Red Mosquito

Treadmilled again this morning. 25 minute run, 6% incline and 10:00 pace. My goal is a little faster and/or a little longer each run. Maybe a trail run tomorrow, if not some treadmilling.

My running has continued to be total horse shit. I've been working 12-hour days in LA two days a week, then mentally and physically recovering the rest of the week. I did enjoy a beach run last week when I had to drive down to Oceanside. I may try to hit that Sullivan Canyon run when I return in January, oasisfan.

I'm gonna run everyday of my 9-day Christmas break and I'd like to do a 20-miler on X-mas day.

turned2black wrote:My running has continued to be total horse shit. I've been working 12-hour days in LA two days a week, then mentally and physically recovering the rest of the week. I did enjoy a beach run last week when I had to drive down to Oceanside. I may try to hit that Sullivan Canyon run when I return in January, oasisfan.

I'm gonna run everyday of my 9-day Christmas break and I'd like to do a 20-miler on X-mas day.

Good luck man, enjoy the holidays.

Between running from the train and dog walk/jogs, I'm logging around thirty miles before any actual training runs M-F. I added cycling on the trainer for some off days but hope to really put together a solid schedule over the holidays. My legs were pretty much toast by the end of last week but they're getting stronger.

Right now I have Charlottesville marked as just the half but time will tell if I can get some solid long run training in.

Finding it hard to find the time. Just so much needs to get done this time of year. Got a treadmill session in this morning. 30 minute run, 5.5% incline and 9:40 pace. Have had to change the incline every minute, was back tightness issues and that was the suggestion. Seems to have worked.
Goal is to run every second day during my upcoming eleven day break from work. With some dedication I think I can work this up to 45 minutes before heading back to work.

t2b, did you mention 'The Kid' in this or some other thread? I hadn't known who he was before but I got to this article in RW and felt it a helluva story. Given the year I've had, I'm looking at running a bit differently over this holiday season and planning a lot of good miles in 2015.

Yeah, I probably mention him before. He and his father are PHX ultrarunning legends. He was winning ultras as a teen, while his dad was winning his age group. I spent a couple of hours with James in my last 24-hour race. He's a great guy. His father took a beating in the local press for "allowing" his kid to run ultras, which was fucking ridiculous to me because you could watch James run for 30 seconds and see he was born to run.

He won the race I'm doing in April last year. Pretty sure he has plans for Western States (the Super bowl of ultrarunning) next year and he'll be among the favorites.

This is one of several recent articles that features the PHX ultra community. We are probably the ultra capital of the U.S. right now, which is pretty fucking cool.

This running is just making me feel old. I used to be so much better at it. But did 35 mins at 5% incline at a 9:35 pace on boxing day and then 3.45 miles at no incline at a 7.30 pace. Could have gone longer but heading out for a hike today. Will get out tomorrow for a trail run of about 14k. I think I'll enjoy that one a lot.

Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

turned2black wrote:Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

I wanted to trail run today but it was 35, and would have been colder in the woods. Did 5 miles on the treadmill at 7:24 pace. Felt good and could have gone longer but trying to stay to a structured plan. Will keep working on extending the run a little every day and upping the pace a little at a time.

T2B - I read the story about The Kid. I have to ask, would you give some of your SO to a fellow runner during a race?

surfndestroy wrote:

turned2black wrote:Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

I wanted to trail run today but it was 35, and would have been colder in the woods. Did 5 miles on the treadmill at 7:24 pace. Felt good and could have gone longer but trying to stay to a structured plan. Will keep working on extending the run a little every day and upping the pace a little at a time.

T2B - I read the story about The Kid. I have to ask, would you give some of your SO to a fellow runner during a race?

If asked, I would absolutely give someone salt caps or a GU. But in my experience the majority of ultrarunners would not ask for assistance from another runner in a mountain ultra. There is a certain brand of "hard core" that permeates ultrarunning and asking for help would kinda violate that. I have been in trouble a few times in races (and just running in general) and have never asked for assistance. It's my job to take the supplies necessary to make it from aid station to aid station. If I fuck that up, I'm not gonna ruin someone else's race.

In short, I would help, but they're a dick for asking.

turned2black wrote:

surfndestroy wrote:

turned2black wrote:Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

I wanted to trail run today but it was 35, and would have been colder in the woods. Did 5 miles on the treadmill at 7:24 pace. Felt good and could have gone longer but trying to stay to a structured plan. Will keep working on extending the run a little every day and upping the pace a little at a time.

T2B - I read the story about The Kid. I have to ask, would you give some of your SO to a fellow runner during a race?

If asked, I would absolutely give someone salt caps or a GU. But in my experience the majority of ultrarunners would not ask for assistance from another runner in a mountain ultra. There is a certain brand of "hard core" that permeates ultrarunning and asking for help would kinda violate that. I have been in trouble a few times in races (and just running in general) and have never asked for assistance. It's my job to take the supplies necessary to make it from aid station to aid station. If I fuck that up, I'm not gonna ruin someone else's race.

In short, I would help, but they're a dick for asking.

I gathered there was a fairly hard core nature to running ultras, I mean that seems business as usual pushing the body that hard and with that a sense of pride to get yourself through solely on your own accord. Noble efforts I'd say.

This being my first season running in the cold I'll agree that it isn't too fun out there. Some nights the brisk air is absolutely great but with so many days/nights at or below freezing recently, well... I'll peg it on my current route having a lot of concrete and even the pavement feels a lot fuckin' harder. I just on grass when I can, night and day. That being said, I joined a Winter Warrior Challenge last night; for the 31 days of January a run outside of 1/2/5 miles a day keeps you in the game. I did it more to be part of a team but I was contemplating a streak again so why the hell not.

oasisfan35 wrote:

turned2black wrote:

surfndestroy wrote:

turned2black wrote:Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

I wanted to trail run today but it was 35, and would have been colder in the woods. Did 5 miles on the treadmill at 7:24 pace. Felt good and could have gone longer but trying to stay to a structured plan. Will keep working on extending the run a little every day and upping the pace a little at a time.

T2B - I read the story about The Kid. I have to ask, would you give some of your SO to a fellow runner during a race?

If asked, I would absolutely give someone salt caps or a GU. But in my experience the majority of ultrarunners would not ask for assistance from another runner in a mountain ultra. There is a certain brand of "hard core" that permeates ultrarunning and asking for help would kinda violate that. I have been in trouble a few times in races (and just running in general) and have never asked for assistance. It's my job to take the supplies necessary to make it from aid station to aid station. If I fuck that up, I'm not gonna ruin someone else's race.

In short, I would help, but they're a dick for asking.

I gathered there was a fairly hard core nature to running ultras, I mean that seems business as usual pushing the body that hard and with that a sense of pride to get yourself through solely on your own accord. Noble efforts I'd say.

This being my first season running in the cold I'll agree that it isn't too fun out there. Some nights the brisk air is absolutely great but with so many days/nights at or below freezing recently, well... I'll peg it on my current route having a lot of concrete and even the pavement feels a lot fuckin' harder. I just on grass when I can, night and day. That being said, I joined a Winter Warrior Challenge last night; for the 31 days of January a run outside of 1/2/5 miles a day keeps you in the game. I did it more to be part of a team but I was contemplating a streak again so why the hell not.

Good luck, man!

I was contemplating a streak as well, but this L.A. thing may become a permanent weekly drudge and it totally fucking annihilates me. So I'm not gonna set myself up for failure.

My best run yet. 5 miles at 5% incline in 47 minutes or 9:24 pace. Have two more runs before back to work on Monday. Will try for longer runs at a faster pace and less incline.

turned2black wrote:

oasisfan35 wrote:

turned2black wrote:

surfndestroy wrote:

turned2black wrote:Ran everyday during my holiday break and managed to lose a few pounds. Ran at 4 a.m. a couple of days ago in 29 degree weather. I used to really enjoy running in cold weather, but I have to admit that every step was pure fucking torture. Fuck that shit.

I wanted to trail run today but it was 35, and would have been colder in the woods. Did 5 miles on the treadmill at 7:24 pace. Felt good and could have gone longer but trying to stay to a structured plan. Will keep working on extending the run a little every day and upping the pace a little at a time.

T2B - I read the story about The Kid. I have to ask, would you give some of your SO to a fellow runner during a race?

If asked, I would absolutely give someone salt caps or a GU. But in my experience the majority of ultrarunners would not ask for assistance from another runner in a mountain ultra. There is a certain brand of "hard core" that permeates ultrarunning and asking for help would kinda violate that. I have been in trouble a few times in races (and just running in general) and have never asked for assistance. It's my job to take the supplies necessary to make it from aid station to aid station. If I fuck that up, I'm not gonna ruin someone else's race.

In short, I would help, but they're a dick for asking.

I gathered there was a fairly hard core nature to running ultras, I mean that seems business as usual pushing the body that hard and with that a sense of pride to get yourself through solely on your own accord. Noble efforts I'd say.

This being my first season running in the cold I'll agree that it isn't too fun out there. Some nights the brisk air is absolutely great but with so many days/nights at or below freezing recently, well... I'll peg it on my current route having a lot of concrete and even the pavement feels a lot fuckin' harder. I just on grass when I can, night and day. That being said, I joined a Winter Warrior Challenge last night; for the 31 days of January a run outside of 1/2/5 miles a day keeps you in the game. I did it more to be part of a team but I was contemplating a streak again so why the hell not.

Good luck, man!

I was contemplating a streak as well, but this L.A. thing may become a permanent weekly drudge and it totally fucking annihilates me. So I'm not gonna set myself up for failure.

Thanks!

Good call there. Not commuting to work by driving but the train, even though I'm running to/from it seems to be taking less out of my legs than gridlock. And I a long trek just to sit in LA traffic, been there and hated it but couldn't imagine it weekly. I hope the struggle there produces some adequate results elsewhere.

10k or 6.22 miles in 45:30. I feel T2B would have been proud. First 4.22 miles at 7:24 pace, then half a mile at 7:19, half a mile at 7:09 and final mile at 6:59.

Can't believe I'm heading out for a 5 mile hike in two hours but the girl is cute.

surfndestroy wrote:10k or 6.22 miles in 45:30. I feel T2B would have been proud. First 4.22 miles at 7:24 pace, then half a mile at 7:19, half a mile at 7:09 and final mile at 6:59.

Nice finishing kick, friend.

I did an hour of hill repeats yesterday and was pretty sure I was gonna die. I didn't.

One month I've been running and feel pretty good with where I'm at. Not anything record setting but the 5 miles on an incline Wednesday followed by 10k at my current pace with a little kick at the end feels good, though my heartbeat was a little higher than I would like or sustainable. I can run in the high 160's for a long period feeling okay but the end of the kick I was hitting high 170's. I'm pretty much fifty and that's a bit too high even for me to be sustainable.

I like that posting here makes me feel a bit more accountable. A part of my life is going to go to shit in the next month or two and I think feeling accountable here to keep running is going to do me a lot of good. So thank you in advance.

surfndestroy wrote:I like that posting here makes me feel a bit more accountable. A part of my life is going to go to shit in the next month or two and I think feeling accountable here to keep running is going to do me a lot of good. So thank you in advance.

Good luck man. I have used this thread as a positive motivator for a while now. Keep yourself focused on the good things while putting one foot in front of the other, seems it can get one through some tough shit.

Streak is at nine but goddamn running when it is 4 degrees out is not cool.

10 on Saturday, then an hour of hillwork tonight. Been running 7:30 miles lately and will probably start to run 8s. A sub-10 hour finish at my next race should place me top 10 and that's just 12-minute miles, so I'll be happy to drop speed to increase miles. Probably hit the indoor track tomorrow.