Training the Week of 10/31/11

Due to my leg injury, lack of running and increase in biking, I committed to riding on a 4 person team at the 18 hours of Scouts Honor.  That is coming up on 11/5/11.  I've never participated in a team race like this one.  I've been on a Duo team at a 6 hour race the last 3 years but nothing longer than that.  I'm nervous and excited about it.  The team consists of 3 strong riders and me.  I fear that I may be the anchor that holds everyone down.
11/1/11 - 7.5 miles of running.  Ran the 6 mile loop in 40:04.
11/2/11 - 8.5 miles of mtn biking at the cove to dial in my bike light for the race on Sat. 
10/4/11 - 6 miles mtn biking in Fishburn to dial in the bike and a few part upgrades.
10/5 and 10/6 - 25.5 miles mtn biking at the race. 
     The race had a 4pm start time on Saturday.  This is the weekend of the time change but the race organizers made it clear that, to keep people from being confused, that as far as they were concerned the time change wouldn't  occur until the race was over.
     Our team decided to start off with a 1,2,3,4 rotation.  I didn't feel like I had the legs to put in 2 laps in a row and thought I needed the rest between laps to make the most of my legs.  So we decided to start out this way and re-assess once we got into the race. 
The laps ended up being 8 miles and 45-55 minutes long. 
We were in first from the start and through the first 3 laps.
     I was the 4th person to ride and the first on the team to ride a lap in the dark.  It was hard to get the race jitters out on a first lap in the dark.  I rode sloppy but ended with a decent time. 
     Each lap felt better and better.  I finally got my light dialed on the 3rd lap to where I felt like I could see the best for this twisty and fast course. 
     The 4th lap was a mess.  I started to get tired and began to "see" things.  The harded place to find on the course was the center of the trail.  I was everywhere but where I should have been. 
     At this point we were all doing the race math.  We were in first by almost 2 laps.  The race was to end at 10am.  If you didn't get in by 10am that lap wouldn't count. 
    We all got in 5 laps.  The 5th lap for me was my first in the light of day and it went great.  It is amazing how it feels to finally ride in the daylight after working so hard to see in the dark on the previous 4 laps.  This was one of the best feeling laps I rode all race. 
    Our team decided not to ride a 21st lap.  So we ended up winning by 1 lap and a few hours on our competition.  Our team won first place overall and $50 a piece.  Not a bad time.  We plan to get the team back together for a few "training camps" and races in 2012.
7.5 miles running and 57 miles of mtn biking.

Training the Week of 10/24/11

Well the Into the Darkness race and Rotor Meltdown went off with success.  It made for one busy weekend but I've survived and am ready for a couple months off from race directing so that my mind can rest.
10/24/11 - 6 miles of running at Explore Park to make sure we got everything off the trails from the race.
10/25/11 - 7.5 miles of running.  Ran the 6 mile loop in 40:26.
10/26/11 - Trough, to buck, to Gauntlet, and back.  7.25 miles of running.
10/28/11 - 14 miles of mtn biking at the cove. 
10/29/11 - 7.3 miles running from home to the greenway and back through some Wasena and Raleigh Court neighborhoods.
10/30/11 - 28.5 miles of road biking.  Up Mill Mountain, to the BRP, to vinton and back.  Hit it hard today.
28 miles running, 14 miles Mtn biking and 28.5 miles road biking.

Training the Week of 10/17/11

Alright, I think I'm ready to get back on my feet and run again.  The leg finally has stopped hurting when I stand up and start walking.  This is a good week to start running since it is a race week and a hard week to get in the "normal" training plan running.
10/18/11 - ran my typical 6 mile loop.
10/21/11 - ran 6 miles at 6:45 pace.  Felt great to get back to fast running.  To some degree I realize that the time off my feet was needed.  So as a positive spin on this whole injury my muscles and joints have had a chance to rest. 
10/22/11 - Cleaned up the Into the Darkness course while both running and then biking.
10/23/11 - 2 miles of mtn biking to cut out a tree for the Rotor Meltdown mtb race.
16 mile of running and 6 miles mtn biking.

Training the Week of 10/10/11

Still staying off my feet for awhile.  So I'm biking as much as I can.  Again, to see the photo I posted of my leg injury - http://mountainjunkies.blogspot.com/2011/10/training-week-of-92611.html
10/11/11 - road bike to Green Hill Park and back - 20 miles
10/12/11 - road biked up old road of Mill Mountain and back home - 13 miles
10/14/11 - road biked to Green Hill  Park, Harborwood, West River, Peaceful, to 460, Wildwood, and then back - 37 miles, very strong winds today.
10/15/11 - Mtn biked the lower loop and then spent the afternoon clearing the trails of downed trees. - 26 miles
Considering my leg is still very swollen I was able to get in some good riding. 
Mtn Biked 26 miles and Road Biked 70 miles

Training the Week of 10/3/11

Well, after hurting my leg and then deciding to drop down to the Half Marathon at Richmond I lost my focus on the blog updates.  Well here is two months to get caught back up.  For the pic I posted of my leg see - http://mountainjunkies.blogspot.com/2011/10/training-week-of-92611.html
10/4/11 - As a very poor choice I decided to test my leg with my usual 6 mile loop.  Bad idea.  You have to know when you are injured and it is not wise to run.  My leg was very swollen with a localized hematoma on the outer side of my left leg. 
10/5/11 - Running is out - road biked 20 miles.
10/8/11 - Road biked 25 miles. 
10/9/11 - Road biked 37 miles - Home to parkway, to 460, then back to Mountain View in vinton, and back.
Cycling doesn't really effect my leg as it is non weight bearing and helps move some of the stagnant blood and swelling.  But anything weight bearing is a killer and makes my leg feel like it is going to explode.