Feel Better with Races on My Schedule

I now have three solid races on my schedule over the next 8 weeks. It feels good. When the races are too far out, or I'm not registered yet, there's a constant angst about whether I'll be ready. Should I even register? Try for a new personal best? Use them as training runs?

This coming weekend, March 8, I have the Land Between the Lakes trail marathon in KY. I'm not even close to being trained and ready for this race, but that's OK. It's a race I've done several times (marathon and 60K). I feel comfortable running those KY trails. I'll run my own race. Since I'm not well trained, I'll go down with running buddies and hang with the mid-to-back-of-pack runners and simply enjoy the sights. It'll be a great training run. Hopefully it'll get me a little closer to being ready for my next race.

After the KY trail marathon, I have only three weeks to my next race: Clinton Lake 30-Mile trail race in central IL. This is the race I founded and directed for several years. I doubt I'll be ready to go, but it'll be fun getting back on those memorable trails in a race situation. Again, very comfortable. I could run these hilly trails at night...and I have on several occasions! Lots of old friends. Great past adventures. Outside of my local trails, this is my main training ground. Perfect place to "tune-up" for my next race.

A month after the Clinton Lake 30, I'll be running the Illinois Marathon. Yikes. I haven't run a road marathon in years. Not appealing. At the end of last year, I thought I might be ready to attempt a Boston Qualifying time here. Not going to happen. Maybe next year. This year's race will be a "test" of how I can hold together on 26.2 miles of roads. Geeeez...it's not going to be easy. Still, it'll be a comfortable setting and I'll see tons of friends at aid stations and on the Champaign-Urbana roads. I'll run through both towns and all around the university campus, including right by my old workplace...and my new one. Pretty cool. If it goes well, then I'll start dreaming about a BQ time in the next 6-12 months. Hope...it does a body good.

If these three races go alright, I'll up my total ultra/marathons completed to 92. I'll ride that momentum to several summer races. Most likely Kettle Moraine 100K, Kennekuk 5-hour Cats and Dogs, and Howl at the Moon 8-hour. Hopefully have 95 ultra/marathons by the end of summer. Then a packed trail racing fall with Evergreen Lake 32, Farmdale Ultra, Tecumseh Trail Marathon, and McNotAgain 30 miler. Could have 99 after McNotAgain. Where will #100 occur? When? I'll let you know after I get #99.

I'm not ready for spring racing, but I still feel better having three good races on my schedule. And many more planned. Wish me well.

Old Runner (but not done)

I now have to admit I am officially an old runner. I'm 48. Not ancient, but not young either. Sure, I can keep up with others in my age group, and usually do well when compared to anyone over 40. Heck, I can often beat runners who are in their 30s. But I'm no match for those in their 20s. Yesterday's 1-mile race, against engineering undergrad students, showed my age. When competing against people aged 18-22, I lose. They don't even train or warm-up! They saunter up to the starting line, pull off their hoodies, and race. And they run fast! Sub 6:00 minute miles are normal for them. That's fast for me. Yikes. I warm-up, race, and cool down...and still suffer from post-race aches and pains. Geeeeez. I am getting old. I didn't come in last place, but my 6:15 pace was more than a minute behind the winner. He was a 4:30 miler in high school. The course we ran around campus was full of sharp turns, wet and icy sidewalks, and other students "walking around" on our race course. I think I could have run about 6:00 if it was a real road race (rather than on walkways and sidewalks on campus). 6-minute pace is fine, but still slow compared to many of these young ones.

Still, I feel if it was a 5K, I'd have a much better chance against these students. They seem to lack stamina and endurance. Make it a 10K and I'd probably be very competitive. Half-marathon or marathon and I might beat them all. Turn it into an ultramarathon and I'd clean up big time. Is that the natural progression of an aging runner? Do I need to forego short races and concentrate on the endurance events? Maybe that isn't too bad. But I'm not ready to throw in the towel...yet.

I have 365 days to train for next year's "Engineering Week" 1-mile run against those same young undergrads. If I adjust my training slightly, add in some faster runs next winter, and stay healthy and injury-free, I might be able to lower my 6:15 time to around 5:30. That could place me in the top 3 in the E-Week team competition. Hope...it does a body...and soul, good! Of course, every year I get older and these darn students are the same age! Damn. If this year sees me completing my 100th ultra/marathon, then maybe next year can be focused on half-marathon, and shorter, distances. New 5k, 10K, and half-marathon personal records? Maybe. I'm an older runner, but I'm not done. I have new PRs ahead of me. Really, I do.

Ultra Race Start to 2014: DNF, DNS

We've hit mid-February and I am 0-2 on ultra completions. I ran 20 miles through the snow, ice, and wind at the Sorta Riddle Run 28 miler, but that is still a DNF. This weekend was the Lake Mingo 28-Mile Fat Ass. I didn't even start! Count that as a DNS. My sprint to 100 ultra/marathons is off to a rocky start. I'm still stuck on 89. Hope to have 100 by the end of this year. Maybe not. Next up is the Land Between the Lakes trail marathon on March 8. Hope I start...and finish.

I'm confident I'll finish LBL on March 8, then I have Clinton Lake 30-Miler on March 29. I'll finish that one too. Total will be 91 ultra/marathons. Those two finishes should establish some momentum, and get me through winter and into spring! Not sure about the Illinois Marathon on April 26. I'm thinking I should run it, but not try for a fast time. Boston is out of reach right now. Still, adding to my race total will feel good.

For now, I just want to get rid of this persistent cold and cough. Probably another 2-3 days before I feel back to normal. Need to build my aerobic base again. Lots of zeros in the training log lately. Also, I would really love to see the ground. Everything has been white, white, white for weeks and weeks. Snow, please go away.

Just Run

I've been riding highs and lows the last few weeks. Great training, then slight injury, then OK training, then not, then another injury, then nothing, then...

Time to stop. I need to just run. No plans. No goal races. Yes, I'll race. But no more pressure for PRs or Boston qualifying. Those will come. Yes, I'd like to hit 100 ultra/marathons by the end of this year, but it's looking less likely and I don't want the added pressure of keeping to my proposed schedule of ultras. They'll come. If not this year, then next. Same with new PRs.

For now, I'm just going to run. Distance and paces determined WHILE ON THE RUN itself. Step out the door and get going. That's my new mantra. Maybe only 2 miles, maybe 12. Too cold, too windy, too icy? Then off to the gym and treadmill. That's cool. I have nothing to prove to myself or others. I've done the crazy snow and ice runs. I've done a sub-24 hour 100-miler. I've run over 300 miles in one week. Nothing to prove.

I'll probably skip the Lake Mingo 28-mile fat ass next weekend. If weather is OK, I may do one 7-mile trail loop, then socialize over beer and chips. Guess ultra/marathon #90 will have to wait. Probably happen at the Land Between the Lakes trail marathon on March 8. Even if I'm not trained, I can finish a trail marathon with ease. Might not be able to race it well, but simply finishing 26.2 miles is a fairly pedestrian achievement. It'll happen. Then Clinton Lake 30-miler on March 29. That sucker is going to be harder...but I'll finish. Really wanted to return to the race I started and directed with a big bang...might be more of a whimper...but it'll be OK. Can still finish and drink with my buddies. It's only 30 miles of hilly trails.

Time to just run. Keep calm. And run.