Confidence Boost

Due to family stuff this weekend, I was up early today to get my longer run for the week in. Last week I ran a 20 miler, and over Labor Day weekend I'm hoping to get in 2 seperate 20 milers, so this week was a less-daunting 12. I wanted to run it fast, as a sort of time trial to see where my fitness is.
The first section of the Glacial Trail course would fit the bill. It's a bit longer than 12 miles and is a run I've done quite a few times so far this year. Thus far, my best time was 1:44:29, with an AvgHR of 162, back in April--Pre-Edwin.

Success!

Today's run was finished in 1:40:54, with an AvgHR of 153. A couple downed trees had me crawling, straddling, falling, and on occasion I found myself not attacking the ups and downs. Additionally, I started running 20 minutes before sunrise, so the first mile was a bit cautious. Next time I'd love to get under 1:40. 12.58 miles, 8:01 pace.

This is just what I needed heading into the weekend, as the 3 of us are heading to a family wedding, where the father of the bride is an liquor distributor from bourbon country, and I'll be playing second fiddle and feeling sorry for myself all weekend to Edwin in his Tuxedo Onesie :)

PS I'm not sure Ellie would be up for a 50k on our 50th wedding anniversary. Wish I could be there!

4th Last Long Run

Yesterday was my 2nd 20 miler, and "4th-Last-Long-Run-Before-Glacial" and it went...okay.

I was hoping to have a faster pace, but when compared to my 20 miler from 2 weeks ago, my overall pace improved from 8:40 to 8:30.

I'm really happy with the nutrition plan I have going, but I'm starting to wonder how much is too much? I've read that one should shoot for 300 calories an hour. I did about 240 yesterday for the first 2 hours, and I almost felt like too much blood was in my gut absorbing the nutrients, leaving my legs a bit DEAD. I'll have to keep working on that.

Any thoughts? How much is TOO much when it comes to calorie intake?

Past Weeks, Upcoming Training, Planned Races, and the amazing "sleep schedule" of an 11 month old

Well, the summer is rolling along! I got up this morning and headed to play basketball in the dark at 5:20 am. Today at the office the windows are open and the AC is off for the first time in a month, and I'm starting to look ahead to running in long sleeves again--well, at least sleeves. I may just use the 'arm panties.'

My weekly running update posts lasted all of 2 weeks. So, in a feeble attempt to catch up, I'll share the following:

I ran my first 20+ miler since the Trailbreaker Marathon in March. It was 2 weeks ago and entirely on the Glacial Trail course. I felt good nutrition-wise, but my legs need to get stronger, so once again I've picked up the habit of hill repeats at least weekly. Last weekend I ran a 'fast' 15 miles on the Trail at 8:15 pace, and didn't feel like it was all too tough. That really got me optimistic for the upcoming events.

I signed up for the North Face Trail Marathon in September, and then Glacial Trail in early October. I will also be running as a 4-person relay in the Fall 50...with Ellie and my in-laws. The only way they'd sign up is if I guaranteed to cover 30 miles. Done. That event is in late October, so this leaves November for either 1) a sub-3 marathon attempt--not likely or 2) a "thru-run" of the Ice Age Trail in the Northern Kettles (31 miles). I'm not sure yet, but the fact I haven't run a single 'repeat' of any distance yet doesn't bode well for a fast marathon.

This week I'm hoping to run 22 miles of the course, then next week is a recovery week and a wedding trip to Kentucky. The following week, Labor Day, I'm hoping to do a 20 miler and a 24 miler on the long weekend. Then I'll pull back for a week before racing the North Face Marathon, which will hopefully go well and give me a lot of confidence before I taper down for the Glacial Trail 50k on October 10. Sheesh, that mildly resembles a training schedule!

Schedule? Did someone say schedule? Tell that to Eddy, who was up at 11:30 pm, 12:45 am, 3:00 am, 4:30 am, and 7:00 am last night.