Well, Zumbro 50 filled up right under my nose. I had a notification set up with ultrasignup but didn't get it! Well, I guess that makes the decision for me. I guess I can do Chippewa Moraine again, that race is fun.

 It's also TBT if anyone has any old stories to share.

I didn't know it at the time, but apparently I started getting into trail races back in 2006, which was 8 years before my first marathon.  This was in central Thailand (I'm behind).

Finished January with a tad over 200, best Jan mileage for me.  Still haven't pulled the trigger on any races this year.  I don't know if it's nerves or what.  Biggest problem is that I can't find a shoe setup that I can be confident on trail for so many hours.

RWD - Sorry to hear about Zumbro.  Can't go wrong with a fun race though.

Dhuffman - go for Age=Miles, do an extra 5, but do it before, by the end theres no way I could add 5 at the end!

RWD  sorry about Zumbro.  You should look at the Earth Day 50K outside Chicago.  It is a great race (though would be a drive for you).   Its April 21.  I have done it the last 2 years and likely this year.  Weather is always beautiful.

I have no old memories because I have only been running since 2013!

Paul232 have fun at SOB, let us know how it goes of course

Reflections on January:

I haven't registered either, I am not sure why, I am pretty much 100% going to do a 25K in March and a 50K in April.  I have other obligations at the time of Kettle 100 races, which I wanted to do, so I am kinda shopping around now for a June race in the Midwest.

155 miles, 37-40 mpw, starting back after downtime post Tunnel 100 in November.  I resolved to do strength training regular in 2018, I think I have done it 2 times so far.  Following rather loosely Pfitz 12/55-basically keeping the workouts/strides but running more days of week and midweek medium long runs are not so long (time  crunch).  The biggest difference is running different paces for non-workout days:  general aerobic, medium and long run pace, recovery effort, it is much more structured then my prior winging it approach to non workout days.  Only one "workout" in January.  I got one trail run a week.  Mostly on the TM watching Netflix.  Finished Godless, Dark, some of Shameless, some of Master of None, a Marvel series I cannot recall the name of.  Also, The Outsiders movie, part of Hateful Eight, Bourne something, and part of Logan (too much head/face slicing for me).  Netflix gives me something to look forward to on the TM and helps with the drudgery.

   Shoe whore stories:  The LRS had a 50% off shoe sale so I got into Hokkas again after a Hokka hiatus:  I got Clayton2 and Tracer ($50 each).  I already did run in Bondi 5 since the call.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any Hokka trail shoes or Cliftons both of which I would like to try (again).  I also got a pair of new Topo Hydroventure (waterproof) shoes at REI garage for $50.  I think I am done buying shoes for full price, I am okay with last years model.  (I also am out of money and pretty much have enough shoes to last the whole season.  (Amelda Marcos eat your heart out)

     Whats next:   I am going to add some general aerobic "hill" intervals on the TM.  Steady incline running on the TM can aggravate my Achilles but I may try and do some of that cautiously.  More MP runs, more lactate runs.

RWD  sorry about Zumbro.  You should look at the Earth Day 50K outside Chicago.  It is a great race (though would be a drive for you).   Its April 21.  I have done it the last 2 years and likely this year.  Weather is always beautiful.

  

I haven't registered either, I am not sure why, I am pretty much 100% going to do a 25K in March and a 50K in April.  I have other obligations at the time of Kettle 100 races, which I wanted to do, so I am kinda shopping around now for a June race in the Midwest.

 

It's not a huge sad deal but I was looking forward to running a 50 miler. Also it starts at midnight which would help me deal with that sleeping issue. I am doing the Chippewa Moraine 50K again and looking forward to it! This year I am going to  The Earth Day 50K sounds fun - my BFF from UIUC is from Crystal Lake.

I will keep you posted but there's a new ultra coming to Duluth the 2nd weekend in June. I don't know anything about it yet other than it's looking like it'll be put on by the Wild Duluth people? So there's an option for a race. Or you could do FANS 6/12/24 hr with me in St. Paul.

Treadmill every day this week so far for me. I did 11 miles between 2 workouts today, hoping to do 14 miles tomorrow, split between outside and treadmill. The high is like... 7F tomorrow so idk how long I'll be able to survive out there.

Did the Fort Ord 50k yesterday.  In a word, HOT, with temps in the 80s and very little shade.  I was not well trained for a 50k (one long run of 20 miles, two 15 milers), and definitely not trained for heat.  But, it's a race I do every year with my friends so I did it. No major problems, aside from cramping in my calfs and shins at mile 25 going up a long, hot hill. I never cramp, so that was a new one for me. I took an S-cap and kept moving, and the cramping went away. Can't really say whether cramping was due to under-training, insufficient electrolytes, or both.  Anyway, it wasn't fatal, although I really wanted to find a tree with some shade, crawl under it, and collapse.  4500' of elevation gain by my watch, mostly rolling hills, which were lovely and green and hot and endless. Finished in 7:22, so I beat my goal of 7:30.  

Some race pics.

Nice work G-bird.  Tough w no shade i bet.  So sunny and colorful pics though.

I got past the lottery for the Knee Knacker, it's a 48k/30 miler, but over 8000' of gain, oldest local race, this is the 30th running. Should be fun, I've wanted to do this one for a while

http://kneeknacker.com/

https://www.strava.com/routes/2622756