Training Log Archive: hughmac4

Doc Report:

Calf: likely scar tissue, that my masseuse should break up. She's up for the challenge. After ES. Feels fine now anyway, stretching definitely helps.

Groin: unknown. Will try PT (me), then better PT (Riddle, insured), then best PT (other place, $$). If that doesn't work, we'll do an MRI and see what's going on in there. All after ES.

So got out for a sauna jog today in the humidity. Felt good in general, groin a minor factor. But not too worse for wear after weeks of inactivity, too much beer, and rich food. I've been focusing on standing at work, anyway, which I've built to the whole day, and sit at lunch only, or the occasional meeting. More walking to do between now and ES.

Time to get ES plans to potential crew, and firm things up. I'm excited and pretty nervous, being a good number of miles (~150) below my goal going into this thing, and with the groin issue. It's going to be pretty darned hard, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Foolishly waited till the hottest moment of the day to head out. Started raining 20 minutes after I got home.

Last evening in Innsbruck so I needed to go for a run and escape the tourists and conferencees. Felt recovered from the race on Saturday going into the run, but had my calf go south after about 1/2 mile. Said screw it and kept going -- 'cause, you know, Innsbruck -- but at a much reduced, mellow pace.

Did some good climb up onto the mountains to the south, with the sun setting behind them, so nice views of the north mountains. Got to the very steep bit, at around 1050m, and turned right, for some more time in the quiet, dark, pine woods on the lower slopes of the mountains.

After about 1/2 mile came to Arzler Alm, which is a 'hut', with a big deck and about 200 people, all young(ish) and fit, as there's no way to get there other than bike or hike. Many apparently take the funicular to the top of the mountain and then hike or bike down to Arzler Alm for sunset, and then hike the rest of the way down.

It was a neat discovery.

Good to get away from the tourists ... it's a tourist zoo here!!

Luckily I brought 5 euros, so had a nice beer at the Arzler Alm and then cruised back down. Dark!!

Wow.

Alpine running is intense. Up. Up. Up. REALLY UP! REALLY UP! Snow on the ground. 10" of snow on the ground! Finally: hooray! Top of the world! Treacherous snowy descent for a couple of miles, then sweet double-track through one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been. I wish I had taken my phone for some pics, 'cause words (from me, anyway) will never suffice.

Incredibly tough for the distance. Mental challenge extremely high from about mile 10 on.

Oh, and cows. Hundreds, right below the snowline. And shaggy, muscular horses. So many mellow, melodious cowbells.

Glad I got to do this race. New experiences rule!

C • Congrats . . . 5

Event: Silvrettarun 3000 - 12.1k, 29.9k, 42.195k Trail Races
 

A beautiful day! Warm but dry and breezy.

A few laps in the humidity. Not so hot though. AC off!

C • How's 5

Gut still not so great ... doc appt set up for July 25th. I feel better already. ;)

Nice time in the meadows and on the trails of the Wissahickon with KSwede as my guide, followed by a bird feeder show and excellent grub. Thanks for hosting SSwede and KSwede!

Event: Finger Lakes 50s - 25k, 50k, 50m Trail Race
 

Perfect, breezy, cool, sunny morning in the woods.