06 APR -- 20:36 -- 2.45 miles -- 563 elevation gain (hill sprints)
-- 38:00 -- 2.85 miles -- 201 elevation gain (family run/walk)
07 APR -- off -- 55 pull ups
08 APR -- stationary bike 10 miles
09 APR -- off -- stretching
10 APR -- 17:22 -- 3.00 miles -- 161 elevation gain (Physical Fitness Test)
11 APR -- 8:34:15 -- 46.85 miles -- 4089 elevation gain (Bull Run Run 50)
12 APR -- 1:47:51 -- 5.07 miles -- 296 elevation gain (family run, then mowing the grass)
TOTAL -- 11:38:04 -- 60.22 miles -- 5310 elevation gain
Unfortunately, I had to run my Physical Fitness Test (pull ups, crunches, and 3-mile run) on Friday before Bull Run. It was either then or the Monday after, so I chose wisely and knocked it out on fresh legs. The obvious drawback: I felt it on Saturday morning, particularly in my groin.
Bull Run was awesome! Greatest race on the east coast! I was a little slower than I wanted but who cares. I ran the last 15 miles with a friend who was struggling, which made it more meaningful and enjoyable than running alone and trying to hang onto a specific finishing time. I think I may have squeezed into the top 10 at some point, maybe at the start of the do loop around mile 30-ish, but I never asked the question because I didn't care. Once I ventured into the do loop I hit a wall anyway and got passed by a platoon of runners. In the end, I'm grateful for the beautiful weather, superb trails, camaraderie, and the challenges that always present themselves during ultramarathons. I'm very fortunate to have a healthy and happy family, and to be able to race and enjoy the trails.
In other news, I'm almost complete with my 10,000 Hours write up. Currently, it's an 11-page Word document. It might take you 30 minutes to read, but I've put some good thinking into it and I hope it serves our community well. I'll post it this week - I promise.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Monday, April 6, 2015
30 Mar-05 Apr
30 MAR -- stationary bike 6 miles (morning)
-- 50:23 -- 4.98 miles -- 749 elevation gain (lunch break)
31 MAR -- 45:27 -- 5.35 miles -- 461 elevation gain
01 APR -- off
02 APR -- 43:39 -- 4.72 miles -- 663 elevation gain
03 APR -- 58:46 -- 7.10 miles -- 650 elevation gain
04 APR -- 51:35 -- 7.23 miles -- 448 elevation gain
05 APR -- off
TOTAL -- 4:09:50 -- 29.38 miles -- 2971 elevation gain
Just another week. Tried to maintain fitness but not overdo it with Bull Run Run 50 coming up 11 April. I've gained about 10 pounds of muscle over the past 2 months and I can feel it slowing me down. The goal this coming week is to lose maybe 4-6 pounds of it to be a little lighter for racing through April and May.
-- 50:23 -- 4.98 miles -- 749 elevation gain (lunch break)
31 MAR -- 45:27 -- 5.35 miles -- 461 elevation gain
01 APR -- off
02 APR -- 43:39 -- 4.72 miles -- 663 elevation gain
03 APR -- 58:46 -- 7.10 miles -- 650 elevation gain
04 APR -- 51:35 -- 7.23 miles -- 448 elevation gain
05 APR -- off
TOTAL -- 4:09:50 -- 29.38 miles -- 2971 elevation gain
Just another week. Tried to maintain fitness but not overdo it with Bull Run Run 50 coming up 11 April. I've gained about 10 pounds of muscle over the past 2 months and I can feel it slowing me down. The goal this coming week is to lose maybe 4-6 pounds of it to be a little lighter for racing through April and May.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Cheesin'
We told Little Man we were going to the mall to people watch, and this was his reaction:
He is growing up quick.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
09-29 Mar
09 MAR -- 12:45 -- 1.00 mile -- 350 elevation gain
10 MAR -- 13:30 -- 1.00 miles -- 485 elevation gain
-- 32:00 -- 2.50 miles -- 1150 elevation gain
-- stationary bike 4 miles -- upper body weightlifting
11 MAR -- 9:30 -- 1.00 miles -- 245 elevation gain
12 MAR -- upper body weightlifting
13 MAR -- off -- rest
14 MAR -- 8:04:44 -- 42.93 miles -- 3038 elevation gain
15 MAR -- off
TOTAL -- 9:12:29 -- 48.43 miles -- 5268 elevation gain
Boring week leading up to the TJ 100k on Saturday. Another DNF. Weird foot pain started at mile 10 and lasted until I dropped at mile 43-ish. The top of my foot was mushy and purplish/greenish the day after. Strangely enough, the pain was intense during the race and the day after, enough to cause me to limp, but the pain was gone by Thursday the next week. Figured out that I probably had my gaiters on way too tight because I went for a jog later the next week and both feet hurt in the same place - on top of my foot where the gaiter stretched over the shoe laces. Lesson learned...just when I thought I had it all figured out... Even though I might be considered somewhat of a "veteran" with nearly 30 ultras to my name, I'm still a juvenile in the sport and learn something knew with every run.
16 MAR -- off -- travelled to NC -- but we played racquetball when we got there!
17 MAR -- 11:15 -- 1.00 miles -- 0 elevation gain
18 MAR -- 18:40 -- 2.00 miles -- 105 elevation gain
19 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 100 push ups -- 50 pulls ups
-- 45:00 -- 5.00 miles -- 485 elevation gain
20 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 100 squats -- 100 pull ups
21 MAR -- 1:30:00 -- 3.00 miles -- 205 elevation gain (walk with Kari and Eli)
22 MAR -- 44:47 -- 5.91 miles -- 240 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 3:29:42 -- 16.91 miles -- 1035 elevation gain
Slow week after the TJ almost 100k the weekend before. My foot pain lasted until nearly the next weekend but finally subsided and the bruise went away. I spent most of the week on a treadmill or on a track, trying to rehab.
23 MAR -- 25:03 -- 3.78 miles -- 128 elevation gain (after arriving in Georgia)
24 MAR -- stationary bike 4 miles -- 45 pull ups (morning)
-- 26:07 -- 3.36 miles -- 187 elevation gain (also in the morning)
-- 48:30 -- 6.35 miles -- 203 elevation gain (afternoon)
25 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 65 pull ups (morning)
-- 40:52 -- 5.67 miles -- 180 elevation gain (afternoon)
26 MAR -- 30:45 -- 3.84 miles -- 220 elevation gain (morning)
-- 23:25 -- 3.40 miles -- 108 elevation gain (afternoon, after arriving in FL)
27 MAR -- off -- travel day from FL back to VA
28 MAR -- off -- but I did an Insanity workout with my photographer -- and 100 pull ups
29 MAR -- 2:32:17 -- 17.44 miles -- 1233 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 5:46:59 -- 43.84 miles -- 2259 elevation gain
I finally got in a good run today (29 March), my first long run since the TJ almost 100k. Bull Run 50 is 2 weeks away so I need to get in some good runs this upcoming week as well. After Bull Run, I need to hit the hills hard for MMT 100 in May. But, I've truly been considering running the 72 hour event at 3 Days at the Fair this year instead of MMT 100...I did MMT in 2013 and it was awesome! My first 100. But something about 3 Days at the Fair makes me want to go back. The 1-mile loop was dreadfully boring after rounding it 120 times, 10 of which I was intoxicated. I can't explain what makes me want to go back. The food didn't compare to VHTRC events, especially MMT 100 where the food is restaurant quality. The other runners, except for Bill Gentry, weren't all that friendly. For example, Joe Fejes is amazing and I tried talking to him about 7 times but got shut down about, oh, 7 times. I think I subconsciously enjoy a race with no finish line, one where you create your own finish at the point where you can no longer endure the pain or boredom. And that point will be somewhere between mile 0 and mile 1, essentially, if you want to look at it that way. We'll see... I want to spend my final days in Virginia with the club at MMT 100, but I'm not sure I'll be satisfied with that decision knowing I could be so much more miserable for 72 hours in NJ that same weekend.......
On a side note, I've started a decent post about the 10,000 hours theory and I've done a decent amount of research for that post. It seems the 10,000 hour rule has been written about and applied to many different trades, hobbies, sports, etc., but never to ultrarunning. There also exists numerous counterarguments to this theory, which I have also been exploring to feed the beast. It might take me another week or two before I have a finished product for you to read, but I hope that my time and effort spent on this "paper" will be worthwhile and contribute to the ultrarunning community. And if not, oh well, I'm having fun writing it, if anything simply to increase my own awareness of the sport, Gladwell's 10,000 hour premise, and in general the limitations placed on the human body due to natural forces such as time, sleep, recovery, nutrition, yada yada... It'll be interesting, anyway. Maybe not studious or worthy of publication in a journal, but then again I don't have a sponsor to appease via blog posts either...
10 MAR -- 13:30 -- 1.00 miles -- 485 elevation gain
-- 32:00 -- 2.50 miles -- 1150 elevation gain
-- stationary bike 4 miles -- upper body weightlifting
11 MAR -- 9:30 -- 1.00 miles -- 245 elevation gain
12 MAR -- upper body weightlifting
13 MAR -- off -- rest
14 MAR -- 8:04:44 -- 42.93 miles -- 3038 elevation gain
15 MAR -- off
TOTAL -- 9:12:29 -- 48.43 miles -- 5268 elevation gain
Boring week leading up to the TJ 100k on Saturday. Another DNF. Weird foot pain started at mile 10 and lasted until I dropped at mile 43-ish. The top of my foot was mushy and purplish/greenish the day after. Strangely enough, the pain was intense during the race and the day after, enough to cause me to limp, but the pain was gone by Thursday the next week. Figured out that I probably had my gaiters on way too tight because I went for a jog later the next week and both feet hurt in the same place - on top of my foot where the gaiter stretched over the shoe laces. Lesson learned...just when I thought I had it all figured out... Even though I might be considered somewhat of a "veteran" with nearly 30 ultras to my name, I'm still a juvenile in the sport and learn something knew with every run.
16 MAR -- off -- travelled to NC -- but we played racquetball when we got there!
17 MAR -- 11:15 -- 1.00 miles -- 0 elevation gain
18 MAR -- 18:40 -- 2.00 miles -- 105 elevation gain
19 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 100 push ups -- 50 pulls ups
-- 45:00 -- 5.00 miles -- 485 elevation gain
20 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 100 squats -- 100 pull ups
21 MAR -- 1:30:00 -- 3.00 miles -- 205 elevation gain (walk with Kari and Eli)
22 MAR -- 44:47 -- 5.91 miles -- 240 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 3:29:42 -- 16.91 miles -- 1035 elevation gain
Slow week after the TJ almost 100k the weekend before. My foot pain lasted until nearly the next weekend but finally subsided and the bruise went away. I spent most of the week on a treadmill or on a track, trying to rehab.
23 MAR -- 25:03 -- 3.78 miles -- 128 elevation gain (after arriving in Georgia)
24 MAR -- stationary bike 4 miles -- 45 pull ups (morning)
-- 26:07 -- 3.36 miles -- 187 elevation gain (also in the morning)
-- 48:30 -- 6.35 miles -- 203 elevation gain (afternoon)
25 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- 65 pull ups (morning)
-- 40:52 -- 5.67 miles -- 180 elevation gain (afternoon)
26 MAR -- 30:45 -- 3.84 miles -- 220 elevation gain (morning)
-- 23:25 -- 3.40 miles -- 108 elevation gain (afternoon, after arriving in FL)
27 MAR -- off -- travel day from FL back to VA
28 MAR -- off -- but I did an Insanity workout with my photographer -- and 100 pull ups
29 MAR -- 2:32:17 -- 17.44 miles -- 1233 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 5:46:59 -- 43.84 miles -- 2259 elevation gain
I finally got in a good run today (29 March), my first long run since the TJ almost 100k. Bull Run 50 is 2 weeks away so I need to get in some good runs this upcoming week as well. After Bull Run, I need to hit the hills hard for MMT 100 in May. But, I've truly been considering running the 72 hour event at 3 Days at the Fair this year instead of MMT 100...I did MMT in 2013 and it was awesome! My first 100. But something about 3 Days at the Fair makes me want to go back. The 1-mile loop was dreadfully boring after rounding it 120 times, 10 of which I was intoxicated. I can't explain what makes me want to go back. The food didn't compare to VHTRC events, especially MMT 100 where the food is restaurant quality. The other runners, except for Bill Gentry, weren't all that friendly. For example, Joe Fejes is amazing and I tried talking to him about 7 times but got shut down about, oh, 7 times. I think I subconsciously enjoy a race with no finish line, one where you create your own finish at the point where you can no longer endure the pain or boredom. And that point will be somewhere between mile 0 and mile 1, essentially, if you want to look at it that way. We'll see... I want to spend my final days in Virginia with the club at MMT 100, but I'm not sure I'll be satisfied with that decision knowing I could be so much more miserable for 72 hours in NJ that same weekend.......
On a side note, I've started a decent post about the 10,000 hours theory and I've done a decent amount of research for that post. It seems the 10,000 hour rule has been written about and applied to many different trades, hobbies, sports, etc., but never to ultrarunning. There also exists numerous counterarguments to this theory, which I have also been exploring to feed the beast. It might take me another week or two before I have a finished product for you to read, but I hope that my time and effort spent on this "paper" will be worthwhile and contribute to the ultrarunning community. And if not, oh well, I'm having fun writing it, if anything simply to increase my own awareness of the sport, Gladwell's 10,000 hour premise, and in general the limitations placed on the human body due to natural forces such as time, sleep, recovery, nutrition, yada yada... It'll be interesting, anyway. Maybe not studious or worthy of publication in a journal, but then again I don't have a sponsor to appease via blog posts either...
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Thomas Jefferson 100k Live Tracking
AJW has set up the race this weekend to be tracked live via ultralive.net. Here is the link: http://www.ultralive.net/tj100k/webcast.php
Weather is looking fun - rainy and in the 40's and 50's. With the snow melt and rain earlier in the week, the course will likely be a muddy mess. I'll have two pairs of gaiters on standby.
Weather is looking fun - rainy and in the 40's and 50's. With the snow melt and rain earlier in the week, the course will likely be a muddy mess. I'll have two pairs of gaiters on standby.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
02-08 Mar
02 MAR -- 51:35 -- 6.04 miles -- 394 elevation gain (morning)
-- 49:39 -- 6.69 miles -- 447 elevation gain (afternoon)
03 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- stationary bike 2 miles (morning)
-- 20:00 -- 2.00 miles -- 315 elevation gain (afternoon)
04 MAR -- 46:09 -- 5.88 miles -- 388 elevation gain
05 MAR -- off -- upper body weightlifting
06 MAR -- 40:50 -- 5.00 miles -- 215 elevation gain
07 MAR -- off -- we went shopping!
08 MAR -- 2:00:21 -- 16.14 miles -- 671 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 5:28:34 -- 41.75 miles -- 2430 elevation gain
Another 7" of snow fell on us throughout the day Thursday, which yet again made trail running challenging. Thankfully, it's Sunday night as I'm writing this and nearly all of it melted yesterday and today. This coming week has rain in the forecast almost every day, so the Thomas Jefferson 100k next Saturday is shaping up to be a mudfest. Mud aside, I am undertrained compared to this time last year because I spent most of my free time over the past few months either doing homework or hanging with my family. But, my grad class ended this past Friday and I finished with a 94.2%. I plan to start training more and more each week to get ready for Massanutten 100 in May. The 100k next weekend will be a good gauge of my current fitness level. I haven't forgotten to write about my 365-day study this past year - I'm traveling for work soon so I'll have some time to piece together a novel of baloney for everyone to read at their leisure.
-- 49:39 -- 6.69 miles -- 447 elevation gain (afternoon)
03 MAR -- upper body weightlifting -- stationary bike 2 miles (morning)
-- 20:00 -- 2.00 miles -- 315 elevation gain (afternoon)
04 MAR -- 46:09 -- 5.88 miles -- 388 elevation gain
05 MAR -- off -- upper body weightlifting
06 MAR -- 40:50 -- 5.00 miles -- 215 elevation gain
07 MAR -- off -- we went shopping!
08 MAR -- 2:00:21 -- 16.14 miles -- 671 elevation gain
TOTAL -- 5:28:34 -- 41.75 miles -- 2430 elevation gain
Another 7" of snow fell on us throughout the day Thursday, which yet again made trail running challenging. Thankfully, it's Sunday night as I'm writing this and nearly all of it melted yesterday and today. This coming week has rain in the forecast almost every day, so the Thomas Jefferson 100k next Saturday is shaping up to be a mudfest. Mud aside, I am undertrained compared to this time last year because I spent most of my free time over the past few months either doing homework or hanging with my family. But, my grad class ended this past Friday and I finished with a 94.2%. I plan to start training more and more each week to get ready for Massanutten 100 in May. The 100k next weekend will be a good gauge of my current fitness level. I haven't forgotten to write about my 365-day study this past year - I'm traveling for work soon so I'll have some time to piece together a novel of baloney for everyone to read at their leisure.
Monday, March 2, 2015
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.
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.
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