never ends

well i got over the calf strain quickly.  then three days later my right achilles started to bother me. appears to be a strain.

went to chiropractor yesterday.  got adjusted and ultrasound on calves.

this is beginning to really piss me off. still cant run.

on again, off again?

I finally got a full week of training in after taking some time a few weeks ago for my calf issue.  The week went well, all miles felt real easy.

But of course it wouldn't be any fun without another nagging issue.  During my Sunday 10 miler I started to feel a strain in my upper/outer left calf.  It didn't feel near as bad as my other calf issue but none the less...So hopefully all I will need is my usual Monday off.  We'll see.

I also started running in aftermarket insoles. This was a gift from my old college coach.  He feels my lower leg issues might be due to falling arches.  They feel a little odd but kinda expected.  They are much different than the originals.

I also learned today that my tune up race in January appears to be full.  It was to be a 50k (31 miles).  I'll have to find something else.  The challenge with these ultras is the limited number of runners they can accommodate. They fill up quickly so you have to register early and hope you don't get hurt or something doesn't come up that will cause you to miss it.

153 days till start line.

Brrrrrrrrr.

So I started ice baths after long runs. This one was my first and it was cold, but it needs to be colder.  Next time I'll have a few bags of ice.

Back at it

well I tried out the left calf on Saturday and Sunday.  Ran five miles each day.  The calf seems to be good, now I'm a little worried about my right knee.  Hopefully what I'm feeling is due to old shoes and hitting the roads instead of trails.

I'm in new shoes now and will be staying on the trail and I might even try a brace.  I'm also going to be purchasing some HEED products and start experimenting on my runs, seeing what works and what doesn't.

1/3 of the way through training schedule.

getting old sucks

So I turned 40 on Saturday the 24th.  On Sunday I go for a 10 mile run.  At mile 9 I start feeling a strain in my left calf.  I stop and try and stretch a bit and feel a knot.  Geez, I know they say 40+ is a different body but my first day of being 40?

So now I'm looking into getting some lower leg messages.  I'm taking a few days off and will give it a go on Thurs or Friday, just lite running.  If I still feel it I'll shut it down again.

This sux!

no excuses, just results

...thats what my HS coach used to always tell me when doing speed workouts.

So yesterday I go out for a quick 6 miler.  About 2 miles my right knee starts to really ache.  It's the same knee I fractured in college. At mile 2.25 I see another runner headed my way and from a distance it looks like he is lumbering a bit.  But when he gets closer I realize his lumber or limp is because he has a mechanical left leg from the knee down.

I immediately start to realize my knee ache isnt that bad. 

No excuses, just results! 

I see this same guy again as he is doing an out and back run like me. When I see things like this I also realize there is no reason for me not to accomplish my ultra marathon goal, short of injury in training or the race.

Fall weather, feels like cross country weather

It is beginning to get cold here.  The last few days have reached a balmy 44 degrees at best and its been raining.  I headed out for an 8 miler this morning with the temp hovering around 40...and it was raining.

But it felt so relaxing and so much like the good ole days at UTA that I extended the run to 10 miles.  I was def wet but not really cold.  Most of it was on the roads along the Delaware River with a short bit through a golf course.  That def brought back the CC memories of old.  And the best part was it felt effortless.

175 days till race.

more options

I've been running on the Delaware Canal tow path in PA quite a bit. I've been looking for some other options and i think i found one...Washington's Croosing on NJ side of river.

There are 15 miles of trails.  I'll be checking this out soon.

Trip to NYC this past weekend was pretty good. The family and I stayed a few blocks from Times Square.  We saw Shrek the musical, Empire State Building, Staton Island Ferry, Central Park Zoo...It was a good trip.  I did not run in Central Park as I had originally planned but I did go on a fairly quick-paced 6 miler after getting home Sunday evening.

Check out the NJ state park web site.  Some of the trails were the actual trails GW used when crossing the river.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html
JB

hit or miss

well the shins seem to be holding up but the last few runs, esp the 10 miler I did on Wednesday felt very sluggish, esp towards the end of run.

I switched up the schedule a bit because of visiting family.  The 10 miler on wednesday was a straight 10 miles down the tow path from up river, no out and back. The first 3 felt fine, the next 5 ok and the last two very slow. i chalked it up to "one of those days" but i think i need to start taking some kind of energy bar, etc before heading out on these longer runs, esp when its first thing in AM with nothing in my stomach.  The energy level was next to none.

I ran today which is typically a rest day, but with the trip to NYC tonight and the sluggish feelings lately I figured I would take the weekend off, at least Saturday, and enjoy the city.

not again (hopefully)

Everything has been going pretty good.  training seems to be rolling.  i have been looking forward to each day on the trail as well as the days off.  but this past sunday i felt my left shin again.  it's more of a sore/tender feeling while stationary. not so much when i run.  i've been taking ibuprofen and icing a bit.  luckily i have today off.

hopefully this isnt anything.  i dont think my shoes are ready to be replaced.  i'm at 298 miles right now.  but with that said i'm about to order a new pair and start rotating them in.

this week has me doing 6/6/6 (mon/tues/wed) and 8/10 (sat/sun).  but i might run the 10 on friday and the 8 in nyc on saturday am (central park).  my in-laws will be in town and we're taking the family for a NYC over-nighter.  gonna go see Shrek, the musical too.  the girls should really enjoy it.

the non running strategy of ultras

I've spent quite some time trying to find a training program and have come up with something that I think will work.  I even had it reviewed by my old college track coach that has done ultras and he gave it a thumbs up.

Now I'm researching the non training/running parts of ultras...nutrition, electrolytes, food, gear, shoes, gaitors, socks, blister prevention, etc.

It seems the food, electrolytes, etc theories are endless.  But what seems to be the best bet is to try all the options during training and see what works and what doesn't cause stomach issues. so i guess i'll start experimenting once i get into the really long runs (2+ hours).

Gear.  i tend to get sediment/gravel/sand in my shoes when i run or walk.  this will only result in blisters.  i tried running with my backpacking gaitors this morning but ended up peeling off the trail within a mile so i can only assume they will work.  i'm a little concerned though that my gaitors are too tall and will get too hot.  i might try one of these sock/gaitor combos (http://www.zombierunner.com/store/categories/clothing/gaiters/product895.html). I will also start running with either hand held water bottle(s) or a belt system. Again, something that will need to be tested.

there are all kinds of things about ultras that are so different than running 10k's and track.  things like nipple covers, waterproof socks, etc.  so much to learn, luckily plenty of time.

192 days till race.

so far so "just good"

after last week's feeling of ease, this week wasnt...so far
i got my 8 miler in today before work.  not sure if its the time of day or im just tired but whatever reason the last few days have felt really sluggish.  i keep telling myself (basedon past experiences) that some days/weeks just dont feel great.  i'm pushing on.
198 days till race

small world

after googling the "croom ultramarathon" for runner reviews i happened across what was a review by a friend from our old home town, clermont fl. not only that but his wife has the 50k course record.  small world indeed.

ran only 4 today cause my garmin watch's battery died and could tell how far i had run.  1 mile short.

203 days till race time

on the trail...

i've been running on the delaware canal tow path the last few days.  its a nice trail system worth 60 miles. if you want to run a loop you have to cross the delaware over to NJ, run along the river and cross back over.

so far my shin is feeling much better and i think part of it is the softer surface.  hope it continues.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/delawarecanal.aspx

gave shins a try

after taking 5 days off because of a left shin splint i hit the road/trail today for just 3 miles.

the first .4 were on the road and immediately i felt my shin. but after a 1/4 mile or so it seemed ok. i ran on the delaware canal for 2.2 of the 3 miles. i'm still going to take the monday/friday rest day schedule and see if that helps.

with last week i decided to look at other ultras later in the year, just in case i cant make the necc training for the april target race. if needed i can delay the race later, maybe the palo duro 50 miler in october. we'll see...

as expected

this past weekend i started feeling a pain in my left leg. so monday i just ran a few miles. i haven't run since. it appears to be shin splints, which i never had in all my years of competitive running. really pisses me off. but as long as i can start back up in a few days I should make my April goal, hopefully. going to try taking mondays and fridays off, even during these low mile weeks. also going to try and get on the trail more often.

Week One

almost done with the first week of the official ultra training schedule. some days went well to great, a few were pretty bad...not sure why, not aerobically challenged, just extremely tired. I'm trying to get more sleep so maybe that will help. This week will total around 35 miles.

Regardless of how the running went this week, the week itself is ending pretty good. OU loses to BYU!!

217 days till race.

my first day of ultramarathon training

I guess by the most part there is no turning back. i sat down this past weekend and made a training schedule that has me set to roll in April 2010. I figure creating this blog as well as telling a few folks of my intentions is going to keep me in the training mood. There will be several days that are going to be LONG, very LONG runs. We're talking a few 5 hour days on the road. Hopefully i can avoid injury setbacks and get the training in. We'll see