So I’ve had a pretty bitchin’ summer for training and racing. I’ve exceeded most of my expectations, and am now changing training focus to fall mode, another bump in hours, and forming some slightly new perspective on train activities. One thing that has changed is that the amount of energy I’m putting into training is starting to cut into the energy I have for my job for the first time. There is a point around 15 hours a week for a single, childless athlete when combining 3 hour workouts and a full time job starts to get a little difficult. I thought I’d try to write about the training/work mix, with regard to what works, what doesn’t work, and what’s [still] possible.

Mat Peak

There is a race in Palmer, Alaska called “The Matanuska Peak Challenge.” This year I had the fortune/misfortune of competing in the “challenge” (notice I didn’t say race) and it left my body broken and full of remorse. A relatively small field of around 50 masochists hike up Lazy mountain, down Lazy mountain, then up Mat Peak, down Mat Peak, then back up and back down Lazy mountain for a total of 9000 vertical feet over 14 miles. The uphills are long and end in a scratchy lichen-covered bolder field at the top of Matanuska Peak, and the down hills are steep and hard packed. You don’t even get the luxury of a scree field to ease the pain of the pounding your quads start to take.

I am officially in the zone. Like, I’ve wanted to get to this point forever. Sheesh, I suppose that’s a strong indication of a non-natural. Oh well.

Crow Pass

The Saturday before last I banged out an awesome 24-miler at The Crow Pass Crossing. I finished second in about 30 seconds behind Eric Strabel in what was one of the most competitive and exciting races I’ve had since the ‘98 state 4×800m relay, where a man by the same name made up all but .003s on our anchor leg in an 8m7s race. For those of you with a little spare time, the following is a verbose recount.