State Champ

 The year tapped out at 2,211.9 miles, which was 699.3 less than last year.  Two non-running injuries affected the total and also increased the percentage of walking miles.  That's okay.  Averaging 6.06 miles a day means I'm still in the game.  

 Every year I post who went out with me, or we met up for a little movement.  The top 10 does not have 10 in it this year.  My minimum is 3 efforts for the year.  Now folks ask about the dog.  Unless I'm counting the mileage as a recordable effort, the dog does not receive credit.   We went out, but at 16 years old  it's mainly a sniff fest and hey watch this once type of slow effort.  Plus she would have won 12 years in a row had I counted the glory days, so I excluded her.  

State Champ - 26

Ten Bears (or beers) - 24

John Wayne (real name) - 18

Ginger Rockstar - 12

The Wife - 10

The Robert - 7

 There was a time long ago, when we were young in which we modeled parent behavior. One such behavior was transacting business.  Generally seen at the gas station (when they did it for you), grocery stores, and rarely some type of restaurant.  There was some verbal direction and then the payment part which was almost always straight cash.  Don't hold up anything at any cost because others need this service as well.  Also it's 5 degrees at the gas station and Goober doesn't need to waste time in the cold.

 It was real good training.

 But somewhere this waffle iron of consistency and being a good American disappeared.  I could stand on my head and spit $25 dollars in nickels before some customers and patrons figure it out.  The whole thing can be a circus.  Am I the bad guy?  Just pay, don't ask questions and move on.  

 

A time

 After talking with my sister on Saturday, we briefly began talking about ridding our lives of the excess.  We have gotten to this subject maybe 2-3 times, but never fully explored.  Mainly because we had been on the horn so long it was time to make a realistic run at accomplishing something the rest of the day.

 Is it necessary to accomplish something?  A good question.   I have learned what I accomplish probably has little to no value to anyone else, unless you domicile with other humanoids.  Then things such as general participation of cleaning and presentation of the abode matter.

 Now those things were not taught in college.  It was not until my participation in the family structure began in which everyone plays a role. Here is how it worked.  For five days a week you accumulated money to pay for stuff.  All this gets put in the fridge, bank, closets, and the shed.  On the weekends you had time to use some of this stuff and you moved it around until the five days started back up.

 Decades later you realize almost all this stuff is worthless, except the stuff in the bank. The bank stuff is another subject.  Not only is this worthless, but many of the activities, vocations, and minor milestones one may have achieved mean nothing to anyone.  Then, one day you realize they mean nothing to you.

 And this can be so freeing. 

 I'm not going to take the time to merge this into the excess.  Now is the time to look into achieving nothing and expecting nothing.  If the dog looks cold then I cover her up.  If the armadillos dig up the yard I repair it.  If we have food that needs ate up then I grill it.  One day a week I go into town and get two slices of cheese pizza for $4.77 and toss a dollar in the tip jar.  It is a weekly highlight.  

 Oh, and I jog around some in hopes of completing a 50 miler under the cutoffs in May.  I found the Florida National Scenic Trail is 6 miles from me.  Such a bonus.  Here's how many other joggers I've seen to date...zero.  Only hikers and dog folk.  Good by me.  Can't forget about the kayak and bird watching.  Love it.  Occasionally someone will ask about it.  You can pick up some good stuff from other junior enthusiasts when discussing birds.

 That's kinda how life is.  Be more interested in others than yourself and you get something out of it that doesn't go in the shed.

Word salad

 Off work today so just out attempting to be the best version of me.  This looks different for everyone, but today's version is geared towards not really letting the man over extend into my terrarium.  At some point what one does for earning cashola is going to cut bait and work on getting off the grid.  Nothing could be finer.

 So off I set on a 4.5 mile kayak at the first break of daylight.   It was a cool 40-41 degrees.   Not a soul out.  Saw the usual bird action and a couple to look into.  The smaller song bird types are hard to see that flitter between backyards and marsh.  It was very peaceful.   

 Saturday was 22 miles.  Ran the first 6 miles and then went to .35/.15walk mostly on trail.  I was not rested so I could test myself.  At about 17 I went to .15/.10 walk and turned it around.  I ran the last 2 miles and ended up averaging 13:17.  Not bad.  Completely different  body to work with compared with last Saturday.   It's good though. 

 

Stone Elephant

 It was a good week for me.  I am pleased with the ability to run more, recover well, and just go with what works that day.

Monday: 7.0 (13:02 pace) .3/.2 walk

Tuesday: 6.5 (11:39) run

Wednesday: 8.0 (12:13) run

Thursday: 6.6 (13:50) random / walk w/Wayne

Friday: 7.0 (13:16) .3/.2 walk

Saturday: 18.0 (11:55) .38/.12 walk

Sunday: 7.5 (12:23) mostly run

Total: 60.6

Special happy birthday shout out to my friend Kris H today.  I miss our conversations and commeraderie.  Hope to see you at Ice Age.  Not sure, but this one might be a new age group.  

Parliament

 Today was a planned 18, though I cheated and stayed on the paved trail.  Using the .38 trot and .12 troll it turned out pretty sweet averaging 11:55 per mile.  Initially the pace after 6 miles was slow, but okay.  After about 8 miles it was time to quit jagging around so I purposely picked it up.  It turned out to be a good decision. 

12:57

12:26

12:17

12:32

12:24

12:28

12:35

12:25

12:00

11:57

11:37

11:24

11:44

11:48

11:31

11:30

10:51

10:15

I punched the time in a race calculator and it said 10:34 was doable for 50 miles.   This took a bit of pressure off.  Plus you would easily add an hour to that for trails.

Tomorrow I need to trim it back a bit and be smart.  Though I feel fine now after my Big Mac Meal with a Coke, I can't afford to uncut funk  the bomb again tomorrow.  I better stretch a bit.  Hate that bogus movement,  but 5-6 minutes won't kill me.

Hamburgers in your face

 The truck pulled off Fort Cooper road and was parked by the Withlacoochee Trail.  I avoid traffic this way and can take side roads on occasion.  Being off work today allows for a slow jaunt, alternating .3 mile jogs with .2 mile walks.  Seven miles completed at 13:02 pace.  I enjoy this format, but the miles come slow.  I know it is necessary for my training to survive, but would much rather have the ability to run 1-2 hours a day without any walking. 

 I find the longer distances still intrigue me.  If I was to throw it all in to try and break 24 minutes for a 5k then I'm sure I could do that.  The idea of completing 50 miles in under 12 hours somehow seems like the better challenge.   Mainly because I'm not sure I can do it.  It always might be your last one.

 

Just for the hell of it

 Today was another good day.  Not sure how the better days get strung together, but I'll take it.  The only thing I've been doing is stretching a little bit.  Still hammering the calories and just letting the jogging happen.  Of course this has always been the plan.  Run enough and the rest will be taken care of.

 Today was 8 miles without any walking.  The left leg was okay and only noticed a bit of tiring in relation to the right leg.  I averaged 11:40 per mile.

 So with 15 yesterday and 8 today,  it makes things appear possible.  I don't doubt with the fitness I currently have that I could stay under the cutoffs at Ice Age all the way to 30.5 at Duffin.  This is where it gets hard.  For us slower folks it is past noon.  If the sun is out it is a grind.  My reserves become tested and getting up the backside of confusion corner is a bear.  Once that hill is climbed you are about 2/3rds done.  I have really struggled here the past few years.  Mainly because I'm waiting to rally.  But the party barge has been gone and I ain't on it. Suddenly Jinx Dawson and the Coven is playing One Tin Soldier in your head.  "What are you gonna tell your neighbors, what are you gonna tell your friends."

 

Kick a buck

 Today was a longer venture.  I managed 15 miles at 12:20 pace.  It was mostly paved trail and roads.  Utilizing a .37 jog and a .13 walk ratio, the run went well.  I had a half peanut butter sandwich at 5.7 and drank water.  High 50s at start and mid 70s by the end.  No real rough spots, though 7 - 10 mile range had a laul.  Had a t-shirt on with a long sleeve t over that.  Had the mighty Preffered Pump hat on to break the sunshine.

 Felt really good the last few miles.  Had to cap it at 15, otherwise I get carried away.  Would like to achieve 17 next week.  Hoping I'm motivated to drive to the trails, but anything over 10 miles away is a hassle.

 Based on today's trek, one sees Ice Age in a much better light.  2 weeks ago when I aggravated the nerve in my back again I had big doubts.  Still a long way to go.  The only real way to determine if 50 miles in under 12 hours is possible is to do some really long sessions.  Once you get past 25 - 30 and get in the tank out at Ice Age it can be a nightmare.   I still maintained this false notion that if necessary I could grind out a few miles on sheer will.  Like Dandy Don used to sing, "Goodnight, the party's over."

 The last few 50 milers have been brutal past 35 miles for me.  I have to largely walk the majority of it with a few run efforts that just gut me.  Yes the runs have reached temps in the 80s and even 90s, so hopefully next May is different.  I'm hoping to master a walk/run strategy out there that helps extend my crash point somewhere past 40 miles.  Looking at last year's results,  I believe like 155 people finished.  Of those finishers, I was in 154th place at 9 miles, so it's not like I was lighting it up.

 I spoke to a few folks early about pacing as the heat was coming.  Some want to bank miles while it is cooler.  My experience with that is once you set the Kentucky windage it is hard to back off.  Like the Captain says in Cool Hand Luke, "Some men, you just can't reach.  That's the way he wants it, so that's the way he gets it."