Training Log Archive: bill_l

Event: Tunnel Hill 100/50
 

Tunnel Hill 50 Miler

I really enjoyed this event. It was well organized, plenty of aid stations, and a group of super-awesome, super-helpful volunteers and spectators.

76/260 OA.
9/25 AG.

C • congrats! 5

Forecast for tomorrow 62/35. I hope it doesn't get any warmer than that. Was hoping for the 55 from a couple days ago...

C • not bad - maybe you'll be h... 1

Plan called for 5@E but I thought I was short on time. It was a perfect morning. 50F, ligth breeze. Barely broke a sweat.

@ 7:35, post shower etc, found out my 8:15 meeting cancelled.

Bman now has 102 fever... I'm living in fear. At least he wasn't at home this past weekend when he'd have been most contagious. Bad news for the crew he was travelling with though.

Main worries for Saturday:

1) cramps - covered, I hope.

2) chafing - generally not a problem for me, unless extended wearing of wet clothes. I'll have fresh changes available at the later gear drops.

3) blisters - not usually a problem, but i'll have repair stuff in all the gear drop bags.

Minor worries:
1) clothing towards the end of the day. If I finish in 9, i think this won't be a problem. But if it goes bad and I'm out past 5pm, it could get cold. Tights gloves and hat at final gear drop for use if necessary.

2) shoe & sock changing. I rarely change socks on a rogaine, only if feet are wet or other problems arise, or a visit to the hash house. I plan to run the whole thing in the LP 2.0's, but may change socks at the half way point if feet feel wet.

Hips and Core.

Supposed to do 6 @ E today, but I think I'll let the hip rest.

Of course, Bman started a massive head cold yesterday. PLEASE don't give it to me!

Scheduled rest day.

Cramping was better last night.

Race anxiety dreams though.... can't find the start line, forgot my shoes, etc. Annoying. Haven't had those in a while.

Race day weather is still looking good, and the high/low temps have dropped a bit. Low 30's at the start, 55 for the high. I plan to be done before the temps drop back into the 30's again on Sat night.

When I signed up for Tunnel Hill, I was thinking that just finishing the race was a good goal, say, maybe 12 hours or less. But during training, sub-12 didn't seem like much of a goal, given the number of 24 hour events I've done. And now, 4 days out, with a favorable forecast, it seems like under-achieving.

So, I've pretty much decided that I'd rather go for a 'stretch' goal and crash spectacularly with the effort than finish safely in 11 or more hours. If I don't go for the stretch goal, I'd have to sign up for another or wonder "what if" for the rest of eternity. I know I can do the distance, the question is 'how fast can I go?'. Sub-9 hours seems doable based on training, scribbles on paper, and the weather forecast.

To do a sub-9 race, my moving pace needs to be 9:30/mile. I've budgeted up to 26 minutes for stops with a target stoppage time of 17 minutes. So my target pace with stops is 10:00/mile. That gives me a 30+ minute buffer. Stoppage time will be largely dictated by potty breaks (how many). Also, I don't know what to expect wrt lines at the bathrooms. Could easily loose oodles of time. Kinda like waiting for ropes at an AR.

30 miles at 9:30 should be fine. Did 26 in training faster than that. It's the last 20 that are uncharted territory for me.

C • cramping contingency plan? 5

AF & Bluff view trail w dc.

More cramps last night. Too much ladder time?

2 hours raking leaves and 6 hours working on family room and kitchen. Paid attention to what muscles were getting abused on the ladder.... mostly calves and feetn some thighs.