It's Been Awhile

It's been a long break here since my last post. Because of circumstances, I just haven't felt like writing. But I decided over the last day or so, that I needed to get back to it.

So what happened? Well there has been some good as well as the possible bad. First of all, I recovered pretty quickly from the Mohican 50 having a couple of good weeks of training according to Adam's plan. But after the first couple days of July, I was starting to get some abdomen pain, not just on my runs, but even lying in bed. At first I thought it was a good groin pull on the left side because when I would lay down I had trouble even lifting the left leg. But even when that started to get better, the abdomen pain continued and at times got even worse. 

Now I had been due to see the doctor for my yearly visit and blood work, but put it off until I could change my insurance plan because the current one totally sucked. I had to go in a couple of times in January because of congestion in my chest and the insurance covered only about 10% of the cost. Plan changing would be in May and would take effect after July 1st. So on July 2nd I had made an appointment for July 18th. 

July 14th and 15th was the Christmas In July 12 Hour. And the pain did not go away as the race was upon me. I had still been running every day despite the pain, but had cut out any fast running by July 9th. So I knew that as long as I stayed at a reasonable pace, I could at least see what I could do during the 12 hour. The race is held on a .97 mile loop on pavement which starts at 11:00 pm on Friday night. I would be running through the night which was the whole point of doing this race. Well, the pain was pretty bad through the first 4 hours and truth to tell, I was close to quitting. But a half hour later, I suddenly realized the pain had lessened. Fortunately, it continued to lessen the rest of the race until it was just barely there with a couple of hours to go. Those first 4 hours did take quite a bit out of me, but I was able to stay pretty steady the rest of the way. I ended up getting in 60 Loops which was 58.39 miles. It was good for 6th place overall and 1st Masters. What really made me happy though, was the reduction in my pain. 

This continued for the next few days with only a little pain off and on. And my appointment was on that following Wednesday. I saw the doc for basically a physical, but discussed the pain and realized there were a couple bumps just below my waist and above the groin area; one on each side. He didn't think it was a big deal, especially since it went away during a very long run, but decided we should make sure. An ultrasound was set up for that afternoon. Next day, the results were in: a double hernia with the left side worse than the right. Within a couple days I had a referral for seeing a surgeon. Here is the kicker though. It could be a problem if I was going to get through the Tahoe 200, which I did not want to give up. So I called to make an appointment with the surgeon. Turns out he was going on an overseas vacation and the earliest I could get the appointment was August 24th (over a month later and only 9 days before leaving for Tahoe). I was not happy at all, but was able to at least talk to his nurse and she said that as long as I was not having real pain, I would probably fine for awhile. She said a lot of people put off this kind of surgery for quite awhile. Of course, I did not tell her about the Tahoe 200 and the training for it. 

It has now been a couple weeks since all this went down and actually have had some good training runs. But Adam and I have agreed to take out all the intensity out of the rest of the training plan. 1st weekend was a cluster run weekend where I covered around 50 miles in three days. And just this last weekend I did a 5 hour run with 4000+ feet of elevation gain covering 29 miles. So far so good.

The last two days have been spent in Memphis, Tennessee, with another three days vacationing here. It will be a light week with some new area runs. Howl at the Moon 8 Hour is a week from Saturday which will be my last real test before Tahoe (only 5 weeks from today).

Week of 6/11/17

Time: 16.9 hrs

Distance: 82.2 miles

Longest Run: 50 miles

Hills: 177

Week of 6/18/17

Time: 10.3 hrs

Distance: 46.9 miles

Longest Run: 12.6 miles

Hills: 59

Week of 6/25/17

Time: 11. 0 hrs

Distance: 65.7 miles

Longest Run: 18.3miles

Hills: 65

Week of 7/2/17

Time: 12.6 hrs

Distance: 73 miles

Longest Run: 22 miles

Hills: 83

Week of 7/9/17

Time: 19.2 hrs

Distance: 100 miles

Longest Run: 52.4 miles

Hills: 101

Week of 7/16/17

Time: 13.6 hrs

Distance: 73.7 miles

Longest Run: 27.8 miles

Hills: 56

Week of 7/23/17

Time: 17.2 hrs

Distance: 95.8miles

Longest Run: 29.1miles

Hills: 101

Mohican 50 Mile 2017

Well, I got it done! The Mohican 50 Mile is in the books.

11:34:40

39th overall out of 191

2nd AG (60-69) out of 7

12:12/ mile

2 loops with 6400 feet of elevation change.

It was a tough one. Had some mishaps that didn't help. I fell 4 times, 3 times in 1st loop. 2nd time I fell on my head and broke my sunglasses. I got a nice bruise and a good 1/2 inch cut above my left eye. It bled for awhile and I probably ruined my shirt wiping it away, but it did stop and coagulate. Fall number three effected me the most. I managed to wrench the lower back a bit. Although it wasn't terrible, I felt it for most of the 2nd half. Even had a couple of thoughts of dropping after the 1st loop. Fortunately, I didn't. I did slow down some, though. What was the worst part of the 2nd loop, was without the sunglasses, I was constantly getting having problems with my contacts. First one, then the other. Some kind of particles were constantly getting in my eyes. So, I would have to walk slow or even stop to mess with them. In particularly, the 2nd to the last section of the 2nd loop, I struggled mightily. By the end of that section, I was beginning to think I wasn't going to get even close to the sub-12 hour finish I wanted by that time. But something wonderful happened and all of a sudden on the last section, I felt strong again and managed Run most of it except for the big hills. In fact, I ran it faster than on the 1st loop. And I not only broke 12 hours, but almost ran under 11 and a 1/2.

So, overall, I was pretty pleased. Although I would have loved being in the 10 to 11 hour range, I was pretty sure going in that would have been very difficult and everything would have to have fallen into place. I felt sub-12 was going to be tough, but within reach and I achieved it.

Lake Mingo

Saturday was the Lake Mingo Trail Run. It is a 7.1 mile trail run around Lake Mingo at Kennekuk Cove County Park. It was a great race for me. The first mile and a half is pretty much flat but lots of calf high grass. Had trouble holding to about an 8:00 per mile pace, but once on the single track, started to feel strong. Lots of up an down, nothing real long but pretty constant. I managed the uphills very well. A little slow in miles 2 and three, because of being stuck in the old conga line, but once past followed a couple of young ladies and moved very well. Over the last 4 miles passed about 20 people. The time was 5 minutes faster than 2 years ago and I could really tell how much stronger I was (maybe not necessarily faster, but able to maintain pace much better). It was a good day (also added another 8 miles or so for the day). So it looks like my coach, Adam, is really getting me there.

As usual in the woods like that, Strava data shows only 6.71 miles, but they have been running this race long enough to know the proper distance of 7.1.

Week of 5/2817

Time: 12.7 hrs

Distance: 76.5 miles

Longest Run: 22.9 miles

Hills: 78

Week of 6/4/17

Time: 12.0hrs

Distance: 73.6 miles

Longest Run: 15.4 miles

Hills: 73

Recovery Week

Except for the Rockford Marathon last Sunday, it has been mostly a recovery week. Quite happy with marathon results. Basically two Boston qualifiers in eight days.

Week of 5/21/17

Time: 12.1 hrs

Distance: 73.1 miles

Longest Run: 28.2 miles

Hills: 60

Marathons ... Done!

Okay, I finished my two marathons in eight days and felt that they were very successful. At Starved Rock, I finished in 3:51:13 for 27th place overall and 1st in my age group with even splits. 

At Rockford, I went out easy at 2:04 and change, but came back with a 1:53 and change 2nd half for a 3:57:39 finish, 63rd overall and 2nd in my age group. Actually, I was very surprised that I could run that fast in the second half after running well at Starved Rock just a week earlier.

With these two under my belt, I feel I really fit. Now to get really into my Tahoe training to build up strength. These next few weeks leading into the Mohican 50 mile will be interesting.

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 5/7/17

Time: 12.1 hrs

Distance: 78.8 miles

Longest Run: 31.2 miles

Hills: 74

Week of 5/14/17

Time: 8.5 hrs

Distance: 48.7 miles

Longest Run: 9.5 miles

Hills: 40

Hiring A Coach For The Tahoe 200

Week, after all these years of running, I have bitten the bullet and went with a coach to help me succeed at the Tahoe 200 Mile. I haven't had a coach since high school (over 40 years ago). The coach is with Carmichael Training, a firm that includes Jason Koop. For the Tahoe race they offered an opportunity to get a coach for only $1 the first month and $205 for the next three months in a four month plan. After filling out a form with a lot of information about myself and my goals, they matched me up with Adam St. Pierre who lives in Boulder, Colorado. He is a young guy, in his thirties, but after doing a little research I found that he definitely seems to know his stuff.

So, after a preliminary workout we set up through email, we set up a phone conference three days before the official start of coaching on May 1st. It was a good discussion as we felt each other out. This was a Friday and by Sunday he had set out three weeks of workouts starting the next day which would encompass my two upcoming marathons (Starved Rock on May 13th and Rockford on May 20th). Normally, I would not run two of these so close to each other, but when I registered for Rockford it was only $25, so I figured it would make a good supported long run. 

It has been an interesting week and a half so far. Adam decreased my mileage, but upped the intensity. Overall, nothing crazy, but mixing in short sprints and fast short hills. He has given me one very hard workout each week or at least very hard compared to what I have been doing. The first was a progressive run that got me down to sub-7:00 by the time I had to stop. Today was the second. It was a tempo-fartlek workout at 7:00-7:20 on a hilly loop. God, it was hard. I did finish it though, albeit sometimes a bit slower than the target pace.

Is this going to help in the marathons? I don't really know. I do know that I seem to be a little faster with similar effort that I was putting in a few weeks ago. We will just have to see.

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 4/23/17

Time: 15.4 hrs

Distance: 90 miles

Longest Run: 18.4 miles

Hills: 66

Week of 4/30/17

Time: 10.4 hrs

Distance: 59.7 miles

Longest Run: 12 miles

Hills: 61

Weekly Running Stats

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 4/9/17

Time: 15.4 hrs

Distance: 84.1 miles

Longest Run: 25.6 miles

Hills: 91

Week of 4/16/17

Time: 11 hrs

Distance: 65.8 miles

Longest Run: 12.2 miles

Hills: 68

A Good Two Weeks of Training

It's been a few weeks since my last post, but things have been going well. It was a lower mileage week after the Paleozoic 50K. But a very big week after, which included a 10 hour day on the trails at McNaughton Park which was a lot of fun. It also gave me some confidence in that I was able to be out there without any aid from aid stations for the whole time. Since at Tahoe there will be a couple of very long stretches between aid stations (20 miles or so). So all in all, it was a good two weeks.

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 3/2617

Time: 11.6 hrs

Distance: 63.3 miles

Longest Run: 12.4 miles

Hills: 51

Week of 4/2/17

Time: 35

Distance: 102.7 miles

Longest Run: 35 miles

Hills: 126

Paleozoic 50K & Weekly Stats

Had a pretty good Paleozoic 50K yesterday even with a rainy, muddy, wet & puddly day. It was extremely sloppy, slip-sliding away. But it was a lot of fun. Got to meet a lot of Flatlanders. Even had a few PSRR runners in the 25K. Good day

5:37:35

36th out of 84

1st in AG (60 and over) (I was the only one in it, however)

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 3/19/17

Time: 14.2

Distance: 80.5miles

Longest Run: 31 miles

Hills: 90

New Weekly Running Stats - week of 3/12/2017 & Mountain Goat Results

The latest weekly running stats.

Week of 3/12/17

Time: 12.6 hours

Distance: 85.9 miles

Longest Run: 16.8 miles

Hills: 77

Mountain Goat 8.8 Mile Run at Kickapoo State Park.

1:09:35

15th out of 107

7:54/mile

Paleozoic 50k this Saturday

Weekly Running Stats - Week of 3/5/17

A pretty big mileage week.

Week of 3/5/17

Time: 16 hours

Distance: 75.9 miles

Longest Run: 22.7 miles

Hills: 94

Saturday is the Mountain Goat 8.8 Mile Run at Kickapoo State Park.

Weekly Running Stats - 2017

I thought it might be interesting to post my week to week running stats starting on January 1, 2017 leading up to the Tahoe 200 in September. I will try to post the rest of the year stats on a weekly basis from here on in.

Weekly Stats for 2017

Week of 1/1/17

Time: 9 hours

Distance: 49.4

Longest Run: 10

Hills: 19

Week of 1/8/17

Time: 10 hours

Distance: 59.4

Longest Run: 12.5

Hills: 56

Week of 1/15/17

Time: 11.9 hours

Distance: 69.6

Longest Run: 16.2

Hills: 58

Week of 1/22/17

Time: 12 hours

Distance: 68.1

Longest Run: 19.5

Hills: 66

Week of 1/29/17

Time: 12 hours

Distance: 65.8

Longest Run: 13.4

Hills: 66

Week of 2/5/17

Time: 15.1 hours

Distance: 77.8

Longest Run: 19.5

Hills: 90

Week of 2/12/17

Time: 11.8

Distance: 71.0

Longest Run: 26.7

Hills: 79

Week of 2/19/17

Time: 14 hours

Distance: 78.1

Longest Run: 17.2

Hills: 88

Week of 2/26/17

Time: 13.3 hours

Distance: 75.1

Longest Run: 16.2

Hills: 72

Start of Tahoe 200 Training

It's just about 6 months until the Tahoe 200. I have had two solid months of mileage. In fact, it is the most miles I have ever run in January and February, including eight 26+ mile weekends in a row. And I have been throwing in some hills as well. But a week ago I did some sets of stairs at Swallow Cliffs in Palos with a solid 17 miles. It was only 5 sets, but it let me know something very important. I feel I am pretty fit after these couple months, but the stairs told me I am not particularly strong. I have a lot of work to do on that score, but I do have 6 months. Hill and stairs work is definitely in my future. I'm also actually doing some strength and core work which I've never really done before.

Except for maybe some shorter races that might be added, my race schedule is pretty well set.

Mountain Goat 8.8 Mile -- March 18

Paleozoic 50K -- March 25

DNA No Foolin' 5K -- April 1

McNaughton Races -- April 8 & 9 (crewing and pacing (30 miles?))

Rockdale Ramblin' 10K -- April 29 ???

Starved Rock Marathon -- May 13

Rockford Marathon -- May 21

Lake Mingo Trail Race - June 10 ???

Mohican 50 Mile -- June 17

Christmas in July 12 Hour -- July 14 & 15

Howl at the Moon 8 Hour -- August 12

PSRR/DNA Free 5K -- August 20

Tahoe 200 Mile -- September 8-12

Frosty 5 Mile

Pretty good run today at the Frosty 5 Mile. It is one of my regular early in the year races. 37:38. Good for 25th overall and 1st in the 60-64 age group. My age group is really getting competitive. Eight out of the top 50 runners were in my age group and 1st thru 6th were only separated by 50 seconds.

What makes it even more satisfying is that this was on tired legs. I did 19 miles the day before at Bullfrog Lake with 35 hills. So I am definitely getting stronger, but I need to not over do it. It is a long time until September.

It was also great to see my daughter, Alexis, her husband, Mark and my granddaughter, Virginia, who came and saw me at the race.

And lots of PSRR members. It really is a great group of people.

1st Circuit Race

First PSRR Circuit Race this afternoon. The Winterfest 5K. Had a pretty good day. 22:16, good for 27th place and first in my age group. This is the fastest I've even tried to run since the Poultry Predictor on thanksgiving. Overall, felt pretty good. Especially with a 60 mile week and 11.5 miles yesterday at Waterfall Glen. Weather was pretty nice for an early February Race. Temp was right around 40 degrees with bright sunny skies.

A Solid Weekend

Good solid weekend. 12.5 miles on Saturday at Swallow Cliff with the Flatlanders and 15.4 miles on Sunday on my own. All together close to 40 hills over the 2 days. Felt pretty good on both days, but feeling a bit achy tonight.

Feeling Better

I think I finally got rid of this cough. This last week I have finally been feeling good on my runs. Most of December was really tough out on the roads. Had a great run on Wednesday even though it was very foggy and the last 10 minutes was in a downpour. I was running sub-8 minute by the end of run and felt like I could have kept going for a lot longer. 

I also started my hill training today, partly by default. The roads were very icy except for one hill close to home. So I managed to do 45 seconds by 20 hills and felt pretty good. It's a long time till Tahoe, but it's a nice start, particularly since we're in the middle of winter.

A New Year

The new year has arrived. Hopefully, it will be a good one. I definitely have some big events lined up for the year. The main focus will be the Tahoe 200 Mile Run in September. It is a complete loop around Lake Tahoe almost all on trail. It is put on by Candice Burt and her company. It will be the 4th edition. It should be an incredible trip and run. I just hope I will be ready for it. To get ready for it, I will need to do a ton of hill/steps work throughout the summer. Tahoe has about 40,000 feet of elevation change. 

Other races that are lined up so far leading to Tahoe are the Starved Rock Marathon in May, The Mohican 50 Mile in June, still looking for something in July, and Howl at the Moon 8 Hour in August.

I did get some pretty interesting news this afternoon. Had a nice lunch with Dave Giacomi who offered to come to Tahoe to crew and/or pace for me a few weeks ago. The offer came out of the blue, and it is a generous offer. But he seems real excited about doing this. We will have to see if everything comes together, but it is encouraging for me. We will do some long runs together over the spring and summer as well. Dave is training for a marathon and the Christmas in July 12 Hour where he hopes to cover 50 miles. Needless to say, I am really excited in the possibility of having him help me to a finish. Thanks, Dave!