Mount Washington Trainer 1/52, Upper Ridge 1

I've resolved to do 1 Mount Washington training run/work-out a week until Mount Washington 2010. Still sore from the mountain last week I did Upper Ridge/Mt Orient training run Saturday, 6/27.

Salem to the top: 26:54. Base to top: 13:43. Overall run (upper ridge - middle ridge and back) 10 miles in 1:14:20.

The route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ma/-amherst/623124612495484147

Later in the day I did a 45 mile bike ride. Average 18.7 mph.

The bike route: http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/ma/-amherst/456124620325022227

The week: R24/B218/S.5

2009 Mount Washington Results

Finished 26th overall (25th men) my best finish thus far. Not a bad day considering the lack of running leading up to the race. Due to injury, in the two months before the race I was only able to run a total of 100 miles, but I biked over 1,000.

2007 Results: 29th - 1:15:57

2008 Results: 27th - 1:08:05

2009 Results: 26th - 1:11:47

Finishing the race - 22% grade incline - compliments Kevin Tilton.

2009 Mount Washington Training

Injured: 4/14, inflamed ligaments in my right foot.

5/3-5/9: Bike 62 miles/Run 5/LIFT

5/10-5/16: Bike 88 miles/Run 18 miles/LIFT

5/17-5/23: Bike 173/Run 18 miles

5/24-5/30: Bike 72 miles/Run 22 miles

5/31-6/6: Bike 310 miles/Run 12 miles

6/7-6/13: Bike 261 miles/Run 25 miles

"Work could cure almost anything, I believed then, and I believe now."

-From old EH, A Moveable Feast. 

Above quote proves true again. Injured today after two great weeks. Instead spent the day focused on what work remained: Read MLK Letters from Birmingham Jail, ate well (healthily), played guitar and got some stretching in with the hope of being positive to run tomorrow.

Some of my favorite quotes from MLK below. 

"Socrates felt that is was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal."

"Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily."

"We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right."

"There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love."

South West 1000s

5 * 1000s around UMass South West living area.

1st 400 = flat

2nd 200 = steep uphill

3rd 400 = slight downhill

Rest = 3 minutes jog back to start

Results: 3:09, 3:03, 2:58, 2:58, 2:53.

Did it at 8am with Andy and Jon. Good Workout. Jon finished a few seconds ahead on each one. Andy was a consistent 3:00-3:04. Revelation of run: After the 5 mile warm-up felt horrendous. Thought that I ought to walk home - really almost did, this despite the fact that through my years of accumulated running wisdom I knew some of the best workouts and races come after moments of this (almost literally) debilitating doubt, what Coach O'Brien would call "the demons." Still though, planned to walk back to bed, depressingly. Then I did a stride. Felt okay, which equaled a glimmer of hope. So I did the workout. In sum: It is still about how you feel. Do what you need to do to feel good.  

Absoloodle

"I told him of my fear of losing control of my destiny, how, because I had camouflaged myself so well, I seemed now to be shaped and directed too much by the needs of others. How the power of one within me was being dissipated even though their purposes for me were not corrupted or ill-intentioned. On the contrary, their deeds came swaddled in the innocence of love. I was becoming powerless as those around me plundered my spirit with the gifts of themselves... It was time to slough the mottled and cunningly contrived outer skin and emerge as myself, to face risk or exposure, to regain the power of one. I had reached the point where to find myself was essential."

-More from THE POWER OF ONE, finished a few days ago.

I wrote - if I recall correctly - that whatever running pursuits I have I have because, partly, "I have nothing better to do."

Well, we'll see if that's true.

Starting Season 2 this week. The first ended successfully: I ran for three months, built up training, stayed healthy and ran a PR in the mile: 4:17.57. I said afterwards if I ran any slower I would have dubbed the season a failure.

But I didn't run any slower.

Absoloodle!

The Cactus

"God and I have no quarrels, madame. The almighty conceived the cactus plant. If God would choose a plant to represent him, I think he would choose of all plants the cactus. The cactus has all the blessings he tried, but mostly failed, to give man. Let me tell you how. It has humility, but is not submissive. It grows where no other plant will grow. It does not complain when the sun bakes it back or the wind tears it from the cliff or drowns it in the dry sand of the desert or when it is thirsty. When the rains come it stores water for the hard times to come. In good times and in bad it will still flower. It protects itself against danger, but harms no other plant. It adapts perfectly to almost any environment. It has patience and enjoys solitude. In Mexico there is a cactus that flowers once every hundred years and at night. This is saintliness of an extraordinary kind, would you not agree? The cactus has properties that heal the wounds of men and from it come potions that can make man touch the face of God or stare into the mouth of hell. It is the plant of patience and solitude, love and madness, ugliness and beauty, toughness and gentleness. Of all plants, surely God made the cactus in his own image? It has my enduring respect and is my passion."
-Professor von Vollensteen, from THE POWER OF ONE.