2017 Recap and 2018 Plans

I know, I know, it's a bit cliche to recap your year.  Is it a brag or an honest look at how the year went?  I'm going to keep this an honest assessment of how my 2017 went.

2017 started out fast and furious and COLD.  I took most of Dec off to rest and relax, but come the first of the year, I had to get back to business.  Georgia Death Race (GDR) was 4 months out.  68ish (more like 74) miles of the north Georgia mountains.  I was still 'on vacation' while waiting for a job that fit my desires. My toughest challenge was to keep the mileage reasonable.  I was also trying to get some high intensity cycling training in.  By the end of Jan, I realized that I was over-doing it.  My heart rate would not get up past 130, despite how hard I tried.  I took a few days off to regroup and decided to stop the cycling classes.

ORRRC has a 1/2 marathon on the first weekend of the year.  in 2016, we were in shorts and tees, this year it never reached double digits.  That was a cold run.

Photo Credit: Event Photos by Tracy

2017 included lots of adventure running.  Geoff and I went down to Red River Gorge one day, only to be foiled by the rain and high rivers.  Later in March, the rains prevented me from running a 29 mile trek at Zaleski State Park, but I found another gem at Tar Hollow SP.  In Dec, I finally went to Zaleski with Nathan and had a great day.  I ran a fast trail marathon in Richmond IN.  I spent a week camping in Utah running the Bear course with Steve. A group of us did some miles in Red River Gorge in August for my birthday.

In February, we had a break in the weather and were able to fly to the training camp for GDR.  We even got a bonus round of golf.  The camp was great, as I was able to see the first and last 10+ miles of the course.  It came in handy at 1 am going down the AT approach and knew what to expect.

Photo Credit:  Rum Bum

I started working in March.  Part time Test Manager for a program on the F-15.  I was back in my comfort zone!  While, like any job, it has some frustrations, I love the people and mission.

GDR was a challenge.  While I finished below my goal time (and got my Western States ticket), I also suffered from severe nausea for about 30 miles of the race.  It was time to go back to the drawing board on nutrition. Tailwind, while it seemed to be a good idea, didn't agree with me in the heat.  I also realized that I needed to carry Tums to help settle my tummy.

I took a two month hiatus to run freely and have fun.  In June, I started with Carmichael Training Systems for coaching to get me to the Bear 100, my first attempt at this distance.  While I may have been successful without coaching, having Corrine there to plan my workouts and give me a confidence boost when needed was the perfect thing for me to do.  She even got me to enjoy speed work!  I did nutrition testing with Dina Griffin and eNRG Performance to help me identify sources of my nutrition issues.

In late July, I flew down to Arkansas to visit with Carrie, who I consider a mentor in this silly sport.  We ran a hot (it was in the 90's with 90% humidity) 50k night race.  While I had changed sports drink and gels to Spring Energy, I still had a few issues with my tummy.  I learned that although watermelon sounds great when hot, it doesn't do well with me during races.  Carrie kicked my ass that night as we cruised to a sub 6 hour finish.

Two weeks later, after running ~50 miles of the Bear course (maybe 80 total with out/backs), I ran the most challenging and beautiful 50k I've done at El Vaquero Loco in Afton WY.  We hit 10k elevation four times on the course.  I ran that with a smile, enjoying the beauty of the course and the day.

Unfortunately, shortly after this trip, I did something to my right calf.  I couldn't run without pain.  I took a few days off and things were feeling better.  For a few weeks: approximately 3 weeks before Bear, it was in agony again.  I could barely walk.  I even skipped running the Air Force 1/2 marathon in September.  I needed to get better.  I had massages, acupuncture and taping. Mark and I went to Rock Creek Cattle Company in Montana to play golf and relax.  In the end it worked!  I finished the Bear just under my goal time. While I had other issues, this was the best race I have ever had with nutrition.

I volunteered at a few ultras, to include co-race directing the Broken Toe 50k with Nettie.  While we had a few issues with the new course, it was well received by all.

Photo Credit:  Event Photos by Tracy

To finish the year, I ran a ~12 mile trail race at John Bryan State Park.  It started out raining, but slowly turned to snow.  It was magical!

Photo Credit:  Event Photos by Tracy

So what did I learn this year: I have a lot more strength than I ever imagined.  I can do anything I set my mind to.

So this blog is titled "Flying Down the Trails'.  We didn't get to fly as much this year as we would normally.  I had originally planned to fly to UT for the Bear training run.  However a few weeks earlier, we noted that 28GM was burning quite a bit more oil than normal.  Oh-oh.  Time for that long anticipated engine over-haul.  While we expected it to take 6-8 weeks, it was more like 16 weeks, which put us into the winter and craziness of the Ohio weather.  As I type this, we just returned from a long, long drive to FL for some golf.

A quick recap (since I don't always wear a watch, this is approximate):
Total Miles: 2056
Elevation Gain: +250k
Average Weekly Mileage: 38.8
Average hours per week: 8:09

So what does 2018 bring for me...more challenges and fun!

I do want to fly more and continue to play as much golf as I can.  However, weather always plays a factor in this. In addition, I have a balancing act with golf and my newest endeavor.  In Feb, I start a Master's of Fine Arts in Photography.  I am so excited to finally be doing this!

My race plans as I see them right now:
Feb: Mt  Mitchell Challenge (40 miles)
Apr: Big Turtle 50 miler
May:  Western States Training Camp
Jun: Western States 100 miler
Oct:  Feral Hog 50k
Nov: Shawnee Trail Run (50 miler)

There will also be many adventure runs and lots of fun!  Corrine has her hands full!

So my friends, to wrap this up.  Best wishes to you on all the adventures you endeavor in 2018.

God Bless

Lori

Zalseki, Lotteries, FOMO and 2018 plans...

It's been a while since I posted. As I noted in my last post (maybe I should post a bit more often?), I was in scheming mode.  I had a million webpages open looking for my perfect race for 2018. 

I had found it, researched it and even signed up for it.  High Lonesome 100 in Salida CO.  25K feet of climbing at an average elevation of over 11k.  Yikes!  It is small, only 100 runners (started out as 75, but they were able to open a few more slots).  I woke up early on the morning of registration and was ecstatic to find that it hadn't sold out.  I was in, hotel reserved and planning in full force for a training run.

Then the pesky lotteries...I had one ticket to each Western States 100 and Hardrock 100.  My chances were slim, so while I knew there was a chance, I didn't pay much attention.  I'd figure it out if (and when) my name was called.  I will admit, however, that I did wear my buckle from Bear to work the day before as good luck.

First, however, I had to start training again.  So Corrine got back to work to whip me in shape.  The worst so far an speed workout.  I called it the "longest 1.5 mins of my life, followed by the shortest 1.5 mins."  multiply that by 10...

On 2 Dec, I arranged an 'adventure' run down to Zaleski State Forest.  There is a big ~29 mile loop there.  What a great way to spend the day on new trails and hopefully with friends.  Given the timing, only Nathan was able to join me, but we had a blast.  We somehow managed to cross the trail and add a few extra miles for an even 50k.  Temps started out cold, but warmed up nicely (at least until the sun started going down). 

The trails were pleasantly runnable.  At times, it was hard to find the orange markings on trees and we managed to cross trails and double back on ourselves once, but a great outing non-the-less.  There were a few nice overlooks and lakes as well as rock out-croppings and an old furnace:

Somewhere along the route, Nathan's cell phone received a text message from his wife Jordan.  It was one of those rare spots that we had coverage.  She was watching the lotteries and my name was selected for WSER!  Wow I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  The odds were not in my favor, but  I was going to Squaw in Jun. 

I have spent the last 2 weeks digesting this news and weighing my options.  I really wanted run both WSER and High Lonesome (HL), and while I know I can do it, is it the right thing to do?  It's just that I have a minor case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).  I don't want to miss out on HL.  It looks spectacular and my kind of race.  (not saying that WSER isn't, it's just a different race with the history and lore).

I'm sure many out there would say do both, but I decided otherwise.  I want to give both races the respect they deserve.  If I keep both on my schedule, then I'd go to WSER thinking I just want to survive so I can move to HL.  Then getting to HL, all I'd want to do is survive.  That's not me.  I want to give my all. That means I'll come away not only physically exhausted, but mentally as well.  It usually takes me a good 4-6 weeks to recover mentally. 

So wrapping up my thoughts: last night I sent an email to the HL race director asking for deferment to 2019.  It's the right thing to do.  I've also made myself a promise that I am not going to put in for lotteries and keep HL as my only big race of 2019.  I have also filled out the volunteer info sheet for them, so I am still going to go in 2018 and be apart of the race, but to support the runners.  In addition, by making this choice earlier, it allows someone on the waitlist to plan for their summer.

Now for WSER planning.  I only have one race on my calendar between now and then:  Mt Mitchell Challenge in Feb.  I am looking for another 50 mile/50k in April to give me another tune-up race, but that's it.  I am planning on going to the WSER training runs over Memorial Day weekend to get a feel for the last 70 miles of the course.  I know how much that helped me with Bear and every other race I've done.  I've got a long way till that track at Placer High School on 24 Jun, but it's a trail that I'm excited to be given the opportunity to run.