Getting Ready for the Big Race

I've been training for my upcoming ultra by running quite a bit, but also by working on my core strength. The morning boot camp class demonstrates the need to improve and provides markers that I am improving. My basic hypothesis is that by having a strong core, it will less taxing on my upper body while I am running. Hopefully, this translates into an overall increase in running efficiency.

Gearing up

Yesterday, I went and bought a couple of pairs of new shoes for the upcoming race and training. Since the race is a 50-milers, I wanted to make sure my shoes were still in good shape. I bought them early enough to allow me to slowly break them in. I'd like to have 50 miles on both pairs prior to the race. My current pair of shoe pairs, one pair of road and one pair of trail shoes have been really good to me. I have not had any significant pains (other than the typical soreness) since I bought them back in October. They are both approaching the 300 mile mark. I'm going to try and squeeze another hundred or so miles from them both I completely retire them.

FWIW, I bought the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 and the ASR 5 trail shoe. The trail shoe is pretty light; pretty much the same as the road shoe with a bit of stiffness added here and there.

Eating a live toad first thing in the morning...

Well, I ate my live toad first thing this morning. Fourteen miles of cold, lonely running at 7:00 am means the toughest task of the day is done first. The good news is that My Tracks is working well these days and I got a good track out of the run.

I am generally feeling pretty good though a bit fatigued. Running around 50 miles per week has taken its toll, but I feel my training is paying off. I know that when I am rested, even my strenuous runs are getting easier. If I can survive the next couple of months, I think I should be able to do fairly well at trail festival. Sweet!

Another great running quote.

"Keep running. If you feel like crap, run faster. You won't feel any better but at least you'll be done sooner." as seen here.

Running with my Soul Mate

I had a rare opportunity to run with my "soul mate" yesterday. We went for a short, slow recovery run (it was her recovery day and my non-running day). I really enjoyed the company very, very much! Love ya, hon!

Boot Camp

I've known for years that my core conditioning is pretty poor. So a few weeks ago, I signed up for a boot camp conditioning class. The class consists of various exercises designed to work your core. We do plenty of push ups, crunches, etc. As well, as planks, supermans and more ways to hurt yourself than I can enumerate here.

I am fully aware that I can simply do these exercises at home and I can work myself pretty hard. However, it is way to easy to skip one session, then another. Next thing I know, I haven't done any push ups or sit ups for a month. (For me, running has been easier to maintain since I find it to be a good midday break and a good stress reliever.) By signing up for a class, I feel more obligated to go (the class has a set time), plus I know I had to pay for the class (I hate to waste money). Also, the instructor works out the exercise routine and helps to provide that extra motivation to push just a little harder. All I have to do is show up. :-)

The schedule for this class has been great. It starts at 6 am on Mondays and Wednesdays. I can usually get to the class, and be home and showered by the time my girls wake up. These are nominally my cross-training days (though I have been doing short runs anyway). I have to confess that sometimes, I can feel drained later in the day from this class. I am hopeful that strengthening my core will benefit my running. I know in the past, I have had races where my non-running muscles (think stabilizing muscles) have actually started to fatigue before my running muscles (gluts, quads, etc). Plus, this leaves Fridays for swimming and weigh training.

No long run today

I've been suffering from some sort of gut issue the last couple of days. So I'll skip my long run today. I started a new running program this last week (a 16 week schedule geared toward running a marathon). Today should have been a 12-mile long, slow run. I will probably have to punt on this run until my gut feels better. I hate to get behind, but it is better than having a miserable run or hurting myself. My real goal is to run 50 miles in the Desert Rats Trail Festival in Fruita, Colorado in April 2009, so if I miss a run here and there, I think I should still be fine. Besides, next week, I am already going to run a 7-miler at Palmer Park in Colorado Springs.