Way Behind Now!

Updated Stats:
(05/09 – 05/16) Elliptical: 140 minutes; stair stepper: 55 min; Run (total) 35.7 mi. (4 street, 8.6 tmill, 23.1 trail);
(05/17 – 05/23) Elliptical: 75 min; stepper 45; Run (total) 36.3 (street 6, tmill 8.3, Trail 22);
(05/24 – 05/30) Elliptical: 115 min; stepper 45; Run (total) 32.9 mi. (street 13, trail 19.9);
(05/31 – 06/07) Elliptical: 65, Run 30 (projected – includes 19 miles total at the Reno-Tahoe Relay (Friday and Saturday) (tmill 4, trail 17.2, road 19.5)

Where HAS the time gone?? I blinked and now it’s like 3 weeks later.

While I started with this title b/c it has been so long since I posted, I also noticed, upon review of the stats, that I’m a bit behind on the training—which came as a surprise. I thought I was doing better, but the numbers don’t lie. Still more room for improvement.

Again (as predicted), cool weather did return to Nor Cal. I can’t tell you how many cold outings I’ve been to on Memorial Day weekend. This year was no exception, which is actually beneficial to my running regime. I just wilt/melt in the heat. (No Marathon Des Sables for me, Sat!)

Work has picked up dramatically in the past 2 weeks, so the struggle is on to maintain success at the job as well as sticking to the training schedule. Between now and 6/30 it will just get more challenging.

My best run lately was last Sunday, the 12 miler, on a great fire road in Big Basin State Park (Redwood trees). We live relatively close to the park and have been there quite a bit, but had never gone all the way up this road. Shady, good footing, hills (but not too steep) and MARKED*. The weather was perfect, and I didn’t bonk (like I did the day before on my 8 miler). GU can be a life saver!

*editorial comment. I’m a trail runner but I never learned to use a compass, etc. So, I rely on maps and trail signage. Our state parks have been really poorly funded these past few years and so many of the trail signs have fallen apart or been rendered illegible and not repaired/replaced. On the other hand, the various “Open Space Preserves” seem to have $$. Not sure how the funding works. We’ve gotten “lost” in Big Basin on more than one occasion. Comparatively, when I did my 10 miler alone, I used the map of the preserve and didn’t have to back track once.

Tomorrow and Saturday is/are the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey (read: relay). 178 miles, 12 sweaty runners, 2 large (gas eating!) vans. This is a new one on me, but even tho I don’t know the course I feel okay based on my 13 years of doing “The Relay” (plus one Hood to Coast trip). I’m worried it will be too cold, instead of too hot for this. I doubt I’ll ever see perfect weather, given that my temperature range is so narrow. So much for ever moving out of Nor Cal!