Days of our Lives

1000+ photos in one post may be a new record for me.

December 2011

Photo of the Day

Like 2009, and unlike 2010 where I missed three days, I managed to get a photo every day in 2011.

---

Running

I was able to recover from November's setback, and I've been doing some pretty good running lately. All my long runs have been on trails, many of them with the SLUGs. The exciting news is that I registered for the Fuego Y Agua 50 km ultra-marathon on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua in February. It should be great fun, though extremely challenging. I'm not worried about the distance (31 miles!), I've run that kind of distance before (with less training). The two primary challenges will be the dry-season heat and the massive 4,000 ft ascent and descent of the volcano in the final 8 miles of the race.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	13.54 Mile	3	4.51333 Mile
February	33.47 Mile	7	4.78143 Mile
March	71.64 Mile	10	7.164 Mile
April	31.12 Mile	6	5.18667 Mile
May	71.9569 Mile	10	7.19569 Mile
June	85.87 Mile	11	7.80636 Mile
July	49.47 Mile	7	7.06714 Mile
August	116.34 Mile	13	8.94923 Mile
September	82.89 Mile	12	6.9075 Mile
October	100.83 Mile	11	9.16636 Mile
November	56.36 Mile	7	8.05143 Mile
December	107.4 Mile	11	9.76364 Mile
Total	820.887 Mile	108	7.6008 Mile

---

Cycling

I'm also back on the bike after my knee problems, though I didn't do much training. What little time I had available for training I chose to run instead. I need to toughen up and get out on the bike in the cold more often.

Bike	Distance	# Rides	Avg per Ride
Pocket Rocket	11.4 Mile	3	3.8 Mile
Thundercougarfalconbird	24.29 Mile	2	12.145 Mile
Total	35.69 Mile	5	7.138 Mile

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	35.32 Mile	4	8.83 Mile
February	0	0	0
March	3. Mile	1	3. Mile
April	36.25 Mile	7	5.17857 Mile
May	272.94 Mile	25	10.9176 Mile
June	344.02 Mile	26	13.2315 Mile
July	306.77 Mile	12	25.5642 Mile
August	418.39 Mile	25	16.7356 Mile
September	270.2 Mile	24	11.2583 Mile
October	321.64 Mile	15	21.4427 Mile
November	20.6 Mile	5	4.12 Mile
December	35.69 Mile	5	7.138 Mile
Total	2064.82 Mile	149	13.8579 Mile

Walking/Hiking

I've still been walking a fair amount, but I've also started doing a bit more hiking. One of my primary rules for dealing with my on-and-off knee issues is not running on two consecutive days. So sometimes I go hiking on the off days as a substitute. Hiking will play an important role in the Fuego Y Agua race, as most of the volcano trail is far too steep to run up.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	56.9 Mile	16	3.55625 Mile
February	47.6 Mile	14	3.4 Mile
March	83.4 Mile	24	3.475 Mile
April	84.3 Mile	26	3.24231 Mile
May	65.5 Mile	20	3.275 Mile
June	57.3 Mile	17	3.37059 Mile
July	23.75 Mile	12	1.97917 Mile
August	31.7 Mile	9	3.52222 Mile
September	42.2022 Mile	16	2.63764 Mile
October	44.5 Mile	16	2.78125 Mile
November	59.7 Mile	19	3.14211 Mile
December	63.46 Mile	21	3.0219 Mile
Total	660.312 Mile	210	3.14434 Mile

November 2011

Photo of the Day

---

Running

Fitting how after I boasted how well my running was going in October that I started having problems in November. I wanted to do a long run and rather than take the time to drive 25-30 minutes to a proper trail I decided to run 18 miles in the city. On pavement. The knee pain began almost immediately after that run. I rested a week. The pain decreased. I ran again. The pain increased. I stopped running for three more weeks and things finally got better.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	13.54 Mile	3	4.51333 Mile
February	33.47 Mile	7	4.78143 Mile
March	71.64 Mile	10	7.164 Mile
April	31.12 Mile	6	5.18667 Mile
May	71.9569 Mile	10	7.19569 Mile
June	85.87 Mile	11	7.80636 Mile
July	49.47 Mile	7	7.06714 Mile
August	116.34 Mile	13	8.94923 Mile
September	82.89 Mile	12	6.9075 Mile
October	100.83 Mile	11	9.16636 Mile
November	56.36 Mile	7	8.05143 Mile
Total	713.487 Mile	97	7.35553 Mile

---

Cycling

The running-related knee pain also kept me from cycling.

Bike	Distance	# Rides	Avg per Ride
Pocket Rocket	20.6 Mile	5	4.12 Mile
Total	20.6 Mile	5	4.12 Mile

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	35.32 Mile	4	8.83 Mile
February	0	0	0
March	3. Mile	1	3. Mile
April	36.25 Mile	7	5.17857 Mile
May	272.94 Mile	25	10.9176 Mile
June	344.02 Mile	26	13.2315 Mile
July	306.77 Mile	12	25.5642 Mile
August	418.39 Mile	25	16.7356 Mile
September	270.2 Mile	24	11.2583 Mile
October	321.64 Mile	15	21.4427 Mile
November	20.6 Mile	5	4.12 Mile
Total	2029.13 Mile	144	14.0912 Mile

---

Walking

Walking didn't really bother my knee so much, so I tried to go and stretch it out most days.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	56.9 Mile	16	3.55625 Mile
February	47.6 Mile	14	3.4 Mile
March	83.4 Mile	24	3.475 Mile
April	84.3 Mile	26	3.24231 Mile
May	64. Mile	19	3.36842 Mile
June	57.3 Mile	17	3.37059 Mile
July	14.5 Mile	7	2.07143 Mile
August	31.7 Mile	9	3.52222 Mile
September	42.2022 Mile	16	2.63764 Mile
October	44.5 Mile	16	2.78125 Mile
November	56.1 Mile	18	3.11667 Mile
Total	582.502 Mile	182	3.20056 Mile

October 2011

Photo of the Day

Running

One race, okay. I'm ramping up the training mileage with good success. I've done ~45 miles each of the last two weeks with no sign of slowing down. I feel an ultra coming on.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	13.54 Mile	3	4.51333 Mile
February	33.47 Mile	7	4.78143 Mile
March	71.64 Mile	10	7.164 Mile
April	31.12 Mile	6	5.18667 Mile
May	71.9569 Mile	10	7.19569 Mile
June	85.87 Mile	11	7.80636 Mile
July	49.47 Mile	7	7.06714 Mile
August	116.34 Mile	13	8.94923 Mile
September	82.89 Mile	12	6.9075 Mile
October	100.83 Mile	11	9.16636 Mile
Total	657.127 Mile	90	7.30141 Mile

Cycling

I did a lot of cycling mileage early in the month, less so later. I expected to do a lot of cyclocross racing, but it's been nearly two months since I last raced.

Bike	Distance	# Rides	Avg per Ride
Pocket Rocket	48.83 Mile	8	6.10375 Mile
Thundercougarfalconbird	269.01 Mile	6	44.835 Mile
Total	317.84 Mile	14	22.7029 Mile

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	35.32 Mile	4	8.83 Mile
February	0	0	0
March	3. Mile	1	3. Mile
April	36.25 Mile	7	5.17857 Mile
May	272.94 Mile	25	10.9176 Mile
June	344.02 Mile	26	13.2315 Mile
July	306.77 Mile	12	25.5642 Mile
August	418.39 Mile	25	16.7356 Mile
September	270.2 Mile	24	11.2583 Mile
October	321.64 Mile	15	21.4427 Mile
Total	2008.53 Mile	139	14.4499 Mile

Walking

Not much change.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	56.9 Mile	16	3.55625 Mile
February	47.6 Mile	14	3.4 Mile
March	83.4 Mile	24	3.475 Mile
April	84.3 Mile	26	3.24231 Mile
May	64. Mile	19	3.36842 Mile
June	57.3 Mile	17	3.37059 Mile
July	14.5 Mile	7	2.07143 Mile
August	31.7 Mile	9	3.52222 Mile
September	42.2022 Mile	16	2.63764 Mile
October	44.5 Mile	16	2.78125 Mile
Total	526.402 Mile	164	3.20977 Mile

Wild in the Woods - Klondike Park

In my previous four races I hadn't finished lower than fourth place overall. The small Klondike Park 7 mile trail race two weeks ago seemed like a perfect fit for me so I went into it thinking I would probably win. That was my first mistake.

I started out at what felt like comfortable pace. The first mile was on a paved path through the park. Four runners stayed together in the lead pack. I let the others set the pace. It felt slow. Just before the first mile marker we hit The First Big Steep Hill. Feeling great, and seeing the others seemingly struggle, I took the lead, thinking I would probably just finish the last six miles alone. Towards the top of the hill my watch beeped, indicating the first mile had passed. I for some reason chose not to look at my time, which I have since come to regret. I now know we ran the first mile in 6:07… including the big steep hill.

Much to my dismay the others stayed on my heels as we entered a section of very technical single-track trail. I pushed the pace, but they all were able to follow. It was sinking in that I did not have this thing in the bag. We exited the woods together onto a wide flat crushed gravel path. I started paying attention to my mile splits, a few 6:15-ish splits in a row, as two guys pulled away from me. I was slowly beginning to pay the price for starting too fast, a tale I've told many times before.

There was another big hill around mile 5, which completely destroyed me. I passed Melissa & Will shortly after that. She said I looked fine, but I was totally faking it. I then entered another section of very hilly technical single-track trail. In the span of one mile my splits ballooned by 3 minutes. It felt like a death march. Another runner caught up to me from behind, got lost, caught up to me again, then passed me… which didn't do much for my confidence.

I finished in fourth place, extending my streak of top-four finishes to five consecutive races, though this was by far the ugliest of the bunch. At some point the following will sink in:

• Don't start too fast, stupid.
• Don't underestimate a trail you haven't run before.
• There's a lot of good runners out there.

September 2011

Photo of the Day

Running

I raced a total of seven times in September, which is more than usual, and trained a bit less. As far as running goes, I finished 4^th at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival, 2^nd at the Litchfield Triathlou, 2^nd at the Gateway Cross Cup 4.1 mile cross country run. Not bad.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	13.54 Mile	3	4.51333 Mile
February	33.47 Mile	7	4.78143 Mile
March	71.64 Mile	10	7.164 Mile
April	31.12 Mile	6	5.18667 Mile
May	71.9569 Mile	10	7.19569 Mile
June	85.87 Mile	11	7.80636 Mile
July	49.47 Mile	7	7.06714 Mile
August	116.34 Mile	13	8.94923 Mile
September	82.89 Mile	12	6.9075 Mile
Total	556.297 Mile	79	7.04173 Mile

Cycling

I rode quite well in two of the three Gateway Cup races I did, though didn't finish well. At the Gateway Cross Cup I finished 4^th in the Cat 4 race.

Bike	Distance	# Rides	Avg per Ride
Bianchi	89.4 Mile	11	8.12727 Mile
El Fuego	14.81 Mile	1	14.81 Mile
Lynskey	33.96 Mile	3	11.32 Mile
Pocket Rocket	18.2 Mile	5	3.64 Mile
Thundercougarfalconbird	113.83 Mile	4	28.4575 Mile
Total	270.2 Mile	24	11.2583 Mile

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	35.32 Mile	4	8.83 Mile
February	0	0	0
March	3 Mile	1	3. Mile
April	36.25 Mile	7	5.17857 Mile
May	272.94 Mile	25	10.9176 Mile
June	344.02 Mile	26	13.2315 Mile
July	306.77 Mile	12	25.5642 Mile
August	418.39 Mile	25	16.7356 Mile
September	270.2 Mile	24	11.2583 Mile
Total	1686.89 Mile	124	13.604 Mile

Walking

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	56.9 Mile	16	3.55625 Mile
February	47.6 Mile	14	3.4 Mile
March	83.4 Mile	24	3.475 Mile
April	84.3 Mile	26	3.24231 Mile
May	64. Mile	19	3.36842 Mile
June	57.3 Mile	17	3.37059 Mile
July	14.5 Mile	7	2.07143 Mile
August	31.7 Mile	9	3.52222 Mile
September	42.2022 Mile	16	2.63764 Mile
Total	481.902 Mile	148	3.2561 Mile

Swimming

It's been over two years, but I finally have a non-zero tally here.

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	0	0	0
February	0	0	0
March	0	0	0
April	0	0	0
May	0	0	0
June	0	0	0
July	0	0	0
August	0	0	0
September	4096.81 Yard	5	819.361 Yard
Total	4096.81 Yard	5	819.361 Yard

Scooter

Month	Distance	# Workouts	Avg per Workout
January	0	0	0
February	0	0	0
March	0	0	0
April	0	0	0
May	0	0	0
June	3. Mile	1	3. Mile
July	0	0	0
August	1.8 Mile	1	1.8 Mile
September	3.9 Mile	3	1.3 Mile
Total	8.7 Mile	5	1.74 Mile

Gateway Cross Cup

I need to pay more attention. The weekend before last I randomly decided to take a load of old cardboard to the University City recycling center at Heman park. As I passed the park (something I do maybe once a month) I saw a sign advertising an "international professional bike race" to be held at the park in a few days time. It didn't add up. International? Professional? At a city park a mile and a half from my house? On a Wednesday? The instant I got home I looked it up on the internet, and sure enough, it was true. The Gateway Cross Cup was a new cyclocross race that attracted many of the top American professionals, and a few Europeans as well. It was a little weird to have a midweek race, but if that's when the pros can make it I guess that's when you have it. It was an all-day event with additional amateur races and a "5K" cross country run. I guess I had better take the afternoon off.

For the uninitiated, cyclocross is a type of bicycle racing that takes place on grass/dirt/mud/sand/snow on a closed loop course. The course is narrow. There are many sharp turns. There are barriers and steps placed in the course that force the riders to dismount their bikes, run over the obstacles, then remount and continue. This race had a flyover, basically a wooden bridge where the course crosses over itself to make a figure eight. Riders run up steps on one side, then down a very steep ramp on the other side. Then later the course goes beneath the bridge. I was aware this sort of obstacle existed, but I had never seen one in person (much less raced on one).

Cat 4 Race

I showed up about an hour before the first race (cat 4), enough time to take a few warmup laps. It was very helpful to familiarize myself with the course. Not doing so sufficiently was one of my two major problems in every previous cyclocross race I've done. The other was getting off to a poor start (due to the frequent sharp turns it's sometimes difficult to pass people), which I also rectified here. Since I was one of the few people to preregister online I ended up with a starting position in the front row. After the long paved straightaway at the start I hit the first turn into the grass around 8^th place. And I moved up from there. I was in 5^th after the first lap, then 4^th. With one lap to go I was in 3^rd, with two guys nipping at my heals. They both passed me mid-lap, and I passed one back by the end to finish in 4^th out of 34 (just barely off the podium). It was by far my best cyclocross race ever.

"5K" Cross Country Race

I took it easy for a couple hours before the "5K" cross country run. I keep putting "5K" in quotes because the actual race distance was quite a bit farther. I found while warming up the loop was 2.05 miles, so two loops would be 4.1 miles (a full mile farther than advertised). Oh well. I didn't see very many other runners there (I was literally the only one who preregistered for the race, which is how I ended up with number 1). Right before the start I saw three guys wearing college jerseys. Shit.

It turns out they weren't the ones I should have been worrying about. From the start some guy shot out to the lead and before too long I could no longer see him. I ran in the chase pack with the college jersey guys (who I later found out had all graduated a few years ago and were no longer in their prime) until they slowly faded one by one. I finished 2^nd, but it hurt. It was a (long) hard race on a (long) hard course that came after an earlier hard race.

That makes four consecutive races with top-four finishes, and seven total races in the month of September.

UCI Pro Race

I caught bits and pieces of the other amateur bike races between eating dinner and going home to fetch my camera. The pro race was pretty awesome to watch. I've been reading these guys' names in results on CyclingNews.com for years so watching them race past me was somewhat surreal. One other really cool bit was watching a friend of mine (and multi-time state cyclocross champion) from Champaign, Jason Rassi, who saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and registered to race against the top pros.

Women's winner Teal Stetson-Lee emerges from beneath the flyover

Men's winner Jeremy Powers

Current US Pro champion Todd Wells

Former world championship silver medalist Jonathan Page bunny hopping the barriers

Rowdy fans cheering riders running up the flyover

On top of the flyover

Down the flyover

Up the steps

Men's single speed race winner Craig Etheridge runs up the steps in slow motion

Jason working hard

Jason finished 17^th

It was a heck of an event to watch. The top pros are so strong and so skillful at this difficult discipline, I was in total awe.