Potawatomi Trail Ultra 50m April 5, 2014 Pekin, IL

OneBiteAtATime

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Aug 18, 2013
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I've been keeping a low profile lately, but quietly I've been training for a 50 mile trail run April 5.

http://www.potawatomitrailruns.com/index2.htm

My training has been interupted by this crazy western Illinois winter, distracted by (still transitioning) foot ouchies, derailed by the rigors of professional life; but never completely shut down.

I ran cross country in high school, got hurt running in college, thought I'd never run again - someone offered me a cigarette - and I took it. Last July (after 18 years) I stopped smoking. Then I started searching for ways to run without (or with less chance of) injury. That's how I met barefoot running and the BRS. I can say definitively - without barefoot, I would not be running. I run completely differently than I did as a kid, and have had no cronic injuries to stop me because I now run naturally.

And while I still don't know why I want to do this, I started training for this run in October. Training runs are now going over 26 miles (no wall by the way), so here we are. I signed up last night.

During the weeks, I've been just making 4-6 miles on Tues, Wed, Thurs and lifting weights Tues, Thurs. During the weekends I set out on a long run on Saturday, I am following someone else's training schedule (as far as the big runs) and about a 10-12 miler on Sunday.
UMTraining2.jpg

There's a local state park which I have become intimately familiar with. It's funny when the only other footprints in the snow and ice are yours - from last week... or the week before... or the week before....
UmTraining3.jpg
I feel prepared, I feel ready. All of my training (except for 5.6 miles where an old CC buddy joined me on a loop) has been completely alone. I never would have liked training alone when I was 15-19. But at 36, time alone with my thoughts and discomfort has been awesome!
UMTraining.jpg
So, that's the scoop, BRS. 4 weeks from today - I get to run 50 miles!
 
It's funny when the only other footprints in the snow and ice are yours - from last week... or the week before... or the week before....

That could go on a poster or tee shirt or something. Very poignant.

Good luck on your ultra! Be sure to share a report with us.
 
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There's a local state park which I have become intimately familiar with. It's funny when the only other footprints in the snow and ice are yours - from last week... or the week before... or the week before....
View attachment 3564

A stampede of one....have fun!
 
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