Calm Before The Storm

Today's weather was a bit unpredictable yet it was quite pleasant when I got out for an easy run.  The forecast is for some more storms to roll in this evening.  But clearing skys and sunshine greeted me for most of the time I was out.  

Also today's title is referring to a calm run day in anticipation of a long run tomorrow (weather permitting).  Results from the doctors visits earlier this week help to fire me up for the increase in mileage and length of long runs each week.

I've had occasion to mention my son's puppy in recent posts but haven't taken the chance to post a photo. So here she is...Piper...see a little resemblance to Diablo?

Helping me by picking up a recyclable bottle.

Asleep at the wheel (of the Jeep)

Ever wonder why photos of people are plagued with red-eye yet dogs seem to have green-eye?

6 miles jogging and 2 additional hiking for 8 miles today.

Stress

As most of us that exercise in order to improve health or to compete know, the training is a combination or balance of applying a stress and the body's adaptation to that stress through recovery.  My training of late has been geared towards preparing me for a 50 mile race in South Dakota in June.  As I've begun to make enough progress to consider entering (I'm lucky that this event is not one that limits entries yet nor fills to capacity in a short time), my coach (wife) wanted to be sure I had an informational discussion with the cardiologist that worked with me when I was hospitalized with atrial fibrillation in 2007 a few days after the Pikes Peak Marathon.

The visit went well and the doc didn't see a reason that I couldn't continue to train and run at the Black Hills.  But he still thought it prudent for me to run a treadmill stress test to see how the ticker is currently working under more of a load.  So that's how I began my workout today...a trip to the hospital for the "mill".

Things went well and I was impressed with the quality and ability of the GE Treadmill used for the test.  It can run up to a 25% slope! My knees found it easier to perform at slope rather than flat (or as I've learned in the field, they really complain on downhills).  I went through 6 levels before reaching the calculated max heart rate based on my age of 168...that meant I was going 5.5 MPH at a 20%slope before we pulled the plug at 15 minutes.  I could have continued but the technicians said they had all the info they needed and if I continued it would only be for my personal challenge.  Nothing glaring showed up and they said I did excellent but I still need to wait for the final analysis by the cardiologist.

I followed up with a 10 mile run at Lime Creek and additional hiking mid-afternoon for another 14 mile total.

Dealing With What You Have

Yesterday's post by my friend, George Zack, and often an answer in the podcasts with Lucho at Endurance Planet, got me to thinking about what I'm actually doing with my workouts...are they training or just an outing to the woods?  Yes, I would prefer to run like I did in the past, but I simply can't. However, this year I truly believe that I can consider myself a runner, once again.  It took a lot of dealing with my knee arthritis and meniscus issues and a lot of hiking but can now sustain some real miles, albeit slower than what I remember.

I find myself reminiscing way too often and am also jealous when I see a younger runner go by with such ease in his gait. But I have also come to enjoy my extra time in the out-of-doors and actually get into the "flow" as discussed by Andy Jones-Wilkins in his column at iRunFar.com.  So as Lucho would put it, I do what I can and don't worry about what I no longer have any control over.

 I also thought a lot about the message presented by Aron Rolston at the NIACC auditorium last night. Dealing with boulders in your life and opportunities to change perspective on what is most important to you.  It was a very good, inspirational, and motivating talk and I was glad I had the opportunity to be there and that NIACC is able to arrange for such high quality events in their annual series.

Today went very well as I used a run to the high school, to deliver a student ID that I had found yesterday, as a warmup then hit the trails for my finishing loop at a pretty good clip.  As mentioned yesterday, it is very dry out and the river is unusually low for this time of year. 

10 mile run in AM and additional hiking later.

Cooler Weather...We Need Rain

Very good day to be out on the trails.  Sunny, calm, and very dry in the woods.  I was simply trying to get back into the groove that I'd settled into before the Chicago trip so didn't push the distance, just increased the amount of running.  It went well.  Lilacs and crab apple trees are blossoming.

10 miles of running followed by hiking in the afternoon and again this evening for a 14 mile day.

Running to the Top --- of Iowa

Took the opportunity to get to Pilot Knob today with fellow McDuffer, Dave Nauman.  Dave is winding down his training for a 50K in a couple weeks. The terrain that Pilot Knob affords is unlike anything that we have available around Mason City.

I'll use some photos to show a bit of the day.

Three Bridges Trail with Dave in blue just disappearing from view (if you look closely).

They have burls here. as well.

The view from the top of the knob tower.

And out along the prairie 

I had intended to run at least 10 miles up here but enjoyed being in the new location and the weather so much that I ended up with more hiking than running and cut it off between 8 and 9 miles in order to meet Dave on time.

Also got in a walk with Cathy and the puppy on Lime Creek this afternoon.

Back to Normal?

It was great to be back on the Lime Creek trails today.  Breezy and cool but sunny none the less.  I started a bit conservatively and found another load of cans and bottles because I've been gone for a few days and they seem to accumulate!  But eventually I got on a roll and ran some significant stretches.

I had begun the morning dog-sitting my son's new puppy then went to the cardiologist for a checkup before ramping my training up for the Black Hills 50.  So far, so good with the doctor but we're scheduled for a stress test later this week as a precaution.

I took some time to research a natural phenomenon that I had noticed last week.  A very bright orange slime growing in the oozing sap of a tree that had been cleared from around the old brewery.

Turns out, this is most likely caused by a yeast.  There was a good discussion of this in an article from Cornell University....

"Root sap gets stirring in the Spring, and even if the stems are gone, the roots may still be alive and pumping liquids, unaware there is no top to feed. Any self-respecting microorganism knows a free meal when it sees one, and soon the watery slime is translucent and greasy with yeast and bacterial and filamentous fungal growth."....  

The resulting stem is quite bizarre when seen from the trail.

7 miles in the AM and additional mile or so scheduled tonight.

Easter Sunday -- Over Easy

Nice sunny morning but my knees are feeling the effects of so much pavement. So I chose to repeat yesterday's route but with a lot less running and more hiking.

5 miles on the day for a 65 mile week.