Triple Trek

I've been having a problem getting back into running since the Maui Madness Run in late July of 170 Miles. Not that that was a run, but the effort did me in and I was hit with a round of depression and utter physical exhaustion about a week after the run. Getting back on the trails was difficult. Everything else seemed to come down on me very hard.

My late summer plans were to go to Glacier with Don and the gang and then do the Plain. It didn't seem to work out well. Family concerns, problems at the house, my general worn down state, all led to me deciding not to go and eating the ticket. Its has been a rough month.

So I didn't go into the Triple expecting to hit my previous PR of 5:55 or even braking 6 or 6:30. My hope was to do a 7:00. Given the heavy mud that was on the course my 7:20 was pretty much in line with my expectations. The race has changed with only one aid station up top, which limits bottle use for me, and makes a camel necessary. That is extra weight--and added time. I was using some old shoes and they were not particularly good Mudders--My Adidas SJ5's which I have shoe gooed uncountable times to deal with heel problems. I was on the edge of a cold, which has overtaken me now, and I just did not have enough time to train on running. Plus I have been having some knee problems, which caused me to back off running any of the downs. Not a great set-up to a PR.

I think I blew the 7:00 when I had the guys load my camel with ice and not much water. The ice didn't melt and three miles into the third loop I was heavy with frozen water and nothing to drink. Rex did this on the last HURT and I should have remembered his lesson. It cost me greatly and I just flagged at a time when I normally can put out that extra effort.

It was however nice to get back to doing a loop I understand well and to train all, be it for a short time, on getting my patterns down over the course. I look forward to getting back to doing that for the HURT and the Peacock.

As a prelude to the run I went out on my own and then with Huddy and Scott to do some trail maintenance. There were a number of downed trees that needed some work. I also went out with Fish to do the ribbons. I mostly trimmed overhanging stuff. I would imagine that I got in about 8 hours of trail work. There is a lot to do out there and I might see if I can get DLNR to give me one of those big hoes to open up the drains that are plugged up with mud.

I'm working on a Maui Madness post. It is taking some time. I'll wedge it in later. I'm feeling a bit better but the summer schedule seems to have long term effect on me.