3 days till Heartland 50

Only 3 more days till I then we find out if it was enough to surpass last years time
of 9:38:20 for the 50. I got my 2 runs in for then weekend and they were only to be a
1.5 hour and a 1 hour run. But like last year I didn’t follow that either. I went ahead for the 2-10 mile runs and there’s not much difference in those either. Though my heals are very tight in the morning, I just have to be very careful in getting going. I don’t know what the deal is with that.

Thursday was an off day for my daughters volleyball game, which they lost they get a great lead and then they blow it by getting to confident. You can always tell when it’s going to happen they get that smile on there face and it’s over.

Friday was a 9 and Saturday was 10 and 10 for Sunday because I don’t think a extra 30 minutes is going to kill me. The wife can’t get that lucky!! Got some hot tub action for the Achilles and left leg and no I’d rather do Badwater before that. That I thought helped. But the heels were stiffer Sunday.

For the race I have a pair of everyday shoes (Asics) and 2 pair of (Asics) w/1700 and 800 miles on them and a pair of adidias with 800 also. Hmmm which one to pick to run in for the race. Planned on a new pair but not going to happen with a story about that, that is to long. Paranoia don’t know but there’s different aches this year and something is just not right. Though after 13 miles of the race I will have achieved one of the goals to break 2000 miles for the year.

During taper

Does it seem that there are more aches and pains during taper or what and it’s just started? Or is it just in the head that its come down to the end and either you have it all done and your good, something blows up and your done being to careful or and you just didn’t get it all down right to make the goal. All the questions that are floating around in your head and all the answers that won’t be given till 10/10. Last year I had that reason to prove it to someone this year, I don’t know. This year was to break 9 hrs, then to just walk / jog it or be happy just to finish and or being under 10 hours to qualify for a 100 miler. I still don’t know which will happen yet. I hope this is the just the taper depression.

The left leg is good one day and questionable on another anymore. The Achilles and the nerve are just not cooperating very well. The friend I conned into doing this race blew up his knee in a Tri and says he’ll be lucky to make it to the turnaround. It is beginning to be not the very best end of the year run. I have not felt so sore 2 weeks and so many aches even from the last 2 races.

The last 2 races I’ve gone all out for 3 to 4 days 3 weeks out and didn’t do that this time to see if it worked better and now not so sure that was a great idea. Well see the only thing different is the great deal of stretching I’ve been doing with the yoga. There I do feel a lot better. But the legs just feel more tired and good sore.

A link to the race: http://www.upinthere.com/movies/heartland.htm

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.