Ready to Roll?

Finishing up packing for a long weekend. Catalina 50 mile on Saturday with the Calico 50k on Sunday. This will be my first time running Catalina 50 mile and I'm looking forward to the warm weather. The previous week has been a bit slow. I was unable to get my Wednesday tempo run, as well as my Thursday run. So I'm going in with three days of no running. Shouldn't be a problem since I'm used to not running lately....

Training:
I'm not too worried about an 81 mile weekend as much as I'm worried about the break in between. Stiff legs will be hard to work with on Sunday. Oh yeah, and Training. Something I haven't been doing. My longest run has been the Fresno 50k back in November.

Nutrition:
Nutrition will be the key. Keeping blood sodium levels in check will be the key to processing fluids as well as food. Being so early in the season (50 degree mid day temps) and running in 70 degree weather will cause my body to dump all the salt I have, making hydration more difficult that usual.

I'll be also playing with Vespa this weekend. I had great success with it on an earlier long run up on the trials above Three Rivers Ca, so I'm going to see how it plays out in a 50 mile.

My only question is; When does training begin?

Speed Work

It's beginning to feel like training. There is nothing I look forward to the least than 800 repeats. Two laps around the track and very little recovery. Sucking wind out of turn three and trying to hang on for one last lap.

This morning was a time trial. I really needed to see where I'm at and there is no better place than a track. Something about the mental effort it takes to pound out a half mile makes it a bit easier when you can visualize the soft surface ahead. JP was out on the track to slog out a solid effort with me while trying to maintain an injury free training regiment.

The Workout:

20min warm up.. nice and easy
800 in 2:50
2 min recovery
800 ~ 3:02
3 min recovery... it hurt, give me a break.
800 ~ 3:05
15 min cool down..

All and all it wasn't what I was hoping for but its a start. I was a bit like a boy at summer camp.

Goal:
Reach the 2:40's

I'm Back.

Well here it is. 1-1-11. It's much different than any other year so far since much of my work, school, family, music, and running couldn't be crazier. Actually, scratch the music. I lucked out and scored a great job at Sole2Soul Sports in Visalia Ca. I've become a father for third time, first son. And I potentially have the opportunity to run Western States 100 for the first time.

2011 will be a BIG year.

So here on Jan 1st was the first annual "Run to the Snow". It's a great run up Case Mountain/Salt Creek that climbs from 1200ft to 5500ft. Due to cold weather and ample amounts of snow we only needed a perfect 7 miles and 3100ft of climbing to reach fresh falling snow. Ran in the MT101's and it felt great!

Photos by Brian Borowicz:

So as I go forward, I will actually attempt to keep a formal journal/record of 2011.

Here's to 2011, and a year of family, work and running.

SD100, and getting back on my feet.

San Diego 100 mile endurance run was more than I was expecting. What a great course, people, and RD's. Everything about his race was first rate and they really know how to take care of their runners.

The course was much more scenic than I anticipated. I was surprised to see the high desert landscape, with scorched silver trees to be so beautiful!

Long story short... the race didn't go as planned. I'm trying to figure out a serious training schedule. I never had the pop I hoped for in my legs during this cycle. I felt great for the Napa Marathon and American River 50, but after that, my results when down hill. I couldn't recover. San Diego was my first DNF. I dropped at mile 75, 16 hrs into the race. I just wasn't having a good day. Nothing was terribly wrong(other than the puking and my fuel tank idling on empty), but I was just having a miserable time.

My feet and legs are still achy like I'm running 80 mile weeks yet I haven't run more than 10 miles a week for the last 3 weeks. I was fighting off a spring illness and my body just needed more time to recover. The good news.... My kids are swimming this summer and I've been able to make the meets. I'm so proud of my little fish!

When fall comes, school will start back for me, I'll be on a forward push for my degree is Physical Therapy. So in the mean time I'm taking up more cross training activities including swimming and cycling, with the intent to complete an olympic triathlon in Sept.

On my plate...

72 miles on the High Sierra trail... One push... August

Skyline 50k

Dick Collins Firetrails 50

Javelina Jundred... shooting for sub-20 hour finish.

Back again....

Here it is. The Blog. This will be a running journal of my races, runs, etc. Let's see if I can do this for real this time.

Birthday Run Success/Spring 2008

Well yesterday I finished the annual birthday run. A couple buddies and myself ran 32 miles for my 31st birthday. It started out as two, twelve mile loops that ended at our running clubs annual, end of the year, hour run. I was able to hold sub 8min miles for a 7.7 miles. It was a great day with great friends. This is all in training for 2008 races. I was lucky enough to log into active.com early and gain my slot in the Way Too Cool 50k. I've never thought I'd want to do this race but after talking to my new local ultra-buddy, decided to see what all the hype was about. So the plan is to run, Way Too Cool, American River 50 and Miwok 100k. I'm not sure I'm ready to run three races in three months, but well see. My official birthday run with be on the 31st(my actual birthday...Dec. 31st...New Years Eve!) but it will only be a 7-8 miler around town, because I'm going to be spending the day with My Love and my Kids in the Snow!!!

Western States Lottery and the 2008 Season

I just put my name in the hat. There is around a 12% chance of getting picked for the 35th annual Western States 100 mile endurance run. I'm not as seasoned as many of the runners out there but I feel like I have the will and the training grounds to run well in this race.

After having such a great time at Javelina I want to try a mountain 100 miler. If my name doesn't get drawn for Western States then I will either shoot for Headlands Hundred or Angeles Crest(another old time 100).

I have another running goal for 2008 and that is to run a sub 3hr marathon. My goal race will probably be self supported. There is a road loop that is 26.5 miles near my town. I think I will use that for a testing grounds. Set my watch and go! It's free that way! Over the winter I plan to increase my speed so that I'm able to run easy at 7:30min/miles.

Also on the list is the Second Annual Great Raisin Run. It was 59.6 miles this year but for next year I'm going to add on another 2 miles for an even 100k. It should be around Feb. or March.

There is the Kern River Trail 20 miler outside of Bakersfield that I ran last year and placed 5th. I think next year I'm going to run for the win.

American River 50 miler is calling me back. I would love to run sub-8hrs on the course in April.

In May there is the Miwok 100k. This will be great race because it will be my good friend Jeff Pierce's re-birth into the Ultra Scene!!

So cross your fingers for me and well see what happens. Maybe my name will be drawn from the bucket on Dec. 1st. But I never win anything(secretly trying to will my name to the top).