Post Superior Thoughts

I have had a couple days to reflect on my Superior 50 attempt and I have had no real second thoughts other than it would be a really good event to hit in very good shape and healthy.

I was surprised the day after when Karyn and I walked around Temperance River State Park and I had problems walking without pain. We were checking out other campsites for a future trip and walking up a slight incline really bugged my ankle. Here are a couple pictures that Karyn took from the park while we walked around.

Monday at work I hobbled around on it so I may have done a little more damage than I had thought. I remember when I did it I heard a sound but I ignored the sound and assumed I had just rolled and ran through it, I think this was around 2 or 3 miles into the race. It was shortly after that though that I started having left calf cramping issues (it was my right ankle I injured) and not too long after that my back really started getting sore. I ran on for another 9 or 10 miles and then it seemed like I wasn't capable of pushing off with either leg and felt like a really old man (I think I may have proven Steve Q's recent post on injuries (yet again) - see section 3). I remember right after the race that my back was hurting more than anything else except for maybe my pride. I should add that even if I hadn't had these issues, I was in trouble on this trail with my lack of solid training but I think I might have at least made it to the next cutoff. Today the ankle still aches but I think it was a little better when I was walking or going up or down stairs, it still hurts but maybe not as bad (the ankle seems stable, it is swollen on the upper outside of the ankle near my achilles) so I decided to take another day off of running.

At this time, I am thinking that TCM would be a bad idea. As to Surf the Murph, I will be doing it but the distance is a tbd. I do not think it would be wise to do 50 miles and I don't think the 25k would be enough of a challenge so maybe the 50k would be just right. Once I am running again, I will decide.

As to future endeavors on the Superior Hiking Trail, I see a couple of possibilities, no make that three. One - come back next year and run the Moose Mt. Marathon - that way I see the section of the course I missed. Two - run the spring 50k that way I see a large part of the trail that I missed and then go for the Superior 50 again in the fall. Three - give up on running this trail but that isn't like me, so I think I am hooked to give it another go or I could just sign up for the 100 :-), just kidding.

Other post Superior thoughts, yup the normal ones, lose weight, train harder, cross train some, run up hills, run down hills, run faster, run longer and last to get and stay healthy. I think if I do most of these things between now and next year the Superior 50 will be back on the schedule. If I don't please remind me of this post as it would be stupid to try and do it, then again, I am fairly good at stupid.

Superior 50 report

On Saturday I got to experience two things I have never had to deal with. The first was one of the most beautiful trails I have ever seen: The Superior Hiking Trail, the second was not making a cut-off.

First the race story, my wife and I made our way up to Temperance River State Park. We were camping there versus staying in a nice warm inn as we (I) thought it would be fun. We love to camp and haven't had a chance as our daughters do not love to camp anymore which makes it a little more problematic to find the time. We got set-up fairly quickly, drove up to the Caribou Lodge to pick up my packet. I would like to say I was confident going into this race but I was not.

To show you where my thoughts were, here is an email from August 22nd that I never sent:

Larry, I am signed up for the 50 and working through a couple of issues - lack of training and a couple of nagging injuries and was wondering if I can drop down to the marathon? I haven't made up my mind to do so but just wanted to find out if it is an option.

The nagging injuries were my back was sore again and a foot issue. I had gotten the back healthy but between ramping up my mileage and stopping the exercises it had regressed. I decided to go for it despite the poor training and the injuries, why you may ask? Well the main reason is ....... heck, I don't know, I think I just didn't want to believe I couldn't pull it off. I normally can rally a bit and I only needed to maintain something like 16 to 17 minute miles and how hard could that be, right? And what if I had backed off to the marathon and had an easy time? That thought is very humorous now that I have seen the trail. Easy on that trail, is never going to happen, at least for me.

Anyway, it rained unbelievably hard during the night but we stayed mostly dry in the tent. I remember waking up at 2:30 AM, thinking about those poor folks running the 100 and I thought to myself that I sure hoped the rain would end soon. Up at 4, still raining but not as hard as earlier, got dressed, ate some yogurt, had a cup of coffee, made sure Karyn was awake, we left around 5 for the start line. Problem was, I had failed to pay attention to where it was and didn't really take into account darkness along with a fog/mist that greatly limited visibility. We ended up finding the start line but had a few tense moments. I packed up my final things and before I knew it we were off.

My plan was to run with Wayne for a while and then send him on his way. I figured I would be very close to the cut-offs and I knew he would be faster than I was and I wanted him to make it. About 3 or so miles into the race I rolled my right ankle pretty good. I kept going, figuring it would be ok, it mostly was but it did bother me more than I would have liked. I kept the pace slow but manageable, trying to take what the course was giving me. Wayne and I ran together for the first 7.7 miles but separated during the 2nd section, I had taken my jacket off at the first aid station and had some issues getting it into my pack and the pack back on. It took a mile or so but I eventually caught up to Wayne but soon ended up slowing down some and we separated but for the most part I kept things going ok and if I remember I was a minute or so behind him at the next aid station. At the 2nd aid station, I saw Karyn and was a bit cranky as I knew I was in trouble, my back was hurting, then ankle was tender and I was starting to get some blisters. I had also had left calf cramping up, all in all I was falling apart. I took the time to switch shoes, expecting that they would help get better traction in the mud and not aggravate the blisters. I have to admit that I was kind of soaking in the trail, I was loving it, even though it was wet, very very wet and very muddy in places. From that point on my day trickled downhill. I could give you more of my adventure as I watched the hills, roots, rocks and mud take their toll but I think my pictures will give you an idea (they are not very good quality as they were taken from my cell phone and I was a bit shaky at times but hopefully you will get an idea)

Yes this was part of the trail, I took this picture after I came down this section and looked back up at it. It was after the 2nd aid station, I think.

The mist/fog was gorgeous but I think the view would have been even more spectacular without it.

I can't remember which river this was, I took it from the bridge that crossed it.

Typical of the trail but at times the mud/water covered up rocks and roots. I torqued my ankle a few more times and every twist of my feet over rocks and roots caused some back pain. There was a hill that I went down where I seriously was concerned for my safety and sure enough I slipped on one of the rocks and wiped out but no major damage.

I didn't get a great picture that captured the mud but hopefully these will give you a feel.

There were sections were the water/mud was mid calf and I had my shoes get stuck but thankfully I didn't lose them completely.

I went down the path to this lake and just kind of stared at it for 2 or 3 minutes. There were so many sections of this course that I wish I could have just stopped and taken it in but I did want to make the cutoff so I kept moving. But my last 10 miles or so I knew I wasn't going to make the cutoff so I stopped often to try and soak it in.

So my day was cut short from what I expected but my body was failing so I wasn't too disappointed. I loved every minute on this trail and will look forward to returning for another race. I now have a feel for it and will know that my training will be need to step up 2 or 3 levels if I am ever going to succeed on this trail.

What an unbelievably great trail and my thanks to Larry and all of the volunteers for hosting a first class event. Congrats to Wayne, Rick, Jim and all of the other 50 and 100 mile finishers, I am in awe of you.

Superior Attitude

Next Saturday, the 11th, I will be attempting the Superior 50 trail race and I have been more than a bit worried as my training hasn't been great but it has been good enough, the big issue is probably between my ears, you know those negative thoughts. Well over the last few weeks I have been working on my attitude, trying to move in those positive thoughts and let those bad ones go away, you know things like "if you think you can, then you can". I know that if I go in thinking I can't then I won't make it. I will let pain or a bad spell take me out.

Well, my last few runs have felt much better and they are helping me get everything back into perspective. Granted the last few runs have been shorter but it has been cooler which has helped me understand that some of my other runs may have been bad simply because of the heat or for that matter work stress. Regardless, I am now back in a good mental frame for Superior. Matter of fact this song pretty much captures it:

For those that don't want to listen, just read the lyrics and you should understand where I am.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me down
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Look all around there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead there's nothing but blue skies

And on that note here is the current forecast for Superior for the weekend, to me it looks like almost ideal running weather.

Friday - Showers possible. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 50s.
Saturday - Showers. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 50s.

And if it does rain and it gets me down or if I am suffering a bit, I just need to think back in time and listen to this song, it will put whatever I am going through into perspective and help me keep going.

After reflecting on 9/11, I find that sometimes I feel a bit down and I need to understand things, this song always helps me find my way back.

Congrats to all who attempted Superior........

Ok, this post is strictly for me. I am inspired, intimidated and in awe of all who attempted Superior last weekend, be it the marathon, 50 or the 100. I dabbled with thoughts of doing the 50 this year and for a variety of reasons just did not go for it. The 50 is on my calendar for next year. It just sounds like too much fun not to try.

So I will start my planning now to get to the 50, trained and healthy, so why is this post for me, well, real simple I am pasting in links to all of the blogs I read for inspiration to train for the next 12 months. When the darkness comes, the cold descends, the trails turn icy than snowy, I will pull out this post, click on these links, soak in your craziness and then get my rear out the door.

My thanks to all of those who shared their journey both the final result and all of your other posts that documented your path to the starting line. I have picked up many things that I will need to work through over the next 12 months.

Adam's blog - joe-ziegenfuss-race-report
Adam's report
Brent's report
Carl's report
Christian's report
Helen's report
Julie's report
Karen's report
Kel's report
Keith's report
Londell's report
Matt's report
Nolan's report - added 9/16
Steve's report

So the plan is the Superior 50 in 2009 and who knows maybe the Superior 100 in 2010, that kind of looks like the makings of a great goal with a catchy intro - 50 in 9, 100 in 10..................