Hibernating Season Over

Front yard

Like a bear hibernating, it’s time to wake and train like an ultra-runner.  I have been maintaining a good weightlifting routine, and added back some muscle and strength that was abandoned from the last two years of hard running.  This also means I’m about 12 pounds heavier from my normal racing weight, but that will quickly go away when I get into some serious miles.  I’ve also been doing a lot of cross training on my CycleOps trainer for my road bike.  Not only does it train my legs, but it forces me to keep my balance in check.  The bike freely rides on three rollers with nothing to anchor the bike except pure balance.  All it takes is one second to lose focus and I’m on the ground wearing a bike.  Not a pretty site, and dangerous.  My professional cycling bud said he had his CycleOps in a hotel room while out of town on business, and his bike came off the rollers doing 25mph!  He tore himself up and the room (TV, counter, picture, window curtains,…).  I had to laugh!

Not me on the bike

 I’ve started ramping my base mileage up from 35 MPW, and will be shooting for over 100 MPW by May if everything stays intact.  Today I did a 20 mile long run and it felt like 40.  This normally (or not so normal) would have felt like an easy middle distant run, which reminded me how far I have in order to get where I need to be.  On a good note, I maintained an 8:20 mpm which surprised me when it felt like a 9:15 mpm effort during the run.  Maybe a little time off, and some cycling, has improved my turnover rate.  I have a long way to go, and a busy schedule this spring, but I love a good challenge to keep life at its best.  I also miss that tired feeling after a long run.  It just flushes your system out, use up that pent-up energy, brings on an appetite like never before, dissolves stress, and to sleep like a baby afterwards.

Josh with YakTrax on boots

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been giving the opportunity to try SofSole running products and my first impression is very good: Inserts are very supportive, light, and easy to use.  I’ve used them on all my runs without any issues.  They are also compatible with the more expensive brand, but for a fraction of the price.  The socks are well designed with comfort and performance in mind.  The bottom has a light pad where it is needed, and the top is a thin screen to allow air in to keep feet dry. I have used them on all my training runs, but have not put them to the ultra-test yet.  Time will tell. 

Got to love the yaktrax!  By coincidence, shortly after I received my shipment, I was talking with my Mom (in VT) and she mentioned she uses this thing called yaktrax when it’s icy outside, and it’s easy to use and works great (Mom tested and approved – Can’t go wrong).  I then told her I just received a pair, but will have to wait until I go to VT to try them.  And then it snowed in GA (and everywhere in the south) which gave me the opportunity to try them for a run.  WOW, mom was right.  My son also used them for sliding – He loved them.  The other kids where slipping all over the place while josh would run up the snowy hill with no problem.

Back to training!  I hope all is going great for my running family out in blog land.