well i don't need to see crusty ice and snow again for
A WHILE.
just got in from the 76 to 76.
drove up to amicalola falls saturday,
packed my pack, and headed north at 2015 saturday evening
although there was annoying ice and snow over significant portions of the first 40 miles, i was rockin and rollin when i hit neels gap at 0945 sunday morning, 13.5 hours in.
grabbed handfuls of food from their stuffs, to supplement what i was carrying.
the trail through the night was frozen solid and crusty, affording decent footing since most of the trail is on south facing slopes, with the snow melted thin.
holy cow, the last 36 miles had plenty of runnable dirt, but had i known ahead of time what i was committing to, there is no way i'd have gone after this beast. from tray mountain north, i was ice skating my way along the sidehilled trails. had i not been exhausted, i would have been majorly discouraged....as it was, i just needed to get to hwy 76, where my dad was going to deliver me from my sins.
25:30 after the start, a couple hours after dark sunday evening, i had gone from amicalola to hwy 76......76 miles, around 21k +/- elevation.
without the snow and ice i think i'd have eclipsed my 22:50 similar route of two years ago by a fair margin.
comments on a nike slogan applied to hard runs:
after rockin and rollin all night, i had begun to have serious doubts around mile 45. these doubts were shouting in my face by mile 50, with the option of having dad pick me up at mile 60 rather than 76.
the order of the day was to just do it, discomfort can be its own bedfellow!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
feb recap
m
t
w
h
f: 20 miles, 2,000' - mind not right for 150 miler
s
s: 22 miles, 1,000' - fast run.
well,
the last week didn't turn out like originally planned.
i was going to go out with a bang,
a 150 mile bang, the whole georgia AT, twice without stopping.
instead i wimped out and turned around after 10 miles, for a 20 mile workout.
my head just wasn't up to it this time.
with the 20 friday evening, and the 22 sunday evening, i did manage to get to
333.1 miles
70,700' gain
(not quite krupicka's 501 mi, 101,300', gosh that's impressive!?)
for the month.
this is approximately an average of 24 miles and 5,000' every other day.
technically i did not even come close to a real 30 miler every other day.
but i am almost satisfied.
if the last big workout had been accomplished i'd have done the equivalent.
granted, not completing that workout makes the numbers pale in comparison to the goal,
but the first three weeks speak for themselves.
i now have 3 weeks to continue preparing for barkley, and a week to rest.
i believe i can be ready. that was the purpose of the month.
looking forward to the coming 3 weeks of training,
i had a dream last night in which i finished (and won, there were 3 other finishers) the barkley.
t
w
h
f: 20 miles, 2,000' - mind not right for 150 miler
s
s: 22 miles, 1,000' - fast run.
well,
the last week didn't turn out like originally planned.
i was going to go out with a bang,
a 150 mile bang, the whole georgia AT, twice without stopping.
instead i wimped out and turned around after 10 miles, for a 20 mile workout.
my head just wasn't up to it this time.
with the 20 friday evening, and the 22 sunday evening, i did manage to get to
333.1 miles
70,700' gain
(not quite krupicka's 501 mi, 101,300', gosh that's impressive!?)
for the month.
this is approximately an average of 24 miles and 5,000' every other day.
technically i did not even come close to a real 30 miler every other day.
but i am almost satisfied.
if the last big workout had been accomplished i'd have done the equivalent.
granted, not completing that workout makes the numbers pale in comparison to the goal,
but the first three weeks speak for themselves.
i now have 3 weeks to continue preparing for barkley, and a week to rest.
i believe i can be ready. that was the purpose of the month.
looking forward to the coming 3 weeks of training,
i had a dream last night in which i finished (and won, there were 3 other finishers) the barkley.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
a
week three february
m: 0.0
t: 0.0
w: 15.5 miles on roads, 900'
t: 15.0 miles on roads, 700'
f: 56.0 miles heartbreak 100k, 17,000'
s: finishing friday run
s: 4.0 miles in marion, mt. ida, 800'
total: 90.5 miles, +19,400'
monday and tuesday were rest
wednesday was a solid an exciting road run that felt good and finished fast with metallica in the ears. it was super cold and windy. windy!
thursday was a tired but solid run in slightly warmer conditions
friday/saturday:
wow. will add some here soon.
sunday:
up and over mt ida from matt's place. with lily too.
beautiful day, warm, almost too warm...shook things out.
felt better than expected, but that doesn't mean i felt good!
a bit behind on the goal, but a very solid week, my feet hurt, my legs are heavy, and when i start resting, i'm gonna be getting seriously stronger.
cumulative for feb:
291.1 miles, +65,700'
in mountains:
210.0 miles, +61,700'
m: 0.0
t: 0.0
w: 15.5 miles on roads, 900'
t: 15.0 miles on roads, 700'
f: 56.0 miles heartbreak 100k, 17,000'
s: finishing friday run
s: 4.0 miles in marion, mt. ida, 800'
total: 90.5 miles, +19,400'
monday and tuesday were rest
wednesday was a solid an exciting road run that felt good and finished fast with metallica in the ears. it was super cold and windy. windy!
thursday was a tired but solid run in slightly warmer conditions
friday/saturday:
wow. will add some here soon.
sunday:
up and over mt ida from matt's place. with lily too.
beautiful day, warm, almost too warm...shook things out.
felt better than expected, but that doesn't mean i felt good!
a bit behind on the goal, but a very solid week, my feet hurt, my legs are heavy, and when i start resting, i'm gonna be getting seriously stronger.
cumulative for feb:
291.1 miles, +65,700'
in mountains:
210.0 miles, +61,700'
Monday, February 15, 2010
chug
week two february
m: 0.0
t: 0.0
w: 11.0 miles on AT, +2,000' (cancelled 50 miler due to conditions)
t: 27.0 miles on roads, +1,200'
f: 10.0 miles at FHSP, +2,000'
s: 16.0 miles at FHSP, +4,000'
s: 10.0 miles at FHSP, +2,600'
total: 74.0 miles, +11,800'
monday and tuesday i was waiting for weather.
wednesday i found it.
high winds, lots of slick ice, very cold temps....i called the 50 miler for safety.
thursday was trying to make up for wednesday. good road running.
friday was 10pm-2am in some more freezing ass cold.
saturday was an abbreviated long day, with good company.
sunday was a wrap up and much needed check of the falls and jaw.
a good week although the miles didn't pile up. next week's got some catching up to do.
cumulative for feb:
200.6 miles, +46,300'
m: 0.0
t: 0.0
w: 11.0 miles on AT, +2,000' (cancelled 50 miler due to conditions)
t: 27.0 miles on roads, +1,200'
f: 10.0 miles at FHSP, +2,000'
s: 16.0 miles at FHSP, +4,000'
s: 10.0 miles at FHSP, +2,600'
total: 74.0 miles, +11,800'
monday and tuesday i was waiting for weather.
wednesday i found it.
high winds, lots of slick ice, very cold temps....i called the 50 miler for safety.
thursday was trying to make up for wednesday. good road running.
friday was 10pm-2am in some more freezing ass cold.
saturday was an abbreviated long day, with good company.
sunday was a wrap up and much needed check of the falls and jaw.
a good week although the miles didn't pile up. next week's got some catching up to do.
cumulative for feb:
200.6 miles, +46,300'
Sunday, February 7, 2010
hop on board
week one february
m: 33.6 miles on AT, +10,300'
t: 0.0
w: 40.2 miles on AT, +12,000'
t: 0.0
f: 0.0
s: 22.0 miles on roads, +1,000'
s: 30.0 miles on AT, +11,200'
total: 125.8 miles, +34,500'
monday was a crashing crystal palace.
all day on a couple inches of crushed ice.
wednesday was COLD. COLD. COLD.
saturday started in a rough way but ended happy.
sunday was icy and snowed without snowing. pretty.
barkley train has left the station. carl is on board.
m: 33.6 miles on AT, +10,300'
t: 0.0
w: 40.2 miles on AT, +12,000'
t: 0.0
f: 0.0
s: 22.0 miles on roads, +1,000'
s: 30.0 miles on AT, +11,200'
total: 125.8 miles, +34,500'
monday was a crashing crystal palace.
all day on a couple inches of crushed ice.
wednesday was COLD. COLD. COLD.
saturday started in a rough way but ended happy.
sunday was icy and snowed without snowing. pretty.
barkley train has left the station. carl is on board.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
new training plan
it's called:
30 miles every other day in february.
the plan is to do alot of miles, and take a lot of rest.
the mileages don't need to be exact, and they just have to average to 30 miles / 2 days.
distance can be put in the bank, and days can be alternated if need be.
the total would be 420 miles in 28 days. not really that crazy when you look at it as 105 mi/week.
plenty of people do that.
the difference will be the long workouts, and the vertical.
if i don't execute the training, i don't see the point in toeing the line at barkley.
here we go.
30 miles every other day in february.
the plan is to do alot of miles, and take a lot of rest.
the mileages don't need to be exact, and they just have to average to 30 miles / 2 days.
distance can be put in the bank, and days can be alternated if need be.
the total would be 420 miles in 28 days. not really that crazy when you look at it as 105 mi/week.
plenty of people do that.
the difference will be the long workouts, and the vertical.
if i don't execute the training, i don't see the point in toeing the line at barkley.
here we go.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
yogging
picture thanks to someone's facebook, hopefully they don't mind....my buddy jason modified it slightly....
anyway, i went out to mountain mist with the mission of "winning."
honestly i knew there were probably 3 guys for whom a horrible race was still better than my best day, but the week before the race i was trying to decide what strategy would give me the best shot.
i humorously told several people at the start that i was going to start in the lead and not let anyone by me.
unfortunately this only lasted about 3/4 mile, because david riddle saw me go off the front and he is for real.
that being said, after the first couple of slight inclines i knew this was not my day. everything i would normally charge up, i was red-lining on. by 3 miles more than 10 people had passed me, and i was wondering where this day was going????
i reached the first aid station (at 6 miles) in 15th place. it wasn't a particularly slow time, but my legs were not sprightly at all. i was trying to decide what plan B should be. i kept pushing, knowing that plan B was to give it my all, even if it was a slow time.
i took it easy on the first big climb of the day, and decided i would just have to go slow for a bit and regroup. i did this, but was soon let down by the results....i had figured if brought the tach down a bit i would get in a groove and start picking people off. instead i was still getting passed! not blown off the trail, but passed none the less.
when i reached half way, someone noticed my "i'd rather be sprinting" shirt, and commented that i was moving pretty fast.....i just mumbled that "something's gotta change!"
soon there after i caught my great friend byron backer and i said, "man, i'm gonna have to eat some humble pie tonight!"
byron's response was just what i needed to hear.
"you're moving ok. you're in 17th, the others aren't that far ahead, i'd say you can catch 10 of them if you keep your head in it."
byron is the man, i've shared alot of miles with him, and the dude is just awesome. he has more experience at going out hard than anyone else i run with. and that comment was perfectly true.
i replied, "thanks for the encouragement, just gotta regroup and keep the head in it."
from there on, i wasn't floundering anymore. i still didn't have the normal legs, but i found my groove. down to the land trust and up waterline, and then mounted somewhat of an attack in mackay's hollow. by the end i had worked back to 12th, and although it was the 3rd slowest of my 9 finishes at the mist, i gotta say it was one of my better efforts. 4:53.
post script:
after spending the last 3 days in bed, i realize that my body was trying to race, and fend off illness out there on the course. i couldn't climb because my immune system was in over drive.
since barkley is the real focus, this is a little comforting, knowing that the 4:53 wasn't due to being out of shape, but probably was influenced alot by the cold that was trying to nail me.
thanks to byron i get to be happy with my effort. the more time out there and the more maturity gained, the easier it will become to regroup and keep the head in it.
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