Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Last Week's Running and the Journey Ahead

After attempting 2 useless weeks off to give my groin injury a chance to heal, I got back at it (slowly) taking into account Vulture Bait 50K this Saturday.

So in 5 days I ran 50K in about 5.5 hours. Some really nice runs in there, Frontenac Park 11K Tetsmine loop in particular. After being away from Kingston for two months, it was really nice to get back to the park and enjoy the beauty and solitude.

I've been thinking a lot about the 100miler next year and the planning that it involves (and yes, I got the approval from my better half). So far I've had wonderful support from friends new and old. The offers to crew have been unbelievable. I'm blown away by the generosity of these people. I'm very excited that a great friend - Kelly, has agreed to pace and crew for me. I give her the credit for getting me into long distance running as she was the one that convinced me to run my first marathon this year. Other offers from some great girls from runningmania.com are greatly appreciated and I look forward to 'working' with these women (a fellow northern ontarian too!). Figuring out what I'm going to need along the way is going to be tricky. I think the trick is to be open to anything, especially food wise.

Over the next week I will try to develop a training plan which I hope to start shortly after Vulture Bait. I would like to get most of my runs done in the very early morning, which will allow me some training in the dark (must get over fear of bears... they're hibernating soon right?), and will minimally interfere with family time and morning routines.

There's so much more to think about. I'm really pumped about this journey to Haliburton next year and the experiences it will bring. I just hope this weekends' 50k goes well. I think I'll just run enough this week to keep the blood flowing and the limbs loose. Gotta take this thing one run at a time.

See you in the forest!

5 comments:

  1. Good luck at VB - I hear it is a nice course. Don't fret about the bears too much, it is the skunks and other woodland creatures you need to worry about. Seriously, it is getting use to the shadows and noises without jumping out of your skin. Wait till you see the first pair of deer eyes reflecting back in your headlamp - creepy.

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  2. night running is the best part of the ultra experience, there is nothing like it. Don't worry about a moving up to 100 milers too fast, I had only been running for about a year and a half and tried my first hundred
    (dropping out at Haliburton at mile 80!) women finsh we'll most of the time at these races becasue they are made of tougher stuff. PLus training in a Sudbury winter will make you hard as a coffin nail. Good luck a Vulture and hope to see you at the races!

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  3. Hello out there,

    Thanks for your writing , I am finding it all so interesting and exciting. I hope to run my first marathon next year and from there see what other distances there are. The thought of ultras is new and I am marveling at the thought of eventually being able to get to a level where it is possible. Currently my running partner and I have been at the minamal shoes for about 4 weeks, we are in Winnipeg and are experimenting with ideas for the -46 we experienced last winter, being form Ontario would you have any suggestions?

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  4. David & Keith: Thanks for the well wishes at VB - I'm really looking forward to it! Yeah, the dark thing... I'm trying to talk myself into it. Roads - no problem, but I think if I'm going to do some night runs here in the bush I'm going to have to bribe someone to come with me!

    Nicole: Hello!
    I'm still trying to figure out how to run without shoes in winter. Treadmill, and waiting for the roads to be plowed are the only things I can think of, and, well, that's just no fun.
    I don't think yak-traks will work well on VFFs but Injiji socks do and may delay frostbite from setting in for a few minutes. Let me know what you come up with...

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  5. If you need a laugh check us out: http://winnipegbarefootrunners.blogspot.com/?spref=fb
    although those socks sound great. thanks I will be looking for them.

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