Well, 2021 is coming to a close. I'm sure that just like me, it’s been a helluva year for you all as well. But it’s been amazing to see so many accomplishments from so many people across so many disciplines. This pandemic, as horrible as it is, has given a lot of people a chance to reflect on what’s important in life, how their time is spent, and pick up new crafts and hobbies. Even though many countries are bouncing back and forth between lockdowns and full-blown chaos the unfettered spirit of humankind persevered! It really has been a year that has exemplified the phrase "adapt and overcome." When gyms closed people started classes in parks, parking lots, zoom, and we won't even go into the smashing success peloton had because of this. When home gym equipment became something that could likely be traded on the commodities market people started filling jugs with cement, carrying large stones, and even took over kid’s playgrounds to get them dips and kips in. But this all can’t be said without fully admitting that it has also created a huge divide in our community and really people as a whole. It just seems like people are a bit more "switched-on" and ready to fight at any moment. An environment of everyone driving around at an anxiety level of 10 has more than been established. And for the most part, this is 2020 over again. But what I've found is that it affects you as much as you let it. For the most part, what gets in is what you let in. Obviously, there are some situations that are going to affect you no matter how much you try to block it in your mind, but in most other cases any confrontation you have persists so long as you give it attention. This is precisely the reason why I am still active on Instagram. It’s such a positive community. Ninety-five percent of what I see on there is positivity, encouragement and everyone just uplifting one another. On the other hand, within five minutes on Facebook I am bombarded with posts from old high school friends that have suddenly became experts on everything covid and conspiracy, just looking for a good old online fight. So, moral of the story: surround yourself with people that bring positivity to your life, people that add to your life and happiness and not take away from it.
So, since my last blog I got to run a couple of races: the Dinosaur Valley 50K and The Huff 50K. Dinosaur Valley was something I was looking forward to all year because it was going to be my twins first 50K, as well as a marathon distance. I had helped him develop a training plan that he stuck to while deployed overseas, and he did great. Honestly, better than I would have with sticking to the plan for so long. After he got back home there were some hiccups that made us question if the race might happen. But ultimately it did. Unfortunately, his knee started bugging him before the end of the first lap, so it wasn’t going to “that perfect first race,” but I feel it’s an appropriate welcome into Ultrarunning; a swift “fuck you, welcome to the club.” But he did great, damn savage pushed on for basically a marathon in rocky terrain and hills with a jacked-up knee. He did fantastic and I look forward to running future races with him, its fun to see something get the ‘distance bug’ as hard as I got it. Cheers Bro’. Welcome to the club.
After that I kind of decided on a whim, to do The Huff 50K down in Indiana at the Chain o’ Lakes State Park. I wanted something bigger for that weekend but decided with the weather it just plain wasn’t a good idea. That I’d be better off having some fun and using this winter as a base building season. So. Huff 50K, December 8th it was. So, I wake up the morning of at something like 3:30, get ready, start loading the car to find its about 35 degrees and freezing rain outside. Honestly didn’t bring as many supplies in case of needing more clothes, but thankfully it worked out. So, before the race even began, the further south I drove, the more intense the freezing rain got. Outstanding. Thankfully by the time I got there, and it started it really was a mist or light sprinkle for the couple hours before it stopped. But what it did do was make everything absolutely muddy as hell. Sure, a bit of fun. But also, a new variable that I hadn’t encountered, outside of maybe running in just deep snow. I didn’t really know what to expect as far as how much energy it would sap or how to navigate the hills without just “spinning the wheels”. But I just tried to stay at a fairly consistent effort the whole time. Pushing, but not outside of what I would consider a conservative push. Especially for the first 15-20 miles. After that, I did start to push slightly harder. I don’t know that I increased my pace too much for that time as much as I was just able to maintain it for the remainder of the lap. Suddenly, I started passing people like I was doing something right for once! I pushed hard until the finish line, ending the “official race” at 4:54:05. But I wasn’t quite there on my Garmin so decided to finish it with a little jogging around the parking lot and ended just under the wire at 4:59 and change. So, to get a sub-5-hour 50K on muddy trails I am absolutely stoked with. For someone who does not do speed work but maybe a dozen times a year, on a good year, to place 15th out of 149. I couldn’t be more elated with my training. So, definitely ending the year on a high note. In my personal life new things are happening that are very exciting. My running is looking to take things to new highs next year. And it’s looking like big changes are coming. Here’s to a fantastic 2022!
As always Thank You all for taking the time to stop by and read. Take care!
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