Friday, May 24, 2013

Kettle 100 Jitters

In one week I will be somewhere on a lonely stretch of singletrack in the Southern Kettle Moraine trying to do something that I find pretty intimidating; something that is simply an unknown for me.  I am going to try to run 100 miles in one day.  Thousands of people do this every year and they aren't falling apart from the experience.  I know I can do this too.

My trepidation comes from that unknown quantity; it’s always the unknowns that give us pause.  Will my body keep it together, or will it let me down?  I know my body will be aching for sure, but how will my mind handle the experience?  Will I be able to while away the miles, or will each stride be a step closer to going absolutely nuts?  Will I see monkeys?  Will I barf?  Will I yell at my crew?  Will I get a (gasp) blister?

Tapering for my first 100-miler has become a pretty nerve-racking experience.  I can’t imagine life past 6:00am on June 1st, 2013.  Part of the deal is, I am as prepared for this race as I can be.  With a high-fat, low-carb keto-diet, I am a lean & mean racing machine at 140 lbs.  I've been putting in the miles and hammering the hills for the last 5 months, through snow, mud and rain.  I've also never been this uninjured and healthy in preparation for a race.  My energy levels are fantastic, and my legs are pretty tough.

I know I’ll be fine.  I will feel like a million bucks after I cross that line sometime on June 2nd, and all those questions will be answered.  It’s going to be long, and rough, and hard, and painful.  But it will be nothing I can’t handle.  Unless there are clowns.  Then I’m done for.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Not so fast Spring: A Winter Encore!

As luck would have it, Winter was NOT done in Wisconsin.  Another dumping of about 6" of snow found Willow River State Park on the morning of May 2nd.  I love running in this state.

I took the following pictures on my morning run in the park.  With scenes like these, Spring can take its time.  Enjoy!

The path into the park; 6 inches deep!

The steps to the North observation overlook

The view from the overlook; the picture does not do the scene justice

Willow River, at the Falls Bridge