Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Week of November 23-29: Waiting for a Green Light

Western States 100 Lottery:
This weekend may find me glued to the laptop a little more than normal. The Western States lottery takes place on Saturday and I’ll have my fingers and toes crossed that I get drawn. I’d love to get in and the race will be the focus of the year if I do. With about an 18% chance of getting in, I’m not holding my breath though.

North Face 50:
Also of interest this weekend will be the North Face 50. Should be an awesome race and will be interesting to see how it plays out. Look for Uli Steidl and Geoff Roes to battle it out. Canadian darkhorse Jason Loutitt is racing as well and could surprise many with a high placing. With $10,000 on the line for the win, it’s sure to be a battle.

Training:
Some encouraging runs for me from this past week. Continue to see improvement, but resisting the urge to rush back too quickly. Knee is more stiffness now as opposed to pain. I’ll probably take another week of 20mins per day and then hope to be given the green light to start increasing. My quads seem to be getting stronger and more balanced, and my knee seems to be tracking better in my runs. I’m also able to run faster than I have been with less discomfort. All good. Onward.

Summary:
Total # of hours this week: 2:21
Total # of runs this week: 7
2009 total # of hours: 528:48
2009 total # of days: 340
2009 total # of runs: 420
Streak: 7,278 days in a row
Training Log Details

7 comments:

  1. Good luck Sat Derrick! I'm in as well but lets just say I'll refresh the page Sun after my coffee...not too hopeful. ;) My comeback hit a snag on Fri. Had a very nice 30 min run Thur after about three weeks of acupuncture (and no running for 9 weeks) and felt good. Cardio base shot but it will come back. Went to a CrossFit class Fri morning (first ever) and re-buggered my achillies. 8( Not happy but it is what it is. Luckily my next race is in April. HOPEFULLY! ;)

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  2. Hope you're successful! If not, you should just win one of those easy Montrail races in the states next year and get an automatic invitation. Not sure why you're trying to complicate things with this lottery stuff.

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  3. Derrick, hang in there w/ the IT band...i know how frustrating that injury can be but it will get better. It's a good time to have a little down time...a month from now you'll be ready to start 2010 with a solid leg and rested mind. I feel thankful that I had some time off (although I probably wouldn't have taken it if my body let me to continue to run).

    Good luck on Sat. w/ the lottery. :0)

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  4. Johnny - too funny. Since they have cancelled the two-time looser role, this should be Derrick's focus for 2010 if he doesn't get in this year. I am waiting to see if I get to throw my hat in the WS100 Derrick Spafford Pacer Lottery.

    Encouraging news about the knee. Snow will be on the ground soon enough so you better get better soon.

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  5. Moogy,
    Sorry to hear about your achilles. Not fun. Stay away from that CrossFit stuff. Evil;) Hopefully things bounce back quickly.

    Johnny,
    Haha...yes, that would be the easy way now wouldn't it.

    Yassine,
    Love the video you made. Man, you're obsessing more than I am. Don't know whether it's easier while being injured or not.

    David,
    Pacer lottery??...too funny. Hoping for snow soon too and convinced that a period of snowshoe running would help the knee immensely. Sounds like you'll be on it sooner than we will.

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  6. Cool that you are getting back into it.

    They need to let you in WS. They need to diversify.

    Thanx for the link. That guy is fast!! I love when skaters represent.

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