Chillin with the Gel

Most runners spend some time trying to figure the best nutrition strategies when they run and race.  This is especially true as the race becomes longer and is on a trail.  Most commonly mentioned are some form of carbohydrate and often gels are a preferred choice.

Today I happened to spot a different sort of gel while on the trails...a gel mushroom!

Got in another 8 mile day.

Can these rickety old legs gain speed again?

Drove to Cedar Falls this morning and plan to run with Scott Gall's group from The Runner's Flat at 6 PM. Time trial scheduled tonight with a potluck following at Singlespeed Brewery .... recovery drink anyone?

Looking forward to it. But weather is rather warm and still humid.

More later...

11:00 PM - OK, so I reconfirmed I can't run fast with only slow miles in training.  Thought I might be able to endure a 6 minute mile in a TT but could only manage a 6:59!  Gives me a reality check and something to build on.  I will get better.

Really great group to work with and believe there were over 30 runners for the TT.  Lots of fun at the brewery tap room following.  Tried some new brews and they were great.

Eye of the Tiger

No relief from the wet and humid conditions in the woods.  Lots of mud and tricky running along the edges.

I was concerned that the possibility of the Emerald Ash Borer reaching Iowa had occurred and the green buggers on the trails were a forecast of doom for some of the trees.  However, it turns out they're only 6-spotted Tiger Beetles!

Got in 8 miles this afternoon with another complimentary 3 yet this evening.

Full Moon

When the clouds allowed, the moon has been quite a sight lately.  Especially a couple nights ago when it was a super moon.

Photo thanks to Joe Randall via Facebook.

Courtesy of HomeGroen Photography.

The Lime Creek Trails are very wet and overgrown yet I've been getting out on them nearly every day and even got "mooned" by one of the trees today.

Able to stay steady for a 6 mile run and another 3 yet tonight.

Catching Up

When I started to post blogs in January 2012, my motivation was simply a daily log of my trail running and observations from the woods.  I also thought it might be a one year project because of the Mayan calender predictions (but I didn't truly think all civilization would end).  I found the project to be a lot of fun and must admit that I began posting with the intention that friends and others would follow my training occasionally.

After this year's NJCCA national track meet I took a break and it's been 5 weeks since I posted.  I've noticed that long breaks in fellow runner's blogging is sometimes related to injury...I'm no more injured than I've been for the past 6 years! Physically, that is...what I seemed to lack was a target race to focus any training towards.  I changed that over the weekend and entered a half-marathon in September to help me with my motivation.  Also hope to go after a 2 mile age group record in Garner in July. 

Some interesting thoughts about blogs, facebook, Twitter, etc. were expressed the other day by Tim Long on his blog Footfeathers...and I found a lot of insight into my approach to this sport while reading his blog and comments.

The simplest way for me to catch up will be through photos.  I have maintained a rather constant mileage even with a trip to New York City and the plethora of rain that we've been receiving.

My daughter prepared a morel mushroom risotto withe the morels we hauled out on our flight.

Just a little scenery during my morning run.

Headed to Governor's Island

Some old-time baseball on the diamond on Governor's Island .   Remember this for an aerial shot later in this sequence.

Is there something out of time in this photo?

Anyone for a helicopter ride?

Can you see the ball game taking place on the grass of Governor's Island?

New York was about to begin their Citibike, public biking program.

Maps of the bike pick-up and drop-off locations.

Bicycle polo in a New York park.

Annie on Broadway

Mileage for the week ending on the 26th....47 miles total.

Even saw cougars while running in Brooklyn.

Some really polluted water in a canal in Brooklyn.

Morel mushroom duxelles

A rare beer that Calynn's husband, Ryan, shared with me from Japan...result of the tsunami.

Monument to 911 on Staten Island.

Coral Mushrooms on Lime Creek trails...also edible!

Mileage for week of May 27 to June 2nd is 46 miles total.

Mileage total for June 3rd to the 9th is 49 miles total.

6-11-2013  River level is quite high due to rainfall.

Painted Turtle that I've turned for the photo.

6-13-2013  River level is even higher.

The trail is becoming a stream.

A soft-shelled turtle sunning itself beside the rising river.

The cut at Ernie's Bridge is really rolling!

Mileage for the week of the 10th to the 16th is 45 total miles.

Mileage for the week of the 17th to the 23rd is 51 miles...the trails have been difficult to navigate because of mud but still passable and I'm ramping up because of some races I've committed to.