75 Hard: Week One

 

In a world that confronts me with mechanical convenience and idle luxury at virtually every turn, I have decided, nonetheless, to improve my physical fitness.  - Amby Burfoot

This was the first thing that stuck out to me in the book that I'm reading, Runner's World - The Complete Book of Running.  Yeah, I know, I'm already runner. I'm a mediocre runner & I want to know more.  Back to the quote...  It's so true.  We really don't have any reason to get out of our comfort zone to move through this life.  We can just meander along & never challenge ourselves.  

That's how we set it up.  We always bring up the microwave or the remote control, but we're so far past that now.  I don't even want to make my own food. Hell, I want someone to bring it to me. And my groceries. And any other thing that I can think of.  I no longer have to get up to change the channel because the TV is in the palm of my hand.  Even better, I don't even have to watch the commercials anymore.   I'm not condemning anyone.  I use these things.  I say it to illuminate my point.  It's easy to take it easy.

Week One:

I chose the Mediterranean Diet.  Vegetables, fish, chicken, pita bread, whole grain bread, brown rice, etc.  Stay away from highly processed foods like hot dogs, lunch meat, shredded cheese, etc.  I found a week's worth of recipes.  It only took about 3 days of not enough protein & carbs to realize that I needed to make an adjustment.  My body was not fueled enough for the 2-a-day workouts.  I went to a simple meal plan.  Baked fish, shrimp, or chicken paired with roasted veggies, either into a pita or with brown rice. For breakfast I’m doing avocado toast & eggs.  

Initially the hardest part was the water. Drinking a gallon of water takes planning. Another point of the program. You have to be intentional. 

On to Week Two!!!

It’s not called 75 Easy

"Your mind and focus are far more powerful than you could ever comprehend." - Andy Frisella

Here I go again.  Another challenge to stretch & strengthen myself. I had a great year last year as you know, but I’ve been coasting. I got discouraged after the marathon training pulled my pace down. I know… wah wah. (Not sure if that’s how you spell a baby cry) 

Anyway, I decided that I needed to refocus. I have dreams of running faster & further. In order to do that, I’m going to have to work on my head game. 

A couple of my friends had done 75 Hard. It intrigued me to say the least. After a month or so, I decided to go for it. I ordered the book.

What is it, you ask?  Well, it’s described as a 75-day mental toughness program. 

It’s rigid. No substitutions. No compromises. You complete the daily tasks no matter what excuse you may come up with. Sounds easy enough, right? Oh, and if you miss one task that day, you have to start over from Day 1.

Here’s a look at the tasks.

I finished the book & started the next day. The next several blog entries will be following my progress through the program. 

Thanks for tagging along!

2021 Running Recap

When you do what you love, the seemingly impossible becomes simply challenging, the laborious becomes purposeful resistance, the difficult loses its edge and is trampled by your progress.

Steve Maraboli

I had a great year!  It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best year I’ve had since I started running. 

I ran 8 half marathons; 2 on back to back days. I conquered the Pikes Peak Ascent.  

1,235.5 total miles for the year. 

In the beginning, it was very stressful, but the most rewarding thing that I did was pacing for the Frisco Running Club. I ran with some awesome people this year. People in every spectrum of running from new to veteran. People training for their first full marathon were my favorite. The dedication I witnessed was inspiring. It’s amazing what people can do when they set a goal!

That’s it quick & dirty!  Looking forward to see what 2022 has in store for me & my running journey!

If you’re in or near Frisco, TX give me a shout & we’ll get some miles in!

To Marathon or not to Marathon

 

Sometimes our goals cloud our progress. - Jen Kirkpatrick, Team Dirt & Vert

What's Jen saying?  It's easy to look at a goal that you're struggling with or even missed altogether & completely forget about the progress that you made.  I often have to be reminded of that. I'm a goal-focused person and as you've noticed if you been around my blog much, I reflect a lot.  I have to remind myself that I'm making progress with every step.   It's like "they" say, it's about the journey not the destination.

Months ago I decided to sign up for my first marathon.  I had come off a great running year & was feeling strong.  I was feeling confident.  I cut my race pace back to tackle the extra distance... mistake.  Now I'm slower than I've been in a while.  I have got up to 17 miles, but I was running farther faster in the last cycle.  That in itself has been tough on the ego.  Don't get me wrong I'm still having fun. So let's look at some good times!  Half Marathons #6, #7, & #8 for 2021.

Big Ole Medal Half with Stud Nation

My teammates from AR joined me for this race.  We signed up for one reason.  That big ole medal!  Winding through parks and neighborhoods of McKinney, TX makes for a nice run.  We earned that medal for sure!  Texas has a way of turning a cool start into a blazing inferno.  So, by mile 7 or 8 we were cooked.  Which made my idea of doing threshold intervals at the beginning an even worse idea.  Nonetheless we pushed through and collected that metal mammoth!

Look at the size of that thing!

Hope for the Holiday Half in Memory of Garrett Yeager.

I've ran this race 5 years in row.  It's a nice small-town race.  If you're looking for a change of scenery, check out this half in Arkansas. You won't get bored!  It’s a mixed terrain course. Street, technical trail, & gravel. It’s small & challenging with a finish that will leave even the most seasoned runner with a feeling of accomplishment.  It's nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.  If you're looking for a race with a huge heart this is the one!  It benefits Overdose Awareness, local recovery groups, & local charities.  Can't make the drive they have a virtual option as well!  Check them out on Facebook!

If you’re a fan of Nascar, it’s also the hometown of Hall of Famer Mark Martin. He has a sweet museum there to visit while you’re in town. 

Dallas Marathon Half Marathon

So, I signed up for the Dallas Marathon.  I did not meet that goal.  I ended up getting Covid and didn't recover until 6 weeks before race day.  So, I decided it was best to back down to the half.  I still had a great time!  The course ran by Dealey Plaza.  Being a JFK buff, that was the reason I signed up in the first place.  The coolest moment for me happened when we were passing Dealey Plaza!  A runner in military fatigues and carrying a US flag left the course, ran across the grass median to the spot where JFK was assassinated.  He then stopped, saluted, and ran back onto the course.  I made sure to catch up to him, thank him for his service, & give him a fist bump.  So how was the race?  First off it was cold.  It had been in the 70s earlier in the week, but not today.  Upper 30s were on the menu for the start.  Once I got warmed up, I really enjoyed the course.  I love running through skyscrapers!  The course meandered around downtown Dallas.  It was a challenging course, but it had a ton of crowd support.  I'll plan to do it again!

Some of our training group!  #werunfrisco

I plan to squeeze in one more 2021 post to recap my achievements & plans for 2022.  It was a huge year for me & I'm excited to see where these roads lead me.

Come back & check it out!

Pikes Peak Ascent - race report

I've been talking about Pikes Peak for about 6 months now.  The week finally came!

For reference, here's the course.

My friends have ran this race; both the Ascent & the Marathon.  I am now convinced that I never actually understood just how hard it was.  Don't get me wrong.  I knew it would be tough, but not on this level.  Judging by this race, I'm not sure that I ever really challenged myself before.  This was by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life!  

One of the things that makes it tough, besides the fact that you're going up a mountain, is the cut-offs.  There were multiple checkpoints that you had to make or else you were turned back.

No Name (4.3 mi, 8,800') 1:40:00

Barr Camp (7.6 mi, 10,200') 3:10:00

A-Frame (10.2 mi, 12,000') 4:30:00

Summit (13.3 mi, 14,115') 6:30:00

Think about this... you get to A-Frame at 4:31:00.  You missed the cut-off.  You have to go 10.2 miles back down.  That's 20.4 miles in a 13.3 mile race.

I've been training & I thought I’d be faster, but the mountain has a way of checking your ego in the first mile. 

I felt that I was doing fairly well until after Barr Camp, mile 7.6 at 10,200ft elevation. Not long after I made the checkpoint (1hr ahead of cutoff) I really started feeling it. I made it to A-frame, mile 10.2 at 12,000ft elevation, a mere 20mins before the cutoff. I lost 40mins in that section.  From there it was an all out battle of the mind & body. 

With about 2 miles to go I decided that I wasn’t going to make the finish before the cutoff. My miles were slowing & I had all but lost the battle of the mind. 

But I kept pushing. Pushing is an exaggeration. It was more like slinking... Just plain surviving. With just a couple of turns left I heard the announcer say, “we have 10mins left in the race!”  I couldn’t believe it!  I was going to make it! I pushed myself hard. (I think this actually qualified as pushing) 

I crossed the line at 14,115ft with just 4 minutes to spare!  (after recalibration of the race clock I only had 1m 49s left to cross!)  I was so tired that I could barely walk to the aid station for an orange & banana. 

I have never really been emotional running races, but today, at that moment, as I walked toward that table alone, the emotion of me thinking I wasn’t going to make it & then barely making it, I started crying. 

I literally left everything that I had on that damn mountain. After all was said & done 13.32 miles & 7,815ft of vertical gain!

Dare to see what you’re capable of.  You just might surprise yourself!

A Year Long Streak & a New FRC Season!

“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” – Margaret J. Wheatley 

“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey

Reflection time.  Finishing up June will be my 12th month in a row in with 100 or more miles.  Prior to this streak I had only ran 100 miles in a month twice my entire running career.  I may not be running a 7 min mile, but I'm out here crushing it!  Here's a recap. (more for me than you)

2020 was a terrible year, but it was my best year of running!  Of the previous 7 years my highest mileage year was 2017 with 585.9.  I ended 2020 with 912.8!  After my 5 miles tomorrow (to hit 100 for June) I'll be just over 663 miles!  Already about 2/3 of the way to my 2020 mileage.

Using the first 6 months to calculate an average, I am on pace to hit 1,326 miles this year!  That right there is why we reflect!  Why am I getting faster?  I'm running more.  My highest mileage years were the years that I was the fastest (2014, 2017, 2020).  It makes sense now that I'm looking at it. I PR'd my half marathon time in January after logging the most yearly miles ever.

Now here I sit in the midst of my most epic year of running yet!  I did half marathons on back to back days.  Capping a 3 in 9 days adventure.  I am signed up to run up Pikes Peak in 8 short weeks.  I am signed up for my first full marathon in December.  Bringing my 2021 totals to 8 halfs & 1 full for 2021!

So I'll end this little parade with...  Consistency is key!  

Now we're in a brand new season of the FRC training plan & I'm a pacer this year.  We'll have workout as a group each week.  Tuesday Track, Wednesday Social, Thursday XT, & Saturday Long Run.  Depending on what mileage you're targeting there are multiple plans to follow. The weekly mileages are 25, 35, 40, or 50.  Super excited to see what the plan does for me & through me this year!

Until next time...  Here are some shots from the last few weeks!

Shoes from Atreyu in Austin, TX.

Had some fun with a T-Rex costume at Track Tuesday!

It was was also pouring down rain the whole time...

1,500+ ft of AR gravel elevation at Love Hollow.

A small cave at Waterloo Park in Denison, TX.

Conquered Salado Mtn twice in AR.

Train Hard, Have Fun

“Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.” – Richard Carlson

I am trying to refocus myself with more training.  I know it seems like I'm always saying something like that.  I just haven't really found a sustainable routine.  I need to step outside of just running & work on building some strength.  At the same time, I need to make sure that I stick to my 100 miles per month commitment.  Pikes Peak is only 3 months away!  Eek!

I attempted the treadmill incline routine.  I kept wanting to grab the side rails & I did when I got tired.  I decided that I needed more real world practice to keep me honest.  So I threw on the 20lb vest and ran a half marathon.  I use the term "run" loosely.  It was more of a jog/hike.  I was on the Squircle.  So, I jogged the flats & downhills & hiked the uphills.

For the most part I felt pretty good.  Initially, I planned to just do a couple of loops; about 10 miles. But as I settled into a rhythm I thought, "What the hell? Let's do a half."  About mile 10 I passed by my car to refill my water & I was getting hot & tired.  Those last 3 miles I was thinking, "What the hell!?!", in a whole different attitude...  But I lugged on & stuck to my goal. I finished in just under 3hrs.

I recently got the opportunity to work with a health & wellness coach.  It's basically a free 3 month program.  One of our coaches, Bo, is getting certified & part of her final testing requires her to have programmed for clients. Check her out if you get a chance.  Infinite Fitness Frisco 

So right now we are working on my eating habits & my training regimen.  I have added more vegetables to my diet as well as not going back for seconds.  I have got into a bad habit of eating until I'm just miserable.  My training week will look like this while remaining flexible & allowing my body to rest when needed.

Monday - Strength training

Tuesday - Track / Speedwork

Wednesday - Medium distance easy run

Thursday - Strength training

Friday - Rest Day

Saturday - Long run

Sunday - Trail run

The strength days will be varied depending on the week.  I may be using the vest, hill repeats, cycling, XT, weight room.  Keeping it variable will keep me from getting bored.

Since I felt like such a stud after the vest run, I decided to use it during the XT day too.  Talk about taking it up a  notch.  Wow.  I was destroyed after that workout.

All the hard training will wear you down.  So you have to throw in some fun easy runs too!  Those are my favorite!  I setup a group run with the club & we had a blast.  We also setup a Ninja Turtle run since we haven't been able to get together recently.  I even let Leo take the picture.  We also celebrated Sarah's 500th day of her run streak with a 5 mile run & bloody mary's!

That's enough for this month!  Train hard & most importantly don't forget to have fun!