Hip flexor perplexor

I am still being aggravated by my right hip flexor. Either I'm just not getting enough strength training or it's actually hurt...my bet is it's the former. I'm running on flat land most of the time and really not putting my hips, glutes and upper quads through their paces like I am when running actual elevation on the trails. Aside from that, I sit on my ass all day working. Not the best position for core and hip flexors.

The problem is that when I am out on the hills, my hip flexor is really acting up and making steep inclines a huge pain in the butt. As if the climb isn't bad enough, dealing with pain in your hip flexor makes you doubt your ability to really go the longer distances.

The good news is that I feel like I've been pushing myself with each run. Though the distances have been impacted by my hip, my pace has improved and I'm mentally conquering many of the long climbs I couldn't before. I feel that my endurance and legs are doing fine - it's just that darn hip flexor. Once it goes, my entire cadence and form go to hell.

Mesquite Canyon 50k elevation profile

I've incorporated a number of strength exercises into my stretching routine at night in hopes that every bit helps. I also think I'm going to start riding my bike again (post-Mesquite 50k). In the meantime, I'm getting psyched for the last ultra race in the Araivapa DRT series - Mesquite Canyon. Everyone says it's the toughest course of them all and I believe them. It will be a challenge for sure even without some of my current issues.

I just need to complete my set of Araivapa beer pints :)

Dialing it in

Since my reality check a couple weeks ago at the SanTan Scramble, I've come to realize the humility of the situation and resolved to go after the Mesquite Canyon 50k with inspired vigor. There is nothing quite like a DNF to get you motivated.

So while the running has been going well, there are several other things I feel pretty good about.

Weight

I've always felt my ideal 'fighting' weight was down near 160. Since Ironman Arizona (2010), I've managed to hover around the 170-175 mark...which is not ideal, but comfortable. Over the last week, I've been tracking my calories and trying to keep myself at 2,000 a day. First, it's been an eye-opener when it comes to serving sizes and portion control. Second, my mindset has changed from eating everything (justified by running a lot), to eating only what I need.

Allergies
I've long struggled with ear/sinus infections that always seem to coincide with the peak of my training. Consultations with my ENT seem to indicate that allergies (and a slightly deviated septum) may be causing a constriction in my sinuses and an imbalance in my Eustachian tubes. Rather than jump straight to a surgical procedure, I've gone through allergy testing and discovered that I'm very allergic to several Arizona grasses and desert sage. I start taking oral allergy drops today to build up my resistance to these irritants. We'll see how that goes.

Family Time
I've been able to cut back a day or two in my training schedule and not be gone so much. Not only has it brought down my anxiety (and guilt) but I also think it's better on the body. Along with being (re)motivated to attack Mesquite Canyon, I've been focused on approaching every run with a purpose (and goal). Running the same trail at the same pace every other day was/is part of my funk. By mixing it up, focusing on the goal of the run, I actually get more out of it and enjoy the experience more. Being focused has really helped me get out of bed in the morning, get my run done and have more quality time with the wife and kids.

So, here's to a better month of training. I'm really looking forward to closing out the Aravaipa Ultra Series with Mesquite Canyon and securing my final DRT beer pint :)

San Tan Scramble Race Report

I've never had a DNF. Guess what? It sucks.

Starting about mile 15, a sharp pain appeared in my right hip-flexor/groin area. I stopped a few times to stretch it and continued to push through the pain. By the time I had made my way over Goldmine Mountain for the second time, I was noticeably hobbling and favoring my right side. Each step was more painful than the last.

I'm not one who needs to prove a point for the sake of being macho or manly. I know my body and I know my limits.

Today, I had reached my limits.

Yeah, I'm tapering...

I'd love to say that I've been tapering the last couple weeks since the Coldwater Rumble...but that would be a big fat lie. Weeks of 7 miles and 11 respectively since January 21 barely even count for working out.

For whatever reason, my heart just hasn't been in it for a while. I've been doing enough to get by and that's about it.

I guess now I know that signing up for the trail series isn't as productive or motivating as I thought it would be. In my head, it seemed perfect:

1. Lots of races at DRT cheap (sorry, bad pun at the expense of Aravaipa there)...
2. Consistent races schedule would instill a solid training regiment
3. 50K's would keep my base endurance solid through early spring
4. Perfect way to see all the metro-Phoenix parks

Aside from #2 (probably the most important), I've really enjoyed the ultra series and will likely sign up for several of them again next year...but probably not the entire ultra series.

I think I'm a long-term-goal-kind-of-guy. Each milestone in my endurance life I've planned out in the future upwards of 6-9 months and worked patiently to that goal. The DRT Ultra series has made me realize that having multiple goals that recur monthly, is not how I'm built. If I was truly passionate about improving my times or crushing my PR's, that might give me a renewed sense of purpose...but again, I'm not built that way.

I race to finish.

Yes, in the back of my mind, I never want to be last but if I am, oh well.

Tapering or not, Ill be heading to the home course this weekend to tackle the San Tan Scramble 50K. Hard to believe it was only a year ago on this very same course that I added the title of 'ultra-marathoner' to my resume.

See you out there.

Making time for it all

Many people may not know this about me - I'm very selfish with my personal time. More often than not, if I'm not running or working, I'm content to just do nothing. And when I mean nothing...seriously, I mean nothing. I know, it's self-centered and very unproductive when it comes to life in general.

That's why this year, I had resolved to make some changes.

Changes in my priorities.

Changes in my attitude.

Changes to what's really important.

Up until last weekend, they were fleeting notions of grandeur however. But as you may recall, during my last race, I struggled pretty hard with the guilt that I was spending precious time away from my wife and kids.

My epiphany is really not that grand, but with so many priorities in our lives, it is often hard to find the balance between everything we want to do. I often preach to my team at work that time management is one of the keys to success - that without it, we get randomized and lose our focus.

That's me at this very moment - feeling somewhat randomized with all the things I want need to do in my life.

Kids - Work - Wife - Home - Friends - Retirement - Parents - Pets - Taxes - Health

I know you probably have the same list of things in your life as well. When you consider that we spend at least half of our waking hours each day at work, there is often little time (and motivation) to focus on these 10 other things.

• I want to be an unselfish parent and attentive father to my kids.
• I want to be a supportive and equal partner to my wife.
• I want to have a successful long-term financially viable future.
• I want to be a healthy and active role model for my kids, family and friends.

I'll never say that I'm "sacrificing" my running to make these things a priority but I will say that I'm changing how I spend my time. Balancing the needs of the many, rather than the one. And while I do feel a tinge of guilt that I've completely blown off my running schedule this week, I revel in the fact that I allowed many other things to be the priority rather than just me, me, me...

I honestly don't know what the right answer is - and if you've read this far, you may not know the answer either. I just know that I want all the best things in life - for my family and myself. And that takes just as much work as training for any run or triathlon - maybe even more.

Coldwater Rumble 50k Race Report

I love running.

I love meeting new friends.

I love pushing my limits.

But I am well aware of the time it takes away from my family. And yesterday, it weighed heavy on my mind before this race even began.

This made two weekends in a row that I had been gone racing and a powerful wave of guilt wash over me during the first 5 miles of this race. I had already talked myself into dropping out when I closed the first loop around the course. Aside from my anxiety and guilt, I was also having equipment issues - almost as if I had tried to subconsciously sabotage the race before it even began.

I sent a message to wife that I would be dropping out and would probably be home early. She returned back with an 'I love you' and that she and the kids were proud of me. She also mentioned that if I didn't finish, I would probably come to regret it later. She knows me all too well...

Besides, she said I have to finish to ensure we have a complete set of 4 Aravaipa beer pints! LOL :)

One of the many reasons I love my wife.

Her reassurance and words of encourage removed my trepidation and I resolved to finish what I started. 

With my guilt removed, I now had to deal with my equipment issues.

1. I chose the wrong (new) shoes...
2. My tights were rubbing me the wrong way

I knew that if I could make it back to the Start/Finish, I could change clothes (at least I had the foresight to bring backup shoes and shorts).

Ahhh....relief.

New shoes, socks and shorts breathed new life into my body and psyche...bring it on inner loop.

(By the way, it was an amazing day to run yesterday. Overcast and 65 - neither too hot or too cool.)

The remainder of the race was fairly uneventful. There was quite a bit of spacing between myself and the rest of the folks holding down the back of the pack - enough that I only saw one other person the last couple hours. I was definitely tired but managed to keeping moving through the rolling hills and walking up the steeper hills. (Those darn Coury brothers always seem to put a hill at the end of every race).

I finished in 7:34  - which is not my best showing but considering my mental and equipment issues, I'm fine with just getting across the finish line.

Now, it's time to put energy into training for race # 5 - San Tan Scramble. My home course and the location of my first ever 50k. Looking forward to having a complete set of beer pints.

A step away from madness

Deep down, I hope that I inspire people to do things that they thought were impossible.

Most of the time however, people just shake their head at me.

"You're running how far?!"

"Are you stupid?"

"Run Forrest, run!"

I've come to believe that ultra-running does require some extra chemical in the brain that (1) ignores what everyone else thinks, (2) ignores pain and (3) ignores common sense.

This week I've been fighting that chemical and wavering back and forth on how badly I want to run the Coldwater 50k this weekend.

I feel pretty good after last weekend's PF Chang marathon yet with all the elevation of the Coldwater course, I have no doubt I'll be destroyed.

I hate (yes, hate) not fulfilling commitments - especially ones I've paid for! :) Yet at the same time, I feel so under-trained and sloppy that it seems like an exercise in futility to go push the boundaries of the 9-hour cut-off time on Saturday.

Even as I write this, I thought I had decided to run the full 50k...now, I'm not so sure.

"But I don't want to go among mad people,' said Alice. 'Oh, you can't help that,' said the cat. 'We're all mad here." - Lewis Carrol