It’s been five weeks since the Leadville Silver Rush 50-Mile Trail Run, and today marked the finish of the Leadville Trail 100.
What I’ve learned during the past five weeks is that I will be back in Leadville on this very weekend next year for the LT100, although in what capacity is yet to be determined. Time will tell – and fortunately there is time to figure all of that out.
For the time being, I still focusing on recovery, running stress-free and trying to get my legs back under me. I was unable to run for three weeks after the race. Then, upon resuming running, my energy levels have been inconsistent.
I managed 12 miles at Coleen’s Sweaty Ass Run last weekend before wearing down. Yesterday, I mustered a half marathon at Darin’s Birthday Fun Run on the Flint Hills Nature Trail, but the soreness in the arch of my left foot (the Silver Rush injury) flared back up for the final four miles and I ended up with my foot back in a bucket of ice on Saturday afternoon.
From a running standpoint, I don’t plan on doing any serious racing for the rest of the year. I plan on running the 50K at Dogwood Canyon in October, but I will treat that as just an easy long run as I rebuild my mileage.
During training for Silver Rush, one of the best pieces of advice I received came from a fellow Kansas City ultra runner last spring. I was battling with inconsistent energy levels after running my first two marathons and first 50K, and he advised not to ramp up too fast. I heeded that advice by revamping my approach to Silver Rush, and it made a big difference.
Now, I’m trying to heed his advice again by restraining myself from jumping into any other races too rapidly. My body needs to heal, and my brain needs a break so I can enjoy whatever serious training comes next.
My next serious racing will take place in 2013, and the next couple months will involve evaluating my goals and aspirations while also determining which races – and which distances – I want to commit to.
I already know I will be in Leadville for the 100-miler in 2013, but as I stated before, the role of runner or pacer remains to be determined. I expect to know the answer in early November, but for now the pressure is off — and that’s a good feeling.
Chris Wristen 