January and February have blurred by. With race cancellations my focus on running went away. I plodded low miles on the treadmill and outside here and there but with no goal it seemed pointless.
My focus shifted towards martial arts and my strength routine. I’ve put on a few pounds which I’m happy about, due to the strength work, and really been enjoying martial arts despite being virtual.
I’ve been doing a lot of eskrima, a Filipino martial art based around sticks and bladed weapons. It’s similar to the kali I do in Jeet Kune Do and compliments it very well. Very excited to grade and practice with people in the near future. Looks like the martial arts academy will slowly start to open up starting in April for the kids first, then adults in June. Can’t wait!
Running. Hmmmmm. Well since I’ve been dragging around a minor foot injury for nearly a year I’ve decided to take a break and see what happens. It’s a great time with no races until late summer or autumn. I’m considering purchasing a smart trainer or power meter for my bike and taking a stab at online training and racing on Zwift to keep some fitness. It’s always peaked my interest and it seems like everyone is doing it. I love riding and racing bikes! It consumed my life through college racing for NAU in Flagstaff and even racing a season on the National Race series in the US. Older now, running has just been easier to work around life. Bikes take a lot of time but not so if you’re in the garage! We shall see.
Back to running. So, I’ve been chasing entries in UTMB and also the Tor des Geants for the past few years and considering the time frame I was essentially “due up” for automatic entry or at least “a lot of names in the hat.” However with covid cancellations last year things changed and the opportunity to race this year is up in the air but looked likely. So I entered the lottery for UTMB, the Western States 100 of Europe.
And as I expected I didn’t get in. All things considered this is just fine. However more names in the hat for next year I’m happy I tried at least. Looking at lottery entries, carry over entries from last year’s cancelled race, I expected to not get in.
So on to the Tor. After three unsuccessful attempts you are automatically in the Tor. I’ve tried twice now. Tor is a different race. UTMB is 100 miles around Chamonix France. A gnarly mountain race around the Alps. Tor de Geants is 205 miles (330km) and 75,000 feet of climbing. A totally different monster. It takes days to complete. Main issue is I’m gone to Italy for at least a week so it’s expensive and time consuming. I’ve always wanted to do this race and figured, once again, I’d be shuffled to next year considering the rollover of entrants from the covid cancelled race last year. So I entered planning on an auto entry next year due to consecutive attempts.
In general I’m not excited about running right now. Even if I’ve got entries into these dream races I don’t have any drive for them. Maybe that will come back or maybe I’m done with ultramarathons? This seems to be supported by how I feel right now after just getting THIS:
and.........
I’m surprisingly not happy! 😂😂😂😂😂
I’d much rather do this NEXT year! I’ll admit I expected this result as the lottery entrants and rollover entrants didn’t even fill the race quota! I entered on the chance that I wouldn’t get in and the do it next year. Oh well. My mind isn’t in a place that I feel I’m missing out which is good so 98% chance I won’t be entering. Fortunately you enter after you’ve been chosen so I won’t be throwing away money, just my entry. I almost think the post covid race won’t be the same experience anyway which shows considering the entry numbers.
So that’s that. (Well, maybe. I do have until April 30 to commit to the Tor!) I’m planning on entering a more local 100 miler, Cotswold Century, once the entries open. It starts about 30 minutes from my house and runs along the Cotswold Way. The race is in September giving plenty of time to train. It’s also a qualifier for UTMB which keeps that ball rolling! And not to forget I’m still entered in the Arc of Attrition 100 in January 2022!
In Covid news kids are back at school after next week and I’m back to work probably in April. Strange times.
