Check check, is this thing on?

Packing it up for Hell's Hills

I've got my packing list together and it's just a matter of getting everything in the bag tomorrow. My goal is to have everything in the truck by noon and ready to go. That would be the plan because I know I didn't quite get that done before the Prickly Pear 50k last month and I was running in and out the door when I should have been on the road. In addition, the Mrs. and the the baby girl are coming along so I have to make sure I get all their things packed up as well.

I'll be packed by noon but just like the last run I wont be heading for Smithville until after the last Crossfit class. What's funny is that before the last run no one showed up for the 6:30 which was the first time that happened in a long time. I wonder if they knew I was going out of town. I feel kind of bad because I'm kind of hoping that because it's Good Friday everyone will show up to the 5:30 Crossfit, but now that I've said that I'll expect a crowd.

This will most likely be my longest run until August unless I kind find something in between. I will however be preparing for the Buffalo Springs 70.3 Ironman Triathlon which I just signed up for last night. I had it on my schedule but I just hadn't signed up yet. If you guessed that yesterday was the last day before the entry fee went up, you are correct. I'm really excited because the weather is perfect for getting on the bike and doing some Crossfit Endurance WODs; as well as, getting in the pool to swim. This will be my first experience at the half Ironman distance and I look forward to killing it.

All I can say about today's weather is WOW! What a beautiful day it was. Did my endurance workout earlier than I normally would have because I promised to hit for an hour with a friend before I had to go into the studio. I decided to run at the park where the tennis courts are just so I wouldn't be late. I don't think I've ever ran at this park before but I really liked it. I don't know how long ago they created the path but it's really uneven and even non existent in places (probably just covered with dirt and grass). I think I might try some of my longer runs here just because it seems like it would be good practice for the trails. At least, it's the best spot I've found in Corpus for some type of trail running simulation.

After my run, Matt drove up as I was changing into my tennis shoes, so the timing was perfect. It's been a while since I hit with Matt but I always enjoy it because he is rated a level higher than me. Sometimes it feels good to just hit the ball as hard as you can and you know the other cat is doing the same thing. I couldn't help but pause while we were hitting to take in how beautiful the sky was (Carolina Blue and not a cloud to be seen). I also couldn't believe how still it was. It was just a fantastic start to the day.

WOD: AMRAP in 12 minutes of

5 handstand push ups

10 reverse hyperextensions

15 jumps (21")

*4 rounds completed with 33 seconds remaining

Endurance WOD: 1/2 mile warm up followed by hop drills, small lunge drill, wall drill

8x 30 Second on/20 seconds off

Hit tennis balls for an hour

Back in the swing of things

Well the Prickly Pear 50K is now yesterdays news and it's definitely time to start looking towards my next race which will be the Hell's Hills 50K on April 3rd. Tomorrow will be my first run since last Saturday, so I'm ready to get back on track so that I can set a new 50k PR on April 3rd. I don't have much time but I think that my rest and nutrition are what are going to be crucial for making that happen. My goal is to finish in 6'30 or better on the Hell's Hills run.

I thought I would be doing this year's Wet-N-Wild Triathlon but Camille's on call and I failed to plan for the baby so it looks like I'll be a spectator come Saturday morning. The weather hasn't really been super conducive to swimming anyway so I haven't really had much time in the water. But since the swim in this tri is only 300 yds I felt like I could wing it pretty easily. The good news is the weather is really started to become more like spring so I should actually be able to start swimming regularly within the next week. At least, it's looking that way right now.

WOD: 3 minute warm up with jump rope

4 clapping push ups

8 kettlebell swings (1.5 pood)

12 squats

One round each minute for 15 minutes or until fail to complete the reps within the minute.

Endurance WOD: Rest day

2010 Prickly Pear 50K

When I decided to start trail running, I could have found a 5k or 10k to get started. I could have even signed up for the 10 mile Prickly Pear run but I didn't. I signed up to run the Prickly Pear 50k, but now that I've done it I'm glad I did. It was a little rough getting to San Antonio and to McAllister Park but in the end everything worked out.

I decided to wait until after the Friday evening classes to go up to San Antonio and I think I would have been fine with that if I had already been completely packed and had something to eat packed and ready to go. Instead, I ended up running in the house at least three times before I got out of the driveway and had to go to HEB when I got to San Antonio. My thinking was that I would get to San Antonio and hit Whole foods for all my racing needs. However, I got to Whole Foods at 9:30 only to discover that they close at 9. So, I rerouted to a nearby HEB and wondered around the isles trying to find everything I needed. I got to the host hotel around 1030 to check in and headed to my room. I decided to eat dinner (some turkey and half an avacodo) and start getting things ready for the morning. I think the lights went out at about 11:15.

I couldn't wait for the alarm to go off at 5:30. No...not because I was that excited but instead I had this incredible urge to pee. I was drinking a lot of water to ensure I was hydrated for the run and that's why I had to get up at 5 am instead. I used my Trigger Point kit while I ate some Turkey and an apple. I showered, and liberally applied the Body Glide (thank goodness I had a little one in my Camelbak because I didn't realize the one in my vanity bag was done). I tried to get everything from my room back to the truck in waves but ended up gooning myself when I dropped my room key and didn't realize it. I must have spent 10 minutes going through everything in the truck before I decided to retrace my route to the room and found it in the parking lot. Sheesh...that little incident had me rushing to get to the park which I did with just 10 minutes to pick up my number and get all my stuff to the drop point. I literally set my cooler and bag down and walked to the back of the pack at the starting line.

The countdown from five commences and before I have time to take a deep breath we're off. I guess I didn't need a deep breath because I ended up walking the first 1/2 mile or so. Who knew that there was only enough room for one person on the trail. So there I am thinking, this isn't trail running... it's trail walking. Fortunately, I was running before I knew it and enjoying the trails. I have never run trails before, it's nothing like road running and I love it. The footing is constantly changing beneath your feet, your under the canopy of the trees, your out in the sun, and if you're not paying attention you could be falling over that rock and down in the ravene. Seriously, I had two people, at different points in the first loop, go crashing down right in front of me. I personally had 6 opportunities to bust my ass but was fortunate enough to regain my footing. I don't know how they were doing it but the race directors found a way to make the roots get a little higher each loop. My times for each loop kept getting slower: loop 1 - 1'50, loop 2 - 2'30, and loop 3 - 2'45. I think I kept up on my hydration with my camelbak and I tried to eat a Larabar about every hour. I had some almond butter between laps 1 and 2 while I was changing my socks. It tasted so good, I think I had just a little to much. I think that may have affected how much water I was able to take on board on the second loop. In the end, I finished the 50K in in 7'30. I loved the course and had a great time, so you'll see me back next year.

The Synergy of Friends and Food

Last weekend my wife and I dropped our baby girl with my mother and headed to San Antonio to have dinner with an old high school friend who I haven't seen since....well high school. I'm still totally working the Paleo diet (a week and a day now) so the Mrs. got online and found Fogo De Chao which is a Brazialian steakhouse. You basically hit the salad bar to start and when you get back to your table the Gachos start circling your table with all kinds of delicious meats until you can't eat another bite. I had never heard of such a thing but she some how knew that was the place to go. It's a little early to call it love but it's definitely a strong like. So much so that, I was considering picking my parents up Saturday after I finish the Prickly Pear 50K and driving back to San Antonio. However, my mother is 9 pin bowling at 4 PM, so I would have to finish under 5 hours climb right in the truck and book it in order to do that. This has me thinking that lunch will be at the Antler?

I wonder how interactive cavemen were during their meals. Did they discuss what they hoped to accomplish outside the cave during the day at breakfast, how their day was going during lunch, or their dreams and aspirations for the future at dinner? In my mind, I can't really conceive it but it's a fact at some point in our evolution we began to do all of these things during our mealtimes. At some point in our history, mealtime became an opportunity to create an atmosphere of community. I think that is why some people turn to food for comfort. For them, food helps them relive that sense of community which is a feeling of safety, happiness, and acceptance. If that's to deep, then maybe it's just enough to say that we had a great dinner reunion.

Running WOD: 8x200M sprints (controlled effort due to the fact that the concrete was slippery. No nee to brake a leg the week of the 50K).

Where does the time go?

Wow, time flies when you're trying to get things done. Even if, it is just running around in circles. Speaking of running, I got an impromptu run in today after dropping my truck off for servicing before the drive up to San Antonio this weekend. I thought I would be able to get it done prior to my appointment with my first client, but no dice. Although, I was at the front of the line; the two cars behind me had appointments. No longer was I looking at a 30 minute oil change but instead closer to an hour and a half. So, no sir I will not be waiting for my vehicle in your lobby. I grabbed my backpack and hit the trail. You might chuckle when I say trail until you've seen the sidewalks in Corpus Christi. I tried several of my famous shortcuts and somehow arrived at the studio only 5 minutes late. It took about 45 minutes to get to the studio and 30 minutes jogging to get back to the dealership (thanks to one wrong turn). Sure, there was a wrong turn but sometimes that's how you end up discovering something new. It's like the saying says "nothing ventured nothing gained".