I'm Signing Up For a 50 Mile Race

Yup, my wife got the weekend of August 27th-28th off which was my deciding factor. Last year I went alone, and while I don't need a crew for 50 miles it sure is nice to have someone waiting at the finish to share the experience with.

So, now that she has the weekend off, I'll be signing up for the 50 mile distance again this year at the Lean Horse ultra marathon event.

I badly want to improve on last years 12 hour finish. My training leading up to the race then, was severely lacking due to knee pain lasting close to two months. My running was limited to two miles and limping home.
So far this year my running has been great. I get out at least three times a week consisting of  a weekly 19+ mile long run with a next day 9+ mile followup and then a ~6 mile run for recovery. The last month and a half I have been averaging 40 miles per week and feel very good about it. My last long run was at a pace that would result in a 3:30 marathon. So I'm also getting faster even though it's not a goal focus in itself.
This past Saturday we hit 100f / 37.7c degrees, I made it six miles of a planned 20 before turning around. I know I could have made it all the way but, first, I should have brought my hydration backpack allowing me to bring more water than what I usually carry in two handheld bottles as there is no water for a single section of 13 miles of the 19.3 mile bike trail. Second, I was slower than usual due to the heat and I had evening plans (Yeah, don't pick 3PM for a run when it's that warm). So I turned around and only made it 12 miles that day. Tuesday I made up for it with a long run, and then yesterday 7.7 miles with the pooch since it was sorta cool enough to bring her (Alaskan Malamute). It's been raining a lot the last couple of days meaning the Big Sioux river is running high. In a few spots on the city bike trail the depth of the water reached almost three feet. I waded through and the dog enjoyed swimming around cooling down. The river is beyond nasty though, I suspect by the time it reaches Sioux Falls there's little water left in what I'm sure must be mostly cattle piss, fertilizer and pesticide. So everyone were hosed down when we got home. Humidity is so high that you couldn't have guessed I hadn't been standing under a shower head by the time I finished the run. Right now humidity is sitting somewhere between 85 and 95 percent. The weather page doesn't seem to be too reliable/consistent in it's reporting. But, you know it's humid when you think of bringing scuba equipment with you on a run.

I'll say one thing loud and clear though, I love it!
I love running in the summer, I love the sun, the sweating for hours, everything. It's so easy and effortless compared to winter running and it's so very rewarding to sit down with fresh ripe fruit after finishing a long run.

I have been sticking to the Merrell True Gloves since emerging from winter. Before, I ran in Vibram Five Fingers, but I like the Merrell product and just really haven't missed the Vibrams. The Merrells allow me to run at least marathon distances without any blisters, soreness or other issues. In the Vibrams it seemed a bit random what what feet would look like after 20+ miles. Then now and again I ditch the shoes and run some comfortable miles barefoot. I log my overall miles, but I don't note how many are barefoot specifically, I estimate it comes to about 10 miles per week average.

I'm slowly becoming a runner I think. I suppose what I use to make that conclusion is that I can run something like a marathon distance and not have sore feet the next day. Actually lately I feel like going for a run the next day but my calves tend to be somewhat tight. They get so tight it hurts to run. When this happens, without fail I can simply remove shoes and socks and run barefoot, and after a quarter mile everything is relaxing and there is no tension. It's a remarkable feeling.