Leg and Cap Tx recap..

Here I go again STILL complaining about my leg so bear with me..

It just doesn’t seem like there is no end but it’s gotta get better, right? I am still dealing with my leg issues/fuckin’ problem nowadays!! And it’s really putting a depressing mode on things in terms of my running and training. I literally cannot run more than 2 miles without this thing kicking in and shutting me down from running. I can walk, stair climb, elliptical, jump, and just about anything else that doesn’t involve running!!

After a few sessions of ART it is a little a better but that is not going to cut it. I will continue with the ART but after talking my case over with my great buddies from Houston at Spine and Sports Therapy, where I have learn all my sports care, they have pointed out a couple of over looked issues!! I will immediately get on correcting those, one, includes changing my shoes from Motion control to Neutral which is a radical change but based on the give conditions and mechanics of my problem I will totally do it.

What does this mean in terms of my upcoming races? Good freakn’ question!!! I really don’t know. I mean I cannot run more than 2 miles, which means I still need to rest this thing and with my next even, SilverRush 50 on schedule for July 18th, leaves 6 weeks from tomorrow, the fat lady has started to sing in my opinion. Also the week of this event is my dedicated Crewing job for Susannah for Badwater and I really want this to be good to help pace for a few miles. Now with regards to Rio Del Lago 100, there is 14 weeks left and once again I am just hearing the intro music to this one which is really bumming me out!!!! I mean I would be okay missing the 50 miler but once I finally mentally decided to push for the 100 and now this crap happens and I may have to mentally accept it just may not happen at this time.

Sooooooo, in JT fashion, if you can’t get it done then, when?!!! Hahaha! I have been eyeing a couple of other 100’s simply because I really wanted to knock out a 100 this year, so RDL may be out but that doesn’t mean the 100 is out!! Stay tuned…

I will be eyeing Ironman Wisconsin now in September when it opens up for a shot at 2011..!! What’s that? JT’s coming back to the triathlon side!! Haha.. After taking a short break after IMCZ and coaching this year for TNT I have to admit I developed FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when I wasn’t participating in the races!! I have always wanted to do IMMoo so along with some other things next year I will am looking ahead to put 2011 schedule together. Is anyone else thinking that far ahead?

I just got back from the Capital of Texas Olympic Triathlon with my TNT Vegas team and they all did freakn awesome!! For 3 of them this was their first Olympic distance and for our veteran this was like her 35 overall triathlon. As I said they all did awesome, with our fastest gal in the 30-34 age group knocking out 9th out of 84 and 81st out of 1364 Olympic finishers!! Our Veteran taking 1st in her age group of 60-64, okay, okay, she was the only won but she still took it home!! Then we had a gal who quickly learned how dealing with 3 flats (Stef can relate!! ) right out of T1 can rattle your day quickly but staying focused, listening to Coach Liz who was able to talk her through things and get her back out on the course, proves she is an excellent triathlete!! And last but certainly not least was our gal who started the season so worried about swimming 1500 meters and all season long improved her speed and endurance and was still skeptical about swimming the distance showed Coach Brendan and I how she rocked the 1500 meter swim and finished faster than we projected!! She totally conquered that swim making a huge confidence in her abilities and taking on the bike and run to finish up her 1st Olympic distance!! At the end of the 92*, 58% day, it really makes me feel good that all the time and weeks of emails and schedules come together and besides the 4 people raising over $20,000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma they accomplished goals they never thought possible on Day 1 when we started! I am so proud of them and to be able to help and that is just a small part of why I am proud to be a Coach for Team in Training – Las Vegas!!!

My TNT season has ended for now and will be off for the rest of the year and I cannot wait to take on next season when I will be coaching marathon/half marathon groups that will look to take on the 2011 Vancouver and Alaska Marathons!!! So you all should sign up!!

Rockon’

Go Away.. Go Away..

That's all I can think about these days and I am referring to the nagging crap that's plaguing my body with small but significant injuries. OKAY, so maybe it's my body's way of saying it needs Rest, ya think! Shhhh!!! don't answer that. I know, I know but come on, I have rested. I have got massages, I have stretched (my finger) but that's close enough right? Not exactly.

Along with discovering lately that my motion control shoes are just too aggressive for road running for me these days (im back in Stability) I have also ran just enough in them to bring out problems that were waiting for center stage! Bastards!! and they got it. As we know the Big Toe was an issue a few weeks ago, which created some compensations and now has effected my left glute, which in turn set off my left ITB and calf along with the shoes adding to the expressway to center stage.

I have underwent the ohhhh sooo wonderful ART stuff from my buddy doc and it has helped but still not 100%. I have been stretching more, fully body.. Foam rolling and using the stick. My body does feel like it needs a little rest from running or just some more TLC to keep it working. I will admit I have been lazy in preventative care and now I am paying the price, the shoes was just something, unfortunately, I had to figure out since returning to the road.

Anyway, things are somewhat looking up and now I just have to see how the body responds to things and look to see how much training I can actually get in for the upcoming July SilverRush 50 and RDL 100.

rockon'

WTF...

Since being back from Cabo I thought I was ready to get with the program and get to some serious miles and training, however, my body has thought otherwise and has made a plan of its own that really forces you to accept it or pay the consequences.

First off, coming off the big toe issues, it seemed to resolve while in Cabo, must have been all the food and alcohol that filled up the empty hole in that toe, hahaha. I went out for a nice 5 mile run last Tuesday at the FleetFeet run and everything was great. It’s actually been a long time since I ran 5 miles consistently without stopping to walk a hill. I was a great run and all was good. Then I woke up Wednesday morning and got prepared to hit the road for my 12 miler. I started running and about a mile into it I could feel some sort of different pain in my left leg. It’s different for me to deal with pains simply b/c I have never really had them! So having some leg pain throws me for a loop. I could feel some cramping pain in my left glutes as well as my left knee hurting. As the steps progressed my leg actually felt like it was going to buckle a couple of times. I stopped and walked, I stopped and stretched. I stopped and jumped. I did everything I could to try and fix it but nothing seemed to work as soon as I started running it started coming back and a little more intense. By this time I had already turned around and ended my run with a pitiful 3 miles! Later I did all the post run stuff in hopes of it feeling better or just going away. I took Thursday off and on Friday I went out again for a run. I made it like ½ mile!!! WTF!!! I thought I have some serious nagging shit here and I need to get it looked at before it gets worse.

Now I am not going to lie, this really mentally bummed me out and shook my confidence in my ability to run my upcoming 50 let alone the 100! I mean, WTF! If you can’t run, you can’t train!! I even went back to all my previous shoes, general kick around shoes, anything that I could think of that I had changed in the past 2 weeks. I did start some stabilization and plyometric training to increase abductor stability to the glutes and lower body in general. I took basically a week off.

Last night, I went out to try it out. Started walking for .25 mile. All was good. Started running and all was good for about 1 mile, and then I could feel it coming back. I turned around and headed home running on any dirt I could as it seemed to not be as intense but it was still noticeable. By the time I got home it was totally annoying and I could feel it without a doubt. I texted my chiro buddy Victor, who specializes in ART and set up to see him asap.

Today, I went in to see Dr. Victor. He and I are good friends and anytime we can help each other out it’s a win win situation. I explained all my crying and waa-waaness to him and we proceeded outside to run. As I ran it quickly returned and I explained, pointed and cussed! We went back inside for the OH So Fun ART to begin. Now I must admit that ART is a good technique and helps in many ways but it one of the most uncomfortable painful techniques around, but who gives a rats ass if it works right!

After a few minutes working on my toe and my left knee/ITB region we returned outside to run again. The running was better but I could still feel some minor stuff, but better. We go back inside for round #2 of pain from Holy Hell, then a small taping and an appointment to return on Monday for more pain. I must admit it does feel a little better and I am hoping to run a least a couple of 6 miles over the weekend to see how it goes. We also discussed that my current Asics Evolution 5 shoes (motion control) appear to be me too much and over correcting. Over the last months I have been strictly on trails so the control has not been an issue but since I moved to some more road running its over-correcting.

Bottom line: my confidence has been shaken a little and it makes me wonder in my ability to get this fixed in time to complete adequate training.

I guess this is welcome back from Cabo..!!!!

Rockon’

Cabo Recap.

After a great trip to Cabo and fun in the Sun I must say it's always good to be back home! Again, the trip down to Cabo was for a friends wedding on the beach, which turned out to be really nice and romantic and am happy for them.

Wednesday when we left it was bright and early and by 7am we were eating breakfast in LA waiting till 11:30am for the flight to Cabo, the long layover sucked but so be it. Once on the plane to Cabo we quickly ordered up some drinks, compliments of a patient of mine that gave us drink coupons, as he is a flight attendant. Soon we were close to Cabo and I quickly noticed from the sky that the land was very dry and desert like and thought we just made a big circle and were landing in Vegas!! haha! After we cleared the long slow customs line we proceeded to go to our waiting shuttle van.

Now we were strictly instructed in email and by phone when we arranged our transportation to proceed though the baggage clam area to outside, Do Not Stop and let anyone say they are with transportation company, as they are NOT! They will be TimeShare people who will act like they are your transportation and will get you to there desk and try and make deals with you for activities. SOOOOOO, we came out of transportation and I quickly spotted the liars and quickly told them no, I am with GreyLine and the guy practically grabbed me and said yes, he was the transportation. I said No your not and he said yes, I will take you to your hotel, just check in right here and he will get you the shuttle. (I totally forgot about what they said, Don't Stop!! and I stopped) This next guy was really a fast talker and other than bypassing the transportation stuff he proceeded quickly to the I have free tickets to this and that and I then caught on he wasn't our guy. I told him no and matter of fact, I had just met this lady on the plane, hahaha!! So we walked off and went around the corner and here was guy #2!! He said, hey you are with GreyLine, I said yes, but I am not interested. He said, no I am not a timeshare, those guys are the liars, I am the real deal. (again, forgetting what I was told) I didn't stop walking but I said Oh Okay which way do we go? He said How long are you in town? and slowed his walking pace. I said not long enough and realized he was Liar #2, but by this time I saw the outside doors and the REAL guy with GreyLine holding the sign. We continued to walk away from liar #2 and finally got to the correct transportation guy. So Moral of the story..!! if you ever go to CABO, walk completely outside to get your transportation as they are not allowed inside the airport, only the Liars are!

We got to our Hotel and got settled in and I ordered room service. We ate and then hit the pool and started drinking. We then went to dinner and to bed as it was a long day. The next morning, Thursday, we had breakfast and checked into a few activities and was offered a good deal on ZipLining if we went to a timeshare presentation downtown. We took the deal b/c we wanted to see the downtown area, get a deal on zip-line and it wouldn't cost us only time and telling the sellers No. The sister property we saw was a good deal, nice hotel-timeshare and great location. Again, I had to tell the sellers no like 8 times but although they were nice in respecting the No's they kept trying politely. Finally, they let us go and we went back to our hotel and hit the pool and more drinks.

The next couple of days was a lot of fun in the sun, drinks, food and of course the wedding. The Zip-Line adventure was pretty fun.

We went on Saturday morning to zip-line with 2 other couples from our hotel and met up with about 8 other couples once there. We got instructions and we were quickly off on the zip lines. Overall there were 8 lines. There was some pretty strong hiking trails/stairs to get from line to line and it was Hot in the canyon. The harness gear was good quality, good condition and the safety gear was good. The lines were in pretty good safety conditions and anchored well. I did not think for one minute or question our safety once I saw everything. It took about 3 hours to complete all the lines and by noon it was really hot!! I was glad to be done but it did go by too fast. The last zip line was approx. 2700 feet and reached speeds of 50mph!! It was fast and fun!!!!!! Check out the pictures of us!!

Sunday we just had breakfast in your room and got ready to head back home. Now I did manage to get two runs of 5 miles each on Thursday and Friday and the hiking part of the canyon on Saturday but that's about all the workout I got.

Monday was just a re-settle in day and was actually a schedule day off, not really sure why I deserved one but I took it and today, I will run later tonight. The toe is feel better but then again I have not run at any distance to test it so I will see how the week progresses. I guess I just needed a little down time on the legs following last weekends back to back runs.

rockon'

and we're off....

That's right!! if you are looking for me you can certainly find me here!! Cabo San Lucas. Dez and I are heading down for her bff's wedding. This comes at a much needed time, well, I think anyways.

This past week of running the toe has been hit or miss but mostly miss. Heading into Friday's run of a 15 miles around Red Rock Loop was to be the test to see how things held up. As it turns out for most of the run, maybe the last mile did my toe start bothering me but otherwise I was good to go and just tired in general from the challenging course the loop has to offer.

Saturday morning was team in training business and we all gathered at Lake Mead. After the training it was time to get my run on. Not only was another 15 miler on the schedule it was only 15 hours post Friday run at Red Rock!! So as I started out my legs were just not happy. It took several minutes for my legs to come around and then I was good for a while. I actually ran the 2008 RAGE in the SAGE 70.3 run course, which was totally crappy as SWTriGal, S. Baboo and few others of the Outlaws can testify to but being as I am run training and trail training I took on the old course which leads up the side of the 6 tunnel course through a ravine which is loaded with sand, gravel, packed dirt, loose rocks and more sand. As a trail runner its a Great course, as a Triathlete it totally sucks! Once up on the tunnel road I enjoyed the great view of Lake Mead and the many tourists walking the tunnels and once I actually hit the turn around point I was close enough to the Hoover Dam that I thought, hell, I might as well go down there and see the new overpass bridge construction. As you can see the overpass bridge is now connected, an awesome display of engineering!

As I headed back it was a littler hotter out and my toe was just starting to act up. By the time I made it off the trail and back to the road with about a mile left I was walking due to the irritation and pain I was feeling. The bad thing was the more I walked the worse it seemed but the more I ran the more I wanted to stop, so I did the s-l-o-w shuffle run, oh wait!! That's how I run anyway!! Hahaha! By the time I made it back to the car I was definitely glad to be done and so was my toe. With two 15 mile runs back-back within 15 hours I figured I had accomplished a great training block. The plan was to rest up on Sunday and then hit another 15-15 block on Mon/Tues.

Well on Mon I could feel my legs where still as heavy as bricks and I actually went to the gym to try a split run on the treadmill. I started off walking and then running but after 1 mile my right knee was hurting, my legs were still not recovered and I was mentally beat. I switched over to the elliptical trainer for about 15 mins and then I just ran out of gas mental. I felt bad and was just not ready to be running. Overall I just didn't realize that I got beat down that much from 2 runs, I mean, I felt better running 30 miles at once than I had a back-back run. Anyway, on Tuesday my patella tendon was still talking to me so I took off all together and just got ready for Cabo. I have brought my running gear to get a few short 6 mile runs on the treadmill as I don't think our resort is in a place to run but I will be checking.

So for now it's off to Cabo with hopes of a better toe!!!

rockon'

Now What's the problem.

After starting off a great week last week of running it seems my big toe hasn't jumped on the RDL Plan and is retaliating. Actually, I came to figure out that on Thursday it may just have been a different general shoe I started wearing daily.

Here's the deal. I got these Etonic motion control shoes at the triathlon store that went out of business a couple of months ago. I had them in my office and would just basically wear them during my office hours only but last week I started wearing them daily. I didn't think nothing of it when my toe started hurting and as the weekly running progressed my toe would start hurting more and more. It's actually my right big toe in the metatarsal joint. So I was trying to figure out on Wednesday why it was hurting, what caused it, what changed.. anything! Then when I was getting dressed on Thursday morning I grabbed the Etonic shoes to put them on and it hit me, these shoes!

It has been the only factor that has changed in the last 10 days and my toe started hurting within that time frame. So I quickly threw them across the room and grabbed my old dirty Asics GT-2130's I had been wearing and have continued to wear them over the weekend. I also taped my lower ankle for FHL (flexor halicus longus) dysfunction, cold laser, tramueel and anything else to help reduce the inflammation before running again on the weekend.

On Saturday went to do some stretching at a fun run event and although my legs were tired from standing for about 3 hours my toe seemed Okay. On Sunday I headed out to the trails and ran a 6 mile loop back to the car to refuel and my toe was slightly noticeable but seemed a lot less on the trails than the road surface. Once refueled I took off again for a 4 mile out and back on the trail, the first 4 miles was all down hill gradual and I could feel the toe starting to act up or become more irritated. I made the turn around and on the way back it was much more of a problem and actually caused me to stop abruptly a couple of times. It then seem to go away the last 2 miles or until I had to run about a 1/2 mile on asphalt to get to the car. Not only was my toe hurting but the sun was blaring and it cooked me pretty good wiping me out with a headache the rest of the afternoon, not used to that the Vegas Sun just yet since winter time.

After getting back home and cleaned up I napped and ate and my toe seemed to be okay, achy but okay. Today, I feel as if it is sore but then again I am not running today so will just have to see WTF is going on with it.

I will say that the 15 miles I ran was much freakn' harder than the 31 miles I ran two weeks ago!! Not sure why, maybe the toe, maybe the heat either way it may be question how in freakn' Shit am I supposed to run 85 more miles in Sept! It was actually a low point in a training run, of which I have had not had in a long long time nor am I really focused on when I get that way. It was weird and just made me think that starting training with a big toe and heat difficulties is not the best way to go but so be it. I completed the week with 33 miles of 46 planned miles which is not the best but as anything else in training, it's done and over so move on to the next week.

I did use the Infinte nutrition and it seemed to be working okay. I did find that possibly taking in the drink with protein may not be a good thing over the course of the day and I also find that I need to increase my electrolyte intake on it. Other than that I would say that for me in training long runs will need to be planned because I can only carry so much of it in my pack where as on a race you can carry the powder and mix it up at aid stations but no worries. It sure beat taking gels every 20-30 mins!!! I drank 3 bottles of 20oz which was 810 calories for me.

rockon'

Eye on the Prize

Since I have been basking in my glorious victory at LOL50k I have finally realized that I am that much closer to Rio Del Lago so I better get with it!

After some great collaboration with the Sensei I have finally got the plan laid out, once again. Yes, once again because I did have it set a few weeks back but with just being lazy and thinking I was "recovering" I passed a couple of weeks without any good running, other than my Victory at LOL and now I am comfortable and focused with the eye on the prize 21 weeks away!

Now when I think about it, 21 weeks seems like enough time to train for 100 miles but when laid out on paper from week to week, Holy Shit!! It's NOT!! So I have been actually in the same zone as feeling for an Ironman 20 weeks out and it just doesn't seem like enough time but a good laid out plan FOLLOWED will lead you to the prize!

I am ready and I feel mentally that the switch has been flipped because without that you are just not really in the Game!

This past weekend was the Rage in the Sage triathlon with a sprint, oly, and 70.3 distance. I have raced this event the last 2 years and it kicked my ass each time starting with the cold water. The water temp on Saturday was 60* so warmer than it has been in the past but the outside temperature was in the 80's so if you were on the 70.3 course, like this guy, then you got the heat to deal with on the bike and run. Being as I am Coaching the Team in Training Vegas Triathlon group for the Capital of Texas Olympic triathlon in May we used the sprint event as a race prep. A few peeps took it on and had a great day. When it was all said and done I was a little sad that I had not taken to the racer side but again realized how tough Rage can be and was glad I had not.

Since I had not raced and was feeling left out my mind started to think about cranking out a triathlon and with my running abilities now, whacking out a marathon wouldn't be too difficult even after a 112 bike. Did I did just say that? WTF!! it's always hard no matter what but crazy I think that way. Anyway, I looked into jumping into Vineman Full and giving Formulaic a thought that I may be coming after him all day long!!! But in the conclusion of things such as crewing for Badwater, SilverRush 50 miler and RDL 100, I simply can't do it all financially, of course I could Physically, duhhh!!! so I have decided to just keep my eye on the RDL100 buckle prize!

rockon'

Labor of Love 50k...then Badwater!

This weekend was the running of Calicoracing.com Labor of Love 50k and ultra running weekend of events. Last year at this same time I volunteered and was solely in charge of aid station mile 4.5ish. It was cold, windy!!!! and Snowed!! I had music, decorations and tried to give as much excitement as I could.

This year I was on the race course and passed my aid station un-manned and unattended!! Anyway, the start of the race there was only 13 of us and 1 had just finished the 100 miler in 22 hours-ish and decided he wanted to run the 10k with a friend of his so he did! and oh this guy is 59!! Awesome. The race started off and I was running with Cynthia, a great running buddy that also ran Headlands 50 last year with me and other Vegas peeps. We ran together for about 6 miles chatting and catching up on things. I then took off and started running a little faster and soon found myself running alone.

I soon pulled into mile 11 which was the last aidstation-only drop bag location and quickly grabbed my PB&J and Gatorade. I was quickly off and running again up the Now dirt road/trail section of the course. Ohh, yeah, the majority of the course is on asphalt road. I was now also power walking as the hill section is one of the steepest of the course and I soon came upon a different lady, Yoland, who didn't start with us but start running the events on Saturday! She ran the Marathon first, then the 50 miler, and now the 50k, all in a process to complete a series of 26.2 miles to put toward her goal of breaking the most marathons run in a calendar year. I think she said the record was in the 90's! and was only on #32. Anyway, Yoland wasn't feeling too good and a little down on enthusiasm and didn't think she was going to make the 9 hour cutoff. Well I quickly dismissed that from her mind and made her power up the hill with me talking about the course, where she is from, etc.. anything to keep her mind off the work of the 12-16% Grades we were climbing up. Oh and the Snow.. yes there was snow patches on this part of the course. Once we made it to the top of the road It was run time downhill and that is what I did. I quickly told Yoland to enjoy the downhill and recover because when we got to the bottom we basically had to come back up but that it wasn't as steep just long grades.

I took off down the road and after a while I started looking for the runners coming back but still didn't see anyone (the first runner passed us going back down the road as we were still climbing up) but the rest of the pack was still not in sight. After a few more minutes I started seeing them and by the time the last person went by I was almost to the turn around. I checked my time/distance and realize I could catch that person before getting back to the top. I made the turn around and started heading back but realized I just wasn't going to catch that last guy with the yellow jacket. Before I got to the top of the long gradual climb I was reeled in by a lady from Texas that had been leap frogging each other all day. We chatted and ran down the other side of the steep ass road back to the aid-drop bag station but we caught and passed the guy with the yellow jacket!! Yes, I was not the last male runner anymore!!! I again quickly grabbed my stuff and was off.

No sooner back on the asphalt I had to stop and get a rock out of my shoe and it is then I was put back in check to the last male runner as the Yellow jacket guy passed me. I thought no worries, I will catch him in a few minutes, Wrong!! He bolted out there and I noticed his foot turnover was just too fast for me so I had to let him go. Mind you it is only mile 22. I was then soon passed by the TX lady and she too had no shame in laying down the tempo and once again I was running by myself. By this time I realize I am in what I call "the witching hour" Its where I feel like shit, I dont want to run, maybe walk, cant take any nutrition in and everything is just starting to hurt. It's always been like this for me at this time.. somewhere around mile 18-23.. but then I hit mile 24+ and I am charged and good to go!! (I think its a fueling problem which I hope Infinte will solve!!) I push through the time and miles, walking and running and next thing I see far far up the road is the last Big Ass Climb and lots of people walking, which must be a crew for someone on the 100. I finally catch them and sure enough it is, they are pacing and helping her get to the top off this climb, which is about a mile lone and ranges in grade from 6-15%ish!!! I chat with them as I power walk past as my radar has locked on Yellow Jacket guy!! He is wounded! He is barely putting one foot in front of the other and now is the time to real his ass in. I kick up the power walk and I am closing faster than I thought. I finally catch him and notice his ankle doesn't seem to be in good condition. I ask.. How are you doing? He says his ankle hurting and although we are almost to the top I pass him but he sticks with me. As soon as we hit the top I am just a few meters ahead of him and I start running. Now is the time I have to attack!!! I have to drop him now or it wont happen over the last 4 miles.

I started running and sure as shit he starts running with me!! WTF!! I start to run a little faster and I see that he is dropping back. I then feel I got him and with a slight down hill I drop what speed I have left and lay it down because this is it!!! I look at my Garmin and holy shit I am running a 9min/mile I know this wont last long so I better get as much distance as I can from him! I also know that this is the mental breaker from him seeing me run and realizing he cant stay with JT!! Sure enough it works! I am completely out of breath and my legs are screaming to stop but I slow up and run a little farther. When I look back he is at least a 1/2 mile behind but that doesn't sink into my mind and it's not enough. So from now to the finish I looked over my shoulder like 10 times and when I stopped to walk I could only think that he was running and closing in on me. The last 2 miles I also realized that if I didn't continue to run I would not break 7 hours and so now that I was not going to be the last male runner I wanted to break the 7 hour mark. I actually visioned it as running into the finish line with the count down and people cheering me on to hurry my ass up before the 7 hit.. almost like an Ironman countdown till the next hour but when I got finally got there, there was an older guy clapping for me and the photographer.. welcome to Ultra Running!! hahaha.. I finished and they took my chip and sure enough, I finished 6 hours 59 mins 19 seconds!!! YES!!!

As I sat down and rested, I got some cookies and coffee..Yup that is all I really wanted. Next thing I know Joyce, the RD, comes over with a small catus and says.. Congrats John, you won your Age Group! I quickly said No way!! She said ya, 2 others placed and one guy dropped so you win!! HAHAHA.. I rock!!

I recovered fairly well this week and actually hit the gym a couple of times for some weight training. One thing, I did use my super new Camelbak Octane 18X and although I really liked it, it's light and worked well, somehow, I could not get it balanced on my shoulders and it nagged and pulled at my right trap the entire race and as a result I ended with a very sore, tired and tender trap. I will looking to solve this misalignment over the next shorter training runs.

This week I did receive my Infinte and new but same running shoes so I have some new gear to work with.

I have also made it official that I will be crewing once again at Badwater 135!!! for a great lady from Australia!!! It will be her 1st attempt at BW and the opportunity presented to crew so I had to take it. Yes, it is the week of my Leadville 50 miler but hey, it's Badwater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am EXCITED!! For now it's time to settle into some good quality consistent training days and warmer weather.

rockon'

Monthly Recap and new stuff..!

I took at look at the March training recap and here is the break down:

Run - 8 runs (OP 50 miler) = 91.35 miles w/avg. pace of 15:11 totaling 23 hours 7 mins.

Bike - 2 bikes = 82 miles w/avg. 15.47mph totaling 5 hours 18 mins.

Strength training = 2 sessions of 1 hour each = 2 hours.

Overall I happy with the run, completing OP50 and actually happy with the bike rides as well, cranking out the 60 miler last weekend with that being my first real ride, and only 2 time on the bike since Nov. 09.

Now that I have officially signed up for Rio Del Lago 100, Yes!! I pulled the trigger and signed up I have set the plan in motion and am on the training path to get there. With that I went shopping yesterday at REI and put my membership dividens and 20% discount to good use.

First up is the new

CamelBak Octane 18X (black & yellow). It is ultralight material and now at 70oz I think this will be a great upgrade from my previous borrowed pack that is about 50oz. and only 1 small zipper pocket.

My next purchase on the recommendation from S. Baboo and the head lamps that light up the night!

BlackDiamond - Icon. I tested this last night in the back yard and they were not kidding! Things light up!! this will truly be a great investment. You may think the battery pack may cause bouncing but according to Baboo and GeekGirl (and they can testify) that it does not. I am excited to run at night.

Now you would have thought that buying these cool things would have got me out running today but just staying up too late actually had me sleeping in just a little but not enough to keep me from meeting up with my Team in Training group and plunging into the Freezing ASS Lake Mead at 9am. It was 56* and let me tell you, HELLO ITS F'N COLD!! I will have to rank it on the Top 3 coldest swims I have ever done. After a short time and everything is frozen we were able to get a short swim in and then thaw out. So proud of the team and especially one of them who didn't have a WetSuit!!!!! damn, crazy!

Other than that little amount of training nothing major for the weekend and now I am searching for new running shoes, most likely that will be the same as my existing running shoes and then next month an upgrade to a trail shoe I have my eye on but will wait for the new version!

Now with some new equipment I had to order some new nutrition and threw down the order for Infinite Ultra endurance formula. Again this has come on the recommendation from J-Tri's and a couple of local training peeps I know. I am eager to try it as I am seriously tired of using Gels, ShotBloks, bars, etc. and just need a change.

With all this new stuff I will be looking to try things out this weekend at the Labor of Love 50k on Sunday April 11th! Its mostly a road ultra but there is a short up and back portion of a fire road that is dirt and pretty darn steep and although only about 5 miles of the total course it's a good run.

rockon'

I can still bike.

It's been 4 months since any serious biking has been completed.. okay, there was the 10 miler I did about 4 weeks ago with my TNT tri-group and then there was 21 miles done on Saturday but really that was it.

So when Formulaic said he was going out to ride 60 miles on Sunday I was a little intrigued. Mostly just to ride as the 21 miles the day before was kind of nice and reminded me how I do like biking but really I wanted to see how I would feel with biking 60 miles. After a few text's back and forth I was set to meet Form at Lake Mead.

As I got to the lake, Form was getting in his swim and I got my bike stuff ready. As he T1'd and we were set to go I remembered I forgot my helmet!! UGGHHHH!!!!! Miles from home and no helmet..SHIT! We quickly called Mrs. Form and she agreed to meet us at the check station into the lake but that would be I would be riding 10 miles without a helmet. (Yes, Coach, I could hear you in my ear yelling at me the whole way!!!) I must say it was quite uncomfortable to be riding without a helmet but what could I do, either scrap the whole ride or go 10 without it.

Once we met up with Mrs. Form and lil' Form I was super happy they could help me out and drop off a helmet. Now I was much more comfortable and ready to ride. We proceeded to enter good ol' North Shore Drive which has many climbs to reckon with. As the miles ticked away I was quickly reminded why I don't like riding at Lake Mead. I was actually looking at the sides of the roads and would see trails and think.. dang sure would like to go running down that trail and see where it goes. I actually told Form one time and he said he would wait right at the road for me, ha!

After we made the 30 mile turn around point, it was a quick refuel time and we were off heading back. Now I must say in the defense of Lake Mead and North Shore, I like the return because it is much faster with continually down grades and its just overall faster getting back then going out. As I slammed the gears down and took off I thought why not negative split the return and for 20 miles I worked it, attacking hills, out of saddle climbing and pushing the down hills! As North Shore was about to end I decided to slow down and take the last 10 miles easy. Formualic caught up with me and he took the lead the last 10.

As we pulled up to the cars I was truly ready to get off the bike and soon Form pulled a T2 and was off running. He offered for me to join but all I could really think about was getting in the lake and cooling off and that is exactly what I did. The water was a nice cold ice bath type and after a while I changed out and headed home. I saw Form heading back from his 4 mile run, which officially made him a somewhat unbalanced mini-triathlon but he really rocked it! Nice job dude!

The rest of the day I recovered and felt pretty good, tired of course but nothing out of the ordinary. The next day, I was actually feeling good again but just tired as I didn't seem to get enough sleep. Today, Tuesday, I am feeling tight in the legs but again overall Great. I will be hitting the DreadMill later today as the wind is 30mph ++ so running outside is really not good option today.

Bottom line... I can Still Bike!! and even with a 4 month layoff, it only goes to show that Ultra-running can keep your legs ready to roll in a moments notice.!

rockon'