I have not written in the blog in some time. I last wrote in February at a time where I was increasing my mileage in preparation for the summer racing season, focussing on SD100, but encountering niggling little strains, and achilles issues.
I worked though the strains but really hurt my achilles on a run at the end of February. I had to stop running altogether as it hurt quite a bit just to walk. I let it rest and did a lot of heel drop exercises in March, and then some little runs, but it was still painful. So I dropped from SD100 realizing that there was no way that I could get the proper mileage in to run SD100 right, given the injury.
Mid-April I did a hike/jog around the Burton loop with my pal Greg. It seemed to make the achilles feel better for a few days. I repeated this a few times, doing hike/runs of up to 20 miles: hike the ups, run the downs (slowly). No daily runs, just these long hike/runs on the weekends.
Meanwhile, Greg entered the SD100 shortly after I pulled out. Its great that Scotty keeps a wait list. I think Greg got my spot! So we decided I should pace him. Greg and I went to the SD course a couple of weeks ago and ran the Noble canyon section of the course out of Pioneer Mail, a 20 mile loop to Penny Pines and back. Greg barely broke a sweat but I was worked! I decided I had better increase my mileage. So: Last weekend I ran 24 honest miles up Mt. Wilson via the Sam Merrill and My Lowe railway, an old standby. I did this routinely in just over 4 hours in 2015. It took me 5 hours that day. Today I did the same route but added a 2 mile out and back down the Toll road at the top to bring the miles to 28. I felt fine up to the turnaround, file 14. Heading back to the top of Wilson, I just couldn't get my breath. I walked the upper part, very steep, and refilled my bottles at the top. Drank 3 bottles and sat for a while to collect myself. The bad thing about an Out and Back courses is that what goes out must come back! Very committing. So with no choice really and feeling like scat, I headed down. The run back was progressively more unpleasant as the heat and smog built up. Ultimately I walked the last mile and a half as I was feeling dizzy and nauseous. A good reminder that its good to actually TRAIN before running 28 milers in the mountains.
Pete Sercel's ultrarunning training blog --my experience with running injury prevention and recovery, and training for the Angeles Crest 100.
