RR's 100MileJournal

Back at it!

// June 12th, 2012 // Comments Off on Back at it! // endurance, Mental Training, Physical Training, Progress, running, success

Son of a gun!  I’m gonna do this race after all.

I’m going to do it in less than 24 hours!

I know it.

I just have to stay strong, grow my milage, STRETCH, and be rested for race day.

I’ve been quietly (not telling anyone and not quite believing it myself) beginning to train for the 100 mile run in VT on 7/21-7/22. After I got hurt in February I stopped everything to include believing in me (in a number of areas of my life). But in late March, I started working out again to include short runs (3 and 4 miles). I’ve been focusing on total body strength and on growing my flexibility–not to mention my mental strength.  As I understand it, people hallucinate and are “attacked” on the course by their scammer who tells them (as their all alone at mile 68, at 1:30 in the morning when it’s cold-and maybe raining…) that they should pack it in and just quit.  That voice will tell them the pain is too much and the victory not worth the effort.

Knowing that this stuff will show up and being clear in this time of peace and sublimity, is vital to creating a plan and being able to stick to it when the times get dark-literally and metaphorically.

I will run the Vermont 100 in less than 24 hours and earn my silver belt buckle that says as much.

Onward!

RR

PS Success is getting back in the game.

Not In the Cards!

// February 8th, 2012 // Comments Off on Not In the Cards! // Being the Best You, Doing What I know, Progress, success

Well you want to talk about mental training…  In earnest I headed (nowhere!!!) “out” on my run on the treadmill.  3.5 miles in my knee wasn’t having it.

I stretched for 5 minutes thinking I’d be good for another 3 or so before I’d have to stretch but I only made it 8/10 of a mile and that was that.  I was bummed but decided to give the stars a try (I’ve got a stair climb race up the Corning Tower in Albany, NY in a month).

Really odd but I ran 46 floors twice in succession, after my knee wouldn’t have the running, with no issue at all!  Anyway, I had a good workout, not what I wanted but last Tuesday I couldn’t run 10 yards.  I’m in rehab mode and doing some significant stretching.  Lesson learned.  Some people won’t learn any other way.  Man, I’ve got to get out of that camp!

Broke

// January 31st, 2012 // Comments Off on Broke // Being the Best You, Doing What I know, running, success, Training, Ultra-marathon

Well I got excited, did more mileage sooner than I’d planned.  I got over zealous and broken–not too bad, I hope but…

In the matter of less than two weeks I bumped my mileage 6 miles.  I ran about 18 and walked/hobbled 4–glamourous!

—–

Ron, the plan was 2 miles every two weeks.  Last week you did 19 twice–and prematurely!  Today 22???  Dude.  You can hurt yourself by trying to do too much before its season, you know.

Now your knee kills.

Okay boy, stretch, ice, rest. And hope your “renegotiation” doesn’t cost you the progress you were overly ambitious to experience.

What you plan in “sobriety” don’t renegotiate in “intoxication”.

A Good Week

// January 28th, 2012 // Comments Off on A Good Week // Doing What I know, endurance, exercise, Just an Update, Physical Training, Progress, running, Ultra-marathon

56 miles this week.

Two 19 mile runs and an 18.

Rest tomorrow.

Hit my speed workout on Monday.

I’m feeling excited.  Essentially, January is over!  I’ve got five more months of training–yes it’ll get more difficult and time consuming but I’ve already got my goal so it’s just a matter of time and endurance.  Five months until I slow my workouts (for the last three weeks pre-race) and so I don’t really have much to negotiate with when my scammer comes-a-callin’ to tell me not to run or that I don’t have to go so far or fast.

Turning My Week Around

// January 20th, 2012 // Comments Off on Turning My Week Around // endurance, exercise, Mental Training, Physical Training, running, success, Training, Ultra-marathon

The week started off with me, medicating Green Bay’s crushing defeat to the Giants, eating fists-full of Nutter Butters.  That was Sunday.

Monday, Ron no run.

Uh-oh.

Tuesday – 13.5 *Good*

Wednesday – personal record time for 6.5 “sprint” *really good*

Thursday – Rest and I need to stretch more betterer.

Friday – 18 miles.  *Nice*

I twisted my ankle recently so I may rest the next two days or just tomorrow.  It started bothering me at about mile 13.

I’ve got to tell you my ego/scammer/saboteur/it, whatever you want to call it, was hassling me all week to NOT run or turn down the milage or…but I kicked butt instead.  Back at you, scammer!  You know, we’re in control of a lot more than we accept the responsibility for.

Tomorrow marks 6 months ’til race-day.  Actually, I have a countdown going.  It’s 182 days, 7 hours, 21 minutes and 53 seconds until we start.

Sleep Good.

I will.

Stalling…

// January 20th, 2012 // Comments Off on Stalling… // Doing What I know, Mental Training, running, success, Training, Ultra-marathon

I’m headed out to do 17+ today and…I’m stalling.  I hate even saying it.  I just blew 15 minutes and I could easily fill another 30 (with legit work for sure but…) convincing myself that I could start a the top of the next hour!

Beyond my public confession I’m left with me.  I’m choosing to dress for the 18°F, get my 1 Snickers cookie and water loaded up in my “fuel belt” and me out the door in less than 5 minutes.  Think less, do what you know, Ronnie-kid.

OK!

Pissing Off My Scammer

// January 14th, 2012 // Comments Off on Pissing Off My Scammer // Uncategorized

I’m getting up tomorrow at 5am to do my 10.5 mile run at a 90% max pace. It’ll be cold, dark and early and…it’s just what I need to start facing my fears, demons and scams head-on. Who wants to run when their family is still asleep? I know I’m going to face great mental challenges all along my 100 mile journey. I’m planning to grow increasingly intimate with discomfort, the unpredictable and the less than optimal.

It’s 8:20pm. I’m going to read Durant’s History of Civilization and fall asleep. It’s been a long day and a long, challenging week.