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