Kayaked about 5 hours with several delays to toss the hook. The wife and I were shutout. Great day to get on the mighty Oconomowoc River and power our way up to Loew Lake. Saw one person the stretch up and 34 on the way back. Plus about 10 humans in line. I thought we started late. No matter twern’t no Grizz left anyway.
I did sneak in 12.1 kilometers at 5:20pm. It was difficult the first half, but I loosened up the last half and got it in the bank to get in a 50 mile week. Been some time since I pulled that feat off. Ten minute miles is laying it down now-a-days. The days of be good or be gone are a distant memory. I think the main reason to getting out is to insure the parts still work. My hip/back issue the past six months is not as bothersome now. I gave up trying stretch it, get to the pain area, and strengthen the area. Apparently all that did was aggravate the hell out of it. Another example of just let stuff take care of itself. Kind of like the PF. I still wear the inserts when I’m in street shoes. Otherwise I just walk around now, or throw another folded in half shoe liner in when I run and let it work out. I tinker around with how much stuff I’ll throw in the shoes for a run. Just sitting out on the porch here with dog and I have red, yellow, blue, and black ones laying around and drying up. Good times. So psyched to get back to work tomorrow.
So another thought about training and not getting into Big’s. Maybe I’ll finally do that swan song 100 miler. Either an official one or the fictitious Commando 100. Again...not a guy who likes to go longer than 50 miles. Ten hours is plenty long. Thirty hours just seems like unnecessary punishment. Not sure why people get fired up to do them. That is a long way on foot. Hats off to those who can consistently pull them off.
Anyway, time to watch the Rockford Files. Good to have a bit of levity once-in-a-while.
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Saturday, July 6, 2019
If I can go that distance
I could get used to these 4 day weekends. Get some runs in, a bit of kayaking and fishing, do the stuff needed, and general walkabout. I am getting close. I can smell the inside of the old work truck I'll own with cool stuff inside it. Stuff like old ball hats, gloves, and lures. Maybe even an emergency camping set-up. Stopped in where the Wife works today to pick up ice cream and a chicken sandwich. She's thinking fishing later today so I may have to blow off a chore or two. As long as I finish weeding the garden later I'm good with that.
I did 3 x 6k in 50 minute segments today. Loop 1 road 42:54, Loop 2 trail 43:58, and Loop 3 road 41:56 in the pouring rain. I was going to go farther, but have to save some juice. The trail loop needed effort. One could easily slide back to 8:00 minute 1k splits and leave a scant 2:00 before the next segment. I recognized some work needs done here. The deer flies were terrible, even with a Penn State stocking cap and my trusted hoodie. They were bouncing off me they were so thick. Even getting under my glasses and occasionally getting in behind the neck. Worse than a German Shepherd on a rib roast bad. So I opted for the road the last loop. Good thing because it poured and with glasses on it is tedious. Hated it! Weather is always the equalizer. In the future fantasy world where one ambles along strong as bull, one seldom considers how ponderous weather can be. I was drenched anyway after running the first two loops.
Running slow is hard work. For one it makes you slower. For two it takes forever to cover a few miles. For three you have to do an incredible amount of it to possibly make any endurance gains. All I'm slowly accomplishing is trying to get used to mastering the time continuum. Can I vacuum pack time? The beatings will continue until morale improves. Who trains like this for a race they will probably never get in?
Reading other blogs, apparently I'm supposed to be resting quite a bit. Look I get it. Let your body absorb the training. That's probably great advice for people who actually can get somewhere in running. Thing is when you are only a running bum, all that nonsense means little. Pile it high if you can. Figure out the stuff that goes along with it along the way. I figured out today I am currently way over my head for a backyard ultra. Not sure how to overcome some of the cards I have in this hand, but if I can stay reasonably consistent, ramp up a bit of mileage, and have a few key workouts, maybe I won't be another bum from the neighborhood if I get in.
I did 3 x 6k in 50 minute segments today. Loop 1 road 42:54, Loop 2 trail 43:58, and Loop 3 road 41:56 in the pouring rain. I was going to go farther, but have to save some juice. The trail loop needed effort. One could easily slide back to 8:00 minute 1k splits and leave a scant 2:00 before the next segment. I recognized some work needs done here. The deer flies were terrible, even with a Penn State stocking cap and my trusted hoodie. They were bouncing off me they were so thick. Even getting under my glasses and occasionally getting in behind the neck. Worse than a German Shepherd on a rib roast bad. So I opted for the road the last loop. Good thing because it poured and with glasses on it is tedious. Hated it! Weather is always the equalizer. In the future fantasy world where one ambles along strong as bull, one seldom considers how ponderous weather can be. I was drenched anyway after running the first two loops.
Running slow is hard work. For one it makes you slower. For two it takes forever to cover a few miles. For three you have to do an incredible amount of it to possibly make any endurance gains. All I'm slowly accomplishing is trying to get used to mastering the time continuum. Can I vacuum pack time? The beatings will continue until morale improves. Who trains like this for a race they will probably never get in?
Reading other blogs, apparently I'm supposed to be resting quite a bit. Look I get it. Let your body absorb the training. That's probably great advice for people who actually can get somewhere in running. Thing is when you are only a running bum, all that nonsense means little. Pile it high if you can. Figure out the stuff that goes along with it along the way. I figured out today I am currently way over my head for a backyard ultra. Not sure how to overcome some of the cards I have in this hand, but if I can stay reasonably consistent, ramp up a bit of mileage, and have a few key workouts, maybe I won't be another bum from the neighborhood if I get in.
Friday, July 5, 2019
I will be your night in shining armor
A bit of banter this week amongst a few fellow runners about a possible on-the-fly 100 miler. I was told to put it together and a few hardy folks would show up. My ambition is there, but I'm more of a let's start here and end here. All the stuff in between is on you. But hey, maybe that is all that's required. I had my Ice Age Trail book out (Thanks Dean!) and there are a lot of options. Of course a date would need selected. Let me know you finished over the weekend and I'll put a list together of finishers. I could come up with some sort of hand out afterwards...or not. The thought is in my head. There is at least one other reason to do it, but I have to massage the brain a bit and see if I'm worthy to be trusted with the notion. I do know people would show and people would go about as far as they wanted. Some would indeed finish. As is typical, I'm sure a few other hardy folks would be out supporting and checking out the small band of knuckleheads. It would be in the latter part of 2019.
So the idea of Big's wasn't released from the brain. It takes on activity outside of my normal list of things I do or do not particularly want to do. Most reading this know the typical crap, but if you are new to life and life past 50 years old it is along the lines of laundry, fishing, work, grocery shopping, work, mowing grass, work, weeding the garden, walk dog, work, grocery shopping, work, painting projects, burn stuff, fishing, work. A true master can select the one item that is on the like to do list. Of course I didn't list running because you already know running is sorta what this blog is about most times. My big brain told me as I laid in bed at 11:00pm putting up with the fireworks, that here are some great ideas on how to consider training for Big's. In no particular order:
-Consider doing 12 hours at Robert's event witch is a flat 1 mile trail loop on 8/31. Aim for 50 miles. Run 5 miles the first two loops and 4 miles the last 10 loops. Any extra time left on the hour I wait until the next hour starts.
-Consider doing all of Tina and Angela's What the Funk 80k through the night on 8/10. Practice covering the distance with power jogging and emotional rescue walking.
-Actually practice 4.167 mile loops every hour as the race has on select weekends.
-Randomly practice 3.5 mile loops in 50 minute bites during the work week to mimic process. Best when wife leaves for work at 3:45am days. I could squeeze in 4 circuits in 3:10 before work.
-Occasionally risk confrontation by wife by making use of middle of the night can't sleep and putting shoes on and running a 4.167 mile circuit.
Looks like work to me, but it helped me go back to sleep around midnight.
So the idea of Big's wasn't released from the brain. It takes on activity outside of my normal list of things I do or do not particularly want to do. Most reading this know the typical crap, but if you are new to life and life past 50 years old it is along the lines of laundry, fishing, work, grocery shopping, work, mowing grass, work, weeding the garden, walk dog, work, grocery shopping, work, painting projects, burn stuff, fishing, work. A true master can select the one item that is on the like to do list. Of course I didn't list running because you already know running is sorta what this blog is about most times. My big brain told me as I laid in bed at 11:00pm putting up with the fireworks, that here are some great ideas on how to consider training for Big's. In no particular order:
-Consider doing 12 hours at Robert's event witch is a flat 1 mile trail loop on 8/31. Aim for 50 miles. Run 5 miles the first two loops and 4 miles the last 10 loops. Any extra time left on the hour I wait until the next hour starts.
-Consider doing all of Tina and Angela's What the Funk 80k through the night on 8/10. Practice covering the distance with power jogging and emotional rescue walking.
-Actually practice 4.167 mile loops every hour as the race has on select weekends.
-Randomly practice 3.5 mile loops in 50 minute bites during the work week to mimic process. Best when wife leaves for work at 3:45am days. I could squeeze in 4 circuits in 3:10 before work.
-Occasionally risk confrontation by wife by making use of middle of the night can't sleep and putting shoes on and running a 4.167 mile circuit.
Looks like work to me, but it helped me go back to sleep around midnight.
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Fort Nuts
I remembered that I am about 17th on the wait list for Big's Backyard on October 19th. I've averaged about 150 miles the past few months. I better start looking to double that mileage. Did I say double mileage? Is that by Fort Nuts? I check in regularly and there is a lot of movement on the list. The true runners. The ones winning other Backyard events for Golden Tickets into Big's are being added to the race. I'm just hoping to dumb into this thing. Having said that, I best be prepared to stumble bum around for a long time. I'm not someone with a resume that smacks of "distance king." I have finished a total of one 100 miler. I'm hoping this is something different. Most of us want to believe we are special is some unforeseen way at something. I signed up for this thing so if I get in I better be able to save face. My goal would be to go as long as I could. Not sure how that will play out at 58 years old, but for now it sounds better than doing any fast running. Is that by Fort Nuts as well?
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Damage report Mr. Sulu!
Blasted out a solid 7.4 miles with Dewey today on the bugline. Powered it out at about 10:49 pace. They had to call the water trucks in to tamp down the fire trail we were leaving behind. Not everyone has the same talent pool to draw from. So lucky to be alive and able to catch small glimpses of life as it whizzed by.
Other than that another loosely put together week of fun running. You come to learn in the greater scheme of using the same fairways as a human form or animal to move along that everyone has a different set of rules. I traverse in 3 primary ways. Driving, running, and dog walking. When I drive I get annoyed at bikes that refuse to move over to the side. They are right, but 15 mph and claiming the lane seems like a defiant move. I also am amazed at parents with strollers very close to highways that are 55mph. When I run I get annoyed at folks driving and looking at the phone. This would be especially annoying and dangerous if I rode a bike. I just don't feel safe biking. When I walk the dog the best part is other dogs leaving their yard to get a sniff of my dog at full speed. She loves confrontation, or at least lets on like it is no big deal. Of course I have her on a leash, but if you cross over the road it is all fair game. I don't like this because somehow we are the annoying factor. Here comes that gray haired guy with the white T on. Not sure why he lets his semi-toothless dog bite our dog in the face. Out Doberman and Irish Setter are really sweet dogs. People tend not to say crap either, so I don't bother. "Winston...Winston!" Too late then Braaah. I did have to tell one lady last year in the best language I could to basically call her dog back. When people know you are fired up they don't want to say squat.
Look I drive more than I run on the roads. Do everyone a favor if you are on it for another reason other than driving and stay out of the way. I truly get it, but from my view many people don't. Trust me, a week does not guy by when it seems like someone...sends me a message. My favorite is running through 4 ways in rural areas and people would rather run you over than give you a turn to ramble through the intersection. If I ever wanted to pull someone through a car window then that is the time. Again it is a small percentage of people, but they exist. It's just easier to wait to everyone is gone and go back to laying down 10:30 miles and vanish out of sight.
Other than that another loosely put together week of fun running. You come to learn in the greater scheme of using the same fairways as a human form or animal to move along that everyone has a different set of rules. I traverse in 3 primary ways. Driving, running, and dog walking. When I drive I get annoyed at bikes that refuse to move over to the side. They are right, but 15 mph and claiming the lane seems like a defiant move. I also am amazed at parents with strollers very close to highways that are 55mph. When I run I get annoyed at folks driving and looking at the phone. This would be especially annoying and dangerous if I rode a bike. I just don't feel safe biking. When I walk the dog the best part is other dogs leaving their yard to get a sniff of my dog at full speed. She loves confrontation, or at least lets on like it is no big deal. Of course I have her on a leash, but if you cross over the road it is all fair game. I don't like this because somehow we are the annoying factor. Here comes that gray haired guy with the white T on. Not sure why he lets his semi-toothless dog bite our dog in the face. Out Doberman and Irish Setter are really sweet dogs. People tend not to say crap either, so I don't bother. "Winston...Winston!" Too late then Braaah. I did have to tell one lady last year in the best language I could to basically call her dog back. When people know you are fired up they don't want to say squat.
Look I drive more than I run on the roads. Do everyone a favor if you are on it for another reason other than driving and stay out of the way. I truly get it, but from my view many people don't. Trust me, a week does not guy by when it seems like someone...sends me a message. My favorite is running through 4 ways in rural areas and people would rather run you over than give you a turn to ramble through the intersection. If I ever wanted to pull someone through a car window then that is the time. Again it is a small percentage of people, but they exist. It's just easier to wait to everyone is gone and go back to laying down 10:30 miles and vanish out of sight.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
The Juice is loose
In Sunset Boulevard we see how life plays out for an aging stage queen. The scenario plays out fairly regularly for many in some ways. Pain reminded me this week of what are you doing that makes it so important to beat on me and do these grandiose movements? There is not a good answer. Of what importance is it to go to the mattresses to try and run 30 seconds a mile faster for 5 miles? What does this pay? It pays nothing, but does have a cost. I'm pretty sure when I look at my entire biological profile and trajectory that channeling Naftali Temu ain't gonna happen. It's over. Go try and enjoy running for the sake of running as much as you can. Maybe go see a Doctor and see what the deal is with the hip/back. The internet can't solve everything and even if it could you won't know because you just read stuff.
I'm still basically going to run about everyday I can, but the idea there is one last big one out there is gone. I only have so much peanut butter to spread across that sandwich everyday. I'll race Al's on 9/14. I'll power jog the Glacial 50k in October. Finally, if the ultra sirens smile upon me and I get into Big's Backyard Ultra on October 19th then I'll lay it all out one final time. Currently I am 17th on the wait list. I'll be ready. Pack a lunch.
I'm still basically going to run about everyday I can, but the idea there is one last big one out there is gone. I only have so much peanut butter to spread across that sandwich everyday. I'll race Al's on 9/14. I'll power jog the Glacial 50k in October. Finally, if the ultra sirens smile upon me and I get into Big's Backyard Ultra on October 19th then I'll lay it all out one final time. Currently I am 17th on the wait list. I'll be ready. Pack a lunch.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
The Axemen
I've been thinning out all the crap I have accumulated and it is a bit of a job. The sport card collection needs to go from about 120,000 to about 20,000. I've given away about 10,000 to this point. I have more magazines than I remember every having. The wife alerted me to a bonus pile in the shed. I peaked in and it has some cool stuff. Back when Bill McChesney was the high school sensation, Walt Stack was Walt Stack, and Tom Fleming was not afraid of anyone. They are all gone now. Bill in 1992, Walt in 1995, and Tom in 2017. All different as runners and all inspiring in many ways.
I've split with a bunch of running gear and shirts I had in boxes. I had no idea were all my Al's run shirts had gone. Goodwill has them all now. Some stuff is hard to part with, but as any lifetime runner I have a 100 shirts easily. Many never worn. For whatever reason the old Wheeling Distance Classic 20k from the '90s is going to make the cut over many of the new long sleeve shirts one gets. I wish races would give out socks. Those I burn through. I thought about going Bobby Orr this summer, but we shall see. I still sport the floppy sock look Pete Maravich had in the day. Not many runners my age pull their socks up all the way. Heck, maybe they do. I'm just finding out Pluto's not a planet any longer.
The week was not bad. Slowly adding a couple more miles a week.
Mon = 8.5k easy
Tue = 8k easy
Wed = 8k w/ 10 x 1:00 w/ 1:00 jog
Thu = 11.6k easy at Menomonee Park with Dewey, Tim, Robert, and Tim Lammers
Fri = Off
Sat = 16.3k easy w/ Crawford
Sun = 13.1k at good effort. Averaged 8:37 mle
Total = 65.5k
Have to start putting the fork down and cut way back on candy, ice cream, and pie. I also have to seriously start considering at least one other type of aerobic workout and my hip/back let's me know it is there every day.
I've split with a bunch of running gear and shirts I had in boxes. I had no idea were all my Al's run shirts had gone. Goodwill has them all now. Some stuff is hard to part with, but as any lifetime runner I have a 100 shirts easily. Many never worn. For whatever reason the old Wheeling Distance Classic 20k from the '90s is going to make the cut over many of the new long sleeve shirts one gets. I wish races would give out socks. Those I burn through. I thought about going Bobby Orr this summer, but we shall see. I still sport the floppy sock look Pete Maravich had in the day. Not many runners my age pull their socks up all the way. Heck, maybe they do. I'm just finding out Pluto's not a planet any longer.
The week was not bad. Slowly adding a couple more miles a week.
Mon = 8.5k easy
Tue = 8k easy
Wed = 8k w/ 10 x 1:00 w/ 1:00 jog
Thu = 11.6k easy at Menomonee Park with Dewey, Tim, Robert, and Tim Lammers
Fri = Off
Sat = 16.3k easy w/ Crawford
Sun = 13.1k at good effort. Averaged 8:37 mle
Total = 65.5k
Have to start putting the fork down and cut way back on candy, ice cream, and pie. I also have to seriously start considering at least one other type of aerobic workout and my hip/back let's me know it is there every day.
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