2017, the Year of Redemption

So it's been a while since I posted an update.  It was a rough 2016 for me due to several injuries and unfortunately two DNF's.  In May I attempted the Ice Age Trail 50 miler.  It was my first attempt at the distance and I went into it very unprepared.  Myself and two friends, Matt and Chris, attempted it together.  They both finished in a little over 11 hours.  It was, in my opinion, a tough course.  Lots of hills and elevation that unfortunately, I was massively unprepared for.

After that DNF, I recommitted to my training.  I started working with Chris on weekends when we were both available to do hill work.  The training paid off and my trail running was getting better.  I decided to sign up for the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler as a redemption race for myself.  That race went much better, but the result was the same.  DNF.  I was pulled from the course after 42 miles.  I dug deep and gave it everything I had but it wasn't enough.

This was my third DNF, all on Wisconsin trails, and it hasn't gotten any easier to accept.  If anything, it bothers me more.  I am determined to finish the 50 mile distance.  I am now signed up for the 2017 Ice Age Trail 50 miler.  Wisconsin trails have not been kind to me and I refuse to take this race lightly.  After being down with a calf injury for 2 months at the end of 2016, I am just now getting back into real training and will be starting a 16 week training program on January 23rd.  In the mean time, I'm working on re-building my base.

The training program I'll be using can be found here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/50-miler-training-plancom

It is an aggressive program that will have me running over 50 miles per week for a total of 915 miles of training over 16 weeks.  That is more mileage than I ran in all of 2016 so I will likely be tweaking the program a bit.  Adding in extra rest days here and there, cutting mileage on weekdays a bit.  But the long runs on the weekends must happen.

I have been toying around with the idea of starting a YouTube channel to share my adventures in running with the world.  If and when this happens I will announce it here as well as social media.  In the meantime, keep training and never stop moving.