No Winky’s in Wilmerding

 Whatever injury has been thrusted upon me will keep me from running for some time.  Forcing an hour this past Saturday was a mistake and pushed me further into the weeds.  Moving around in general is cumbersome.  A few people have offered advice and it makes sense to rest, take anti-inflammatory meds, and strap on this electrical device my wife showed me.  

 The pain is somewhere deep in the hip/back area.  That’s about as scientific as I can get.  In the mean time I’ve challenged myself to consume less calories and get up and move around ever so lightly every 15 minutes and accomplish some type of task.  It really makes one appreciate having the ability to move around.  

That’s not Frank!

 Non-movement is not a big part of me.  So after three zeroes it was time to make at least a mile.  It was difficult, but as the distance stretched out it became a bit faster.  About halfway small jogs were tossed in.  Finally the last 1.34 miles I did my best John Stephen Akhwari impression and just got it in.

 The effort was 4.3 miles at 14:40 pace.  This pace for a 100 mile is approximately 24:30.  Now take that in.  14:40 pace would be world class for me.  

 The show Alone was on and it helps me reflect some truths about these types of endeavors.  These folks are not rookies thrown into the harsh wilderness.  They take chances and make mistakes.  I’m no genius when it comes to long events such as 100 miles.  It is bigger than me.  Problem is the thought is always present now that the window is closing.  I’d like to try and train to figure one out.  Mistakes will be made, but I want to figure this out.  

Get out there and see it for yourselves

 A couple days ago I managed to strain a muscle in my lower back and aggravate the PF in my left foot.  Working outside and throwing things around like manhole covers can do this.  The sideline shall be my friend for awhile.

 So when trying to walk I have to bend way over and lurch to one side.  It’s almost the same look to those who are familiar with my 50 mile finishes.  Out in public it is the same walk.  Bending straight up is not an option.  People are so kind when they see me coming across the parking lot and will pause to hold the door for me 50 feet away.  A young girl sprinted to be able to help the old guy with the door.  People demonstrated apathy every time.  It was greatly appreciated, but at the same time a bit humbling.  This is a future glimpse.  

 I must have stated out loud my wish to participate in a 100 mile.  The wife was telling the neighbor at a July 4th BBQ that I was training for a 100 miler.  It is not quite like Adrian looking at Rocky from the hospital bed and saying “Win!”, but more of a cat is out of the bag moment.  I just might have to throw down one final time.  The excuses are piling up as I type this last sentence.

Oh beautiful for heroes proved

 I finish my 8.2 mile adventure at 10am.  It is now 85F and wonderful.  I wring out my wet socks, two t-shirts, and beak down my shoes to all dry in the sun.  I grab a Chek Cola and drink the hell out of that.  Sitting on the flower stoop a puddle forms.  I’m low to the ground.  I can smell ammonia from the sweat which has poured off me.  I repeat this almost everyday.  The shorts are washed in the shower and the t’s are recycled 2-3 times before they are added to the wash.  I go through socks like Tim (State Champ Tim) goes through .99 cent pancakes at BK.

 Adding clothes is a goal.  A goal of being ready to do a 100 miler that will never get signed up for.  Like many the prices of some events are comical so I ponder doing my own.  Not sure why this effort is being put forth when the TV says downing some fruit pills and having a door on my bathtub will change my life.  

 Florida is similar with drivers and runners.  I seek out places with minimal traffic.  Along the lines of a car coming either way every 1-2 minutes.  It still amazes me how some folks give zero quarter.  They have plenty of room to move, but refuse.  Some are even nice enough to smile and wave as I’m up in the weeds gathering bramble of all sorts.

 Went to a big free concert with food vendors and a big fireworks show last night.  Hoping this gets me off the hook for a double today.  The wife is making cheesy potatoes to take to the neighbors bbq.  Last night I was able to see an old friend.  Ever notice how you slip back into the same mannerisms and inside joke mode.  Doesn’t matter how many decades went by.  There was some good hilarity.

 Okay.  Time to become the other version of me.  Happy 4th.

You’re just supercargo here

 I’ll get in around 250-260 mile for June.  I do intersperse walking.  Mainly a .35/.15 or .4/.1 run/walk combo.  It allows me to extend the miles covered and have some juice for the next day.  I did run 11 on Sunday and averaged 11:14 which is high end for me.

 Getting out every day is very enjoyable.  Sometimes I run into my 76 year old neighbor and cover a walking mile together.  It is good to get fishing tips and such.  My running routes are very limited.  Plenty of dead ends out here in Old Florida as some of the locals call it.

 I’m definitely more of the hillbilly ilk.  Everyone has a story and I’ve been fortunate to make some acquaintances.  People are helpful with ideas and suggestions, but for those who know me I can be stuck in my ways.  That applies to running as well.

 I did tune in to the Western States 100.  I found it interesting when I had time to stop and ponder the event.  I’ve never been there.  Such a huge production.  It did spark interest as usual to look at potential 100 milers.  Been saying it for years.  Looking currently at the Long Haul 100 in January.  It’s maybe 50 miles down the road.  10 x 10 segments with each segment having 3 spurs.  I have one 100 mile finish from 2003.  Honestly I’m intimidated by the distance.  It just seems the trotting and walking I do is ideally suited for patty caking around for that long.  Perhaps it is vanity.  Whatever it is it gets me out every day.  Hope… I think they call that.

 I have no business entertaining such a foolish idea.  It’s the training and idea ping pong with myself that assists in playing this out.  Not only has the ship sailed, but the tickets I’m holding are several years old.

He grins like a baby

 Some men you just can’t reach.  It felt like this on Saturday as I attempted my 20th finish at Ice Age.  Knowing it was going to get into the 80’s I went out very conservative.

 My training partner Crawford was gracious enough to let me stay at her place on Friday and Saturday.  We went out Friday with her, Ryan, and my two kids met with us at Olive Garden.  It is relaxing to be around friends and family, though I wasn’t really that concerned about power shuffling a 50 miler the next day.

 Ice Age has always been one of my top runs to attend. Great organization, volunteers, and you know so many of the folks there.  Andy and Parker were aiming for their 30th finish, and Deb and Bill going for 25.  Stuart, Angie, and myself gunning for 20.  

 Getting to the race, I never had it from the start.  I was under coffee’d and felt like the line in Phantom 309.  “He was a big man, about 210.”  It wasn’t long before I was very near the back of this crowd.

 I’m not going to do an agonizing report of some random guy finishing in 11:57:31.  Here are some memories from the day.

- Dewey was excellent as crew and had a whale of a job that day.  He had an iced down towel that I really looked forward to.  No Dew Man no finish.

- Andy and Parker finished their 30th together.

- Bill passed me at about 44 miles and offered strong encouragement which I needed.  He finished #25.

- Stuart nailed #20.  He was way up there.  Joey, Crawford, and Robert finished well.

- Bill H had a strong run.  At the beginning he told me Jimmy Carter was his favorite President which is a Jedi move.  Meaning he is one of the solid 11 who read this blog.

- I requested coffee at 12 down and a random lady had a big jug.  That was needed.  Dewey contacted the state champ and he rose from the ashes and hand delivered me a second cup at 12 back.  It got my mind right.

- I was at Easterly when Pat Gorman dropped.  His brief words just before 25 miles had started to become my thoughts.

- Duffin back is 30.5.  This is the place doubts were high as I can read a watch and am excellent in math.

- I did not drop at Horseman’s 37 because I knew Dewey only had access at Emma 40.3 miles into it.

- I forecasted at about 33 miles that I had to get out of Emma 9:20 into the race to have a chance and I got in at 9:19 and left a minute later.

- Arena and Fred were at Young Road 47.4 and ran down what needed to happen.  I had 40 minutes and they seemed confident.

- I knew in another half mile I would make it and struggled in with the now famous lean.

- Everyone cheered.  Thanks Jason for the kind words. Thanks to all the people who looked after me at the end, or came over to say hi.

- Thanks Jeff, Angela, Tina, Jose, Sam, Joel, Julie, Bruce and especially my gracious hosts Ryan and Crawford for taking care of me.  Basically delivering and extracting me from the course back to their place.

- I wanted to enjoy the day and I did.  Maybe not in the way one feels like they want to, but in a way that was deserving of the Ice Age 50 mile adventure we all look to in May.

Tight lines

 We have been in Florida for almost 2 weeks now and we are really enjoying it.  The wife has been working hard planting flowers, unloading boxes, and setting up services.  I’ve been assisting and still doing my regular job.  I skipped the run this morning and went for an hour kayak.  Just unbelievable scenery and peace of mind.  The same thought entered my head as it does when I’m running.  Where is everyone?  I did not see anyone else doing anything on the water.  I ran 13 miles on Sunday at Flying Eagle Preserve and saw a grand total of zero folks.  What?  Fine with me.  I kicked out a wild boar and he scampered off.  Caught a little push back from the wife who had to extract some tick’s, but it is that time of the year for that.

 Getting outside about 2 hours a day for moderate exercise is something I enjoy.  It is sad that many do not entertain the idea of doing this on a regular basis.  

 Talked with Grubby and he has been doing some hiking, biking, camping adventures for a few days at a time.  That is where I want to get to.  After the dust settles here I want to take my clunker kayak and go for an exploratory half-day fishing exploration.  I’ll be aiming at bringing back panfish to eat.  The current kayak sessions are intended for me to know where I’m at, get in kayak shape, and scout out places one could get out if needed to facilitate.  I have not found any of those yet.