Monday 18 November 2013

Stone Mill 50 - Disappointing Race

Everything was going really well through 25 miles, which I finished in 4hrs 5mins on zero gels/simple sugars (even with a 15 minute wrong turn on the trail). I was feeling really good (I think I finally have my nutrition plan dialed in), and was easily on pace for the sub-9hrs i was shooting for. Then I leave the check point, tell Vanessa I will see her at mile 35, go about a half mile, and 'boom' my hamstring feels like it is on fire. A slight tweak, which probably was at least partly contributed to by a major slide i took down a 10 foot slab of rock a few miles earlier, totally out of control, is all it took to hand me my first DNF. As bad as it sucks, it was probably better to pull out. After all is said and done, I wish I could have finished because I feel really good right now,  other than the leg.

Lessons learned: nutrition worked perfect, finally; my hill running has improved, as i felt really strong on some decent inclines when many people were walking; NEVER using pure grit ones again if there is any possibility of wet conditions-probably just going to change shoes any way; I think I am also done with compression shorts for a while to see how that works out...I really think they are unecessary during racing and actually too restrictive on my legs, course was really nice and I think I might try it again next year.

In short, my participation in the Stone Mill 50 was disappointing, and has been mentally burdensome, but I learned some important things, as is always the case in this very early stage in my ultra life, and now I can move on with my first DNF out of the way and behind me. Time to turn to the next challenge.

Friday 8 November 2013

THE ATHLETE By Patrick Fernandez

The Athlete indeed is a breed that is rare,
His lungs need much more than a mere mortal’s air;
He’ll inhale his Dreams, and exhale the Impossible,
To suffocate Doubt, and surmount every obstacle.
He cannot subsist on just bland food and drink,
His body needs more to be pushed to the brink;
Victory his prey, which he stalks in life’s jungle,
He feeds on great feats, to ensure Failure crumbles.
His muscles, though strong, cannot fully contract,
Unless he has in him a reason to act;
With Hope as his weight, he will strengthen his soul,
To lift all that’s daunting, and reach for his goal.
It isn’t just blood flowing deep in his veins,
His heart needs a means to erode what constrains;
Belief mixed with Grit are pumped into each limb,
To ignite both his Drive and Desire to win.
His habitat more than some comfort-filled cage,
His sheer Will alone needs a much larger stage;
The whole world his book, where he writes his own chapters,
To publish his Courage and show what he’s mastered.
Though his body may slumber, his mind never rests,
Preparing itself for a new day of tests;
And when the sun rises, so too does his Pain,
Which he gladly endures, to lend History his name.
So should you encounter this rare, untamed breed,
You’ll know why he suffers, you’ll know why he bleeds;
It’s more than just proving how strong or how swift,
It’s to cast off life’s limits, and unleash life’s Gifts!

Tuesday 5 November 2013

CFE at CrossFit Praxis

Starting the CFE Program at my CrossFit box in December. From the November newsletter...

Want to improve your WOD times, run a 5K, or complete a marathon? Join your fellow CrossFit Praxis athletes beginning December 1st as we launch our new CrossFit Endurance (CFE) Program. To help incorporate this exciting new offering into our existing program, CrossFit Praxis invites all Praxis athletes with unlimited membership to participate at no additional expense during the introductory period through March 1, 2014.

What is CFE?

CFE classes will not only provide an opportunity to make your lungs burn and improve your stamina, they will also focus on run mechanics to optimize your efficiency and performance. While the initial focus of the CFE program will be single-sport (i.e., running), the classes can be easily incorporated into a broader multi-sport CFE program for those interested in other sports (e.g., biking, swimming, triathlons, etc.). Whatever your personal endurance goals, the benefits derived from adding the CFE classes to your current training will be significant.

The CFE classes are designed to supplement, not replace, regular Praxis programming, as we work to improve speed and endurance. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact Brandon Petelin at bpetelin@gmail.com. To learn more about CFE visit: http://www.crossfitendurance.com/whatiscfe.