Moving from Red to Green

Well, after five days of almost complete rest my calf is no longer painful. Went for a short run/walk yesterday and had a nice long hour long walk this evening. Have mixed this up with stretching and icing each evening. Don't like using meds and stopped taking them on Thursday last week.

Although I missed out on a power week I hope to get things back on track this coming week and over the remaining couple of weeks before the UTMB goes on 26 August. Yes!

Bumming

Now I've gone and done it...

This was supposed to be a power week with a lot of miles run gearing up for the race in August. I had originally planned to get in 140KM. Wouldn't you know that while running to work (25KM) on Tuesday I strained my dang calf. So here we are wondering if this is injury is from overuse, lack of core strength or what.

At the end of the day I now have to back way off of my training and take some time off to let this thing heal. You can imagine my worries. We're a month away from the UTMB and I feel like I've got a lot of training to do.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

UTMB Prep July II

I know, I'm bouncing around all over the place this month (smile)...




Two great articles on ultrarunning fueling and nutrition in general:

"A Refresher Nutrition Course for Ultrarunners" at Ultrarunning Magazine.

"A Plea for Eating With a Purpose" at AdventureCORPS.

UTMB Prep July

I just re-read Mike Mason's post on The Path Less Traveled regarding his UTMB Adventure of 2008 and am getting a bit nervous about my planning for the race and particularly the focus and extent of my training and readiness for the 2011 UTMB.

There is so much to accomplish and prepare for and so little time. Did I make a mistake in running the TU 100 Miler? Mike's experience says yes. Have I done enough long runs to build the appropriate base? I am not convinced that I've done enough hill and mountain work to get ready for the elevation change that is found in the UTMB.

At this juncture I have what I have and can only continue to build upon that. I've put together a five week plan that peaks the first week in August with a planned 156KMs for that week. I plan to include a number of two-a-days and night events. I will taper starting the week of 15 August and include carbo-loading all that week.

Logistically, I'm looking at the following to get me to Chamonix and the race. I plan to leave home early on the morning of 24 August to drive to Chamonix. Although perhaps not the best course of action, I will be camping at the same camp grounds we stayed in last year. I'm a bit apprehensive about camping based on my past post-race physical condition. We're going to see how that goes and if I can drive back home on Monday 29 August. Getting to Chamonix on Wednesday will allow me time to ensure I have a camping spot, integrate into the environment and check-in for the race. In the next couple of days I'll be posting my logistics package and plan for the camp and race itself. A couple of concerns include my race plan and logistics support plan.

Until then I'm drawing motivation from Bernie Conradt's 2009 UTMB experience. "Feel it, Fight it, Finish it!"

Inspired

The July 2011 Issue of Runner's World is a special issue entitled "Outrunning Cancer". With my "special interest" in cancer I read it cover to cover yesterday. Surprisingly great stuff! I was especially inspired by Curt Pesmen's article "Still Running" and David Willey's observations about the marathoner that had taped the following on the back of her shirt while knocking out a run:

SUCK IT CANCER

Nicely said!

Austin Texas

I'm inspired, excited and finally relieved that there are
still actually some pretty cool places to run in the US.
(Sorry friends, I've been disappointed having to run on the
road competing with cars and some of the
idiots that drive them.)

Just got back from Austin Texas where I had the opportunity
to run around Lady Bird Johnson Lake. The place is a runner's
paradise with a myriad of different routes including a nice 16KM.

thüringenULTRA Sunrise 2 July

thüringenULTRA Sunset 1 July

Truth...

Truth be told:
"The first fifty miles of a one hundred mile race are run with the legs while the second fifty miles are run with the mind..."