Weight Loss Contest? You wanna be thin and a better runner, right?

So there is lots of smack talking going on leading into The Sweet H20 50K this weekend in Lithia Springs, GA.  Thats good - I think there should be.  This seems to be the type of event where runners try to "race" and not just run. 

In the midst of all the trash talking a weight loss challenge was brought up and started on Facebook.  You want in on the action?  Come on and join in.  It officially starts up on 4/18 and I'm sure the details will be ironed out then.  A percentage based contest format will probably be used to make it fair.

So far a 16 pack of a E-Gels from Crank Sports is up for the winner.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=106622436040089

Sounds like a great way for me to actually win something for a change!

Spring Fever - Here is the plan...

Running just gets more exciting when things start turning green on the trails.  Yes, I do enjoy a frosty 20 degree morning run, but bright sunshine at 72 degrees?  You can't beat it.

Running seems easier when you see the forest coming to life all around you.  Little varmits crawling and hoping around and even more people out on the trails enjoying their beauty.  Heck, I even like the unleashed 120 Lb. German Shepard that "would never hurt anyone" as it lunges towards my neck.

I'm about to be slapped silly at The Sweet H20 50K on April 16.  Yea, I'm feeling OK with these 15-20 mile runs, but I'm not quite ready for Sweet.  Thats OK.  I need it.  I need to hurt and suffer.  I need to snarl at the one hill after another that will be served up. 

I will swear off ultra running again as I lose my lunch on those huge powerline climbs and it will be awesome.  Then I get to do it again on the 2nd loop.

Eight week game plan:

Suffer through Sweet H20 50K with a huge lack of training.  I deserve it and want it.
Push the envelope farther at Enoree 40 miler on May 1st.  Yep, it will probably be a physical suck-fest too.
Do some crewing/pacing at The Massanutten 100 miler.
Bust out two more high mileage training weeks and FINISH The Foothills Trail on May 20th.

I have tons of motivation to get that monkey off my back.  No excuses.

My rule is this:  I cannot signup for anymore 100 mile races until I finish The Foothills Trail.

Its going down May 20th.

Happy Spring Running to the rest of ya...

I just run.

Last night I was busting it hard on the treadmill in the bonus room above my garage at home.  As I kept hitting the big "+" button which increases the pace I was getting closer and closer to a 8 mile/min pace.  I suddenly realized something.

I don't run because I think its good for me or healthy. 

I just run.

I like how I feel when I plan a run, when I'm getting ready to run, when I'm running, and when I finish running.  I think I like them all equally.

I don't care if its a mile or 100 miles, I just like it.  Although I do find myself drawn to the longer runs.

Not once do I remember thinking, "I need to run so I will be healthier."

If I didn't run then I would probably be the fat, bald, back-hair guy in the gym walking around in a tank top and those loose fitting circus pants.  Yea, my chest & arms would be kinda buff, but the rest would be mushy.

Interesting.

With that being said I'm super pumped about running 34 on the Foothills Trail with a group next weekend.  This will be my first ultra distance since The Seashore 50K on 12/18 (3 months ago).  Seems longer than that for some reason.

Even more time to think about stuff like this.

Want to run a "Fun Run" 50K on The Foothills Trail?

My friend Dan Hartley wanted to put on a 50K race on the Foothills Trail, but it could not happen due to land permit issues.  Instead a group of runners will gather to "fun run" about 33 miles from Bad Creek to Oconee State Park.  There are no fees and you are 100% responsible for yourself out on the trail.  This is not an official event with permits, insurance, timers, and aid stations.
We are planning on a sunrise start from the The Bad Creek Parking Lot around sunrise (6:30 - 7:00 AM) on Saturday March 26th.  We will probably work together to get some aid dropped out before the run.  Let me know if you are interested and I will put your email in the loop.  Or join the Foothills Trail Listserv Here.

How To Run A Ultra Marathon?

It's been back to the basics for me lately.

2-3 miles / day through the week and then a 10-15 mile long weekend run.

I forgot how much I love training and builing weekly miles.  I will be back up to a total of 30 miles this week and it has been a great reminder of how persistent training can take you the distance you want to go.

Some have asked how to run a 50K.  Well here is the secret that I've found.

Start moving if you haven't been excercising much.  I would even suggest that you consider a couch to 5K program to help build up a base of miles.  Just Google it and a ton of them will pop up.

1.  Run 2-3 miles per day Monday - Friday.  Make one a little faster run and one on some hills.
2.  Run 10-15 miles for a long weekend run.
3.  Increase this mileage by 10% every week until you are covering a total of 30-40 miles per week.  This means 20-25 miles during the week and up to 20 on the weekend.
4.  Take Sunday off or another day in the week.  Take two off if you feel injured or sick.

This formula has worked for me only this time I'm trying to run the entire long runs without walking.  Hills and all of the tough parts.

You can increase this formula up to 60 - 70 miles per week for a hundred mile race or adjust it for anything in between.

Concerning food and water when training:  Eat when you are hungry and drink when you are thirsty.  This works for me, but then again I'm not training to win a race either, just push my body and have fun.  You can eat the fancy race food.  I do when I want to feel more like a runner, but in all honesty a pack of cheap crackers gives me the same fuel as a pack of gel.

Most of all - HAVE FUN!  For 99.99999% of us this is a hobby and not our job. 

I'm excited about covering a 50K in four weeks in preperation for the Spring / Summers Ultras. 

See you out there soon....

Checking out Laurel Valley for the 2/5/10 Foothills Run

I headed up to the Laurel Valley Parking area to check out trail conditions after the latest round of winter weather.  A group is planning to run the Foothills Trail next weekend (possibly me too) so I thought it would be wise to cover a small portion of the trail and see how it looks.

The 5 mile stretch from the parking area to Virginia Hawkins Falls is in excellent condition.  All of the snow and ice has melted and the trail was even dry.  I could tell where recent maintenance had been performed as there were a few freshly cut trees beside the trail.

Everything is a "go" in my opinion, depending on how the weather holds up for the next six days.

Here are a few photos that I snapped...

2011 – Some goals and reflection…

Goals for 2011 -

Run & Finish The 2011 South Carolina Ultra Trail Series (5 Races)
- 40 Miler (Enoree)
- 50K (Chattooga & FATS)
- 24 Hour Run (Woods Ferry)
- 50+ Miler (Long Cane)

Run 100 Miles (Not sure where or when yet)

Run the 50K distance under 6:00.

Complete the 77 mile Foothills Trail under 36 hours.

Pace / Crew a friend to her first 100 mile finish at Massanutten.

Possibly Pace / Crew for some other runners.

For me, running is about sharing, learning, and growing.  Much of this comes alone in training, but it also happens during group runs or races.  I’m thankful for all of the friends that I’ve made through this sport.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, but some of the highlights that I have pictures for.

Sweeping Laurel Valley & Meeting Weezy & Elson during the battle…

May 2009 – Finishing my first ultra at The Buncombe 34 miler…

Finishing my first 100 miler at Iron Horse in Florida…

Helping my son run 25 miles and finishing the 1.2 to make a marathon!
Racing the final .25 miles of a half marathon against a blonde that I don’t know with my tongue out and beating her!

Running a 50K in a Nor’easter

Summer Foothills Run with the Weezy…

Running two half-marathons with my wife!

Meeting lots of cool families…

Because I get to try and keep up with a man named Mad Dog!

Foothills Trail night runs!

Putting yourself up against 77 mile runs with a 100 degree heat index…

Crewing with my son and friends to help other runners achieve greatness…

100 Mile Belt Buckles – They are hard to get, but worth every step…

Coming up short, but seeing your friends get it done!

Can’t wait to see which photos go here for 2011….