Loop Around Uptown

3.08M @ 24:33

After the painful recovery run I had yesterday, I wasn't sure what I was doing showing up at the Dowd this morning, but I figured any mileage I could get in would have to feel better than yesterday.  Shue and Carolyn planned to preview the Race for the Cure course, so we all took out nice and easy. I caught up Gordon Bynum for a few as Caleb Boyd, Senor Kahn, and El Presidente lead us around Uptown.  Very quickly I knew I was struggling just as much as yesterday, if not more, but I still managed to move faster.  It was a very nice change of scenery strolling through the heart of uptown at this early hour, but as we headed back south down Church, I knew that the group would soon be picking up the pace.  I enjoyed more stories from Salem Lake, but when we hit Morehead I headed straight for the Y.  Today didn't go as expected, yet it went as well as could be expected.  I am ready to go out and pick up some more miles.

First Recovery After Hinson Lake

~7M @ Snail Pace

Since yesterday was the first time I was able to walk normally, this morning was the first time I could attempt to run.  I decided to man up and try to muster a few miles with the Dowd crew.  Knowing I hadn't been able to get any movement since I returned from Hinson, I thought it would be a good idea to arrive early in time to warm-up a mile or so on my own time.  I took off down Lexington creeping along in pain knowing that the down-hill wouldn't hurt half as much as the forthcoming uphill.  I made it to Oriole and worked my way back up.  The ten minutes it took to run .8M seemed ridiculous, but by the time we were ready to roll, I felt much looser.

A nice group showed up this morning, all fast people though, so I ignored the pain chatting it up from behind following the Colville Loop.  Run DMC wisely turned back at East and I continued around the booty loop a little too long.  I bowed out as we ventured past Queens.  I was glad to shake the legs out a little, but turning back through Myers Park was not very pleasant.  It hurt, that's all I can say.

So This is Taper...?

Goal: 5 miles easy
Actual: 3.9mi. @ 8:07/mi.

Although my previous understanding of tapering for this distance was that I shoud not run a single mile this final week before the race, I was inspired by the local champion of ultra, Jonathan Savage's taper before going into his 2nd place finish at the North Coast 24 Hour National Championships.  I have had a number of conversations with Jonathan to this point about all things ultra and trusted that I had a fair grasp of the difference between his limits and my own.  Maybe reading Jonathan's Wiki on his 24-hour was just the excuse I needed to justify the run I had been hankering for, but I was glad to get out and get a few miles with the CRC crew at the Wednesday AM Dowd run as this would also be my only run for the week before the race.  I spent a couple typical 7:30 miles with the group -- Chrisman, Custer, Khan, Linz, Mainwaring, and Maye, then decided to be smart and cut back to the Dowd nice and easy at my own pace.

At this point, I've put in the hours and hours and hours and miles and miles and miles and more than enough two-a-days and three-a-days by now.  I cannot stress anymore, all I can do is go out and trust.  Christi and I will be camping out Friday night before the race then waking up in time to prepare myself for one long 24 hour period.  My current plan is to go out and essentially complete 3 separate marathons with solid walking/eating the laps in between.  I do not want to stop moving before sundown except to change shoes/socks.  Even when I am just running, I don't intend to let my average get any faster than 9:00 pace.  The key is to take it nice and easy embracing the slow and steady that my training has taught me.  No matter what I accomplish, it will all be thanks to God's wondrous work in my life.

Brixx 10K Preview

9.38mi. from Dowd Y @ 1:13:36

I showed up to the Dowd thinking I would just roll into whatever run the group had in mind since I thought the crew would likely be previewing the Hit the Brixx course on Thursday.  Apparently, I was the last to know that Paul had posted his intent to preview today.  This was the first time I realized just how slight the difference was in my strength recovery from Blue Ridge.  I hung slightly back with Shue barely pulling 7:40 pace.  I felt bad for Billy going through the recovery phase also since Paul made it seem effortless again.  I was glad I previewed this morning, but certainly don't think the 10K would be the race for me.

A Few Good Men

9.02mi. @ 7:43

The numbers were pretty slim this morning as I guess all the usual suspects are still vacationing for the holidays.  We took off for the usual Thursday morning loop from the Dowd, just Kevin, Paul, and Tom Ricks.  Still forging the remaining intensive workouts before the 50K, I was more than pleased when I realized running with only these three guys would mean pushing my comfort zone.  I had some good conversation with Tom before the chilly air made me feel more winded around mile 5... coincidentally where I was forced to start deciding when to re-tie my shoe laces as my kicks came dangerously close to flopping off mid stride.  The inevitable stopping to fix the problem made it a very strong fight to catch up to the group.  Tom split off while I continued to chase.  Truthfully, I spent almost the entire remaining miles just trying to keep Paul and Kevin in eyesight since I still get the loop confused A LOT.  By mile 7, morning commute traffic buzzing around the city, I began to confuse headlights for the reflective properties of their gear.  Thankfully, we were close enough for me to know a pretty direct route back to the Y, thanks to Thunder Road.  Even though that may have been one of my more difficult runs since Thunder Road, and it's somewhat embarrassing to be so easily dropped by the CRC speedsters, I relish the self-improvement.  It serves as a simple reminder as to why I joined CRC in the first place.