Mount Lemmon Marathon 2013

Posted on April 29, 2013 by
Quinoa, Berries, Bananas, nuts, and Cinnamon

Quinoa, Berries, Bananas, nuts, and Cinnamon

The day started by an awesome power breakfast that Erin made us.  It was had to eat though because we were not at all hungry.

If you don’t know the Mount Lemmon Marathon starts at about 2500ft and peaks at about 8000ft.


Ginseng Shot

Ginseng Shot

IMG_2992 IMG_2993The first 13 miles went basically as planed.  I was having good times and bad just as in every other race.  Suddenly there was mostly bad times.  I started cramping like crazy.  I had been taking electrolytes but I thought I just needed more.  I took some time to sit and stretch.  I saw Erin and that was nice.  I moved on from the aid station and started feeling a bit better again still walking and running but at least I was doing both.

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IMG_2999This was a good moment at about miles 14 or 15.  I was doing better and got to give Erin a big old sweaty hug.  After that it was right up Christy and I’s favorite (extremely sarcastic) hill.  I am not sure that this hill is any steeper than the rest of the race but it looks that way because of the cliff on the one side.

The high was short lived as again I had to start walking.  This time it was pretty much for good.  I started feeling like I could run again but for the first time ever my knee was killing me.  I think that it was all of the walking.  Walking is different than running and I don’t do much of it.  I would get sharp pains when I tried to run.  This is when mentally I checked out.  I was very ready to throw in the towel.  I trained hard for this race.  I wanted to run at least the first 20.  I knew it was now going to take a lot longer and I was going to suffer the whole time.  I was ready to call Erin to come get me but I knew she wouldn’t.

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The other thing that crossed my mind is that Christy would kill me.  I got us both started in this mess and she actually said yes to doing it although she thought it was the half when I first told her but she stuck in there anyway.  The other thing that kept me going is that pretty much everyone was walking.

Erin got me to run the last few yards and ran in with me.  I did it!  WOWIMG_2998

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Christy and I celabrating

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Rob was nice enough to give us IVs after and rehydrated us!

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MotoGP Weekend in Austin

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

After a weekend of fun in the sun, booze, and little sleep Monday’s 6 mile run was the best in a long time. The run really boosted my confidence. I am not thinking I may actually peak for the race. I did a lot of walking this weekend which I didn’t expect but may have really helped. It is very hard to just go out and walk when you feel like you must run but walking can really help you recover.
This was my first time at a motorcycle race or any motor race for that matter. Wow I didn’t even know bike could do what they did. You can lean it so far over you can drag your elbow? Well actually yes you can. Unfortunately as normal the Ducati team didn’t do that we’ll but there looks to be some promise in the new teammate #4 Andrea Dovizioso. I ate like shit or did I. They didn’t serve hot dogs they served bison dogs at the track and I was forced to drink mostly light beer. The scale says I ate like shit but that may just be water retention due to the high sodium. Of course I had to go to the doctor yesterday and they took my blood pressure and it was through the roof. I had some explaining to do.

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How Do Epsom Salt Baths Work

Posted on April 23, 2013 by

How Epsom Salt Baths Work

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Starting to Recover

Posted on April 19, 2013 by

I am feeling a bit better. After 4 days off I went out for a 4 mile run. Initially I was a bit tight however after 2 miles I loosened up and started feeling like I have actually been training for a marathon. Yesterday I went out for another 4 miler. These runs were 2 days in a row. The second run was at an 8:30 pace which sounds good but I am still not feeling 100%. I am actually thinking that it may be my allergies that is part of my problem. I am going to wait 2-3 days and then do a 6 mile run. Next week I am planning 2 more 2-3 mile runs before the race next Sunday. I have never felt like this before a race. It makes me nervous, mostly because I have went through a lot training for this race and I want to finish. I have been trying to rest and got a very nice 90 min message and I am hoping that all of this comes together at the right time.

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Explosion at the Boston Marathon

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

Our hearts go out to the victims of the explosion at the Boston Marathon. Explosion at the Boston Marathon. Boston Marathon Explosion

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18 Miles Last Long Run

Posted on April 12, 2013 by

Sunday Christy and I set out for our last long run.  9 mile hill (a section of Dynamite rd in Scottsdale, AZ) twice.  We left a car and both of our bikes at the top and stashed some water on the drive down.  The 1st 9 were no problem we were talking and had no idea of the time or the pace.  I we did it much faster than planed but that should have been ok.  The second 9 were not as good.  I was dying by mile 12 and lasted until about mile 17. 17-18 I walked and still averaged 30sec/mile faster than planed.   Christy was a gazelle that day and was running with not problem.  I had nutrition issues and it was getting hot.

First don’t take Mg before a run if you haven’t taken it before!  I have but I up’d the dosage and didn’t know it was a laxative lol.  Second I had too many sports drinks and not enough straight water.  I was craving that the whole time and only brought one small bottle.

This week has been awful.  I rode 4.6 miles of hills on my mountain bike on Tuesday and that went great.  On Wednesday I ran 3 miles and was dying and today the same result.  I am going to take until tuesday off of running and try and recover.  I am really hoping I get back in the grove before the race.  I have worked my ass off.

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Black Canyon Trail 12 Miles

Posted on April 1, 2013 by

http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=2971577

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Yesterday I was not motivated to run so I called up my friend who has qualified for the olympics in the 200 meter dash.  I said lets go to the track.  The workout was short but hard.  10×50, 5×100, about 20 -30 sec rest.  Wow.  It destroyed me.  I ended up only doing 4×100 because my hamstring was not felling right.  I can’t believe I haven’t been out with him more.  I could be so much faster.

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Today I woke up with sore hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves.  I decided to go ahead with my plan to run 12 miles at Black Canyon Trail.  I knew I needed to run hills and the scenery can’t be beat in Phoenix.  The run went very good although I did have to find an alternate river crossing because there was actually water.  I defiantly felt the track workout and 12 miles was literally all I had but I felt good.IMG_2885 IMG_2886

 

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