Another Trail Adventure

May 28th & June 1st

Some days I just feel like running and not on the sidewalk, through a neighborhood, or down a bike trail. Some days I just want something a little more exciting, a little more challenging. Enter the Alum Creek Mountain Bike Trail. (PHOTOS: Alum Creek State Park Mountain Bike Trail: Phase 1).

5-28-10 - Run 2:06 (Trail run)/Swim 4,000 yards - As previously noted, I did my first trail run at Mohican and would still love to go there again. However, the Alum path is a ten minute drive, Mohican is more like 1 hour and 20 minutes. For convenience sake, I decided to run the trail twice (each loop is 6 miles) and on May 28th, I headed out. I have ridden this path on a mountain bike and even run it in the winter. But, nothing is the same in the wilderness from one day to the next. It was humid and what I found very quickly was that it was quite the obstacle course of bridges and loops, stone piles and roots. The obstacles made it quite the run. This path is more twisted, but it was amazing. I felt great after the run was over and glad I decided to run the Alum trail.

6-1-10 - Run 18 miles (trail miles) - NOTE: 1st 6 miles (1:05), 2nd 6 miles (1:07), 3rd 6miles (1:09). A muddy, slippery path was my long run today. The 1st 6 miles went slower than I thought it would, the 2nd 6 wasn't too bad (my legs would beg to differ as they started to suggest I not go out for a 3rd 6 miles). The 2nd 6 miles went pretty quickly. I have no idea what I was thinking about other than not falling on my face and about how I would complete a 3rd set of 6. By the 3rd 6 miles, I was ready to go home. But, as I stood by my car, re-filling my water bottle and consuming my second PowerBar Gel Pack (still disgusting), I thought about finishing my goal of a 3rd 6 miles and when would I get those 18 miles in. I couldn't wait until next week - that would not be an option. I was ready to do them now, I had prepared to do them now and I was going to do them - NOW.

Reluctantly I headed out for my 3rd set of 6. Admittedly, I zoned out for the first 4.5 miles. I don't remember what went through my mind aside from not falling down and just getting to the end. I knew that each step I took would get me to the finish that much faster.

NOTE: Something I have noticed about myself through this process (and perhaps this is the same with most who attempt any endurance event) When I set out to complete a certain number of miles or a specific time, I mentally prepare myself for those miles. If I try to go over or think about another period of time, my mind tells me that I am done and can quit. For example, when I first completed the 12 miles of the trail, I knew that at 12 miles, I was done. However, when I came out to do 18 miles, I knew that when I was at the end of 18 miles, I could stop - nothing else would do. During the TOSRV ride, I knew that I had to complete 226 miles. However, had it been 150 miles, my mind would have shut down at the end of the 150. I truly think that during Ironman, my mind will get me through. My mind will know that I cannot stop until have complete the total 140.6 miles of the race and after that is done, mentally I will shut down. The mind is truly powerful, as I am learning through this journey - it can pretty much get you through anything if you train it to help your body.

The last mile of the 18 was pretty bad. I was clenching my teeth and grunting to get up the "hills". About .25 miles from the finish, I tripped over a crazy big root and almost face-planted. It did, however wake me up and I was forced out of my "zone" where I had been hiding for the last hour. Finally, I reached the finish. Another long trail run complete. I had accomplished yet another personal goal (small as it may be to some, large to others). Goals are for "crushing" and I plan to destroy many more during the next few months.

NOTE FROM THE DAY AFTER: I was not sore the day after the 18-mile trail run - PROGRESS! The only thing that hurt on my entire body was my finger....????