The last few weeks have been low-mileage rest weeks with a focus on putting the finishing touches on my training plan for the *Vermont 100 Endurance Run* and gearing up to start training next week!
The lessons I learned at the San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run continue to help dial in my strategy for the VT100. The first item of business is fine-tuning my method of fueling, not the actual content of my fuel.
While I was running with a handheld bottle of *Hammer Nutrition Sustained Energy* mix and a *Fuel Belt* with *Nuun* electrolyte replacement tablets, my race crew was laboring over filling bottles and mixing powders all day and night.
By using a hydration backpack with a custom-made fuel by Infinit Nutrition, I remove the handheld bottle and the Fuel Belt from the equation. My special blend, “Beast Mix”, combines the ingredients of the two products I was using into one powder and saves me $25 per batch. Let me know if you’re interested in the “Beast Mix” and I’ll send you the settings through the Infinit website.
With an extra water reservoir, I can be drinking out of the one in my pack while the crew fills, mixes and chills the other. So when I come through an aid station, all the crew has to do is pull out the empty reservoir and replace it with the full one. _This is going to save valuable time and energy for the team!_
Here are a couple shots from my last two adventures: 
+Camping and trekking in Joshua Tree National Park+ 
+Relaxing in Scottsdale, AZ+
I’m officially registered for the 2009 Vermont 100 Endurance Race in July! While it feels great to make the commitment, I am also well-aware of the hard work it takes to prepare for a 100-mile ultra marathon. My advantage this year is having my experience and training data from the SD100 to look back on to refine both my training and race-day approach.
Keeping things fun and exciting is an essential part of my strategy. That said I’m already planning my peak training weekend in June to include an attempt at running the *Pacific Crest Trail* from Warner Springs to Campo, a distance of 110 miles in two days. The first day will be 68 miles and include 6,440 feet of elevation gain from Warner Springs to Mt. Laguna and day two will include 43 miles with 2,420 feet of gain. Sounds fun, right? I’ll be looking for folks who are interested in running sections with me or crewing (camping out Saturday night) as details get worked out--stay tuned.
On Saturday, I hit up the Noble Canyon trail for a 26-mile training run with a couple running buddies. We climbed for 13 miles from 3,500 feet up to 5,500 and then headed back down. These long, slow distance runs are great right now but I will wait to add volume in April, as my “A” race is now later in the year. My focus for now is to keep my legs going with the long, slow stuff and stay strong with cross-training as I make decisions on tune-up races.
Sunday was mellow; I dusted off my bike and cruised around SD for a couple hours with my buddies to spin out the legs. It was a beautiful ride and the perfect way to begin daylight saving time. I hope you’re all enjoying the extra hour of afternoon daylight.
!toby guillette sunset.jpg!
On Saturday I traveled to northeast corner of San Diego County for a 20-mile out-and-back run on the Pacific Crest Trail with a couple running buddies. The day was beautiful and the trail was rugged for the 4,400 feet of climbing which started at 4,000 feet and topped out at 5,500 feet of elevation.
!PCT_Sunrise.jpg!
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance hiking trail mainly for thru-hiking and equestrian use. The southern terminus is on the U.S./Mexico border and travels north through California, Oregon and Washington to the U.S./Canada border—a distance of 2,650 miles.
!PCT_Views.jpg!
Having researched the trail, I know that David Horton ran the entire trail, from border to border, in 67 days for an average of 40 miles per day. This put a few things into perspective for me during my little 20 miler and created the space for me to consider--among other things--my priorities for the 2009 racing season.
The opportunity to share the experience of running 100 miles with my whole family is far greater than any race calendar I could imagine this year. It’s now clear that my journey will take me east to attempt the Vermont 100 Endurance Run in July, with my family as my race crew!
In the meantime, I’m still fascinated and inspired by the PCT. Did you know that fewer people have thru-hiked the PCT than have climbed Mt. Everest? More fun facts.
!PCT_Mtns_Views.jpg!
In its entirety, the PCT can be daunting, such as anything in life. But the 125-mile stretch from the northern border of San Diego County down to the U.S/Mexico border seems “manageable” so I think its time to plan an epic!
!PCT_North.jpg!
