The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

CROSSING THE DIVIDE...FROM RACING IN DESERTS AROUND THE WORLD TO TAKING ON THE ITALIAN ALPS...

It is time to post an update on how things are going in preparation for the Tor des Geants race in Italy this September. www.tordesgeants.it   I am going to highlight The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. (One of my favorite movies by the way.)  Of course I am going to start off with The Good, because one must always remain positive!

THE GOOD

FEBRUARY 1ST...Registered at 6am for the Tor des Geants.  There were only 550 spots up for grabs.  I managed to secure a place before the race sold out in 27 minutes!!!  Am I thrilled!  In just its third year, the TDG was filled to capacity, with 550 people on the waiting list.

Time to get down to business...I have about 1/2 a year...just over 6 months...to train for one of the toughest races in the world.  This is a huge departure for me.  I specialize in desert racing.  I have to get my brain wrapped around the fact that I am heading to the Italian Alps to do a 200 mile mountain race in 150 hours or less.  Wow!

FEBRUARY 15TH...I am looking at gear and have become an Ambassador for Ultimate Direction.  I am wearing their hydration vests and packs!  Fabulous! www.ultimatedirection.com

FEBRUARY 28TH...I am going to need some help!  I contacted two girls in Canada both of whom have done this race before...Leslie Gerein and Nicki Rehn.  They have been absolutely wonderful in answering all of the questions I have about the event....Gear, Training, Course, Travel and on and on.  Thank you girls!!!!

Coach Cal is on board to help me for this race.  He is the best!  I know I am in good hands working with Cal.  In my opinion, he is the most knowledgeable coach in the country when it comes to endurance.  He knows his craft inside and out and I am absolutely confident with him.  www.criticalspeed.com

MARCH 1ST...Booked hotel in host town of Courmayeur, Italy.  I am in a great place just steps away from the start of the race!

APRIL 12TH...Had surgery to repair the damage to my nose that has impeded my breathing for decades.  I had my deviated septum repaired and had excess tissue removed from within that was preventing me from getting in air.  I am happy to report that the surgery has been a complete success!  It may seem funny to read this, but I can actually breath in and out through my nose.  Something that everyone else takes for granted is something that I can now appreciate!  Sometimes I catch myself breathing through my nose...and I still pause and marvel that I can do this.  It is the simple things in life that can bring the most pleasure!

MAY 14TH...Booked hotel in Florence for my holiday after the race!  I am within spitting distance of all the major sights in town!  If I can't walk I can always use a wheelchair...which I have had to do in the past after some races.


THE BAD

Okay, now for the bad.  How is this for starters.  I am now living in Florida at sea level.  I am training for a high altitude race!  This is going to be a tough challenge to overcome.

Second, there are no mountains here!  There are really no hills here either, unless you count bridges and landfills.  Yup, you guessed it.  I am training on bridges and in the local landfill!  I am also working in stairs up and down a beachside highrise.  Add weights, tire dragging and a few other inventive tricks and there you have it...TDG here I come! 

Third, I am heading into a new age group and I have noticed that I am starting to break down.  I am having problems with my hips (I'll tell you about that in another post)  and my calves. 

I have been blessed as a runner to date, in that I have never really had any problems with running.  I love running, and running loves me.  The only thing I have really had to deal with are sprained ankles.  That has been it.  Period.  Now I am getting muscle pulls on a regular basis.  I am worried that my body may be going through some structural changes right now, and I am going to have to learn how to work through it and overcome it.  Look at this timeline of problems so far.

BEGINNING OF JANUARY...Pulled a muscle in my Right Hamstring

BEGINNING OF APRIL...Pulled a muscle in my Right Calf

MIDDLE OF APRIL....Missed training due to Nose Surgery

BEGINNING OF MAY...Pulled a muscle in my Left Calf



THE UGLY....

My 6 months to train for the Tor Des Geants is now whittled down to three months of training.  I have been feeling lately that I can't put one foot in front of the other without getting injured.

END OF MAY....Pulled the muscle in my Right Calf again.

Honestly, I have not really done any real running for two months.  TWO MONTHS.  Unbelievable.
I have another week before my Right Calf is good to go again, and so I have had to content myself with doing a lot of cross training.  I am hoping to get out this upcoming weekend to see how it feels to run an hour.  I will go from there.


SO NOW WHAT?

I am going to go hard for the next three months.  I have a training camp coming up in Canada at the end of June, early July, and I am going to go play in the mountains in Alberta and B.C.  I plan on hanging out in Banff and Kimberley...what fun!

I am going to do the very best that I can.  What more can one do?  I have to learn how to deal with these little problems now as they arise.  It is not the end of the world.  I will go to Italy, I will do this race, and I will give it the best that I have. 

I am also starting to look at this race as a training run.  It is preparing me a for a huge desert venture that I have planned for next year.  So, I have a year to figure out these little structural issues, address them and work them out.  These are simply little speed bumps in the roadrace of life.  Training is a lifestyle, it is like breathing and eating.  It is part of who I am and what I need to function.  This will be overcome and I will continue to run for as long as I am having fun!