Post-awesome depression.

I used to call it "Post-race depression", kind of like postpartum PPD (by the way, a phenomenon well documented and proven to exist, due to endorphin overuse and such other hormonal changes). But on Sunday at the club's group run I finally joined (since, you know, I don't need to train and do something very specific, I can wonder around with others and socialize now, a rare event for me), someone said it in a way that made sense right this moment: "How are you doing with post-awesome depression?". It was totally clicking - may be some other times not so much, but now, after such a long and successful journey to a fulfilling finish at San Diego 100, it is exactly that" post-awesomeness. One that makes you feel sad, curling in a ball and crying, and the lack of focus is annoying to say the least.

Apparently (ha! what a surprise) I love training. May be because there are so many variables in my life (had been and still are, as long as I remember myself) that I don't have any control over, and I always feel things and events slipping through between my fingers and away, training is what brings structure, goal is what brings focus, and all together keeps me aware of the "when you put your mind and body into something, good things happen" type of mode. Without that, I'd be likely not be much of a believer in a goodness in this world.

But fear not. Throw some ideas at me, and lets see where they take me!

For now, I am plodding my few miles daily to keep a streak alive, and today even managed an impromptu speed workout due to sudden heavy rain developing with thunders and lightening. Not my idea of a slow jog conditions, so I found a few still alive fast-twitches and hauled my behind!

Did a couple Bikram classes, couple Bootcamp sessions, and even went to the gym. A slight general fatigue, which feels good as it tells me I gave an honest effort to the race. I pulled my back somewhere there and haven't noticed it until after the finish, so now my favorite chiropractor is, well, my favorite doctor, with his A.R.T technique. In a meantime, while not immediately training for anything, we (he and I) are tending to the scar tissues formed at the insertion of my right hamstring I tore almost 2 years ago. Good thing I am finally finding time to be paying attention to this one as well.

On a home/business front, Larry installed the doors into the office, so I now take clients at my home besides traveling to their location.

We ordered hardwood floors and will be putting it in very soon (like, by next week, may be), as well as some re-arrangement to make it more comfortable for the purpose (and more professional).

This coming weekend I'll owning an AS at the Tejas Trails night series event - manning start/finish/loop AS from 6 pm till midnight, then going sweeping 18M loop. I hope to have enough mojo to walk that much in the humid night of Texas carrying course markers. Below is another volunteer gig I did a weekend prior SD100. Gotta give back to the sport...

This is a link to the article that will appear in Ultrarunning magazine. I got a mentioning, along with triple-digits temps:) Someone brought up that may be SD100 wasn't as hot as WS100 in 2006 - and after giving it thought (and memory digging), probably would have to agree in general - at Western States that year rumor for the canyon temps was 113F, while we had canyon at 108F, but the difference was that Western started at 5 am, went up high at altitude for quite a bit, and had a lot of shady running and stream crossing. San Diego had none of those perks, so it felt worse. So here you go. The finishing rate was similar though:)

p.s. from Jeff Browning's race report: NOTE: temperature reports were varying, but Noble Canyon reports were anywhere from 101 to 107 at the aid station. I would wager hotter pockets existed on the 4.5 mile section we loop, especially on the south facing side of the butte the course loops around

I am looking forward seeing what the rest of the year brings. On the 100's front, Grindstone will not be as much of a focus to race as simply to make it to the finish in one solid piece - I need a finish for Hardrock lottery, and I hate training through Texas summer.

In 10 days Larry and I are going for an adventure of a vacation, and I am so looking forward to getting off the grid and into the wilderness, as well as seeing so many great friends.

At the end of the day, we keep ourselves in shape to do just that: visit backcountry and whacky friends:)