Since the Half in March, my longest run has been 15 miles. Brandi dropped me off at Bar-M, and I ran the Bar-M Loop (8 miles) and then down the old highway, past Arches, and across the footbridge over the Colorado (another 7 miles). Last weekend I ran 10 miles in the farmland outside Moroni, Utah while my dad rode his bike along with me. Saturday, I've got a 17 miler planned. I love the weekly long runs. I usually do them on Saturday, and while they're tiring, it feels good to get home and eat a chocolate recovery shake and take a hot shower. I'm always tired the rest of the day, but a good feeling kind of tired. Like after hauling an elk out of the mountains or a long day hiking in the Grand Canyon.
I started doing ab work this week. Probably should have started sooner. To start, two sets of 50 sit ups for 100 total each night. Did 3 nights this week, and will probably add a fourth Saturday after the long run....maybe. After reading the book Born to Run recently, I got the itch to run an ultramarathon. The cool thing about these itches is, once I get it, I do it. It's also the bad thing. So, after reading up and talking around, I've circled the Pocatello 50 Mile Trail Run for May 2011 on my calendar. Registration opens January 1, 2011 if anyone wants to join me. I emailed the race director and asked him to include me on their reminder email list. Tonight was my first day of training for that race. I began a small whole-body workout and included step-ups because the Pocatello 50 has crazy mountains you run up and down. There are a million trails within a mile or two of our house here in Moab, so I'm going to start running out to those and hitting the trails for training over the next year. My goal is to, sometime this summer, do a 20 mile run up the La Sal Loop Road and up to the top of Geyser Pass.
So, it's cool having Brandi training with me. She doesn't like to run with me anymore, but it's been fun having someone working toward the same goal.
3 comments:
Wow. Impressive. Some would say nuts.
I wish I could run like I used to. I have to keep things to a minimum because of my back. I would love to run these long treks with you. I think it is awesome that you are doing it. My sister in laws out here have recently been on a 5k kick and have been going to just about every one around. They go to one about every month. I haven't attended one yet and they hassle me for it. Secretly I hide that I am affraid of hurting my back more. I just cannot run on pavement. Otherwise I feel fine. I often brag a little about your running achievements to some of my friends. I think it is really great to be that motivated and dedicated to do something that is so difficult and miserable, at least while you are doing it.
Wharton Performance has a good back book, which I own, and great stretches and exercises for the back. My back always hurts...can't sleep a lot of the time. I find that ab work and leg strengthening helps considerably.
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