Where's mama bear?

Only one month to go and I am excited about how my training is progressing. This week I "nailed" three key workouts in a 22 mile long run, 6 X mile repeat, and an 8 mile tempo run. Each of these workouts was superior to anything I've done this season. More than ever, I appreciate the flow of a good streak when it comes. They say things come in threes, but I'm hoping that my groove continues. My main focus on this marathon buildup has been on rest and recovery. I am eating well, sleeping hard and icing in the creek to aid in recovery. All of it seems to be paying off as my mileage continues to climb and my workouts get better. I am currently reading Born to Run (thanks to Santa Monica High School Cross Country team) and it is feeding me with the simple joys of running. I normally don't read about running since most of my day is consumed in it anyway, but this book has been a witty and motivating force of words. The book is filled with great quotes and I've been dog-earing the pages when a great saying comes up. On our chalkboard right now is a saying from the Tarahumara runners: When you run on the earth and run with the earth, you can run forever. As I buzzed through the trees and over trails yesterday, I repeated this during the course of my 90 minute run and it made the run go by so quickly. The saying is perfect when you're an endurance runner and your office is an immense forest.

Yesterday our team had an easy run up at the lakes basin. As we were leaving we saw two baby cubs. It just so happens that ASICS was in town visiting and photographer John Barnhart captured a great photo of the cubs playing. While he was inching closer to get his photo, I was on the lookout for bear number 3, Mama bear. She wasn't anywhere in sight. We enjoyed watching the cubs wrestle with each other before scampering off into the trees. I am ready to scamper off to bed, read a chapter of Born to Run and rest up for tomorrow's training session.

Deena's husband, Andrew Kastor passing water off during her long run yesterday.

Deena taking an ice bath in the river...looks like her husband could only get his toes in

All week we have been forced to take our runs up the mountain to avoid the smoke that has settled here from both the Southern California and Yosemite fires.  The smoke finally gave us a reprieve this morning for our 12 mile tempo run.  Although the visibility wasn’t as clear as our Mammoth days usually are, I didn’t smell smoke in the air when I woke.  We all had good workouts this morning and Ryan ran in some sweet custom-made ASICS shoes that seemed to work for him, but I’ll let him tell you about it.  The creek didn’t seem as cold this morning as we iced after the workout.  It may have been because Mike gave me an Atomic Fire Ball and who can focus on the cold creek water when there is a fire inside your mouth?

Earlier in the week Ryan and Sara Hall had a house warming party.  Their new place is great and who needs a television when you have huge windows with bats flying around outside!  We were entertained after dinner by moths outside attracted to the lights coming from the house.  It was scary even with a thick pane of glass between us, but we were all glued to the windows.  The bats, in their clumsy flight, flew by the windows and scooped up the moths one by one.   It was fascinating.  And how can I forget the bear I saw a few days ago.  I was taking Aspen, my chocolate lab, up to the lakes above our house when a bear peaked out from the bushes.  He didn’t even reveal his whole self, just his big knobby head.  When he saw Aspen, he retreated back into the shrubs.  Aspen was too obsessed sniffing around to notice, but it never gets old seeing the wildlife here.

Just as the previous week, my mid-day is filled with a lengthy nap.  I’m not too productive from noon to 3.  With my marathon training at its peak, I am sleeping a lot more to balance out the workload.  Last week was my first week over 100 miles since I broke my foot last summer.  I was pretty psyched to know I can handle the workload again.  The next couple weeks will be full of marathon specific tempo runs and long runs.  I’m off to the gym for lifting followed by a second run.

Boston marathon training started back in January and now with six days left the anxiety is starting to set in as I pack my bags. However, knowing that my training has gone exceptionally well and I feel as fit as ever, I look forward to the moment I can line up at the start. Last Thursday I ran a strong 15 mile tempo and felt great the whole way through. Then spent the weekend tapering my training. My energy is up and I'm super confident going into this race, I believe this is the most prepared I have ever been and with the hardest training behind me, I'm ready to take on Boston. 

I chose the Boston Marathon because of the history of the race.  Historically it's the oldest marathon of the five majors and there is always an ideal field of competition.  This will be my first time running this race and I'm looking forward to the experience of it. 

My wife Sara and our dog, Kai hanging out on a beautiful day in Mammoth Lakes, CA.