June 22nd, 2009

Since my last post the big news is a great right foot. After tons of work, patience and love the right foot is almost perfect. I get a bit of pain in the foot around mile 20 but not much and nothing like it was about a month ago.

I have started to post my logs on "www.therunninglog.com" because it gives me better faster information then a spreadsheet which i never seemed to keep up todate. I also get to watch other runners throughout the east coast.

So far the weekly numbers are staying in the low 80 miles per week group. This is in line with my goal. I hope to push the number to 90 miles for July. Given the heat and lack of water this will be a big challenge.

My plan on dealing with the big numbers is more carbs with rice and pasta as a primary source. I will be drinking more smoothes as well as a product called "Revive" which is a natural liquid that the body seems to get more from then anything else liquid. I am also taking large amounts of sugar in a liquid form (2 cups) around mile 12 which is helping a bunch. The body is storing about 90 minutes of sugar in the muscles and when it runs out i run out. The brain giving in is the biggest point. I become lazy and not willing to push once the brain runs out of sugar. Keeping the body full of the stuff is key and it just requires me being far more professional about my running.

I have also ordered a product for O2 help from 1stendurance.com The product will help in several ways with my body and its use of O2. I also expect that it will help with speed issues. Right now I find myself not moving as fast the first half because i dont want to run out of energy during the second half. This is kind crazy and I need to pickup the speed at the start.. with the ending times rather solid.

My good runs are the shorter runs. I love to do a short 13 mile run on shunt-in that is so wonderful. The run is mostly single track and kicks my butt for the first few miles all up hill but then it drops. I can assure you there are tougher runs on this single track and i intend on adding them to my diet of running during July.

The new 875 NB shoes are great for running and i think played a very big role in my foot doing so well. On the other hand the shoe falls apart faster then any shoe i have ever owned. The shoe does very well in single track runs but the single track conditions eat up the stability of the shoe.

Overall I am very happy. My body is doing well through a natural form of eating like a horse instead of taking all sorts of strange man made things in order to get the numbers I need. The good race results will depend on learning how to keep the blood full of sugar.. .. if for no other reason then to keep my brain motivated.

The only challenge and a strange mix that I have added is short track runs. I find myself on my rest days running around the track a few times moving as fast as the body will move. The only problem with this is I threw a muscle that connects my hip to my butt. The result was flying in the air and landing on my hands and body. Looked great but did very little damage to me.

Thats all for now.

June 6th, 2009

The last few days I have been posting my times.. and some important left brain details in an online runners log.. it has been fun.. (the runnerslog) .. is the name i think. The best part about that addition to my running is it gives the left brain something to do.. so far i have been running as far as i think i should.. and not really keeping track of details..

Thanks to my friend Davy Crocket the log is now an important tool to my running and training.

This week will see my total for the week above 85.. at least.. or there abouts. My average during June needs to be in the high 80s.. with each month adding another 10 miles.. so by the time of the race i should be doing 115 miles a week with no problem.

Today the foot did great.. but the blood was a mess. Ok I am stupid. I go out and run in the heat with no water.. except dirty streams.. which i drink out of.. and no food..nothing.. so by the time i get to mile 15 i am a total mess.. the body is weak on blood sugar... way to weak.. but understand this issue and challenge... so tomorrow i hope to leave some food near the trail 5000 point.. where it meets the 479 fire road... the shunt-in trail crosses this..

I love the single track runs. I love them. They are so at peace with me.. just wish my body could go more.. but.. without the blood in balance i am fucked.. so just got to figure that one out.. not sure why some days i am doing super well.. and other days i am doing so poor..

So, some food.. something for the body.. i might make a peanut butter and jelly sand... and leave it someplace safe.. along with something that is carb loaded liquid.. then keep going.. i hate having things on me or carry anything..

I think i did about 23 miles.. because i went up the trail futher then before.. well at any time.. i made it to the bitch switch backs from total hell.. they dont switch for much.. based on the map.. but are key for the 50 mile run i hope to do up there in august..

what do i hope to do sunday.. ? Good question.. I am off to help a friend.. and I have no idea what my legs will do tonight.. some nights they hurt so much.. they scream with pain.. I lack protein and amino acids is my guess.. shit.. more money i have to spend..

so how is the body? shit.. for my age i am kicking ass.. super kicking my ass.. the body is getting very strong.. very good.. and a bit lighter ever week.. i am very happy what all this means to me as a person..

enjoy..

http://www.newbalance.com/events/ambassadors/roster/akrupicka.php

tony.. you are right.. the human race.. a good part of the american human race is not pushing themselves.. at all..

May 30th, 2009

Well the rain stopped.  Amaziing but true.  Every river and stream is at the max and everything green is super green.  Of course if there is no rain the wonderful snakes return.  Yes I almost stepped on one super long black one and another black one was spotted in front of me before i managed to almost step on it too.. no fear.. black ones wont kill you.. just make you feel sick.. 

First, i got up early and did a short but tough run up shunt-in.  The old 875 shoes had hit their max.  I think all the rain made them worth less faster then normal and they provided zero protection for my sad right foot.  

Given i am trying to support the economy of this area I picked up another pair from Foot RX which just happens to have 5 pairs my size in stock with my name on them.. so no one can buy them.. it is true.. i go through a pair of shoes every month or so..  only way to help prevent stress fractures.. for my old bones.. 

Given i had another pair of shoes i headed back out to the trail.  The heat was there.. but the soul wanted to run a bit more.. so i pushed as hard as I could.. hitting my wall a few times.  The sugar engine in my body was falling behind.  Plenty of fuel.. but could not get it to the places.. fast enough.. so .. i hit a wall.. then would slow down.. then would have energy.. kinda strange.  near the end of the run i was feeling super strong.. too bad.. but it was getting late and i wanted only one thing.. no not sex.. food.. i love food after long running days. 

The two runs together bring the run for the day to 4 hours.. and who knows how many miles.. miles are stupid cause the single track runs are single track.. rock.. sticks.. roots.. you name it.. how fast can you run on this.. not really sure.. sometimes.. super fast.. sometimes slower.. depends..  

Today was not busy in the forest..not sure where everyone is at.. but the numbers are way down.. to sad.. but i enjoy the forest to myself..   

The right foot is doing well.  It hurts sometimes super bad. .. and with the new shoes i should be ok..  

Plan on running sunday.. the same run i did this morning.. unless Aaron decides to join me.. he is a much better runner on trail.. and much younger.. so if he does run with me i will get my butt kicked.. 

enjoy

ps:  still no woman.. i think they are all afraid of the forest.. that is all i can figure.. 

May 25th, 2009

The last couple of weeks have been great because of the new shoes.  Sunday I pushed the wall as hard as i could.  Four hours of running mostly single track trail full of rocks, sticks and everything else nature could throw in.  Running the fire roads is easy compare to the single tracks but the view on the single tracks makes the entire challenge worth it.   

Most important I am never really tired.  My need for water starts to show up about mile 18.. or so.. but it has been raining so much that the air seems to supply all the water i need.  My right foot is still a problem and I can assure you it starting to take away from the peace of the run.  However, the point of running is not to win.. cant win much at my age.. the point is to push the mind and body.. to do what everyone else is not doing.  See if the mind gets upset.. see what happens when i push that hard and to learn from the process.  

At times I get upset and the peace of the forest is beaten by the sounds of my soul screaming out loud for no good reason.. 

The best example Sunday came near mile 20 when I was very tired from the wet beating, super wet.. i mean it has been raining for hours.. solid.. super hard.. my right foot hurts.. and so i start to bitch about life, sure sign i am human.  Before you know it i am in the middle of this mind game when all of a sudden the birds start to make tons of noise..  it is just me the birds and some snakes i am sure..   ok.. they get my attention and i shut up for a few minutes. 

I walked in the forest a bunch today.. get the right foot a rest.. it is feeling good today.. but yesterday was a very different story.  I also had a super bad rash that hurt so bad.. i was screaming when i got home.  

Will try to push for at least 3 long hours on Tuesday.. i look forward to the runs.. if for no other reason then the beauty of the forest right now..   the rain is making everything super green.. and things are growing like crazy.. 

Look forward to this weekend... One day will be with a friend of mine Nick.. few miles.. (tough to find sick people willing to run 20 plus miles on the fly) then Sunday see if i can run for 6 hours.. yes.. i said 6 hours.. time to get my body really angry.. 

thanks for reading. 

frank

ps: new camera by mid next week and a repaired mountain bike.. i am starting to kick again .. a bit.. any way.. 

May 15th, 2009

Sweet run today plus great new shoes.  I have been rather short of cash (not as broke as GM, but broke) which means old shoes.  Today i found myself running in my new NB 875 shoes.  Wow.  Heaven.  My feet love them.. i even think my left foot looked up at me and smiled.. the right one is a pain in the ass.. so it did not smile.. but screw the right foot.  

Today started at the parking lot at the entrance.. throught the connnector and out to 479a.  From 479a i ran all the way up to sleep gap trail, to the top of the parkway, along the shunt-in / parkway trail all the way to the highway and then back to the parking lot.  The shunt-in / parkway trail was pretty.. it was amazing in color and silence..   Given it has rained so much the ground was soft..  (note: God did not try to kill me today with Lightning.. thanks)

My goal is to do 30 on saturday.  I have to work sunday.. so Saturday is the day.  Push as hard as my body will go and see what happens.  So far my running is on track.  My right foot still acts like it is broken and the lower back is a bit upset with me..   outside that i am doing very well.  Body fat is about 10 percent.. which is good for an old man.. ..and i run between 5 to 6 miles per hour.. on trail.. 

enjoy.. more after the saturday run..  Boy do i love my new shoes.. 

May 3rd, 2008 oh no.. i meant 2009

I was running along on the parkway trail just below where the secret hotel is located when i spotted these orange flowers.   I have no idea what they are called except to tell you they were about a half a cup in size and orange as an orange.  Pretty cool.  (the flowers grew on a tree)

ps:  the black snakes are back in the trees again.  I look up in the trees and see them hanging there.. in the rain.. ok.. gotta find another job..  cant be running with snakes hanging over my head..

Today i ran about 23 miles for about 3.75 hours of running.  Given i am not sure it could be less or a bit more.  The run started off in heavy rain with all the green screaming bright colors of green.  I loved how the water dripped from the rim of my ball cap.  At one point it rained so hard i could not see more then two feet in front of me.  The warm air kept me warm but the rain makes me feel like i was in the shower.  I always wanted to run in the shower.  

I started off at the parking lot near the entrance to the park.  Ran the connector over to the 479a trail.  From the 479a trail i went up sleepy gap to the parkway then back down given i am a weak old man in need of a bit of rest.  I then took 479a all the way to another entrance to the parkway trail and stayed on the parkway trail for about 5 miles before turning around.  The trail is super thin but wow.. it was amazing in color and life.  

I have decided to take a teeny little kmart camera up there one day next week and photograph the one section of the trail that super rocks.  I will post the pictures on the blog.  Heck maybe i will do that monday given i dont plan on running monday.  

The return trip was a bit rougher.  The rain makes your shoes weight a ton and before you know it you start to feel the effects of heavy shoes.  I had no good water and no food so the body started to get really up set around mile 18.   The last mile was pure torture, legal kind, and by the time i returned to the car there was nothing left of my body.  

The total for the week is 85 or 5 miles short of my goal of a 90 mile week.  However, i did managed to get in 3 days of hard work out in the gym so maybe that counts.  

enjoy.. 

April 26th, 2009

The run today was best marked by the spotting of a super big owl.  I was near the 10 mile mark when out of no where comes this owl.  He stops and parks.  I do the same.  I tried to talk to him but the conversation went no where.  This is the largest owl i have ever seen in the wild.  He had at least a 3 foot wing span.  

added side note: and yes there was a long super fat gray ugly snake by the river.. he was more scared of me then i was of him..  but given i dont like snakes.. i wont talk about them. 

It was hotter today and i was still a bit tired from yesterday however i managed to run 25 more miles on somewhat of a different course.  Instead of starting in the 491 parking lot I started the run deep in the hole of the Arboritum (sp) near the highway.  I figured this would give me more up hill work and make the course a bit tougher then yesterday.   

My goal was to run up to the parkway then head on to the trail however, a small voice in my teeeny brain said bad idea given i might end up getting tired so pushing it was not a good idea.  

I did the 479a trail all the way to the hell road connector that takes me from 479 main road up to the 5000 trail point under the parkway road.  I ran down that road a bit then looped back on a the parkway trail where I stayed until I sneak back to the 479a trail for water.  By the time i got back to the water (small stream used by many creatures) my body was not too happy.  My problem was not my legs or feet but my blood sugar.  I have a teeny test kit which i took with me today only to find that the number it returned said i should be dead:  52.  Ok.  Given i was not dead then the reading must be wrong so I moved on.  

I had to walk about 1 mile total but in the end returned to the car with the last two or three miles very strong.  Yes!.  I am sun burnt, fried and beat up and in pain.  Yes real Pain.. can you imagine.. and i got all of this wonderful stuff for free!!!   or at best the cost of gas getting to the park.  

I plan on resting monday with a short run on tuesday.  I do hope to hit the gym a bit on those days in the evening.  My biggest issue is getting a few pounds off and working with the blood.  Ok, so i dont eat anything during the run and only drink stream water.. which some of it does have little creatures.. which i guess you could call that eating.. well maybe.  In any case I need to look at eating someting near the top of the 5000 trail.  

Next weekend is the same insanity.. maybe because i have a chance to see my friend in ktown.. and party.. and as much as i love to run.. i love to party just a teeeny bit more until of course the morning when this body reminds me that i should have been running.. 

enjoy

April 25th, 2009

The best way to define today's run is to tell you that at mile 20 or so I jumped into a super cold river.. stayed for a few minutes.. and enjoyed the first hot day of spring.. wow.   Given it is spring I managed to find tons of small streams to drink from.. throw water on my back.. and enjoy nature.. heck.. there still is no leafs on most of the trees.. and only a few weeks ago it snowed super hard.. 

I ran for about 4.5 hours.  Total distance is around 25 miles with one 3 mile 15 degree from hell hill climb to the parkway.  I did my normal run by starting on 479a.. then up the hill from hell to trail 5000.. then a bit more running.. then back through the parkway trail which is as sweet as it gets.  Boy do i love that trail.  The trail runs along the Smokey Park Highway.. and of course being this is Fat America everyone is out driving not running or walking..   There is one section where the trail and the road come together.. and for a short period of time I am an official tourist viewpoint object.  I feel like a deer or something.. Everyone standing next to their safe car peers out at the nearly naked man running by on the trail... wow..    But of course these folks could have selected the Mall today.  

The right foot is still the bitch of everything.  I have been running about 12 to 14 per day.. with tons and tons of time in the gym.  Why the gym you ask?  Easy.  The gym is for the bones.  Lifting big stuff with my legs allows the bones in my legs to get stronger.. and bigger and more stronger.. and bigger.. or so they say.  I do know that making my legs super strong in the gym is really helping with running.  The biggest part of the gym that works is i no longer get cramps during long runs and that is super heaven.  No cramps is worth the time and money in the gym.  I do very little upper body in the gym because the goal is to get into the 160s weight range.. and for me.. that is super thin.. 

Ok.  so where do i go from here?  Well sunday is another day to push the body to the wall.  I hope to do another 25 miles.  That means 2 days in a row at 25 which means 50 miles.  If i do that I am going to be one very super happy man.  My weakness is blood sugar.  I have to eat an entire quart of Bens and Jerry's ice cream to lower the heart rate.  I always test my blood preasure and heart rate after a long run.  I wait about 2 hours after resting and then find my heart rate at about 100 beats and my blood preasure around 105 / 60...  My normal resting heart rate is about 50 or so.  except near the end of the summer it drops to the mid 40s.   My normal blood preasure which is excellent for the food loving south is about 110 over 65.. so i am happy.  

I need to get up to about 90 miles per week in May.  This means 3 or 4 short run days and 2 super long runs.  If I run 50 miles or more on the weekend then all i need is about 13 or so each of the other days.  My older body needs the rest and rebuild time. 

The sad part is I love to drink a good beer.. which I dont and cant.. and I love to smoke one cig with my friend brian about once every 50 days or so.. yea.. one cig.. it is a bonding thing.. nothing to do with normal logical behaviour..   which i dont do that either.. shit.. i am missing out on all the good stuff.  Best part is given I am older and ugly i dont have to worry about sex.. no one wants to have sex with ya when you are old and ugly.  

Enjoy.. yes.. i am thinking of running bare foot in the park tonight.. but i bet i am in the gym instead .. working out.. and watching tv.. what a freaking life.. when you think about how crazy it is in other parts of the world.. 

f

  

March 8th, 2009

Another Great 20 Mile Run:

The last couple of weeks since the last post have seen good long runs, great times in the gym pushing the legs and the flu.  I managed to have a great run last week in freezing rain and snow. The next day was colder and by monday we had 13 deg. weather outside.  

Given i work outside the body was upset.  However, today, Sunday, the weather was perfect.  I think it managed to get above 80 during my run which is amazing given it was 13 on Monday.  

If I had taken water with me there is no doubt that I could have done at least 5 more miles.  The lack of good water supply is always a challenge out at Bent Creek.  

Today I ran from the first parking east of the park to 479a.  From 479a I ran all the way to the top of 5000 trail which is the way to Mill Creek.  From this point I turned around and headed home giving me about 20 miles.  I did the run in around 3 hours and 15 minutes which is good for this old guy. 

My goal this coming week is to run short run about 12 miles on Monday with Tuesday being long miles.  Wed should be a rest day and Friday another rest day given I have work issues. However, next saturday and sunday should see some good miles given I am not sick. 

My training program has changed a bunch.  I now spend nights in the gym and when I am not running in the morning I try to get in at least 45 minutes at the gym.  The gym includes about about 30 minutes hill climbing and running super fast on the treadmill.  The rest of the time is spend on weights for the legs.. and a bit for the upper body.  The body seems to enjoy this mix of work.  

My friend Hudson wanted to know how I was doing.  My answer to him was simple, I am at least 30 percent better off right now then I was in Sept of last year.. 

Feb 28th, 2009

Today the weather went from nasty to super wet and nasty.  I started with a goal of running about 25 miles or 4 to 5 hours.  However, the rain and hail was very strong with the wind doing its best to keep me super cold.  

I managed to run about 18 miles or 3 hours there abouts but found myself super wet and very cold.  My right leg and foot did not like the entire run and my body was just about out of gas.  

It is now late in the evening and i have the chills, a sore throat and some fever.  It is good to say that you keep going... but bad that the body did not respond well to the beating... 

Sunday is a rest day with Monday another day pounding in at least 10 miles of running. 

Feb. 22nd, 2009

After my efforts on the Pony Express I had to take some time off in November to let my right foot get a bit better.  During December my goal was to start training for the treadmill race.  The race was a 10 min. 10 degree see how far you could go race.  My time for the race in January was .95 miles which is pretty good.   I then took off a few weeks in January to rest the foot a bit more.  

Starting on the first of Feb I started to train both in the Gym and outside daily.  My runs started out small with the average daily run around 7 miles.  This last week i took the miles up to about 12 and today did about 20 miles.  

Even though my right leg is not perfect it is has come a long ways and both of my legs are much stronger.  I have found that tons of work with my lower body and some upper body in the Gym has helpped a bunch.  

The insanity of the economy and the demands of work have made running difficult but today I just focused on the sounds of my feet hitting the ground.  Davy Crocket publishes these audio sounds of his runs and the one thing I noticed was the sound of his feet hitting the ground.  Putting focus on the sounds helped me focus on just one thing and not the demands of life. 

My goal this year is the North Face Death Race and the Pony Express or the Pony Express and helping someone out at the Bad Water race.  see what happens. 

Oct 20th, race results

Fifty miles in 11:15 hours. Super tough course because of the hard ground, dust created by wanta be hunters and a very driven hot sun. My body was in really good shape but the hard ground and driven sun did their damage. The course and race was a blast. I loved every minute of pain and joy. That simple.

My fifty mile time is very close to the top group of runners. This is a surprise to me given their long history of running and I think speaks strong of the long training runs and good planning. The top group of runners can be stated as super tough, very professional and very focused around running. Top knotch folks.

I started the race at my normal 9 to 10 minute mile pace. My goal was to run 5 miles an hour which is my normal training speed for long runs (25 to 30 mile runs). I felt very good around mile 25 and only started to notice the hot sun around mile 30. At mile 30 my soul started to scream at the dust and the hot sun.

Some have noted that i started the run too fast. I am not sure and will spend some time thinking over this possiblity.

The straw that broke my back was the bodies in ability to process liquids. Most if not all of my training was in much cooler conditions, early morning or late at night. Seldom did i do runs during the middle of the day while the sun was at its best. I did my normal thing by taking scaps (1 per half hour) and drinking a sports drink mixed with carbo pro. At mile 30 the body would no longer process the fluids. Not sure why. It just stopped. Given it was still very hot I had a problem. In the future ice, and other solutions including wearing better clothing will help.

The crazy thing is once the sun went down I had a new kick of energy. Given I had trained to run in the dark over the summer the body was ready for a new run, however i was not. At this point in the process the body started to function a bit better but the sun, lack of water and other conditions had eaten the soul alive.

If I had known that I was doing well in relationship to the other runners my soul would have come alive and there is a good chance i would have run the entire 100 miles. However, for reasons beyond me I thought i was doing poorly.

The body recovery was very good except for the right ankle. The ankle does not hurt and was not swollen after the race. I am not sure what is wrong with the right ankle but my guess is it will get much better in the next day or two.

As for the course and the race wow.. what a blast. I really had a good time. I felt so connected to the other runners even though I had never met them or raced with them. This means a bunch to me.

Future: Easy, keep running. Do at least 2 or 3 50 mile races before october when I run the pony express 100 again.

Closing thought: My friends who know me remind me that three years ago i was running 10 miles a week at best. They remind me I weighted 200 pounds and fat was all over the place. Today I am at 165 and fat is hard to find. I can run at will 20 miles and have a driven desire to train, feel the energy of the outdoors and have tons of fun.. cant beat that.

count your blessings.. name them one by one..

frank

October 11th 2008

The training has stopped. So what has happen? Well not what i expected. First, I reduced my diet from tons of food to a normal amount or less. Second, my joints started to really hurt. The left ankle started to hurt and the right knee also started to hurt. No real reason why. Today, about 4 days later the joints seem to be getting better even though the sleep last night was very limited. The other strange thing was pee. Heck within 24 hours of not running all i did was pee. This lasted for about 48 hours. Today i feel much better. I think brian, my tight bro, gets credit. He made sure i ate so much food last night. I never felt hungry.. i just ate and ate and ate.. so that is really good.

I plan on doing some running during the weekend and during the week prior to the run. Not long runs just short runs that allow me to stay ready. Yes, i am ready and yes i am excited.

October 7th, 2008

Today was the last training day. Body is doing super well. No injuries just a very burnt out and tired soul from running all the time. Did about 180 miles last 7days. Tons of food and tons of running kinda defines that many miles.

Today did a minuture run of maybe 10 miles. Tried to enjoy my run, go places i used to go and see the forest for the last time before the big run.

I have no idea how I will do. My body seems in top condition but I am also 51 so it really depends on the next few days and how well my body rest, repairs and fixes all that is broken. The right calf still hurts but i have grown used to the pain.

The last month was about no water on the runs, no scaps .. nothing.. push the body super hard with no reward during the run. The basic idea is to build up resistance and get used to feeling like crap.

I hope to do one small run around beaver pond which kinda where this insanity started. Not sure how that will feel given the run is less then a few miles at best and all flat. Wow. Three years later if I am not running super hard long distances I feel like I did nothing.

crazy.

so ... today starts the period of rest.. for both the soul and the body.. see how it goes..

Tony Krupicka (Sept 28th)

I list Tony's name because when i watch myself run, when i look at the bottom of my NB 874 shoes.. and i see perfect wear.. on the fore-front.. nothing on the heal.. and my times are better.. my legs are stronger and i am running.. more.. i say.. wow.. thanks Tony. !!

The most important thing i have learned with this intense running program of 100 to 12o mpw is that running right.. light.. so forth.. is key to little or no injury and reduced energy requirements.
For me at least.

This week starts the end of months and months of training. I plan on running through Tuesday the 7th and maybe the 8th. Yes, I am looking forward to the end and yes I am ready to take some rest time. However, I am sure that when the running ends a good part of my body and soul will be screaming for a chance to run. Maybe.

I ran on Friday about 20 miles. Worked until 2am then worked for 16 hours on Saturday. So far today I have put in 15 and plan on 15 more tonight. The 30 miles will be on concrete and a bit of grass. My goal is to have 50 miles in 24 hours and do this at least 3 or 4 more time before the end of the training period.

I wish like hell I had found these NB 874 shoes prior to June. May was a super painful month as far as the feet goes. How much pain you ask.. so much pain that blisters seem like super minor issues.

soon. yes.. i am ready.. or at least the body is.. as for the soul.. heck if i know.

September 18th, 2008

Today i am about to finish a 40 mile in 24 hour training streach. The goal is to run as much as time will allow in 24 hours. I might get 20 or so in the morning, 10 or so at night and another 20 in the morning within the 24 hours.

The challenge with this type of training is the body recovery rate. During the day like most folks I am working until late at night. I then run at night in the dark (last night after midnight) and then wake up in the early morning only to run some more. The only time the body has a chance to recover is during sleep and mid day while working.

So far so good. I have been eating mostly protein and carbs along with tons of water. At times I think the blood sugar drops super low so I have Ben and Jerry's ice cream or what ever works as well as tons of fruit.

The goal is to run up to and through the 7th of Oct. On the 8th of October I hope to stop, start walking some and just learning how to silence the mind as much as possible. I think the biggest challenge is going to be the mind wanting to slow down and stop during the race.

As I get older the drive to do seems to be getting replaced by the drive to chill. Given I dont want to chill just yet that is a challenge.

Off to run in the dark while others drink beer, eat bad food and watch the tv.. shit.. no wonders I am all alone.. i am crazy.

September 12th, 2008

Today i picked up another pair of nb 874 shoes. For my feet these are the perfect shoes. The support is lacking but the flexability of the shoe is amazing. When i finish running 20 miles the feet feel like i never ran a mile.

The run is going good. I have been putting in 20 to 30 miles a day. I run in the morning and at night. The biggest challenge is eating enough of the food my body needs. I have selected to eat food instead of taking pills. I could take pills but eating food is a bigger funner challenge and i am crazy for a good challenge. No doubt science has some great pills out there but eggs are not all that bad cooked right.

Aaron of Running RX has been fantastic with support. We did a video today of my running and there is little to improve. The real issue is getting more blood to the right calf given it is cramping almost right away. Aaron gave me some streach tips which should help and gave me some new information as to what the pain meant. So far I have just put up with the cramps. At some point you get used to it.. however that is a problem in the long run.

I figure to run as much as i can until the 8th of October. On the 8th i will start a rest period with an increase in protein and carbs.. plus tons of liquids.. see what happens.

f

September 9th, 2008

Just a short update. Received an email from the race director. Seems most of the runners have done a few 100 mile races in their time. Given my longest is 50 this should be interesting. My guess is I will learn something about my body and my soul.

The running is starting to get old. I love the mountains and the beauty after a rain but the hills are starting to bug the heck out of me. The good news is my body seems to enjoy the harder flatter ground and that is what this race is all about, flat ground and hard ground. If this race was about hills i think i would spend half of my time upset at the hills.

Friday is new shoe day. Given i am running at least 25 to 30 miles every day these days.. and eating like a horse I need new shoes. The 874 shoe is turning into the greatest of blessings.

On another note: I was born in Ogden utah. This race is in Utah.. my home.. and the world i have a good understanding of. I appreciate the desert and love the feeling it brings to the soul when running in the desert.

enjoy

September 5th, 2008

My tight bro, Brian, assures me i am crazy. I have decided he is right. Well, I kinda knew he was right some time ago.. but you keep those things secret. My running this week is well. The cramps in the right calf are getting much better and the big toe on the left foot is nearly perfect. Ok, so i ask myself with a sigh.. what could break.. what could go wrong? I am not sure. Just cross my fingers.

Hudson, my crew boss for this race.. or manager as he likes to call himself (he has no one below him.. so i am not sure if he needs any title except the guy who will keep me alive) is ready.

I think i am too. I really think that every single mile after 50 is my mind telling my body it can keep going.. the minute my mind does not want to go.. the body will be weak and give in.. kinda that simple.

Tonight if work allows I will hit for another 10 miles. Trying different food diets.. then running.. seeing which ones give me the best payback.

What i do know is once the run is over.. i plan on hitting the gym. Given I am in better shape then at any point in my life here is my chance to look like a million bucks.. or at least look great in case i move to southern cal.. where many look great.. .. as i laugh under my soul.

The shoes have saved my race. Without these shoes i would have given up the ghost by now.

later..
f

September 1st, 2008

Ok. I have been putting in about 100 miles per week. During the month of August I failed to run 2 days that means 29 days or running. Most of my shear miles is in the mountains of Bent Creek the rest has been around UNC Asheville. (UNC Asheville is at night most of the time)

The big challenge is eating enough protein and carbs. I am pushing down about 8k per day in calories and this is not enough. My weight is dropping super fast. Even at night when i should weight the most I am not. Example. August the first I weighed in at 178. Today, the first day of September I am at 168. Ten pounds in one month. I can see the ribs on my back.

The other big challenge is my right leg. I am getting cramps sometimes so bad I can not run and other times just enough to be a pain in the butt. I know why. For months the shoe problem took away from the right leg. The right foot was injured due to the wrong shoes for months and now the right leg is way behind in power and strenght then the left leg.

I am taking something to relax the muscles and that is helping. If i take it before i run it really helps. I think the leg needs protein in super mass amounts along with amino acids. That is my guess given the rest of the body is not having cramps.

I plan on doing at least 125 per week until the end of sept. On october first I plan on dropping to 80 until the 8th at which time i will stop running.

Picking up another pair of 874 shoes on Tuesday. They are the reason I have made it this far. I can not imagine what i would be doing right now without them. No more serious feet problems.

One more month of super hard running. Soon it will be over.
frank