Photos from Trip to USAT&F National Trail Marathon Championship in South Dakota

Needles

Dive Bar

Field

Prairie Dog

Dust from Car

Running with Buffalo

Badlands

George

City of Deadwood, SD

Taken from top of Harney Peek 7,242 ft. (2,207m)

Taper & USA Trail Marathon National Championship Week June 2 - June 8

Deadwood Marathon was very challenging.
The first 14 Miles was up hill and at elevation.
I felt like I was running in slow motion with no energy.
I walked a tad through mile 11, sick of running up hill.
Came through the half at 1:31, very slow.
Second half of the race was down hill.
I tried to make up time, but was not very motivated since I lost contact with the rest of the field.
Ended up around 2:57 for 4th place overall. Can't complain.
The area of South Dakota is one of the most beautiful areas of the States.
So many thing to do and see. It's a must see area of the country if you have never been their.


Monday:
8 Miles a.m.
8 Miles p.m.
Both runs Downtown Cleveland.
Day Total: 16 Miles

Tuesday:
8 Miles a.m. Downtown Cleveland.

Track Workout: Solon Track
4 Miles p.m. Warm-up on the track followed by 4 x 100m stride outs.
3 x 1 Mile with 400m recovery.
5:12, 5:12, 5:08, felt strong the last repeat.
4 Mile Cool-down.
Day Total: 20 Miles

Wednesday:
8 Mile a.m.
Off p.m.
Downtown Cleveland.
Day Total: 8 Miles

Thursday:
18 Mile a.m.
Off p.m.
Downtown Cleveland.
Day Total: 8 Miles

Friday:
Off a.m. Travel
12 Miles p.m.
Hit some awesome trails in South Dakota.
Ran up to Harney Peak 7,242 ft (2,207 m) and Little Devil’s Tower
Pretty tough run for flatlander
Day Total: 12 Miles

Saturday:
Off a.m.
Off p.m.
Went to Mount Rushmore
Day Total: 0 Miles

Sunday:
Deadwood Marathon, SD
2 Mile warm-up
Day Total: 28 Miles

Week Total: 92 Miles

Training Week May 26 - June 1

Getting ready for the USA Track & Field Trail Marathon National Championship and Western States 100 Mile Run.
It's going to be a crazy month of June. I'm bit trashed from all the racing & training lately.

My concerns are about Western because it has kicked by butt so many times now. I really struggle with the altitude and heat. Even though the race doesn't go that high in elevation is seems to bother me being a flatlander. Right now the average temp. lately has been in the mid 60-70 witch is not in my favor.

I still enjoy running Western States even though I have not run well there.

Last year's Western was one of the most disappointing races I have run. I basically went out for three weeks to acclimate and train on the course. I lived out of my rental car. Felt like Christopher McCandless from "Into the Wild". You learn a lot about yourself when you are alone for any length of time. I got in shape and lost weight. Almost too much weight.

I had to come back home for over a week do to work and then go back out to California the Thurs. before the race. I think I lost much of the acclimating to the altitude being back on flat land for 10 days.

This year I am not worry about time or place and see how things go.

Monday:
8 Miles a.m.
8 Miles p.m.
Both runs Downtown Cleveland.
Day Total: 16 Miles

Tuesday:
8 Miles a.m. Downtown Cleveland.

Track Workout: Solon Track
4 Miles p.m. Warm-up on the track followed by 4 x 100m stride outs.
3 x 1 Mile with 400m recovery.
5:16, 5:16, 5:06, felt strong the last repeat.
4 Mile Cool-down.
Day Total: 20 Miles

Wednesday:
8 Mile a.m.
8 Miles p.m.
Both runs Downtown Cleveland.
Day Total: 16 Miles

Thursday:
10 Miles a.m. Tempo run at 5:45 pace, downtown Cleveland.
Didn't feel too good.

8 Miles p.m. In South Chagrin Reservation.
Hilly Trails
Day Total: 18 Miles

Friday:
8 Miles a.m.
8 Miles in a.m.
Both runs Downtown Cleveland.
Totally beat up.
Day Total: 16 Miles

Saturday:
Easy Run
15 Miles a.m. - Run in the [Cuyahoga Valley National Park]
Hilly section of the Buckeye Trail.
10 Miles p.m. in Hudson.
Day Total: 25 Miles

Sunday:
12 Miles a.m. in Solon with Southeast Running Club.
6 Miles p.m. in Aurora. Ran from Home.
Day Total: 18 Miles

Week Total: 129 Miles