Cardio killer and Salty Bacon Sanwiches...mmmmm

I was thinking tonight half way through my cardio session that it is Friday night, and I am not out doing something else. Like eating a huge Steak or Wings.
What the hell was I thinking? This was the moment, this was the time for me to kick it in gear and get ready for 2008. No more eating stuff like that. I am on a mission.
I think I was craving steak because I was working so hard and burning so many calories and probably a little muscle (which it isn't good to burn muscle).
I used to crave Salty Bacon Sandwiches during marathons and other long runs.
I got the idea once when I read that British runners eat Bacon Sandwiches after marathons. Damn that sounds good right now.
American's eat something but I cannot remember exactly what it was. Burgers? Pizza? not sure.
All I could think about was my British roots and Salty Bacon Sandwiches!!!!!

One time when I was running a 21 miler with Kim Love-Ottobre and Tanya Senne at Mohican, I was thinking about the Mushroom and Swiss Angus Burger from McDonalds. At the time they had just brought them out since Columbus is a Test Market for new products. Those burgers were made by the Devil himself. I once ate two in one day.
I used to be on a Chipotle kick for a while.

Anyway, back to my run. I went to the gym tonight to run and work out.
I started my workout with a warm-up of 5 minutes of jump rope, then hit the Stairmaster for 30 minutes, then jumped on the treadmill for another 30 minutes. I was wiped out when I was done.
I need to rest up for Mohican on Sunday. I cannot wait. It is just what I am looking for.


Totals: 3.05 miles........ Time: 29:05......... Pace 9:32

Hamster Wheel tonight...

I decided to go out to the gym tonight to work out and run. It seems someone has built a bonfire under my ass, and has been stoking it. I have been thinking about Buckeye Trail 50k coming up. I will be lucky to make it through comfortably.
I was doing what I do best on the treadmill or while running, is to : think.
I think about all kinds of things while running. I was thinking about my future goals be it running or whatever.
It seems that my goals for the first year of running Ultras will be to just experience the distances. In 2009 I will try to set some PR's.
I believe with my current focus, I will overcome my chronic injuries, and be able to run as much as I want.
I have another goal for 2008 and that is to shed about 20 lbs. I know this will be tough, but I have been there before, and I know I can do it. I want to do this by the end of March.

Totals: 6.02 Miles.......... Time: 57:26.......... Pace: 9:32

Quick Treadmill Tempo Run

I had a dinner party to go to tonight, so off to the gym for a quick treadmill run. I was planning a 6 miler, but before I started, I decided to warm up by doing 5-1 minute intervals of jump rope.
After I was done with jumping rope, I developed a migraine. I don't think it was a true migraine. I went to the Sauna, and sat in 160 degree heat for about 15 minutes. After that, I felt great and decided to go for my run. By this time, it was fast approaching 4:30. I felt great the entire run and had no heart rate spikes.

Totals: 3 Miles Time: 27:23 Pace: 9:08

Mohican....Partial Orange Loop

Proof I was there:

Yes, I have tights on.




I went to Mohican today as I was in desperate need of a long(er) run. Longer than what I have been doing lately.
I parked at Campground "A" as I knew I would not be done until after dark.
I took my headlamp since I knew it would get dark in the woods way before it was time.
I started off, and the first thing I noticed, was that no one had been out there at all. I guess people think it is too cold or something. Or possibly, they are smarter than I am.
As I finished up the North Rim trail, and started on the Hemlock Gorge Trail, I noticed I was ever so slowly being surrounded by water. Even though I knew about where the trail was, I decided to just make my own to save time from looking for it. I think in the end, I was really on the trail, just never could confirm it. The trail in that part was flooded from the river, but runnable if you didn't mind getting wet. It was only 24 degrees out!
Anyway, I had my Rocky Boots Goretex sock liners on which helped a lot. At least I never got wet.
I started to think about running the rest of the Orange loop as it was already 3:30. The trail up till now was hard to find. I thought maybe it would be better if I didn't run the rest of the Orange Loop since there was a potential for me to get lost if the trail was snowed over and it was getting dark. I played it safe and decided to run up the Bill Hill to the shelter then down the road to CR 3006. I turned around there and headed back towards the Covered Bridge. Once there, I decided to run up the hill towards Bridle Staging, and then turned around to reconnect back with the Hemlock Gorge Trail.




I took some pictures of the waterfalls on the way through the first time. I just had to stop on the way back and listen to the water rushing down.
As I headed back towards Campground "A", I stopped one of the Rangers and told him I was parked in the parking lot, and that I was almost done. He was cool with it, and I headed down the road to finish out 14 miles.
The snow really made it a difficult run today. I walked a lot as it was just too difficult to keep a steady pace. It was great to get out there and just run in the snow.

Totals: 14 miles Time: 2:47:52 Pace: slow as dirt

Rebuilding

A quick trip to the gym tonight. Felt better than last night, but still seemed to be a little exhausting towards the end.


Totals: 3.01 miles Time: 28:44 Pace: 9:33/mile

Slowly back at it

I went to the gym last night to do a little workout and run.
After finishing my workout, I jumped onto the treadmill, and started running. It felt pretty good at first, but soon it gave way to pain in my stomach.
I only ended up with 2 miles. After that I went and sat in the Sauna for about 20 minutes trying to sweat out this bad feeling.

Totals: 2 Miles Time: 18:56 Pace: 9:28

Bad week....

Sorry for the absence. I got really sick on Friday, and have been feeling the effects up until now. At first I thought I had food poisoning. It turns out I believe I caught a 48 hr virus going around. My manager said he knew of a lot of people who caught the same thing.
Anyway, I was going to go to the gym tonight and run, but, I had no energy at all. I will try and make an effort tomorrow as I need to get myself in gear.
I feel as if I am spinning my wheels and making no headway in my training.