2014 Race Thoughts

A few random recent average run photos, I swear soon I'll have something a bit better and not of the canal! Some of this may be a repeat, because I'm guilty of that, but oh well you can read it again and it may be a more organized manner or even contradict what I've said before, anyway......

I'm patiently awaiting December 19. That will be the first day to bring the anticipation of what races I'll be doing next year, 2014. Why? Well the 19th is the first day you can sign up for Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). It's a lottery system and the results I don't believe are released until January, but my entire race season is hinging on it.

I decided that if I'm going to live over here, well for now at least, I'm going to try to do at least one of these major races in Europe. After this past year of racing I qualify for pretty much everything so I thought it best to take advantage!

UTMB is intimidating. Mainly because I live in a flattish portion of England at low elevation. It starts in Chamonix, France and winds it's way through the Alps via Italy, Switzerland, and finishing back in Chamonix. Total mileage is 104 miles with 35000 vertical feet. The climbs and descents are what scare me as it is difficult to prepare for the length of them as well as the altitude. I do live within a few hours of Snowdon in Wales which will work well however it is still not at altitude. It is funny looking back at the places I used to live, they were all ideal training grounds for these races; Colorado I lived above 8000 feet, Arizona 7000, Tahoe 6000, all with access to nasty mountains. 

So UTMB is the main goal and until I find out if I get in I'm holding off on entering other races. I'd hate to sign up and then lose my money but the downside is many of these fill up so fast you miss out. I really wanted to do Lakeland 100, the UK's biggest race, but registration opened while we were in Minnesota, my phone was off and I missed the alert, and it filled in a day or so. Anyway, I figure I qualify for UTMB I'm going to try to get in.

And if I don't win the lottery? Well a few other options are out there and to put them in perspective Superior had 21000 vertical feet. I've considered Lavaredo Ultra, 74 miles and 19000 vertical through the Dolomites in Italy; Ultra Trail Andorra, Ronda del Cims, 106 miles circumnavigating Andorra with 46000 vertical feet (yeah, that's very very very last on the list!); Zugspitze Ultra in Germany, 100km (60 miles) with 17800 vertical feet, and a few others that aren't so much priority. Mainly due to them being way too long or too short. I'd prefer 50 or 100 miles. More and more I look at it Lavaredo is a really good option.

Also a repeat at Superior 100 could be a possibility. The wife took a new job, which was much needed, but unfortunately it hampers a move to the US. So depending on funds a Minnesota trip could happen, I doubt it, but it could. Flight prices are the factor as the little one no longer flys for free and it may be best to squirrel that money away for a one way flight instead, fingers crossed.

As of late the running has been ok. Only doing maybe 25 miles per week. Official training isn't super important until February but it's still nice to get out. I've been feeling kind of blah for some reason despite my piriformis doing well. Just feeling unmotivated even with my calisthenics.

The fall always mentally hurts as all my life it preceded a real winter. The anticipation and excitement of snow and ski season is hard to shake yet I know now it will never come. Sure it may snow, but only enough to screw this country up for a few days and make me wish I had some rock skis to kick and glide down the canal. Even missing Thanksgiving, the beautiful color change of the leaves, the crisp weather. Here it just all goes to shit. Grey. Rain. Maybe some yellow leaves. The wife claims "autumn is my favourite season as well as winter" (spelling error intentional!), well, she's never seen a true fall in Minnesota, an aspen grove in the mountainous western US, or experienced an entire real winter where you are actually used to it and it's not a novelty of a vacation! Hopefully she'll get to see those things sooner than later.

Last night we were at a get together with some people we know, nothing big, just some fireworks shooting off, beers, snacks. We didnt stay late since the little one had to get to sleep and, well, I'm not much of a night life person anymore so was happy to leave early.

We were talking about time management and sleep with a guy who had a new baby. The wife mentioned that we're sometimes in bed by 830pm, which this guy laughed, thought was a joke, and asked what time we get up "4am!"? I of course in all seriousness replied 5am, which some mornings is sleeping in for me! 

Anyway this guy's shocking look reminded me that I am an outlier and made me think of the things I do so different from the norm. And maybe why in many social situations I speak little of myself. I work with outliers, I wish I knew more of them. Outlier ways vary but many crossover, they know they are different and afraid to speak of their ways.

I wake between 4 and 5am.

I am elated to be laying in bed by 830pm.

I'm the guy who eats the vegetable plate at your party. All of it. No dip. And I'll raid your fruit bowl.

Sometimes I'll just drink water at your party, but I hide it in an empty beer can.

I eat fat in my coffee, I add 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.

Fat doesn't make you fat. Sugar in your "low fat" processed food does.

I sometimes eat an entire bag of apples in one day. Carrots too. 

I think sugar is addictive and although tasty it should be avoided in a day to day diet.

The smell of fast food makes me sick, it does taste good though.

I use sandpaper on my feet to reduce callouses, I also put lotion on my feet most days.

I shave my legs. It makes post muddy run clean up easy, brambles don't rip the hair out, bandaids stick better, and self massage is less painful.

I wear tight clothing when I run. I wear really short shorts when I run.

It's not for vanity's sake, it's efficient and comfortable.

Bodily fluids and excretions do not embarrass me, they are a part of life.

Speaking of these things and "adventures" with them is entertaining. Even at dinner.

I wipe my ass with nearly anything when toilet paper is not around.

I run a lot, well at least compared to normal folks.

Running 26.2 miles on my day off is no big deal, a training run. 

Some days I'll run three times if I can fit it in.

I almost deleted this section, as it comes across elitist, but it is not normal.

Although many people seem to view my ways as elitist or smug it is just who I am. I feel I am no different from the guy who eats like shit and doesn't exercise. Many of my friends are like that. I view them no different and they view me no different. Viewing someone as being elitist may likely be because you have nothing in common, little to talk about.  I hate politics. I am not up on my European history. So having a conversation with me about these things I will listen, and most likely not reply. I am not being elitist in my limited interaction, you are speaking of things I am not well versed in or uninterested in. Just as you would feel if I spoke of biomechanics, technical fabrics, or "outlandish" physical feats.

I'm an outlier. I like that.

Thinking of next year.

Haven't had much to say so haven't been writing! My piriformis/ass/leg issue or whatever it is has greatly been reduced. Been running most days with little to no pain. I think I'm going to skip Beacons Ultra since I don't believe I've ran enough since Superior and I feel it best to make sure this injury goes away 100% rather than take a chance. Shame. Beacons is a cool race. 

So right now I'm getting back into the game at an easy fun pace, no pressure. We've had the time change already for daylight savings so the photo opportunities will be better now too so hopefully I'll get more pics and less words soon. 

Still looking at races for next year. UTMB still is a possibility if I get in. Signed up for the Highland Fling in Scotland (50 miler, May I think). Considering a race in Sweden (145 mile!) and also Andorra (circumnavigates the country in the Pyrenees)  in case UTMB doesn't happen. These things fill up so fast that you need to sign up with the possibility of not going. I can't count on UTMB so need to have a back up plan.

Away we go. 

Moving onward

Holy shit! Three days of running in a row! Two on the treadmill and one outside. Feeling ok I guess. The pain in my ass is still there but slowly getting better. It sure was nice to get outside for a run, ran at my normal pace for about 5 miles. A little pain but nothing got worse so looks like I'm doing something right. Glute bridges, golf ball massage, foam roller, and my normal calisthenics routine seems to be helping. Oh, and ibuprofen. 

Land of Confusion

I'm kind of in a land of confusion currently. It's the end of the racing season pretty much, I'm looking forward to some sort of bigger race next season, and unsure of this injury. None of my preferred races are either available, do not really line up with my schedule, or they have stupid rules like requiring vehicle support. The main big race is a lottery entry and not guaranteeing an entry is forcing me look for a guaranteed entry (before races fill) that I may have to back out of. If all that makes sense.

I want to run but my daughter is still not allowing me to. Although I do have options other than the morning to run I'm not taking them. I have been riding the bike every other day or so. Maybe the little one knows something about this injury and isn't allowing me to run? 

Beacons Ultra is up and coming and I'm unsure of it still. Rely on my base mileage and just do it for fun? Don't go? Will I be healed by then? Will I finish? No idea as of now. 

Sure seems and feels like the season is over, time for a break, regroup, plan, recover, heal. Maybe can Beacons? I hate to drop from another race this year due to injury but that may be the best option.

Limbo, but excited to train and get strong.

Getting better

Ok so I've actually been running a couple times this past week. Only on the treadmill and only for 30 or so minutes, and about 3 miles. But it's running. It was mildly painful but did not get worse which was a good sign. I've wanted to get outside and go further but I am dead set on morning running versus my recent thoughts on night running (as is my wife!). I just hope this phase my daughter is going through of getting up early goes away soon (I think she's pushing her last two molars through). She did it again today. Nothing I hate more than laying on my ass in bed doing nothing. Sleeping in is a waste of time. 

So I've been working hard to strengthen my glutes and hamstrings to hopefully support whatever muscle is weak and injured currently. It seems to be working. I've been doing 4 x 50 of glute bridges (short bridges) twice per day and some other miscellaneous bridge type exercises. Thinking about it, it is possible that my huge focus on squats has strengthened my quads too much in relation to the hamstrings/glutes causing this. 

I've had a renewed enthusiasm as well for Beacons Ultra. I had been really down about this injury and not running but the reality is that there is nothing I can do but focus on solving the issue and do what I can for training. If I race well I race well, if not, at least I got out to see some more beauty this country has to offer. 

Slowly solving this thing.

Let's see, where are we at now? Almost 4 weeks out. Aggressive rolling and massaging my ass with a golf ball has significantly helped get rid of this piriformis issue. I've been riding the trainer to save some of the fitness I've worked so hard to build and to ease my mind a little. Ran on the treadmill a couple times for 20 to 30 minutes. Yeah, it hurt, but was tolerable and it didn't get worse which was great. 

I was intending to get out this morning but the shitty creaky floors in our house sometimes wake the little one which happened today. I always love that. Sure I miss my window of opportunity to run but I also lose the window of opportunity for "me" time. Silence. A quiet hot cup of coffee. Sit outside and meditate. Write. Think. I get none of that today. 

Well nothing I can do about it so I really have no right to get angry. So unfortunately today's hours for working as a stay at home dad are extended from around 530am to 8-830pm. Hopefully I'll get a break this afternoon for nap time, lately about a hour and a half. I'll try to get my calisthenics routine done during that time. 

So I've been thinking about changing up my running routine and rather than running in the early morning maybe try to run at night. This would open up more time for long runs since I've got until 6 am to be home. Not that I'd run all night but with the mornings I try to be back by 630 - 7 to "start work". Theoretically I could put the little one to sleep at 730pm as usual then be out the door running between 8 or 9pm, get in 1.5 to 2 hours on a normal night, get home, maybe shower, be in bed by 11 or 1130pm. If I run late, no big deal I just get less sleep. 

So looking at the pros and cons the no deadline to be back is huge! In the winter it's dark all morning so I'd be headlampin' no matter what. Night time the drunks are out so that could be a hazard and a nuisance. It's tough to motivate after a long day which is why I like the mornings, wake up get going, you're done for the day. No sunrise for photos, but as I mentioned, it's dark out with either option. The nighttime shower could rouse the little one, that's a concern I guess. I don't get the nice positive boost to the day from the morning run. Hmmmm.

Not too sure. The cons seem to be greater than the pros. Well for now I'm not running much anyway so I'll stick with the mornings. In the past I could get extra time in running on the treadmill while the little one sleeps but it is nice to get a 20 minute nap in too. I could use the chariot jogging stroller but as of now I want the little one off her ass as much as possible since she's on the verge of walking. 

So, while I'm injured we're staying as is.