Here’s the second installment of the why behind the Leadville 100.  I’m trying to keep these posts relatively short, a page or so, and about once a week so they’re easy to digest & nobody’s getting a ton of notifications and feeling like I’m dumping a ton of material in short order.  I might also drop an occasional short bit of writing or an article like the one from Anton Krupicka a couple weeks ago. 

If you’re reading these, I genuinely hope you find them at least interesting, if not useful or, maybe, even inspiring?  I very much value your feedback.  What would you like to see more or less of, what do find valuable?  This writing project is as much an ultra-event as the races will be, and will very much be a learning process for me.  This one is a touch longer than I intended, but hopefully you don’t mind.

This one was originally written around the start of 2022.  I’ve clarified a few things since it’s now 7 months later.  Everything in here is current as of that time.  I’m still getting the standard foot blisters to an extent, but as of mid-July, the lost toenail is trying to make a comeback. 

About this 100 miles at altitude in 30 hours or less…I haven’t really run since about 2017.  Apparently good decisions are not my thing.  I started back up running again in mid-September 2021 with a 2.81-mile, 35-minute flat trail “run” at a whopping 12:37 min mile pace. I certainly could have gone faster/longer, but I was trying not to overdo it, end up sore & have to take several days off. 

Originally, the plan was to make running a part of my overall training plan and I needed to do something because I haven’t really been lifting since I moved in June of 2021, which is a whole ‘nother fiasco.  Apparently, good tequila and cigars will only carry you so far.  Between September and December 31^st of 2021, I did 23 runs, with the longest being 11.08 miles in 2:22 with 1925 feet of elevation gain at a 12:49 pace if my math is correct.  Looks like progress to me, but I have been accused of being a touch stoopid.  I also had a few weeks in there where I was speed walking on an inclined treadmill with a 75lb pack to get ready for another elk hunt that was enjoyable but, unfortunately, unproductive.

Fortunately, I seem to be able to take on mileage pretty well.  With the exception of the blisters on the bottom of my left arch and whatever the toe equivalent is to the ring finger.  Moleskin, tape, run, repeat has been the process for the last month at least.  I’ll probably lose a couple toenails, but such is life. 

Not sure what to do about the toes.  The one on my left foot is well into the blackened state, while the one on my right foot will clear out the blood if I lance under the nail and drain it out.  Maybe it’ll hold on, who knows?  Surprisingly, poking a needle under my black toenail doesn’t hurt.  I can’t feel it at all.  I haven’t tried on one of my good toenails though.  I may be stoopid, but I’m not that dumb. 

TRAINING WEEK 12/27

I got one longer run in last week (10 miles) and two shorter runs in (6 miles each).  With the Leadville goal in mind, I’m going to start incorporating more elevation into my runs.  This last one was the first time I felt like I was done and didn’t feel good after.  This was definitely different than my previous soreness & foot blisters.  When I got home I made sure to stuff some salty nuts, protein and water down my throat.  I’ve been doing well running without much food before hand.  I think anything over 2 hours is going to require water, maybe a little chow, and/or an electrolyte replacement.  It’s also winter in Colorado, so I’m sure I’ll have to make some changes once things heat up, though 60’s in mid-late December is pretty warm.  Today’s colder air probably took a lot of moisture out of me too, on top of whatever I was sweating out.  Apparently I don’t need much clothing for a long run in the sun even if the temps are at least in the high 20s. 

I’ve done 2 hour runs with nothing before, and I was feeling fine until my last climb, which was to be expected as it was steep and not really something I could run.  Had to hike it, and my legs were definitely tired, but once I got to the descent again they felt fine.  At about the 2:15 mark today, I ran out of energy pretty quickly.  It was tough to keep going, and my legs were a little weak, but I also started feeling a little uncoordinated.  Not like drunk/stumbling around uncoordinated, or like I have before when I’ve been dehydrated after a long time in the heat, but definitely not functioning like they should.  The legs felt better shortly after I started walking for my cool down, but a few minutes into that, my stomach started feeling a little upset, which was strange.

Present day:

I managed to beat up my right foot pretty good about a month ago, so I’ve been laying off the running since then.  Finally replaced the mountain biking shoes I’ve had since I was racing in high school, about 30 years ago.  Had to move the cleats for my pedals as close to the center of my feet as I could to keep pressure off the ball of my foot.  The last time I had this type of injury it took well over a year to heal and the doctor I saw wasn’t very helpful, so I’m trying to do the things that helped me last time and not just push through and end up making it worse, like I did last time.