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Where the heck have you been?

It sure has been a long time since I last posted.  I can blame it on a few things..First and foremost I really can't underestimate the post WS funk I went into after the race in June...So many years thinking about the day and it was achieved. Then what?  I am still kinda in that mode I just kept thinking that can't wait till fall and the nice temps for running....Work has left me also totally thrown off. With travel and preparing for presentations life was hard to get out and run at very odd hours. I guess I am also a creature of habit and being thrown off from some of my routines set me off in a funk as well....

I am looking to get some sense of normalcy in the next few weeks. I am setting some fitness plans...Putting my name into Western States Lottery, Miwok...Vermont if all else falls through.  Also with 50 looming in January what the heck do I want to do with the rest of my life :) Hmmm so many puzzles...so little time.

Been a couple weeks....some notes and comments

Hi all it seems like it has been forever since I last posted. I am slowly returning to the trails and can say that I feel a bit lost without such a big goal to target. I have been talking to other folks that target Western States each year and many feel the same. While there are many that simply keep on running with little break there are others that relish the time off during the dog days of summer to recharge. At my age and level of conditioning I see the later being where I need to focus. Enjoy this time off versus feel I gotta get back out there. There is one personal area where I want to focus that free time but that has yet to take place yet. More on that goal later...

So what the heck have I been doing...Mostly work, at night when I come home it could be a short trip to the gym and rarely has it included a run on the trails...While at the gym I see the regulars that do their routine..I sometimes ask myself what are they building towards...? Or is it to feel good and be happy. Guess we all have different reasons.

I made it back out the last few weekends on some longer runs on the trails lasting 3hours but I am still a bit tired after..gym workouts during the week do little for my overall capacity..But I have noticed that my times are on par right now with some early season training times so things are coming back. I am considering returning to Quad Dipsea in November and try and finish the course after my miserable attempt last year. But I need a lot of conditioning and more mental toughness. However if there is one thing that WS taught me is that I have a bit of mental toughness to continue on and I use that thought during the day when things appear hard.
Someone compiled a clib of images at Devils Thumb and me finishing at WS..Boy I was running slow..link can be found here...
Link to a WS Clip..Me finishing (about 4:30min in to clip)


So I just need to ride the storm out a bit longer...I am coming back to fitness levels I want to be at ...a few more personal things to take care of and life will be good....Till then hit those trails and have some fun.

Tony

Time to comeback, Tevis, and other rambles

As I looked at the title of my blog..I guess it is time for a change..No nothing drastic just the title will surely get dated soon so maybe a new title to reflect what is coming up next...Will have to think about it.

It has been one month since the race..many of my fellow WS runners have gotten back into racing etc...As for me it has been short runs a lot of work, all leaving me kinda feeling sluggish. I did keep in mind that Twietmeyer always says he takes a full month off after WS then comes back. Give the body a break. Well Saturday was a month..I wanted to head to Auburn and the overlook to see the set up for the Tevis Cup race..Tevis is the one that helped start 100 mile runs..This is the horse race on the WS course which Wendell Robie started in the early 50's after he helped lead an effort to mark and perserve the trails used to all the old mining camps and towns during the gold rush. Simply amazing seeing these horses move on the same trails up very rocky slopes....Does any other of the 100 mile courses have so much history of use?

So I went on a run..I felt pretty good..I set off slow but then stopped for a minute to be caught by a couple of runners..I reverted back to old competitive stance and had to get out in front of them and stay that way...So I started running harder than I wanted to...(ok I must have wanted to) and by the time I got to NoHands..My legs felt like jello...I returned slow but feeling this was a start back to fitness. Today my legs are a bit sore and I will head to the gym...Build the distance back in time..enjoy and pick a few races.

A few other things...on my mind. First I have to give a major presentation in a number of cities in the west starting in late Sept. It ends in Hawaii and I am figuring out where I want to spend some additional time. Torn between the night life of Honolulu or just relax a bit at Maui..leaning to Maui...

Better go and get my body ready for the beaches of Maui...Aloha...

Summer Doldrums...

Post Western States Syndrom..I got it! Being so focused for so long and now no real goal in the near term has left me bored. I just returned from my companies regular User Conference in San Diego...14,000 software users. It did offer me the opportunity it eat, drink and stay up later than I have in months so maybe the recharge will do me good. I am torn today about driving up to Tahoe to watch some friends run TRT 100..maybe get in a short run or just rot at home after being on the road for a week...
Such is life after WS...

The Finish!

Ok...
Now time to start planning for my next adventure. I know for sure I will put my name in the WS Lottery one more time.
The break has been nice but there is a void left that is anticipated after all the time spent training and running the event. I am open to suggestions on next events. I am leaning towards Headlands 50k in late August.
The Finish Photo-Not Pretty but a great time!