Jimmy legs

Ice Age is 4 weeks from today and I have not made it out to the course one time.  Next week in the 35 mile training run which I will attempt with my friend Andy.  Part of it is the drive down there and being busy with other things.  But the big reason for not going there is the crap weather.  I have commitments today, so I ran at 4:50am.  Twenty-three mph winds, rain, and just at that 34 degree mark to complete the ambiance.  In the day we went there months out from race day.  There were always people you new there.  Not so much now.  I'm sure people still go out, but I don't really know many of them.  I am also in that too slow to keep up with the main group and too fast to spend an extra hour or so getting a normal run for me in.  In some ways it is fine.  I spend more time running myself up here on the Northern Ice Age. 


Running alone is getting more preferable because I run in my own groove.  Feel good, feel slow, feel tired, feel caffeinated, feel good, feel fat and on and on.  Now-a-days Ice Age is getting out there like one big training run, taking care of myself, and then looking for a hot spot to grab on to over the last 15-20 miles.  Though in this day and age it is more the last 13 miles I look for it.


The good news is I am in decent shape.  I've cobbled together a fair amount of 10-11 mile runs during the week instead of my old 6 a day during the week.  Knowing I would not be able to go long Saturday (today), I decided to run 2 hours a day Thursday through Sunday.  So far so good the past three days have been 2:12:11, 2:05:26, and 2:01:05.  I'll get my 2 hours in tomorrow and if it goes well maybe close to 2:30.  I've held together fairly well and the biggest thing is just forgetting about time. 


I'm almost out the other end of the pipe.  I'll run less miles during the week and get the big run in next Saturday.  The following week I'll run a bit everyday and on that Saturday two weeks out I'll look to do a simulation run on close to 20 miles of the course.  It is also a good time to make mental notes about the course.  I'll time some of the harder sections and make an estimate what it will take to run time wise on them race day.  Then when I'm suffering at the end, I just look at my watch and tell myself it should take 23 minutes (or whatever) to finish the challenging segment.  This way I just shut everything off in my head and treat it like a 23 minute run.  It I get there in 21 minutes I can then get a feel for how I am doing.  If it is 26 minutes then I better reevaluate.  Over the years I can get fairly close to my estimates.  It just seems to make the run manageable.

One tasty burger

Saturday I jogged 5 miles up to the St. Augustine lot and ran 14.4 miles with Robert and Dewey.  I then lumbered back home from there.  It was a lunch box run.  Wind, rain, and snow mixed in throughout the run, with the best weather found in the last 10 miles or so.  The trails up around Holy Hill were cautious.  At times the wet snow flakes were the size of nickels.  Felt like Al Bundy the first 5 miles on the road, but then did okay on the trails.  The run home on the road was at least 40 seconds a mile faster.  Not sure how that all works, but it is in the bank. 

I spoke to Robert about the runner lean I have to the right at the end of many ultras and especially 50 milers.  The announcer at JFK even mentioned it when bone chipping in, "and here comes a runner with the famous JFK lean."  It does seem common, so I looked up a few stretches, etc.  I guess 5-10 minutes of a routine won't hurt me.  I am also glad to report that a few wall squats every other day have had a positive outcome for my knee.  No pain Saturday at all.  Thanks Dean! 

One hundred percent disclosure on something.  I reviewed my last 6 weeks of training for Ice Age in 2009.  I know every time I'm on here I have a new formula.  In fact let me reach up to the bulletin board here and pluck one off that I created 7 weeks ago that was never utilized.  Okay...that's in the trash.  The year 2009 was the first time in like 4 years I was healthy enough to run well.  I was able to run well in 2008, but my enthusiasm created my first and only stress fracture which required 10 weeks off.  That meant no Ice Age.  So in 2009 a wiser human took over the control tower and came up with the idea to run within yourself.  See your future, be your future.  Run hard when it feels right; in other words a true how far to the barn mentality.  When I felt good I let it go.  I was 47...at some point common sense had to kick in.

At the 2009 Ice Age, true to my word I went out like it was a casual training run.  No pressure.  Like any long event if you stay back you'll start passing people in jimmy stacks.  It just never stopped that day and I ended up 5th overall.  It was also the best I ever felt at the end of a 50 miler.  Had I cracked the Drakos 3?  Everybody twist.  I now held information.  Information that could control the world.  But I didn't have that.  It lead to more of the, "I don't run to take beatings" mentality.  I was after all still myself.  Another bum from the neighborhood.  "This is reality Greg."

 https://www.getyarn.io/yarn-clip/1873836b-fe0a-4ed7-bffa-0edcbd821628

So what did those last 6 weeks look like.  Unless stated the runs are on roads.
Unless stated the dog is Cookie.

3/30 = 8.5 (8:16) w/ dog
3/31 = 8.0 (8:13)
4/1   = 4.5 (9:00) w/ dog
4/2   = OFF
4/3   = OFF
4/4   = 26.0 (9:27) Ice Age course trails (Christine, Robert, Ricker)
4/5   = OFF
Week = 47.0

4/6   = 6.0 (8:31) w/ dog
4/7   = 7.0 w/ 30:00 tempo
4/8   = 6.2 (8:30) w/ dog
4/9   = 5.8 w/ 6 x Lowell Hill
4/10 = OFF
4/11 = 20.0 (9:00) Ice Age course trails
4/12 = 8.0 (8:47) w/ dog
Week = 53.0

4/13 = OFF
4/14 = 7.5 w/ 5k tempo in 19:32
4/15 = 7.0 Lapham Trails
4/16 = 7.7 w/ dog
4/17 = OFF
4/18 = 30.0 (9:00) Ice Age course trails (Bruce, Kirby)
4/19 = 7.2 (9:48) Minooka trails (Clem, Andy)
Week = 59.4

4/20 = OFF
4/21 = OFF
4/22 = 5.0 (8:00) w/ dog
4/23 = 4.0 w/ 15 x Horab Hill
4/24 = OFF
4/25 = 21.0 (8:34) Ice Age course trails (Christine, Ricker, Kirby)
4/26 = OFF
Week = 30.0

4/27 = 5.0 (8:20) w/ dog
4/28 = OFF
4/29 = 6.6 (8:11) Lapham trails w/ dog (Ricker, Todd)
4/30 = 4.8 w/ 10 x Horab Hill
5/1   = OFF
5/2   = 5.4 (9:38) w/ dog
5/3   = 7.6 (9:13) Minooka trails (Clem, Andy)
Week = 29.4

5/4   = OFF
5/5   = 5.0 (9:00) w/ dog
5/6   = 3.4 (8:49) w/ dog
5/7   = OFF
5/8   = OFF
5/9   = 50.0 Ice Age 7:20:57 (8:50)
5/10 = OFF
Week = 58.4

I know Cookie would be up for it. 

Last week was 62.0 miles on 5 runs.

Warren G. Harding...crikey!

Yes it has occurred to me that I am not training in a way which would optimize my run at Ice Age.  It seems clear that I should bank on the single long run and have a really good effort speed wise on another day.  I should probably throw a nice mid week long run in there every couple weeks and spend most of the other days either petering around for 50 minutes easy, or just rest entirely.  It would probably only take a mix of about 9 of these types of runs in a month and it would work fine.  Problem is I don't care to run faster much anymore and I seem tired anyway; rested or not.  Besides I kind of like going out tired early in the morning and just figure out how to make it work.  Bone chipping it over 50 miles does mean you have to figure out how to make it when uncomfortable.

Truth be told I started running more in HS because I wanted it to hurt less.  It was easier to hurt over the last three laps in the 2 mile rather than the last six.  Head out with the leaders and hang on.  How dumb were we?  Can't blame the coaches...we had no distance coach.  Back then it was 6 quarters after a warm-up then you were done, followed by 3-4 miles the next day with 8 x 100 sprints.  All mixed in with 2-3 meets a week.  Good times!  Must have been okay though because our 4 x 880y relay record turns 40 this year.  The 39 seasons after going to the 4 x 800m has not replaced this yet via conversion.  It's been a good run, I hope someone crushes it.  No one knows who Havranek-Dehart-Linton-Miller are anyway.  Think of it this way.  I was born in 1961, so 40 years earlier in 1921 we were three years removed from WWI.  Just for grins I looked up Havranek on LinkedIn and just sent a note to connect.  He was our only Senior on the team.  Pretty sure I have not talked to him since then.  Linton and I graduated the same year in '79 and were good friends.  I ran into him on a trip back home in late '12.  He still lives in the school district.  That the record still stood was one of the first things he told me.  If you read the blog I mentioned last year I ran by the HS and just had to go look through the gym window.  My cousin graduated the same year (different HS) and her daughters both went on to beat and set the new HJ record.  What about Miller?  He had the 880 record at the time...I think 1:58.  It's since been bettered a couple times.  Low 1:50s now by another Miller kid (not related).  That Miller set the 400, 800, and 1600 records. The old Miller was a beast.  Heck of a football player.  Everyone called him Grubby, but I'm not sure to his face.  He ran on the 4x8, 4x4, 880, and threw the javelin.  Of course back then most all of us competed in 3-4 events.  Me?  I was on the 4x8 and ran the 1 and 2 mile.  The girl I took to the senior prom won gold at states in the javelin (I remember seeing her in T&F news in the top 50 while in HS) and just for grins medaled like 5th in the 800m at states.  Went full ride on a basketball scholarship to Fordham.  I will end by saying the song Sultans of Swing was out my senior year.  Time to climb out of the way back machine.

Week 35 miles on 4 runs.  I was tired.

Larry Yount

I was out on the road last week for work and decided to spend a long weekend visiting my Mom and siblings.  This was very enjoyable and I did get to double digits on hot dog consumption.  I did spend Saturday touring around North Park running the Lt. JC Stone 50k on the park roads.  Started comfy, loosened up around 10 miles, stayed steady, and then bull winkled the final 10 at 8:08 pace.  I'll take it.  It was 17 degrees at the start, but the very low wind factor made it runnable.  My 4:27 finish was 19 minutes faster than when I ran 4:46 here at the GNC 50k in 1999.  It was a good trainer for Ice Age.

I consider myself knowledgeable about most all things related to running.  I've been running since the 70s so I know how to run 20 miles without a bottle, power dump without travelers checks, flip my shorts around if I'm chafing, or even handle a couple farm bred canines.  I never really accomplished anything in running, but certainly understand what accomplished ones look like.  In the cartoon world I'm your Tennessee Tuxedo level.  If I was a rock band then probably Bloodrock.  Baseball player...similar to Larry Yount.  Even looking at these they were all way beyond my grasp. 

Beck of the Peck is a blog I read and I am reminded there of the amount of Shamanism that has entered our avocation.  I don't wander much on the internet.  I go to a couple blog sites and read the variety of blogs those folks have attached there.  I do enjoy these.  Much like looking up clips of the Pens and old movie dancers: (I'm probably unable to do this attachment correctly)

 https://youtu.be/M1F0lBnsnkE

Regardless, the recent post had me linking to a few places I'd probably not find.  What other world exists out there?   I know I don't look like a runner, but how many runners exist that claim very respectful finish times and yet at the same time would blend in better for a China Buffet ad?  Look I've ran a handful of ultra events and I can't pound out hundreds of miles using special drinks and a positive attitude.  It got me to thinking of what people have told me over the years about what they were going to achieve.  The mere act of discussing what you are going to achieve and dressing appropriately for the part ended up being enough.  I'll leave it at that.  I don't claim any extra special disposition, but do some people have any clue I'm not The Incredible Mr. Limpet?  I know a good fish story when I hear one.

Last week 58.1 miles on 4 runs.

Fisher's Big Wheel

I went for a run around 1pm today which is unusual for me.  It was nice to run in shorts and the sunshine.  I was out on the Ice Age up by Holy Hill and it was sloppy.  As much as I was enjoying the solitude I became disenchanted when I began hitting 13-14 minute miles due to the footing.  At one of the road sections I just beat it back around on the macadam.  It is remote back there as many of you know.  I just wound it out in low and enjoyed rural Washington County.

Just under 9 weeks to Ice Age and again I want to do well, but the will to do the extra stuff just is not there.  The biggest gain I can make is to drop from 180 to 170.  That's hard to do as I eat the same way I always do.  Seems every time you turn around I'm supposed to be minding something else.  I have zero problem running 60 a week, I just don't have the motivation to look after a sore knee, the PF creeping back,  a week back, and anything that even resembles 8 minute miles let alone 7's.  What am I talking about?  The fastest run I had this week was in Peru, IL on the roads when I blazed 9:30 pace for 9.1 miles.  I saw Beck writing about how retarded this whole exercise is and I can see his point.  I've tried not to ponder the steady decline and yes I should be happy I can still move forward.  Part of my wonderment is how I have fooled myself into believing that achieving 10 minute miles at Ice Age is solid as Sears. 

62.1 miles this week on 6 runs.

I can mobilize 3 divisions in 48 hours

A couple weeks ago I learned that trying to run fast wears me out for a large part of the week.  Being wore out means less miles and runs that have no rear end in them.  I decided to give up (which is a common thing as I age) on this for now and just run easy.  No pressure, just see if you can rack up 60-70 miles a week on 6 runs.  The hope is as I thin out and get used to twinkle toeing around that perhaps I'll have a few runs that resemble running. 

It seems at an elevated weight I can still set a treadmill goal time and distance and hit it.  Just like I'm sure I could wallop a whiffle ball about as far as I could at 17 years old.  Problem is I am waxed for a few days.  Apparently the mental ability to finish the workout is still present.  The ability to jog around easy and relax for a couple days is not.  That's all I want to say about that.  Some of you have already processed this.

But, as usual I have no plans on running slow at Ice Age in 10 weeks.  I've dopamined myself into believing I'll stumble across a hot spot on that day and ride it in.  Much like Bullwinkle, "Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"  That's the plan.  The funny thing is most of my peers are at the same point, or are busting apart.  Ron Daws once said, "Who pulls a muscle at seven minute miles?"  I'm feeling pretty good at tens.

Last week 50.2 on 5 runs.
This week 59.0 on 6 runs.

I turned on the TV last week.  What motivates people to get mired in the garbage?  It was like bizzaro world from Seinfeld.  I guess living on 30 for 30 and M*A*S*H (Henry Blake era) reruns has left me lagging behind. 

What if

Recently someone brought up the question of how long does it take to do this running.  My basic answer was with changing, running, and travel about 10-15 hours a week.  That got me to thinking.  What if my wife was a kiter.  Not a real word, but someone who flew kites a lot.  Almost everyday she had to get out and hang some air.  Dark, windy, whatever it was necessary to maintain the edge and feed the drive.  The basement and part of random rooms would have pieces of kites, manuals, and kite clothes all over.  Several times a week the phone would start to make sounds as her buddies planned a mid week, or a blowout kite weekend.  She'd think nothing of dropping $80 bucks to enter events and openly ask for me to come join her.  Sure I'd go a few times and see what the draw was.  I'd listen to people I don't know ramble on about aerodynamics, how Terrance lost the kite rally of '01 when he had to power dump, and that fact that kiter's may be the best group of people ever.  Most of our extracurricular activities such as weddings, bar mitzvah's, and even vacations included these people.  When all the fall leaves needed raking over the weekend you are told Shandra suddenly needs you to run the picket fence kite drill with her for a big event...you'll be back in 4-5 hours.  Then you learn what we should really do next year after I qualify is travel to Ketchum, Idaho for the 75th annual Spearhawk G-Force Nationals.  You'll freaking love it there and Barbie is bringing her family and dogs.  Her husband Gene (or Steve I don't remember) is coming along and he knows a ton about butterflies.  This is really cool that your wife does this.  I mean she could be hanging out at bars, so you are really lucky.