Back Pain

I was looking forward to this weekend's Kettle Moraine 100, but  about a week ago I suddenly got some back pain.  It's similar to the herniated disc I suffered when in University (about 15 years ago), but different.  It's nowhere near as intense, and believe it or not, doesn't hurt when I run.

So this gives me a dilemma.  I can travel down to KM, knowing the drive will most likely destroy what remains of my spine, and run the race; all the while hoping that nothing gets worse.  Or, I can DNS the race and let my back heal up.  If I DNS Kettle, I will most likely also DNS Black Hills, and in the process remove myself from Gnarly Bandit contention.

I'm leaning towards treating my back as gently as possible for the remainder of the week and running the race.  If I have to DNF, I have to DNF.  It won't be because I didn't try, but because my body failed me.  I can live with that.  I won't necessarily like it.

2016 Kettle Moraine 100 preview

I had a "Holy Shit!" moment this morning, when I realized Kettle was just over a week away.  Normally, I daydream about my races for weeks before the actual event.  This time around, it snuck up on me.  I think that might be because I've already participated in three races so far this year (raced two, and paced one) and have mental race fatigue.

Physically, I feel great.  Except for a lower back problem that goes away when I run, everything is working smoothly.  My coach even snuck a taper in without me noticing.  Today is my last "long" run of only 10 miles.

The weather forecast a week out is always a crapshoot, but it's looking pretty good for running.  High in the low 20s, and lows in the 12-13 range.  Small chance of rain.  Basically, very similar conditions to Kettle Moraine 100 last year.  The only thing that has me concerned is the massive amount of rain in the days leading up to the race might make parts of the trail excessively soft, or possibly even under water.

My goal for this race is to run smarter than last year, and finish in around the same time.  This means slowing down more at the start, and running more overnight.  It also means no grease-loading at Famous Dave's the night before and experiencing GI distress.  There's an Olive Garden half a mile away from my hotel, so that's my obvious choice.

Ultramarathon Commandments

I present the Ultramarathon Commandments:

1. Thou shalt not race in old socks
2. Thou shalt not race in new shoes
3. Thou shalt not stop for a selfie every mile
4. Thou shalt pick up thine own trash
5. Thou shalt pick up other people's trash
6. Thou shalt not brag
7. Thou shalt not drink light beer
8. Thou shalt not drop because of vomit
9. Thou shalt not drop because of fatigue
10. Thou shalt smile - running is fun