The month did not go as well as I had hoped. I only got in two long runs. At least they timed out at 2:45 and 3:07, so I was able to get some increase in my time on my feet. I was also able to get a bit more miles in during the week, so my monthly total miles stayed the same even though I was missing a couple of long runs. So, for the last 3 months I have held steady at 132 miles per month. Not bad, but I should be increasing the miles each month, not keeping the status quo.
There was one event that I was able to get to, the Medoc Meltdown. The official event name was the Medoc Meltdown 50K and Fun FA Run, with the FA meaning it was a Fat Ass run, which to quote the event's description, "This is a Fat Ass run, meaning it is not a race, there is no entry fee, no awards, no whinning and we will not provide aid. It’s an opportunity to run with old and new friends (plus plenty of NC horse flies!) and enjoy the hot and steamy beauty of an NC state park in August."
The Meltdown featured 4 laps at Medoc Mountain State Park, each lap sort of a twisted figure 8 of around 8.5 miles. If you did all 4 laps, you would have come in around 50K. I planned on doing 2 laps, which I mistakenly thought would take a little over 3 hours.
The start was great, a very relaxed setting. I got there early enough to set up a chair and cooler. The plan was to run a lap, then sit and rest for a bit, then go back out and run the second lap. Here am I with George setting up at the shelter where the race started.
The first lap started at a slow pace. I initially ran with George, Chris, and Kevin. I kept pace with them for the first 3 miles or so, then want on ahead. They were all planning on doing all 4 laps, so were keeping a bit slower pace than I felt comfortable with. Here are Kevin and Chris prior to the start. Both looking pretty relaxed for people getting ready to run over 30 miles.
The figure 8 came back around to the shelter again at about mile 5.5. I hit that marker about an hour and 10 minutes into the run and decided to visit the rest room, have a snack, and take a cold drink sitting down. I made the decision to wait around until George, Chris, and Kevin caught up, and after they came in, headed out to finish the first lap with them. The last loop of the figure 8 was only about 3 miles, so I figured on being back at the shelter again between 30 and 45 minutes. It was close to that, but the 3 mile section was a lot more interesting than the first section. Not just some hills, but stairs. Gave the legs a good workout.
Lap two was were it got real interesting for me. I had just been thinking prior to the start how it was now over 7 months since my last fall, and how good it had been to be injury free in my runs. So, what happens about a mile down the trail? You guessed it, down I went. As far I could tell, I just tripped on a branch. I didn't hit too hard, at least it was a dirt trail, and not a concrete sidewalk like my fall back last year. That one kept me sidelined for a couple of weeks. I was able to get back up, shake off the dirt, and keep going.
Everything felt OK for the next couple of miles, then I started to have some issues. The knee, which took the brunt on the fall, felt fine. But I must have pulled a muscle in my neck because I started to have some real discomfort in my neck and upper back. It got bad enough that I took to walking a bit more than just the uphills, and then boom. While I was concentrating on my form to keep my upper back aligned, I rolled my ankle. And this one did hurt enough that I had to sit down for a minute. Luckily, after a bit of self massage, it felt better and I was able to continue. I got back to the shelter probably about 10 minutes or so later than George, Chris, and Kevin, looked at my watch, and decided that at 3:07 into the run, maybe I should call it a day. So, I got my time in, but fell short on my distance. All in all though, a fun day. No real repercussions from the fall, as everything smoothed out over the next few days.
Here I am after cleaning up some, not too bad.
And the best part of the day, a great shirt. Photos are all courtesy of Chris. Thanks for bringing your camera, I forgot mine.
So, whats up for next month? More of the same. I do need to be more consistent with my long run, get in some more 3 hour runs, and most importantly, not fall any more.
One event is planned. The Salem Lake 30K at the end of the month. That will be a good test of seeing just where I am as far as being ready for the OBX marathon in November.
Till then, see you on the road.
