Gatsby - that looks like a great 50k! That's really green for California

Beryl - yeah, should be less time looking for the trail during the race, I've done the trails a few times, and feel like I could do the course unmarked now

FunkyHd - maybe wait until the Speedgoats go on sale? I love them so far, we'll see what I think after doing 100k in them

me - mostly biking last week, was dealing with some knee pain, which seems to be mostly gone now. I did a night run with clubfatass on Saturday, starting at 8pm, a couple other slower 100k racers wanted to do the last 11k of the course in the dark, so we did 17km/10.6mi with 830m/2722' of climbing. Was good to test out my lights, have a handheld Nathan fire 300, and a Petzl tikka headlamp, the headlamp is a little underpowered, but really liked the technical trails with the flashlight. These trails are technical, and there's a few part where you wouldn't want to fall off the edge (there's a rope handrail in one section). Rained pretty heavy all day, and was light to moderate rain throughout the run, even though it was clear in the distance, and you could see the city lights. They waited for me a bit on some of the climbs, I think I did pretty good for my second ever night run though. The fast group went ahead, but only finished about 10 minutes ahead. We stopped and took some not so good photos at the lookouts. Was fun running with some more experienced people, one person just finished Hurt 100, and the list of races that some people have coming up is mind boggling. Taper this week, so only a couple short runs, will spend some time prepping, getting my gear and drop bags ready. Race starts at 4am, and I'm about a 45 min. drive away, so not going to be much of a sleep on Friday  night!

Paul good luck on LD, looks like you have some good elevation each week there getting ready for WS

Berly    24 hr race would be a relief for someone like me who took 29 hrs to finish 100, but for someone who is fast and takes like 16-18 hr it would be "graduate level" because they are running faster for more miles.

Gatsby, that looks nice and lush.  Good job.  I am impressed how symmetric that mountain you went up and down is by its profile

WC thanks for that link.  I need to do one of those races.  Logistically they just seem so much simpler for packing/nutrition.  There are a bunch around here but so far timing has not worked out.  I may have to travel more afield.

My week was about 45 miles.  I have been alternating easy running with walking TM or intervals run/walk outside, no workouts, and did a couple days strength training.  Had no ITB issues all week.  I had a nice 20 mile run LR @9:01 pace/mile including some hiking, finishing up in mid 8s, so feeling pretty strong.  First 20 of the season and I think it means at least cardio wise I am trained well.  My ITB was fine until the next day and then it flared again.  So I am going to have to get more serious about taking it easy.  Race is in a couple weeks so I can justify that as a taper.  Its so annoying to be trained up well cardio but basically sidelined from injury.  Its like I can have one or the other not both.  So usually I revert to just slow easy paced trail stuff to avoid injury.  Just enough to keep whatever is left of my sanity during the taper.

Kinda funny, juvenile video of Ultra and Tri weirdly animated shit talking Euro-bots.  Warning some things not PC and may not be suitable for work/ young children, but overall pretty benign.

 

Funny Ultramarathon vs. Triatholon video

 

I just may change my name to "smelly ultrarunning donkey" lol

Funny. "... is ultrarunning just for fat people who just can't run very fast but have a very high tolerance for boredom?"

I resemble that remark.

WC - Is the D3 on a 400m track?

 

Yes, 125 laps for 50K. We change direction every 4 hours, but that's more for the 12- and 24-hour runners. If I have to change direction twice I'm in big trouble. Let me correct that. Since the 50K has a 9:00 am start two hours after the 24-hour gets started, I will have two direction changes. A third would be a disaster.

gatsby, nice job! good to see you back on the trails!

bert nice b2b. perhaps the bonk is good for you? some ppl do that on ourpose for fat adaptation.

paul gl at your races

beryl, going home quickest way via nevada hwy 93. its a nice way to drive.

drock, gl to you too!

im reading all the posts but stuck on my mobile for now. race on sat so maybe just some easy hikes next few days. trying to deal with allergy induced migraine? dry weather, wind and pollen here. and its been hot. race forecast calls for low of 31 and high of 70. kinda hard to dial that in. gonna be a cold start and a hot day! ya 70 feels hot

WC- you mention changing directions makes it harder or you don't like to? how come that is, or did I misunderstand.

If I have to change direction a third time, I've been out there running much to long for a 50K. 2 hours to the first change, 4 hours to the second change. If I'm out there another 4 hours for a third change, that's 10 hours and I'm running a 50K with ZERO vertical gain and a flat artificial surface especially designed for running. I should be able to walk a 50K faster than that.

Zumbro 100 starts tomorrow morning, 50 miler starts at midnight Fri/Sat, and the 17 miler starts on Saturday. The weather looks insane - winter storm watches/warnings abound. I am glad I am not running it!

I am back to running full speed.  Last week I ran 36 miles.  Most miles where easy.  I did a 16 miler Saturday with a tempo run after 4 miles.  Ave 6:17 for 5 miles. I was hoping to run 6 miles but couldn't hold the pace.  Next week I will try another tempo run for 6-7 miles.