Less than 80 days till GO!!!

Getting pretty excited and pretty nervous about Race Day.  After completing my second 50K of the year, I feel well trained, but the idea of doing a few miles more than three of those in a row is sort of daunting.  I need to really think about my eating and plan for it.  The hot and humid run I did this past weekend left me feeling a bit nauseaous at the end.  Not sure what it was but the food was not sitting well.  Need to test out a few more ideas on my traing runs.

Rainy Day Motivation

So yesterday it was raining and it was raining and the last thing I felt like doing was going for a run in the rain, this winter and spring had until the past week provided perfect trail running weather.  So I texted my supportive and loving boyfriend.  "I need motivation to run, UGHHH."  Expecting him to reply, take a break, take a nap, no worries.  HA HA HA!!  Mike quickly replies with - "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."    Hmmm I think, that is a good one.  He replies again with - "Run or wire brush my Land Cruiser for me :P."  And now I am thinking, running would be better, even in this downpour.  Then last, the most powerful reply - "Zekey wants to go!"  So I got in my run gear and decided this would be a great chance to test out my rain coat, got both dogs ready for the trek, and headed happily (well not at first, but the dogs were) out the door.  Lesson learned: My Marmot rain coat is not waterproof.

104 days to go, plenty of time :D

Completed a 50K in the Pennsylvania Wilds two weeks ago. There were plenty of hills and rocks to make it challenging. Whenever I go out for a trail run in PA, whether in my own backyard or a completely different location, I am stunned by it's beauty. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state full of great views, rocky climbs and sweet creeks and rivers. Just signed up for another 50K which will be equally as challenging, I know becasue I ran it last year, over Memorial Day Weekend. This one is in Cowan's Gap State Park about an hour west of my home. I guess I may have been a bit over zealous about getting signed up (limit of 75 runners) because I was the first one on the list. Yikes!

So far, my training is going well. I am being careful not to overdo it and also incorporating many hilly runs, 75% of the time I am climbing or descending. I am fortunate to live at the base of the Tuscarora Forest which offers challenging runs.

Last week
Sunday - 12 mile run on the fire roads, first 5 with Mike and the pups and the last 7 back to my house alone
Monday - 5 mile out and back, halfway up the mountain.
Tuesday - 7 mile trail run at Codurus State Park, 2.2 mile climb up the Flat Rock trail to the amazing vista, then challenging downhills on the return plus a few side trails
Thursday - 20 mile hilly run, drove 10 miles from my house with Zeke, ran back with him, ate a PB&J and then ran back to my car, the things we do for our dogs.
Friday - 4 mile run around the neighborhood with Mike and the pups, RAIN!!!!

Looking forward to one more week of training in Newburg and then off to Berlin to venture onto some brand new terrain.