RR's 100MileJournal

Video – A Final Hike

// July 20th, 2012 // Comments Off on Video – A Final Hike // Videos

Prep

// July 19th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Corn Starch (don’t ask)…check!

Peanut M&M’s…check!

Cliff Bars…check!

Socks and extra socks…check!

Extra sneakers…check!

Hat…I don’t want to wear a hat.  Do you want your poofy hair to be an incessantly infested nest for black flies?  No.  Then will you be wearing a hat?  Hat…CHECK!

1 day, 12 hours and 7 minutes.

I’m excited, nervous, ready to be done…

I’m excited to start.  I’m excited to hold the silver buckle that says I did the Vermont 100 in less than 24 hours.  I’m excited to see the miles tick past and to get past mile 50 when I feel I can actually start a count down.

I’m nervous that I could get sick.  I’m nervous that I could get hurt. I’m nervous that I won’t finish for some reason.

I’m so ready to be done and to put this event, which I hold as both a completion of a long period of training and preparation, heart ache and celebration and a commencement of a new life I intend on creating after this event.

Thanks to all of you who have been with me on this journey and who have asked me about my health (mental and otherwise) and cared so much about this process.  It’s from you that I’ve come to realize what a big deal this 100 mile event really is.

This journal will convert in time (give me time!!!) to a journal that captures what I’m working on personally and professionally that honors the ideals in both The Uncompromised and in a big ole goal like, “Run 100 miles, Ron, because of who it’ll make of you to be able to show up and run it-let alone finish it.”  So going forward I’ll invite others to contribute what their “100 Mile” goals are and to use this forum as a place for support, advice, appreciation and fun–yup, even fun!

Here I go everyone!

Don’t Compromise, Ron…check!

RR

Injury…

// July 14th, 2012 // Comments Off on Injury… // Uncategorized

I hurt the ball of my right foot. It’s bruised and pretty swollen.  Right now I’m walking on my heal to get around.  Unreal.

I’ll see what I can do to heal it quickly but no sense not adding a little drama to my race.  Sheesh.

RR

Last Run

// July 14th, 2012 // Comments Off on Last Run // Uncategorized

Last “Long” Run

// July 9th, 2012 // Comments Off on Last “Long” Run // Uncategorized

People come from all over the world to go to NYC–and some passionate runners make the trip just to run in and around Central Park.

So for my last “long” run (16 miles) it was great to have the opportunity to be in NYC this week and do my 16 miles in a couple loops around Central park (plus four miles – each loop around the park is 6 miles).

I got in to NYC at 8:30 PM tonight (Monday) and by 9:26 I was off.  It was an uneventful and celebratory jog–except for clouds of marijuana smoke I ran through at a couple different locations around the park.  I don’t know why but that just makes me laugh–or maybe it’s the marijuana making me do that!  HA!

Anyway, check out the pics of the two raccoons that I saw hitting a garbage can for a late night snack around 66th St.

Not much more to say about the run.  Next time I pass 16 miles running it’ll be with 84 to go!

RR

Less than two weeks!

// July 9th, 2012 // Comments Off on Less than two weeks! // Just an Update, Uncategorized

I ran 6.5 today at 90%+ effort.  My lungs/legs didn’t adjust until about 4.5 miles in and then I ran harder.

I just kept thinking, “You think your legs are sore now…get used to the pain because in less than two weeks…!”  See corresponding picture.  Hint: It’s the one where I’m lying down!

I’m going to run 16 pretty hard this week and a couple “shorties”  and then oh, man…that’s that!  It’ll be time to just jog/stretch and repeat a few times until.   I’m so excited to just get running and get into it!

RR

Tough Run Yesterday (7/4)

// July 5th, 2012 // Comments Off on Tough Run Yesterday (7/4) // endurance, exercise, Physical Training, running, Ultra-marathon

I had a really tough time yesterday running 16 and of course the thoughts raced through my mind, “If I’m struggling like this on 16…100?!”  I think I was dehydrated.

Why?  Because I was sweating profusely (normal as I was running in 85 degree, very humid weather-as well as stopping every 2 miles to do pushups), had the chills and felt completely beat after the run.  Honestly it’s about 20 hours later and I’m still thirsty.

Note to self: Drink A LOT before the race and don’t stop drinking throughout the race!!  It’s weird, I just didn’t feel that thirsty and I was drinking but…

Anyway, another lesson learned and one more 16 mile run (long run) next week and then I will spend the last week before the race doing 2 mile runs and good stretches.  Rested, stretched and ready-whatever that means!

There are so many factors in an endurance event like this, like life.  I’m controlling what I can and then just starting the race and running one mile at a time.

RR

Wobbling, Hobbling and Pontificating at Mile 11 of 16

// July 5th, 2012 // Comments Off on Wobbling, Hobbling and Pontificating at Mile 11 of 16 // success, Ultra-marathon

Mile 26 of 30 6/27/12

// July 2nd, 2012 // Comments Off on Mile 26 of 30 6/27/12 // Uncategorized

Running in the dark 6/27/12 …about mile 17

// July 2nd, 2012 // Comments Off on Running in the dark 6/27/12 …about mile 17 // Uncategorized