I just spent the last 5 seconds screaming into cupped hands. This past weekend was one big day, a huge emotional rollercoaster. It started with my race on Saturday in Marin with the awesome ultra-marathon community and on to the last day of the big Triathlon race on Sunday in San Luis Obispo, cheering on Serena (Lombardi Tri-Team) and all my Golden Gate Tri Club family. Exhausting, Sleep Depriving, Ass-Kicking... Simply amazing. I had no time to think, just move and feel, move and feel...and now that it's back to the quiet refuge of my home office, the memories are all flooding in.
My God, I pulled it off! Need time to organize. Need more rest. Photos and stories to follow, gots some great ones for you guys.
P.S. Serena did very well although she doesn't think so, definitely an issue that will continually to be debated in the future:)
Monday, May 08, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Mt. Diablo 50-Miler and +Ramblings
In all the excitement I forgot about another race happening this weekend, the Mt. Diablo 50-Miler. A race that had been rescheduled due to the extra long rainy season that we had this year. Pretty damn awesome. Olga was actually thinking of running Miwok 100k then getting up the very next day and doing Mt. Diablo 50m. She's crazy like that. I bet that if she didn't have to fly home Sunday to pack for her trip to Russia she would probably be on the starting line up come Sunday morning. I was tempted myself, it would have been an epic weekend. Fortunately common sense prevailed. My shotgun (being all over the place) approach to training and racing has been fun but I love how I feel with this new smarter, saner approach. Nothing makes me feel better on a run or on the bike than when I punch the gas and the engine growls, the pistons crank faster and the tires chew up the ground. My new training that stresses rest as well as high intensity workouts has got me feeling like a champ on the track, my spin classes and long endurance runs. Swim training starts next week by the way at the YMCA pool, starting with the hot tub
Anyway, in endurance events I find the machine metaphor works best. You drive that body while constantly reading gauges; energy, pain, fatigue and overall well-being. Protect the mind and spirit at all costs. When the mind and spirit goes, well then you're probably toast:) Until then however keep your sheeet movin', RFM (Relentless Forward Movement) Like they say in the Western States 100-Miler, "look at the eyes, look for the ones that look like their spirit is separating from their bodies", those folks they sit down then pull out of the race if they don't improve. Ah the beauty and pain of endurance sports. Why go "short" when the fun begins in the "long" and I say this with respect to everyone's capabilities. Short and long is relative.
But I ramble on and such ramblings are better suited for my personal journal, which has seen more use these last few days.
Anyway, in endurance events I find the machine metaphor works best. You drive that body while constantly reading gauges; energy, pain, fatigue and overall well-being. Protect the mind and spirit at all costs. When the mind and spirit goes, well then you're probably toast:) Until then however keep your sheeet movin', RFM (Relentless Forward Movement) Like they say in the Western States 100-Miler, "look at the eyes, look for the ones that look like their spirit is separating from their bodies", those folks they sit down then pull out of the race if they don't improve. Ah the beauty and pain of endurance sports. Why go "short" when the fun begins in the "long" and I say this with respect to everyone's capabilities. Short and long is relative.
But I ramble on and such ramblings are better suited for my personal journal, which has seen more use these last few days.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Wearing Myself Out...
...Before my race even starts. My good God, help me tune it all out so I can rest. Today I got up at 5:30AM, wide awake and ready to go. This race is special, I didn't think it would be but it's shaping out that way. I've never been so fresh, so well trained and so spiritually aligned leading into a race. Don't get me wrong, there's uncertainty as well. Will running shorter long runs but with more frequency and higher intensity lead me to a 100k finish? That's 62 miles and my long runs have all been at the 30's. We'll find out. It works for others, will it work for me? Can I keep myself from getting lost as I have done the last two years?
The last part of the equation, the spiritual part, came together for me last night. Not many people know this because I hardly write or talk about it but the spiritual part is the most critical part for me. If I'm not right there I won't be right anywhere. I'm ready, now if I can only get some sleep. On top of that today I lost my appetite. Wha!? Huh!? Rick lose his appetite, that never happens. Let me put it this way. When I was about 9 yrs. old, living in the Philippines, I got sick with Typhoid fever. Nasty illness that kept me sick for most of a year. A lot of kids got sick, most lost weight through treatment. Guess who gained weight:) My mom doesn't call me "pig" for nothing.
Keep it together Rick...just 3 more days.
The last part of the equation, the spiritual part, came together for me last night. Not many people know this because I hardly write or talk about it but the spiritual part is the most critical part for me. If I'm not right there I won't be right anywhere. I'm ready, now if I can only get some sleep. On top of that today I lost my appetite. Wha!? Huh!? Rick lose his appetite, that never happens. Let me put it this way. When I was about 9 yrs. old, living in the Philippines, I got sick with Typhoid fever. Nasty illness that kept me sick for most of a year. A lot of kids got sick, most lost weight through treatment. Guess who gained weight:) My mom doesn't call me "pig" for nothing.
Keep it together Rick...just 3 more days.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Triathlon
It's Wildflower weekend! The big race for the Triathlon community. While not everyone will race it, we all know about it. Ah the Triathlon community....I love those peeps. The triathlon community has been and continues to be very good to me. It wouldn't be an understatement for me to say that without their support I wouldn't be the ultra-marathoner I am today. They took in an injured, quiet runner, rehabilitated him, taught him new skills, imparted a love for spandex and shaving, introduced him to the never ending (expensive) cool gear, introduced him to some great people and threw him back out stronger, faster, more confident and with a greater appreciation for speed and cross-training. Whew that was a mouthful...
Anyway since I have a car this weekend I'm thinking of making it a double header. Do my 100k race on Saturday, Miwok 100k is this weekend too and drive down early Sunday to catch the end of Wildflower with my cowbell. Hobbling around while ringing a cowbell is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Wildflower is all weekend; athletes go down Friday and camp out, Long Course (half-Ironman distance) competition on Saturday, Short Course (Olympic distance) competition on Sunday. Last year I wanted to come down but had to lead a YMCA run on Sunday morning, head coach was at Wildflower for the relay version of the long course. I was the assistant coach so it was my job. He appreciated me filling in and told me that I didn't have to run, just inform the runner of their workout and check with everyone before going home. Sit around and watch other people run....hmmmm...right...sure that happened but I digress.
Excited...too excited, I've been waking up an hour before the time set on my alarm clock this week. For a chronic oversleeper that's quite unnatural:) I will also be wearing my GGTC gear to Miwok 100k. I love my club. Maybe I'm just too easily impressed.
Anyway since I have a car this weekend I'm thinking of making it a double header. Do my 100k race on Saturday, Miwok 100k is this weekend too and drive down early Sunday to catch the end of Wildflower with my cowbell. Hobbling around while ringing a cowbell is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Wildflower is all weekend; athletes go down Friday and camp out, Long Course (half-Ironman distance) competition on Saturday, Short Course (Olympic distance) competition on Sunday. Last year I wanted to come down but had to lead a YMCA run on Sunday morning, head coach was at Wildflower for the relay version of the long course. I was the assistant coach so it was my job. He appreciated me filling in and told me that I didn't have to run, just inform the runner of their workout and check with everyone before going home. Sit around and watch other people run....hmmmm...right...sure that happened but I digress.
Excited...too excited, I've been waking up an hour before the time set on my alarm clock this week. For a chronic oversleeper that's quite unnatural:) I will also be wearing my GGTC gear to Miwok 100k. I love my club. Maybe I'm just too easily impressed.
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