Ramping up...

It's been a while since my last post but that's only because I was swamped with family over the New Year Holiday and work over the past few weeks. The true pleasure in my life this month has been running. I have found a new training group and we are keeping eachother motivated through the cold, Idaho winter. This morning Hank, Brad and I took off together in 4 degree weather and all went well. I managed to throw down 20 miles in 2:42 and those guys went longer. For me, it was my longest run since Javelina but it felt good. As I've stated previously, I am trying to force myself to rest and with a 10 miler tomorrow this will be my first 70 mile week since October. That feels like rest and should help come April and May.

All that said, I am certainly ready to ramp things up in early February with a two-day work trip to SF on the 6th and 7th which will give me a chance to get on the WS course for the first time this year and then a getaway to San Diego over President's Weekend should give me a few more miles in shorts and a t-shirt. I have also thrown an entry in to the Caumsett 50K on March 2nd which turns out to be the USATF 50K Road Championships. Not that it really means anything but since I'll be in NYC for a conference I thought 31 miles on the roads might be just what I need 6 days before I get my butt kicked by Team Oregon at Way Too Cool.

Finally, I must admit I was quite surprised to finish in 8th place in the Ultrarunner of the Year Voting this year. With such an amazing group of runners I never thought I stood a chance of breaking the top-10. Of course, I also feel that way every year at Western States....

Happy New Year everybody!