Yellowstone here we come

I am really getting excited for our family vacation to Yellowstone National Park.  Getting away from reality, daily worries and conveniences always refreshes me.  We either will not have a TV or avoid it and no computer.  We leave after work on Wednesday night (7/20) and return 11 days later.  This is our 1st family road warrior vacation - How my girls Erin (10) and Kate (6) handle it will determine future vacation choices.

I have scheduled the family fun like I do my training.  A hard bigger day, followed by an easy day.  If we feel like doing a little extra on our easy days, Yellowstone has unlimited opportunities.

I am hoping to find time to run at least and hour every day with a premium on mountain running.  Orthopedic Doc's words of "Run all you want, but don't fall on the arm" will force caution in my running.  But I just can't see being in beautiful mountains without running some trails.

My next blog entry will be August 1st - Good running to all!

Leadville thoughts revisited

2011 has been a difficult year for training.  My original goals included getting into PR marathon shape, getting my weight down below 190 pounds, running Leadville in under 20 hours and finishing in the top 2 at the US 24 Hour Championship.

Most of my set backs have been self imposed.  I never got into the weight loss groove and every time I put a few good weeks of training together I put a week or 2 of really bad training together.

I tend to train the best and lose weight the fastest when I feel some sort of desperation.  I had hit a sufficient point of desperation three weeks ago.  Since then I have lost 2 full weeks of training with the head injury and broken arm.  The head is mostly healed and I should make a full recovery from the broken arm.

Today I have received the medical OK to run as much as my arm can tolerate ... "Just don't fall down!".   But I am past the point of desperation, perfection in training and nutrition can not deliver on my goals.  Desperation has been replaced with calmness.  I am at peace that I will just do what ever I can do to try and finish Leadville.   After Leadville I will re-assess if there is any reason to put myself through the torture of a 24 hour race when I can not make enough mileage to make the team.  Instead I may just train for a December 24 hour race and try and make the team with an "At Large" performance.

2 weeks ago
Mon - Thu No running
FR 5 easy am / 4 easy pm
SA 25 miles of DWD 50k - Before breaking arm

Last Week
Mon - Fri Nothing
SA - 30 min Stair Climber + 2 miles walking @ 15% incline + 1/2 mile run
SU - 2 miles walking @ 15% incline + 4 miles running at 5-15% incline

11 Day family vacation to Yellowstone starts Wednesday night - I am guessing I will not fit a lot of training into the vacation and nutrition may be questionable at best.

Good running to all!

Report from Orthopedic Doctor

Path of treatment is to just let it heal.  Next Monday, I have another appointment for X-Ray and start rehab to get range of motion back.  He feels if I am willing to work hard and accept a lot of pain, I will get all, to almost all the range of motion back in that arm.

No running this week, but I can walk at incline or do stairclimber.  Next week I can run some to pain tolerance - but not usual training levels.

I still believe I can finish Leadville - Just slow and steady.

Now I have to get a plan together and get motivated to do what I can to be in finishing shape in less than 6 weeks.

I really think this was great news.  The silly fall in this silly sport I love will not take my ability to enjoy life with my family away (Long term) - Although we had to cancel whitewater rafting from the family vacation.

Good running to all! 

Broken Arm - Radial Head Fracture

I ran DWD 50k this past weekend, well 25.3 miles of it.  I fell on the easiest part of the course, top of bluff at Devil's Lake.  I caught myself with my hands on this paved section.  My left hand was bloodied, so I tried to get up with my right arm - I knew it was broken.

I ran through the next aide station.  My arm did not hurt much if I held it a certain way and did not move it.  I had thoughts of finishing.  I realized I had to redo the 4 mile ski hill loop that I had fallen 3 times walking down the steep and slick part ... I could not afford to fall on the useless arm.

DNF

Great race - I loved the sadistic idea of taking us through so many thorns and brambles.  Lots of quad burning climbs and off trail sections.  I had taken good care of my body and was ready to start racing hard.

Sadly, this means I was a DNS at the afternoon beer mile

Basically the head of the radial - where it meets the elbow is fractured.  No cast, yet - I am waiting to hear from the Orthopedic Doc.

Leadville in 6 weeks ???

Good running to all!

Leadville Training - Week of June 27th to July 3rd

A really nice week that ended in the head injury and 13 stitches.  I did not feel like blogging about it since I was not running.  I ran for the 1st time today - 5 fat painful miles.  I have pretty much given up on being in good shape by Leadville and I will do my best to be in finishing shape in 6 weeks.

June 27th - July 3rd (214# July 2nd - 227# July 8th)
M - 41 trail miles (6:46) on Ice Age Trail - Glacial 50M course
T - 7 Easy in AM
W - OFF
TH - 14 in PM - High Cliff / Calumet trails with group
F - 8 Easy in AM / 5 in PM with 2x1 mile @ T
SA - 25 easy on Wiouwash trail - Horse Flys were 50-100 thick for 1/2 the run / 7 Easy in PM
SU - 8 Easy in AM - Sliced Noggin open putting an end to the week

Total miles 115

Good running to all -

13 stitches - Put's a damper on training

Sunday July 3rd we had stopped at our favorite cheese factory to get fresh cheese curds and string cheese before a day of boating.  Walking back to the truck,  I smacked my head on an over hang of sheet metal.  It was there to protect the gas meter from falling ice in winter.  High enough to be out of eye sight, but low enough to slice my noggin open.  The kiddos have never seen that amount of blood and were pretty upset on the 20 minute drive to the emergency room.  My dear wife drove the truck with the boat behind for the 1st time.

Other when it was being cleaned before stitches, It really is not that painful, but ...

Doc said no running for a week ...

Dances with Dirt 50k / Beer Mile Double

I was having a hard time figuring out how to do DWD 50k - Devil's Lake on my race list.  But like most of life's "to much stuff to fit in a day" issues - Sleep or lack there of is the answer.

So on July 9th - I will get up @ 2:00am to make this race happen.  I look forward to it as an organized training run.  Why pay to do a training run?  I also see it as an adventure: Running somewhere I have never run before and a chance to have a shared experience with other runners.  I am thinking right around 5 hours for the 50k.

Post race I will have to hustle back to Neenah to get a little nap in before the 4:00pm Beer Mile our running club is sponsoring.  I have no top end speed, so I am shooting for a sub 8:30 in the beer mile.

Then I must get cleaned up and back for our Neighbor girl's 7th B-Day party.  These neighbors share a back yard with us and I do not want to miss this family fun opportunity.

Good running to all!