...I don't even know. But, somehow, I know that I will keep on going, and tomorrow, I will be out on the roads again!