Jimmy crack corn

Got out Sunday and kicked up some dirt with Dewey and Tim. Actually more snow than dirt. No need for the fire trucks to be on Devcon 3 as the 11.5 miles only averaged 11:58 per mile. The 2 time state champ has agreed to another year of running. Moves pretty good at 67. Dewey and I just try and gather the crumbs of wisdom that fall by the way side. Mostly discussed who played who on old TV shows. I think we even knew Florence Bush was the hair stylist on Leave it to Beaver and that Earl Hagen the Music Score for Andy Griffith. I chewed copenhagen so that was easy to remember. Especially when we called putting one in as an "Earl." After weeks of 72.8, 86.3, and 80.2 I ended this week at 55.6. Struggled this Monday AM as I averaged 12:15 per mile over the 6.3. That was w/o any walking. A bit more determined in the PM I covered 4.3 total with 4 x .35 miles in 2:41, 2:41, 2:33, and 2:31. It felt fast, but that is mile paces of 7:40, 7:40, 7:17, and 7:11. Stand aside. We can't risk another frontal assault.

Motorhead

Did not feel a long effort today so the plan was to get at least 10.5 in. I plodded along out toward the back roads and actually saw a few people out weaving the magic. As I was cranking it up to a solid 11:50 pace I saw a guy up ahead wave and move steadily away from me. Motivated, I churned out a 3 mile tempo hitting 10:20, 10:02, and 9:15 miles. I grinned and finished 10.7 miles averaging 11:15. I definately need to lose 10 pounds. That starts today. I can't be the Larry Allen of distance running (reference to the retired Cowboys O-Line)and rumble along as smooth as a Chrysler Newport. Something needs to change, which is basically put the fork down. Damn. Let me see how this all goes. A new year is almost here so time for some wholesale changes.

Marlin Perkins

Been thinking about my last post and there is no chance I will ever get near 8 hours ever again at Ice Age. This is what happens when you slip into the protoplasma of your own mind. It's like the kid in high school, not elementary school who claims they are going to be an astronaut. Or the hundreds of kids who told me they would have made the pros if they'd have went on to play in college. The people who claim they scored 1360 on the SAT, but don't know who Boog Powell was. Though I made a mental lapse, I still want to run well. The base knowledge of believing you can train to any peak performance is entertaining, but the numbers don't lie. I enjoy numbers and no person who is pumping out 5mph routinely for 16 hours a week has any shot. Don't read that wrong. In some daft way it makes me feel like I'm doing something. But that something has changed in that I have zero desire now to try a last man standing. It is time to figure out a new plan. I have learned to pile up slow miles. So now I am older and slower than ever. Faced with the choice of going out a second time today, or perhaps resting up a bit, I will head back out and probably grind my bones down to the nub. One knows this because there is a cup of coffee 17" away. Plus I am giddily off work which I hope to make permanent as soon as we print another few trillion dollars. Now I funny too. I think I could hang around busy parking lots all day and watch the magic unfold. So many dynamics and hypothesis to conjure up. This is where you see America in real life. On par with the old Mutual of Omaha show Wild Kingdom. The one place left where everyone entering believes they are on equal ground. You even get to apply your own rules. Later...sorry for the lame post.

Have you seen the size of me

Some time ago I watched a piece on Jimmy Connors. His mother was his tennis coach. I recall as a youngster coming up, she only allowed him to practice/train like 10-20 minutes a day. The idea was to keep him hungry to come back and do as much as he could in that short period of time. There is something to learn in there. A year ago I advised myself that I would go out and pile up miles. My deal was that I would go as slow as I needed. This would include walking a fair bit at times. This year will yield close to 3,500 miles for me. Even with a knee rehab. I have also went to a new drug therapy as the former chemo type meds I was taking I became resistant to. The good news is my plattlets are in a much better range, but my hematocrit has been lower than its probably been my whole life. Again in the past month that has started to get up to about 38% so I feel a bit better running wise. All the slow moving has been enjoyable. It is a huge time commitment as 10 miles can be a 2 hour investment. This means going out twice a day. Just recently I began thinking about Ice Age. Typically in May, it was cancelled twice last year. It is difficult for me to use the just get a finsh language. When one is blazing 11:20 miles it is difficult not to drift off into the bizzaro world of dreaming how to break 8:00 out there one more time. Now look, I am not looking for false glory here. It is a real question I ask myself. As easy as it is to have virtually no running goals, I have been through similar scenarios 2-3 times in the past. Things can on occasion line up for me. I just don't control when good things happen (or challenging times), but I believe it is time to start busting away at the edges. If you 5 people who read this are up for it, I am going to start chipping away at new training. I'll write about it here. I have responded to virtually any training I have ever done. If one ran 9:30 pace at Ice Age (including all stops) this yields a 7:55. There is a very very slim chance this would ever happen. The thing is unless you try nothing good ever matriculates. I already train about 14 hours a week so I just need to adjust some paces. I will go against conventional wisdom and run tired all the time. I will still be the bum in last position in all jogging sessions, but I do not care. I will be working on increasing my working pace a couple times a week. When the time comes I will start transitioning to appropriate paces on the trails. I will know what is appropriate and what those paces should be for that day. It's in the vault.

11:14:40

I blazed the Northern Kettle trails at the Glacial 50 mile. A really nice cool day for the event. Went a bit top heavy, but managed what I thought I could do. Averaged 13:30 per mile. Well pleased with the result. 26 starters and for a short while I was in last. You turn around in the pitch dark and there are no other lights. You accept the fact, smile, and move on happily. Putting in a fair amount of miles. The knee is okay. Somedays I walk more than others. There is something freeing about not worrying about the pace. Absolutely tranquil this time of year. Far fewer people as it gets cooler and wetter. Dog people appear the most resilient. I am more apt to stop and let them go by. Dogs appreciate it and will jump up and say hello. The standard line of they don't usually do that is uttered. Sure. Don't worry I get it. Maybe slowing down has brought out the kind version of me. Not sure what is next. I am training myself to have little of what is regarded as any communication come to my attention. Of course I get plenty of action on work days. I am off work today. I am here with my mom inlaw. She sits in complete silence as she hears little. Does not like to wear the hearing aid. Her 14 year old dog in her lap. She does not want the TV on. The best part of the day is when we play 2 handed spades. We don't keep score. I am a much smaller version of her. How can I learn to be in my own head. Of course I still am pounded by info. The Steelers are 6-0. Nice. I voted today. When the wife gets home after 2pm I'll get out for about 1:30:00. For now I am going to read a bit. Coming up on the part where Sir Roger and Landy battle at the Empire Games. I will let you know how it turns out.

Stage Left

The Glacial 50 mile is this Sunday. The weather looks extremely nice. It will be a bare bones effort. No crew or spectators. There will be about 25 people at the start. It is an out and back. I can have a drop bag at the 13.3 mile out, which is the 36.7 back. I'm going to employ one of these. There are a total of 7 times you can stop for aid. You can't help yourself, the volunteers will assist. It is basic food and liquids only. My goal is to finish between 11:00 - 11:30. I have plenty of miles in. My knee is not 100%, but it is close to 90%. The course is challenging. Plenty of hills and leaf covered trail. The trail can get rocky and roots abound in some areas. Much of my regular training has been 11:30 to 13:00 pace. Occasionally a bit faster and occasionally a bit slower. This is what I have to work with. I am very pumped to get out there. I am anxious to see how the pacing goes and how I feel. My new medication works an entirely different way than the previous one. Running does not come as easy. I've been through this type of situation before. This time I have embraced the fact that I can still get out and participate. The simple act of moving around still appeals to me. It is common for me to be out a couple hours a day total. Nobody else is trying to get inside my head. I'm not even trying to get inside. There is a point in the movie called Cool Hand Luke when the prisoners are working along the road covering up oil that is being sprayed down. Luke gets them fired up to shovel at ass over tincup speed. The trucks drive off as the oil supply is exhausted. Everyone gathers around Luke and asks, "What do we do now?" He replies. "Nothing." It is kind of like that.

Boomer Kingsley

 I have been rehabilitating the knee for a good month now.  Most of my movement is in the form of a walking and slow jog mix.  I actually do not mind it.  It takes time to rack up miles, but that’s what I am doing in hopes the last man standing event is a go October 23rd.

I did sign up for the Glacial 50 mile on October 11th.  I’m only looking to finish and see how managing the distance/time goes over what can be at times a rugged surface.

On the whole my knee is a bit better.  Perhaps I can air it out decently a few times in the future, but let’s not fool oneself into thinking this just goes away.  My average pace is 12:10 to 13:10 per mile on macadam and 12:45 to 14:00 on earth surfaces.

All this meandering has kept me in shape.  I am beginning to look at 100 milers.  Finishing one more would be a goal of mine.  I’ve been shopping, but nothing practical has jumped out yet.  

Bus be packed up tight

Ode to you golden bike rider

So special, so clean

I admire your physical attributes 

And wonder what your gifts must be like

The prowess as you knife thru the shared path

So stealthy and pure like crystal diamonds 

The crispness of your uniform

Like tapestry in motion

I behold the beauty and statement made

That we are mere mortals

Thankful for the crumbs

Which fall at our lowly feet

Ride free passionate knight

We delight in the knowledge

That you are out there

Shining as a beacon of athleticism 

A million times bowing 

A million times bowing

So special, so clean

Of course it’s a good idea

It has been just over a week on the new meds.  Had my first blood test and my platelets are still very high, but they expected that.  We will go another week and see if they start to come down.  Otherwise we increase the dosage.  So far I have not noticed any real side effects.  I do feel better when I am running.  Part of the permanent cloud I dwelt in seems to have receded a bit.  That is good news, but I had my knee looked at Monday and will be starting physical therapy soon.  In a nutshell there is arthritis and some cartilage loss in my right knee.  Nothing staggering at this point.  I do feel pain and for now the boiled down version is I have negative zero to the tenth power of flexibility and my ITB is tighter than a thumb up a pig’s nose.  Because of this the thought is the pain primarily on the right of my knee may be less through the PT.  The Doc said to only run 3-4 a day.  So I’ve been mixing in walking at a 50/50 ratio.  It is not too bad.  Looking forward to my first PT session later Monday.

It does seem easier on my knee when I conduct a jog a quarter mile and walk a quarter mile.  Time goes faster than you think.  My biggest challenge is the knee has a problem going uphill no matter if I walk or jog.  Obviously my mind set is I’ll get through all this and line up for the Glacial 50k on 10/11.  If I don’t think I can break 6 hours then I might pass.  

The glimmer of hope I did see was I was doing some 7-8 minute miles on a few short sections on the road.  It came rather easy, but my knee was cooperating then.  Like anyone, I’d love to get to the point that I could actually wheel off a few miles at a time at that pace.  Either way it provided a tiny bit of fairy tale dust that my massive brain went ahead and coded as fact.  

We’re bigger than US Steel

Yesterday I began my new drug therapy.  It is a molecular targeting drug.  I’ll get blood test every week for a month to dial in the twice a day pill taking.  So far so good.  No noticeable side effects.  As anyone would want, my wish is for sustained health, but I’m really hoping for a possible benefit to my running.  I’ve had minor issues with my right knee for years.  The past month it has become chronic.  Painful at times and somewhat burdensome to run.  Like most I just ignore the obvious problem and marshal on.  Most days I follow a run .35 miles and walk .15 miles.  This yields 12:10 to 13:10 miles.  Straight running puts me at 10:45 to 11:30 range so not a lot of difference.  I could cover many miles with the r/w routine, but at 4.7 mph time becomes a limiting factor.  It is a bit easier on the knee.  The straight truth is now that the Ice Age 50 mile has been cancelled for 2020, I should get this looked at.  I’m still getting in over 50 a week and may hit 70 this week.  That conjures up many theories on why not to exercise sound wisdom.  There are a couple possible events left in October, but I struggle with common sense at times.

Just to be clear, it does appear the man you are seeing looks like an old version of Peter Falk out stumbling around.  And though this may be true, there is this prevailing thought that one day I am going to put the beat down on a few people.  It’s not personal, it’s how some folks come across to me.  Especially those who wish to discuss openly what times they believe they will run in a manner that over a period of time makes them appear they have.  People who actually have the ability, but trade the actual hard work and fortitude for some mystical mirage that few people my age understand or remotely care about.  This is why I’m out stumbling around.  Yes I enjoy it immensely, but no one who has averaged 71 miles a week YTD isn’t hoping for a release the hounds moment.

If you can get up and walk away

Hey folks.  Just a note I’m down in the trenches currently with the PV and until we find an alternate medication that works my running is in the toilet.  Sure I’ll still be out most days, but runs like today at 12:27 pace left me wiped out most of the day.  I’ll get out with the Menomonee Park crew here and there, but for now I’m on the unable to perform list.  I meet with the Doc on July 14th to review my biopsy results and then we will see what the best foot forward is.

In the meantime remember what I told my brother and sister today.  Never underestimate the power of the hamburger.

When I get off this mountain

Ahh...the robin.  Gotta respect they shun bird feeders and just make it happen on their own.  Generally you see them out alone.  Hop...hop... hop and then the dagger.  They look on bewildered at other birds sucking up the free nutrition.  Heck you can even lay and egg or two in one of their nest and they are like whatever.  Let’s us know when you’re done.  We pick chunks of birds out of our stool bigger than you.  State bird here, so a touch of royalty.  Humble...very humble bird because if they weren’t they would be lobbying to be called Vince.  Ever see these guys fly?  I’m not even sure they know what they’re doing.  They don’t hold up cosmetically either.  If you get close they are all gray and crap in places.  They look like your uncle.

Been motoring around 10:30 to 12:15 pace.  In the 60+ range the past couple weeks.  Just happy to be moving along.  Get out with Big Kick a couple times a week and spread the knowledge.  From me to you man.  Usually end up discussing old tv shows and who did, or who didn’t play a certain character.  I thought Gavin MacLeod died 20 years ago.  Guess not.  Recognized him in The Sand Pebbles recently.  Made a Minooka appearance and got in 20 with Clem.  Legend.  Andrea cut it short at 10.  Deano got in a good 1:30 on the bike.  Guy looked solid as Sears.

Heading West soon with the wife for some r and r.  The $600,000 dog will go stay with the boy in Milwaukee.  Not sure about all the flowers and the garden.  If I lay a trail of cash to the house I’m sure the daughter will be happy to help.  That’s just a tiny joke Brochilies.

Ever try and explain something simple to a person that would save them time, but they have absolutely zero interest?  I’ll figure it out when I get there, or when it happens.  Okay.  The sound you are hearing is asteroids crashing off the hull of the ship.

I miss the Earth

Big Kick was out in full force today as we mustered 7.4 miles through the cold rain.  I snuck in 50.6 miles for the week, which is about the low end of what I want to get in.  We did cover off the movie classic, "The Incredible Mr. Limpet."  Surprised 2 of the 4 of us had never heard of it.  It brings back the good days of being a kid.  It is worth a look in my opinion.

I'm seeing that races are still being cancelled or postponed through August.  Seems a bit over the top.  I can go to the grocery store, Mickey D's, or the cancer center, but running remotely out in the woods can't be figured out?  On another vein, why does everyone insist on explaining everything to me.  It's a garden...I get how it works.  Fill out this spreadsheet (that came with detailed directions)...and let's get together on a call.  Compost site...yes I know I can't get rid of construction material or old video games here.  I guess it's better than having no input. 

In the 90's I went directly to duct tape over the nipples.  I became soft.  My wife taunted me because if I knew anything about breast feeding that eventually they toughen up.  I'm not a flashy guy so I just leave it on.  Not always easy to get a good seal with hair, so I'm doing repairs a few times a week.  I'm not going to shave the area because my brain tells me that could mostly be wrong.  Vaseline stains the shirts, band-aids are completely useless, painter tape is worthless, and body-glide is too expensive.  A roll of duct tape last years though I'd be lying if it didn't occasionally confuse people about me.  What I may never understand is as often as one rips them off there is no lack of hair.  I recently saw a roll of duct tape that will last me until the end of the trail.  No flash and not overly expensive.  Tight as a vice grip, but very little residue.

One of my favorite snacks if a double hamburger and a McChicken.  That will run you $2.92.  I could eat that everyday.  Running to burn calories is a huge motivator for me and to be honest I could easily eat 5-6 sandwiches at the arches because they are tiny.  In fact as I type I just decided I'm going to go make a run.  I'll pick up tabasco sauce and a 6 pack of those nutty buddy things, you know...for the effort.

Been watching the MJ documentary series.  What's all the negative waves?  Guy wanted to win.  The people who didn't like the environment left.  He made some mistakes.  I could not imagine being in that position and not doing the same.  It's the NBA Brochiles.  Of course people are going to torch each other.  Any sport growing up meant you dealt with life.  We had apple fights as kids and the objective was to throw at the other guys head as hard as you could.  Not really any age restrictions.  You figured stuff out.  This week I was copied on a small issue via email.  I was off that day and watched as 4-5 people got involved with question after question.  I'm not a genius, but I picked up the phone, called the person at the receiving department (no idea who they were), asked 2 questions, sent an email to everyone saying what was going to happen and it was over.  No ones bombing apples at your head.  Pick up the phone and put stuff to rest.  Kind of like collecting money.  Send 20 emails or just get them on the phone and say you owe us money.  When can we expect it...Brochiles? 

Kentucky windage

Yesterday was a rewarding exercise in that I learned the reason I run slow.  My blood counts are down considerably.  At this point in time I don't know what the overall picture is, but the good news is I am now totally going to be Joe Hendersoning it.  Back in high school I read his book, "Run Gently, Run Long" and it made sense to me.  Through the years I have trained hard at times, but always enjoyed running more when it involved nothing more than the easy freedom of movement.

I noted my bit of disappointment in only covering 60 miles a month ago on the 12 hour virtual run.  Based on what training was recently done it made no sense to wash out early.  Last week on our venture around Lake Geneva it was a bit of work for what is typically an easier pace.  I was clearly the ball and chain in my mind though it was a good run for all.  I ran less this week because of tiredness.  My though process is I would have a little more zip on Tuesday and Thursday running with the Big Kick Track Club at 10:30 pace, but it was more work than I wanted it to be.  Now I know why.  There is a little less juice in the juicy fruit.

I took Friday off.  Today I had a great run down to the trail intersection at QEK and then jumped on the Ice Age towards the old Funk road parking lot.  Along the way I remember a tale told to me by a legendary Drake graduate of a one mile trail that goes up over the muscle ridge and circles back.  I keenly investigated and made all the proper navigation moves to get back.  There wasn't a soul out there.  Only the occasional  flaking of spring tree buds wafting down on me.  I did spook a big doe.  Evidently she saw the size of me lumbering down the trail in my $25 dollar pair of Avia shoes from Walmart and wanted no part of that.  Sound wisdom.  I have chucks of deer in my stool bigger than her.  Eventually one pours out near the bugline and after a few add on segments I completed 11.1 miles in 2:04:51.

That's the plan for now.  Just jog with what the day gives me.  Save some for tomorrow.  Learn to just make time disappear.  "You going huntin'?"  "Only if'n I lose something."

Two pounds of bacon and bread crumbs

About a month ago I took part in a virtual race.  How many complete 5 mile loops could one do in 12 hours.  I shot for 14 loops and managed 12.  It was a good experience.  It just was not my day.  Every time back you checked in on Zoom, took a picture of the watch face (for me) and emailed that in, and updated the information on the platform.  Then when acknowledged you headed back out.  My son helped so that saved time.  Those 12 loops took 10:49:42 in a time frame of 11:27.  I did not have enough time to complete another loop.  Dean and Clem came over on their bikes to check on me, and Robert who ran a 50k that morning came over and put in about 3 miles to see how I was doing.  It was good to have visitors for sure.  I was in the tank 25-40 miles into the thing.  It was very windy out, so I switched to running multiple out and backs were there was less wind.  The 20-25 mile winds gave me an ear ache that took a day or so to go away.  I forgot how painful those can be.

After a couple real easy weeks and slight pain I managed to get back to running again.  Last week I managed 57.9 and this week I hit 67.2.  Saturday, May 9th I was invited to run around Lake Geneva.  A beautiful run just short of 22 miles.  Joel, Christine, Robert and myself ran the complete shoreline route which literally goes through everyone's backyard.  The running surface changes for the most part every yard.  Concrete, patio circles, brick, stone, wood chips, etc.  Just outstanding lake homes, one after the other.  Then there are the impressive lake views.  I really enjoyed this adventure.  I timed it at 21.9 miles in 3:56:20.  Anytime we came to a complete stop I stopped my watch, but everything else was timed.  I'm guessing we walked no more than about a half mile or so, or at least me.  I did stop the watch when we walked up to the gas station in William's Bay.

Stop at Frank's for hot dogs.  Guy used to be 370 so he knows his way around a good dog.  He's half of that now.  His best time around the lake is 5:30.  Fries real good and not because we were half starved.  It snowed here Friday.  About 40 and rain right now.  I think my wife and I discuss everyday about when we are moving.  No matter.  Weren't no Grizz left anyway.

Feed him when you can

With Ice Age and the Big Hill Bonk moving to the fall, it will be a packed format with 4 races in 6 weeks.  I had just finished my last long training run when the news came from all venues that things will be on hold awhile.  March still ended up decent with 330 miles.  I woke up in the middle of the night and penned a training format that is still on my desk.  I was going to do a big write up on the methodology, but I’m going to muddle through it and make adjustments as I put it to practice.

The main construct comes from the Kenny Moore idea of 2 easy days followed by 1 hard day.  I laid that out and so every 3 week cycle allows 7 hard days.  I adjusted the schedule in a manner that suits me, which means it starts on a Monday with the first hard day is a Tuesday.  Plugging in the hard days yielded 3 short and fast tempo run days, 2 days of hard race pace effort (Ice Age level) at 1:30 and a 2:00 hour duration and 2 long runs of 3 hours and 5 hours.  Once I started filling it out I could see a lot of resemblance to the 3 week cycles Mr. Kevin Beck uses.  This reminded me that all the easy days were not just jogging around, but a fair amount of solid moderate efforts.  I did not want to do a lot of 10-12 milers on the easier days, so I decided to break many of those efforts into 2 a days because I’m old.  Still wanting to keep things honest my thought was to incorporate Ingrid Kristiansen type training which in short was 45 minute efforts at high aerobic effort.  The idea is you get used to running faster and the 45 minute range helps you from digging into the reserves.

Now there is no way to stay motivated for 5-6 months of this, so I am in tinker mode.  I’ll maintain the format, but not get too rigid the next couple months.  So far so good.  Some days when tired I just run super easy in between hard days.  Other days I do in between hard days I practice the high aerobic stuff.  My main focus now is Ice Age on September 26.  My main concern is my right knee.  I twisted it about 6-7 years ago on the IA trail.  It has shown sharp pains since, but they are regular now.  Especially when running uphill.  Not enough to fret yet, but I have to figure this out.  After I finish my first 3 week cycle I’ll post the results.

Without the use of flint or tinder

I have completed 3 months of training for the Big Hill Bonk.  The goal was to pile up some mileage, primarily to see if my body could tolerate the constant time on feet.  There were issues and the thought process was to try and figure them out.  December was a break in month of 404.7, followed by a solid January of 426.3, and I finished February with 451.7 miles.  This represents the biggest block of miles I have ever run...by far.  I say run.  There was a far bit of walking parsed through there to get familiar with the backyard concept.  As mentioned before, practicing for this format means a lot of slow moving so you basically run out of having anymore time to run when one is on there feet an average of three hours per day.

The process did make me faster.  I ran John Dick in just under 4:41 on snow and finished 10th overall.  That's primarily on 10:30 to 13:30 minute miles in training.  Much was on tougher terrain than normal so I'm sure good strength training was taking place.  My goal was to not worry about pace at all and just get in around 100 mile weeks.  One real positive was I shuffled the shoe supports around enough as to were my right hip and back pain all but went away.  As any winter running and mileage boosts begins happening you do have to watch other niggles that pop up.  I have some of those, but nothing enough to prevent days of training.

At 4:27pm on February 28th I began my first of 10 loops of a distance of 4.3 miles in an hour.  I finished at 2:20am on the morning of February 29th.  I used the Backyard format of leaving right on the beginning of the next hour.  I made the distance 4.3 because it was all run on the road and also because 43 miles sounded like a long ways.  The times churned out were 52:55, 54:20, 53:33, 53:25, 52:28, 53:00, 51:57, 51:17, 51:58, 53:10.  I did not run with a light so it was dark after the first 2 loops.  It appears the running by feel had me running a bit hotter.  I also think at some point as one tires they automatically speed up to compensate for the tiredness.  That wasn't necessary, but I just let it go.  It was not that difficult except for the fact that in the last couple loops my lower back was shot.  So much so that I'll have to consider doing something, but I'm not sure what.  I covered 14 miles today on 2 seperate runs with no back pain.  That is good news.  I have a couple more ideas which means I may have to do another test, but certainly not 10 loops.

The event is 33 days away.  As a prolific eater I'll have to keep an eye on things.  I am already down from 4 cups of coffee to a half cup.  I do substitute decaf.  Some say that is no good either.  Neither are the bags of chocolate, or cola.  Look...I'm cutting out the caffienated coffee.  Get off me.  This ain't no coon hunt. 

How cool is it that Molly Seidel from Hartland (originally) were we live is on the Olympic team?  Watched her race once or twice here when she was a kid.  Congrats to her.  She deserves it.

Killing me softly

I am thankful for the mild winter.  Sure we get a taste now and then, but this has been good.  Many of the miles are tramped out in the dark mornings.  When it is a couple hours before the sun comes up and there isn't much going on, you get to hear many sounds.  Who doesn't like the sound of the distant train whistle?  If I am heading that way I'll try and gauge a crossing timetable.  One of the coolest sounds this winter was a large cracking sound off a huge pond of water in a cornfield. A common sound this week is snow coming off metal barn roofs and crashing into the gutters.  At first it startles you.  I think the reason it is startling is twice in the last couple weeks I've heard the sound of feet suddenly closing on me.  Both times it was a pair of dogs running down the road after me.  The one pair jumped the dog and honestly I did not hear them until the last second.  Neither did she so we fought first and didn't ponder the situation.  I landed a solid shot.  The ruckus caused the owner to whistle (you could not see his house back in the woods) and the dogs bolted back over the hill.  I think they were probably just being playful, but dang we had no idea and my dog gets like a German Shepherd on a rib roast.  She was on a leash with me.  That was it.  Everything turned out okay. 

Out running the snowmobile trails today I heard a woodpecker hammering away.  I also heard a screeching hawk which I do not hear often.  Pretty cool.  On really cool mornings with low wind you can hear the Hoot Owls back in the camp acreage. Speaking of German Shepherds, I saw a huge one off leash back on the snowmobile trails today.  The owner was near by.  I glimpsed them first so I just stopped about 80 yards away and let them go their way.  Look I get it, but I must say about every time I get on the trail just about everyone has their dog off leash.  And some of them don't like my sudden appearance, or my very close proximity to the owner.  Do people not understand the dynamic here?  Okay I'll try and quit complaining until I get served up again.

I used to complain about vehicles, but as a driver myself I have come to the conclusion to just get the hell off the road, or cross way over to the other side.  My personal take is that the elderly feel less inclined to budge much.  Perhaps it is the secure knowledge they have that they have been licensed drivers for 60+ years and have drove the tractor since being 7.  I'm being sincere.  Take your own poll and compare.  I cannot ride a bike for this reason.  I have to be facing traffic.

I'm thinking about 5 more weeks of solid training.  This weekend I proved to myself that 11-12 minute miles does not make me slow.  I ran pretty well at the John Dick 50k for me and still put in a decent mileage week.  Since the 120 week I have went 75.5, 100, and 93.6.  I'm a bit beat up from John Dick, but hope to seek a few more high mileage weeks.  Somewhere in there I want to get near a 10 hour effort.  I am slowly getting used to the concept of being on my feet near 3 hours a day most days.  Let's see what happens this week.  John Dick is a 5 loop course through the Southern Kettle trails.  It is an out and back and another out and back with an upper loop so you see people all the time.  Someone and I don't remember who said how far to the barn and I simply replied about 15.5 miles.  It only dawned on me about 5 minutes later they may have been referring to the blog! 

What a winning hand

Hey man, I am busy at work and with other things.  The running has been burning up time.  I did decide on a cut back week of 80-90 miles.  Best to heal up a bit and absorb a bit of the effort put in.  I just told myself yesterday this true statement.  You are going to be 60 next year.  Flintstones, meet the Flintstones.  And butterflies are free to fly.  He used to love that Econoline.  Forget it Jake...

Last week 120 miles.

Hand me down my walkin' cane

I got around to piling up miles during the week.  Actually, they are starting to come normally.  During the beginning of the work week I primarily run.  As I tire mid-week I begin to work the run 4 minutes and walk 2.5 minutes for some of the miles.  One can easily average 13 minutes a mile with this, in the dark, with some questionable running surfaces, and while under load.  It does help with recovery.  I covered 86 miles over the 5 days before Saturday.  Saturday is a freezing rain day and I wanted to get 20 in with about half of it running only and the other half with the run/walk effort.  I managed to accomplish this in my own particular way.

Here are a few things I am beginning to find out.  You can cover many miles in a week when trying to stay slow.  You also become slow.  I'm at the point where there is no more time to train in a day.  Part of the idea was to get tired enough so you could replicate what it would be like to do 4.167 miles in an hour when dead dog tired.  For me, at least so far this isn't happening.  Even today in crappy conditions I'm doing these in 53-54 minutes.  Which is where i want to be anyway, but I really can't add more miles during the week.  I suppose this should be a good thing.  Part of the goal is to get to the point where loops don't feel difficult day after day.  Well they don't.  You can't replicate what is going to happen in a last man standing event in day to day running.  Not even close, so I guess there will be 1-2 trials necessary.  I am thinking at least one at 40-50 miles, but we shall see.

My energy levels feel decent.  I should target a recovery week, but I'm somewhat determined to aim at getting in 500 miles this month.  This is as close as I'll ever get.  Certainly it means squat, but that's how some brains work.  I'll admit my achilles in both feet are starting to wonder if we are ever getting off the island, but I keep reminding them that Gilligan says we are close.  With travel coming up it is going to be extremely difficult to find the time to accomplish this.  Outside of this venue and a few close friends, I don't tell anyone how much time I spend out there.  It is certainly not healthy.  Now that winter is here you can be sure the blue skies and tuna fish sandwiches for everyone attitude is under attack.  Let's see how this plays out.

I’m no fun anymore

I’ve stayed the course with my plan to learn to go slow and build up miles.  Once I get up to the higher weekly mile range the goal is to figure stuff out as it comes.  So you do get tired at times.  It is then when one gets to practice how they can devise strategies on the move to maintain goal pace.  Even tired, averaging 13 minute pace is plenty doable.  It makes me wonder how many miles a week would one have to cover to truly mimic that in a last man standing event.  Now I get it.  There is the idea of arranging the schedule to key in on doing precisely that with say a 40-50 mile practice run, but I’m also trying to pound the body to find and overcome my deficiencies.  My back/hip has not been an issue.  I have increased the elevation in one of my shoes to even out the leg length discrepancy.  As odd as it may sound, I’m not willing to skip around potential body issues on lower miles.  I have to survive the training and for me that is finding a way to get it done daily.  Off course I have other niggles, but it is amazing to me so far that they come and go.  Trust me some days I go to bed and wonder what tomorrow will feel like.  Surprisingly I generally am ready to go and the mild January weather has helped.

Not sure what the end game is here.  As of today I have a few concerns on a couple aches and pains, but it seems the easy pace does not draw them out like intense marathon training would.  The event is April 3rd.  Currently I think I will still chase miles and peak out around mid February because past that it won’t be beneficial.  Talking to Grub we both have experienced in the past that once you get past a certain point piling up mileage seems easier mentally.  I’d like to say that’s where I’m getting to.  Off course getting up at 4am and showering a lot is tiresome at times.  The reward is getting out there and then after awhile you don’t want to come back.  Not many people get to experience the feeling of time standing still.  Pure darkness and beard covered in a glaze of ice.  Running down the middle of the road seeing a car once a mile.  Good times.

Last week 110 miles.

The Giants win the pennant

The year 2019 is in the books.  It is funny how over time one begins to look at how the way things are, were, and could be and discovers much of what goes down can be farcical.  I primarily keep to running because this is a blog about running.  Stay with me for a second as I just make a personal observation.  Is it because I'm actually older that about everything I am exposed to I'm finding a huge amount of bias being weaved in?  I process the info, pull out what my responsibility may be and move on.  I'm talking about everything from TV, work, community, running, interpersonal, sports, etc.  Hey I had a really enjoyable 2019 and I'm not trying to be negative at all.  I'm just now learning to listen and keep my thoughts in most cases to myself.  I find these three things the most challenging.


I've been a field guy at all levels for 35 years.  How about a few of you actually read or research what has been given to you, or is it "funner" to pull me off the road to point out were it is in the email.


How a simple request to grab your dog becomes a lecture on how Albert Schweitzer like your dog is.


Professional sports are almost a complete waste of time and serve no real purpose to me.


Okay that's not the big three I could really share, but these are good enough for this blog.


I ran 2,658.0 miles in 2019 and December was my biggest month at 404.7 miles.  I think I had one bigger month in 1978.  Nothing sticks out in terms of performance other than I ran Al's Run 8k in the mid 33's.  That's good for me.  We had a shake up in who I ran with the most this year.  Dewey has been the number one wing man for about 5 straight years, but getting a hip replaced knocked him all the way down to second banana.


1. Tim = 43 (state champ)
2.  Dewey = 34 (crew of the decade)
3.  Robert = 16 (up and comer...primary nemesis)
4.  Andrea = 5 (legendary polar plunger)
4.  Tim L. = 5 (the flying Dutchman)
6.  Crawford = 4 (Ginger Rockstar...goal crusher)
7.  Arena = 3 (Ice Age master)
7.  Clem = 3 (Ice Age royalty of the first degree)
7.  Blanchard = 3 (running and car guru)
7.  Steve HK = 3 (speed demon...talent to spare)


Tim, Dewey, Robert, and Tim L all runs primarily at Menomonee Park.  I did not list the dog.  Of which I must sign off as it is time to get her out.


Last week was 100.4 miles.