After a busy weekend in Sulphur for the State Short Course Swim Meet, I am back to work this week. I still have not gone running or done any form of exercise since the run. My feet are holding onto the skin for now, but one day it will have to fall off.
I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what went right and what went wrong. Suprisingly, my list of what went right is longer than expected. Of course, I only made it 60 miles and all of those things may have been rendered null and void in the last 40 miles. But for now, they are in the plus column.
The list of negatives are pretty obvious: my feet suck, my Ipod sucks, my trail running experience is minimal and my ability to adapt to unforeseen problems is questionable.
I did come up with ten things that I wanted to write down for next time. And since next time is at an undetermined date, having this info for the future is important.
Ten Things I Need to Change
- Become a foot expert. More importantly, become a “my” foot expert. I really need to experiment with different shoes, socks, pre-run preparations, blister care, etc. My feet must have been moving a lot in the shoes. I also need to go run in the swamp……..a lot.
- Cross train more. I think when I got injured and had to start doing bike workouts it actually helped me. My long runs were better and I think I arrived at the race in good shape. This was an accidental plus that I want to continue.
- Eat a lot more. Not on a day to day basis because then I would be fat, but during my long runs. I need to figure out my maximum calorie intake that my stomach can handle before it purges itself. Dialing in that number will allow me to go longer in the race before my energy wanes.
- Separate my hydration from my nutrition. It is hard to keep up with calories if you are drinking some and eating some. Plus carrying the little packs of Perpetuem and mixing them at the Damn Road aid station was annoying.
- If I am going to listen to music, exorcise the demon that possessed my Ipod. Being pissed off in a race because of an Ipod is not helpful. But some diversion from the pain would have been nice on loop 3.
- Get on the trails a lot more. A LOT MORE! The road does not have mud pits, angles, roots, or other ways to fall down. Of course, you can fall down on the road but that is only because you are a klutz.
- Strength train for lower body AND upper body. My core and upper body will help keep my form closer to what it should be for longer into the race. Plus if I have to crawl, it will come in handy.
- Do more night running. Getting lost on the last section was part mental meltdown and part just not paying attention. I was whining and Christine was singing. It would only have gotten worse as the night went on and my brain melted further.
- Run in the rain or shine, snow or hail, cold or baking heat. You never know what you will get race day. That was a lesson I learned the hard way.
- Don’t stop. The million “what if” questions after my DNF are killing me. Finish the damn race next time.
Next time……………..T.B.A.
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