B2B2B 50K's - 3 of 3

“I hope I feel this good when I finish the Kodiak 100,” was my first thought after completing today’s long run.  Yes, I am physically exhausted.  Because of all the elevation gain and loss, the roots, the rocks, the water bars, and the sand, it is understandable why.  However, my mental endurance, stamina, and motivation were really put to the test today.  When my alarm went off at 4am,

I could not fathom climbing into the high country again.  I needed a place to run that was flat, mindless, and close to the car.  I decided to run the double tracks around Fobes Road.  These were my training grounds for the BLU a year and a half ago.  They are relatively flat, so I was able to jog most of the morning.  This was a welcome break from all the elevation gain and loss over the last two days, and also an added challenge because there were no walking breaks.  In the last three days, I was on my feet for 24 hours, covered 90 miles, and climbed over 16,000 ft.  Almost exactly what I will have to do in a single push to finish the Kodiak 100. 

Fobes Flats

Distance - 28 miles - - Time - 6hrs - - Elevation - 1250' vertical gain

early morning

high country from afar

smooth, flat, double track

recovery

B2B2B 50K's - 2 of 3

Fatigue is funny.  It hit me this morning, much earlier then I expected it to, half way through todays run.  It started with thoughts like, "Tomorrows run should be somewhere flat."  And, by the afternoon I was thinking, "Does it really matter if I do another 50k on Saturday?  Could I just run 20 and then another 10 on Sunday?"  After five hours of being of the trail I have continued to ponder these ideas.  Yes, the next run is going to be flat.  No, it doesn't matter if I run another 50k.  But, I will feel a lot better if I do.

Loops and Lollipops

Distance - 31.1 miles - - Time - 9hrs car to car - - Elevation - 7600' vertical gain

Trails - Devils Slide - Tahquitz Meadow and Peak - Chinquapin -  Angels Glide - Strawberry Cienega - Deer Springs - San Jacinto Pk - Round Valley - Long Valley Loop - Wellmans Cienega - Angels Glide - Devils Slide - Humber Park

first light

objectives

pyramid

trail

rocks

america

snags

california

B2B2B 50K's - 1 of 3

100 miles is far, which adds an element of complexity to training for this distance.  In almost any other race I would run the distance at least once before toeing the line.  Luckily, there is a way to creatively simulate the physical breakdown caused by running 100 miles: back to back long runs.  The advantage of dividing the miles into multiple days is that at the end of each run I can have a smoothie, stretch and get a good night sleep.  Today was the first of three back to back to back 50k (31 miles +/-) trail runs.

San Jacinto Peak: Twice Time

Distance - 30.9 miles - - Time - 9hrs car to car - - Elevation - 7350' vertical gain

Trails - Deer Springs - San Jacinto Pk - Long Valley Loop - San Jacinto Pk - Deer Springs 

skunk cabbage

lupine

one time

high country

mountain fire

cornell

hmm...

round valley

looking south

tree line

twice time

 

6 WEEKS UNTIL KODIAK 100

I only have four weeks left before I start to rest and taper for the Kodiak 100.  The race directors have finalized the course, aid stations and crew access points.  Since this is my first 100, I am not planning on racing.  I simply want to run.  I want to run 100 miles in less than 36 hours and make it through all the checkpoints before the cut-off times.  This approach is allowing me to focus my energy and attention on the process instead of the outcome.  Ideally, this frame of mind and process oriented thinking will be beneficial during the race in addition to the next month and a half of training.  For me, the process is my running form, my breath, my cadence, my hydration and my fueling.  In addition, I want to enjoy running in the mountains on what looks like a spectacular course.  Here are some highlights of the Kodiak 100:

THE LONG RUN

It was exactly one year ago that Matt and I ran Deer Springs; the trail had been closed for almost a month because of the Mountain Fire.  I decided it would be fun to commemorate the re-opening of the wilderness with a large figure eight loop in the high country.  I approached today's run with the same gratitude, appreciation and awe that Matt and I shared on our trip to San Jacinto peak 365 days ago.

I hiked up South Ridge and arrived at Tahquitz peak just after sunrise - a quick jog across Chiquapin to Saddle Junction and then a nice climb up Angel's Glide - I dropped down the Strawberry Cienega trail and met up with Deer Springs which I stayed on until San Jacinto Peak - from the Peak, I went down to Wellman's Divide - across Wellman's Cienega - down Angel's Glide - down Devil's Slide to Humber Park - across the Earnie Maxwell Scenic trail to my house.  The timing could not have been better, it was cool all morning and lunch was on the table when I got home.

7 WEEKS UNTIL KODIAK 100

Newton's action-reaction law states simply that, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  This last week was a low-mileage rest week to balance out the previous higher mileage week.  Tuolumne Meadows is an amazing place to run, climb, and fish.  It is also the perfect place to stroll through meadows, watch clouds, and sit quietly by the river.  Which is exactly what I did last week.  

This Weeks Training Log:

Monday - Yoga 30-40 minutes - Core Circuit 60-70 minutes

Tuesday - Scenic Trail from house - 6.3 miles

Wednesday - Tuolumne Meadows Loop - 5 miles

Thursday - Lake Elizabeth - 5 miles

Friday - Parsons Lodge Loop - 2 miles

Saturday - Scenic Trail from house - 6.3 miles -  Core Circuit 60-70 minutes

Sunday  - Scenic Trail from house - 6.3 miles

Fairview

Cathedral Peak

Half Dome

Morning

Lembert Dome

8 WEEKS UNTIL KODIAK

"If you concentrate on your breathing, it will go away."  

Zen Proverb

I check the time as I shuffle past Saddle Junction.  It is 330pm, I have been on the trail since 6am and I still have 10k to run.  I dig deep, in the bottom of my pack is a caffeinated energy gel that my friend left when he borrowed the pack in April - thanks, Dustin!  I have been saving it for just such an occasion.  Hello Cliff Shot my old friend, I sing to the melody of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence."  I swallow it with my last ounce of water and start down Devil's Slide.  The afternoon heat intensifies with every switchback and by the time I reach Humber Park, it is brutally hot.  I continue to put one foot in front of the other and concentrate on my breath.  I stumble into my living room at 5pm, it is 92 degrees inside.  I have just completed a 38 mile training run in exactly 11 hours, and I am beat.

This Weeks Training Log:

Monday - Yoga 30-40 minutes - Core Work 60-70 minutes

Tuesday - Scenic Trail from house - 6.3 miles

Wednesday - Surfed at Doheny and Rested

Thursday - Up South Ridge, Up Angels Glide, Down Strawberry Cienega, Up Deer Springs, Out and Back on Fuller Ridge, Up Deer Springs to San Jacinto Peak, Down Wellmans, Down Angels Glide, Down Devils Slide, Across Scenic, House to House 38 miles - 11hours.

Friday - Yoga 30-40 minutes - Core Work 60-70 minutes

Saturday - Yoga 30-40 minutes - Scenic Trail from house - 6.3 miles, chose the hottest part of the day, 1p-230p for some more heat training.

Sunday  - Yoga 30-40 minutes - Core Work 40 minutes - Tahquitz Peak from South Ridge 7 miles, recovery walk with Margaret and Juniper through town.

Dawn Patrol

Sky Island

Sugar Pine

Split Rock

Limber Pine

Looking South

New Trail

Old Grayback

San Jac