50k or bust
Sometimes you just have say WTF ! Right ? I’ve been training aimlessly for months with no real goal in mind. Sure, in the beginning I thought I wanted to qualify for Boston but midway through May I saw that I didn’t have the motivation or desire to run a marathon.
So, I ran a half-marathon and ran well and enjoyed the experience but something just seemed to be missing. I just didn’t have the fire I usually have even though I gave my 100%. I then ran a fantastic 10k (Patriots Place) and did well but again something just seemed to be missing. I looked at my goals and I certainly was losing weight and getting faster but somewhere inside me I didn’t have that fire to race.
I entered August with no fall races and no idea what to do. So, I just ran. I continued to up my mileage and ran 15,15,18 miles and it was all with no reason but to run. I’m not a zen runner but this seemed to be a break through. I was running for the pure love of running and just to run.
Then one day it clicked. Why not go for broke and just do something I didn’t think possible even last year. Why not chose a goal I had for next year and do it this year. Sounds good right ?
So I signed up for the Vermont 50k with the goal of next year accomplishing the 50 miler. It looks as if it is going to be a tough race but if it wasn’t then why do it. A whole new adventure is upon me.
The Vermont 50 Mile course starts at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, VT . For the first three miles racers will follow down a gentle downhill on gravel roads. After an easy road climb the course turns onto snowmobile – ATV trails, which it follows through gentle rolling terrain for the next 3 miles. Shortly after leaving the ATV trails, the real climbing and descending starts. The course will follow ATV and jeep trails, single track and roads through the top of the highest hill in Hartland, where racers will get an incredible view of Vermont and New Hampshire. From about mile 40 to mile 46.5, racers will have a nice snowmobile trail over rolling, mostly downhill terrain, before hooking onto the cross country ski trail system at Mt. Ascutney for the last 4 miles.
Lots of hill both up and down and it will be mostly on dirt trails. I am excited and nervous but that fire in my belly is there and I feel like this is my goal for the year. I have no time goal at all just to finish and have FUN.
31 miles is a long way and I have no idea how my body is going to react, but it will be a quite a journey.
So on Sept. 26, 2010 I will be attempting this 50k with gusto and all my heart and soul. It will be a challenge and I will be better for it.
I’ve upped my mileage and ran my long run of 21 miles this past weekend. My legs feel like rubber but they have recovered well. I actually ran a pretty decent 4 miles the day after so I can feel myself getting stronger.
I have a bunch of tough runs coming up 24 miles this weekend and then 26-27 the next. This month will be definitely be a record for miles in a month. Should be fun and I plan on updating the blog to reflect my thoughts and how my training is going.
A bonus is that I’m almost at my lightest I’ve been in 15 years. Yahoo.
