June is two-thirds over and I haven't made a post?!

Haven't been feeling like much of a runner lately - been cutting back trying to let an IT band issue settle down.

Did get out and spend some quality time in the woods this weekend...

Used the Mohican 50 as a training run for Burning River 100 - 6 weeks out.
I think I got exactly what I wanted out of it - a tough day without the need for extended recovery.

Heat, humidity, hills.
Nagging injury that flared early had me walking after 15 miles. (But, I rocked those first 15!)
What I didn't expect was that my walk (anticipated) would get even worse - thanks to extended downhills that had me going sideways, providing weird stresses and blistering. By 26 miles it was BAD. This gave me the opportunity to find new ways to keep going when all seemed lost.

Nutrition, hydration, electrolytes all seemed to be on the mark - happy happy all day.
Rocked the uphills the whole way - never passed (that I recall), usually passing. (The downhills, however, were beyond pathetic.)

Since this was a "training run", I drew the line at adding injury (beyond blistered feet).
End result - 45 miles in 13:30. Lots of time on (wet) feet. Lots of learning. A great, but emotionally draining, day.

If anybody's interested:

(Cut and paste into your browser) http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37726178

Analysis of my race. Long and short of it: BRUTAL. Steep, rocky, hot, stinging nettles, blisters, 2 giant climbs in first 20 miles that whooped me for the rest of the race. Hit my goal however of 40 miles under 9 hours. The race was 41 however (doh!), making my final time look weak. 8:58 sounds better than 9:15 or whatever it was. I was gassed by mile 20, ready to pack it in at 30. Like Buzzie, I dug deep. Two mantras that got me through: "Run when you can, walk when you have to", and "You have reserves you don't even know about." 

  Diaphragm cramping making it impossible to breath deeply after 30 miles or so. If anyone looks at the graphs in the link above, the hr is most telling. Notice how it slowly creeps downward. I had little left to give after about a marathon. 

  Overall, lots of tortuous fun and sun, no injuries save some blisters, had my family with me, and got to see some beautiful land. Big success. Next?

Way to HTFU - congratulations!!

BTW - I've added to, "Run when you can, walk when you have to." "And, if you can't walk, try running."

Should have done this at Umstead; but, hadn't thought of it yet. Tried it at Mohican - felt and worked much better than walking, except it would quickly tie my butt up in knots again (sending my knee into unspeakable pain).

Sheesh, thanks for all the feedback. Where is everybody? Y'all hurt my iddy biddy feelings.

 Sorry, I've been laying low on the interwebs lately so I haven't been by here much lately. Great to hear that your body held up well. Nothing says fun like bugs, heat, and huge hills to run! I think we're all in for a long hot summer this side of the country.

So what's next on your plate?

Hey Greg - Great job on your run, friend!  Way to gut it out.  Sorry I haven't commented sooner, but I've been AWOL since last Wednesday.  My buddy, Kate, ran Western States, and her sister (my buddy, Karen) and I got the privilege of crewing for her.  So much to tell, but suffice to say it was an absolutely freaking fabulous five days!!  I'm going to write a crewing report, and you are forewarned - it will be long.

Take care, fellow trail running freaks ~

Read both Krupicka's and Roe's race reports. I only wish I could run 100 miles, and the way they do. I can't fathom that kind of fitness. Then again, I'm not young like them nor do I have 20+ hours a week to train.