My initial concerns about daily writing have unfortunately borne themselves out, as unfortunately the time available to write has not been as abundant as previously hoped. Given that I spend much of my day plugged in to computer screens and the various other implements of the information age it has been hard for me to rationalize spending my "free" time staring into my computer as well. There is a balance to be struck and over time I am sure that I'll figure it out. But for now, I will not be able to uphold my end of the bargain in the January write and run challenge. 

Incidentally, my aggressive racing schedule this month has also necessitated frequent rest days, meaning that outside of some occasional easy recovery runs and one or two training runs, I will be taking it easy to rest and recover in advance of Rocky Raccoon 100 at the end of the month. Saturday's effort was much more taxing than I had thought it would have been. I need to rest. And so, rest I shall.

My next post will be my race recap from the Bandera 100k. To be continued....

1-10-2015

Life events are going to keep me from providing much in the way of a decent post today. The bottom line is that after spending all day looking at a computer screen at work, I am not inclined to spend much time looking at one this evening! 

Today's run was a series of taper intervals on the treadmill. Just a 5 mile interval session to get the legs moving and work on my turnover. I am feeling quite good, and I am excited by the weather forecast for Saturday's race. Cloudy and cold....and it looks like any precipitation will be sporadic at best. Great conditions for Bandera.

Not too much longer now...

Bandera 100k Race Prep, Day 1

Local Roads & Trails, 8.34 mi, 1:10:44

Today I began the task of laying out and checking my gear for Bandera 100k next weekend. I am by nature an "over-packer", often displaying a tendency to overload myself in an attempt to prepare for every possible situation. For this one I am going to ease up a little bit. I know what works for me, what has worked in training, what I have and have not used in past races, and I am going to try to streamline things a little bit.

Some essentials will include:

• Battery powered USB recharger for my headlamp and phone
• Batteries for flashlight (backup)
• First aid kit (including band aids, vaseline, super glue, etc)
• Tailwind nutrition powder
• Scratch nutrition powder
• Nuun tablets
• Papaya enzymes (essential after my experience at Cactus Rose!)
• 2 Toms blister prevention powder
• Stinger waffles, and a few other assorted small snacks
• Endurolyte tablets

And that's pretty much it. I will carry most of my nutrition with me in an attempt to minimize aid station stops. I will limit drop bags to the Crossroads aid station, which we will pass through 4 times during the race, and Lodge, which will serve as our staging area. From a gear standpoint, I am considering my approach in the event of rain next weekend (currently standing at a 50/50 chance). My only concern here are my shoes. I do not have a pair that have significant tread on the bottom. If I am forced to navigate up and down steep, wet slopes, it could get interesting. Yet I am not inclined to don a brand new pair of shoes for an event of this duration. So I am going to go with my trusted Hokas and see what the day brings.

My race plan is pretty simple - 5 minutes max in the aid stations. That's it. In past events I have lost huge chunks of time to being parked in aid stations, whether as a result of dehydration, a poor nutrition plan, or some combination of the two. My thinking is that if I remain on top of my nutrition (~250 cal/hour) and continue to monitor my water and electrolytes I should be OK. I have an added advantage in that heat is not going to be a factor in this race. If I can do this, my finishing time should take care of itself.

I'll continue to review my plan and allow it to evolve as the week passes. It is not my intent to run this as a target race; instead, I am looking at this one as a supported long training exercise in preparation for Rocky Raccoon 100 later this month. Pacing, breathing, and hopefully a lot of smiling will be the order of the day. That's the idea, anyway.

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” 

― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Today's run was a chilly 1 hour recovery run around town. A strong, bitter cold wind from the north made this one a bit uncomfortable, particularly when running north! Yet I felt good today and am pleased to head into my taper week with no physical issues or concerns. I think I may finally be nearing the end of the respiratory junk and am looking forward to many restful hours of sleep this week. 

Chance Encounters

Local roads and trails, 14.3 miles, 1:55:35

Trail running has introduced me to a number of things, from minimal drop shoes to gels to hydration packs. I've run in some pretty cool places and have had the good fortune to have enjoyed some incredible experiences. I've learned a lot about myself, my limits, and what it really means to push through tough times and dark places. These lessons have carried over into my daily life, as I have my own share of dark days and idiosyncrasies that I am trying to overcome. But by far, the most cherished part of trail running that I have enjoyed are the chance encounters with people out on the trail. 

Whether it's a passing conversation along some single track, a long hike on a tough day, or a training run with new people, I have learned that the trails are truly a special place populated by special people. It's funny how shared experiences can bring people together. There's a saying that what's said on the trail stays on the trail. Deeply personal conversations can be shared between people who may have just met a few hours (or miles) before. Some lifelong friendships are born and others are renewed. I have had the good fortune to share much with these good people, who have in turn taught me and strengthened me in ways that I cannot begin to recount.

2014 was indeed a blessing for me as I have experienced the gift of such friendship in many different ways. There are those with whom I shared one day, one run, one race. Our paths crossed that day, we experienced that moment together, then we moved on. Others have become very close friends of mine, with whom I have come to know on a much more personal level. But one thing that I have noticed is that our trail and ultra running community is a close-knit group, and it is much smaller than one would think.

I heard someone refer to our community of trail runners as "our little tribe". I liked the sound of that. Regardless of where we came from our how we got here, we all share a love of our trails, a love of the outdoors, and love the community that has grown around this crazy sport. We give a knowing nod when someone laments a certain injury and offer support when another is going through a tough time. We know, because we've all been there. 

Without a doubt, the one thing to which I look forward most in 2015 is the chance to share these moments on the trail again. To cross paths with new people. To share our stories. To laugh a little, to curse a difficult stretch of trail, and to carry each other when we think we can't go on by ourselves. It is a wonderful thing to experience. It is far more valuable to me than race outcomes, finish times, medals, or buckles. It is the joy of a shared moment that, were you to try to explain to someone outside of the tribe, would be impossible to articulate. 

Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson

Today's run was a chance to get some endurance work in, a 2 hour run with some easy surges. I kept the effort level on the down-low as I (hopefully) finish off this respiratory junk that has plagued me for the past couple weeks. I felt quite good, better than I expected, perhaps buoyed by the extra rest I have taken over the last couple weeks. As race week begins my runs will ease up dramatically over the next few days as my priority becomes recovery. More about my race planning tomorrow.

Breath

Treadmill, 2 miles, 16:01, followed by strength training

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” 

― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Stepping into Freedom: Rules of Monastic Practice for Novices

Breath.

It's something we all take for granted. The average person will take over 672,000,000 breaths in their lifetime. I doubt most of us give our breath much thought - our body does it without our paying attention to it. In fact most of us are only concerned about 2 breaths in particular - our first, and our last. (The fact that so many people willingly poison their precious breath dismays me - but I digress.)

I would like to say that I am a person who is conscious of my breath - that, in practicing my own brand of mindfulness, I often return to my breath and use it as a centering force in my life. Sadly, this is not the case. (Resolution??) Yet dealing with a minor chest illness has caused me to consider the importance of my breath. When a bout of coughing that is associated with this illness strikes, every breath becomes uncomfortable. This becomes especially unpleasant at the end of the day, when it's time to begin a time of rest and relaxation!

It seems that we often do not notice things about ourselves until they are taken away from us. Perhaps it's as simple as a sore hand or foot, causing difficulty in handwriting or walking. It may be more complex, in the case of an internal injury or illness that make anything painful. My discomfort is minor, but it illustrates an important point - nothing in life can be taken for granted because it is very easy to lose it, especially something so precious as one's health.

I'll venture more into this topic as my thoughts evolve, as it certainly deserves more consideration when I have a little more time. My run was short today, a simple 2 mile recovery on a treadmill followed by weighted chest and back exercises. 

New Year's Day and the Run That Shouldn't Have Been

Local Trail, 12.2 miles, 1:43:21

2015 was welcomed in North Texas with a wet, cold, gray morning that covered tree and trail in a thin, glass-like coating of shimmering ice. Each breath revealed a puff of vapor as I began an easy run down the street and out of my neighborhood. A local paved running trail is not far from my house, and within a few miles I was running alone on quiet paths as the rain fell quietly. My thoughts today fluctuated between the year that was and the year that was to come. I was not exactly living "in the moment," but New Year's Day certainly offers one a chance for some reflection.

The year that has passed saw many comings and goings, as it were. New friends and new experiences filled my heart with joy, as life continued to inspire and amaze at every turn - sometimes in very unexpected ways. And yet my heart remains heavy at the loss of family and friends, particularly relatives who passed away last year. Life is short, and while there are days that may seem to stretch forever, none of them should be taken for granted. Neither should the ones we care about. Today they are here, and tomorrow, they are gone. The passing of time only serves to remind me of this reality.

"Pal", 1930-2014.

And so with a mind swirling with images, emotions, and reflections, I trudged along, feeling the drops of cold rain and sleet against my cheeks. Needless to say, on more than one occasion I wondered why I wasn't curled up in front of a fire with my thoughts and a cup of hot lemon tea!

From a running and standpoint, the last few days haven't exactly been stellar for me. I've been fighting the affects of a respiratory illness that has slowed my training to a crawl. I have been able to get a few shorter runs in over the last week but my overall confidence in advance of the Bandera 100k has been on thin ice (so to speak). I had hoped to get another decent run in over the next few days, and hoped today that I could get a decent hour in - if nothing else, just to get myself moving again. But by all rights, I probably should not have been out running today. I was pleased that I felt better than I expected - my persistent cough had subsided, my legs felt much better than they did a couple days ago, and the cold, wet weather did not bother me as much as I had anticipated. 

My 8 mile run turned into 10, then 12 as my mind continued to sift through the memories of the past year. My breathing was easy, my pace comfortable, and with a grateful spirit I soon rounded back toward my home. Despite the adverse conditions it was a great way to kick off the year. There is much that I am looking forward to in 2015 as well - but that will be the subject of a future post. For now, I need to make that cup of lemon tea and head for the fireplace.


NOTE. I have accepted a January challenge to run and write every day, called the Write And Run 31 challenge. I'm looking forward to it! It'll be an added bonus as I track my preparation for Bandera 100k and Rocky Raccoon 100 later this month.

I am adding an element to this as well, and that is to spend a few minutes each day with God. Interestingly, as far as discipline in my diet and training routine are concerned, I seem to be pretty solid. Yet I tend to neglect other critical areas of my life, and none is this more evident than in nourishing my soul. I may comment on this in future posts, but for now, safe to say it is a third element of my January commitment. I hesitate to say "resolution," because right now I am just taking it one day at a time. Perhaps with some divine intervention it might actually stick this time!