Thursday, December 16, 2021

The damage done

 I have come to the realization that lining up and finishing the Ice Age 50 mile in 2022 is going to be a real challenge.  As it stands now, there is a no way I can train properly with a bum Achilles.  There is no major pain as I walk about 6.5 miles daily, but the small distances I try and shuffle are slow and awkward.  They also leave the area tender.  It quickly goes away after a day, but I am gun shy to try begin jogging again.  I can’t walk Ice Age in under 12 hours.

 My problem is me of course.  I know What I should be doing.  I also know what other cross training could be considered.  It is hard not to go out daily for an effort and many times twice a day.  We are all told when we can’t do this anymore.  Maybe my time is here.  I have a few ideas to make this work.  Of course I do.  It is not the way I want to go about preparing, but I still want to lick the mustard out of the jar one more time.

Sunday, December 12, 2021

The 306 acre woods

 I discovered in early November the Boys and Girls Club by me has passes to use the trails and roads on the property.  I had the whole thing staked out in a week.  It opens up a whole new variety of runs.  The camp has much mature woodland and a marsh area with a boardwalk through it.  It also borders Lake Keesus and is full of unpressurized wildlife.  There are a few rolling hills, but no major climbs.

 In particular there are two areas (outside of the paved entrances on both sides) one can sneak out to the rural roads in the area.  It is fairly easy to cobble together a variety of routes of the 3-5 mile range and mostly stay in the camp.  I’ve been out there about 20 times and have not seen one other person using the grounds.  I’ve only seen the occasional maintenance gentleman on the golf cart.  It also appears someone drives the back areas daily just to check on the cabins.

 The beauty of it for me is the solitude.  Unless you are one which seeks out this type of endeavor it is difficult to explain the airing out of other solid waste which can accumulate.  Sometimes I don’t want to quite go back yet, but I still answer to the man.  After awhile the answering and yes sir, yes sir, three bags full stuff gets old.  And I’m just not talking about work.

Any way the text have come in about getting in an effort with the boys around lunch.  Always happy to steal another one.  


Saturday, December 11, 2021

A buck eighty-eight

 That is big for me.  When I went on this medication it called out this would probably happen.  It did and along with the Achilles problem the miles are way down.  I primarily put in a fair amount of miles for two reasons. First is so I can occasionally participate in an ultra of 50k to 50 miles.  Second so I can hoist down whatever I feel like.  Seems these days are over.

 We looked at homes in Florida last week and are making steps on moving there.  People remind me of some of the challenges.  I know.  I lived there 1984-1997.  It certainly is no where near South Florida.  

 Can’t wait to be capable of shuffling along again.  Had actually looked at a flat 100 miler.  I need something to consider.  Getting out has never been a problem for me.  When I slog or run it’s all about the movement.  When only walking it’s more cerebral.  Never was a cerebral runner.  It was about the task at hand and still is as I analyze the metrics of time, speed, and distance.  Mile to mile.  It keeps me occupied.  Now I’m currently at a point of adding steps per day.  You either accept it, move on to other activities, or surrender.  Time moves for no man.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Hold until relieved

 I have been dealing with an Achilles issue the past month.  As is typical I have over played my hand.  Not an issue I want to prolong, it makes sense to just shut all attempts at accumulating mileage down.

 Turned 60 back in September.  No words of wisdom available at this time.  Let me bask in its semi-warm glow for a spell.  One observation is even middle age has passed.  My much older neighbors call me the kid.  A title I suggested to them.  They can on occasion tell me how and when yard work should be completed.  This faction is in their 80s and 90s.  It’s an uncommon gesture now-a-days, but it still resonates a level of respect from me.  I mean when the 90+ neighbor plows out your driveway that’s a piece of America back in my brain that isn’t accessed much anymore.  Really sort of Bud Grant-ish.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

…and loving it

 I’m still out here.  Went over 1,600 miles for the year last week.  Mostly 11 - 13 minute pace.  No expectations for Ice Age.  Looking to get number 19 in the bank.  Have some weight to lose.  Did sign up for the Glacial Trail 50 mile on 10/11.  Thinking of the T-Bunk 100 in November.  Not getting any younger.  Ice Age is 9/11 so that’s on my 60th birthday.  Should be entertaining.  Nothing new to report.  Am starting to ponder the luxury of retiring next year.  Talk to 20 people about preparing for retirement and get 20 different philosophies.  

Sunday, April 4, 2021

I know you dude

 Lit out today in shorts and a hood jersey.  Wanted to get in 2 hours.  Started out along the big muddy and angled her over towards Monches.  The sand hill cranes are out in full force.  So many of them now.  Things are super loud.  Busted a left into Loew Lake and picked up the trail.  It was so nice I went out and circled the stoney batter.  I put up over Emerald, hammering away the 11:00 minute miles.  Very few people out today.  Well...the dog folks are dedicated.   Saw more dogs than folks.  Picked up the Ice Age trail and continued to take it all in.  What issues I may or may not have had at the start seemed pointless by now.  My brain was covered in velvet.  I was tired, but I had slipped into a brief moment of unconscious freedom of movement.  This zone is rare and and attempt was made not to ruin it by charging of as into battle.  That’s a different plateau.  I’m no shaman, nor the son of a shaman, but I just got up on those big shoulders and rode her in for 13 today.  

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Grizzer bears pilgrim

 Not much new to report.  Logging way less miles.  Generally in the 50-55 a week range.  I’m not blazing anything.  I’d say I’m running about one minute a mile faster per mile.  Super pumped the snow is gone.  Mostly will be running around home so a decent amount of Ice Age trail around here and the Bugline.  Bugline be packed with an assortment of folks, so I try and hit it early.  The bicyclist have not won me over yet.  Still have a few Spider Sabiching it through the field.  

Saw Earl Campbell turned 66 last week.  Do yourself a favor and go look at what a dynamic fullback used to run like.  Freaking beast.  Besides the power, stiff arms, bowling NFL athletes over, etc., it gets even better when he is finally in the open field an jettisons the afterburners.  You have to admit those tear away jerseys just made it that much better.

Been traveling more lately so not getting out to The Way of the Fist Track Club as much.  Now that Chef Mike moved up from Illinois we can have as many as 5 running at the same time.  

Everyone have a good Easter.  Paint King.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Not bad for 2 weeks work

 Training has been different as of late.  Running faster has finally taken its toll, but I guess this was already known.  It does an excellent job of making one tired.  The plan will remain the same, but the paces are being dialed back substantially.  The stride rate is still being worked on.  Small improvements have been made, though there is some doubt reaching 180 per minute will happen.  I have went from about 152 to 160.  Today it was 162 at 10:26 pace.  That was with trying to make an effort towards improvement.  My best result was at 170.  That was closer to sub 8:30 pace.  Also this is primarily on the roads.  The trails require a different technique.  Less shuffle and more high stepping.  At least on the Ice Age trail.

Really enjoyed a 21.5 mile run this past Sunday with Angela, Tina, Brenda, and Nicole.  They were on there second day of running a 50k.  We moved well.  I was fairly waxed for a couple days.  It is so nice to just move along.  No pressure.  Enjoy getting out.  I kind of miss piling up the 70-80 mile weeks.  It was all super slow (yes I know 10:30 is slow), probably between 12-13 a mile when by myself.  But...it is also nice to change things up a bit.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Big Iron

So now that I am back traveling a bit more for work, I am going to have to adjust how some runs play out. The plan to continue moving faster in short runs still played out. After reading a nice piece by Beck the idea of increasing cadence was added.  I had five faster efforts as follows w/ cadence noted.  There is no warm up, just start rumbling.
4.4 @ 8:44 (?)
4.4 @ 8:45 (160)
4.4 @ 8:25 (166)
4.4 @ 8:33 (172)
5.1 @ 8:26 (168)
Another decent level of volume pace work.  

So the trails are still in bad shape.  I opted for a mostly road run on Sunday to finish the week.  I had last Saturday off and struggled a bit with 14 last Sunday.  Glad to report this 15.1 went fairly decent with a pace of 9:36 and a 158 cadence.  I was surprised at the lower number, as I felt like the turn was better than that.  Still have a lot to discover here.  If anything it gets me thinking about different ways to do things.  The week odometer ended at 51.3 miles.  

I set my watch up in time zones of sub 7:30, 7:30 to 8:00, 8:00 to 8:30, 8:30 to 9:00, and 9:00+.  Would like to try and see if any progress is made as I continue.  Knowing one is tracking data is hard to ignore, but I am trying.  

Monday, March 8, 2021

Vanishing Point

Recently I learned the Ice Age 50 mile has been moved to September 11th. This falls on my 60th birthday. It has promoted me to drop my current habit of running at a very slow pace in the name of just piling up miles. After much thought and writing out various schemes I have developed a strategy. It is as follows. Monday thru Friday Run twice a day at an up tempo pace for 35-40 minutes. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings run with Big Kick Track Club easy. Fridays will be looked at as well if I am gassed. Saturday off. Sunday I will alternate weeks with a long run and a trail pace run at goal pace. The pace run will allow me to figure out what I can possibly achieve. The A goal for now is 8:30. The mileage will fall between 55-65 per week. Last week I was a bit aggressive. This left me waxed at the end of the week. I will attempt to back off a bit on the up tempo runs. I did 6 out the door up tempo runs of 4.3 miles and averaged 9:01, 8:44, 8:13, 8:14, 8:29, and 8:21 on those. Friday I opted for 6.2 easy and Saturday off. Sunday was 14.0 @ 10:52 and I struggled a bit the last 5 miles. Ended the week with 58.2 miles. It wouldn't hurt to cut weight. I was 178 on Tuesday. I am 5'11" so there is room there. Historically if I am in the low 170s that is good for me.

Saturday, February 20, 2021

5:46:02

The John Dick 50k was a couple weeks ago. It was -5F at the start. Trails were decent for this event. I signed up for the regular time which asked for a 6 hour or less finish time. It was a 5 looper and I carried little, opting to hit the truck every loop and then check in. I was hoping for about 1:10 on the first loop and that's what I hit. I started mixing it up with a couple guys. Kept trash talk to minimum for obvious reasons. The second loop was 1:06 and feeling okay I went with it. The third loop was another 1:06 so I kept on trucking big momma style. Started bone chipping a bit on the 4th loop and hit 1:11:30. Legs were sore and I was gassing a bit as the trails suffered up top from some snow mobile action. Shotgunned a coke and grabbed a touch of grub before setting out. There is no one near me. Started feeling well again on this last loop, but the sands of time meant nothing at this point so I twinkle toed the last loop in 1:12:30ish. Enjoyed some chili and talking to a few regulars. The course was slower than last year, but all in all not a bad day. Not sure what is next. For now it is good to get out most everyday and take what I am given. Have no confidence Ice Age 50 miler will go off in May, so maybe an evaluation is needed.

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Forget it Jake

2020 was a year of firsts. I finished with 3,528.7 miles, ran 451.7 miles in February, had a 120 mile week, and had my longest training run of 43 miles. The reason was because I was signed up for a last man standing event. That never happened. Now I don't know a lot about how metrics work today. I know I have a watch I selected for my 35th anniversary in 2019 that keeps track of everything. I like it because it tracks distance and time. It also has an extremely long battery life. As one can imagen it tracks sleep, heart rate, steps, stress, etc. I just found it tracks fitness level of which mine is 29.7 out of 100. When I hit the Major Tom control panel for age equivalence it says I'm 79. So I have that going for me. I am capable of carrying a 200+ heart rate for a very long time, so I'm going to grab my Dolphin race shorts from '77 and see if I can break 14:00 in the 5k around the lake here. It just all seems plausible now. I mean I also do toe crunches, so on a good day without snow maybe I could achieve a mid-pack 5000 time from the '72 Olympics. We are all so better than that now. I am so close to the end of the tunnel I can reach my hand out into the light. Curious as to what is out there. I know music from The Band won't be playing. Probably tough to find a decent chili dog. I might chuck my phone. The wife will have one. "You going huntin'." "Only if'n I lose somethin'." Maybe those cool tunes from the Charlie Brown days will be around. "What's your dogs name." "Gene or Steve."

Sunday, February 7, 2021

I don’t feel tardy

I will write more about 2020 in the near future. It was a good year in many ways and I learned a ton about keeping the big momma rolling down the highway. My log shows who I ran with during the year. This sounds cut and dry, but there are variables. Just one of the dozens of examples of achieving a run credit goes like this. If a group starts out on a run, how long do you need to be with me before you go in the log? Good question. The 2020 results show the highest totals in decades. It also shows a real thinning of the crowd at the lower numbers. Without further ado I want to acknowledge the Dew Master for regaining the title this year. It was real close and there was a bit of controversy, but these numbers are true and legit. 1. Dew Master - 73 2. State Champ - 71 3. Robert of Hubertus - 48 4. Crawford Women's IA Legend - 12 5. Grubby - 4 Straight up Tina - 4 7. I am Angela - 3 Bartz - 3 9. Lammers - 2 Mallach - 2 Andrea - 2 Clem Men's IA Legend - 2 That is a good bunch of people right there. It was an honor sharing the road, trail, and many a laugh with you. The biggest take away is State Champ informed me he is 67 and not 68 as I keep claiming. Million times bowing.