iRunFar WS100 prediction contest

Bryon has his annual contest going on and winners receive some sweet prizes (Montrail Sabino trail shoes and Mountain Hardwear gear). Just pick the top 8 guys and gals.

June 7 - 13

Had a really good week of running (well, except for this morning as I think that Fleet Week celebrations last night were a bit too...ahhh...good). Ran a good 38.8 miles (62.5 km), longest weekly total in awhile.

I have noticed, partly I guess from a stride change due to my ankle injury/rehab, that hot spots are surfacing on the outside of my right foot almost to where my toes are. I am striking way too hard I guess in that mid-fore foot area and I've conciously tried to correct mid-stride but the habit is now there. Maybe my foot will adapt to this new foot-fall? I hope as it looks like 100 miles of this may lead to serious problems is the blister department.

Busy week at work ahead, working on our sonar dome. I will most likely do another pedestrian volume, concentrating on quality...something around 36-38 miles. Yesterday's run excitement was partly due to the fabulous weather...finally hit high 70s and this week it should hover around the low-mid 70 mark. Heat training...no but I've never had a problem running in the heat. Bring it on!!!

Western States odds

Here's my view on the big track meet. If the reports stick to some kind of cred over the next two weeks, there might be quite a bit of snow over the first thirty miles or so which could even spread the field out a bit more and do some damage to those w/ trophies on the mind. One aspect that I surely hope does not come to fruition is that if the run-off becomes dangerous over the next while, then rafts will once again have to be used to cross the river. The last time I ran the race, in 2005, we had to use the rafts and I sadly missed the feel of crossing the river...such a charm of the journey.

Here's my guess at the top five guys and gals.
Guys

1. Anton Krupicka
2. Geoff Roes
3. Hal Koerner
4. Kilian Jornet Burgada
5. Nick Lewis

Sneaking in there: Tsuyoshi Kaburaki, Gary Robbins, Jez Bragg (injured), Josh Brimhall, Erik Skaden, Mark Godale, Phil Kochik, Ian Torrence

Gals

1. Devon Crosby-Helms
2. Anita Ortiz (injured)
3. Nikki Kimball
4. Liz Howard (injured)
5. Tracy Garneau

Sneaking in there: Annette Bednosky, Beverley Anderson-Abbs, Tamsin Anstey, Julie Fingar, Nicola Gildersleeve, Karla Holgers, Meredith Terranova

How will MY day turn out?

Let's put it this way...at least I won't be burnt out from training. ;) My last long run was at a race last August. Yes...LAST AUGUST!!! I also have not run on a trail since March. The tendonitis healing process has gone on a lot longer than I would have liked. I've been through acupuncture, various salves rubbed on the tendon, stride analysis...spending money that I don't quite have. But at least I am at the point where I can run again, not pain-free, but the pain diminishes over time. We'll see if I can make the distance...it will be more than an 80% mental effort but I'm going to give it ALL I have. I have a good crew coming to the race. I usually don't partake in these luxuries but this time I am going for broke. More on that later.

I leave the ship in 15 days. In 17 days I leave for the meet. I'm stoked...

Here's the last time I was at the big dance (snow in background).

it's been awhile...

I have no reason to quit...

So many things have been going on since I quite indiscriminately removed my prior blog. Not all have been positive but I am very excited about getting back into a regular routine of training, racing, writing, meeting new people, travelling to God knows where, eating off a menu w/ blind selection, taking one day at a time w/ Edo by my side.

Glad to be back!
Moogy