What did you do?

[joel_maxwell]

Cheaha Report

As i had stated, I went in to this run like it was going to be a good solid training run. I had even talked to Nick about it over text; do I go for it, or make it a training run for the bigger picture? At Adam's Gap (mile 15) aid station, I felt pretty good considering the week I had. So, I kept setting mini goals. Get to 22 and the big creek crossing. Got there, then to 25 aid station. Still felt good so I looked at my watch, knew i had 75 minutes to pull a sub 6 hour and went for it. I knew I still had 6 miles and blue hell (1,000 vert feet 1.25 mile climb) but that wasnt stopping me. I kept catching people and passing them. Passed 2 people on blue hell. At the top I still had 2 miles to go, so I kept plugging away. It was a long shot, but i wasnt going to leave anything on the course. 1 mile to go.... 8 mins to go. I feel like Im sprinting on the rocky trail. At times I was at a 7:40 pace, but the climbing was pushing me down to 10min pace. Get to the service road and I hear my partner get announced as the first BUTS member to cross the line. I was 60 seconds behind him. I had almost caught him. I sprinted passed the line at 6h:02m:xx. It couldnt be more perfect. Because, for the next year Ill think about that 120 seconds I could have shaved.

Here are some good pics.
At the Start.... freezing our BUTS off. Pun intended.

I recall this moment. I was looking up river/creek looking at a beautiful waterfall.

Getting cooled down.

At the base of Lake Cheaha. That climb in the background is mile 28. 1,000 vert feet climb over 1.25 miles. Lets get on it.?

Once at the top of Blue Hell. You can see the lake.

30 seconds after finishing..... BEER! and cooling off.

 

[joel_maxwell]

No comment needed.

 

[joel_maxwell]

4 miles last night with Mr Toby. Legs felt really good considering. Could have run sooo much more, but just wanted to get the total mileage that the weekend schedule called for (back to back 18/18).

Gym today. Usual stuff. Squats, calf work, quads and upper body stuff.

 

[Mr mom]

As depressing as checking in on everyone is and will be I will check in regularly anyway. Now that being said I will be laid up for a while. I am not allowed to even put weight on the knee for at least 10 days and then checked again. I have a big build up of fluid on the knee that has to decrease on it's own. The good news is that there is no long term damage but I have been warned that if I don't follow the regime set out for me I could do permanent damage and that would end the running altogether. The meniscus is depressed slightly but not a real problem and everything else appears as it should. ( I got to see the x rays myself). Be warned folks when your knee swells, take note and don't keep running on it anyway, or you too could end up like me. This sucks so bad it is disgusting.

 

[LindsayLoves]

@Mr mom - sorry to hear about your injury. Hopefully whatever the regime is that your doctor sets up for you will help you get back out there and be stronger than you were before the I word popped up.

@joel_maxwell - nice job on your training run! You'll easily cut those 2 minutes off next go around, I think you spent too much time looking at the pretty waterfall...

Yesterday - stretch and strengthen turned into stretch only as my body was still pretty sore from the 14 miles the day before.

Today - 5 easy miles @9:04 average pace, my legs are still tired from Saturday and thinking about my speedwork planned for tomorrow is pretty scary at this point. I have a hot date with my foam roller again tonight.

 

[bethram]

@Kristia - my marathon is March 23, the Publix Georgia Marathon in Atlanta. My knee felt much better by lunch time so I will run tomorrow, I guess it just needed a little more time than normal to recover. I'm actually pretty impressed that I haven't had more problems with it, I've had issues with it since I was in 8th grade.

@joel_maxwell - nice job!

@Mr mom - I'm sorry about the knee! I hope that it will heal quickly following the doctor's orders.

 

[Kristia]

@bethram - I feel for you on the knee issues. I have had them since I was 15!
@joel_maxwell - Great job! Congrats on a great finish! Beautiful pictures too. Sometimes you just have to stop and admire the scenery. What is the point of running in such beautiful places if you don't stop to take it all in?
@Mr mom - Follow the doctor's orders and hopefully you will be back before you know it. Glad to hear there shouldn't be any permanent damage!

 

[Mr mom]

Thanks for the support folks. I'll do what I'm told even if it will and is driving me nuts not to do anything and I hate crutches, just saying, lol... gotta find some humor.

 

[bethram]

5.1 @ 9:14, I turned my regular hills into super hills today.

 

[joel_maxwell]

@joel_maxwell - nice job on your training run! You'll easily cut those 2 minutes off next go around, I think you spent too much time looking at the pretty waterfall...

I plan on crushing that time next year.

@joel_maxwell - nice job!

Thanks Beth

@joel_maxwell - Great job! Congrats on a great finish! Beautiful pictures too. Sometimes you just have to stop and admire the scenery. What is the point of running in such beautiful places if you don't stop to take it all in?

Yes, but I wish I had admired it for 120 seconds less. LOL. Actually, I know where I should have shaved it. I only stopped at 2 aid stations. First one was to fill up my 20oz bottle and the same the other time. However, I was craving oranges, so I ate 3 orange slices and drank a cup of Coke.

Over 6h:02m:35sec, my "moving time" was 5h:53m:12sec.... so I sat at AS's for a collection of 9 minutes roughly. That is 5 AS's, getting checked in at all of them, refilling my front hydration twice and grabbing some extra grub. 9 minutes over 6 hours isnt bad, but Id like to shave that to 5 or less. 1 minute or less per aid station average. What say you Nick? @Donald Duck

 

[JillC LI]

Thanks for the support folks. I'll do what I'm told even if it will and is driving me nuts not to do anything and I hate crutches, just saying, lol... gotta find some humor.

Just think about the great workout those arms are gonna get using the crutches though! (Bright side?) Hope your knee feels better real soon!

@joel_maxwell, very impressive. Very impressive. Love the beautiful photos too. You should be very proud of yourself. Was the family able to come to the FInish Line?

 

[joel_maxwell]

Just think about the great workout those arms are gonna get using the crutches though! (Bright side?) Hope your knee feels better real soon!

@joel_maxwell, very impressive. Very impressive. Love the beautiful photos too. You should be very proud of yourself. Was the family able to come to the FInish Line?

Thanks Jill. It is my favorite run to date. Not because it was easy or everything clicked seamlessly, but because I showed up with tired legs, I worked through some runners knee issues in both knees, avoided cramps that tried to lock up and stayed so mentally fresh I started problem solving math problems (calculating splits etc) stuff in my head at/around the 5 hour mark to see if I got irritated and I didnt, looked forward to that final climb and immersed myself into it while some people I passed were complaining about it. The only thing that was discouraging, was how bad the 1/2 mile at 26 on cement absolutely destroyed my legs. It hurt to run that windy uphill and down hill stretch to Blue Hell.

No. Isabeau had a Girl Scout thing that day at a ropes course. Woah... FUN! Besides, I like to scout out event like this to relay how things go so the next year, bringing the kids is easy and I stress less. There were kids everywhere and they will be there next year. We might get a cabin for the weekend next year.

 

[JillC LI]

Thanks Jill. It is my favorite run to date. Not because it was easy or everything clicked seamlessly, but because I showed up with tired legs, I worked through some runners knee issues in both knees, avoided cramps that tried to lock up and stayed so mentally fresh I started problem solving math problems (calculating splits etc) stuff in my head at/around the 5 hour mark to see if I got irritated and I didnt, looked forward to that final climb and immersed myself into it while some people I passed were complaining about it. The only thing that was discouraging, was how bad the 1/2 mile at 26 on cement absolutely destroyed my legs. It hurt to run that windy uphill and down hill stretch to Blue Hell.

No. Isabeau had a Girl Scout thing that day at a ropes course. Woah... FUN! Besides, I like to scout out event like this to relay how things go so the next year, bringing the kids is easy and I stress less. There were kids everywhere and they will be there next year. We might get a cabin for the weekend next year.

I highlighted the text above because it reminded me of what I tell my daughter so often: a positive can-do attitude can surmount anything. And it reminds me of my recent favorite quote: "Running is only as hard as the mind perceives it to be." Mind over matter.

Sounds like you're totally on track for the BIG one! (And that ropes course really does sound like a blast! I loved that stuff as a kid.)

 

[joel_maxwell]

I highlighted the text above because it reminded me of what I tell my daughter so often: a positive can-do attitude can surmount anything. And it reminds me of my recent favorite quote: "Running is only as hard as the mind perceives it to be." Mind over matter.

Sounds like you're totally on track for the BIG one! (And that ropes course really does sound like a blast! I loved that stuff as a kid.)

My sensei taught me well. And no, Im not talking about Yoda. I mixed my PMA - positive mental attitude, can reshape any event and Nick's constant mind of matter speeches to me, and you have a great product.

Results are in. 26th of 226 runners. I was officially 71 seconds behind my training partner. He always goes out too fast, while I start off slower, and build as the day goes on. After seeing check in times, he was 15 minutes ahead at times.

 

[LindsayLoves]

Planned - speed work of some kind

Seeing that it was pizza party day my expectations for speed work were fairly low. I decided on doing a tempo of at least 20 minutes on feel and not look at my watch at all.

Actual - 1.24 mi @9:07 w/u, 7:46, 7:42, 7:30, 1 mi @8:35 c/d
Surprised the heck out of myself with three full tempo miles, was only planning on 20 minutes but during the last mile I gave myself a set end point which was miraculously at the end of the third fast mile.

 

[Donald Duck]

I plan on crushing that time next year.

Thanks Beth

Yes, but I wish I had admired it for 120 seconds less. LOL. Actually, I know where I should have shaved it. I only stopped at 2 aid stations. First one was to fill up my 20oz bottle and the same the other time. However, I was craving oranges, so I ate 3 orange slices and drank a cup of Coke.

Over 6h:02m:35sec, my "moving time" was 5h:53m:12sec.... so I sat at AS's for a collection of 9 minutes roughly. That is 5 AS's, getting checked in at all of them, refilling my front hydration twice and grabbing some extra grub. 9 minutes over 6 hours isnt bad, but Id like to shave that to 5 or less. 1 minute or less per aid station average. What say you Nick? @Donald Duck

Joel, I usually skip aid stations unless I need to refill water. When I do "stop" I take 2 mins max, but i don't wait until that 2 mins is up. Quickly get my s--t together, and begin to walk/shuffle out with a crew person taking any rubbish, handing off items, etc... Keep time to 2 mins MAX. and get moving. And thank the volunteers. Ultra volunteers are hardcore.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Joel, I usually skip aid stations unless I need to refill water. When I do "stop" I take 2 mins max, but i don't wait until that 2 mins is up. Quickly get my s--t together, and begin to walk/shuffle out with a crew person taking any rubbish, handing off items, etc... Keep time to 2 mins MAX. and get moving. And thank the volunteers. Ultra volunteers are hardcore.

You know we are men of efficiency. Only reason I stop is if I need to refill my bottles as well or Im craving something I know they have, and I know where the AS's are so I can go ahead and pour the powder in them to not waste time doing that. I was technically under the 2 min max mark. I think some of the paused sections were at 2 creek crossings with narrow entry, waiting a few seconds to enter, oh, and that woman who I thought knocked herself out when she fell twice. I stopped for that.

Yes yes yes. Always thank the AS workers that are volunteering, and high five any kids that are cheering. Always. When I dont stop, which I rarely do, you know the drill when going through one, "Bib 213, 213.... thank you guys"

I have a guy in BUTS that always jokes with me and says, "What is it going to take to get you to stop at one of my stations?" I always reply, "A working disco ball"

 

[Donald Duck]

You know we are men of efficiency. Only reason I stop is if I need to refill my bottles as well or Im craving something I know they have, and I know where the AS's are so I can go ahead and pour the powder in them to not waste time doing that. I was technically under the 2 min max mark. I think some of the paused sections were at 2 creek crossings with narrow entry, waiting a few seconds to enter, oh, and that woman who I thought knocked herself out when she fell twice. I stopped for that.

Yes yes yes. Always thank the AS workers that are volunteering, and high five any kids that are cheering. Always. When I dont stop, which I rarely do, you know the drill when going through one, "Bib 213, 213.... thank you guys"

I have a guy in BUTS that always jokes with me and says, "What is it going to take to get you to stop at one of my stations?" I always reply, "A working disco ball"

Beer. Beer will make me stop ;-)
The 500 mile has no aid stations. No volunteers. Alone. For days. Mental training is more important in this instance.

 

[bethram]

4.25 miles on the treadmill this morning. Since I'm a day off on my normal weekly routine I'm trying to decide if I should run for the third day straight tomorrow (on the treadmill because DH is out of town) or do Power 90 sculpting tomorrow and the opposite on Friday. I normally run Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, do Power 90 on Tuesday, and rest on Friday and Sunday. I can't decide if it would be better to run or do the dvd on the day before my long run which is usually a day off. Thoughts?

 

[LindsayLoves]

@bethram - I would do the dvd tomorrow and see how you feel for Friday. If your body wants rest, give it rest. If you're feeling good I would do a normal mileage easy paced run (at least 30 seconds slower than your normal pace), it will get your legs moving without stressing your body for your long run the next day.