To Blog or not to Blog

So last week my friend and fellow blog man Chad wrote about how it seems like blogs are dieing off some. When I first read that I thought really? But than I started to think about it and maybe in a way they are but also I think the types of blog post are better than ever. When I first started this blog I wrote everyday about what my run was for that day. I guess that was ok at the time but as time went by I started to think more about what I was sharing. Do people need or want to know about every little thing? Most likely not. I mean I like reading people like Anton or Goeff's blogs but think it would not be a special if everyday there was something like "I ran 2 hours in the mountains today and felt good". It is more about telling a story about stuff more meaningful. So with that said I am sorry I have not written as much as of late but I hope that when I share a story or a video you find it more worth your time.

To update you on my training it has been ok. As many people know 2011 has been a very tuff year for me since I have yet to be able to run any trail/ultra races. Still have my sights set on the North Face 50 mile in Sand Fransisco. Think I need to decide on this today as it is almost full. Yikes!!

All in all the last few weeks have been good. It was funny that not just two days after my last post my my back got real sore once more and my left hamstring was going crazy. Maybe I jinks myself huh. But the last 2 weeks have been good. I have been trying to get in like 5-6 day a week and running like 40ish or so per week. I have got in a bunch of 7-9 mile single track trail runs and all has been well. I also started my run from home must do the tangletown hills pledge. You see I live in the center of all these great hills of what we call tangletown in south Mpls. For the rest of the year every run from home must end with a loop of those hills. Figure this will make me stronger. I guess it cant hurt. I hope for a 50+ mile week this next one as I keep on marching forward. Happy trails!!

With this all being said here is a nice little re-cap video of UTMB from some of the North Face runners.

Finding meaning in training

Finding meaning in training is the blog title. So what does that mean to me? Well as I have been on the journey the last few months coming back form injury I have had allot of time to think about that. At first I had the joy of just being able to run in our world once more. That was more than enough at first. But as that time went along it was becoming harder to believe it or not get out there as I found myself frustrated with how I felt and what my body was giving me, or for that matter not giving me. As the summer season continued I was becoming depressed about not being apart of all the races I love so much. But I kept at it and I would say that after the last few weeks I have gotten to a much better place. Each week I feel more like myself. I feel faster, can run farther. I guess I am back in a way. I have like not having a "schedule" in a way but feel like it is time to start pointing toward something. Training for a event is not the only thing that can give your running meaning. But I have found over the last 5+ months it is a big part of it all for me. I will always love the pure act of running but think I now know more than ever how having a event out there waiting for you can be just that extra glue to hold it all together.

Here is one more great video from Mr Matt Hart.

Fun new UltaRunning site

There is a fun new ultra running web site. It is called Ultra Running Podcast.com and I for one think it is a great new source of info for all you ultra running junkies like me. The podcast interviews are second to none. Check it out.

Hardrock 100

Ok so all I have to say is... If this video from the people over at Salomon about the Hardrock 100 mile does not make you feel like running trails I think you do not have a pulse. Wow is all I have to say.

As for my running there are some new things to report. Last Saturday I got in my longest run yet out on the trails of Hyland. I got in a whopping 9 miles!!! not bad I thought after a 7.5 mile run the day before. After that it has been more of the same. Runs of 4-7 miles where at times my knee hurts and at time it feels fine. I guess I just need to keep the nose to the grindstone.

Update & going back to Pittsburgh

This last week the Sonya and I took Krya and Evan back to Meadow Lands,PA which is like 35 min's or so outside of Pittsburgh. This is where Sonya lived till she was 13 and is where all of her family still lives. We go every 2 years back to see these special people. It is a small town that is very hilly with very narrow winding roads; ie: not the best place to be a runner with cars and all. That being said we love going back. I thought I would share a few pictures.

Great sunset while driving

Sonya and cousins Eric and Lindsey

If running does not workout I am killer at corn hole

Kids pool time at a family picnic

Feeling the love!!!

As for a update on my running, well what do I say? It is nice to be able to run some, but it has also been very upsetting that my darn right knee has been such a bother and now my groin on the right side has been acting up as well. Dam right side of my body! But I guess I am happy to be running some. I have been at 30 miles per week the last 3 weeks off of 5-6 days of running. I have to just keep the faith and hope all works out. This week I am going to try and make my longest run up to 8.5 or 9 miles. Have I said yet how much I want to race even just once this year? Fight on I say, Fight on!!

The Super Bowl of American Ultra running

Here is a great short video of Kilian and the super bowl of American ultra trail running, Western States 100. The history is second to none. Enjoy!!!

Progress

Yes progress is the title of this blog post. Why you might ask? Well on many fronts I would say. For starters my body is feeling better and better over this last week. When I found out I had a stress fracture they said like 8 weeks off and then most likely 4-6 weeks more till I felt like my old self. Last Friday was 3 weeks post time off. I ended off the week with 2 very good runs, and tonight started off this week with my longest run yet. Is a 5.7 mile run long? For now I will take it.

I ask myself what is different? For one I have been getting great treatment from people and two my body is just getting better and stronger each day. I also would like to think some of it mental. I think we all as runners have seen how the mental side of the sport is big, real big. For those who know me good know how I am a student of the sport of running, all running. You want to know a race results of a track race in Europe or what is the next race of Ryan Hall there is a good chance I might know. I love the sport that much. Running is me. Call me a running geek. So this being said I like to study great runners attitudes about things. Weather that be people like my buddies Chris Lunstrom and Tony Kocanda or guys like Western States 100 champ Goeff Roes, I learn stuff all the time. With people like Goeff when I read his blog it helps me see how to just pull back from the "racing" attitude and just run. Love what is around me. Lately this seems to be helping me allot. No 5.7 miles is not something I would normally be jumping up and down about. But hell that is 5.7 more miles than before. I am looking at it as time in my environment doing what I love. This will sometime down the road become say a 30 mile run. But in the end it is still time doing what I love. Here are two videos that ground me. Both done by Joel Wolpert.

Good Luck this weekend Goeff at Western States 100!!!

This brings me to this upcoming weekend. First off Good luck to all my friends running the Black Hills 100 mile, 100k and 50 mile trail races. There are so many going there and I was hoping to be on that starting line for you but I will be there in spirit. Then go get em Arley out at the big dance Western States 100 miler. If that is not enough the USA track championships are this weekend. You can find info on the different races at www.usatf.com.

And lastly great job to all who ran last weekends Grandma's Races. It was so fun watching you all out there!! Now rest, and yes that is you Matty Champ Mr. 2:13 as well as my wife Sonya miss 3:03.