Turning ½ century and getting into my first 200-mile mountain race

An abundance of thoughts have been rolling through my mind lately…. Time to put some on paper. 

This year I will celebrate my 50^th birthday.  I would never have imagined when I was young that I would find so much pleasure in ultra events; but that is where I find challenge, peacefulness, satisfaction and a deep sense of accomplishment.  I’m not sure whether I feel “old” or young.  I love adventure and when I am on the trail I feel like a giddy little kid again.  I have set myself up for quite a season this year.  My plan is to run several hundreds, Tahoe 200 and many adventures that are self-supported.  Training for Tahoe will require a lot of high altitude mountain miles so that will be a large focus in training.

Tahoe Rim Trail 100 mile 2012

I decided it would be fun to share my “Training for Tahoe 200” diary with my friends and family so this will be the first installment. 

It was announced January 12^th that I’m in!   Lots of emotions when I saw my name, leaps for joy, wow, dream come true, such a beautiful course, inaugural event, Holy Cow how am I going to train for 200 miles?  I trained last year for a double trip around Rainier so I have that as a guideline, but Tahoe is at high altitude, so that will have to be my main focus.  I’m already signed up for a couple 50-milers, a 100k and 100-miler on back to back weekends but need to get some elevation.  Rainier is the best elevation training I can get, so my plan will be to spend lots of time “playing” up there.  I also have some self-supported runs planned as stated earlier so that should help with the climbing endurance.  

Mt Rainier

And so it begins:

Week 1 consisted of the usual…

Weights 3X and running on the treadmill twice for my early mornings; one session of intervals and one for climbing.  Too many engagements this weekend to get many mountain miles in, but ran the forest loop with Mateo in my “miles for Meg” quest, played and ate a lot!

My goal is to lose some of the “lack of training, winter weight” while training to make my body more efficient.  I will also write up a training plan and may share it to keep myself accountable.

Goals for week 2:

Write up training plan and run at least one midweek double this week along with the “usual.” 

 And to celebrate my birthday.