That was it!! 18 days left.

This is was the last big weekend for long runs to be had for race prep. I had a grand total of 63.8 miles for last week which I think was between good and oh! Well... Friday I had 6.3 and Saturday 10.7 and Sunday 25.20 a 4:45:00 minute long run just to be out there for the time. But you know how that goes when I logged it on Buckeyeoutdoors and seen the 11.30 pace that really blew.

Last week was good and bad with the Achilles it hurt on some days and not others.
I really wish it would make up which direction it will go. I had all the stretching I could do for the week to it seemed to help loosen them up but then were a little tired then. It could have been the P90X yoga that I followed to; it was a little different than yogamazing. There’s a little more intense stretching and poses going on. I still recommend any of that if your tight or having lots of muscle pulls. There is no oommmming in that if that’s deterring you from doing it after a run or during the day.

I believe I just have 2 hour runs and maybe a 3 on the next weekend or so. It is now going to be all about getting stretched out and healed as best I can. Eating better and getting to bed at a decent time which is high on the agenda because you’d be amazed how badly I’ve eaten and the 3 ½ hours of sleep a night I’ve been getting I haven’t dropped by now.

To cut to the chase for now whatever it takes to break the 9 hour mark and will be very disappointed if I don’t. Because as ya know there are only 2 finish lines in a race!! The Tylenol is ready and I do or will though have one goal down during race week or day. My goal of 2000 miles for the year should be done then an rest will be extra.

24 days can they go by any faster!!

24 days till Heartland 50 can they go by quicker, but then when its over it will be awhile before the next which will be hard. This week turning to be a very good good one so far. No achilles problem and no muscle pull anymore as of yet after last weeks 3 days off on tues, wed, and thurs. I had a great start to the weekend had a 17 miler and then a 13 and a twinge still in the foot, then a nice slow 20 in 3:10 not to rush and ruin a good thing. I wanted to get that 5 hour run out of the way this weekend but I have one more shot at it this weekend coming with 3 weeks left. The stresses of this are nothing to what happens here. The wife doesn't want around (she doesn't) then complains when I try to stick around to help. Everyone knows JOB and just keeping up wih life. I have started debating on what to do at this race.

It is the second time and my 3rd ultra. Do I try to beat my time from last year of 9:38 for 50 or do I stretch it out to 13:50 something just to stay out longer. Granted it really does not matter to me. I will find out the day before the race. For me all that matters is to just finish the race to be able to say to someone there's another failure finished. That is one from last year just read the blog from last year. Brief overview;

1. Wanted to do a marathon had not ran in 20 yrs.
2. Was told I was showing off
3. Started running in the country
4. Picked an obscure 50 mile ultra (it was cheaper by 10 bucks)
5 Had her mail it off she didn't read how far on the form
6. 2 ?'s after telling her
7. Why one of those when you haven't even done a marathon
8. Why are you setting yourself up for failure
9. My answers were
10. Because it's there and I'm not!!

This year I'll have no one out there she said she's not coming and I'm not calling this time!!
My parents that missed my last two knew the date and were going to be there this time because we were not talking on the fist, the second she was running the sound board at church (more important). Then Ooops! A gal she worked with a year an a half ago is getting married and lives in Tx. They gotta be there. I really think its funny because I could care less.I've learned though where I stand in line. This is just a if you think you have it bad things. Though though only rule comment on anything except this paragraph.

I said it was going to good!!

Yes I knew it was going to well. It started last week a little ache in the leg, thinking it was just the achilles going just to be irratible. Then friday night it went, where I don't walk for nothing I did at the 8th mile to the school to see how the football game was going and walking around to give it a break, it's a pain from the heel to the bottom of the butt. Though I and a couple of others think it's just a muscle that has not been used untill now that I've been really stretching out good. Since the first race I havn't been able to bend over and touch the floor and after 3 weeks of the yoga for runnes and the knees and feet episodes that is happening which still has given me more miles in 3 weeks then I had done in April for Free State witch I take with no complaining even with that nagging pain. Just played it safe this weekend and ran my 9 on Friday and a 3 hour run on Saterday took an off day for the nagging and Monday labor day cracked out a 23.08 miler in that 4 hour run taking it easy and carefully to irratate it. Here it's 34 days till heartland and coming down to the wire with only 2 more good weekends to get anything in before the taper. Just checked also on buckeyeoutdoors that I have 245 to 250 miles left for 2000 miles for the year. Now how to work the rest of the training to get the 2 grand when running the 50 mile ultra. Well I'll have my 2000 now just have to work for that sub 9 hr 50.

Second five hour run

It turned out to be a good end of the week with running. I ended it off with a 10 milers from Monday to Thursday and Saturday topped it off with a nice 30.05 miles in 5:05:00. That was a long road to go with it being only a 4 mile loop around and around and around. But it does have its advantages I’ve got five water stops and a place to drop any supplies, granola bars sports drink and sandwiches. The only downfall is a few idiot drivers that don’t slow on the dirt road and pull up all the dust along with the fisherman that also think they own the city lake. But most of them are use to me now except one that never slows or stops to find out why he gets stared at all the way by and or gets a sign.

Saturday was different though my daughter didn’t appreciate it. I caught up with and paced a few runners that came out for just 1 loop around and done. One was her old track coach, another was the science teacher. Then for me it was just an older gentleman and we talked for a while and a girl that I followed for a distance just to be pulled along. Then the last 20 were with a friend I thought would have been done, but like me was slow getting going to. A faster pace and couple people fishing started asking for the miles as we went around. It wasn’t too bad as the temp was around 75 give or take with a good breeze. I was just dreading the bike ride back home with the cooler.

I got it done and it was even better than I though with that time from above that was actually faster by 5 miles than last year and 4 miles from the Achilles on the left and the muscle pull on the right. It is amazing after a week and a half that 1 or 2 yogamazing podcast shows a day will do. I don’t care what people will think anymore if it is going to give me 5 miles over last year and no strains and legs not being tight along with bringing down the personal best of my 10 and 13.1 mile runs I’m going to do it!! The 2 shows were for yoga for runners and yoga for knee’s and feet.

I did take Sunday off though not really much of a choice had to work the retail store all day. It could not have been early morning or an afternoon shift it had to be right in the middle. Also with things going as well as they are I’m just kind of waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop with my full time job. We are the only ones in this field that haven’t had layoffs quite yet in this city. This makes me wonder that there has always been something to go wrong. Call me a skeptic But there is still 5 weeks left.