Chasing the light.

What happens when you leave home late in the evening, feeling like a fat bloated elephant after spending the previous night volunteering and eating like a pig at an event (with no sleep, may I add), and decide to go for a run? You may surprise yourself with a fast time. Because as sunset approaches and the light fades, it surely isn't fun to run on local trails without a headlamp, tripping over roots, rocks and snakes.

Last week has been good in terms of running, I put another 50 miles in, and as I had looked back today, 40 of them were on a "tempo" side, not planned that way at first, until the run’s start. Just so happened that I enjoyed a spring in my step and that I also pressed that tiny button on my watch, and it all transformed into solid runs with rather fast-ish times. The leg is still hurting, and it finally pushed me to take 6 days break from yoga, until Friday I was back and trying to touch the limit again, as far as this limit is nowadays.

Saturday night was another race, last in the series of Cap'n Karl, which Larry ran, and where the kids hung out, and where I played the boss of an aid station. As Joe puts it, he needs someone as bossy as I am to be there, and so it works for both of us, because I can't be any other way:) Unlike last race, this one had great temperatures, and with 4x9.1M loops runners took pretty good care of themselves and were quite self sufficient. What meant, once all was set up, all I had to do was to keep cutting PBJ and melons occasionally, while chatting away with staff, volunteers, photographers and family members. (Olga, thanks for your never-ending support. I heard from two runners that said if it wasn't for you not letting them quit, they wouldn't have finished. One guy said if it wasn't for that "Russian chic...".) Eating insane amount of hamburgers (sans buns) was a time passing in its own right - see first paragraph, fat bloated elephant I am:)

Larry ran this 38 miler as his last long run, keeping HR well under 145, kept coming through calm, relaxed, composed and fast, and finished in 6:46 for 3rd overall. Thomas blew his own expectations (especially considering an injury he's been dealing with for the last 10 days) and finished in 7:07, right behind, and for 4th overall in a series of all 3 summer 60k night trail races. Both did me proud!



With that, last week turned my mind into thinking next season, and I didn't even have to "make" myself do that. I always said, when it comes, it comes. I happened to come across Texas 50M Slam, and since I had completed Texas 100 Slam last season, it seems like a natural progression to pick this as my next fun challenge. The only thing that doesn't make me thrilled is that first race comes in just over a month, and there is no way I can put any effort into it, so I plan to make it through a couple of longish runs of 20-25 miles and pray to God I'll finish Palo Duro 50, before focusing on any kind of serious training.

So, with this Slam, and in general with living in Texas and committing to not travel until the summer comes, it means a couple of other local shorter races (subject to change), and possible only one 100 miler, if that (also Hardrock subject to lottery Gods). Seems weird to see my list not including a bunch of mountain 100's...but as Devon had recently had a post, I think I am making a break for me and see how it goes. Besides, when it comes to challenges, 100's, as incredibly hard as they are, make me rather comfortable, and 50's scare me to death. I was laughing with Larry today, because we both thought, well, we need to figure out how to race 50 miles, then may be next season focus on 50k's, and the following I might run a marathon. Kind of opposite to what "normal" people would think, huh? But to each their own, and this is where I am in my life's progression. On top of it, a couple of important details on this plan: neither of those races fill up early enough to make plans 9 months in advance, pay and then loose the money for one reason or another. And - 50's surely take less time/miles to train for (and more quality), and I do need this time to focus on other aspects of life.

I had quite a slow slog this morning, feeling tight and actually tired. Wow, this Palo Duro is going to knock me out, if 2 weeks of 50 miles ending with 3 tempo runs in a row left me sore! But it was still good to be out there, with clouds covering the sky and light drizzle keeping me entertained. Reminded me of home...