Good idea on the monthly WC, eventually if others agree we might drop the RWOL just to make it more inviting, but that is not my call as I was pretty new there,

I had 238 mi this month.  9days off! Usually only do 1 per week off (2-3 post race off) max so that’s a lot.  It is a clear sign I’m ready for some downtime.

Agree on the cold,and  with the dark my motivation has flatlined.  I want to like running in the cold and would like to do another ultr in the snow, but right now the rainy cold is a bummer.   Luckily I’m tapering.

I sat down last night to write out some pace charts.  It is the first time I realized majority of my 100 miler will be run in the dark.  Not tech trail so I’m not worried about that.  Seeing it on paper makes it more real though.  The most I have spent “running” so far was 17hrs.  Best case scenario is 7 more ours in the dark, and my races are not likely to follow the best case scenario (which is fine, that is what I signed up for).

Hi everyone! I thought I would say hi since I have been lurking here. I posted in the RWOL Ultra forum just a few times, since I do mainly marathons and shorter. I've done a 50K (Pistol Ultra Run, on a pretty flat, paved bike path, in Jan 15), and this May I did my first 50M (at Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival). I want to work in more ultras here and there, but I have a lot of races to fit them around. This morning I signed up (after deciding fairly suddenly to do so) for a 6H race next Saturday. I figure maybe I will easy jog a marathon or a little more (maybe with a few walk breaks), and then maybe walk/jog the rest of the time, depending on how I feel. I'm looking at it as fun way to do something different for my LR. After that I have marathons in Jan, March and April (plus some HMs etc), so not sure when I'll get another ultra in. Anyway, hi. 

Berly  - this weekend is all raining and taper.  I will likely go to the treadmill .  I have gotten into 30 sec on 30 sec off workouts to keep from going crazy and also walk run, incline intervals.

I raced a 50K today! And finished. Finally got my DFL, after being robbed of it by two after-the-cutoff finishers this spring. It was cold and muddy and I drove through a brief snowstorm to get there.

Weekly training taper.  38 miles this week.  1 more week to go.  Spent way to many hours packing for race.  Got all drop bags packed and food bags as well.  Just need reservations and overnight bag and I am set.  Ready to get it started.

Thanks for the tips.  I didnt know about the switch issue.  2 headlamps and 1 set of batteries each bag and 1 in my vest!  Ive learbed the hard way having to use my phone llight or not even having a light before, due to taking longer than anticipated to finish or forgetting to tranfer it to my vest.

RWD - Great RR... really enjoyed reading!  Those cold muddy wet conditions sounded challenging - tough to know what to wear.  And of course, congrats on getting that DFL!  I was pretty close this year with 385 / 395.  There's always another race for me.  Isn't Black Friday like .... soon?

Trail_Hound - Good luck!  Wow - self-supporting 100 - I have nothing to put that into context.

NTS - Hi!  3 marathons in the first 4 months next year?  Are you racing them all?

Beryl - Thanks!  Like I say, I'm just listening and learning for the most part.  If I learn more about beer drinking, then that's a huge bonus!!!

wcrunner - Hope you're feeling better and getting more miles in.  This time of year is always tough.  Also, I'll be sure to pay attention if I'm bombing in on any national championship race from now on .

October was a pretty light month for me - 118.  Just building back up after Chicago.  Since my hamstring is still bothersome, I've been pretty conservative.  Ran a 5K race on Saturday, and as wcrunner pointed out in another forum and unbeknownst to me, it was also the USATF 5K Championships.  Doing a 2 mile warm-up, I was obliviously running along side of elite runners from around the country.  Well, along side for like a split second (their warm-up pace is a tad faster than mine), but technically, yes.  Finished in the fastest 3+ miles I ran this year - 7:33 avg pace.  Slow for a 5K for me, but my legs didn't disintegrate, so I was happy.

Watched the NYC Marathon at mile 11 on Sunday and cheered runners starting with the wheel chairs, hand cyclists, and elites all the way through until the sweeper buses passed by.  It was very bitter sweet cheering and encouraging those in the back.  They gave the biggest smiles of appreciation, but at mile 11 I knew the test of wills that faced them ahead.  But I love that spirit!

Obviously, none of this will help me prepare from my first 50K next month.  Hope I can work up to at least a couple 50+ mile weeks this month before the race.