Quickie Update

Well, I finally got back on trails over the last couple days starting with a quick recon ride at Black Partridge. Stagola took me out and showed me all the new trails and what he thought was the race course. Wow, those are fun! Obviously I had a bit of an issue with Black Partridge over the last few years since my presidency with PAMBA, but I can honestly say the trails are great. I had a blast on them. Many thanks to those that have put in the time and effort the last few years. It's a great trail system. I'm going to head back out tomorrow and hit them again. I just walked in the door from a nice trail run. I was hoping for 90 minutes but ended up at just over 60 before I felt I was pushing the hammy too hard. I knew running trails was going to be the real test. Some of the short steep climbs began taking their toll. But it was still a good run and I definitely benefitted from it. The hammy is coming along. I think I just expected a little more out of it today. As I mentioned. I'll try for a mtb ride tomorrow at BP and then I'm off to STL for the weekend of dubachery. Gonna need a detox upon my return. Then it will be prepping for Swamp Dogs and BP race on the 8th and 9th.

Success

I got through the ride relatively unscathed. I didnt have ant trouble with the hammy during the ride at all and I didnt even hit the Aleve before I left. The ride itself was a good one for me, my longest of the year in fact. We did 50 miles in 3 hrs. Not a blinding pace by any means. We finished into the wind on some less than pristine roads. I had some minor cramping at about 35 miles but hit some extra Enduralites and was able to spin out of them for a strong finish. My hamstring tightened on me a little when I woke up for work but its not too bad. Overall I feel pretty good today. I'm off to bed now so I can work a double tonight. Probably take tomorrow off too unless I do some light running. That will give the hamstring a bit of a break. Then I plan on going to Black Partridge with the Stagola of Rock n rolla on Monday evening.

Just Call Me Stupid

Cause although I know I'm not healed yet, I'm going to ATTEMPT to do 50+ miles on the road bike tomorrow with the Milkman. I'm going to feel it out and if I feel it strain, I'm calling it a day. I havent rode with my buddy in a long time and time spent with him on a bike makes me better in every aspect.What's the worse thing that can happen besides losing the rest of my season?

Still On The Mend

Every day I walk around and think to myself "yeah, its good today. I'll be able to hit it tomorrow." But then while getting out of the car, walking up from the pond, going up the stairs, or something...I get another twinge in my hamstring. I'm really frustrated and tired of it. I'm missing some crucial time running and on my bike and I know I'll pay for it later. I've continued stretching and using The Stick to alleviate some flare ups. I'm also using Hammer Balm before bed. All of it seems to be helping but I cant get over the hump. Tomorrow I have court so I'm down for sure. If all goes well I'm goint to attempt a RIT ride on Friday. Flat and easy and I wont push. Then we'll just wait and see about the weekend.

Note to Self

When you do a trail race and follow it with a mtb race the following day, sometimes you may be a bit strained and fatigued. You might even have a twinge in your hammy. When that happens it is smart to take it easy for a few days until you are back to good health. The first day you almost feel good after some light pedaling on the RIT is NOT the right time to try and do repeat 400's and 200's. Even if in your mind "I need to get some speed workouts going again". I'm guessing that no one should do this and someone say...36 and closing in on 37 has no business at all doing it. That's just my take on it. Because here I sit now with what I will call an aggravated hamstring. It's not blown, but I would say it is slightly strained. I was hoping to get a trail ride in today, but I decided to leave my bike at the shop until Monday and see how I'm feeling. I'm now down today and I took some gravy OT tomorrow just to make sure I stay off the bike and out of my running shoes. Minor setback, but one I didnt need. I'm guessing The Stick and my new sample of Hammer Balm will be put to the test the next couple days. See ya on Monday...hopefully post-ride at Black Partridge.

Back to the Basics

After a few days off I got back into training mode today with an ez spin on the RIT. Nothin too hard. I wanted to keep my HR in check and get a nice 90 min. ride in. Mission accomplished. Tomorrow I have some repeat 400's planned on a track. I havent done any speed work in awhile and its more than past time to start it back up. I've lost some overall speed as of late and need to get it back. Swamp Dogs is on 8/8 followed by Black Partridge mtb on 8/9...another double weekend. No worries though. I should be better prepared for both of those races than I was last weekend. I've detailed my training again like I was earlier in the year and included some more speed training. As far as the mtb goes, its just a matter of saddle time and doing solid recon on the courses. I've planned all my training out until that weekend and feel good about the plan. After that I'll re-evaluate and go from there, but its lookin like yet another double on 8/29, 8/30 with the Hanna City Hustle 5k and Kickapoo mtb.

Any Race Is A Good Race

Especially when its your first one back in a long time, and even when you are in 2nd place in your age group with a mile and a half to go and you get a flat and have to run the trails (again) to finish up in 4th. It was fun and I look forward to the next one. What more can be said? Found some (many) weaknesses and am looking forward to planning and training to get them corrected. Gotta check, but I think I have another trail run in about 3 weeks at Jubilee again, The Swamp Dogs classic. Nighty Night!

One Down, One to Go

Jubilee Trail race went pretty much as expected. I didnt feel particularly strong and I was absolutely not tactical. In all I was.....slow. 1:04 for the 10K on a very sloppy trail. Bout what I figured. No rain today though and it should be that much better by tomorrow. Time to actually plan a couple more "A" races instead of these training races I've been doing. Learning a lot about where I'm at though and that's good. I'll check back in tomorrow.

F$cking Rain!!

Seriously, this is getting old. I got a loop in today on the run course and then did a little trail work prior to more rain. I hate that shit....I seriously do. Anyway, we'll see what I got in the tank tomorrow. I'm clueless as to how I feel going into it. It's gonna be sloppy if it goes at all. As far as mtb on Sunday...anybody's guess.

Ready Or Not....Here They Come

CITRA #3 and I74 MTB Series #2, both at beautiful Jubilee State Park are this weekend. Am I ready you ask?.....Hell No!! In all actuality I think the run might surprise me. I had a great run out there last weekend on the mtb course. I wasnt running for time, yet my time was surprisingly fast. The last time I did the bike course I felt pretty good too but my ass aint seen a saddle since then. Too many doubles at work last week to get any solid training in. I'm gonna try to get an hr run in tomorrow out there and follow it up with some trail care to get the mtb course ready...again. I've held my weight down to a manageable level the last few weeks and should be lookin good for race day on Saturday. Then I'm gettin the hell off my feet and refueling for the mtb on Sunday morning. Should be fun and educational for me at the same time.