Charles Keeps Going

I'll be running the half again, keeping my streak alive for the Monumental. I might even consider getting a room this time, makes it so much easier and laid back in the morning.

I love the cremation prize!! That just really makes me smile!

charles.moman wrote:When I got to age 50, I started getting AARP mailers.
Then the pre-paid funerals and "final-cost" life insurance.
But THIS was a first!
I do not think I will mail it back in - they might make me accept the prize NOW,not later.
Mark - please mention your hilarious reply from FB!

Sure thing, Charles.

What did they put in the envelope, a match?

We got several inches of pretty snow last night and this morning, but I was determined to do 24 miles at the Refuge today.

Well . . . on the way out to the Refuge, I just about turned around because it was really slick and traffic was crawling on US 50. But I made it to the Turkey/Bird Trail parking lot and for a moment thought I was already stuck when I parked, but no. I decided to run that road along the parking lot to the dead end near US 31 back and forth. No one had driven it yet, so I was plowing through 2 - 3inches of snow and it was OK and kind of fun.

Slow going, but OK. I did two 3-mile loops, but had to stop because my feet were frozen. My Hoka shoes are very breathable and with my warm feet and the snow melting on them, I soon had soaking wet socks, I felt great and was glad to get the 24 miles done today, but I want to keep my toes. If it gets to 34 like they say, then I may go out on the streets and do another 6 - 12 today. If not, Monday looks good. I will at least do an hour or two walking fast on the TM. It was beautiful out there and the sandhill cranes were very loud near me, but I could not get to them today to film them.

charles.moman wrote:We got several inches of pretty snow last night and this morning, but I was determined to do 24 miles at the Refuge today.

Well . . . on the way out to the Refuge, I just about turned around because it was really slick and traffic was crawling on US 50. But I made it to the Turkey/Bird Trail parking lot and for a moment thought I was already stuck when I parked, but no. I decided to run that road along the parking lot to the dead end near US 31 back and forth. No one had driven it yet, so I was plowing through 2 - 3inches of snow and it was OK and kind of fun.

Slow going, but OK. I did two 3-mile loops, but had to stop because my feet were frozen. My Hoka shoes are very breathable and with my warm feet and the snow melting on them, I soon had soaking wet socks, I felt great and was glad to get the 24 miles done today, but I want to keep my toes. If it gets to 34 like they say, then I may go out on the streets and do another 6 - 12 today. If not, Monday looks good. I will at least do an hour or two walking fast on the TM. It was beautiful out there and the sandhill cranes were very loud near me, but I could not get to them today to film them.

Long-long runs are one thing, but destroying your feet is another. You were smart to cut it short.

That said, there's no harm in heading back out later today and making it a 24-mile day, rather than a single 24-mile run. Wendy tells me that's what Scott does a lot - heading out for repeated runs, logging insane miles, just not all at once.

I got out to the Refuge today and got running by 8 AM. I should have started 30 minutes sooner, it was light enough. It was in the low 20s and the wind was something else in the wide open spaces and not bad when the woods protected me. I am glad that I brought my wicking neck gaiter to cover much of my face in the windy spots.

The snow was packed down pretty well, so it was not slippery most of the time.
I needed to get back to take Susie to work, so I left after getting in 10.5 miles.
I ate some of us Susie's veggie soup and took her to work. I put my running jack and vest in the dryer because they were soaked. I sat in my Lazy Boy in my office for a very quick nap and then headed back out to the Refuge. It was 10 degrees warmer and the wind was not too bad. I needed to leave by 3:30 or so to take Susie out to supper. So I ended up with a total of 21.25 miles and I actually don't feel too bad at all. Tomorrow I will follow that with a 10-miler.

I am excited that I just won an Ebay auction for a pair of ADIDAS MENS TERREX FAST X FM MID GTX hiking/fastpacking boots. I got them for 50% less than most online stores. I have been looking for these for a while. They are not normal hiking boots at all. They have Gore Tex - are light and the soles are based on Addidas running shoes. Some ultrarunners use them in specific situations. I honestly don't move much faster than some trail fastpackers, so I think these will be useful to me. Plus, I needed new hiking boots anyway. I will try them out at the IT 100 FA 50K on March 23, when I do 2 loops a month before the event. I will use my Hokas on lap 1 and then the Addidas for loop 2. If it is raining at the IT 100, I may use them on loop 3 if it gets crazy muddy. BY then I will be doing a lot of power walking to make it by the cutoff. They will help my ankles from rolling when I get super tired.

Nice work getting your long run in on a busy day, Charles! That's the first time I've seen a 305 set to show only one data field on the screen. It looks spiffy.

Nice boots. Congrats on the sweet deal.

I have my 305 set to show only mileage on one screen, elapsed time and real time on another and average pace and current pace. Makes it easier to read without my reading glasses. I plan on getting prescription sunglasses.

I can definitely feel it today, but it is not too bad. I was happy with my average pace for the day and hope I can do that for at least 30 - 40, then cruise out the last 10 really long miles in April! And then NEVER do it again!

An interesting week - I actually only ran twice, but weekly mileage was a little over 41 miles.
21 miles on Monday (split up into 2 runs) and then 20 miles on Saturday - one run.
Saturday was just beautiful and a great day to get in one of the last long runs before the Indiana Trail 100/50.

It was noisy at the Refuge - a zillion Sandhill cranes flying overhead.
At times it was crazy loud with hundreds flying by.
I wish I had a video of the river otters - one just kept sticking his head out of the water and fussing at me.
He would pop up - fuss - swim away underwater a few feet and do it again. It was very funny - to me.

Sounds like you made the right decision, Charles. And believe me, I will never run a 50 or 100 miler - ever - so I get it. I have run one 50K trail event (the Huff), and it was fun. I didn't train any more than for a marathon and I probably could have even run shorter long runs as long as my mileage was in the 50 mpw range. Still hoping to see you in November.

It sounds like you made a smart choice, Charles. It couldn't have been an easy decision - but when what originally seemed like a cool idea has become more of a monkey on your back, then it's time to let go.

Cutting back and keeping it fun is always a good thing to do. Hey, maybe now you'll have time to give a little barefooting a try!

It really was not an easy decision at first. The ankle issue kept popping up - good long runs - bad long runs - then finally I realized I was dreading the 20+ milers. I was ALWAYS glad I finished them, but they were just not getting easier. Finally I knew they were just taking too big a toll on me week by week and the joy was gone.

This will not - however, lead to barefoot running! I am a HOKA man now!
I just ordered a pair of Hoka Stinson Evo trail shoes from iRunfar.com.
I will probably get another pair of the Bondi style too in a couple of months.

I heard from the IT 100 race director this morning.
He was telling me that training burnout is a problem many are having and that maybe that is my issue.
I thanked him, but said that I may be burned out, but physically it has just become too much for me.
He then asked if I would consider doing a documentary of the event and that he would help me with the logistics.
He said he would have suggestions of runners to film in both events.

Susie and I had already talked about me doing that - so I am excited about that.
I will be up most of the 30 hours during the IT 100 - at aid stations and on the course.
I emailed Bryon Powell at iRunfar.com to ask if he wanted me to do interviews for him too - no word from him yet.

So . . . I really am excited about the documentary and will now start planning how that will work.
Hopefully it will turn out great and I may have something I could sell too.

Excellent - what perfect way to experience the race!

Now I am thinking I may have a stress fracture in my left foot. That is the same foot that I have had multiple sprains the past year. It has been hurting during some runs and then is better afterwards. But now it hurts to walk and throbs when I am off my feet. That is my self-diagnosis and we will see what Dr. Warren - my foot doctor says next week.
He and his partner are both athletes - so I really trust him to get me back to normal. Hopefully I have not let this go too long (I may have) and I can avoid surgery.

I have been doing some research online and my symptoms read like a classic stress fracture case.
This may have been what was making all of this harder and harder to do each week.

I like the idea about the documentary. You're quite the videographer, and it'd be a good way to stay involved in the festivities.

I don't like the idea about a possible stress fracture. Though, like you said, it might explain why those extra-long runs were so taxing.

Still not sold on the Hoka concept, especially if they're as smooshy underfoot as I think they are. It seems that they could exacerbate strain as your foot tries to achieve a stable landing. But I've never worn them, so I could be wrong about the smooshiness.

Well, from the description some of give of Hokas, I can understand why you would think that.
To me they are not smushy at all - your foot is not moving all around with each step because of the cushioning.
To me it is very cushioned, but not smushy. Firm, but cushioned.
Some have said it is like running on pillows - but that is really not the case.
My new Stinson Evo Hokas that are coming next week are said to be a bit more firm than the Bondi B shoes I have now. Still very cushioned, but a bit more firm EVA foam for trail running.

I am staying off my feet as much as possible and that is helping.
Now I am wondering if maybe it is just tendonitis - like I had before when I tied my shoes too tight. I have been thinking about it and I now think that just may be it.
I still will go to the foot doc, but if it is not a SF, then I may do the race.

I would ask to be put back as a 100-miler, but only plan on 50 miles or so and I would have 30 hours to do it. I could take naps and still finish.

Hopefully I will know soon, but I am feeling more positive about it now.

I am positive it was simply the tendon issue I had earlier this year that Michelle diagnosed for me!
The IT 100 staff has relisted me as a 100-miler, though that is quite unlikely.
As a 100-miler, I can take 30 hours - but I won't.
If I need a good rest after the first two loops, I can do that and then go back out and finish the 50.
If I feel OK, then I will do a 4th loop for 66.67 miles.

My new Hokas come on Wednesday and I will go back to training on Thursday - nice and easy and without tying my shoes too tight! I am resetting my brain and will not let Mr. Negative get me down again!

Congratulations on winning this round in the mental battle that is the ultra.

Remember the lesson, and it'll help when you're out there on race day. And don't overtighten those shoes!

Hey Charles, it's great to hear that you don't have a SF and that you may be doing the Indiana 100. I don't know all of your details but I think I had a very similar issue. A trip to the Doc relieved my SF concerns and training has been going very well since. Happy training my friend.

On Facebook, Dot told me to make up my mind! I told her that some think I have a split personality, but "we" don't agree! Another friend then asked which one was running the race and my reply was the insane one!

Alrighty then....back to our regularly scheduled broadcast of training runs!

Good to hear about the foot, Charles. Keep on keeping on and you are more than welcome to be dyslexic here.

I really am not shoe obsessed, but this may look like it. I have worn out my original Hoka running shoes - way over 500 miles. So I saved up my teaching money and have been scouring the web for good deals. I got a new pair of Hoka Stinson Evo trail shoes, a used-but-new Hoka Mafate waterproof trail shoes and a new pair of Addidas Terrex trail running/fast packing shoes. I am set for a long time now.

The Hokas have 2.5 times more cushioning than normal shoes, and a much wider platform for stability. They really save your knees and hips and they have a low heel drop. Not for everyone, but I love them.



Two pair of Hokas and Addidas Terrex trail running/fast packing shows.



These are my new Hoka Stinson Evo trail shoes - got them from iRunfar.com. They will not look like this very long will they?



I got these pretty cheap on Ebay. These are the Hoka Mafate waterproof trail shoes. They have the most cushioning of all Hoka shoes. These are hard to find.



These are the Addidas Terrex Fast R Gore-Tex trail running/fast packing shoes. These should be great for my left ankle that misbehaves sometimes.



My old Bondi B shoes that have 500-600 miles.