With my long runs behind me for this training cycle, I’ve resorted to entertaining myself in other ways. Like, drawing pictures with my GPS tracker.
The drawing above is the Endomondo route tracking from Thursday night’s run on the streets of Keokuk, Iowa. I only tracked a portion of the run — about a mile and a half of what was overall a 4.3-mile run.
With only 9 days until the Potawatomi Trail 50 in Pekin, Ill., my remaining runs are all short. I ran 6 last night, and I’ll do a 10-miler this weekend, and then just a couple of 3- or 4-milers next week.
I’ve built all the endurance I can hope to build. Right now, it’s all about getting healed. My left hamstring attachment at the ischial tuberosity is hurting again; I’ve been slamming ibuprofen a couple of times a day in hopes of calming the inflammation. But at this point, I’m just going to have to deal with it on April 6. I’ve put in too much time and effort to stop now.
The long-range forecast calls for only one day of rain between now and race day — Saturday, April 6. There is still a bit of snow on the ground from this past weekend’s 10-inch snowfall, but temperatures in the 40s and 50s over the next few days should take care of that. Now, if the warmer temps will just firm up the trails.
I’ve got some packing to do, getting my extra shoes, shirts and socks ready for the race. I need to prepare my race fuel.
But most of all, I’m ready to get this show on the road trail.
♦ ♦ ♦
If you missed it earlier, this post features photos and a scouting report on the Potawatomi Trail in Pekin.
This post details a battle I’ve had with blisters.
And this post tells some of the things I’ve been trying to stay fueled on the roads.
You’re going to do awesome! You’re nutty as can be but I’m envious and proud! Love you, Lu
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Thanks, Lulu.
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Ah, the pent-up pre-race energy. Looking forward to the post-50-miler report.
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Thanks, Mary Lou. The waiting over this next week may be more painful than the race itself. …Or not.
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i ran into your blog just today. i’ll be down there toeing the line with you come 6am and hopefully we’ll both be crossing that finish line at some point or another, good luck man!
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Thanks, Josh. I look forward to meeting you. I’m new to this ultra thing, so I’m both nervous and excited. Haven’t been this way for a race in quite a while. Best of luck to you, too!
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