FOMO is not my friend!

Prior to receiving the news that Western States was in my future (and, by extension, Vermont, Leadville and Wasatch) I had pretty much banked on a winter/spring racing schedule that would include Bandera 100k, Rocky Raccoon 100, and possibly some other late spring road race. I had maintained a training schedule through November that would have me ready to race in January and hopefully allow for a 100 mile PR attempt at Rocky in February.

From a training standpoint, December got off to a good start, beginning with a modest recovery week that included some extra strength work in the gym and some sessions on the spin bike to promote some active recovery. My plans for the next few months hadn't changed yet so I felt that I was in a great position to start ramping my mileage back up in preparation for the races that lay ahead.

That was all pre-Squaw. Now that I am living in a post-lottery drawing world, things have been decidedly different. The last few weeks of December have been mediocre at best. I have had a few decent runs, but nothing over 10 miles. Not all of this has been by design - a busy travel schedule and a case of the winter crud has forced me to make some accommodations in my training. When I have hit such a slump in the past, a quick and easy solution has been to put a race on the calendar. I'd simply pick a race a month or two out and get back on the training wagon. Done!

The problem is that the old rules don't apply now. I have to embrace this slow time as a sort of "off-season" (a task that is supremely difficult for me to do) and realize that there is a bigger picture here. I can't fall into the trap of thinking "well, so-and-so runs a ton of races, so I should too!" Taking time off is difficult for any athlete committed to their sport but this period of rest and recovery is a necessary part of the process.

So while I'm in R&R mode, I will catch up on my sleep, spend some time on a few other non-running hobbies, and even volunteer my time at a few of those cool winter/spring trail races. I'll spend a little more time working on core strength, fine-tuning my diet, and getting ready for the time when training intensifies and the miles ramp up again. It'll be here before I know it. In the meantime, I'll try to fight the FOMO (fear of missing out) and stay as far away from Ultrasignup as I can.....

Changing Directions

Mission Accomplished! (Image: teambonding.com)

"Perhaps I am stronger than I think."

-Thomas Merton

I've been fortunate to have experienced a number of pretty amazing things in my "side-life" as a runner. From 5k's to marathons and beyond, major big city races with thousands of spectators to small town races with just a few loved ones at the finish line, from road races to trail runs, from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat - I've just about covered the entire spectrum. It's been a wild ride, and I've been blessed beyond measure to have been able to be a part of it. To be honest, I didn't really see how it could get any wilder. What new frontiers could the future hold?

Then on December 3rd, 2016, things got crazy. So crazy in fact that I felt it was worth breaking my sabbatical from the blogosphere, if nothing else, to chronicle the craziness for the sake of posterity:

Because on December 3rd, I was accepted into the Western States 100 Endurance Run.

And on December 10th, I signed up for the 2017 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.

To say that this is a challenge for which I am wholly unprepared would be an understatement of elephantine proportions. The struggles I have had to overcome in past ultramarathons will pale in comparison to the extremes of heat/cold, altitude, remoteness, and fatigue that are sure to be the norm as I make my way over the 400 miles of the Slam.

And yet, here we are! The real work will begin soon as the holidays wrap up and the new calendar year begins. There will be a period of strength training and moderate mileage that will build into longer miles and climbing (LOTS of climbing). There will be planning for nutrition and hydration. I will need to be prepared to handle the pounding downhills at Western States, the altitude at Leadville, the relentless mountains at Wasatch, and the....well, the covered bridges at Vermont? (I have to admit I don't know much about Vermont yet.)

Right now I am keeping pace with some light running and some easy strength and core work. I'll keep track of some of my thoughts and my training notes here as the year progresses.  The key focus right now is to rest. Keep it easy. Begin laying a good foundation for the hard work to come.

Let the games begin!