Mohican Fun Run - Short version

I am wearing the Sweetest Shirt this side of the Mohican River........

I went out to Mohican today since I was a sorry ass on Sunday and over slept. I really needed to get some miles in and today was "No Excuse Day".

My original plan was to get in at least 38-40 miles. I wanted to run the Red/Green, Orange, and Purple Loops.

I was feeling awesome at the start and decided to just take it easy and enjoy the nippy cold air and the quietness of the Mohican Wilderness. I can tell you the temps have dropped here almost to a Fall like feel. At the first water crossing, I let out a "Whoa that's COLD"!

After a while, I decided to turn up my pace a bit. If any of you have ran this loop, you know it typically takes you longer to run 21 miles on it versus 21 on the road or any other trail for that matter. Typically around 5 hours is what to expect. I think the last time, we ran it in 5.5 hours. I ended up running the entire loop in 4 1/2 hours. I shaved an entire hour......down to the minute off my previous time around this trail. I decided to hit the Orange trail and run it backwards, but somewhere around mile 25, I decided I wasn't going to have enough time to do the distance, get back home, and get some sleep before work. I never want to start work tired. Alertness is key for my job.

Anyway, I cut the run short and ran around the campground to get in exactly 31 miles. I'll take it. This should help me with Dances With Dirt...coming up.

Purdy New Shoes and some New Camo Gaiters about to get some mud.

On a side note, yesterday I bought a pair of Brooks Cascadia version 4. These shoes freakin ROCK. Out of the box I slam 31 miles on them. My feet had no blisters at all. The shoes felt great, but I will need a few more miles on them to call the "Broken In". I'll periodically put up a review on them, but so far, they are awesome.

Totals: 31 miles - Trail: 6 hours 20 minutes....I think this is a non-race PR for me at a 50k.......

Slackin again -on the blog

I've been working out just not posting anything. I've been lazy about adding up my mileage and everything. Sometimes I want to just train and not keep track of it. I hate having my running/lifting logs. I have no CrossFit Log as I simply want to use my races as a gauge for my training.

I've mainly been running on my Treadmill. I think it's been a convenience thing plus, I can train in the heat of my Garage. I like using the treadmill to help keep the legs turning over and it is nice to force yourself into a Tempo run at the push of a button. Plus, the kegerator is close by....for water that is.

Tonight I finally went to CrossFit after a week and a half. I simply cannot make it on time and have been just working out/running at home.

After CrossFit, I decided to do a Tabata Run. I love/hate these.

Try them. They are different, and are definitely not fun. At the same time, suck it up and do them sure beats a 5 mile tempo run.

Tabata: 20 seconds of work, followed by 10 seconds of rest, 8 Rounds - which is 4 minutes.

Turn your treadmill up as high as you can stand it, set a clock...and GO!

I have about 2 1/2 weeks left for Dances with Dirt. I am not looking forward to this at all. If I do decide to run the 50 miler, I think it will be used as a training run and not "raced". Those of you that know me, I am not a racer anyway, so...I guess they all are training runs.

CrossFit:

Warm up: 30 Squats, 30 KB Swings (53lb KB), 30 Push Ups, 20 Roll Overs

Skill: Pendlay Rows 5x5 (135 lbs)

WOD:
50 Mountain Climbers
40 Flutter Kicks
30 KB High Swings
20 Box Jumps
10 KB Lunges
20 Box Jumps
30 KB High Swings
40 Flutter Kicks
50 Mountain Climbers

My time: 9:03

TreadKill Workout

Another TreadKill workout tonight as I am trying to work on getting my legs to remember what it was like to run at non trail running speed. Meaning, I need to speed it up a little.
If you're a trail runner like me, you'll notice that you're not as fast as you are on the road. Now, this is an obvious observation, but it seems when I go back to road or treadmill running, I am still as slow as when I am running on trail. -Not a good thing.
I've never claimed to be fast, with the exception of when I was younger, a lot younger. When I was in Elementary, Middle School and even in High School, I was hard to beat at short distances.
You shoulda seen my sisters trying to catch me to beat the hell out of me for something I did. They couldn't catch me......until later when I had forgotten all about them chasing me. Wham!

My 8th grade year, I believe my 400m PR was around 53-54 seconds. I wished I could go back and see my stats for when I ran.
Fast forward to now, and I am slow as dirt. Who cares. Actually, In reality I do care 'cause I really don't want to come in Dead Last in a race.

I've skipped all my CrossFit workouts this week for some reason or another. Mainly busy stuff, and running. I may go tomorrow, who knows.
Anyway, I'm still planing my Javelina Race and California Trip in October/November. I don't want to wish away time, but I freakin cannot wait.
I'm hoping to get a little running in on the beach. I decided to camp out on the beach for 4 days and just relax. Hopefully, I'll be sore as hell, drinking a beer and smiling from ear to ear from my Javelina finish.

Treadkill workout: 5 Miles total:
Mile 1: Warm up: 10:48
Mile 2: 8:46
Mile 3: 8:46
Mile 4: 8:34
Mile 5: Cool Down: 9:39

Treadmill Run tonight

50 minutes.....easy

5 miles

20 miles on 20 gallons

Yesterday was Brew Day once again.

In my world, Brew Day can trump any previous day I've had that week. I brewed with my brew club, actually, it was just Patrick and I. We both love Belgian Beer, and decided to brew a Witbier.

This Witbier was to be brewed using techniques barely known by most homebrewers. I won't go into details, but we used a type of Mashing process called Turbid Mashing. You can see in a couple of the pictures during our first Turbid Mash runnings, we got this milky white Wort from the grain.

It is a lengthy Mash schedule, but I would gamble to say it will turn out to be some incredible beer. Patrick really knows his stuff, and it is from him that I learned to do All Grain Brewing.

We ended up with about 20 gallons. Check out the Link to the pictures: BREW DAY!

Today, like a crazy fool, I decided to go out and run 20 miles, all on road, in the heat of the day.

I paid dearly for it. My heart rate was high as it typically is when it's hot outside. I walked a little more than I wanted to, but it was just to get fluids in me and to keep moving.

I needed to do this to help me get ready for Javelina. It probably won't be as hot in October/November out there, but I want to be prepared.

You'll see me posting more on my heat training in weeks to come. I plan on running in my garage on my treadmill with the door shut for extra heat. It gets so hot in there.

I plan on some more crazy "training" so stay tuned. Just when you thought I was nuts.......it's gonna get more interesting.

Yesterday's 20 miler

I didn't have much time to post this as I was busy planning my work night. Sorry, no pictures. I traveled lightweight yesterday.
My plan was to work outside by my fire pit and watch the Perseid's Meteor Showers.
I had a blast watching for them while taking small breaks from work. Every time, I would look up for a minute or two at a time and would see at least one.
The meteors shot across the sky in various colors ranging from bright greens, blues, to oranges and yellows.

I went out for a run last night not knowing the exact distance I was going to run. I knew I was at least going to run a half marathon distance to maybe 15 miles. I ended up with 20 miles all on road.
Today, I am so sore. Much more sore than when we ran 21 miles this past Sunday on Trail. I hate road running, but it must be done.

Anyway, not much going on the next couple of days. I am brewing with my Brew Club tomorrow. Maybe I'll post some stuff about that.

Totals: 20 Miles

......and we Pay to do this to ourselves?

Sometimes I wonder why we do it. More specifically, why I do it to myself. I guess I am a glutton for punishment and a glutton for Chocolate Pie.
Today, I noticed I was whipped from the workout from the day before. I need to do it, otherwise, I will suffer later in my crazy quests for adventure.

This goes along with races. Why do we pay the exorbitant amount of money for entry fees, travel expenses, gear, etc?????
If you are like me you like the adventure. Some people are competitive about races. Myself, I really could care less. I think for me, it is about the adventure and seeing how far I can push myself. In the sport that I do, I am very self centered. The exact opposite of who I really am when I'm not out running, cycling, CrossFitting or whatever.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the punishing workouts that are handed down to us. They build character. Right?
I guess that's why I Pay to do this to myself:

Warm up:
1 Mile Run
30 OHS (Overhead Squats)
20 K2E's (Knees to Elbows)
10 Pull Ups

Skill: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 - Power Cleans

WOD:
50 Burpees
50 Squats
50 Push Ups
50 Pull Ups (Assisted with Pull Up band)
1 Mile Run

My time: 23:05

Just when you get comfortable.....

Yep, you got it. I went to CrossFit today thinking I'd wing it and then be ready to go out and ride 20-30 miles on my bike as I had planned. Wrong.

I knew something was up when Tonya wrote down the Warm up, and she said "I thought I'd take it easy on you guys during the warm up". Not sure what she was talking about 'cause the damn warm up was hard.

Typically the Skill isn't all that bad. It about learning correct form and concentrating on quality not quantity.

We had to use the rower and row 3 sets and the best average time won. For some reason we had problems with our rower and we weren't able to get an accurate number on my 1st and 3rd set.

I think the first set was about 1:45. The second was correct at 1:50, and the 3rd I think was about 1:50. After all the sets, I nearly passed out from lack of oxygen. I was toast. -Sweet!

After the Skill, we were all thinking maybe they'll feel bad for us and let us skip the WOD. Wrong.

When Tonya wrote on the board: 21-15-9, we knew it was gonna suck and by that I mean: Fran.

Fran is the kind of workout that makes you nearly blackout. during the entire rowing skill, all we saw were those numbers. We had no idea what it would really be.

After the row session, I really wanted to be done. No more. I couldn't take it. The humidity was bad and this isn't an air conditioned pansy ass gym either. It smells of steel, rubber tires and sweat. -Awesome.

When we learned of the WOD, I really wanted a catastrophic event to occur so we wouldn't have to start the work out. It didn't happen. AS I stood there at my station looking at that Barbell, the only thing I could do was tell myself Suck it up. It's workouts like this that will make your body change.

My time: 15:38

On a side note, my shoulder is toast. I think I'll be calling and Ortho to have it looked at and possibly some surgery after Javelina in November. There are so many people with shoulder problems anymore that is almost common. This is regardless if you workout or you don't.

After Rogue, I decided no more. I was done for the day. Instead, I took my pup swimming. See video below. Sorry for the wind. A Storm was rolling through.

What an awesome freakin weekend!!!!!! (Beer)

The week hadn't gone that great for me from the start. I'll spare the details, but going into this weekend I wasn't so sure about how it would play out. I told Luca that him and I would go up to Mohican on Sunday and run 21 miles on trail. I was fighting a cold and wasn't sure this would be possible.
I told a friend of mine (Bret) that I would be brewing a huge batch of Beer on Saturday with him. I knew this would be possible as there was no running involved. The last time I brewed, I had a lot of problems that resulted in a lot of frustration. One reason being that I was brewed that batch alone.
I woke up really late on Saturday and called Bret to head on over. He brought his little Beagle over and my pups and his was worn out by the end of the day.

Regarding the brew, I was a little nervous as I have never brewed a batch this big before on my own. I was really counting on him to help us through this batch. Turns out, he was a huge help and we ended up with no problems at all. We ended up with 12.5 gallons of Honey Kolsch........SWEET! Best of all he really like the previous batch of Honey Kolsch I brewed. That's always a plus.

After the brew day, I gathered all my gear I needed in order to get ready for the run on Sunday. By this time I felt that my cold was gonna be held off and that I could just wing this run.
I've ran up there sicker than this and got through with no problems. I knew going into this that the day would be hot. (Don't laugh, but we were supposed to hit 90 degrees today)
I chatted online with Rob P. and Michelle B. and learned that Don, and Terri Lemke would join us for the run. Awesome!

Here is a picture of Luca (aka: Funny man) and I in the first 5 miles or so of the run.

I was slightly nervous as Terri is super fast and Don is a machine of the trails.
Mine and Luca's plans were to chill out and take it easy. -We did.

We started off at 7:30 on the Red/Green trails. The humidity was creeping up but I didn't notice really until it was too late. About mile 10 I was nearly exhausted. I was wondering what was going on. The heat wasn't too bad as most of the trail is shaded, but that humidity was eating away at us and I didn't even put 2 and 2 together.

Terri and Don were fed up with Luca and I slowing them down so they shot off like lightening.
I don't blame them, I would have left us too!
Luca and I came upon a stream crossing and I had the bright idea to start running up stream through the water. The splashing around felt so good and I didn't want it to end.

Fast forward to about mile 17, we find Don laying down on a gravel mound resting. He ended up getting light headed from the heat and thought he'd send Terri on her way to finish up her run and just wait for us to slog up the trail.

After a few minutes, we wondered up the trail in disbelief that the heat had done so much damage to all of us.
After we got back to the covered bridge, Terri was already back there wondering what the hell happend to us. She beat all of our asses! Luca and I headed straight to the Mohican River. We had been talking about it during the run about going up to the lake for a swim. We also talked about cold......Beer!, and pizza. Luca was killing me all day talking about Italian cooking and even brought along some Tuscan style flat bread that he cut up in small bites for us to munch on during the run. It was awesome. Rewind to a few hours earlier, he had made me a cup of coffee Italian style. Again, awesome. Fast forward back to the talk of......Beer! We couldn't stop talking about beer. We were thirsty and needed......Beer!

Okay...back to the River.....I went on down to the river and found Luca in the water just soaking it up. I promptly joined him. You would have thought we were Kings....Kings without......Beer!
After the much needed soak, Don offered us a beer at his house and we were quick to accept the invitation.
Don, you're a life saver. I am not sure Luca and I could have made it back to Columbus without stopping somewhere for a .......Beer!
The weekend turned out great. This run today made me realize I need to suck it up and do more heat training for my run in Arizona. What an awesome weekend. All these guys are awesome and I look forward to many more runs with them.

Good Ride, Good Beer with Good Friends

Yesterday I went on a ride with Luca, whom I met during the Mohican 50k back a few month's ago. We were pretty much running the entire time together back and forth throughout the entire race. Him and another guy kept me entertained for miles.
Well, fast forward to now. We finally met up for a ride out in the country. I told him it would be very quiet in terms of traffic and noise. This was not the case. There were a ton of cars. I couldn't believe it. Needless to say we had no incidents and made it back safe.
One thing is for sure, he killed me on this ride and I don't think he was trying. So funny.
It was a great workout and I needed to be pushed.
Maybe I was so tired from the CrossFit workout I did prior to the ride. Who knows.
Afterward, we sat at my kitchen table and drank a few home brews and relaxed.
What a great way to start the week.

Totals: 32 miles road bike
CrossFit WOD:

Warm up: 800m run, 50 KB swings (45lbs)
Skill: 5x5 Front Squats
WOD: 100 push Ups, 2000m Row, 100 Squats