Back to Work

Both employment and training. I enjoyed my laid back week last week, but I'm ready to get after it again. I went and did the Eureka 5K trail run on Saturday and had a blast. Nice to see that series taking off. I actually ran faster than expected with a respectful 24:12. I spent the weekend eating crap, but I've regained focus today and am hoping to get back on my routine. My biggest goal now is to be smart and not overdo anything. I have to train as if I'm leaving for PTI on 9/16 and need to be rested and ready enough to complete my POWER test when I get there. I don't want to be too spent from long runs when I arrive at Champaign.

I feel like I'm getting some pep back now. I need to get on a scale and look at my weight. With any luck I'm back up around 190. I will be including PT in my weekly schedule as well including 100 push ups and three, 1 minute sit up tests on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'll also make sure I'm making stretching a priority. I'm hoping to include some interval running and tempo runs also, just to help out with the POWER test. A change of pace won't be bad for me either just to mix it up a bit.

That's all for now.

Meltdown at the Howl

Well, let's call it a learning experience. My Howl was not a positive experience for me in terms of results. Let me set the scene. My race started very well, probably too well in fact. My first 4 laps were very strong and I felt fantastic. The problem was that I was running for the now and not planning for what was ahead. At the end of the 5th lap I was finally starting to feel it and was entering a low. I thought, "here it is, my first low. Just keep moving." As soon as I started the 6th loop, I was having troubles. I was walking a lot and started feeling weak. I continued on my walk to the aid station where I drank more water, filled my bottle and hit a shot of Pepsi which was the only thing I could stomach at the time. I continued on down the trail weavy pretty bad and began feeling very dizzy and faint actually forcing me to the side of the trail. I sat for a bit and knew that my race had probably come to an end. I forced myself up and made it close to the finish when I saw my buddy Craig who had come out to cheer me on. The look on his face when he saw me said it all. He walked to the start/finish line with me to complete my 6th loop and that was it for me. I was very faint and slurring my speech. Luckily Dana and Craig were able to get me down and ice me down and start getting Heed into me. After about 90 minutes I was able to get out of the chair and walk a little bit, but my race was over. 19.75 miles in almost exactly 4 hours.

I've ran things through my head a thousand times and here's where I think I went wrong. Forst and foremost I have lost too much weight too fast the last 6 weeks and I was too weak going in. Combined with going out too hard ealy on and temps in the 90's, it was a disaster waiting to happen. Compensating for being weak and going too hard out of the gate just snowballed with some dehydration and playing catch up from the start. I'm taking a few days off, maybe a week and collect my thoughts. I might head over to Eureka this weekend for the 2nd CITRA race 5 miler and do it for fun and lift my spirits. I don't want to stay out too long and loose my drive. I just want to regroup and learn from my mistakes so Farmdale has a happier ending.

My sincere condolences to the family of the guy from Indiana who had a heart attck early in the race and unfortunately lost his life. It makes you realize what's REALLY important at these events, which is leaving under your own power and your health still in tact.

Goin' Howlin'

Out of the office at 3:30 today and Kennekuk bound for the race. I should get there by 5:30 and start getting set up. The Jeep is packed and ready to go. I even have ice in the cooler already. I'm feeling good and energetic right now. I'm actually trying to keep myself low key so I don't waste it all on nervous energy. Once I hit the road I'm good. Hoping to get an easy jog in this evening and then stay off me feet the rest of the night. I'm sticking to a goal of 40 miles right now. The weather doen't look too hot actually. A Saturday high of 90, but a Friday night low of 65. I'm out!

Final Prep For Howl

The Howl is just three days away now. It will be my biggest test/challenge yet. Now I'm going through the "Have I done enough?" stage of the week. I know I'm ready, just keep moving and don't ever stop. My goal right now is 40 miles. That could change as the race goes on, but I don't think so. I know exactly what I need to do to get it done. As long as I start smart with pace, I'll be good. I did a nice short run on Monday and will do so again today after work. I'm trying to spend a little time in the heat, but not so much I'm drained.

I picked up some Sustained Enery yesterday and will be getting some new shorts today before my run. Aside from that, I'm ready to go. Most of my gear is ready to be loaded in the Jeep then I'm out of the office at 3:30 on Friday. Howie's great run at 24/9 really helped me get my mind right again too. Of course I'm reading Ultra Marathon Man again as well. The chapters about the Western States just pumps me up. I'll check in one more time before I leave. Focus/Balance!

Hold That Thought

Well, as usual for me I went on a needless rant on a bad day and said some things that may not be completely true. Rest assured that it was mostly all accurate, but I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that The Howl will NOT be my last race. I mean, come on......Why would I not do the Farmdale Run in October? That's like skipping a game on my home field. So I will in fact plan on doing the Farmdale Run.

I had a really nice run today on the RIT. I only did eight miles but it was enough to clear my head and loosen up my legs. I felt strong and it gave me time to rethink some things a bit. It was nice, because I've had a week of just beating myself up and having serious self doubts about things. Now it's "Game On" for the Howl and then preparing for PTI as soon as the formalities are done.

Nearing The End of the Trail

I'm afraid my "ultra" days will soon be gone for awhile. I have given it a lot of thought and I need to be 100% on this new step in my life as a cop. I will have 3 months of intense training and followed up by 6 months of field training on the job. Along with that, my body is just not holding up. My weight is too low and I have lost a lot of muscle mass. Hard to swallow for a guy that used to bench 400+. I have learned a lot and it has given me a new body to rebuild leaner and better than ever before and will be more useful in my new line of duty. I am somewhat disapointed to announce that my 8 hour race on the 11th will probably be my last, but hopefully my best effort to date. It wasn't an easy decision, but one I feel will be for the best.

I'd like to thank all who have cared enough to send me well wishes and advice.