Sicko....weeks Sept. 12th through the 25th.....

Well I don't normally get sick.  But here, actually trying to build back a routine, and the kids go back to school and then bring home the plague.   It is such a lovely cold, first starts in the sinuses, then just when you think you are over it, your lungs fill up with white gu.

So this means that I am will have a shorter window to complete my initial goal.  Brazen Racing has a new 30K course that runs to the top of Mount Diablo and  down called the Diablo Summit Stomp which I have been eyeing.

It is all about strategy, this course.  The first 4 miles are runable before you begin the 9 mile climb up 3,800 feet of elevation gain.  Then you drop for the remaining 5 miles, again very much a quad blowing drop.

There is a 6.5 hour cut off, so really doable.   Its just that big question, do I want this to be the first race in over a year?

 

Matt Davis Trail.....Week of Sept. 5th through Sept. 11th

This was a good week, with a little treat, hiking up then running down the Matt Davis trail which is near Stinson Beach, CA.   This is a pretty technical trail with stairs, ruts, and rocks to keep your feet constantly moving in all directions.  I love technical so this was a treat.  

This trip almost didn't occur; however, family friends suggested going to the beach for fun and suggested the trail.  We have only done it a couple of times and I really didn't want to go, just because I would have preferred to hike / run this with my family and felt I wasn't going to be able to do so.  That said, once everyone got to Table Rock, which is about a mile up, everyone decided to turn around.

This was my chance.  I told my wife I was going to hike a little farther and she gave me the all knowing be careful look.  She knew I planned on bombing down the trail.  I only went up another half mile, up to where I knew I had a 1,000 feet of vertical to run.  I am glad I did, since the trail really got gnarly past Table Rock. I also didn't want them to wait too long for me so I knew this should mean that I would meet up with them towards the bottom.

Downward I went, and boy I had forgotten how much I missed this.   Switchback, rock drops, tree ruts and all.   Almost to Table Rock, I had too much fun, finding myself flying through the air.  You know one of those moments you think "Okay, I'm falling, to the left is the cliff so I need to land on my right, in the bush.  I hope it's not poison oak!"  And down I fell. I sat there smiling.  I checked myself out. I had scarfed my knee and my leg, now bleeding.  My mind quickly jumped to Monty Python and said out loud "its only a flesh wound!" and got up and started running.  The only irreparable damage was a small scratch on my new Garmin Fenix 2 which I was happy about only because it would remind me of this adventure.  

I got back to the car just as everyone else was.  My wife gave me a quick look up and down with the "I knew you were going to fall" look and all ways good!

The rest of the week consisted of a few more runs, training level.  I am only getting my base back, so right now I am looking for consistency.   The run down the trail at Matt Davis didn't affect my quads at all which means at least I have the muscle memory.  I just need to get my cardio back.

This weeks stats:

• 11.1 miles
• 1,148 feet of climbing
• 2 hours 44 minutes of running

On face value, this looks like a backslide from the previous week; however I am going for being smart this time around, and baring another fall, no injuries. The even bigger accomplishment is that I completed my first 5 mile run.  My standard short runs used to be at 5 miles, so it was nice to see my old friend: the "Mount Diablo Blvd" sign.

On to my next week!

Week of August 29th through Sept. 4th

So I am starting back up this blog as a record of my training and to share pictures of the week.  Pretty boring stuff; however, it will keep me motivated.  I may do reviews and like before, but I have kind of liked Leor Pantilat blog where he has shown his adventures as well as Lucho's site on Joghard so I will probably focus on updating accordingly.

I need accountability as another outlet to de-stress, so hopefully me getting back in the habit of posting will satisfy both those needs.

For the week of August 29th I completed:

•       4 hours 12 minutes of running  over to 5 days
•       16.7 miles
•       1,404 feet of elevation gain

I recently updated my watch to a Garmin Fenix 2 and probably will write a review on it.  Needless to say, while it is very similar to my old Fenix, the updated watch makes a lot more sense to me, like how I can sync up after a run instantly through Bluetooth.  I used to go through three different steps.

This weeks run had me running my old haunts on Lime Ridge as well as the Ironhorse trail.  It has been a bit disappointing to have start from the beginning after taking a year off; however, my legs feel stronger and I don't seem to have the niggles that I was suffering from.  

I will have to be resolved to some 3 to 5 mile runs until I can go without stopping and be also satisfied with a slower pace.  Two things are slowing me down: 1. extra weight (I am now back to 240 lbs.) 2. Getting my cardiovascular back where I can run longer distances.    My legs are fine and they are holding up.  If I can get 30 lbs off, I will be back to where I was when I ran Way Too Cool and then could start to consider a marathon or ultra.


I will end with a few phrases I like to focus on.  These are three of my favorites:

• Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react to it
• Focusing on a number will not cause change. Focusing on change will improve the numbers.
• Before you act listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn.  Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.