2020 Mystery Marathon #5

Depression still there, somewhat lifting.  Ran one loop, walked another until I finished another marathon.

2020 Mystery Marathon #4

Fighting off depression.  Ran one loop, walked one loop, until I got to a marathon.

Good thing was pace was on par with my overall pace for the virtuals, 14:24.

2020 Mystery Marathon #3

Depression and anxiety hit me bad again.  Wanted to quit at 13, slogged to a marathon to make something of the day.  Walked nearly all of it.

This was marathon #60.

Glad I didn't quit.

2020 Mystery Marathon # 2

The Background

I had strained my back playing basketball with James.  It didn't feel super bad like a slipped disc, more like a muscle strain... I hoped.  

I gave it a few days to heal with an ice pack then decided to run.  I was going for the 100 miler, but my head was full of work stress.

The Race

My back felt very slight soreness at first, then I forgot about it.

I ran 10 miles at first, then decided to walk to pace myself for the 100 miler.

My head started to be full of work stress.  I decided no 100 miler today.  I thought about pulling out at 25k...I could register for the race and get credit.  But I thought that was complicated and weak.

So I plodded on, going for a marathon to make something of the day.  I ran I think a total of 16 miles, walked 10.  Slow, but a finish.  The pace didn't throw off my overall pace for the year.

Reflections

I need to work on managing my work-life balance and stress.  It's okay when I have a virtual race and can adjust goal, but for real races there is one shot.

After the race, I did some work and felt better.

I need to work on peace and serenity.

Still, the marathon finish was good.

2020 Unicorn Challenge Virtual 50k

The Background

On Friday, I was all set to attempt the Blazing 7s 100 miler.  Then I saw my watch was not charged.  I had hooked it up to charge it but I guess the wire was not connected properly.

Seeing that it would take 3 hours to charge it, I decided to run the Unicorn Challenge 50k to complete the Rising Phoenix.  But my head was all messed up from the watch issue and I stopped after 11 miles.

My kids were coming over Sunday so I could not take another shot at the 100 miler on Saturday, but I went for the Unicorn.

The Race

Trying  to beat as much of the heat as I could, I started off before 5am on the 1.9 mile loop neighborhood course.

I was a bit mentally tired and started rationalizing walking early...it was the last race of the series, it would be rest for the 100 miler, etc.  But I ran to 20.  I also had fleeting thoughts of just doing a marathon, but I wanted to get the Rising Phoenix series done.

After 20, it was hot and I was tired.  I walked to 25 then ran one loop.  Walked another, leaving one more to go.  Last loop the heat and fatigue left me running in spurts to the finish.

Reflections

I finished the Rising Phoenix series...can't wait to get that belt buckle.  Times were fairly consistent for the series, 6 or 7 hours.

The heat was a issue.  Forecast says it won't let up any time soon.  I think I'm going to try to find a loop with some shade.

I was in 2nd on the leaderboard with 460 milers.

Well, Blazing 7s 100 miler and Possum's Revenge 69 miler are left...

2020 Double Dragon Virtual 50k

The Background

I was feeling a bit burned out.  13 marathons/ultras in a couple months - more than I had ever done in a year - plus the school year ended.  I was tired. 

I tried to run Saturday but my mind wasn't there.  Called it after six miles.  I tried again for Double Dragon, 3rd of the summer virtual series, on Sunday.

The Race

I plodded to 20  miles. After 20, I was feeling kind of mentally bad.  I decided to alternate walking and running loops of the 1.9 mile neighborhood course.  I could have run in in the last 5 miles or so to get in under 7 hours but I took it easier and finished in 7:19. 

Reflections

I had been obsessing over the virtual race leaderboard, where I was in third place.  This took some of he fun out of racing and made it seem more like work.  Plus, just wrapping up the school year led to some of the mental fatigue.

I'm going to not worry so much on my place on the leaderboard and focus on the races I'm signed up for: Unicorn, Blazing 7s 100, and Possums 69 miler.

Maybe I need some mini-breaks of like 2 or 3 weeks.

Regardless, it was a race finish and that always feels good.