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Thoughts by Astro. Powered by Blogger.

D.N.F.


Yes, that was me last Saturday during the Clinton Lake Ultra 30 mile trail run. FAIL!!! No good. 41 races - 1 DNF.

I have been having a little knee pain (left leg) when I first get up but it goes away and I  only feel it when I sit for a long time. I am getting old. It comes with the territory. Get over it. Go on and do the run.

So I should up and a friend of mine should up to be at both aid stations throughout the day. After a few last minute instructions we are off. 200 ultra runners one from as far away as Utah (sorry JoannaRuns I never talked to him to see where but the plates said Utah - maybe he was here on spring break?). 

Anyway, the rabbits took off and most of the rest of us slower got into a single file line. Now, I know what you are thinking - Central Illinois -what hills?. yea, well they are there. This trail has about 33 hills of 30-50 feet each. It eventually takes a toll. For me that toll came all to soon. It wasn't long - less than a mile - and I was favoring my left leg. 

 not my knee - mine is far more handsomer...
Knee pain!!! and it was worse on the downhills. I had 29 miles to go. So I keep chugging along at my pedestrian pace. The pace that was going to lead me to an incredible time.  By the time I made it to the Iron Bridge aid station (5.5 miles) I called it quits. No more. No mas. I would walk back on the road to the start. 

I could have taken the trail back to the start. I didn't. I took the roads and conversed with my friend. My friend that had braved the chilly morning and was riding his bike up and down the hills on the road to get from aid station to aid station. But I think quitting was in my best interests. I have other races I want to do - though I really did want to do this one. 

I got a really cool hoodie in my gear bag but I feel like I don't deserve to wear it.

Sunday rolls around and I have pain in my right thigh is very sore. Apparently I favored the left so much I over used or tore my right quad. Tender to the touch. Extreme tenderness. Today, it is starting to fill better - GOOD!!!

Plans - get an appointment schedule with my doctor (he runs marathons himself so understands my complaints). Get back to walking and moving the legs. Friday I have a 5k night time race (I will be walking it with a few friends) and Saturday a half marathon trail run at Allerton Park. 

My problems aside - The aid stations were fantastic. All the good ultra food, great volunteers, course was very well marked and in reasonable condition considering the rain we got 2 days before. I recommend this ultra if you are in Central Illinois in March. 


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A year gone by

It has been well over a year since I have posted and I think it is time I start again. I last posted. I posted about running the Siberian Express in January of 2013.

Guess what now??

It is the end of March 2014. Given a lot has happened. Running has not been one of them. Oh I ran last year. Even ran well at times. I ran the Siberian Express, Kirby Derby 10k, a 5K at the Arboretum, the Allerton Half Marathon. Not a bad year, not a good year. There was very little running in between those races.

And there were even better things that happened - my son got married, my new daughter-in-law is expecting, they got orders to go to Germany (they leave April 8). My new grandson will be born in the Motherland.

2014
This year hopefully brings a lot of new changes - including blogging more often. I ran the Siberian Express on Jan 4. Temps were good, Snow was only a few inches deep in most places. It was peaceful and serene. Even enjoyable.

then it happened. I ran my first ultra on Jan 19. Swamp Stompers 50K. I signed up for it when it opened as it sells out in a matter of hours. I got lucky and I got in. It is was incredible. It was hard. I was unprepared - not terribly, but definitely not ready. This race was in Meeman-Shelby Forest near Memphis. It was beautiful. It was incredibly hilly from my perspective. But I finished in 8.38. Only 8 minutes off my fantasy time. I hit all my splits except for the finish. A lot of that due to a good friend that went down and met me a different locations offering age and a sound tongue thrashing to keep me going. Thank you Tom. And the Buffalo  that went down to run - they are awesome and friendly people. These are some of the best people that I have started to become acquainted with. I am not sure why I stalked their email group for 2 years before speaking up.

Since then very little running. My treadmill gave up. Now, I hear you groaning. I like the mill. I would rather run outside but it has been a very miserable winter here in central Illinois. I volunteered at a 5k for the Second Wind Running club. That made me feel good and I got to cheer on some of the Buffalo that braved that chilly 30 degree morning (the day before it was 60).

Now this weekend I will be running my second ultra. Clinton Lake 30 miler. This is a 10 mile trail loop. While the hills are not as tall as but still about 33 hills of 30-50 feet in one loop. I have run this trail 3 times (only one loop each time). It has an 8 hour time limit (16m/mi). I hope to run better than that. I will let you know next week.

Future Races (not all guaranteed to happen)
Allerton Trail 5K night run - April 4
Allerton Trail Half Marathon - April 5
Illinois Marathon  - April 27
Lake Mingo 7.1M Trail - June 14
Bix 7M - July 26
Evergreen Lake Ultras - Sept 14
Wild Wilderness - Sep 28
Forest Glen Trail 50k - Oct 18
Marine Corps Marathon - Oct 26 (more on this exciting race later and how I got in)
McNotAgain Trail 30M - Nov 8

Til next time - Happy Feet



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Day 3 & 4 of 2013 and the Siberian Express

Day 3 and 4 were pretty much like days 1 and 2 as far as running were concerned. Inside. Treadmill. 3.1m about 30 minutes. Ho Hum


Saturday will be major test of my new found where did it go, stamina. I will be running (ok surviving) the Siberian Express. This is a, no-matter-what-the-weather race. Trails, 7.6 miles. One great big hill. Lots of little hills. No aid stations. And after the first 300 people trampled the ground it should be quit slippery. A race I have not run in years.

A friend of mine is running as well. He has not run in years. It should be fun. Can't wait for the after run beer. I hope it will be cold. Did you read that Susan - cold. Don't leave it too close to the car heater. LOL!!

Race report to come later.

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Day 2 of 2013

Run this morning? Are you kidding me? My legs were barely able to get me to the shower. They did not hurt, they were just dog tired. So off to work I went. For half a day.

Don't get excited, the other half wasn't a lot of fun. Just suffice it to say I am glad that it is over. I worked from home the second half of the afternoon and got a lot done. More than if I would have been in the office.

I think might be a lot of my running for awhile. I cannot find my cold weather, moisture-wicking gloves, hat to wear outside. Besides that it was 5 degrees this morning. But another 3.101 miles is done in just over 30 minutes again.

9.47 pace today and 9.44 yesterday. Not bad for no running in months for this out of shape old man.




First race of the year is coming up this weekend. Most likely it will be a survival run for myself and Mr. Elliott (old running buddy). The Siberian Express is run no matter the weather. If I can survive it, no more races until March (when the temperature should be back in the 30s.

Until then folks, keep on chugging along. And remember, as Calvin said we are all perfect just the way we are...

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2013

Well, 2012 is over. The fools that thought they could read Mayan calendars were wrong. The meek have not inherited the earth. 2012 was a year of ups and downs. Some really bad downs and some really good ups especially at the end of the year. Running - virtually non-existent.

2013 - I am thinking will be good. I have goals again. Personal, work, and in running. Mostly running. I started the year off right by running today. Not when I wanted too, but when I was able. Inside, on the treadmill, but 3.1 miles are in the book. It was rough, it has been a long time. But now, 4 hours later I feel good. Happy.

Personal Goals -

  • Start working on the house again. At least finish one room completely. Now a lot of this depends on the almighty greenback and with the economy so very uncertain, who knows. I bought some stain today and that is a start.
  • Lose weight. I think I am at an all time high of xxx lbs. Way too much.
  • Get in shape. I specifically want to be able to do 20 pull-ups.
  • Fix the care. It needs brakes, rotors, alignment, tune-up, passenger side mirror and rear taillight. It really wobbles when the brakes are used. Even the gf seems afraid to drive, well not drive, just stop.
Work Goals -

  • A raise would be nice. But then I do not control that. 
  • Finish projects on time.
  • Create better documentation.
  • Work far less hours. I need to remember that I am salary. I do not need to donate 10+ hours a week to the company. I receive nothing for it. 
Running Goals -

  • New PRs
  • 5k - sub 24 mins
  • half marathon - sub 2 hour
  • marathon - well some goals should be secret
  • Mileage - lots and lots. I would still like to run 1000 miles in a year. Only 997 more to go.
Race Goals - (races I want to run this year)

There are many more but it is late and I am getting tired. I will do another post with all the races set.

See ya and happy running in 2013.

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A Little Hill Run

This morning I took a drive through the country to the Forest Glen Nature Preserve. The farmers were cultivating fields, the fog was just starting to burn off and the ducks were busy munching on grasshoppers. It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The deer were meandering across the grassy knolls.

I was at Forest Glen for a practice run of their 5 mile trail race. I met the race director and his friend (another Mike), a Brian (training for Chicago and from my alma mater), and a new runner, Sue. Brian and Mike will both be doing the 50k (yes, 31 miles on hills. Are these people freakin nuts?). The RD went slow for me. This is a tough course. A Very Hilly course. A crazy hilly course.the screen shots are from my Garmin uploaded to RunningAhead.

The faint line on right is the Illinois state line
Crazy elevation - 2411 feet of ascent

It is beautiful terrain even while gasping for each ragged breath. This race is in 3 weeks. I hope to be ready.















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Head up, eyes on the horizon.

Head up, eyes on the horizon.
Stolen from an article I read in Men's Health magazine about Aaron Rodgers. A great article about possibly the best quarterback in the NFL. Read it here. (and I am not a Packer fan)

But let us think about those six words...about that small statement.
            Head up - simple enough. Keep your head up to see where you are going. Keep your head up to keep your body in better alignment. Keep your head up to stay positive about yourself and life.
                               Eyes on the horizon
Eyes forward, on the horizon to give you a sense of direction, to keep you moving forward, helping stay positive in seeing your goal and reaching it. 


Reading that article - it was about fitness, about complete body fitness. Not about lifting heavy weights. But more about keeping your head, your eyes, your mind on the goal. Being able to multi-task to complete your objective. To complete your goals. 


It made me think a little about myself, of who I am, of how I got here and where I want to go. While I will not make a diary entry here, I am here because of all the decisions I have made in the past. Decisions that were not always with my head up or eyes on the horizon. Some of those were made with very cloudy eyes or a very fogged up brain with my head hanging low. Decisions that I had to live with, decisions that shaped me into who I am. 

I have always tried to be good to people. I think VGFatBoy and JoannaRuns will attest that I try to be good. And I believe I am good. I have my eyes on the horizon. Sometimes it takes the people around me to lift my chin and point my eyes back in the correct direction, but that is why they are my friends. 

To all of you reading this, head up, eyes on the horizon. I hope mine will always be there with help from you.

And keep reading in the near future to catch a glimpse of my horizon. It is breathtaking.

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