Setting Sites on the Western States 100

Recovery from Sunday's race is actually going very well. Muscles only have a tinge of soreness and feel pretty loose. I haven't run since the race, and may not again until Saturday even though I'm feeling pretty great. Just want to insure proper recovery, and while a short, light run or two this week would probably have helped flush out some muscle waste and loosen things up even more, it's been cold and rainy and also a very busy week at work, so I opted to just rest.

So, with pacing Stephen at Massanutten done and the Pineland Farms 50 completed, the Western States 100 is now my primary and central focus and it's just 30 days away. My goal is the same as last year... try to break 24 hours and earn the silver buckle. This will be tough. Like last year, I consider myself borderline on doing it. I have a feeling it's going to be close. But even then, that's hard to say, as it's a way different course than the Vermont 100. It's just tough and somewhat futile to predict how well someone will do on a course they've never done before.

However, I feel my training has gone pretty well. To be honest, I think I was slightly better conditioned at this time last year, primarily because I was able to get in solid training in the winter and spring. This year, winter was spent getting over foot issues, and thankfully I've been able to get the plantar fasciitis under control (thanks to the other Jamie). By the way, honest to God the foot has been feeling fantastic since the race and is at the least amount of discomfort yet since the PF first came on last August. No joke.

Then again, though I never wrote or even spoke about it, I felt I was feeling run down tapering down into Western States last year, and was wondering if I had overtrained. I still felt this way going into the Vermont 100 last year, and while in great shape, I don't feel that I peaked at the right...

Argh! Enough! Mind games! I'm playing mind games! Stop it! Stop it!!!

Okay, regroup... deep breaths. Deep inhale, hold and count to ten (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).. slow exhale...

I'm going to give it my best. I'm going to run hard, but run smart. I have an awesome crew consisting of my father, brother, and possibly my friend Brooke, and also have my very good friend Stephen pacing for me. I have gotten in a lot of great training, and the foot feels fine. I will give it everything I have, and leave nothing on the course. If I do that, I will be happy, regardless of my time.






























But I still want the silver buckle.