23 Feb-01 Mar

23 FEB -- off
24 FEB -- stationary bike 8 miles (morning)
             -- 31:45 -- 4.04 miles -- 295 elevation gain
25 FEB -- 34:22 -- 4.63 miles -- 223 elevation gain (morning)
             -- upper body weightlifting (afternoon) -- spent 7 hours writing a paper for work
26 FEB -- 53:30 -- 6.45 miles -- 402 elevation gain
27 FEB -- stationary bike 5 miles -- house hit the market
28 FEB -- 1:38:01 -- 13.04 miles -- 596 elevation gain
01 MAR -- off -- spent 6 hours completing the last homework assignment for my grad class

TOTAL -- 3:37:38 -- 28.16 miles -- 1516 elevation gain

Due to the amount of homework I've had for graduate school, studying for a 6-hour exam for work, selling our house in CA, preparing to sell our house in VA, and leaving my running shoes at work, I didn't end up traveling to the Hashawha Hills 50k on 28 Feb.  This is the first time I've ever DNS'd a race and simply not toed the line.  It's unfortunate because it's a VHTRC race and my time in Virginia in numbered.  My priorities have been focused more on family, grad school, and getting ready to relocate again, so running and training have somewhat taken a back seat.  The snow also helped with this.  I've been maintaining my fitness by running 25-35 miles each week, but once my grad class ends this Friday I intend to double that weekly mileage to 50-60 for a few weeks until Bull Run. 

This week I got orders to NC and we move in May/Jun.  And as long as Kari and I are still running we will remain loyal VHTRC members for life! 

I will also start writing and posting more on here once my class ends.  I've truly been eager to start dissecting my running data from last year to write a decent post for the ultrarunning community.  You have my word that I'll put together something revolutionary for you to read.  Well, maybe not revolutionary, but interesting for sure. 

12-18 Jan, and MMT 100 Training Run

12 JAN -- upper body weightlifting -- stationary bike 4 miles
             -- 43:34 -- 4.66 miles -- 751 elevation gain
13 JAN -- off
14 JAN -- 15:00 -- 1.00 miles -- 500 elevation gain
             -- 42:39 -- 5.20 miles -- 462 elevation gain
             -- upper body weightlifting -- stationary bike 4 miles
15 JAN -- 1:38:10 -- 11.09 miles -- 1318 elevation gain
16 JAN -- upper body weightlifting -- stationary bike 5 miles
             -- 17:30 -- 1.15 miles -- 850 elevation gain
17 JAN -- off
18 JAN -- 5:19:24 -- 25.52 miles -- 5105 elevation gain (MMT 100 training run)

TOTAL -- 8:56:17 -- 48.62 miles -- 8986 elevation gain

Well, the lottery system worked in my favor for one race and against me in another.  I got into the Hashawha Hills 50k on 28 Feb, but I'm number 48 on the waitlist for MMT 100 in May.  Ironically, Danny is right next to me at number 47.  We hope to get in, though, since last year the wait list got all the way down to number 77 before race day.  I figured I'd do the training runs anyway.

Here are some pictures from today's run in the Massanuttens:

There were about 100 of us on the trails today

Danny is like a ghost, or he walks too fast.  He is blurry in every picture I took.

It was cold and windy on the ridgeline

This made the climb worth the effort

Took a panorama with my phone

...and a selfie...

Purple Trail, my least favorite

And last, but certainly not least, Little Man:

Confused about the sounds coming from my phone