Tossing and Turning, Moaning and Groaning

Saturday was supposed to be a 20 mile long run but Mother Nature intervened.

Sure we showed up to run like the hardcore runners we are. We took a vote and the majority was to go ahead and run, but soon the cold rain started and soaked us to the bones. Then the cold wind started and made us even colder. Then the snow started falling. Most of us ran our first 5 mile loop and decided we would come back tomorrow for another attempt. Hey it’s spring, what’s this 6-8 inches of snow on the ground? It was a beautiful snow, just not ideal for running.

Sunday at 1:00pm several of us returned to Veteran’s park to try and finish what we started the day before. I for one was not looking forward to running because this is usually my one day of the week to take it easy and not do much. But I sure didn’t want to miss a long run after putting this much time and effort into training. I can’t believe most of the snow has already melted. Now we have puddles everywhere to contend with.

We normally have a full day off from running the day before our long runs but this time we had our failed attempt the day before. I was already tired before I started and my legs were sore. Off we went with plans of completing four 5 mile loops. The first loop I ran with Sandra. It was nonstop except for the water stops. Way to go Sandra. I think you are ready for your half marathon. The second and third loop was run with Linda. We kept each other going while complaining about our aches and pains. After the third loop we decided to call it a day. Thanks for sticking with me Linda. We got our 20 miles but it took us two days to do it.

Sunday night I was ready for bed. My sore muscles wouldn’t let me sleep. They kept me tossing and turning and moaning and groaning all night long. Don’t you just love this thing we call running?

See you Monday nighters tonight for more running. I promise it will not snow.

Part of the new trail is open!

Monday night running is going great. We had 10 out
tonight, twelve if you count the dogs.

Jason and Lisa with their cute dogs
Debie
Sandra
Michael 1
Michael 2
Bobby
Brian
Tom
Ken (Ken started when the rest of us finished. I think
he must have forgot to set his clock ahead).

The trail from 31st to 41st is now open so most of us
ran from 21st to 41st then back for a total of 4 miles.


New bridge just South of 31st street


Near the rugby field. Wow, they already have the lights
up. I wonder why it is taking so long to get them installed
along Turkey Mountain?


Tom done with his miles heading back


The two Michael's at the end of the open trail


Brian on a scavenger hunt or inspecting the new park?
Hum, maybe I could use that wood for my remodeling
project.


We got in a little rock climbing tonight. Does that count
as crosstraining?

16 miler done

Our sixteen mile training run is behind us now.
This was a nice out and back, mostly flat, from
Tulsa to Sand Springs. Isn't it something to be
able to say you have ran from one city to another.
We have ran from Tulsa to Jenks and Tulsa to
Sand Springs. Is anyone up for a run from
Tulsa to Skiatook?

Downtown Tulsa looked a long ways off at the turn
around but we all made it back in one piece.

We can now focus on 18 miles which is coming
up in two weeks. Think about it as being only
two miles further - piece of cake, right?

Somehow the weather seems to know it is the
weekend and of course it turned cold again.
I had icicles from sweat on my hat.

I didn't take as many pictures as I'd hoped,
but here are some of them:


Three Stooges Kathy, Chrissy and Michael

Natural springs west of 81st West Avenue.

If the water fountains don't work I guess you could

always get a drink here.

Marathon Maniac #1372

I am now a member of the Marathon Maniacs InSane AsyLum.
Two Marathons and one Ultramarathon in three months:
Route 66 marathon - Nov. 2008 - Tulsa, OK
Sunmart 50k trail run - Dec. 2008 - Huntsville, TX
The DanMan trail marathon - Feb. 2009 - Madill, OK

Is that crazy or what?

I am cheering for the rest of you mad dogs out there trying to
become Maniacs.

My DanMan Trail Run Report

The day was about perfect to run a marathon in the woods.
This makes two marathons and one 50k in three months.
I am now qualified to become a marathon maniac.
http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

I thought I would use this marathon to experiment with
Hammer Nutritions Sustained Energy, a Diabetic friendly
fuel. You use this as your primary source of calories for
events lasting for more than two hours. I also used their
Endurolytes capsules for my electrolyte requirements and
I made sure I kept up with water drinking. After finishing,
I topped it all off with a beer Ken gave me and with
Recoverite - used to begin glycogen replacement,
electrolyte replacement and muscle tissue repair.
http://www.hammernutrition.com/

I also took a Vespa prior to the start. Vespa is used to
encourage the muscles to metabolize fat, thus stabilizing
& conserving glycogen levels.
http://www.vespapower.com/
Available in Tulsa at RunnersWorld.

These are the only products I consumed during the entire
marathon and they worked for me. I never had any
cramping, stomach issues or the sugar spikes and crashes
you get with sugar laden products. I still got tired, but come
on, I was out there for 26 miles.


Map of the courses. (Click on image for a closeup).


Chrissy, Michael and Jason enjoying pancakes before
the run.


Lisa eating pancakes in her sleep. Since she is smiling,
she must have been dreaming about Jason.


Most of the TATUR's that were there. Missing is Ken
and Deon. They decided to get an early start. Dana was
still at the motel trying to nurse a headache. She later
joined up with us. We missed you Susan and Kathy.


One of the lakes we circled.


Same lake, different view.


I'm tired. I think I will stop and take a picture of myself.
How would you like to hunt or fish here?

Ken and Dana near the finish. The house in the

background was homebase where we started, finished,

ate, showered, drank beer, hung out in the man room

and visited with fellow runners.

Me, Dana and Marvin. Thanks Marvin for your nutrition

advice about the Hammer Nutrition products I am

experimenting with.

Some of my blisters. My feet are sore.

Another blister. Looks like I need a pedicure.

Nah. Wouldn't do any good. Sorry to gross you out.

DanMan Here I Come

Heading to Madill, Ok with several runners from
RunnersWorld Tulsa and TATUR to run the DanMan
trail run on Saturday. Some of us will be running 10k,
half marathon, marathon, 50k and 50 miles.

Hope everyone has great runs over the weekend.
Enjoy the weather.

Wow! Saturday's run kicked me in the keister

Saturday's run was supposed to be a 12 miler but I cut it short
at 10. The weather was perfect at the start but soon had to
shed the sweaty jacket. I was already tired after the first half
mile. My hamstrings were already getting tight. My hamstrings
never get tight. Had I done too much during the week? Did I get
enough rest? Did the fall on ice Wednesday night have an effect
on me? Did the 71st street hill wipe me out? Did keeping up
with the crowd take its toll on me? Who knows? One thing I do
know is that I got dehydrated. There was plenty of water stops
along the route (thanks RunnersWorld) and I do carry a water
bottle, but for some reason I just didn't pay enough attention to
how much I was not drinking. I was wiped out and felt horrible
the remainder of the day.
Note to self: drink more while running!

mile 1 - 12:13
mile 2 - 13:34
mile 3 - 12:09
mile 4 - 13:00
mile 5 - 14:00
mile 6 - 15:15 (too much chatting at the water stop)
mile 7 - 14:48 (started walking here)
mile 8 - 14:23
mile 9 - 15:36
mile 10 - 15:15

Average pace 14:02 per mile.
Average heart rate 145 bpm (should be more like 120-137 bpm).

One good thing about the run was that my knees didn't hurt.
I have had sore knees for almost as long as I have been running
(two years) but especially my left knee has given me trouble since
a fall I took over a year ago. I have been going to Chiropractor
Dr. Zoellner for a couple of weeks because of lower back issues
and the pains of running. The other day he gave me an
acupuncture treatment on the left knee. It has been pain free
since then, even after the 10 mile run. Now I want acupuncture
on my entire body. Can they do that? Since I have never been a
fan of taking drugs to temporarily mask pain, I thought I would
take advantage of my insurance benefit and give Chiropractic
care a try. So far it has been a success with me. Thanks Dr. Z.