How An Older Guy Ran 30 Miles Yesterday On A Whim

YMMV wrote:

I hope what comes across here is not so much my own horn-tooting but the sense of adventure, inquiry and even wonder of even being able to try these things later in life.

No, what's "coming across" is definitely your own horn-tooting. 100%, absolutely, that's what coming across form your posts.

You are absolutely in love with yourself and your "inquiry" (oh gaawd) and "adventure". You think you have come up with/are following some amazing diet revolution, when it probably has little if anything to do with your current fitness/health. You are clearly one of those obsessive compulsive egotists who literally 24/7 thinks about nothing other than what YOU are doing, what YOU are eating, what great accomplishment YOU did today, and which one YOU will do tomorrow. Does anyone else even exist in your world ? Does anyTHING exist outside your climbing/running/ organic grass fed Bull-$hit diet?? And then you have to spend hours filling us in on ever freaking detail?? I know guys in their late 50's who rip to shreds on track or in just about any other physical competition. You're not that special. Sorry to break it to you. Jesus, dude, honestly no one cares, of at least they certainly don't care 1/100000000th as much as you do. Just do it.....and keep it to your damn self. Unbelievable narcissism. Stunning, really.

Thanks! Keep us updated on your own journey!

YMMV wrote:

First meal: smoothie of grass-fed whey protein

high-fiving a couple of cute women who were on the track.

a few slices of grass-fed ham,

some fresh cream

Third meal: Organic chicken drumsticks with salad, tea with lots of goat milk

"grass fed whey protein" ? Seriously? Dude, get a life. Your whey protein ain't f'n paleo anyway (it comes from cow's milk, dummy), so cut the "grass-fed' nonsense out. They won't excommunicate you from the Church of Paleo

(and I see you are obsessed with grass-fed nonsense, big shock there)

Oh FRESH cream. It wasn't curdled? Brilliant!

Goat milk: again, your paleo ancestors didn't drink milk. Not from a cow, not from a goat, not from a monkey. So just drink some freaking milk, you tool. ( I am sure imagine that drinking GOAT's milk, and especially GRASS FED goat's milk is somehow miraculously making your healthier and fitter than if you just drank regular friggin' milk. )

And as far as you working in the detail of "high fiving some cute women" , dude give it up, they were probably laughing at the old man shuffling along the track. Yes, women think old men are "cute", but not in the way you think a hot piece of a$$ is "cute." To them, you are cute like a little baby, or baby goat, NOT sexually attractive/good looking. Sorry again to burst your bubble, but I am trying to talk you downs slowly from that giant ego you are floating on, before you fall off and get really hurt.

I am not eating Paleo, just whole food/high fat/high protein low carb. I admire people who can discipline themselves to train in ketosis and be more "pure" paleo, but I feel it is not for me at this point. I am more than happy enough with my current improvements in every area. Things continue to evolve as more information comes out and research is done. For instance, I have just recently been learning about the long-term damaging effects of vegetable oils on brain health, always a concern for those of us who are aging and have aging friends and relatives.

It is best that I don't go into other details of my relationships, career, etc., as they will only prompt even further envy and negativity on your part. Lets just say that I believe in a more holistic lifestyle, and would not sacrifice my health, relationships, etc. for perceived gains in athletic performance. I have gone down that road in the past (all of us who test out true limits will do so at some point) and it no longer holds any attraction. Balance is my way and my light.

Thanks for your feedback, I hope my thoughts encourage you to educate yourself further in such matters. None of us find wisdom in isolation.

One aspect of the so-called "aging process" as it applies to most of us seems to be a stubborn inclination to do the same thing over and over in the face of declining results. It's an amalgam of laziness, stubborness and lack of curiosity, which for the most part society and the people around us tend to reinforce. To me, if you aren't working on at least one new concept, endeavor or project each day (on average...we all need rest days!), you are slipping behind, accelerating to demise.

You need to throw down and run a 100 miler.

Niceguy542007 wrote:

You need to throw down and run a 100 miler.

Ha, I'm only running 30 miles/week this Summer; 60/2 will be plenty.

So yesterday was my final "longish run" before the SRT run in two weeks.

Early July I did the 30 miler to verify fitness. 10 days ago i did a very technical (rocky and exposed) day to get adjusted to the alpine environment. This time I chose a not-too-strenuous course (3.5 hours, 16 miles on moderately technical terrain with about 3000'altitude ascent), the catch this time was that it was averaging around 7000' in altitude and all above 6500'. The SRT will all be under 6500', but this course was too beautiful to pass up (tons of wildflowers and remote ridges and valleys), and knowing that I can function halfway decently even when unacclimatized was a good challenge. Plus it is in the 90's in the lowlands, and I enjoyed the rarified and cooler mountain air.

Energetically I felt great as I have all Summer. Biomechanically I had to work out a few niggling "hitches the firt hour, but by the finish felt smooth as I usually do now at the end of these fat-burner treks.

I took my first fall of the year, stumbling and crashing down on a moderately steep, moderately rocky downhill a the 2:20 mark. I think a number of factors weighed in, including the altitude and having taken a small amount of weed before the run. Fortunately this was less severe than two craters I had last Summer, which messed up my ribs big time. This time I came away with a cut on my knee, and some minor bruising. The good thing was I was completely loose and relaxed at the time; by the time I could tense in reaction, I was already down. I was pretty zoned-out on the Smashing Pumpkins at the time, and a bit too "checked out"in my focus. Henceforth the tunes go on pause in technical downhill terrain.

For these long runs, I have been wearing somewhat oversized shoes, which allow for foot swelling, allow a natural footplant and I have avoided any hint of a blister. The trade off is that it takes great concentration to keep the toes up high to clear rocks and roots. Right now I am leaning towards using my leaner, more tapered and smaller Pumas, and then carry a blade with which to cut away anything on the fly which might lead to a blister while on the SRT. So: more nimble shoes+ tunes off + no more cannabis consumption when trails are involved. I'll save it for the celebration back at home ;)

Got some awesome photos along the way. Paintbrush and lupine were knocking themselves out. And almost no bugs, to my pleasant surprise. High Summer glory in the North Cascades.

YMMV wrote:

One aspect of the so-called "aging process" as it applies to most of us seems to be a stubborn inclination to do the same thing over and over in the face of declining results. It's an amalgam of laziness, stubborness and lack of curiosity, which for the most part society and the people around us tend to reinforce. To me, if you aren't working on at least one new concept, endeavor or project each day (on average...we all need rest days!), you are slipping behind, accelerating to demise.

This is actually very wise.

I'm also enjoying this thread.

Good stuff. Good luck on your big run.

YMMV wrote:

I'll link some great podcasts on primal diet and training:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/primal-endurance-podcast/id996260187?mt=2

I'm really looking forward to the next decade having made my second major jump in training/diet /lifestyle (first was age 15 taking up running and the second around age 30. So the next will be....age 120? :P

At what age did you become so self-absorbed and feel the need to tell others about how great you are in such excruciating detail?

Thanks for your generous contribution!

House of mirrors wrote:

YMMV wrote:

I'll link some great podcasts on primal diet and training:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/primal-endurance-podcast/id996260187?mt=2

I'm really looking forward to the next decade having made my second major jump in training/diet /lifestyle (first was age 15 taking up running and the second around age 30. So the next will be....age 120? :P

At what age did you become so self-absorbed and feel the need to tell others about how great you are in such excruciating detail?

YMMV wrote:

Thanks! Keep us updated on your own journey!

I've replied before here and would add I really don't subscribe to your routine, but I dig your vibe. Seems non-judgmental and very +.

Thanks for the props.I should add that next year, when I will enter the 60-64 age group, my summer training and racing will look VERY different. Everything I am doing now is with that in mind.... the longer term.

Ca$hclay wrote:

YMMV wrote:

Thanks! Keep us updated on your own journey!

I've replied before here and would add I really don't subscribe to your routine, but I dig your vibe. Seems non-judgmental and very +.

I'll try to keep this succinct:

-60-mile alpine traverse was shut down by a weather front that moved in with perfect timing to snuff out this season's window. The prospect of 60-miles of often trail-less backcountry by myself is tough enough, but rolling an ankle in 40 degrees and rain could be near-fatal or worse. Next shot will be in late June next season.

-Supplanted with "Plan B", an exciting "Adventure run" unto itself. Basically traversing six miles of a rock massif (3000-feet in height), one of the largest in the country, with often vertical cliffs via the weaknesses between the rock layers, including fixed ropes and a via ferrata. Canyons, gorges, waterfalls and sheer/overhanging cliffs everywhere, a few rattlesnakes and tons of rough scree for spice. I will run the return leg on a road, possibly with a few side challenges along the way. The total route will be about 10-12 miles, but half of that is rugged in the extreme, so it will be the better part of a day.

I'm currently setting ropes for this and will make my first attempt in a week. Epic!

-My legs seemed to go somewhat dead for a week or two. I was down to about 30-50 net grams of carb, probably too low for anything but all-day slogging. Now back up to 150g/day (beer!) and feeling magnificent.

-This week was my best in years. Starting with a 14-miler that seemed almost effortless, to the point where I am at 4000' elevation and churning up a steep gravel road, yet barely breathing. Coming down was like being 20 again, seemingly floating and flying through impressive groves of trees. Ten miles of marathon-tempo overall.

Also this week: a mellow fartlek, working on relaxation and tall posture; yesterday a track speed session of 16x100 with lots of drills mixed in. Finally able to extend my stride fully, it seems. By this time next year, I will be sprinting by any measure!

Today I got my Garmin and tested it out on a rugged 7-mier with 1100' gain on mostly technical trails. Mostly 10-12 minute miles in rough terrain, but amped up to 6:30 pace on the return. A perfect bookend for a breakthrough week tagging all the bases of speed, endurance, stamina, strength and agility.

Now working hard on my 5.14a climbing project. Healthy sore spots all over this morning.

My main goal right now is enjoyment. I grade the enjoyment level, with only the most efluid, effortless and fulfilling runs getting the top grade (A+). Most years, I might have one A+. Last year there were none. This year, still with three months left, I have no less than three such runs. I'll have to check my old logs, but that might be a PR, certainly for past 40. Really turning into something special, at least I appreciate it as such.

I've been using this stretch to rehabilitate my calves, already noticing improvement after just a few days (thanks to kudzurunner for link):

http://www.balancedrunner.com/the-most-important-pre-run-warmup-a-calfachilles-dynamic-stretch/

YMMV wrote:

The stats are behind you on that call. No guarantees of the outcome or even delivery on the basics. But for once I feel I can have a single place to discuss these issues without scattergunning all over the board on diet, training, supplements, cross-training ad nauseum.

Certainly I cannot aspire to match the all-time LRC "reach my goal" thread:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2270504

However I am earnest in my pursuit to find out what an old body can accomplish.

Taker of things to the bank wrote:

This thread will die out with none of the promised updates, and websites, etc., guaranteed.

So what's new?

So, why? wrote:

What on earth prompted you to write this and post it here? And what exactly was the point?

The only thing I took from it was this: grandpa is getting dementia and his family is sick of hearing his ramblings so now he's posting his ramblings here. Start a blog grandpa.

Don't have a hissy fit, Nancy.

Taker of things to the bank wrote:

So what's new?

Briefly: I gradually increased my weekly mileage from under 20 to 50 miles/week over the last three months, while improving my pace at lower heart rates. My legs feel amazing. I've just started some faster stuff, it feels hard and slow as I knew it would, but I will be patient. My climbing training has been progressing without any setbacks, although attempts on my project in the fall were washed out by unusually bad weather..

Looking forward to a healthy and productive 2017. Thanks for asking and best of luck to all in their goals for the new year!