May 4th- May 10th

"I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate." - George Burns

Seemed like a good quote to remember as I put a bow around these last few weeks of this training block.  Just keep reminding myself that it does not matter what happens in Cape Town, it is just a race and I love to race/run, that is all that matters.  Have to quit letting external people's expectations effect my stress levels concerning the race, I know sounds dumb when I type it out but that pressure/stress is there for me even if it is self induced.

Monday:

11 AM:  8.6 miles w/ 450ft of vert averaging 7:20pace.  Easy mid-morning cruise from work over around Link Lake and back to get a little bit of a hill. Felt super chill but pace was solid. Planning on going in late this afternoon to get the legs needled and loosened up, they are tight as hell and need to do some maintenance so I don't end up hurt.

Tuesday:  

6:30 AM:  8.2 miles averaging 7:30pace. Super chill run from work before the work day begins. Started out in the rain (just a drizzle) but about 10mins into the run it turned to snow for the rest of the run. Cold and wet when I got done but it wasn't as bad as I was expected. Legs are sore as hell from the needling I had done yesterday afternoon but that was to be expected.

--  Had plans to go do another 5K this evening but got stuck with work shit.  We did not feel like rushing to the Boulder Rez to make the start in a snow storm so we skipped it. Plus the legs are sore has hell anyways.

Wednesday:

7 AM:  8.2 miles w/ 500ft of vert averaging 7:25pace.  Easy snowy jog from the house up to HWY 128 and back to get some hills. Stayed off any trails figuring they would be a mud fest with the 6-8  inches of wet snow we got overnight. Little bit of slogging going on with ankle deep snow in some places and dodging down tree limbs everywhere.  Legs felt better than yesterday but still tired, all good though.  Had to get this in early, busy work day today and would not be able to get out mid-morning or after lunch.

Something I came across today that I really need to start remembering because I am 100% guilty of this.   “Sometimes I have to remind myself that the point of a session is to gain fitness, not to prove fitness.” -Canadian Olympic marathoner Reid Coolsaet

5 PM:  50mins VASA Lift class with Paula- Upper body focus.

Thursday:  

10:30 AM:  12 miles w/ 500ft of vert averaging 7:15pace.  Easy medium long loop from work mid-morning between meetings. Tried really hard to keep this super chill but pace was quicker than expected, never looked at the watch. Legs feel a little worked still but once warmed up they just roll which is interesting feeling, like the body knows what to do.  

-- Had another job interview at 6:30am this morning... I keep trying for something new at Medtronic but don't think this one is going to pan out either.

Friday:

-NOTE:  Weight check in:  165.6lbs at 7.8% bodyfat... flat over last week, almost exactly the same.  Found the right amount of binging before bed not to gain or lose weight anymore.  LOL.

9 AM:  7.5 miles w/ 400ft of vert averaging 7:30pace.  Longer version of my Costco Loop. Think this will become the new Costco loop for me, about 2 miles longer than the loop I was doing before. Taylor joined me and we were super chill just bullshitting talking about possible races next year since some of them are already open and will sell out in the next few months already. He invited me to join him at TrailCon in June so really pondering that as well but doubt I can fit in a week in CA right before Hardrock.

-- 20mins in the hot tub when I got home.

-- Heading up to Fort Collins this afternoon to get my bib and check in for Quadrock 25 tomorrow.  Last longer easy run.  I originally signed up as a training race for Tahoe and just left it on the calendar but downgraded it from 50 to 25 which is more fun anyways.  Plan to park the van up at Horsetooth so super close to the start in the morning.

Saturday: 

7 AM:  Quadrock 25- 25.3miles w/ 5500ft of vert averaging 10min pace or 4:14:57 total time.  6th overall and 1st Grandmaster by over 40mins. I just can't figure this race out to break 4 hours. This was the 5th shot at it. Such a hard course. Body of course is a little beat up, I was good until about mile 20-21 then the cramps set in, mostly in my quads and groining to the point where I would have to walk like a tin man for about 100 yards for the cramps to let go then start running again, this happened like 4 times, not enough salt, I was covered bad at the end. I tried what I was thinking of doing in the marathon in 2 weeks and it basically was good until hour 3. I was doing gels with 200mg of sodium in each one and only drinking water. Did this instead of my normal Precision or Tailwind because the marathon has only water and Poweraid at aid stations so trying to find something that will work there that I can carry easily. Was a good experiment and I got my answer that the gels are not enough sodium for longer shit but considering I plan on being under 3 hours at the marathon it just might work. Anyone have any thoughts?

Sunday:  

9 AM: 9 miles averaging 8min pace.  Easy miles over at Davidson Mesa.. That was a slog, legs are trashed from yesterday. Especially the quads, probably good to get that stimulation 2 weeks out from the marathon so I can hopefully fly down any small hills with no quad issues. Run of course got better was I went along but when I stopped it felt like all the soreness was brought to the surface if that makes sense.

-- Hot tub and Theragun after the run today.

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