I completed it, had issues, took a lot of time, had a lot of fun and I think incurred no major damage.
Long report and pictures will follow soon.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Buckeye Outdoors meets Garmin
I have used Buckeye Outdoors for my official on-line running log to track my mileage for a while now. I started using it when I found out I could sync it with my Ipod Nano from the Nike site. Then I got my Garmin and I started using SportTracks which had a plug-in that allowed me to continue to sync with Buckeye. So that gave me two logs, one on-line and one on my PC which has worked out well, actually three as I still keep a paper version too.
Now I have a dilemma, they just updated Buckeye and I can now sync directly to it which is great but I still like SportTracks. So for the moment I will continue to do both and use the link in SportTracks but if you want an on-line log, take a look at Buckeye. Oh by the way, if you use say that Apple brand of computer then maybe this new interface would work for you since I know that SportTracks did not.
On a different note, someone at work asked me about this weekends run and I told him that I was really looking forward to it and he asked why? I said because it will be fun and he asked why? I said you don't understand, he said you are right I don't and I never will. He then said, if you ever figure out why you are doing this, please let him know. So I guess I have another task, figure out the why of why I do this. So while at McNaughton, I will give this a bit of thought and I should come up with an interesting list, I just hope I can remember it afterward.
Now I have a dilemma, they just updated Buckeye and I can now sync directly to it which is great but I still like SportTracks. So for the moment I will continue to do both and use the link in SportTracks but if you want an on-line log, take a look at Buckeye. Oh by the way, if you use say that Apple brand of computer then maybe this new interface would work for you since I know that SportTracks did not.
On a different note, someone at work asked me about this weekends run and I told him that I was really looking forward to it and he asked why? I said because it will be fun and he asked why? I said you don't understand, he said you are right I don't and I never will. He then said, if you ever figure out why you are doing this, please let him know. So I guess I have another task, figure out the why of why I do this. So while at McNaughton, I will give this a bit of thought and I should come up with an interesting list, I just hope I can remember it afterward.
Monday, April 5, 2010
McNaughton update
McNaughton is less than a week away and it is time to plan. What do I need to bring and what exactly is my race plan?
As to the first part, that is a good thought, what do i need to bring? As of right now, I haven't started to pack and have barely given it a thought. First things first, here is the weather forecast for Pekin, IL from Accuweather.com
So beyond worrying about everything else, I now need to worry about the heat. Well, thankfully I have had one day of heat acclimation so that shouldn't be a worry :-).
And here is my initial list of things I will bring (or should bring)
The weather looks good albeit hot, my body I am fairly sure is not ready, my mind might be, that will be my challenge, figure out a way to get to the finish. Right now I have 3 thoughts on how to approach the race. First, run slow and keep going until I get done (90% probable). Another thought is that I could run 30 or 40 miles on Saturday, then finish on Sunday (5%). My other thought is to run 30 miles, eat some dinner, relax, run 10 miles with Karen during the night, then 10 more in the morning (5%). Of course there is that other plan, run 50 miles, relax, eat and then go ahead and run another loop or two with Karen be it at night or in the morning, I am pretty sure that a few folks might think that is a good idea. All of the plans could work as to which one, good question, my guess is that I will decide on the way down with a bit of input from Wayne and Karen.
I may have said this before but I view this weekend as the start of my training for my first 100 (in a few years) as I will need to find something inside to finish this race at least based on my training. Which is what I think I will need to work on to take on a 100, mental training combined with some physical but I think it will be more mental. How do I keep myself believing and moving forward. What I think will be real neat is that I will get to observe those that are doing the 100 up close and I hopefully will pick up a few lessons from them.
I do hope to be able to figure out a bit more about fueling, finding out ways to recover, pacing, maintaining the positive attitude and just plain having some fun but my main goal is to just finish without causing an injury and to make sure that I use the race to gain experience.
As to the first part, that is a good thought, what do i need to bring? As of right now, I haven't started to pack and have barely given it a thought. First things first, here is the weather forecast for Pekin, IL from Accuweather.com
| Sat 4/10/2010 | Hi - 70° | Lo - 49° | Warmer with plenty of sunshine |
|---|
So beyond worrying about everything else, I now need to worry about the heat. Well, thankfully I have had one day of heat acclimation so that shouldn't be a worry :-).
And here is my initial list of things I will bring (or should bring)
- Running clothes, sweatshirts
- 2 or 3 pairs of shoes
- Headlamp and flashlights
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping mat
- Tent
- Chair
- Water
- Clif shot electrolyte - crisp apple
- Clif shot blocks - cherry and mt. berry
- Chocolate #9 Agave gels
- S Caps
- Ibuprofen
- Cell Phone
- Magazines/books
- Ipod nano with plenty of podcasts
- Ipod shuffle as a backup
- CD with some good ole music from my past
- Coffee
- Regular food?
The weather looks good albeit hot, my body I am fairly sure is not ready, my mind might be, that will be my challenge, figure out a way to get to the finish. Right now I have 3 thoughts on how to approach the race. First, run slow and keep going until I get done (90% probable). Another thought is that I could run 30 or 40 miles on Saturday, then finish on Sunday (5%). My other thought is to run 30 miles, eat some dinner, relax, run 10 miles with Karen during the night, then 10 more in the morning (5%). Of course there is that other plan, run 50 miles, relax, eat and then go ahead and run another loop or two with Karen be it at night or in the morning, I am pretty sure that a few folks might think that is a good idea. All of the plans could work as to which one, good question, my guess is that I will decide on the way down with a bit of input from Wayne and Karen.
I may have said this before but I view this weekend as the start of my training for my first 100 (in a few years) as I will need to find something inside to finish this race at least based on my training. Which is what I think I will need to work on to take on a 100, mental training combined with some physical but I think it will be more mental. How do I keep myself believing and moving forward. What I think will be real neat is that I will get to observe those that are doing the 100 up close and I hopefully will pick up a few lessons from them.
I do hope to be able to figure out a bit more about fueling, finding out ways to recover, pacing, maintaining the positive attitude and just plain having some fun but my main goal is to just finish without causing an injury and to make sure that I use the race to gain experience.
Friday, April 2, 2010
1942
What does 1942 have to do with anything? No it is not the year I was born, I am old but not that old. It just might be my new mileage goal for 2010 which would lead me to a nice round number.
You see, I discovered a potential statistical quirk when I was looking through the spreadsheet that I keep on my running. I happened to look at the sheet with my yearly mileage totals when I glanced at my mileage prediction for the year (1542 miles) which is based on year to date miles prorated out for the year (this is my low estimate) along with my planned mileage which is based on current year to date miles and my planned mileage for the remainder of the year (1887 miles - this my higher estimate, doesn't everyone do this :-) when I noticed something kind of interesting.
I am currently averaging 947 miles per year from 1992 through 2009, if I ran 1942 miles this year than I would be at exactly 1000 miles per year over the 19 year span of 92 through 2010 and hit exactly 19,000 miles. Will I do that many miles this year just to hit the exact miles per year? I wasn't planning on running that many but I can be a bit anal about my stats and it is kind of intriguing as if I stay healthy and do the training and run the races I have mapped out for the year, I would end up with 1887 miles, so if the year works out as currently planned would I be tempted to add 55 more miles. Tempted yes but I would probably just convince myself to let time take of care of it in 2011. Of course, that would mean in 2011 then I could only run 1055 miles and that is below what I am averaging so my only chance to hit it exactly would be this year.
So what to do, I think I will just continue to run, see if I can stay healthy and then see where I am come November and maybe just maybe I might go for it as I normally do tail off my mileage in November and December and an extra 55 miles would be easily within reach and it would be cool to do it.
While I am talking about my running stats, I just set my all time high mileage for March with 167 miles up from 114 miles from February, my previous high for March was 145 miles which I did in 1997, last year my March total was 134 miles.
Last, I have officially started my taper for McNaughton and I think I am on track as everything is pretty much falling apart. Yesterday I ran in Lebanon Hills with Wayne and the heat (and his pace) completely did me in as I struggled to get through 6 miles. Today, my left knee and right achilles are hurting. Why, I have no clue. I don't remember twisting the knee, I do remember some achilles tightness. Does it concern me? No, if I have issues I will just need to figure out how to deal with them and get through the day after all that is why I want to do ultras, right?
You see, I discovered a potential statistical quirk when I was looking through the spreadsheet that I keep on my running. I happened to look at the sheet with my yearly mileage totals when I glanced at my mileage prediction for the year (1542 miles) which is based on year to date miles prorated out for the year (this is my low estimate) along with my planned mileage which is based on current year to date miles and my planned mileage for the remainder of the year (1887 miles - this my higher estimate, doesn't everyone do this :-) when I noticed something kind of interesting.
I am currently averaging 947 miles per year from 1992 through 2009, if I ran 1942 miles this year than I would be at exactly 1000 miles per year over the 19 year span of 92 through 2010 and hit exactly 19,000 miles. Will I do that many miles this year just to hit the exact miles per year? I wasn't planning on running that many but I can be a bit anal about my stats and it is kind of intriguing as if I stay healthy and do the training and run the races I have mapped out for the year, I would end up with 1887 miles, so if the year works out as currently planned would I be tempted to add 55 more miles. Tempted yes but I would probably just convince myself to let time take of care of it in 2011. Of course, that would mean in 2011 then I could only run 1055 miles and that is below what I am averaging so my only chance to hit it exactly would be this year.
So what to do, I think I will just continue to run, see if I can stay healthy and then see where I am come November and maybe just maybe I might go for it as I normally do tail off my mileage in November and December and an extra 55 miles would be easily within reach and it would be cool to do it.
While I am talking about my running stats, I just set my all time high mileage for March with 167 miles up from 114 miles from February, my previous high for March was 145 miles which I did in 1997, last year my March total was 134 miles.
Last, I have officially started my taper for McNaughton and I think I am on track as everything is pretty much falling apart. Yesterday I ran in Lebanon Hills with Wayne and the heat (and his pace) completely did me in as I struggled to get through 6 miles. Today, my left knee and right achilles are hurting. Why, I have no clue. I don't remember twisting the knee, I do remember some achilles tightness. Does it concern me? No, if I have issues I will just need to figure out how to deal with them and get through the day after all that is why I want to do ultras, right?
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