Full Moon 30 Miler

RUN 30 miles in 7 hours, 7 minutes

Roughly, anyway. There was some pauses, stops, and Garmin mismeasures along the way. But that's for the end of my story!

And although I wouldn't see the full moon at all this time (clouds at night) was fun knowing it was there.

As I said before, the original plan for today was 50 miles. This was going to be my 50-miler training weekend, in lieu of traveling and paying for a race. Couldn't happen, and now I'm thinking ahead to my last big weekend in two weeks -- another 30+20 weekend block that has to show some improvement over this one.

My back that hurt so much yesterday was feeling fine this morning. However my GI system was upset with something -- either the jelly beans or the plantains from a recipe? Or maybe the stress of my back hurting yesterday? A combination? I'm guessing the plantains, I haven't eaten them in a few weeks and they are a new introduction. Beans and stress, well they're pretty common lately!

I got a later-than-intended start so I could walk the dog, hydrate, and get fueled. I never know just how much water or nutrients I really lose on a symptomatic morning, but I feel better knowing I did what I could to make up any gains. By the time I got to the trail, I was feeling much better but it was 9am!

I ran into a guy in the parking lot and learned he was running with the group, but wasn't with them at the moment. Chatted with him, and a cyclist while I packed up, then headed out on Declue for what I hoped was a 10-mile Declue-Dogwood loop. The first few miles were downhills, the trail was dry and clear, Six Flags was noisy, the bikers and riders all pleasant, shaping up to be a great trail run!

Now usually when a few hours have passed, as well as a number of bikers and riders, the trails are clear of cobwebs. Not so today. I was constantly pulling sticky fibers off my face! I realized soon enough it wasn't cobwebs -- it was those tree worms dropping out of the trees on little silky threads! UGH! And what I thought at first to be something in my eye turned out to be tree allergens! And as I was trying to get 'something' out of my eye, I was likely adding to the pollen count in my eye by rubbing them. Once I realized what was happening, I was able to control it, but by then my eyes were like sand. At one point near mile 5 a runner came up behind me, I offered to let him pass, but he declined as he planned to turn around soon. We chatted, and only when he said he was turning back did I realize who it was -- my neighbor B!! HAha!!

At the end of the first loop (it was 10.1 miles in the end!), I could see the particulate matter in the air and a coating of tree dust covering the truck. Nice, and 20 more to go.

Stopped by the truck to refill and refuel. Ate one of my nummy rice balls with sticky rice, raisins, salt, and maple syrup -- one per loop and these were working so far! -- then off to the second loop. I was feeling good, by back was OK, I was more tired than I thought I should be, and determined to finish.

The second loop much like the first, started texting with family a bit in walk breaks. I was eating about every 45 mins. Time seemed to drag on. If anything I think boredom was the biggest problem. And I was low on water, good thing!

Another stop by the truck, this time I met the group I was 'running with', chatted, learned they also experience allergy/tree dust problems in the Dogwood section (so I wasn't imagining that one part of the trail was worse!), and as much as I wanted to run with someone I didn't. So I declined joining them on their last miles and planned an out n back that kept me out of the Dogwood.

Off to the last loop, again boredom and worms my biggest problems. My back and unquenchable thirst more minor. But I started watching the distance, that's a big mental problem. I started the last leg at 20.36 and my mind was tumbly-turny with math problems. I was starting to stumble a bit more, forced myself to walk, which was good because I should have been walking more all along. That Galloway interview podcast I started the day with was supposed to be an inspiration for that. I was shooting for the All Day Pace, I had it, but wasn't sticking to it.

Speaking of podcasts -- I did OK the first hour silent but needed mental stimulation. So here's what I remember listening too: Marathon Training Academy Jeff Galloway; NPR TED on Organization, Ten Junk Miles and the Hennepin Hundred;....um.....NPR on Slinky; NRP on Abolishing Death Penalty; then a Procrastination research on To Do Lists.

By the time I reached 25 miles and turned around, I was getting pretty cooked mentally and physically. The other group as it turned out was close behind me and I passed them as I turned. I was again counting miles, barely listening to the podcast on To-Do Lists (but enjoying it nonetheless) when I saw TV!! All day I was wondering if I'd see or hear from him!! I needed the company :) but poor TV just got my flood of pent-up talking and thinking, my slow pace, and my lack of fizz to put up with. I was happy to see him, talk-talk-talk :)

I know my math is bad, but I was pretty sure that by turning around at mile 24.9 that I'd end up at mile 30 near the truck. But as we were climbing the last hill my Garmin beeped for mile 29. WHAT!? ANOTHER MILE?! But soon I could see the buildings, and realized it was a mile off. NOW WHAT, do I run another mile? Ugh, didn't have it in my.

And therein lies a problem -- I'm so focused on the finish goal distance that I don't have anything left for distance beyond it. It's not so much a pacing problem, or nutritional, it's mental. Like a switch turning me off at 30.000 miles and nothing for even a few steps beyond.

And if the 100 miler is mostly a mental challenge, I'm facing some doubts. That's normal I guess? Maybe the doubts creep in because I'm so tired?

At the end of the day in the run I ate 2 servings of rice, 3 gels, 50 jelly beans, 5 ginger chews. Threw away my special rice-raisin-maple recovery for fear of them going bad from being warm. Was insatiably thirsty, lacked hunger on the drive home.

This is getting rambly. Guess I meant to say that my nutrition should be a more frequent, is improved with little candies and chews, needs some 'spark' for the water (maybe even just ice would help). My feet were swollen (didn't have compression socks today) but no blisters or chafing problems.

Next is a mini-rest week, then one more 75 miler. Since I didn't get my 50 miler in, I'm really going to have to invest quality trail into that last weekend. Rest first, study the cut-offs and maps, fix my back, play with rice ball recipe (and ice blocks)! And gotta get the mental thing under control.

NUMERICS 14 hours and 21 mins of running
RUN 75.1 miles, I think that's a personal most!
BIKE COMMUTE 19.2 miles
WALKIES 21.5 miles

and stretching for my back as indicated by therapy. Still no strength training yet.