Spring Break 08

Spring break always manages to rejuvenate me. our track season has gone well so far and has gone according to plan. I am loaded with seniors and most of them have been around for at least 3 years. I have done a good job of recruiting this year and have some top notch freshman girls and guys that will stabilize the program for the long haul. I have been running as much as my body has been willing to do especially with the long days of teaching/coaching. I am off to the NC mountains tomorrow through Sunday to prepare for my pacing event at the Umstead 100. I plan on doing at least 3 loops and more if needed. I am also getting ready for my summer running calendar. I am very active in my church and I am fortunate that we head to the mountains for a week every June and I use this time wisely to get closer to God and do that by running every hard and steep hill in Black Mountain that I can find. We also do our XC camp there in July and I run on the other side of the mountain range then. I am very happy to say that my wife has taken up running for the first time and she finally finished 5 long, hilly miles the other day at a good clip. It hasn't hurt that my daughter runs for my track team and she is a pretty good runner and a great hurdler. She is on the brink of automatically qualifying for regionals in both the 100 and 300 hurdles. it also looks like her 4x 400 relay team will make another trip to the NC State Championships in May. Well, sorry for the ramblings. I hope everyone onthe team is doing well and are reaching their goals. God Bless and Happy Trails, Jeff

Ankle sprains. I can live without them

At 46 you think I would have managed to figure out how to go through life without a sprained ankle. I have had a great two weeks since my PR at the Uwharrie 40 mile Mountain run. I have a very busy and great life. I coach 3 sports at my high school and with the shape I am in, I still feel 18 even though my mornings say otherwise. Growing up in Ky. as a kid, basketball and running seemed almost second nature to me. In the last JV practice of the year we were playing knockout. I was in against my leading scorer and point guard when I went up for a rebound and one of my helpful kids attempted to assist me by getting the rebound. Pow. That was it. His foot and my ankle were suddenly incompatible. I was able to get up, finish the game (high tolerance for pain, Gotta love ULTRA'S) but lost unfortunately. So what is the outcome? Ankle swelling is down, I need no crutches, and I will attempt to run tonight in my church basketball league. I think I will be fine. Every time I get injured I take it as a chance to reassess my goals and figure out if I am doing what I need to do to succeed in making them happen. I hope everyone does the same periodically. Don't despair, the trails will wait for you.Happy Trails. Jeff

Uwharrie 40 Mile Mountain Run

I just finished running the Uwharrie 40 Mile Mountain run. I ran a decent 10:17. The course is very demanding and is extremely technical. This is the fourth time in five years that I have done it. I failed to get in last year (always closes out early) and was bummed. In 2006 I ran a slow 11:45 and just made the cutoff (12 hours and 30 min). I have ratcheted up my training this summer and fall and have done close to 100 mile weeks this summer and an average of 60 this fall. My nutrition has gotten better and I have also implemented weight training into my schedule. I think that all of this has helped me tremendously. Long weekend back to back long runs have been key as well. I did experience some cramping due to electrolyte loss from mile 25-40 but ate bananas and had salt on hand to fix that. I am in a new phase of serious training and wanted to see how my body would adjust to no Guu or anything like that, even though I love it. The race started out with the temp being 28 degrees and went to a high of 65. I layered properly and heat was never an issue for me. I always carry one handheld and 3 miles between stations was fine. I am already looking forward to next year. My next run will be pacing at the Umstead 100 Miler in April. In June I have the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie, September Hinson Lake 24 hour Run and in November Mountain Masochist 50 Miler in Va.