Yep, I managed to click off 160 long runs for 2007.
Pretty cool when you consider that I only got 10 each in March and April primarily because of Umstead 100-Miler and then the 90-mile effort at the Virginia Run for Cancer 24-Hour event. That means a WHOLE bunch of long ones August through December.
So this year, my fifth since I invented this tracking system, finishes with 160 runs and 434.5 points. Previous top total of long runs was 2006's 150. This year's point total is a bit lower than 2005's 452, but still a good bit higher than the yearly average of ... let's see ... 400. Sweet!
What excellent fun.
December 31, 2007
December 27, 2007
Repeat after me: "Hammer curls are my friend."
So, wonder what would happen to the ever-so-ordinary ultrarunner if he were to, say, clip off 150 reps each arm of hammer curls with, say, 3 lb. dumbbells every day for, say, a month?
Dunno. More on this about Jan. 25 or so. :-)
Dunno. More on this about Jan. 25 or so. :-)
December 25, 2007
Merry, Merry Christmas all!
That new Power Ranger game clearly takes a ton of Christmas-morning concentration, especially when you are at the Green Ranger level.Serious, serious don't-mess-with-me business here, bucko. Go Rangers!
(Great morning here at 1300 Gum with Aunt Wendi and Allen coming for yummy b-fast and fun gift opening. My crew is resting now, then it's off to Elkton to do much of it again with my side of the fam. Good times.)
December 15, 2007
Sad Day
I cried myself out today.
Sherman, our 9-year-old lab beagle chow mix, succumbed to the diabetes that had wracked his world and ours for the past three months or so. We knew this was coming. Didn't make it one bit easier.
Heidi and I were up and down with Sherman throughout last night as he drank and panted and asked to go outside and ate grass and threw up and all that. A late-morning seizure sent me to call our Waynesboro vet and ask if they could put him down.
I thought I was all cried out as I loaded him in the truck one final time for the 15-minute drive, but you know how tears are. We've been pretty tight since I dragged him out from under that makeshift Stokesville cabin where he was born. I was his primary trainer during Head Start for Puppies. We slept a lot of nights on the floor together, me in a sleeping bag and him snuggled against my back, when H was pregnant with Benjamin.
Puppa, one of his many nicknames, always had a special yip sound for me when I came home. We always joked about him being my running coach, and how I would totally suck as an ultrarunner if it weren't for his sage advice. We concocted Rock Status, officially bestowed on me when I finished a 100-miler and yakked away when I didn't.
He's always been a scared boy hiding in a mean-sounding dog suit. And he's been one of the main loves of my life for almost a decade now.
As we headed down the road to Waynesboro, me with one hand on my buddy and the other on the steering wheel, I told him that I'd given this past three months my best and apologized for not always hitting the right spot on the twice-daily insulin injections. I told him I was sorry if he hurt much, and that I loved him more than even I imagined possible. I thanked him for being there for me through thick and thin, for always forgiving me, for always accepting my love, for always being willing to hear my dumb stories and come out in the yard and watch me do my pull-ups at the various places we have lived.
Just before noon, just outside the Waynesboro city limits, my Puppa said good-bye to this life. He had his head resting partially on his favorite pillow and partially on my lap. I wouldn't have wished it to be any other way.
When we get his ashes from the vet, I know the perfect spot. There's a doggie cemetery on one of my favorites running roads. Turns out that is at Stokesville, where our handsome boy was born.
Save me a spot, Puppa. When I hear your special Dad yips, I know I'll be home at last.
Love you, my old sweetheart boy.
Your Dad
Sherman, our 9-year-old lab beagle chow mix, succumbed to the diabetes that had wracked his world and ours for the past three months or so. We knew this was coming. Didn't make it one bit easier.
Heidi and I were up and down with Sherman throughout last night as he drank and panted and asked to go outside and ate grass and threw up and all that. A late-morning seizure sent me to call our Waynesboro vet and ask if they could put him down.
I thought I was all cried out as I loaded him in the truck one final time for the 15-minute drive, but you know how tears are. We've been pretty tight since I dragged him out from under that makeshift Stokesville cabin where he was born. I was his primary trainer during Head Start for Puppies. We slept a lot of nights on the floor together, me in a sleeping bag and him snuggled against my back, when H was pregnant with Benjamin.
Puppa, one of his many nicknames, always had a special yip sound for me when I came home. We always joked about him being my running coach, and how I would totally suck as an ultrarunner if it weren't for his sage advice. We concocted Rock Status, officially bestowed on me when I finished a 100-miler and yakked away when I didn't.
He's always been a scared boy hiding in a mean-sounding dog suit. And he's been one of the main loves of my life for almost a decade now.
As we headed down the road to Waynesboro, me with one hand on my buddy and the other on the steering wheel, I told him that I'd given this past three months my best and apologized for not always hitting the right spot on the twice-daily insulin injections. I told him I was sorry if he hurt much, and that I loved him more than even I imagined possible. I thanked him for being there for me through thick and thin, for always forgiving me, for always accepting my love, for always being willing to hear my dumb stories and come out in the yard and watch me do my pull-ups at the various places we have lived.
Just before noon, just outside the Waynesboro city limits, my Puppa said good-bye to this life. He had his head resting partially on his favorite pillow and partially on my lap. I wouldn't have wished it to be any other way.
When we get his ashes from the vet, I know the perfect spot. There's a doggie cemetery on one of my favorites running roads. Turns out that is at Stokesville, where our handsome boy was born.
Save me a spot, Puppa. When I hear your special Dad yips, I know I'll be home at last.
Love you, my old sweetheart boy.
Your Dad
December 14, 2007
true definition of "bonk"
This, courtesy of my Wesleyan brother forever Bill Potts, captures the essence of ultrarunning at those times when things go just a bit awry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk8uYmAo8y0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk8uYmAo8y0
December 8, 2007
No. 150 already
Today's 2:20 late-morning effort gives me 150 long ones for 2007, and the outside possibility of hitting a hard-to-ever-top total of 160 before the year's out.
Absolutely, totally KEWL! And THEN some!
Streak update: All is well. Next significant date is Dec. 17, Day 300.
Absolutely, totally KEWL! And THEN some!
Streak update: All is well. Next significant date is Dec. 17, Day 300.
December 3, 2007
Tweeeeeeeeeet!
Yup. It's that time of the year again. Basketball season is here in all its glory.
That means I hit the court 4-5 games a week for much of the next three months. Reffing is a nice break from work, a little extra running of a slightly different sort and a pretty fair supplement to the ol' pocket book. No adverse effects on the running, other than that I get home sort of late on occasion and maybe are a wee bit charged up when it comes time that I actually need to fall asleep.
Last week I worked varsity girls Wednesday, eighth-grade boys Thursday, JV boys Friday and then a girls' varsity/girls' varsity/boys' varsity triple-header Saturday. The week's running included at least 2-hour runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Got some really good strength training sessions in too.
Grueling physical effort? Nah. Glutton for punishment? Nope. Aging fool fully engaged in the ever-pressing pursuit of the poetry of a life in motion?
All depends on how you look at it, I guess.
That means I hit the court 4-5 games a week for much of the next three months. Reffing is a nice break from work, a little extra running of a slightly different sort and a pretty fair supplement to the ol' pocket book. No adverse effects on the running, other than that I get home sort of late on occasion and maybe are a wee bit charged up when it comes time that I actually need to fall asleep.
Last week I worked varsity girls Wednesday, eighth-grade boys Thursday, JV boys Friday and then a girls' varsity/girls' varsity/boys' varsity triple-header Saturday. The week's running included at least 2-hour runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Got some really good strength training sessions in too.
Grueling physical effort? Nah. Glutton for punishment? Nope. Aging fool fully engaged in the ever-pressing pursuit of the poetry of a life in motion?
All depends on how you look at it, I guess.
November 6, 2007
Gentle, Gentle Fun
Saturday's Mountain Masochist Trail Run 50-Miler was a day of smiles, laughter, the drinking in of picturesque views and sharing of running with some of a neatest people anywhere.
The beautiful setting that is the mountains around Lynchburg was the scene for some pretty sweet reminiscing during my 13th successful traverse of the vaunted MMTR layout. Masochist was my first ultra back in 1991, quite an introduction for a relatively OK road marathoner who thought he might be able to score a top-10 as slow as those guys seemed to be going on those trails. I ran the first 43 miles or so, then walked the next six with tail firmly tucked between legs before blitzing the final mile to the finish.
Somewhere along the way that day, I found a piece of myself that I have held pretty tightly to ever since, across more than a decade and a half, some 85 ultra finishes and another 35 or so marathon finishes too.
Saturday was a fitting tribute to that first foray in ultra-mania. Coming in superbly fit, I chugged my way to the halfway point in 5:15, then just out of the blue decided to keep it steady and see what unfolded. What unfolded was a general slowdown that found me taking time out to stop and watch the glorious mountaintop sunlight, break to stare at the most purple leaves I have yet to notice, just generally gulp all of it in. Thanks to Rob Apple for sharing with me a unique view of nature borne from, among other positives, his previous FIVE-HUNDRED AND THREE successful ultras. Wow!
Sometimes, if you're lucky, you get the chance to witness the personification of "amazing." I got to do just that as I shared the final 12.5 miles with the venerable Mr. Apple. Very, very fun time.
October 30, 2007
By The Numbers
With today's 2-hour run/walk marking 36 straight weeks of running each day, it got me thinking about some numbers. A little digging uncovered the following ...
252 days in a row • 110 runs of at least 2 hours • a 100-mile finish at Umstead in March • a 90-miler at the Virginia Run for Cancer 24-Hour Run in April • 73 basketball games officiated (no, none of them count as runs ;-) • a 50km finish at Catherine's Big Butt in July • a 40-miler finish at Highlands Sky in June • a 26.2-miler finish at Shamrock Marathon in March • a 19:26 5km race at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton on July 4 • 16 weeks of three long runs in the same calendar week • a 6:08 one-mile solo time trial • 5 other weeks of four long runs • 3 different trips around the killer 25-mile Wild Oak Trail • 2 other weeks of 5 long runs
Mix it somewhere around 5,000 crunches, 3,000 push-ups, 1,500 or so pull-ups and a couple hundred 4 a.m. alarm answers and, well, you get a crystalline picture of lunacy.
Wow. I really am a freak. :-)
252 days in a row • 110 runs of at least 2 hours • a 100-mile finish at Umstead in March • a 90-miler at the Virginia Run for Cancer 24-Hour Run in April • 73 basketball games officiated (no, none of them count as runs ;-) • a 50km finish at Catherine's Big Butt in July • a 40-miler finish at Highlands Sky in June • a 26.2-miler finish at Shamrock Marathon in March • a 19:26 5km race at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton on July 4 • 16 weeks of three long runs in the same calendar week • a 6:08 one-mile solo time trial • 5 other weeks of four long runs • 3 different trips around the killer 25-mile Wild Oak Trail • 2 other weeks of 5 long runs
Mix it somewhere around 5,000 crunches, 3,000 push-ups, 1,500 or so pull-ups and a couple hundred 4 a.m. alarm answers and, well, you get a crystalline picture of lunacy.
Wow. I really am a freak. :-)
October 4, 2007
Vintage me
What's one inch long, a half-inch wide and makes you feel like a complete and utter moron?
That would be the sweet new knot on my forehead, courtesy of an immovable door and my remarkable lack of attention to life's most mundane tasks.
Trying to close the door for my ref buddy this afternoon while in our dressing-room-under-construction at a local middle school and, of course, deep in the midst of what I am sure was a most important convo, I took one hard step toward the door an arm's reach away and -- BAM -- header city.
Paul: Bill, are you OK, dude?
Me: Oh yeah, no worries. I'm good. (Sung to the tune of "Oh yeah, I'm fine. No need to take the keys.")
Paul: Are you sure? I think you lost it there for a second.
Me: No, no. Really. I'll be fine. Let's see? Yeah, head doesn't hurt a bit except for right at that one spot. And I can feel my neck and shoulders, so I'm sure we're good. Well, OK, I may be having a little trouble feeling my elbows right now, but I'm sure that will pass ...
Game went fine. No problems at all. So really all I have to show for my lack of attention is what looks like a gigantic pinkish welt atop my forehead even with my right eye. With any luck, it won't turn blue.
Photos tomorrow if it does. Unless I spend tomorrow babbling like a complete idiot. How will anybody be able to tell the difference? Wow. Great question.
That would be the sweet new knot on my forehead, courtesy of an immovable door and my remarkable lack of attention to life's most mundane tasks.
Trying to close the door for my ref buddy this afternoon while in our dressing-room-under-construction at a local middle school and, of course, deep in the midst of what I am sure was a most important convo, I took one hard step toward the door an arm's reach away and -- BAM -- header city.
Paul: Bill, are you OK, dude?
Me: Oh yeah, no worries. I'm good. (Sung to the tune of "Oh yeah, I'm fine. No need to take the keys.")
Paul: Are you sure? I think you lost it there for a second.
Me: No, no. Really. I'll be fine. Let's see? Yeah, head doesn't hurt a bit except for right at that one spot. And I can feel my neck and shoulders, so I'm sure we're good. Well, OK, I may be having a little trouble feeling my elbows right now, but I'm sure that will pass ...
Game went fine. No problems at all. So really all I have to show for my lack of attention is what looks like a gigantic pinkish welt atop my forehead even with my right eye. With any luck, it won't turn blue.
Photos tomorrow if it does. Unless I spend tomorrow babbling like a complete idiot. How will anybody be able to tell the difference? Wow. Great question.
September 12, 2007
And from the nutrition front
This just in from a nutrition column at insidetri.com ...
"Believe it or not, low-fat chocolate milk has proven to be a very successful recovery beverage providing 84 grams of carbohydrate, 26 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, and 345 mg of sodium in 24 ounces!"
Wonder how that stacks up vs. my 24 oz. 7-Eleven coffee with four creamers, four sugars and powdered chocolate?
Anyone see a research project in the making here?
"Believe it or not, low-fat chocolate milk has proven to be a very successful recovery beverage providing 84 grams of carbohydrate, 26 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, and 345 mg of sodium in 24 ounces!"
Wonder how that stacks up vs. my 24 oz. 7-Eleven coffee with four creamers, four sugars and powdered chocolate?
Anyone see a research project in the making here?
Happens to me in most 100-milers ...
Quote from a runnersworld.com feature about budding world-class marathoner Brian Sell ...
But that's nothing compared to the story he likes to tells about himself at the 22-mile mark of the 2004 USA Men's Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, AL. "The last four miles of that race were the worst marathon experience I've ever had," he says. "I hit the wall SO hard. If I never have to repeat that again, it will be too soon. Clint Verran said that when he caught me, I looked like someone who had crawled into a road-side ditch to try to find some used chewing gum."
But that's nothing compared to the story he likes to tells about himself at the 22-mile mark of the 2004 USA Men's Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, AL. "The last four miles of that race were the worst marathon experience I've ever had," he says. "I hit the wall SO hard. If I never have to repeat that again, it will be too soon. Clint Verran said that when he caught me, I looked like someone who had crawled into a road-side ditch to try to find some used chewing gum."
August 31, 2007
Never thought I'd see this ...
2008 Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run
April 5 , 2008 6:00am
Registration now open !! - click here
Race Cap: 250
Current registrations: 110 as of 8/31/07 8:30pm
Don't wait !!
Registration opened this morning for this one, my fave of faves. About lunchtime, I got e-mail from race director Blake Norwood saying not to fiddle around because he had about 100 entrants in the first six hours! So I leaped into the 21st century and entered via Active.com, which is awesome.
Cracked me completely up that this race may actually fill all 250 slots in a day or two. My first year there, 1996, We had 77 starters and 38 finishers. I entered the night before the race.
Who would have ever imagined this?
April 5 , 2008 6:00am
Registration now open !! - click here
Race Cap: 250
Current registrations: 110 as of 8/31/07 8:30pm
Don't wait !!
Registration opened this morning for this one, my fave of faves. About lunchtime, I got e-mail from race director Blake Norwood saying not to fiddle around because he had about 100 entrants in the first six hours! So I leaped into the 21st century and entered via Active.com, which is awesome.
Cracked me completely up that this race may actually fill all 250 slots in a day or two. My first year there, 1996, We had 77 starters and 38 finishers. I entered the night before the race.
Who would have ever imagined this?
August 6, 2007
Time to go a little crazy maybe?
Last week long runs were 2 hrs. Monday, 2 hrs. Tuesday, 2h10 Thursday and 3h08 Friday (AWESOME Appalachian Trail run in Afton Mountain area with Sophie!!!), soooo .... I am thinking that maybe I may kick things up a notch during August and continue this M/Tu/Th/F long run thing. Would be good prep for my Two Loops of Wild Oak assault in mid-October.
The 2h20m of 9/1 went pretty smoothly this morning. Given that this is my first day back at work after my first real vacation in ?? years, maybe it's just an after-glow thing. Then again, maybe not. Guess we'll see, huh?
The 2h20m of 9/1 went pretty smoothly this morning. Given that this is my first day back at work after my first real vacation in ?? years, maybe it's just an after-glow thing. Then again, maybe not. Guess we'll see, huh?
August 5, 2007
That next corner
So I'm on my third long run in four days during last week's vaycay in Greensboro, N.C., when it happens.
I round a turn on a paved bike path during the steamy morning when I see this little sweat-drenched kid running with the most determined look on his face, completely lost in his own world of effort. I'm guessing 7 or 8, about the same age as our Ben. Close behind, on a mountain bike, and ever-watchful comes his dad. Neither seems to notice me as we pass.
About 15 minutes later I come to the end of the path, then decide to do a bit of exploring through the ritzy subdivision by hopping out on the street. Up a short steep hill I go, then turn around to walk down when my watch beeps to signal a walk break.
As I'm walking down, up comes the kid. This time I get a better look and notice the slightly out-of-kilter gait and then the Special Olympics T-shirt. Still lost in the effort but starting to fade a bit on the pace, up the hill he heads. This time, I clap a couple times and give him a "good job, dude; relax and drive those arms on this hill."
The smile I got and the quiet fist pump from his dad gave me goosebumps. Such vast thanks from such a simple act. Then I spent the final 40 minutes of the run awash in gratitude for how easy my life is and how fortunate I am to have all the blessings that I have.
I had planned on driving into downtown Greensboro to run that morning, but at the last minute changed my mind. Sometimes, the best lesson you could hope for is just around that next corner.
I round a turn on a paved bike path during the steamy morning when I see this little sweat-drenched kid running with the most determined look on his face, completely lost in his own world of effort. I'm guessing 7 or 8, about the same age as our Ben. Close behind, on a mountain bike, and ever-watchful comes his dad. Neither seems to notice me as we pass.
About 15 minutes later I come to the end of the path, then decide to do a bit of exploring through the ritzy subdivision by hopping out on the street. Up a short steep hill I go, then turn around to walk down when my watch beeps to signal a walk break.
As I'm walking down, up comes the kid. This time I get a better look and notice the slightly out-of-kilter gait and then the Special Olympics T-shirt. Still lost in the effort but starting to fade a bit on the pace, up the hill he heads. This time, I clap a couple times and give him a "good job, dude; relax and drive those arms on this hill."
The smile I got and the quiet fist pump from his dad gave me goosebumps. Such vast thanks from such a simple act. Then I spent the final 40 minutes of the run awash in gratitude for how easy my life is and how fortunate I am to have all the blessings that I have.
I had planned on driving into downtown Greensboro to run that morning, but at the last minute changed my mind. Sometimes, the best lesson you could hope for is just around that next corner.
June 28, 2007
June 14, 2007
a sweet getaway plan
Doing the Highlands Sky 40-Miler Saturday at Canaan Valley, W.Va., and it's so close to West Virginia Wesleyan that I am not gonna pass up the chance to visit Buckhannon for the first time in probably a decade.
So, the plan is: Leave here around 5 a.m., drive three hours to Sunny Buck, take a short run, shower, take a stroll around, hit the bookstore, head back to Canaan.
Race will be fun. Party will be better. Weekend promises to be a complete winner.
So, the plan is: Leave here around 5 a.m., drive three hours to Sunny Buck, take a short run, shower, take a stroll around, hit the bookstore, head back to Canaan.
Race will be fun. Party will be better. Weekend promises to be a complete winner.
June 7, 2007
Lupus fundraiser with some shwag maybe
Just saw this on the Ultra List and felt the urge to pass it on, so ... here.
Seems a worthy cause, and what's $5?
Subject: Support my run, win some sunglasses!
From: Brian Thomas
Reply-To: Brian Thomas
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:38:17 -0400
Content-Type: text/plain
I've lurked on the list for a while now as I've been training for the
North Country 50 Mile Trail Run in Manistee, Michigan in September. This
is my first 50 miler, although I have a few marathons and a 50k under my
belt. I've decided that part of my training should involve working to
raise money for a good cause and therefore I'm spending the summer using
my run as a fundraiser for the Lupus Foundation of America. My family
knows several people who suffer from this disease and more than five
million people worldwide, mostly women, face an unpredictable future as
they struggle daily with the often debilitating health consequences of
lupus, a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that causes the
immune system to attack the body’s own healthy tissue.
On to the good stuff. Who doesn't like winning stuff? Tifosi Optics has
generously donated two pairs of sunglasses that I am raffling off to
those who donate money to the Lupus Foundation in support of my run. For
every $5 that you donate, you will have one chance to receive one of the
pairs of sunglasses (e.g. if you donate $25, you will have five chances
to win.)
I've been running in a pair of these for the last few months and these
are quite a step up from the cheap gas station sunglasses that I am used
to. They are lightweight, stay in place while sweaty, and don't fog up.
They even have interchangeable lenses. They're great for running and, I
imagine, other outdoor sports.
Please don't send me any money--I will just track the donations that are
made directly to the Foundation through their online system. You can
donate through my website at http://www.brianruns.blogspot.com.
My goal is to sell 200 additional "tickets," which would mean another
$1,000 towards our goal. Please pass this information on and help
support the Lupus Foundation of America.
One final note, if you have a blog and mention my effort, I will gladly
give you a free entry just for helping me spread the word. I've been
really impressed with the people on this list and, even if you don't
have the funds to help out the Foundation, I would appreciate any help
promoting my efforts. Thanks.
Regards,
Brian Thomas
brian@thomaswallace.org
Seems a worthy cause, and what's $5?
Subject: Support my run, win some sunglasses!
From: Brian Thomas
Reply-To: Brian Thomas
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:38:17 -0400
Content-Type: text/plain
I've lurked on the list for a while now as I've been training for the
North Country 50 Mile Trail Run in Manistee, Michigan in September. This
is my first 50 miler, although I have a few marathons and a 50k under my
belt. I've decided that part of my training should involve working to
raise money for a good cause and therefore I'm spending the summer using
my run as a fundraiser for the Lupus Foundation of America. My family
knows several people who suffer from this disease and more than five
million people worldwide, mostly women, face an unpredictable future as
they struggle daily with the often debilitating health consequences of
lupus, a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that causes the
immune system to attack the body’s own healthy tissue.
On to the good stuff. Who doesn't like winning stuff? Tifosi Optics has
generously donated two pairs of sunglasses that I am raffling off to
those who donate money to the Lupus Foundation in support of my run. For
every $5 that you donate, you will have one chance to receive one of the
pairs of sunglasses (e.g. if you donate $25, you will have five chances
to win.)
I've been running in a pair of these for the last few months and these
are quite a step up from the cheap gas station sunglasses that I am used
to. They are lightweight, stay in place while sweaty, and don't fog up.
They even have interchangeable lenses. They're great for running and, I
imagine, other outdoor sports.
Please don't send me any money--I will just track the donations that are
made directly to the Foundation through their online system. You can
donate through my website at http://www.brianruns.blogspot.com.
My goal is to sell 200 additional "tickets," which would mean another
$1,000 towards our goal. Please pass this information on and help
support the Lupus Foundation of America.
One final note, if you have a blog and mention my effort, I will gladly
give you a free entry just for helping me spread the word. I've been
really impressed with the people on this list and, even if you don't
have the funds to help out the Foundation, I would appreciate any help
promoting my efforts. Thanks.
Regards,
Brian Thomas
brian@thomaswallace.org
June 6, 2007
A Little Run (arf arf)
A quick update on the latest running streak ...
106 days. 41 long runs, including two marathons, a 100-miler, a 90-miler and one loop out at Wild Oak. Actually have done two speed sessions at the track, but those should serve as my about-once-each-five years track workouts.
Upcoming races on the agenda: Highlands Sky 40-Miler, Canaan Valley, W.Va., June 16; Catherine's Big Butt 50 km, New Market Mountain, July 22; Mountain Masochist 50-Miler Nov. 3; VHTRC 50 km mid-December. Will likely toss a marathon in there somewhere, and maybe a one-day trek somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley when the fam goes on vaycay early August.
106 days. 41 long runs, including two marathons, a 100-miler, a 90-miler and one loop out at Wild Oak. Actually have done two speed sessions at the track, but those should serve as my about-once-each-five years track workouts.
Upcoming races on the agenda: Highlands Sky 40-Miler, Canaan Valley, W.Va., June 16; Catherine's Big Butt 50 km, New Market Mountain, July 22; Mountain Masochist 50-Miler Nov. 3; VHTRC 50 km mid-December. Will likely toss a marathon in there somewhere, and maybe a one-day trek somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley when the fam goes on vaycay early August.
May 16, 2007
Me and Maddy
Had a spectacular 2-hour run this a.m. on the fire road alongside Madison Run in Shenandoah National Park, a 10-min. drive from my house. It's 5.2 miles of up, then 5.2 of down. Saw a BEAR CUB! Worked through some creative ideas for a project at work. Also had a bit of a brainstorm ... wouldn't it be completely cool to try some repeats here.
If today's one Maddy, a gentle 7-min. run/3-min. walk effort, took two hours, wonder how long two Maddys would take? Three? Maybe some version of Repeat Maddys is the order of the day on Memorial Day Monday?
Was off today to hang with Ben on a field trip, and was thinking of driving in the H-burg anyway and running beforehand. Extra thanks to Rinn for suggesting I go here instead. I forgot how amazingly peaceful Maddy can be.
Me and Maddy go way, way back. She has served as the start and end portions of probably 50 great trail runs across the years with lots of cool running buds. Jones River Falls. Big Run Portal. Black Rock. Jeff, Neil, Pete, etc. Lots of cool memories came rushing back at different times.
It was good to see her again this morning. I have a feeling we'll be getting together again a bunch in the coming months.
If today's one Maddy, a gentle 7-min. run/3-min. walk effort, took two hours, wonder how long two Maddys would take? Three? Maybe some version of Repeat Maddys is the order of the day on Memorial Day Monday?
Was off today to hang with Ben on a field trip, and was thinking of driving in the H-burg anyway and running beforehand. Extra thanks to Rinn for suggesting I go here instead. I forgot how amazingly peaceful Maddy can be.
Me and Maddy go way, way back. She has served as the start and end portions of probably 50 great trail runs across the years with lots of cool running buds. Jones River Falls. Big Run Portal. Black Rock. Jeff, Neil, Pete, etc. Lots of cool memories came rushing back at different times.
It was good to see her again this morning. I have a feeling we'll be getting together again a bunch in the coming months.
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