Sunday, June 19, 2011

Week Ending June 19

Mon - Off. Arrived in New York in the wee hours of Monday morning, so no run before work. No chance during the day.

Tues - 5 miles. A quick couple of laps around Central Park Reservoir, which was packed at 6:00 AM.

Weds - 5 miles. As yesterday. Ho hum.

Thurs - Noon: 9 miles (1,900') easy. Falls - Spring Creek - Stout - Loggers - Carey Springs - Towers - Herrington - Spring Creek - Soderberg - home long. Not sure my legs could have felt any flatter. This is typical for me in the second week of the taper...but still. I almost turned around and went home after a half mile.

Fri - Noon: 9 miles (1,900') easy. Falls - Spring Creek - Stout - Loggers - Carey Springs - Towers - Herrington - Spring Creek - Soderberg - home long. Legs better, but still not where I want them to be.

Sat - AM: 14 miles (1,900') easy. Bluesky/Indian Summer o&b from home with Ryan. Getting better. Still not fresh, but definitely better.

Sun - AM: 7 miles (1,700') easy. From Soderberg - Valley - Sawmill - Loggers - Herrington - Towers - Herrington - Sprig Creek - Soderberg - home long. Couple of layers. Good sweat. Tight hamstrings from weeding yesterday, otherwise legs feel like they're coming around nicely.

Total: 49 miles (7,400')

Well that essentially caps my training for the year. From here on in it will be: race (WS); recover; race (HR); recover; play in the high country on some sweet routes (Glacier Gorge traverse, Rawah traverse, Pingree five peak speed attempt, Mummy Mania speed attempt); race (Sierre-Zinal); recover; race (UTMB); recover; hibernate.

My Dad asked me on the phone this morning what my strategy for next weekend was. After giving his question a bit of thought I realized that I don't really have a strategy. I mean one can plan all they want for these things but in my experience, as long as you have the basic essentials of fueling and hydration figured out, there really shouldn't be too much else to think about. The rest tends to be unnecessary noise and stress. There are a couple of logistical issues to figure out with Nick & Jake, my two pacers, but that can wait for Thursday.

The race will unfold however it unfolds and unless I'm completely out of touch with the reality of my fitness, I'll run the race the day gives me. If the pace is too hot off the front, then I'm not going to kill myself trying to stay in touch. That's how it played out last year, and I'm generally happy with the way I ran. There were guys running way over their head on the re-route around French Meadows (we're talking sub-6 pace), and all I could do was sit back and shake my head while they destroyed their races before it was even one-fifth done. If that kind of silliness transpires again this year, then I'll just have to let it go. Obviously, I hope to be in the mix throughout, but I'd rather finish in fifth with a time and effort that I'm happy with than implode at 80 miles after chasing the lead all day and digging myself a Rucky-Chucky grave. The Western States course is 100 miles long; not 50, not 80, not 90, but 100.

We'll find out on course details in the next couple of days. I'm guessing that we'll run the same course as last year, but have to deal with significantly more snow. Meanwhile, at Red Mountain Pass (11,200') in the San Juans there's a snowpack of just 14 inches left. That should mostly be gone by next weekend. So mega snow in the Sierra Nevadas and primo conditions in the San Juans.

On a side note, the ride from my house to the cabin we're staying at in Squaw Valley is 1,020 miles. If I average 65 mph (including stops), then we're looking at a travel time of 15:42. I wonder if it will take longer to cover 1,000 miles in the car or 100 miles on foot?

31 comments:

  1. I bet the foot travel is quicker. Let the dumb die early and take names!

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  2. No way you'll average 65 unless you drive 90mph + while you're cruising! Best of luck, have a great race! Steve in TX.

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  3. As they say Nick! Trust your training. You've been killing it since the start of the year and your healthy. Good luck at WS. Can't wait to follow you guys from back here in Indiana :)

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  4. Thanks, Steve. Now you've got my competitive juices flowing.

    With stops for gas only and no significant backups, I think it's doable, but then I'm always overly optimistic on drive times. Here's hoping for a rare westbound I-80 tailwind.

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  5. I guess you will be limiting my liquid consumption tomorrow...do you have our split times figured out yet ;)

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  6. I have a couple of empty two-liter soda bottles for between gas stations. SLC in six hours. If we hit that, then we'll be well on our way.

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  7. I think approaching 100s without a real strategy is very wise. Simply too much time and distance for things to go wrong. Run smart Nick. Colorado will be pulling for you.

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  8. Ha ha, yeah, I definitely remember the ridiculousness on that French Meadows road last year...even though I was hanging back with you Nick, I remember still worrying that we were going too fast. And then we hit the trail and it felt like everyone started jogging...

    Dude, you're ready to crank. Stay smart, problem solve effectively all day, and after Rucky Chucky just be willing to hurt more than anyone else. Not that that is easy or anything...

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  9. Thanks, Tony. And, yeah, looking forward to some extended periods of suffering. Or not.

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  10. Nick,

    All the best on Saturday. I will be following the commentary online and rotting for you and the other Brits. Top 3 at least!

    Best of a british!

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  11. Good luck, Nick. You'll run smart and strong. Have fun. By the way, your run will be faster.

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  12. Random dude cheering you on from the Midwest- have a great race Nick!

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  13. You're a bit faster and stronger than last year so a few sub-6 miles might be perfectly reasonable this time around. We'll be refreshing the online stats all day so throw in a few good splits along the way for the fans back home. Have a great run out there and whatever you do, don't save anything for Hardrock - I want to win our bet:-)

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  14. nick- hoping you have the legs to drop me upon making the final push up from no-hands to robie:) see ya in a few days.

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  15. Have a grand time,a dn hope your son will hold your hand to cross the finish again!
    Olga V.

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  16. Its all come down to this race. You are ready. Yet, you will still be my hero no matter how it turns out. Can't wait to see it unfold. Best wishes.

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  17. Thanks, guys.

    Pete - don't worry, there'll be something left in the tank for HR, not much, but something.

    Jake - you know that's not happening!

    Brandon - you got the wrong bearded, long-haired guy I think, but thanks!

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  18. Good luck, Nick! I'm rooting for you!

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  19. keep spirit ..! good luck ..

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  20. I have absolutely nothing against any of the other runners. Having said that, I want Nick Clark to whoop some ass!!!! Rooting for you all the way from Austin, TX!! Go Nick!!

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  21. Interesting blog you got here my friend!

    Are you a Zunist?

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  22. Hope all your hard work pays off for you at WS Nick. Lets hope all the Brits have a good day. Run with a smile :)

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  23. Good luck and have a great race...the Fort is cheering for you!

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  24. Well done the Brits, eh? 3,4 and 10 plus first lady. OBEs for all? Well done - try to talk with you later. RC

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  25. How about a "team" photograph? DC

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