With the finger Lakes 50 mile race coming up soon I find myself thinking way too much. With my thoughts all jumbled together not taking on any type of coherent pattern I find myself confused, and feeling a little anxious. My apartment is a pig-sty and I have no ambition to clean it up. Running shoes, shorts, Honey Stingers, Gu's and a multitude of other running support items lay strewn about mixed in with past due bills and junk mail. Honestly, I am enjoying the mess. It is what it is and I will get to it when I get to it...that is the bottom line. After all, am I not about to embark on this stupid fucking idea I had of running 50 mile in just 30 short days? That too will be what it will be.
I have trained pretty good for this attempt at 50 miles...I have done 2 of the toughest race I have done to date (note: I only started running a year ago). The Hyner Challenge was a 25k that really kicked my ass and taught me the importance of electrolyte replenishment. Having your quads and calf's cramp up at the same time really sucks. Never want to experience that again. Then there was the MacNaughton 30 mile (50k) which was also quite daunting. These 2 races gave me a ton of confidence in going forward towards the FL50. That confidence was crushed by the Highland 123 trail race right in my own back yard. I have run this trail 3 times in preparation for this event and felt ready for it. Highland is a 10 mile trail loop you can do 1, 2 or 3 times...I was shooting for 3 to get my last long run in before my taper and then withing the first 100 Yds. rolled my ankle. I wasn't paying attention to the trail but more to the people I was running with. Not paying attention to foot placement and walla...twisted ankle. I am not new to rolled ankles...I have rolled my left ankle at least 7 times during this training period but this was by far the worst of all the rolls. So, I walked it off...then started a slow pace and then it felt better. I did my first 10 mile loop in 2:05! Felt great...I head back out for my second loop and BANG...at 15 miles my ankle goes on strike. I couldn't run on it anymore! That 5 mile hike back to the finish was not fun and way to long to say the least. I finished my second loop in 3:15 feeling dejected and sore.
So Now, I sit here...staying off the ankle starting my taper a little early and not exactly the way I would want to. I haven't run at all since Highland and the soreness is still there but is getting better. I will try a nice steady trail run this coming Saturday and see how it feels. I am nervous...I really want to finish 50 miles...but am lacking in confidence at this point. Hence a need to write and get this shit out! I feel better already! So...here we go...30 days away and I will be lining up to attempt it...Only the Universe knows how it will turn out. I know one thing though...I will start out with my eyes focused more at my feet for sure!
OK...Until my next rambling rant...Sayonara!
