Six Weeks To Go and Counting

It was last September that I stumbled across this crazy race called the Pike's Peak Ascent that was slightly more than a half-marathon in length, climbed from 6,800 feet to 14,100 feet in altitude and was run on a rocky hiking trail. I was hooked at that moment and needed to compete in it. I can't believe it... after starting my training for the Pike's Peak Ascent back in November 2007 and after successfully qualifying for, entering, and being accepted into the race back in March... I am now nearly six weeks away from the big race day.

I don't feel nearly ready at this point. I was partially successful at Mt Washington but I cramped up which I never expected, the early steep section took the strength out of my legs earlier than expected (the steepest part of PP is early on as well) and I have not felt right ever since from some sort of gastro-intestinal problem. I need to go back in for more tests next week since my doctor found some anomalies with my blood tests in either iron deficiency or hyper-thyroid. I know this, I feel much better this week than I did last week. Last week I had no energy and really couldn't even run due to the pain in my stomach especially when I would run and bounce. This week I still can't eat much due to how my stomach reacts to food, and since I am on a lactose-free diet to see if I have developed a lactose intolerance, I have far fewer options. It is amazing how many prepared foods contain milk or milk by-products! I essentially need to either heavily scrutinize a label and rule out most items I look at or just buy fresh fruit, vegetables and meat and prepare them myself.

My training is getting better. I got little accomplished last week but this week I have done 8.75 miles at a faster pace than I planned on the weekend, then ran a 6.6 mile tempo run early in the week, followed up by a pretty good interval workout at the lake doing repeats at 6 to 6:10 pace while remaining fairly comfortable. On my strength days I also added in 30 minutes on the elliptical for some cardio time too. Tomorrow (Independence Day) I'll be doing a good hill workout while visiting may parents here in South Hadley, MA. I'll be running up the Skinner Mountain access road a few times as hill intervals... and yes I'll have my shirt on!

I'll try and get some pictures on the mountain and get an entry in tomorrow night.

I am... running for other people's lives!