Masters Weekend Runs and Races

Nothing much to post...this was an recovery week from Orono. Since I've been having glute/hamstring problems I'll have another next week as well. I stretched every day, swam 30 minutes in the pool one day, and went to a yoga class. Next week I will start up with the weights again. My left glute/ham still bothers me, to the point that sitting on it for more than 1/2 hour is painful. Piriformus maybe? Perhaps irritated and pressing on the sciatic nerve? Sometimes my leg tingles and throbs all the way down. I took a week off before Orono and was much improved --I made it through the cross-country airplane flight with no problem. But it flared up again after 2 days of competition. So I'm hopeful that it just needs more rest. Have a chiro appointment next week; perhaps that will also help.

School starts on Monday for my sons. Back to the routine!

Hope that everyone is running well --Worlds are coming up for those lucky enough to go!

Nice 4 miler, Skinnbones... Are you running The Crim?

A very up/down week for me. Heat & humidity here made it tough. Sun/Mon were good days but the heat kicked my rear end on Tuesday when the heat index hit 103. Only went 6 after leg cramps, heavy breathing and chills started in (isn't that heat stroke???) Came back with a nice set of 4x1mile (5:38's) on a hot track Thursday and a strong 12 Saturday, closing the run with 5 sub 6'00's. Happy with where I'm at right now. Looking forward to The Crim in 2 weeks.

Good Running,

Dave

Hi.I'm not as fast as most of the people on here but I enjoy reading and posting anyway. Gives me something to aspire to. Ran a 5 mile race yesterday outside of Madison. 35:10 for 4th in the 50-59 age group. I checked and so far this year I've been in 18 races ranging from 1 mile up to 20K. Well this week I have to try to pick up the distance a little to prepare for a half marathon in September and I have a big hill down from my house that I will start running up to prepare for a hilly 10K also in September. Next Saturday have a team competition 2.5 mile cross country event. I'm looking forward to that. Some of these long races are hard to look forward to because they are so damn hard. At least for me they are. Have a good week all.

Racerdb,

Yes, I'm running Crim (for FLRT). You coming up?

It will be more of a training effort than a race effort as it's a bit long for me with my current mileage. We'll see how it goes.

I have just returned from three weeks in the desert. I ran every other day for the most part. I am just running to run at this point, no racing and no focused training plan until I get stronger and have fully recovered from knee surgery.

I will go back to the desert next week for one more week then I will head up to the mountains to chase elk.

Chasing elk at 8,000 feet is a good way to build base.

Ok,

So the last two weeks I've had a renewed focus on my running. Other things in life have happened to assist this.

I got in 76 total miles this week.

Highlights for this week were 2 steady runs and a great 18 mile long run today, 10 of which were with skin.

Should be a good fall if I can keep the focus where it should be!

Sounds like a lot of fun. Where in the desert?

Greetings from foggy Alexander Valley in Sonoma County...when I commented to my wifey on this morning's overcast she said "it's not foggy, it's fogey, you know, fog for old people like you"...where does she come up with this stuff?

Regardless, as I am still hobbled by my foot, just managed about 30 miles of jogging on dirt...you know how when your "running " gimpy that you just don't have the same spring or reaction time? Well friday morning while out on the trail, my toe caught a mildly protruding rock and I went down like the veritable sack of potatoes that I've become...went down ...squirmed around on the ground bellowing epithet after epithet, laced with some swearing and cussing...was covered in blood and dirt and owees including some bruised ribs...and was still 4 miles out on a remote trail, so of course ran back...and THAT was the highlight of my running week.

Congrats again to posters like tracklover, Ghost, spikez et al on the great performances in less than ideal conditions in Orono last weekend (did you hear that Kevin Paulk ran 2 flat point something at 800???)

You all stay healthy (and I'll just try to stay on my damn feet!)

MF

outside Boise, Idaho. I will head up to the elkhorn moutains outside Baker City, Oregon.

GaryB, sounds good. Are you still enjoying retirement?

Well, the 3rd Annual Simi Valley Beer Mile has come and gone. Contested yesterday, August 11th, we had 15 answer the call of the popping cans - 11 in the beer mile and 4 in the pop mile. Excellent weather conditions prevailed, a slight wind from the west proved cooling.

Our winner was a 21 year old from Germany, race name 'Stratosphere', who cruised to a 7:15.65. The Coors was like vasser for him, so no problems. Second went to a rather well known master's runner 'Train Wreck' (If he chooses to identify himself, it's up to him). Train Wreck was attempting to challenge the 50+ world record of 7:46 but came up just short in a stellar effort of 7:58.02. It was the chugging portion that proved to add the time. I think he said he finished his first beer in 16 seconds and was indded the first person off the 'consumption' line. Next year!! My own effort was very disappointing, finishing a full 2 minutes of my PR in 11:37.44, 8th overall. It was great fun though.

My splits were 25 seconds first beer, 98 second lap, 62 seconds second beer, 98 second lap, 75 seconds third beer, 1:44 lap, 1:54 fourth beer, 1:56 last lap. On the fourth beer I experienced a bit of foaming and moved into the infield for a moment. My stomach calmed and I finished my beer and fortunately did not earn a penalty lap for vomiting, this was a clear foaming, within the guidelines.

SoCalPete was our official starter and did a great job of getting us started and keeping tabs on completed laps for everyone. Rich Burns was there to help and Vaughan Kastor served as our official to verify that beer cans were empty before proceeding on the subsequent lap. Byrle Smallen was in charge of the finish line. Thanks to all of them for their help!!

We had 4 in the pop mile and 3 hurled, once again proving that the pop mile with the added sugar and carbonation is much tougher. Next years race is either the 9th or 16th, whichever weekend is after Spokane.

Had a great week fo training too! Have a good week all!

Run, still enjoying it! Miss my soldiers but that's it.

I also want to thank Pete Mogg and his wife for hosting the after race gathering at his home. We had the trophy presentation and a selection of food and soft drinks/water available. Pete also entertained us all with his great magic tricks.

Ah, the joys of old age. I upped my mileage two weeks ago from 50 to 65. After a week of 65, I hit the road Monday morning for a planned 12 miler and got about 5 minutes in and said to myself, this is just not working, I have zero energy and turned around and went home. I didn't run Tuesday, and ran about 4 on Wednesday. By Thursday I was starting to feel normal again and finished the week with 38mi. Next week I will try to hit 65 again, which is my current goal mileage for Fall XC season.

I'm now fully committed to xc season--had camp last week with 73 kids. I ran a lot, but the emphasis is on these two fine teams. Have three great girls' captains who have figured out the balance between social running and competitive running--works for us. They look like potential champs to me. Boys are in fine shape, as evidenced by their 3m time trial, at which we put 5 (almost 6) in front of last year's winning time. That's nice, since last year's winner became a 9:32 3200 runner...

Great stuff this week..desert running, hills, trail spills, beer mile and more. You all are inspiring.

pretty good week in which I escaped the worst heat of the summer thus far in DC [102 the day after we left] for a family vacation by Deep Creek Lake in western MD. Hillier than my home base by a lot. An 8-mile marathon pace effort was about 30 sec/mile slow but felt right nonetheless. Fun cross-training [whitewater rafting, frisbee golf, canoeing, and ultra-taxing mini golf]. Back home today I ran 24 miles -- first 8 with my son, later 2 X 5k track tempos intending 17:55. From roughly 10 to 13.1 miles hit 17:51 [yay]. From roughly 19 to 22.1 18:20. Oh well, it was hot by then, and other excuses. Too tired now for yard work, so that's one benefit of training.

have a great week.

First off, nice race, Top Cat! And 18 of them so far this year?! Man, that's a lot of racing! Hat's off to you.

As for me, ran my first race in 3 months on Thursday eve. The first half mile felt completely foreign - couldn't get a rhythm, was having a helluva time staying with the front pack. Then suddenly dropped into a rhythm, and from there on it was smooth sailing. Didn't have any of the quad pain or overall bonking that defined my racing of late Spring. Couldn't really put the pedal to the metal (without race training, I was afraid of going too anaerobic, figuring I'd puke), but was a very satisfying return to form anyway.

Finished with 90-ish for the week. Legs are still feeling good. Hope all you can say the same!

Have a great week, everyone!

Thank you Mr Pete. As a newbie to the sport I read most of Sheehan's books and others. One thing I remembered he said was he raced often and treated the races as his hard workout. There a lot of races around here so I try to incorporate that philosophy intomy own. I believe it helps to improve your racing ability for anyone on here that may be a recent member to this sport. Runinthesun, I thought you must be in the high desert. As a resident do you get a tag every year or do you even hunt? You live the life some dream of.

Top Cat - agreed on the premise that racing should be a part of one's training. I've long been a fan of facing up to races (both so that they don't become intimidating and because they really help you to improve) and of making races the only time to ever run 100%. My 3 month layoff was due to inflamed quads. From here on out, I'll be racing about every three weeks.

By the way, can't believe I forgot (in my first post) to send out props to Matt for the great Beer Mile!!! What an event! Have to say it was one of the funnest races I've attended in quite some time, and I have every intention of joining in the actual "racing" next year! Train Wreck flew in from Oregon to attend, and I'd suggest some of you out there think about coming into town for next year's.

Okay, off to do Sunday stuff....

skinnbones wrote:

Racerdb,

Yes, I'm running Crim (for FLRT). You coming up?

It will be more of a training effort than a race effort as it's a bit long for me with my current mileage. We'll see how it goes.

Yep, I'm coming up alone on Friday afternoon. If you're up for some Pasta & Beer Friday night, email me. I've never been to Flint so I won't know my way around. Hopefully, there is a Carrabba's somewhere nearby!! BTW, is there a Masters Team race or just Age Groups?

Dave