Since the Long Beach Half Marathon in October, I've been dealing with soreness in my left foot (site of the old stress fracture late last year). That coupled with my lingering Runner's Knee and it's been a frustratingly unproductive month or so. I probably should have not run the Catalina Eco-Marathon last weekend (race report to come) but did so with the intentions of taking it easy...and it was still tough. The lesson as always: you have to respect the marathon distance - especially if there's 4,000+ ft of elevation gain involved!
Smiles after. Tough but beautiful race.
With that in mind, I decided to pull the plug on CIM which I had signed up for with the intentions of running a PR race. I am too undertrained to really give it my best effort and it's not really the most scenic course to justify flight + hotel expenses to run it for the hell of it. Will look forward to LA or Napa next spring.
In brighter news I am really, really excited about the first half of 2011 as far as races are concerned. I have already been enlisted to serve as pacer for my Hawaiian buddy Ryan at the HURT 100 in January, plan on running one of the toughest 50 milers California has to offer at Twin Peaks 50, then the LA Marathon and/or Napa in March, American River 50 in April (maybe) and that's bookended by two 'bucket list' races: the 56-Mile Comrades Marathon held in South Africa in May and - potentially - the Western States 100 in June (entered lottery). Chances aren't great, but hey - if I have to "settle" on Comrades alone, I'll take it.
Arguably the Super Bowl of ultras: the Western States 100.
In the short term, my focus will be on maintaining fitness, getting 100% healthy (or close to it) and finishing up the year with a couple more low key races without killing myself.
11 comments:
Smart man for pulling the plug on CIM. See you at SMM, hopefully it won't be a terrible mud run! :)
Looks like we will be seeing a lot of each other next year. Crap!
Not sure if I am running Sunday or not. I am out of shape but I will stop by regardless. Till then.
Sounds like a great year!
Good luck with getting back to 100% Billy. Sorry you have to miss CIM (such a delicious race that one). But for 2011, I really hope you get to go to Comrades. If I were wealthy, I'd run that race every year until I croaked (or ran out of money).
Bummed to hear that you're still battling those injuries. :( Smart call on CIM as you need to get healthy for next year. See you this weekend!
glad to hear you can be sensible at times! comrades - WOW! that would be super sweet and i would live vicariously through you.
For someone who should not have...you sure did pretty darn well!
As always a pleasure to hang with the cool kids!
arguably one of the toughest 50 miles in the country - not just CA :) will be great to see you there if not sooner!
Smart man Billy! BTW - what are you doing about your runner's knee?
Sounds like you made a smart decision! Your 2011 looks to be a very awesome year for you!
I signed up for CIM for the same reason and not running it either! Undertrained, not motivated. Good luck with the knee!
Hugo
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