Time to round ‘em up and head to Texas!
It’s time to head to Texas for the Rocky Raccoon 100 in 3 days, so I figured it was time to write something new on this site/blog. Life is good right now….in fact, life is always good. It’s already 1 weeks into 2009 and the season is getting underway. I’m sure, like most runners, January is dedicated to getting back into the swing of things. I do a number of what I like to call “for the love of it” runs, focusing less on pace and more on simply enjoying being out there. For most of January, I spent Saturday morning/early afternoon enjoying the trails of the Marin Headlands and Mt. Tamalpais area. On a couple of the runs, the idea was to keep approximately the same pace I wanted to run at RR. On another one of the runs, I was just out there to enjoy nature and getting a gang-load of miles. My runs went 32, 42, 30 and 30 miles respectively.
I reduced my running workload, with tempo runs thrown in, during the week so that I would go into each of these long runs with a little bit of a fresher body. It really helped and the times/mileage for those long training runs is a nice confidence boost going into the race on Saturday. My weekly mileages in January peaked at 85. While my mileage this week should top 130 (with the race on Saturday included), I plan on focusing this week as well as the following 2 weeks on intense speed/tempo training with 80 mile weeks in the cue to get primed for the Napa Marathon.
As far as the race on Saturday is concerned, I have probably the same worries as everyone else. As always, the biggest concern will be nausea induced by electrolyte imbalance and/or dehydration. One reason why I focused on making sure I got those long runs in, especially that 42 miler, was to come into this race with a measure of confidence in my hydration and fueling strategy. During most of those runs, I mixed in GU and eGel(Crank) with trail mix and bananas. One of the reasons my run at Mother Road 100 in November was going so well was probably due to using almost all solid foods. While this course doesn’t lend itself to the easy exchange of supplies possible at Mother Road (which was an open road race with a small trail section), I do plan on going to the Costco and picking up a bunch of bananas, trail mix packs, and mini-chip packages.
During the race, I plan on quicker first loop with the slowest being loops 2 &3. After that, I’m just hoping I have enough in the tank to take to get around/close to first lap time for the rest of the race. While I’m flexible on this depending on how I feel, this is definitely how I think it’ll shake out best. The goal is sub-17 with flexibility to go down further if its warranted or adjust up if necessary. As always, I’ll constantly evaluate where I’m at and go from there.
Of the other competitors, I’m probably most excited to see Jamie Donaldson again. Having raced with her twice at Badwater, it’ll be nice to see her out on the trails. She’s definitely a dynamic racer who races in the mold of a Scott Jurek, patient and deliberate in her approach to a race. Her race this past year at Badwater was eerily reminiscent of Scott’s 2005 Badwater, finally moving into 1st position with 1/3 of the race left to go. That patient approach is what is so hard to come by, particularly in a race like Rocky which almost lures you in to the “go for broke from the start” mentality.
I met her for the first time prior to the 07’ Badwater and was pretty shocked that she had seen the Google video of my team’s race in 2006. Sometimes when you post things there or on YouTube, you automatically assume that no one really looks at that stuff. Of course, she ended up become an internet ultrarunning phenomenon not only because of her talent, but also her perserverance in the 07’ race to continue up the Mt. Whitney portal climb with debilitating shin spints. It’s that commitment and perservering spirit that we all strive for in this sport and makes it pleasure to see her wherever our paths may cross.
I'm still figuring out the fundraising program and how that's going to work, but when I get it together, I'll be sure to post all about it both here and at my website. I’m pretty excited about this race to set the year off on the right foot, literally and figuratively. I’m sure that echoes the thoughts of most people when it comes to that first race of 09’. It’s time to pack up, toe the line and get moving. Time to let it ride….
God bless,
Gundy
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
2009: New Year and New Challenges
Hello, 2009!
Wow, I can’t believe it’s a new year. I’m pretty excited going in to this year considering how 2008 ended. I’ve been giving my body a chance to recoup while spending time both in the gym and out on the trail. I did a 50k at Rodeo Beach at about 70% at the end of December as a training run to get myself jump started for training for 09’. Overall, I’m primed and ready to go. I set a few goals/resolutions for 09’ which include the following:
1) Raise $18,000 for development programs with WHM in Uganda
2) Run sub-30 hours at Badwater (if accepted)
3) Get weight down to 169 lb. by the Napa Marathon and maintain that weight
4) Run sub-2:50 marathon by the end of 09’
5) Run sub-18 hours 100 miler
6) Finish top 5 at a 100 miler
Some of them are probably easier than others, but I’m not afraid to put it out there and let it ride. I’m not afraid to fail and realize success is never guaranteed. However, considering what a good ending to 08’ with Mother Road 100 and CIM, I feel really good going into 09’. I hope to go out there and exceed my expectations for myself. I’m trying to stay away from the “A” goal, “B” goal and “C” goal stuff, because I find that for me, if I get too caught up in it I sometimes settle for less than I should. I know the “top x” goals are more dependent on who’s running and how they’re running, but since I hate to nail in on an exact time right now, they correspond to about the goal times I’m looking at. Placing is one of those things takes care of itself as long as I take care of the running part. While I’d love to far exceed those goals and I train with targets beyond those goals, they represent excellent physical, mental and spiritual tests. Of course, the most important goal is always listed at #1. Here’s to all of us going far beyond our expectations in all the areas of our life in 2009 and to the people and things that God has placed in our lives to help us get there.
God bless,
Gundy
Wow, I can’t believe it’s a new year. I’m pretty excited going in to this year considering how 2008 ended. I’ve been giving my body a chance to recoup while spending time both in the gym and out on the trail. I did a 50k at Rodeo Beach at about 70% at the end of December as a training run to get myself jump started for training for 09’. Overall, I’m primed and ready to go. I set a few goals/resolutions for 09’ which include the following:
1) Raise $18,000 for development programs with WHM in Uganda
2) Run sub-30 hours at Badwater (if accepted)
3) Get weight down to 169 lb. by the Napa Marathon and maintain that weight
4) Run sub-2:50 marathon by the end of 09’
5) Run sub-18 hours 100 miler
6) Finish top 5 at a 100 miler
Some of them are probably easier than others, but I’m not afraid to put it out there and let it ride. I’m not afraid to fail and realize success is never guaranteed. However, considering what a good ending to 08’ with Mother Road 100 and CIM, I feel really good going into 09’. I hope to go out there and exceed my expectations for myself. I’m trying to stay away from the “A” goal, “B” goal and “C” goal stuff, because I find that for me, if I get too caught up in it I sometimes settle for less than I should. I know the “top x” goals are more dependent on who’s running and how they’re running, but since I hate to nail in on an exact time right now, they correspond to about the goal times I’m looking at. Placing is one of those things takes care of itself as long as I take care of the running part. While I’d love to far exceed those goals and I train with targets beyond those goals, they represent excellent physical, mental and spiritual tests. Of course, the most important goal is always listed at #1. Here’s to all of us going far beyond our expectations in all the areas of our life in 2009 and to the people and things that God has placed in our lives to help us get there.
God bless,
Gundy
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