Breaking Away

Seth Harrison wrote:Going back a couple of days, I loved your taper madness dream.
I'm glad to see the ankle is holding up. The latest forecast looks pretty good too. It looks like everything's good to do.

Hi Seth! Yes, the ankle is pretty much fully healed now. It was almost as if the lion's share of the damage from my spill was bruising. Once the bruising subsided, the pain pretty much went away. Whew! Still, I'm staying off the trails until Dec. 3, just to be on the safe side.

Weather report update: Accuweather now says a low of 31 on race morning, climbing to a high of 44. Still breezy, but sunny. I can live with that. Though I'm sure the forecast will change 1,232,987 times between now and then.

Easy Run: 5 miles

Weather: Rainy, breezy, but not horribly so. 52 degrees. Gear: FR2s, shorts, long-sleeved T, jacket, hat. Fuel: Banana and coffee. Didn't take fluids.

My running schedule is pretty scrambled until Tecumseh, thanks to holidays, traveling and all. So I turned this rest day into an easy run, and I even made a point of not carrying fluid to make sure I didn't go too far. It was a rainy morning - I could wring water out of my socks afterward - but it was warm enough outside to be fairly comfortable. Ten degrees in the rain can make a huge difference.

I've been taking S-caps (and eating chia seeds) before most of my runs, but I went without any of that this morning to see if I could tell the difference. It was hard to tell. My legs did feel more fatigued, though, but that could just be from having my routine interrupted.

I mixed it up a bit at the end, too, flooring it in the last hundred yards or so rather than coasting in, just to see what these newfound butt muscles would do when pushed for speed. I got into the 7s pretty easily and punched it a little harder and got down to a 6:11 pace before shutting it down. Fun!

I won't run tomorrow (driving to and from Thanksgiving with my stepmom in Eugene), but I will probably run Friday, then do my last long run on Sunday before winding down for race week. (Writing "race week" just now gave me a very amusing anxiety spike. Yipes!!)

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

The craziness on the long-term forecasts continues (of course). Now inAccuweather is predicting mostly cloudy skies, an overnight low of 31, an afternoon high of 46 -- and about a half inch of snow. How festive!

I'm sure it'll probably end up being 75 and humid...

The weather fun will get a lot less, well, fun when the National Weather Service forecast kicks in. (The NWS forecast goes only to next Wednesday at this point...) There just might be a reason they don't even attempt to forecast that far out.

Mark, I think the weather for Tecumseh is going to be just fine. Highs in the mid 40's. I think the issue is the rain they are going to receive the next couple of days, which will probably result in the course being slick and muddy.

Jeff F wrote:Mark, I think the weather for Tecumseh is going to be just fine. Highs in the mid 40's. I think the issue is the rain they are going to receive the next couple of days, which will probably result in the course being slick and muddy.

Mud, eh? Well, at least I trained for those conditions.

As long as it's not frozen mud, which is something else altogether.

I just checked the National Weather Service, and they're talking about a possibility of snow showers the day before the run.

This holiday week has been hell on my training, and it's not going to get much better next week. I hope I can at least get one or two runs in before next Saturday.

Hey Mark, catching up on things and WHAM, Tecumsuh is right around the corner for you! Seems like you've had some appropriate training weather to get you ready. Looking forward to that race report for sure!

Tom H wrote:Hey Mark, catching up on things and WHAM, Tecumseh is right around the corner for you! Seems like you've had some appropriate training weather to get you ready. Looking forward to that race report for sure!

Hey, Tom! Thanks for stopping by! Yep. We're flying out EARLY on Wednesday, so it is on the doorstep. I'm looking forward to seeing Tim and Wendy again, as well as meeting their family and wacky running friends. It should be a hoot.

Wendy is going to be running with me (can she go that slow? we'll have to see....) and is promising/threatening to bring a camera to record all our zany antics. That ought to be fun.

Easy Run: About 8 miles

Weather: Overcast, cool. 46 degrees. Gear: FR2s, shorts, long-sleeved T, jacket, hat.

My last long run before Tecumseh in my total whack-a-doo taper. We ran the Salmon Creek Greenway. All the parts seem to be in working order, and even though it feels like I've lost a little fitness, I still feel pretty strong and smooth. I think that, as long as I get the fueling, electrolytes and fluids right, I should be able to cruise through Tecumseh without much difficulty. Glad I wasn't keyed up to "race" anything, though, or I'd be a wreck.

I hope I can get a shake-out run in before the race, but with work and travel, I think one more run is all that I'll be able to squeeze in. Time to start packing!

So... checking the forecast for this weekend: Low of 28, high of 42, windy enough to make it feel about 5 degrees colder.

That sounds pretty reasonable... but in the days leading up the race, there's a flood warning, followed by up to 2 inches of accumulating snow, followed by colder and drier weather.

So that's frozen, snow-covered mud, then? This could be epic.

Frozen snow covered mud is not that bad to run in - believe me! I ran a 50K relay in Indiana in similar conditions and it made for a fast trail. You will be fine.

Now as for the forecast for snow here, that worries me.

It has been raining for three days straight. This means that the creek crossings will be flooded (meaning we'll get VERY wet VERY early), and the leaves will make it nice and slick. Sounds like a BLAAAST!

wendy_miller wrote:It has been raining for three days straight. This means that the creek crossings will be flooded (meaning we'll get VERY wet VERY early), and the leaves will make it nice and slick. Sounds like a BLAAAST!

So it'll be like the Tecumseh Warrior Dash Trail Marathon this year?

All righty, then.

Heading out crazy early Wednesday on flights to Denver, then Indianapolis. Then a drive to Bedford and a few days hanging out before the race on Saturday.

Oh, and for anybody interesting in my "race plan," it's pretty simple: Have fun.

I like your race plan. Get it done.

Great plan.
My plan is to start at the beginning and get to the finish with no broken bones.
And to enjoy the journey!
See you on Friday!

Have a great time Mark! Look forward to the race report.

Mark B wrote:All righty, then.

Heading out crazy early Wednesday on flights to Denver, then Indianapolis. Then a drive to Bedford and a few days hanging out before the race on Saturday.

Oh, and for anybody interesting in my "race plan," it's pretty simple: Have fun.

Great plan Mark. Have a great time!

Stay tuned for race pictures! I'll try to get one of him falling in the creek....

Mark B wrote:Oh, and for anybody interesting in my "race plan," it's pretty simple: Have fun.

+1 - I have the same plan...

Thanks, all! Our flights were uneventful, and we are now chilling at Tim and Wendy's house. They are very gracious hosts.

Indiana is a nice place. The forests here seem to be primarily deciduous, which changes the look and means truly impressive leaf fall on the forest floor. Even SEEING the trail is going to be a trick.

The limestone beds in the road cuts are cool for a geology geek. It looks like the product of some hyperactive stone masons.

Now I just need to adjust to the time zone change.

You just want everything!
We have all of these pretty trees and those leaves have to come down, you know.
Find the trail? I can't find my yard!

Glad to hear you made it safely.

I might be cutting the last of the leaves before I drive south.

Looking forward to the run!

Has anyone noticed the forecast? It is actually starting to look like we may have a decent day for Tecumseh, keep your fingers crossed.

Jeff F wrote:Has anyone noticed the forecast? It is actually starting to look like we may have a decent day for Tecumseh, keep your fingers crossed.

Shh!!! Don't jinx it!

I like the race plan. Good luck!