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Where do I go from here?

I was mulling this over today. I didn't run much this last week - and I had nightmares, felt sluggish and ate too much. I attribute this to the lack of running. I got out to Sabino Canyon this morning, and it felt great! At least for the first 4.5mmiles, anyway. Then my left hamstring/knee began to hurt, just like it did at Pemberton last weekend, and I had to walk the majority of the final 1.5 miles. I didn't like that. It worries me. I don't want to be injured - not when I've just discovered how much I enjoy running long miles!!!

I have a few ideas in mind. I want to do the Soul Run 50k in October. Ultimately, I'd like to complete the 2007 Zane Grey 50 mile race within the cutoff time (15 hours? Can't recall right now). That gives me seven summer months to train for Soul Run, and it gives me just under 14 months to train for one of the wickedest 50 milers in existence. I think that's a good amount of time. I'd like to do that. The problem is, I don't know how!

Training for Pemberton was spur-of-the-moment. Johnny made an off-hand remark about how I could do it, and that started my brain working on it. It was like a puzzle, or game - can I increase my weekly mileage fast enough, safe enough, in enough time??? I did! But now I have so much more time to prepare - and I don't know what to do!

I want to add upper-body and abs strength training. I want to add yoga. I want to add speed work (more so than anything else). What should my base mileage be? How often should I strength-train? Do yoga? Do speed work? Where do I go from here?

I will be researching these questions in the next week. With how busy we are, I want to schedule this out for the next few months - or for the next 14 months, if possible! I have to take Johnny's ultra-marathon training into consideration, as well. Plus, he graduates in December, and we'll have some big life changes ahead. Will he find a job as a teacher here in Tucson, in January 2007? Will we be moving in Dec. 07 to another place where he might find a job? What direction will our life go then? Will I get to go back to school?

I decided on my way over the the coffee shop (where I am currently sipping a scrumptious non-fat, decaf mocha) that I wanted to outline my intentions in regard to running. What's my point? What's my desire? Where do I want to be? Then I can choose the training schedule/regimen/etc. that fits.

What do I truly desire? What is truly important to me?


  1. I desire running. On trails.

    2. My recovery runs have been on pavement this week - 10 miles - and it HURT. The "pretty" shoes I wore to work this week didn't help. All "pretty" shoes are now going to Goodwill. I desire running so much, I am becoming a sensible-shoe woman. Not like my "pretty" shoes were stillettos (sp?) or anything. I always kept the heels below 2.5 inches. But even 2.5 inches is killing me.

  2. My family - Ash and Johnny.

  3. Johnny's ultra training.

  4. Time to read

    5. (especially Patricia Rice's "Magic" series - go adventuresome heriones!!!).
  5. Time to blog - read others and keep mine updated.

  6. Keeping up my end of the household chores.

What is my intention in regard to running? Why do I run?

  1. confidence

  2. breaks from my hectic life/family

  3. containment/order

  4. feeling my body move - moving meditation

  5. stress relief

  6. fun

  7. joy in being an athlete

  8. adventure
Where do I want my running to go? What intention do I have with my running?

  1. strength

  2. speed

  3. ease

  4. to go farther

  5. to get better
Ultrarunning is a sport one grows into. Where do I want to be in 5 years?

  1. winning my age group in 50k to 50m distances

  2. looking at 100 milers

  3. training hard

  4. continuing my transformation that began last year with developing gallbladder disease

  5. still supporting Johnny and Ash
Now that I got that out of my system, how do I go about applying it to the action I want to take in the next 14 months? I think it's still a little vague. I think I need to drill down even more. Think things through even deeper.

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice, Web sites, etc. are sought!!!

Posted by Angie's Pink Fuzzy on February 11, 2006 04:16 PM |

Comments

DATE: 6:01 PM, February 11, 2006
Angie,There are probably as many ways to get where you want to be as there are questions in your head. My advice is to keep it enjoyable and do not get too stressed about how to get there. I think 7 months to the next 50K and 14 months to Zane Grey are totally doable in a relaxing manner. That is not to say that you cannot challenge yourself greatly and have fun at the same time. Good luck!

Posted by: robtherunner | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 6:12 PM, February 11, 2006
Angie, it sounds like you are already well on track with your goal-setting. If you want to check out the assignment I blogged about on Jan. 31, here's the link, it's pretty helpful:http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/~peterson/Future%20Authoring%20for%20Maps%20of%20Meaning.docGood luck with everything!

Posted by: Liv | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM


DATE: 8:58 PM, February 11, 2006
I think you can definitely do a 50M soon, given how well the 50K went for you. I like all your other ideas except one...why does it matter if you win age group awards? Especially at ultras, it's more about participation and personal challenge than actually racing somebody. Just enjoy them!

Posted by: Donald | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 7:14 AM, February 12, 2006
If you are interested in looking at the 50K plan that I used, email me- the plan included a day of cross training, one speed/tempo/hill workout per week with a base of about 30 mpw. Congrats on your accomplishment- take it easy and enjoy the down-time!

Posted by: Jennifer | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 8:20 AM, February 12, 2006
That's a great plan, and it will be done. You're driven, you love what you set out to do. Johnny is a big help with his experience. It's trial and error, and yes, reading books, asking others will put you on the right track. I make plans for a few of my friends, so you can ask me any questions, you know my email. Liked the fact that you have short term plans and long term plans, though they might change. WHen I started running I tought I'd do a marathon by age of 40 (Oprah's influence). I did it in 18 months. In 15 months I ran a 100. Now I enjoy different courses and try to get better, while people I met are what drws me the most, I just can't leave them now:)

Posted by: olgav100 | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 9:05 AM, February 12, 2006
I think you already know what you want! If you plot it all out in a non-stressful manner I don't think there's any reason you can't accomplish your goals!

Posted by: Rae | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 8:44 PM, February 12, 2006
Angie, you've obviously given this a lot of thought already. I agree with the comments about having fun and relaxing while you get there. You don't want to let training turn into part of what makes life hectic. Rob is right - you've got plenty of time and you can enjoy it while you're doing it.

Posted by: backofpack | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM


DATE: 7:50 AM, February 13, 2006
I love the way you proudly edited your "about me" section and mentioned that you're no longer a beginner but an ultra runner. That shows self confidence - and it's well earned.Take your time with the goal setting. Just enjoy your running for the time being and make plans once you're well recovered and can't wait to start training for your next big target.

Posted by: Thomas | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 9:45 AM, February 13, 2006
Wow, Angie, I love the new header and the new look with your site. I probably should change mine some time too.After this last race, I would say completing the 50K under the cut-off time shouldn't be a problem for you. Good luck.

Posted by: psbowe | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM

DATE: 3:09 PM, February 14, 2006
Bravo! Well put! You've got me thinking now. I think I need to set some priorities and goals and put those into perspective over time. Depending on how the adventure racing season goes this year, I may devote more time to more and longer trail runs. As I get older, I become less focused on my ranking in a race and more enamoured with the total experience of it all. The event coordinators, the volunteers, the trails/scenery, and the other participants are what makes it so much fun to me now.

Posted by: Ben aka "Good Ben" | April 2, 2006 01:07 PM