Garmin Marathon

Garmin Marathon

April 26, 2014

This was a last minute marathon...well, OK, a last month or so marathon.  I was looking at my training schedule for my 50k on May 10th, and realized that I had a 26 mile run planned for the day, but knowing that I was running a trail marathon the week before, I probably wasn't going to do that many miles in a training run, so, I signed up for a race!

After the last weeks race, I had serious doubts about doing it.  I didn't want to over train and injure myself before my 50k, and even the night before I was still questioning it, especially because the forecast was for 80 and partly sunny, not my ideal running conditions.  Yet, when I went to bed I set my alarm for 4:15 am.  I guess I had decided to run this thing.

Of course, I woke about at 4:00, because I never allow the alarm to wake me up.  Not sure why.  Took the dogs out to do their business, relaxed until I had to do my business, got lubed up and dressed, made me my bagel with cream cheese and at about 5:30 I headed out the door to Garmin headquarters in Olathe, KS for my 4th marathon.

I arrived at about 6:00, an hour before the scheduled start time, because that is what I do!  I took care of my business again (I always go twice on race days, no clue why), and hung out in the parking lot of Garmin and watched the sunrise.  At this point, it was about 50 degrees out, with just a few clouds in the sky.  I liked the temp, but the no clouds thing bothered me. I knew this race was exposed to the sky the entire way, and running in the sun for 5 hours did not appeal to me at all.  I texted my friend Mark that my prayers for a cloudy day were not answered.  He responded that God must not like me.  I responded it is the gay thing.  He doesn't like us gays.  We LOL'ed.

At 7:00 am we were off.  Well, the elites were off, it took us a few minutes to actually cross the start line.  I decided to start towards the back, because this was a training run afterall, and I didn't want to kill myself, so I crossed the starting line with the 4:50 pacer.  I stayed with them for about minute, and then fell into a pace that I liked, knowing that I would probably see them later as they passed me at the end when I started doing my run/walk pattern.  Before I knew it I was running with the 4:30 pace group.  I figured I would hang with this group for at least the first 10 miles before I got tired from running constantly and start walking some.

About mile 2 or 3, we all started noticing that to the southwest were some VERY dark clouds moving our way.  We tried to ignore them for a bit, but once we starting hearing thunder and then seeing the lightening, we could ignore them no longer. Now, I realized I had prayed for clouds, but I guess I wasn't specific in that I wanted JUST clouds, not the storm kind of clouds.  It was because of us gays.  I was being punished.  Around mile 5 or so, it hit us.  Thunder, lightening, sheets of rain blowing in the wind.  I loved it!  It was raw and brutal, and lasted for about 30 minutes.  After it stopped raining, the clouds stuck around and kept it nice and cool for us.

About mile 10 I am cruising along, and I realized that I am still feeling really good and I am still hanging with my 4:30 group.  Huh.  Didn't expect that!  See, I don't run constantly.  I run trails because it gives me an excuse to walk every once in a while.  I like that.  A lot.  I was getting some soreness, but nothing serious, so I stuck with the group, and in the back of my mind I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could PR this day!  My current PR was 4:57 at the Twin Cities marathon in 2011.  The first one I ran.

Mile 12, I am still doing good.  I have been drinking, eating a bite of my tortilla with nutella every once in a while.  Things were going good.  Mile 14 I took two ibuprofen to help with some of the minor pain, and the inevitable headache I would get.  I was still feeling OK.

Mile 16.  Jeff meet wall, wall meet Jeff.  EVERY race I have ever run, mile 16 is where I hit my wall.  It never fails.  So at this point, I grab my headphones, and start to walk a bit.  Then, I walk some more.  Now up to this point I was averaging 10 minute miles, that took a nosedive at mile 16.  Mile 17 and 18 were 12 minute miles.  At this point I have accepted the fact that my PR was probably not going to happen.  I accepted that.  I was just out for the miles anyway!   At this point we are doing an out and back section of the run, so I am seeing the pacers ahead of me pass me in the other direction, on their way to the finish line.  I see the 4:30 pacer go by.  I wave internally to my former group.  The problem with out and back sections is that is seems like the turnaround point is for ever elusive.  It never happens.  At mile 18.5, it finally happens.  Mile 19 and 20 were 13 minute miles.

Mile 21.  Jeff meet second wind.  Second wind meet Jeff.  I suddenly realized that I was running more than walking.  It was crazy.  I have no idea where that came from, but I was going to take complete advantage of it!  I was back up to 11 minute miles.  Woohoo!  About mile 22 I started to think that I might be able to get my PR again.  I decided that I would continue running/walking as fast as possible, because when that 4:50 pace group passed me, I was going to latch on to them and hang on as much as possible.  OK.  The plan was set.  Just have to stay as far ahead of them as I can.  I would sneak looks back every once in a while, seeing if they were within sight yet.  OH NO!  There he is!  It is 23.5 miles done.  But wait, that doesn't make sense.  He can't be catching me yet, because I started with them, and if my calculations are correct, they are ahead of schedule.  He passes me.  I am ticked off that he is leaving me behind, so I pick up the pace and catch him and ask if he is on pace. He replies that he is not, he is actually about 1 minute ahead of pace!  Thank God!  OK.  I am still in this.

I calculate that if I can keep him in sight in front of me, I will be good.  After about a mile hemoves out of sight.  I turn around, and there is the other pacer for the 4:50 group.  OK.  Stay ahead of her until mile 25.  I can do this!  I.  CAN.  DO.  THIS.  I would like to say that at this point, I am hurting in places that haven't hurt before.  Runners, you know what I am talking about.  You are moving along and suddenly a sharp pain hits you, and your first thought is, Well, that is new!  The second thought is, it will pass if I ignore it.  And it does.

I hit mile 25.  I turn, and there she is 50 feet behind me.  I shout back to her that she needs to slow down!  She actually agrees.  Huh.  She catches up and says she is just a tad fast, and since no one else is with her any longer, she pretty much just keeps me going, making sure I finish, especially after I told her that I started with her.  She was happy to finish with at least one person she started with.  There were a few moments when I didn't think I could stick with her, and she sensed that, so she slowed down a bit for me.  I really thought I was going to puke as I crossed the finish line.  Her name was Sheena, and she got me to the end in 4:50:51.  A new PR for me.  I was very happy and very surprised.  It was unexpected but awesome all at the same time.

I was given my HUGE medal and a turkey sandwich from Tyson who were out there grilling them up for us, and a bottle of water.  They had yogurt and bananas as well, but dairy after a race like that never appeals to me, and I think I have become allergic to bananas, so I passed on those.

I think I am ready for my 50k in two weeks.  The main thing I learned is that I HAVE to get more 20 mile runs in, and 10 mile runs during the week.  I need to get past the 16 mile wall thing.  Guess I will be doing more double loops out at WyCo.  That get me trained up for my fall races!

The huge medal and the awesome shirt.  The colors are hard to see in this pic, but the shirt is a dark blue with dark gold.  My favorite shirt of any race I have gotten.  And did I mention the medal has glitter on it!!!

Free State Trail Marathon

Free State Trail Run

April 19th, 2014

This is a course I am familiar with, just as I am WyCo.  I have met it twice before.  Once for a DNF 40 miler and once for a complete half marathon.  It had been two years since last visiting it, but I was looking forward to it once again.  This year I would run the marathon in preparation for my 50k in three weeks.

The morning dawned nice and cool.  I liked that.  I never worry about getting up early on a Saturday, as both of my dogs get me up at about 5 am.  They don't know what a weekend is, unfortunately.  So we got up at the usual time, and I farted around until I realized that I was running late, and threw everything together and took off for Clinton Lake State Park in Lawrence.  One thing I knew I should  have done, but didn't, was pack a tortilla with Nutella in it.  I knew I would get hungry and would need it, but didn't feel like taking the time to make it, cause it takes sooo long to make one.  Lazy ass!  I did grab some frozen bottles of Gatorade, water bottle and a couple of chewy granola bars (the dark chocolate cherry kind...ROCK).

I arrived early, as usual.  My start time was 8 am, but I really enjoy watching the earlier racers get started, so I got there around 6:45 to see the 7 am start.  I love the atmosphere right before race time.  Plus, it gives my plenty of time to visit the restroom a last time before running.  No trots for me, thank you very much!

As I was at my car getting ready, my friend Eric walked by.  We stood around and chatted for a bit, and he may have volunteered to pace me for my 100 miler in November.  Yea!  After a bit, we made our way to the starting line, where Ben said something along the lines of follow the pink flags, and then GO!

I had been debating how to approach this run.  I knew the first 5 miles or so were relatively flat, and would allow me to run faster than I normally would, but I wasn't sure what pace to go with.  I knew it was going to get warm, 70's, and I knew I would not deal well with that heat, so I kind of decided to just go for it.  I figured running faster at the beginning would get me out of the heat sooner, saving time in the end.  So, when we started, I just let me legs and body decide the pace.  I just went.

For the first mile or so we stuck with the half marathoners, but then split off from them into the woods.  I didn't have much problem following the pink flags, except at one point where the path was not as well marked as it usually was.  See, we had been running on wide mowed paths, and suddenly it turned into the woods.  Like BAM!  If you weren't paying attention, it would have been very easy to miss, and I am pretty sure several runners did miss it.  Normally they would have it marked with arrow signs, or DO NOT ENTER or WRONG WAY signs when there is a sharp turn.  Not this time.  To be honest, when I did see them, I wasn't really sure if they were for real.  I was worried that maybe someone came along and re-routed the route as a joke.  But I went that way anyway.

After almost 5 miles, we came back to the start line and really entered the paths through the forest.  I do love running in the woods.  The buds were coming out.  It was just gorgeous.  One thing about these trails is the technicality of them.  There are no big hills, but there are a lot of rocks and roots!  While I didn't ever fall, I 

Example of the trails we were running on.

did trip a few times!

I was doing really good, going at a good pace, still just allowing my body to dictate the pace.  Around mile 8, my stomach started to rumble very aggressively.  It wanted food.  This is where the tortilla would have been awesome.  I have learned that when I get hungry while running, I need to eat something right away, otherwise I get sick.  So, I made do with the a couple bites of my granola bar.

Things went rather well for the first 14 or so miles, but then I started to get tired.  My hamstrings were feeling really fatigued for some reason.  I sat down for about 5 minutes at the aid station at mile 16.5, and just allowed my legs to rest, and I popped a couple of Vitamin I, and went on my way.  I also grabbed a couple bits of tortilla with nutella there.  Yea!  Food!  Leaving the aid station I was still feeling tired, and the heat was getting to me a just a bit and making my stomach upset.  I decided I would walk from mile 17 to 18 and sip on the 12 oz can of Dr. Pepper I brought with me.  (I love those small cans.  They are the best thing in drop bags ever!)  After walking that mile, and having the Dr. Pepper and the Vitamin I, and felt like I had a new pair of legs!  I flew for the next 3 or so miles.  It was great.  I slowed down again in the last mile or so, but I didn't care.  I was almost done.

I ended my run in 5:41, which I was very happy with, as my goal had been 6 hours.  The running faster at the beginning really paid off.

Next on my agenda is this weekends Garmin Marathon, which is a road race.  Not happy about that, but I need the miles for my 50k.

Please enjoy the pics from Mile90 Photography.  They are awesome!

Add caption

Yes, I walked across the finish line.  Don't judge!

Run Toto Run 10 Mile Trail Race

Run Toto Run

February 8th, 2014

Saturday morning.  5 am.  I am awake.  Why?   Because I am going for a run, along with a few hundred other people looking for the right to call themselves Trail Nerds.  The few, the proud, the (some may say) crazy.  Sure, I proved myself worthy for the first time back in 2010 at the PsychoPsummer run, and a number of times since, including the Lake Perry Rocks 50k.  Like a yearly pilgrimage, I am setting out again to prove my worthiness and to find that which is in me.

Had I known what Bad Ben and Wyandotte County Park (WyCo) had lined up for this year’s test, I would have shimmied deep under the covers and stayed there all day.

Once I got out of bed, I started my normal pre-race preparations.  I gathered all of my race clothes, liberally applied glide to all those places that need some lubrication, and grabbed a bag of clothes to change into immediately after the race, so I didn't lock up like the rusty Tin Man as my sweat froze.  And, you know, not freeze to death.

Once I was ready, I walked out the door.  As I headed to my truck, I started to get a bit worried because my feet were abnormally cold, but as I glanced down I saw not my trusted Nike Pegasus (one blue, one black), but rather my very comfortable, dog chewed Crocs.  Crap!  I forgot my running shoes.  Was this Mother Nature trying to warn me not to go run because she had worked up a surprise for me on the trails?  If it was, I did not realize it at the time.  I went back in and grabbed the appropriate running shoes.

It is 7 am on a Saturday morning in Kansas City, the roads are bare.  I enjoyed the silence on the 20 minute drive to Wyandotte County Lake Park.  As I enter the park, the first thing I noticed was the small, red sedan with its nose buried in a mountain of snow left by the plows.  Was this a harbinger of today’s race?  Was this Mother Nature again trying to warn me off?  I don’t know.  I was too nervous about proving my worth to notice the sign if that is truly what it was.

I was glad I was there to see off the 20 mile and the 50k runners.  I love the atmosphere of a pre-race crowd.  The nervous energy mingled with excitement, as over 200 athletes prepare to head out to prove to themselves that they can do anything they set their minds to do.  Many of these runners were first-timers.  Some were running their first Trail Nerds race, where the specialty is making sure there is at least one HUGE climb right at the end of the race.  Some were trying a distance that they had never done before. 

Some people were reflecting on their training…was it enough?  Some were standing around catching up with old friends, while others made new ones.  One thing that we all had in common was our love of running.  We all had that bond, that commonality.

Trail Nerds Swag.

One thing I love about a Trail Nerds race is the serious amount of swag given to us runners.  We got a bag, sweatshirt and a coffee mug, and we hadn’t even run yet.  It’s like you get an honorary membership to the Trail Nerds just for showing up and trying to prove yourself.

At 8 am, the group made up of 50k and 20 mile runners takes off.  As I watch them plow through the foot of snow, I assumed they would compact a path for us 10-milers.  I would learn very quickly that was not meant to be.  Just like a shark’s fin cutting a path through the water, the path quickly filled back in.

Nine am, and it is my turn to step up to the line and earn another year’s membership.  I am calm.  My plan is to start towards the front of the pack so I don’t get caught behind the long conga line of runners at the back of the pack like I have done in years past.  Somewhere in my head I am still eyeing a course personal record, and want to get every advantage I can get.  Oh, how the Mother Nature chuckled at that notion, for she knew what she had planned for me that day!

We are off and running across the bridge and open field, past the car in the bank of snow.  Mother Nature was giving us one last warning:  “Turn around my children, this day is mine.”  Nobody listens, we head into the woods.

Once we are on the trail, it becomes very obvious what this day would bring to those of use trying to prove our worth, for we realize quickly that the snow is not cooperating with us.  It didn't compact, but rather turned into what many likened to mashed potatoes, or loose sand on a beach.  Within the first mile, my Achilles tendons are screaming at me to stop.  I don’t.

Mile 1.  My Garmin goes off, flashing at me my pace of 12:06 minute mile, as if laughing at my fool-hardy thought of getting a PR this day.  I come to terms with that, and soldier on.  What else can one do?  I quickly latch onto the runner in front of me, as he seems to be going at a pace that I feel I can sustain.  Little did I know that the first mile would be my fastest mile for this entire race.  Mile 2 – 13:11 minute mile.  Mile 3 – 14:21 minute mile. We then enter the Wyandotte Triangle.

The Wyandotte Triangle is my favorite part of the course.  It is a mile long winding, twisting path through the woods, seemingly created by a drunken fool.  I remember thinking several times along the way, “how on earth did the first runners even know where to run?”  But, I followed faithfully along the path that my brethren before me had created.  That mile I registered a 14:35 minute mile.

At about 4.5 miles (this is off my watch, not official distances), we come to Fall Down Hill.  This is the only spot on this loop that I have ever fallen.  It was two years ago when I ran this race, and falling is not the word to use for what I did that year.  I was thown down to the ground.  This hill consists of a bunch of steep switchbacks.  When the weather is good and the trail is dry, you can just let your legs open up and you can fly down this hill.  That was the conditions of the trail two years ago, so I was flying down the hill, unbeknownst to me a tree decided to take root across the trail, and it reached up and grabbed me and flung me down on the ground like a sack of potatoes.  But that was then, this is now, and while it was certainly not fast ground this year, I was able to keep a decent pace going down the hill.

Now, as most people know, when you go down a big hill, you will typically have to go up an equally big hill, which is true in this case.  This hill is appropriately called the Dam Hill.  Located towards the top of the hill is an aid station, the third one on the trail.  As with all Trail Nerds events, this one is well-stocked with good food, drinks and the best volunteers on the planet!  I did not need anything, so I kept moving by, but the fellow I had been following up to this point,  a little over 5 miles,  was having issues with his toes being very cold, so he stopped and was graciously supplied with some hand warmers to put in his shoes.

At this point, I am tired, but still in very good spirits.  I was very much in the mode of running at this point.  My legs were tired from walking/running on mashed potatoes for five miles, but I was still feeling really good.

I really don’t remember much about the next few miles.  I know that at 6.8 I was passed by the first 50k runner.  I don’t know how anyone could run that loop more than once, let alone three times.  At 7.6 miles I passed by the boat storage and noticed the brand new fence that they erected there.  I passed a runner that asked how far to the next aid station, and it took me some time to do the math for him (about .5 miles).  I also know that at some point around mile 6 or so I started leading a man who moved up here from southern Georgia and that this was his first Nerd run.  Anytime I would step aside to let those behind me go around, he would also, as he liked the pace that I was setting.  It made me feel good to be able to lead someone through the run like that.  I know I have used people to pace me from time to time, and I was more than happy to return the favor.  I loved his comment about hills and the fact the hills they had in southern Georgia were “boat ramps and overpasses.”

I also know that my mile 7 was my slowest on the run, averaging 19:56 minute mile, followed closely by the last mile of the run, which was 19:50 minute mile.

The last mile.  This is where curses are thrown every which way.  Leave it to Bad Ben to put three steep ass hills in the last mile of an already tough course.  Every time I get to them, I stop, look up, curse, and move on.  They are some badass hills, made badasser by the fact that you just ran 9 hard miles.  Some call these hills the Three Sisters, others refer to them as the Three Bitches.  I kept encouraging my Georgia friend after the first hill, then the second, then the final one.  Pushing through together, we made it to the finish line where we got our medals and 10M sticker from Bad Ben himself, and where my friends and best cheerleaders Janet and Mark were waiting for me.

My average time worked about to be 15:46 minute/mile.  I didn't care how long it took  It was another great day for a run in the woods with my fellow Nerds.

In the end, I beat Mother Nature and once again proved that I am worthy to be called a Trail Nerd.  I am proud to be a Trail Nerd, and will be a member for life!

I need to thank my good friend Mark Rynard for helping to edit/write this post.  Thanks Mark!!

Official Results:
Time: 2:35:33 Place 91 out of 215
https://enter2run.com/results/default-mobile.aspx?event=25699&r=7320

Photo album from the Race.
https://www.facebook.com/jeffreyalgerrunning/photos_stream

Other Race Reports to check out:
http://dshadravan.blogspot.com/2014/02/psycho-wyco-50k-recap-tough-day-in-snow.html
http://russellwenz.blogspot.com/2014/02/adversity.html
http://a-runners-journey.blogspot.com/2014/02/psycho-wyco-run-toto-run-race-report.html
http://ewelsh723.blogspot.com/2014/02/winter-is-natures-way-of-saying-up-yours.html?spref=fb
http://www.runflaherty.com/2014/02/psycho-wyco-50k-race-report.html
http://www.freestateendurance.blogspot.com/2014/02/psychowyco-run-toto-run-50k-race-report.html
http://www.freestateendurance.blogspot.com/2014/02/psycowyco-run-toto-run-50k-race-report.html

January 2014

January 2014

January is the first month of the Quest!  It was a good month running wise.  What follows is a recap, week by week, of my runs.  I ended up running 122.25 miles for this month.

Week 1:

Activity Name	Activity	Start	Time	Distance	Elev	Avg Pace	Calories
Bluejacket	Street	Fri, Jan 3, 2014	0:35:30	3.28	89	10:50	437
WyCo	Trail	Sat, Jan 4, 2014	2:10:58	9.25	1,056	14:09	1,099
BuRP Trails	Trail	Sun, Jan 5, 2014	0:41:22	3.5	38	11:49	471
		Totals:	3:27:50	16.03	1183	12:16	2007

The run on January 4th at Wyandotte County Park was a test for the dogs, and would determine the possibility of taking Lily with me on races and group runs.  It didn't work out so great.  She just wanted to say hi to everybody by jumping on them, so I had to put her on the leash, but she just pulled because we were in the back.  It has been determined that she would not be joining me when I run with groups of people.  We ended up cutting part of the normal trail so we could get ahead of everyone else, and I could let her and Ce'Nedra just run around.  It was much better at that point.

Week 2:

Activity Name	Type	Date	Time	Distance	Elev	Avg Pace	Calories
Bluejacket	Street	Tue, Jan 7, 2014	0:40:50	4.33	176	9:26	588
SMP Rd/Tr	Street	Wed, Jan 8, 2014	1:01:12	6	491	10:10	732
Bluejacket	Street	Fri, Jan 10, 2014	0:32:23	3.41	96	9:29	464
WyCo Loop	Trail	Sun, Jan 12, 2014	2:37:01	10.11	1,262	15:31	1,140
		Totals:	4:51:26	23.85	2,025	11:09	2,924

The run on January 8th was a new one for me.  I wanted to try something different and so I went out to Shawnee Mission Park and ran a combo of road and trails.  I didn't like it.  First, I totally misjudged the temperature, and ended up being under dressed, so I froze my legs off.  They got so cold that they wouldn't run.  I had winter running tights on and a pair of shorts.  I didn't take into consideration how exposed I would be to the wind while running on the roads.  The dogs didn't care, but I sure did.  I also didn't like running on the road.  When I run by myself I don't mind running on roads, but I hate doing it with the dogs.  My "bubble" is much bigger with them, and being that they are black, it is hard for others to see them once it gets dark outside.  I need to get them the collars that light up.  I also didn't like the roads because they were super hilly.  I hate hills.  :)

On January 12th, I once again headed out to WyCo.  Met up with the fantastic Trail Nerds, and proceeded to run by myself for most of the loop.  That always happens to me.  I run at such a weird pace, switching from walking to running, that I end up in the middle between the faster and slower runners.  It just happens.  I need to learn how to pace myself better.  Aside from that, it was just a sucky run.  The trail was either ice or mud, with some of the steeper hills so slick I had to bushwhack around them.  WyCo claimed another victory over me on that day.  The high spot of that day was seeing all of the birds on the lake at the dam.  There was about a dozen bald eagles, thousands of snow geese and thousands upon thousands of Canadian geese.  See pics below.

Geese and Eagles on WyCo Lake - 1/12/14

Week 3:

Activity Name	Activity	Start	Time	Distance	Elev	Avg Pace	Calories
Bluejacket	Street	Tue, Jan 14, 2014	0:41:11	4.4	147	9:21	605
Bluejacket	Street	Wed, Jan 15, 2014	0:57:42	6.01	262	9:36	833
Bluejacket	Street	Fri, Jan 17, 2014	0:42:08	4.4	164	9:35	597
Indian Creek	Street	Sat, Jan 18, 2014	2:03:36	12.01	151	10:18	1,586
		Totals:	4:24:37	26.82	724	9:42	3621

I don't really have much to report on these runs.  I decided to do the nice and FLAT Indian Creek Trail for my long run, just because I was getting depressed about being beaten by WyCo.  I wanted to run something that I knew I could dominate and feel good about.

Week 4:

Activity Name	Activity	Start	Time	Distance	Elev	Avg Pace	Calories
Bluejacket	Street	Tue, Jan 21, 2014	0:43:41	4.5	165	9:42	618
Bluejacket	Street	Wed, Jan 22, 2014	0:58:44	6.01	212	9:46	825
Bluejacket	Street	Sat, Jan 25, 2014	1:00:00	6.01	209	9:59	807
BuRP Trails	Trail	Sun, Jan 26, 2014	2:27:05	11	516	13:22	1,380
		Totals:	5:09:30	27.52	1102	10:42	3630

I decided to venture down to the Blue River Parkway Trails (BuRP) for my long run.  I had run some of the trails along the river, but hadn't ventured up onto the ridges before.  It was crazy up there.  The trails intersected each other constantly.  It was all good though.  I never really felt completely lost, just confused!   It was perfect weather for running.  Shorts, long sleeved show off shirt with a tech shirt over the top of it.  Didn't sweat too much, which means it didn't freeze.

Highlights:

Mile 7 - Finally put headphones on because I was losing it.

Mile 9 - Threw up in my mouth a little

Can't remember when, but shat in the woods for the first time on a run.  If ya gotta go, ya REALLY gotta go!  (You were warned in my introduction post!)

I was supposed to do 12 miles, but when I got to where my car was and I saw I had 11, I yelled like Jimmy Sommervile -  Enough is Enough!  Called it quits right there.

Week 5:

Activity Name	Activity	Start	Time	Distance	Elev	Avg Pace	Calories
Bluejacket	Street	Tue, Jan 28, 2014	0:59:04	6.01	209	9:50	799
Bluejacket	Street	Wed, Jan 29, 2014	1:19:25	8.01	349	9:55	1,066
BuRP	Trail	Fri, Jan 31, 2014	3:17:44	14	698	14:07	1,658
		Totals:	5:36:13	28.02	1256	11:17	3523

Headed back out to the BuRP trails for my long run.  This time I extended my run all the way South on the trails.  I think I hit just about every single trail out there.  The River, Highland, Ridgeline, Bo-Ho-Ca, Basement, Oxbow, and Wagon Trails.  It was cooler on this day, than last week, and was sneeting off and on.  I wore my tights, shorts and running pants, with tights, long sleeve tech shirt, and jacket on top.  I also had on my gloves and hat.  I knew that I would have issues with my sweat freezing, dropping my temperature, so I brought along a change of shirts for half way through my run in a effort to help alleviate that issue.

Highlights:

2.6 Miles - Surrounded by a huge flock of robins.  It was actually quite creepy.  I couldn't see them at first, as they were all on the ground in the leaves so all I heard was rustling.  Then they took to the trees, but rather than actually fly away from me, they would just fly from tree to tree with me.  There was probably about 100 of them around me.

3.4 Miles - Dropped the kids off at the pool, even though there was no water.  (Again, you were warned!)

7.5 Miles - Changed shirts.  This really helped ALOT!  It helped me stay warm.

9.6 Miles - I was feeling defeated (cold, and just wanted to stop), and the song The Gambler by Kenny Rogers came into my head.  "You gotta know when to fold 'em"  That was my body singing though.  My mind wouldn't let me stop.  This was actually one of the first times my mind won on a training run. I could have cut my run short, but I didn't.  I knew I needed 14 miles, and so I did them!

Overall, it was a great run.  I feel I am ready for my first race on February 8th with the Trail Nerds out at WyCo Park!

Sorry for the length of this post.  Hopefully February will see me making more frequent posts, rather than one long ass one.

I will also be posting something about BuRP with pics and stuff.  It is a fun place to run.

Take care, keep reading, and thanks for your support!

Jeffrey

February Blues

I am currently working on my report from January, but wanted to post a quick update...

February sucks.  So far.  Not in life.  I am fine and happy there.  Went out with great friends for my birthday, and in general life is good.  Not so much in the running and diet department.

Running....

I am typing this at home in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday.  Why am I home?  Snow.  The white fluffy stuff.  While I love the white stuff, I need to run.  I can't do that when we are getting 6-8 inches.  Minnesota, not a problem.  Kansas, a problem.  See, nobody shovels the sidewalks here, so I have no where to run except the streets, and drivers will run me over around here.  They don't care.  I can't drive to any trails, because they don't really plow the roads either.  It will be a few day before that happens.

Even better news (sarcasm alert!)  it is going to get very very cold.  Not Minnesota cold, but to about ten degrees below zero at night cold.  That is too cold to be running in.

I guess I will just take advantage of the taper before a race idea, as I probably won't be running until Saturday, race day!

Diet....

While I am pretty sure I will win the war, I have been losing a lot of battles the last few days.  It all started when I allowed myself a Dr. Pepper after running 14 miles on Friday.  Since then, downhill.  Went out on Saturday for my birthday, had some great food at Jack Stack BBQ.  Sunday I fell victim to the lure of Arby's, and yesterday, I caved and had McDonalds.  I have also had several cans of soda.  Today I ate an entire frozen pizza...1000 calories right there.

I want more!  I could go to any fast foods restaurant right now and devour everything on the menu.  Am I hungry?  Hell no.  I just want crap.  I could sit and eat an entire French Silk pie right now.  I just want crap.  

I don't know why I crash so hard like this.  I wonder if it is because I don't eat enough calories on the days I run.  I was about a thousand calories short last Friday on my long run day.  I wonder if being short like that over a few weeks adds up and makes me crash.  I just don't know.

I do know that I need to stop the boulder that is rolling downhill, or I will be back up to 200 lbs before I know it.  It's just hard to stop a rolling boulder when it has so much momentum.  One good thing is that I am out of money, so I can't get fast food anymore this week.  Until Friday.  Payday.  

Introduction

This is my blog.  It will be a blog about my trials and tribulations while training for my first 100 mile race. That’s right, 100 miles.  My feet will be the only thing propelling me forward for 100 miles.  Non-stop.  I will have 32 hours to complete those 100 miles.  This is not going to be easy.  Less than 5,000 people successfully complete a 100 mile endurance run a year.  Many more sign up.  I have heard of some races where 50 sign up, and only 3 finished.  Yikes.

This will not be a flowery, poetic blog.  I don’t write that way.  It’s not my style.  It will be honest and blunt, and many may think I have shared too much information (I am looking at you Janet).  That is ok.  I want this to be an honest account of what it takes to get to the point of being able to run 100 miles.  You will read about dietary/intestinal issues, bloody nipples, and “chub rub” in places that you would never have thought possible to get it, and I am sure many other things that will make you, the reader, uncomfortable.

Why would anyone do this, you ask?  I have always wanted to run this distance.  I think just so I can say I did it.  Heck, my second official race I ever ran, and longest to date, was Surf the Murph 50k (33.4 miles).  I didn’t even bother with a marathon.  Just went for it.  I have since run 2 marathons and one more 50k, and many races at distances shorter than a marathon.

For a really good race report, and to get an idea of what type of hell it can be to run this distance, read this race report.  This is the report that re-inspired me to make an attempt at this again.  This is the race I will be "running".

kill-the-bear.blogspot.com/2013/12/ozark-trail-100-journey-ends.html

I don’t know if I will ever run another one, whether I complete this one or not.  It takes so much time and energy just to train for it, I don’t know if I will be able to dedicate another  11 month period of my life again or not.

That’s correct.  Eleven months!  I have races lined up to use as rehearsal runs for the big day.  Here is that list:

Feb 8th - 10 Miles - Kansas

www.psychowyco.com/id7.html

April 19th - 26.2 Miles - Kansas

www.psychowyco.com/id1.html

May 10th - 50k - Indiana

dwd.runningfitsites.com/gnawbone-home

Sept 5th - 50 Miles - Michigan

1 pacer for the last 16 mile loop

www.runwoodstock.com/

Sept 27th - 100k - Ohio

1 pacer for the last 16 mile loop

www.50sforyomomma.com/not-yo-momma-s-100

Nov 1 - 100 Miles - Missouri

4 pacers for the last 60 miles.

www.ozarktrail100.com

I probably won’t be putting up a daily blog.  It may be weekly or it may be monthly.  It will depend upon my mood!  I am working on one for January right now.  These entries will probably be a mish mash of training run reports, pictures while on those runs, and race reports for that month.

A secondary goal for this is to loose weight.  My goal weight for this race would be around 165-170 lbs.  I started the year at 200.  In a way, I think this goal will be hard to achieve than actually running the 100 miles.

Hopefully you will enjoy these reports, or at least get some satisfaction out of knowing that you are probably a lot saner than I am.

Good reading and good luck!

Jeffrey