Hamstrung

    For the life of me, I cannot figure out why my left hamstring is so sore.  Not sore to the point that I wont run, but just a nagging tightness.  Didn't bother me till I slipped on the ice this past winter, I didn't fall but I caught myself  kinda funny.  I have been doing the stretches and strengthening exercises for a week.    We will see.  Went to the volunteer meeting tonight, for the Lake Run next Saturday.  I am one of the official beer pourers!!!  Should be fun.

50 miles of hills=DNF

     You can probably tell by the title that things didn't go well last weekend.  Mother Nature was being a real bitch.  Rain and mud in the morning.  Sun and humidity at noon.  But an ultra runner like "me" has got to deal with those things, right?  No problem.  But the damn hills!   I have run lots of hills, lots and lots of hills.  I absolutely love running hills.  But there is nothing that can prepare you for the hills at McNaughton Park.   Who knew?  Denman Hill, Hill One at Pere Marquette, the Glen Oak loop at Steamboat, even Mountain Goat at Kickapoo, have nothing on the so called "hills" at McNaughton.  At least the afore mentioned can be (run) up and down. The hills on the Potawatomi Red Trail are better suited to rock climbers than hill runners.  By mile 30 my knees were shredded and my spirit gone.  DNF-DID NOT FINISH!! for only the second time in my running life.  The first time has been  taken care of two times over.  This one will be taken care of Saturday October 8th, 2011.

Potawatomi

          

Mc Naughton Park

    Saturday, April 9th at 6 am.   50 miles, on rugged trails, with 10 creek crossings, 1600 ft of elevation change and I want to do it in under 11 hours.  That's  13 minute 12 second per mile pace.  Pretty ambitious considering I have run only  three times in the  two weeks since  the Clinton Lake 30.  I don't know if the time off will help or hurt?  On one hand, the down time let my body  heal from the abuse it was put through at Clinton, and on  the other hand, I really felt like I could have ran more and kept my fitness level up.  I guess I will find out tomorrow.  Still figuring this ultra stuff out.