Grindstone 100--5 days to go

What do you do the week before a 100 miler in the mountains?  Not much.  Short runs.  More sleep.  Avoid stress. Try not to look too often at the extended weather forecast (looks good right now, but with a bizarre discrepancy between weather-underground and weather.com...stop!)  Find something to do with all that "extra" energy you would have used up in early morning runs or weekend long runs.  I was almost giddy with it this morning.

Also important, if hard: don't second guess your training.  What has worked for me for the past 4 (injury free) years has been a 3-day/week schedule (the runs tend to be long).  I've done marathons, 50 milers, and 100s on that schedule.  And faster than than I was running the previous 5 years.  I recommend this to over-45 runners in particular.  But there's always that little voice, getting a bit louder before a major event like this, suggesting maybe a 4th or a 5th day would have helped.  Maybe a weekly tempo run, or intervals, or another 15 miler in the morning.  It's not true though.

So, I'm ready.  I had a nice month of training since the work weekend/training run in August.  A week after that, put in (for me) a solid half marathon effort at Patrick Henry in VA.  Then several weekends of long runs alternating between the gentle trails of Seneca Creek and the more challenging terrain around Sugarloaf Mountain.  The soul as well as the body is well nourished by both.

(NOTE: Live webcast of the race will be posted here starting at 6PM Friday: http://www.eco-xsports.com/
But you might be waiting a long time to see anyone or anything in particular!)

The following are photos from my last run on Seneca, starting at sunrise at Riley's Lock (right), passing by the old Black Rock Mill (center), running around Clopper Lake (left), then back again.





Comments

  1. Sarah PrineasSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    Sounds like you're ready--best of luck with it! Enjoy the day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mpleighSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:44 PM

      Thanks, Sarah. There are a million variables with these things, but all systems go. I even mastered putting up the new tent I'll be using...a major challenge, as I am *not* a camper.

      Delete
  2. UnknownSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:59 PM

    Beautiful pictures Matt! As always we are inspired by your efforts. I have no doubt all will go well! We will be thinking about you during your run.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 1, 2012 at 10:13 PM

    Looks like a beautiful course. I know what you mean about wanting to train extra. Sounds like you've got it all under control. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete

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