El Scorcho

Well, things didn't work out like I hoped they would. I only completed 19 miles of the 31 miles ahead of me. I was working on mile 12 when my knee didn't want to cooperate. Stop in my pit stop and grabbed my brace and went on to complete mile 15.5. As I came across the Start/Finish line, I felt like I was done. Frustrated, I went back to the pits. I changed shoes and decided to give it another try. BIG MISTAKE!!! I don't remember going through the turn around point. I was having cold sweats and my right calf was cramping badly. As I crossed the line, for almost 19 miles, I wasn't sure what to do. Jimmy and Paul came and convinced me to call it a night. Live to run another day so to say. I have never been in a race where I couldn't finish it. This was a major let down for me. But, I can only blame myself. Poor training leading up to it, poor nutrition habits. One thing for sure, it won't happen again. Once I figure out what is going on with my knee, I'll be back in the game. Jimmy and Hollee did well. AJ did outstanding considering he pulled a groin muscle in a baseball game the night before. They all finished the half with no problems. Deb and Amy were there and kept me going for what I could do. without them, it would have been a long night. I've decided to work on the marathons I have scheduled for the near future. No more ultras. Next year I'm going to run the half with the rest of my running partners.

EL SCORCHO TRES

Well, the day has come. We are in Ft Worth, waiting for our midnight race. No getting out of it. Have to get out there and knock it out. Just got word that AJ pulled a groin muscle in his softball game last night. But, he says it's nothing a few beers can't take care of. He's still going to try and gut out the 15 1/2 miles. Jimmy and Hollee are all set to go. The weather is calling for the 70s with low humidity. Hoping the rain holds off though. Well, it is time to try and grab a nap before we head out to Trinity Park. Got my pit crew (Deb and Amy) all psyched up. Got all the water, electrlytes, and snacks set to go. I'll let you know how it goes whenever I wake up tomorrow.

July

Ok, eight days into July and I've hit couple eight milers and a ten miler. We're a week and a half out from the El Scorcho. Temps in Ft Worth are breaking the 100 mark on a daily basis. Hopefully, with this run starting at midnight, it will be a lot cooler. Last year was 80s and humid. I'll still take that over 100+ temps. My cousin sent me some electrolyte strips. I'll have to get the name of them again but, they seem to work out great. A lot easier than the gels. Going to use them during El Scorcho. Will keep you posted.

June Totals

Well, for me, this was my best month of running so far this year. I hit just over 110miles for the month. Two and a half weeks out from El Scorcho. I'm feeliing a little more confident going into it. Hit a 7-miler today with the first 1.5 miles on some big @$$ hills. The El Scorcho course is mostly flat, with one small hill around the two mile point. Had a short sprinkle of rain prior to my run. So, the humidity was up a little more. Which is good, as it helps me get ready for the July run. After El Scorcho, there will be no rest for the Running Crazy. Need to go straight into training for the Columbus Marathon, which takes place in October. Will keep you posted with results and pictures after we finish. Got my favorite pit crew going with me (Deb and Amy). Should be fun!!!

20 miler

FINALLY!! I finished a 20 mile run on Sunday. kind of my own Father's Day gift to myself. Although I ran the whole thing on our treadmill, it gave me the confidence to know I can hit the long run goal. It was close to 100 degrees outside, with a heat index of 105. So, I'll take an inside run to that kind of humidity anyday. The temp in the exercise room was somewhat similar to an evening run in Texas. Just not as humid. Yes, i'm trying to justify my reasoning for running on the treadmill. :)

I did, however, get to watch quite a bit of Band of Brothers while I ran. So, now I am motivated to get into my run for El Scorcho. I did complete my run in 3 hrs 16 secs. So, I was able to better control my pace and get an idea of where I needed to be without burning myself out to quickly.

Feeling good and looking forward to my midnight run with our friends.

Four Weeks Out

Ok, we are four weeks out from El Scorcho now. Got in two good 8-mile runs this week. Between this week and next week's training, the decision to stick with the full ultra, or sink to the half, will be made. I'd like to stay with my original decision to run the full ultra. Don't want to keep making excuses and whimping out of my goals. Deb says she will support me in whatever decision I make but, it is a personal quest now. I need to stick with what I set out to do. I want to complete this and get my confidence backup. I have two more marathons planned for this year (Columbus and Wynne). After that, I want to work on a couple other marathons but, i want to throw some triathalons in there as well.

ANY MOTIVATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wynne Flat as a Pancake 5K

Ran the Wynne, Arkansas Flat as a Pancake 5K this morning. We survived all the rain storms, and tornadoes that came through on Friday. We were worried that the storms would cancel the race fro Saturday. But, it all held off so we could get it done. The race started at 8am. The humidity was growing as the we got closer to the start of the race. The start came and we were off. It was a relatively flat course. After the gun was fired, I started off in in a group out front. There was about six or seven of us. When we hit the first 1/2 mile, some of those fell back. I was running in third place. Hit the first mile in just under 7 minutes. But, that started to catch up with me. Around 1.6 miles, I was passed by two other runners. One male and one female. I kept them in sight for the rest of the race but, could never catch them. I held off the rest of the field and was able to finish fifth overall. I finished with a time of 23:04, a 7:27 pace. I'll take that. Tells me what I need to work on. And, it was the best I have ever placed, individually, in a race. I'm pleased but, want to do better next year. I will run it again when the time comes. Still working on El Scorcho Tres. :)