I am back. As most of you all know, last week there wasn't a blog. That was never intentional. I was planning to write mid-week, but somethings happened that kinda took my focus off of my sport and frankly left me just flat exhausted and emotionally drained. So, today your going to get the story of what happened last week, and then I will also re-cap both my Thanksgiving day 10K, and then also this past weekends 5K. So, this post will be a bit longer than normal, but I hope you will stick with me throughout.
Smokies Strong.....
It's been no secret here the last few months, that where I live , it has been dry as a bone. We hadn't really seen much rain to amount to anything since about August. As a result, everything was brittle. There have been wildfires that have burnt up a lot of area, but nothing really severe. However, all of that changed Tuesday. Tuesday was any normal day. I had kept up with the news and knew there had been a fire started on the Chimney Tops Trail 2 in the smokies. I knew from the news that the wind was going to kick up as some storms approached. However, no one knew what would happen. I had gone out for a run Tuesday Evening. When I got home, word had started to spread that the Winds had significantly picked up. On the 11pm news, the fires had spread RAPIDLY in the smokies. were talking it looked like something out of a war zone. They had issued mandatory evacuations. It was VERY SERIOUS. I had also heard that places I had just ran an hour earlier near my home were burning. What had happened was that the wind had picked up so hard, that it had grabbed embers in the Smokies and thrown them EVERYWHERE. From where it was so dry, things just went up like nothing. Friends, I would post pictures, but honestly, they bother me. I am not normally bothered by stuff like this, but this got to me. Badly. I have friends who lost it all up there. I know other people who lost everything. So, after we realized just how bad this was, donations were needed. Volunteers were needed. I jumped into action. I started figuring out how to help. First thing I did was I volunteered for an hour one night before I worked out helping to load a tractor trailer with donations. I still felt like there was MORE that I could do. After talking to some friends, and getting the go-ahead, I started a collection for these fire victims. Literally, within 24-36 hours, my mind was blown. Between my running teammates, some friends I met while in network marketing, and also the "dumb little club" that I am apart of for running, the IRC, we were able to raise a significant amount of money that I can donate to them. Instantly I felt fulfilled. I knew I had done my part. But, lets make no bones about it, I was EXHAUSTED. Period. I had nothing left to give by Wednesday, but I kept pushing. Period. Until I collapsed Saturday afternoon.
Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10K:
So, backing up to before all the fires, I had run a 10K on Thanksgiving. This was one I had waited for for a year. See, Last year, I made a fueling mistake mid race. I was well on the way to a PR, and then my stomach decided becuase of my mistake to revolt against me. It left me just shy of my PR that I once had in the bag. So for the whole year, I had looked forward to this event.
I knew that it would be a tall task for me to run a PR, especially just shy of 3 weeks off of my Marathon in DC. I was on the edge of full recovery, but wasn't quite there. Coming out, I had a mission to control myself. To make the first mile my slowest. I had to game plan if I was gonna try to run a great race. So I decided, start way back at least 1 slot further in the corals then what I wanted. Deep deep breaths, and start off SLOW. So , once we loaded in , I was all business.
I decided that right away, I wanted to basically run 10 second pickups the first mile. I would be happy with anything under a 14 min mile. So we launched. After the first mile, I had stuck to my plan and was happy. Right around a mid 13-14 min mile. The next mile I was like, ok, lets run 1 min intervals and walk 90 seconds. I did this, and it felt good. I was right at a 13. The next mile was coming back down a hill, so I was like ok , lets pull 2 min to 1 min intervals and roll. So I did that . I looked at the watch at the end of the first 5k. PR was not likely but the Idea was there.
I guess I shouldn't have really done that, because I took off like a bat outta hell the next mile. I clocked a 12 something. Really probably should have ran the 3:1 interval I was comftorble with. I knew I had gone to hard that mile. Mile 5, I kinda ramped it up even further. I was looking to be into top speed by mile 5.5 . So, I did. Mile 6 was like a mid 12 mile.
As I was running out of gas , mile 6.12 came up. I saw one of my friends from the area who yelled at me. I knew I had to finish. When I did , I was 3 min off my PR time, but I was in code red, the puke zone. I had left it all out there. I was very stinking happy.
When I texted coach , she was very pleased. We had a good laugh about somethings. Also , we disscused how strong this was just barley 3 weeks off the MCM event. After our conversation, I spent the rest of my Thanksgiving recovering and enjoying my day.
Training and all that fun stuff:
So, make no bones about it, I was still on the path to 39.3 in 14 short weeks. So, in between volunteering and worrying about doing what I felt led to do after a horrible tragedy in our beautiful mountains, I had workouts to do. I was still committed to getting them in. Monday I had a short run. Tuesday was Chest and Arms. I was so happy to be lifting. I have missed a lot of lifting since the first go around, we had to get my endurance built and get a good running base. After Tuesday, when I woke up, I was so sore. Then, Wednesday, after volunteering with the fire relief donation collections, and doing my own collecting, I went for a short 45 min run . I took it to the gym as it was misting rain and it was slick. I had a great run. It was much needed. See, when I was so focused on others, I forgot to care for myself, which left me emotionally and physically drained. I needed that escape, and the run provided that. Thursday, in some cruel joke from coach, was Chest and Back. My body was still hurting from Tuesday. Add in MORE lifting on chest, it just was incredibly painful. LOL! I am talking 8 lb weights felt like 20's. HAHA! But I got through it. Friday, I had a short recovery run of 30 min. I was watching H.S. football on TV, and the Nascar awards show, so i set up the treadmill and got it done. Saturday, I had 10 miles. But I also had a race. I had to have 10 total. Coach said do the 7 before , and then finish with the 5k to teach you closing power. Also, I should note, that during this week, I had been working with a sports nutritionist on our team to refine my food intake. I was anxious to get out and see how this was going to work out. So, Saturday was I was up at 4 , out by 530 , and on the roads. It took me about an hour and 15 to complete the 7. It was so nice. I felt really good . I came home, synced my watch, made the first log, threw some stuff in a bag, and headed up the road to the 5K.
Iron Dog 5K:
Once I got up to this 5K, it was chilly, but I was still pretty warm from my earlier run. This was a smaller 5K along the green-way, and unfortunatley. it was not chip timed. However, i knew where the start and finish was, so I tripped my watch accoridingly.
The first mile felt great. I started off a little too hot, even though I had done my normal routine. I wanted to try to run 33 min or better. Shortly after the first mile, I began to struggle. It became about the will to do this then. By mile 2, I knew I was empty and had to force myself to do it. Thank heavens for propper fueling that morning, becuase I have 0 doubts that that is what allowed me to survive this. I wound it up as hard as I could go that last mile. I finished in a respectable 37 min. Not too bad at all. Again, the look on my face said it all. I was in puke zone. Didn't puke, but felt like it. I was whipped. That was 10 miles on the day before 10 am. Once I talked to coach, again we were both pleased. Nice and strong. Also, when I got home, it was probably the most consistent and steady 5k I have ran in a VERY LONG TIME. That made me happy.
The rest of Saturday I lounged around, foam rolled, slept, ate , and watched a whole lotta football .
So, really this week was a very long , trying week. Just glad to have gotten some rest and recovery the last 2 days.
So, for this coming week, for yes, the 3rd straight week, I will be racing again , atmosphere permitting. I am supposed to be running a Santa Hustle Half in the mountains. But , with the damage from the fires, and all that going on, we are awating final word on the race. If for some reason they cancel it, I am moving it to a virtual and coming over to where my current PR Sets and trying to get this elusive 2:30 half I keep searching for. Regardless, I am not wasting a good taper this week. My workouts this week will be some taper intervals, and some good old fashioned iron moving. Saturday, before my race, I do have a massage scheduled.
So in essence, there you have it. The last couple weeks have been just a bit crazy. But Thankfully I have survived. Brighter days are ahead for me as well as for the victims. One thing about us Vols, were resilliant. We will bounce back. And we will be back better than Ever. #smokiesstrong
-John-
-IRC #2148-
: Not Much To Report 
