I have read over the last several weeks the controversy of wither a 50k is really a ulramarathon. I would have to say it is but of course not by much, just about 5 miles after the first 26.
A couple weekends ago, I ran a trail 50k in South Carolina and a pretty good time doing it. The trail had plenty of dips and rises with fair amount of hills. I would definitely not call it a hard 50k but it is all I wanted at the time. I have had very limited training over the last several weeks, with the start of school, driving a bus almost everyday, Eds. class, and trying to be a good Husband and Dad.
We started the weekend on delay as I had to change oil in the car before we left. We could not leave on Friday because I had a game Friday night. The drive down was good we got to the trail and scouted the area for a few minutes, then we went to find a campsite. This did not go as planned, we went to the campground and found out that it was closed. I then I thought I could drive and find a new campground, well after an hour of driving I decide to go ask a local. We were given great directions to a new campground.
We arrived out our new campground with limited light to check the place out. We quickly found our site and started to have a great time. We were camping beside Strom Thurmond Lake, we had beach front and views of a Bald Eagle. http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/camping.htm I would recommend this area to anyone that likes the outdoors. We got early on Sunday morning, broke town the tent, cleaned up in the nice bathhouse and headed back over the dam to South Carolina.
The race had about 100 people registered with about 90 of those showing up. The race was well organized and the start was uneventful. I ran the first hour very slow behind a large pack of people. Myself and another runner passed the pack and took off. We talked just a little and set a pretty good pace. About 30 minutes or so and we were finished with the first 7.5 miles. It was nice to come by the same aid station as Jennifer and Elizabeth were waiting on me. The went well, as I did not get lost and only fail twice. I finish a couple minutes short of 6 and half hours. http://ultrasontrails.com/history/FATSresults2010.html
Not sure if I will run this one next year but I had a good time.
Jennifer drove us home and I thin we all had fairly good time together. Jennifer and I were really tired because I did not get the air mattress out for our night of camping. Next time it will be in the tent. O I would say that a 50k is a ultramarathon just not a long one.
Till next time,
David
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Feeling Fat and Lazy
I have done absolutely nothing in relation to physical fitness in almost two week and I feel fat and lazy. My foot is feeling really good, so I may hit the road tomorrow for a few miles. I am still planning on riding the Tour de Vino bike ride on Saturday for about 32 miles.
The next big challenge is the 24 Hour Bike Ride - http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/TR/Bike/General?px=1221883&pg=personal&fr_id=1100
I have to get some miles on the bike as I have only ridden about 200 miles since January. I am also planning my next big run event. I have found a ultra series in South Carolina that looks really good, no entry fee just donations.
This is it for tonight, I need to get up early and get something done before the world wakes up.
Until next time,
David
The next big challenge is the 24 Hour Bike Ride - http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/TR/Bike/General?px=1221883&pg=personal&fr_id=1100
I have to get some miles on the bike as I have only ridden about 200 miles since January. I am also planning my next big run event. I have found a ultra series in South Carolina that looks really good, no entry fee just donations.
This is it for tonight, I need to get up early and get something done before the world wakes up.
Until next time,
David
Monday, May 3, 2010
Completed first Ultra-Marathon
It has been a while but I have achieved the Ultra-marathon goal. The last few months have been very busy. I started back to school in January on my EdS., I now have two classes completed.
On the training side of life, I have been doing OK. After this weekend I know for sure that I have not put in enough miles. I will double the mileage for next year, if I do the same event. My weekly totals were mostly 30 - 50 miles a week and I need to be doing that on Saturday and Sunday with shorter runs during the week.
Race Recap - The week leading up to the race was stressful but not overwhelming. As everyone else I never seem to find enough time or get enough rest, but everything seems to fall into place any way. I do hope the next time I try something like this I will get more rest, but enough about the do better list.
We traveled to northern Virginia on Friday with little complications. We checked in and found a cabin to stay in for the weekend. Elizabeth loved camping, she played outside and found lots of bugs. The people that organized and the other participants were great. We met a lot of great people and that may be the best part of all the events that we do, the people. We got our safety briefing on Friday night and we went back to the cabin to rest. It was very relaxing no TV, no radio and not telephone - yes we had phone reception for the weekend; Jennifer did have to drive out and call to let family know that we had made it safely.
Race Day - I woke about 5:30 and felt good. The race started 7 am so I could take my time and get ready. The weather was Hot really Hot. I ran a couple of loops with Keith Straw who is an elite runner that has completed Badwater (one of the toughest races in the world) he was great and gave some solid advise as we ran and just chit chatted to pass the time. It did not take long before the heat and my lack of drinking enough water during the first two laps to take affect. I got really sick and every person that past kept asking are you OK and my response after the first two or three was, "I don't know", but as I said before the people at these events are great and the lady who won the female division slowed when she caught up to me and then walked with me to the aid station. If it had not been for her I would not have been able to make it, at the aid station I drank a ton and set off again. I went slow and made it back to the check-in point and drank several bottles of water. I took of again this time with two water bottles and it only took a few minutes and I was back to running. I was drinking 40 ounces every four miles. As the day went on my right foot began to hurt worse and by 2am I could not walk on it, so I called it a day after completing 64 miles.
The awards and breakfast was at 7am so I hobbled over the the main area and we all ate breakfast together and congratulated each other on our individual accomplishments. Jennifer and Elizabeth got to spend Saturday with Jennifer's sister and her boyfriend who had came down from D.C. for the day. Elizabeth had so much fun Camping she cried when Jennifer told her we had to leave.
All of this said it was a great weekend and I hope to do more of these events. I had posted an update in another forum and some people said they thought what they were doing was now diminished. I want everyone to know I was not running like this five years ago, I have progressively ran longer distances over the past several years. I want everyone to know that you can do what you REALLY want to do. We all make statements that we wish we could do something but how many times do we really adjust our lives so we can accomplish what we wish for, so that said; Change your Wish List to you Goals and start checking them off.
Take Care and Get Outside,
David
On the training side of life, I have been doing OK. After this weekend I know for sure that I have not put in enough miles. I will double the mileage for next year, if I do the same event. My weekly totals were mostly 30 - 50 miles a week and I need to be doing that on Saturday and Sunday with shorter runs during the week.
Race Recap - The week leading up to the race was stressful but not overwhelming. As everyone else I never seem to find enough time or get enough rest, but everything seems to fall into place any way. I do hope the next time I try something like this I will get more rest, but enough about the do better list.
We traveled to northern Virginia on Friday with little complications. We checked in and found a cabin to stay in for the weekend. Elizabeth loved camping, she played outside and found lots of bugs. The people that organized and the other participants were great. We met a lot of great people and that may be the best part of all the events that we do, the people. We got our safety briefing on Friday night and we went back to the cabin to rest. It was very relaxing no TV, no radio and not telephone - yes we had phone reception for the weekend; Jennifer did have to drive out and call to let family know that we had made it safely.
Race Day - I woke about 5:30 and felt good. The race started 7 am so I could take my time and get ready. The weather was Hot really Hot. I ran a couple of loops with Keith Straw who is an elite runner that has completed Badwater (one of the toughest races in the world) he was great and gave some solid advise as we ran and just chit chatted to pass the time. It did not take long before the heat and my lack of drinking enough water during the first two laps to take affect. I got really sick and every person that past kept asking are you OK and my response after the first two or three was, "I don't know", but as I said before the people at these events are great and the lady who won the female division slowed when she caught up to me and then walked with me to the aid station. If it had not been for her I would not have been able to make it, at the aid station I drank a ton and set off again. I went slow and made it back to the check-in point and drank several bottles of water. I took of again this time with two water bottles and it only took a few minutes and I was back to running. I was drinking 40 ounces every four miles. As the day went on my right foot began to hurt worse and by 2am I could not walk on it, so I called it a day after completing 64 miles.
The awards and breakfast was at 7am so I hobbled over the the main area and we all ate breakfast together and congratulated each other on our individual accomplishments. Jennifer and Elizabeth got to spend Saturday with Jennifer's sister and her boyfriend who had came down from D.C. for the day. Elizabeth had so much fun Camping she cried when Jennifer told her we had to leave.
All of this said it was a great weekend and I hope to do more of these events. I had posted an update in another forum and some people said they thought what they were doing was now diminished. I want everyone to know I was not running like this five years ago, I have progressively ran longer distances over the past several years. I want everyone to know that you can do what you REALLY want to do. We all make statements that we wish we could do something but how many times do we really adjust our lives so we can accomplish what we wish for, so that said; Change your Wish List to you Goals and start checking them off.
Take Care and Get Outside,
David
Sunday, February 7, 2010
January Recap
January was the start of a very busy year and I hope a very productive yer as well. I amped up the training, not with that many long runs but very consistent runs. January's run total was 149 miles, I know that I am going to have to crank it up even more but I pretty happy with my fitness level.
I also, took on another big challenge with starting back to school; everything with that is going well so far, we will really see when I get the results from my first few assignments.
Looking forward to a fabulous February of family, fitness, fun and school.
Until next time,
David
I also, took on another big challenge with starting back to school; everything with that is going well so far, we will really see when I get the results from my first few assignments.
Looking forward to a fabulous February of family, fitness, fun and school.
Until next time,
David
Saturday, January 30, 2010
2010 First Snow
It started snowing last night and it has been going off and on all night. I have cleared a path to the cars, just in case. Do not plan on making any trips in the next couple of days.
This will encourage me to get a large amount of course work completed. My classes are going well and I am enjoying the class interaction. I will also be spending more time on the treadmill as well.
I will try to get some pictures posted later.
Until next time,
David
This will encourage me to get a large amount of course work completed. My classes are going well and I am enjoying the class interaction. I will also be spending more time on the treadmill as well.
I will try to get some pictures posted later.
Until next time,
David
Monday, January 25, 2010
New Year - New Adventures
I started the Appalachian State University EdS. Educational Administration Program. I am looking forward to the classes and the interaction with other people passionate about education. I am also excited about taking the program to the streets; seeing if I can make it work in school.
I have also got some serious events on the calendar this year. I am participating in the 24 Hours of Booty http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/PageServer again this year. A friend is going to ride with me this year which should help with the motivation at 4am.
I have also taken on a 24 hour run http://www.athletic-equation.com/Endurance-Events/24hratr.html. The 24 hour run will be a great challenge I have set a goal to just keep moving for 20 of the 24 hours. I also have a distance goal but will keep that to myself until race time. I am also doing some shorter events with Jennifer which should be fun.
It is getting late and I have more reading to do.
Until next time.
David
I have also got some serious events on the calendar this year. I am participating in the 24 Hours of Booty http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/PageServer again this year. A friend is going to ride with me this year which should help with the motivation at 4am.
I have also taken on a 24 hour run http://www.athletic-equation.com/Endurance-Events/24hratr.html. The 24 hour run will be a great challenge I have set a goal to just keep moving for 20 of the 24 hours. I also have a distance goal but will keep that to myself until race time. I am also doing some shorter events with Jennifer which should be fun.
It is getting late and I have more reading to do.
Until next time.
David
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