I just felt like running

Hot to Trot 8 Hour Run

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Location:

Decatur,AL,

Member Since:

Jan 27, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

New blog at http://runkeeper.com/user/schotz/

Short-Term Running Goals:

2010 Race Schedule:

6/5: Eurocross 5K/8K

7/17: HTC Twilight Run 5K 

8/7: Hot to Trot 8 Hour (Atlanta)

9/18: Hartselle Depot Days 5K

9/25:  Elkmont Rails to Trails 10K 

10/16 Liz Hurley 5K 

10/24: Stone Steps 50K  (Cincinnati,OH) 

11/13: Chickamauga Battle Field Marathon (TN)

12/4: Frosty Freeze 5K (Decatur) 

12/31: Recover 50K (Huntsville) 

Long-Term Running Goals:

http://runkeeper.com/user/schotz/

Personal:

Born 1972 in north central Wisconsin

Married for 11 yrs to very supportive non-running wife. Two children : Fiona, 6 (in picture) and Elliott (2 yrs)

Co-Race Director of  Delano Park 12 Hour Run (www.delano12.com). President of River City Runners (www.rivercityrunners.org)

3 cats and 1 dog (chocolate lab)

In high school, I was an slightly overweight , badly asthmatic J.V. cross country runner.  I enjoyed being part of the team but never excelled.   The summer after my freshman year in college I decided to run a marathon.  6 weeks later I ran a 3:11 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth (1991) and I was hooked on long distance running where my asthma wasn't as much of a factor. 

 

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Ohana Racers Lifetime Miles: 232.86
Saucony Trail Lifetime Miles: 147.44
Lunar Racer Lifetime Miles: 69.61
Lunar Glides Lifetime Miles: 132.75
Kayano 16 - 1 Lifetime Miles: 276.41
Kayano 16 - 2 Lifetime Miles: 19.11
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
114.140.000.000.000.00114.14
Elliott Stroller Miles: 10.90
Race: Hot to Trot 8 Hour Run (51.34 Miles) 07:49:50, Place overall: 1, Place in age division: 1
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
51.340.000.000.000.0051.34

Jon Elmore and I got to the race well rested and fueled. We had gone to Figo's on College St. in Decatur,GA the night before. I got Gnocchi di patate which have to be the most dense pasta I have every eaten. I didn't think I'd even finish my bowl but I kept at it - just like an ultra-- and polished it off. I've I do this race again I'll be back for more. Cool restaurant. www.figopasta.com

At the race start it was 75F, as we headed down the narrow pine straw covered trail. It was mostly single track the entire way with the shoulder mowed down. The course took a 90 degree turn on a wooden boardwalk which was slick with leaves in the early morning. After more pinestraw trails weaving around trees, there was a one very short hill followed by a curvy descent. After another boardwalk stretch, the back stretch was a straighter single track run on the backside of a pond. This was the only part of the trail with minimal shade so it got hotter as they day went on. A sharp left, a boardwalk bridge, and several curves and we got back out on the road for a 0.1mile on pavement up a slight grade past our car and to the aid station. That was 1.12 miles. Get your lap counted and repeat.

A young guy , Jon Obst, shot out at the gun and quickly built a gap. I stayed relaxed as it was going to be a long day. I ran with one of Obst's friends during one of the early laps and he told me that Obst had his sights set on the course record. I commented that he started like he was after something but that ultras are rarely won in the 1st hour. Jon Elmore stayed on my heels for the 1st couple laps - it was nice to have a friendly face. I let the top woman get ahead of me as a just got in a groove.

My garmin lost signal at 5 laps so I took it off. I didn't need a distration. I would just run it on feel- no need for a external voice telling me to speed up or slow down.

I had a plan in mind to start walking 45 seconds every lap after the 1st three. The Jeff Galloway technique. I had done it in training with good success. I felt strong at the end of each long run and was not sore the day before. In the race, I got passed by several people the 1st couple times I took my walk break and that made me mad. I just couldn't take getting passed so I scrapped the strategy quickly and reverted to my "just keep running" mantra.

So within 1 hour, my Garmin and pacing strategy was out the window. All that was left was my plan for eating and drinking and my desire to just keep pushing. 1 Gu every three laps, 1 S-Cap every three, 3 20oz bottles of water per hour, throw in a few potato chips and accelerade here and there. When I felt the need, I doubled up on Gu or S-caps. When the day was over, I had nearly emptied my 24+ bag of Gu's.

As I trotted on, I started picking people off. From around 5th, I worked my way up to second within the first couple hours. I finally caught a glimpse of the leader, Obst. Within the next lap, I passed him at the Aid Station. Obst took his time at the aid stations. Not me, I didn't window shop- knew what I want and got out of there quick.

By 11am, it was 85F. By 1pm, 90F and kept rising the rest of the race finally peaking at 93F by the time the race ended at 4pm.

After catching Obst, I kept steady and was never passed again until very late in the day. With it being a lap course, I got used to passing others. the runners were so courteous. Some , getting off the trail before I even got there. Most, all it took was a short "on your left" and I was by. I started to relax and enjoy it a bit once I lapped Obst and then lapped him again. I may actually win this thing.

That was until my leg problems started. If I took too long eating or filling my water bottle, my left leg (IT band, lower/outer hamstring) seized up something fierce. Ouch! After a scream, grimace, hobbling, a little rubbing, some stretching, I'd slowly force myself to start a trot again. After 50 yards, I was pain free. This happened 3-4 times until I wised up and just didn't stop running again but for a second or two. Each time it happened- my inner voice said its all over, you are not finishing, so much for your lead if you can't keep going. It don't listen to that voice. Its not over until its over.

At one point, I took a nice spill - a trip followed by a header and a soft landing on my left side. Luckily , I was able to grimace, chuckle, and get back at it.

Once I got within 30 minutes of the end, I knew I had it in the bag. After pushing through a 1/4 lap, I shut it down and walked it in. Obst passed me but I was OK with giving up a lap to him. Jon Elmore caught me too and we ended up walking in together. I could have ran and may have been able to get another lap but I was done and it was good to walk like 90% of the other runners had resorted to.

Once the results came in, I had won with a two lap margin and set a new course record (by 40 seconds over Jack McDermott's performance last year). 51.34 miles is not bad for 8hrs of work in the Georgia heat. This was my first ever win in a running event of any sort and it felt good. Jon Elmore ended up finishing 9th in over 41 miles which is amazing since he did this race on a whim with very little distance training. His support kept me moving as well as a short visit from my family- wife,father-in-law, and kids. The course is very spectator friendly.

The aftermath was minimal all things considered. Quads were shot but they got over it after 4 days. My adidas shorts had got sweatier than normal which caused some havoc with my soft moistened skin. The waist band dug a horizontal line across my entire front. The tag ,which hung down on the front right , cut two parallel lines along each edge of the tag. These were more amusing than painful that is until the post race ice bath and shower.

 

Eric Schotz 8/11/08

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
3.500.000.000.000.003.50

I went down to the Cullman Midnight Run with Jon.  After not running a step since Hot to Trot, I was excited to get back at it.  This run is always an oasis in the middle of the summer.  This was no exception with temps down in the 60's.

My legs didn't cooperate.  From my first warmup, my hams were very tight.    They never loosened up so I went to the back of the pack at the start and decided to take it easy.   I pushed it too hard at times - I tried to keep the hamstring pain manageable the entire way.   I didn't see my time and didn't turn in my time card.  I was somewhere around 22 minutes.

the next day, I was sore.  My left hamstring had a big bruise (3" diameter) right above the knee.  I definitely overdid it.  Must have strained or sprained it a little.  More time off.  Maybe I'll test it on Monday.  Its supposed to be cool this week so it will be hard to keep away from running.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
1.000.000.000.000.001.00

Nice to get back running.  My hamstring felt good.  I was quite tentative and stopped a few times at the slightest twinge.  It definitely felt better than at the Midnight run.  In a week or so, I should be able to resume normal training with alot of time before the Rocket City marathon and a fall ultra.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
3.000.000.000.000.003.00

easy run on trail.  felt better,

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
3.600.000.000.000.003.60

Hadn't run in almost a week due to work and family obligations.  It was good in that I really needed a breat to heal up completely.

I got a little excited in my run-  combination of ipod playlist, good weather, and a pent-up desire to run.     I did a 7:10 mile and then a 6:30 paced quarter mile.  My hamstring started to tighten so I backed it off..

It felt the best it has since my 8hr run.

This evening its sore.

Comments(2)
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
3.000.000.000.000.003.00

easy run at lunch.  Nothing crazy like yesterday.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.000.000.000.000.005.00

Slow run but I'm running.  And essentially pain free.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.400.000.000.000.005.40

Lunch Run at work.  In between hill repeats (slow ones), I did 5 sets of pushups (15,13,13,10,and 18).  I've made it through week one of six in the hundredpushups.com training plan.  When I started 10 days ago with a fitness test, I could do 18 max  so I feel good about now being able to do 18  after 4 sets. 

My hamstring is feeling much better.  Not quite ready for intervals or racing yet.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
6.900.000.000.000.006.90

Pushed Elliott in the stroller.  Weather was overcast so it felt good inspite of the fact that it was 85F.   Elliott is such a good passenger.  He's so laid back- not a peep for over an hour.

Elliott Stroller Miles: 6.90
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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
7.400.000.000.000.007.40

Pushed Elliott in the stroller for 4 mile, walked to dog while pushing elliott, and then got in a little over three miles by myself.  A little cooler today.  We had some tropical storm effect rain this morning.  Pretty good breeze out of the east (15-20 mph) so it made the starting stretch down woodmont a tough warmup.

Elliott Stroller Miles: 4.00
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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.000.000.000.000.005.00

Tropical storm Fay is hitting Alabama.  A steady rain started in mid-morning and hasn't let up yet.   Tried out a mix from Podrunner (itunes).  Its techno dance with a consistent cadence.  In this case it was 180 bpm.  This led me to start out the lunch run at a quick pace, my fastest pace in over a month.  3 miles at less than 7 min/mile.  Felt pretty good.  The rain made it fun.  I slowed down and did my pushup workout (12,12,9,7,11) with 60 seconds of jog recovery.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
4.000.000.000.000.004.00

Ran the CC course .  Felt good.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
2.000.000.000.000.002.00

Ran around here and there during the Austin Cross Country meet at 3M.  After I got the course marked and volunteers trained,  I could enjoy it.  Great day.  Very hard course.  We didn't have a boy break 19 minutes this year on the 5K.

 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
0.000.000.000.000.000.00

birmingham all day

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
7.600.000.000.000.007.60

Was pretty tired today.  Spent all day yesterday in Birmingham seeing doctors and having tests run on my son.   Good to get out on the road and clear my head.  Even if it was slow.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
5.400.000.000.000.005.40

Not a good run.  I got to Delano Park (about 2 miles) and was very weak.  Had to stop and walk.   I'm sure it was a combination of lack of sleep, stress, and fueling.  I slogged through it and rebounded alittle.

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
114.140.000.000.000.00114.14
Elliott Stroller Miles: 10.90
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