Monthly Summary – July 2013
June seemed like a really long month and July went by in a flash. Both months were pretty busy, but while my usual routine was “disrupted” in June with the San Diego 100, a relatively long recovery from the race and a great vacation in Wainscott, July was much more routine: run, work, eat, sleep, spend a little social time, repeat. While I like vacations and (some) variety, I am definitely more comfortable with routine in my life. That meant that during July, I slept better, ate better, trained better and generally felt better. I got my training back on track and had a month of consistent running.
I also feel like in the second half of July, I turned a corner and have been running better than since some time before SD 100. I finally feel recovered. Last Sunday, Lukas and I did a 20 mile loop around Mt. Wilson. Follow this link if you want to see the route: Mt Wilson Loop. (Elan was there too, but he was so far ahead and then did a different route that it wouldn’t be fair to him to claim that I ran “with” him.) I felt the best that I’ve felt on that loop since way before San Diego. I wasn’t cursing (too much) during the Upper Winter Creek climb and actually enjoyed the final 5 mile descent from the bench back to the trailhead. I don’t remember the last time I would have said either of those things about that run!
There was one exception to my routine in July, a five day trip to Death Valley to crew Ray Sanchez at Badwater. This was my third time crewing there, but the first time since 2010. I had a blast!
Then, after Badwater, Rich Roll invited me to come on his podcast and talk with him about the experience of crewing and pacing at the race. Hanging out with Rich and doing the podcast was a ton of fun and hopefully it’s enjoyable to listen to as well! You can click here or on the picture below to listen to it.
Finally, this month marked the 10 year anniversary of my first spinal surgery. Since that surgery (laminectomy and tumor removal), I’ve finished three marathons, three Ironmans, three 100 mile ultras and tons of other triathlons, road races, trail races and ultras. It actually wasn’t until after that surgery that I really started getting into endurance sports. That surgery (and the few weeks leading up to it) were a tough time in my life, but with the love and support of my family and friends and some amazing medical care, I came through a much stronger (and more appreciative) person. At this point, it’s pretty rare that I even think about the surgery (or my second spinal surgery in September 2010). Coincidentally, though, today does happen to be one of those days that I do think about the surgery. I had the pleasure of spending a big chunk of my morning laying still in a tight metal tube for my annual follow-up MRI. I’ll find out the results tomorrow, but, as always, I’m confident that it’ll all be A-OK. Update, August 1: I had my follow-up appointment this morning and it’s all good. The MRI report showed “no significant change” since last year and that’s the same message I got last year. I’ll see them against next summer.
As we turn to August, I have six and a half weeks until Run Rabbit Run 100 on September 13. That will hopefully mean three and a half weeks of solid training, one week transitioning to taper and two weeks of taper. I’ll be psyched if it works out that way.
Here’s July:
Run mileage was pretty good, everything else was pretty much non-existent. Work and life have been too busy for me to get in pretty much anything other than morning and weekend runs. I’ll take it, but I’d like to get some more swimming and yoga or strength work in during August.
I have to do that full Mt Wilson/Sturdevant/Winter Creek loop – looks stout. Good running into and with ya for a bit that Sun. And as I told you, dug the podcast. Let’s def do that Wed Runyon run again.
More importantly, congrats on the 10 yr mark – glad you’re A-OK!