After not running for almost three weeks (I actually ran about 3 miles yesterday 
I went out and did the Hagg Lake 25k Trail Run. I originally registered for the 50k run, but clearly I wasn’t ready for a 31 mile run today. In all honesty I wasn’t really ready for a 15.5 mile run, but I registered, I needed to get back to training, and I needed to get out and run. So I went, figuring I would just take it easy.
February 21, 2009
2009 Hagg Lake 25k Trail Run
Posted by Tony McCray under Running, Ultramarathon Training | Tags: hagg lake trail run, Running, trail running |[4] Comments
February 21, 2009
On Again Off Again (Again)
Posted by Tony McCray under Running, Ultramarathon Training | Tags: pct ultra training, Running, ultramarathon |1 Comment
I don’t really recommend anyone train this way, but it has been unavoidable for me lately. On again off again is how things have been for the past few months. After the Portland Marathon I made plans to do a 50-miler in July and my coach got me started on a training program. (more…)
February 1, 2009
Good Calories Bad Calories
Posted by Tony McCray under Diet and Nutrition | Tags: diet, gary taubes, good calories bad calories, Nutrition |[4] Comments
I just finished reading Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. This is a book that I think everyone should read. It takes a critical look at all the ‘research’ that has gone on concerning diet and nutrition, and what lead us to the things we believe today, such as that our diets should be low in fat (or at least saturated fat) and we should eat a diet balanced with ‘healthy’ fats, protein, and carbs.
January 26, 2009
I Registered
Posted by Tony McCray under Running, Ultramarathon Training | Tags: pct ultra, Running, ultramarathon |1 Comment
I finally registered for the Pacific Crest Trail 50-miler that will take place on July 25th. I had really started training for this late last year but Sun’s plans to reorganize, shedding 6000 jobs in the process, really derailed me. I’m still not 100% certain my job is safe, but I seem to have made it past the first round of layoffs.
Now I’ve got to come up with a strategy to actually train for it! A couple of books are going to help me along. I’m confident I can get there and make it happen!
January 8, 2009
Interesting Data
Since I’m not really training for anything at the moment I’ve gotten back on top of the bike commuting. I rode to work and back twice this week. The route to work isn’t super easy, being a 38 mile round trip with, according to my Garmin Forerunner anyway, about 5600′ of climbing. That seems a bit high, but there are definitely some hills.
December 22, 2008
A(nother) Walk Through the Snow
Posted by Tony McCray under Personal | Tags: portland snow storm |1 Comment
During yesterday’s trip to the store we ate some Butter Cookies with our coffee, and Joanne really liked them. The problem is neither of us is supposed to eat wheat. So we decided to try making our own using a blend of Amaranth flour and Buckwheat flower. We didn’t have enough though, so back to the store we went.
Ice Covered Mexican Feather Grass
December 21, 2008
Get Lost
Posted by Tony McCray under hiking, Running | Tags: columbia river gorge, dublin lake, getting lost, hike, tanner butte trail, trail run |1 Comment
I’m finally going to take the time to blog about a hike/trail run I did a few weeks ago. The story actually begins about ten years ago. Back then I wasn’t quite the athlete I am today, but that is when I started exercising, and is ultimately the beginning of the journey that brought me to where I am today. Once I started exercising I also started hiking a bit more, and bought a guide book for the Columbia River Gorge. Among the hikes in it was one described as being very strenuous up to a secluded mountain lake called Dublin Lake. I immediately wanted to go – I wanted the challenge. Back then I normally didn’t do a whole lot of these kinds of things on my own, and was never able to convince anyone to do the hike with me. In spring 2001, a girlfriend that I hiked a lot with attempted it with me. We were turned back by snow. Now, seven years later, and ten after I initially wanted to do the hike, I was headed back.
December 16, 2008
I’ve been slacking off at almost everything lately, except work. Ironically, after Sun announced massive layoffs, I’ve ended up working more recently than ever before. There was no real reason behind that, it just happened to be what the job demanded. Between that, the stress caused by the possibility of losing my job, and the fact that I went from working with a great coach with a great training plan to no coach and no training plan took its toll. I’ve been more off than on over the past few weeks. Since the layoff announcement on November 15th I’ve had one decent week of training. Otherwise it has been a day here and a day there. I’ve gone on a few hikes/trail runs just to get away (coming dangerously close to getting lost my last time out – but that is a story for later).
This morning I finally got a decent workout in. I spent some time on my indoor trainer, alternating between riding and doing some strength training. Going forward I don’t really know what the plan is. I’d still like to try and do the Hagg Lake 50k, although it feels like I’m already too far behind to get there by late February. I can always do the 25k instead. What happens beyond that depends on whether or not I remain employed. My personal prospects began to look a bit better after Sun announced they are consolidating their global internal manufacturing operations to the site I work in. That news was hard to swallow, as it will put many people I work closely with out of work, and it doesn’t necessarily mean my job is safe.
In the meantime, I’m going to run, ride my bikes, strength train, and do Yoga. I’m not going to put a lot of thought into this until I know for sure there is a real goal out there. In general I just want to build up my strength and endurance, and ultimately I need to make it challenging and fun. The main point will be to have fun and keep myself tuned up and feeling good.
November 21, 2008
I fell behind in what I hoped to be regular updates about my training. I’ve had some great runs too! Initially it was just busy-ness causing me to fall behind. Now it is a bit of uncertainty about my future. Last Friday Sun announced plans to lay off 5000-6000 people – up to 18% of its employees. I, of course, have no idea how it will impact me yet. There are as many reasons to believe I will get to keep my job as there is to believe I will lose it. Even if I do remain employed, I will almost certainly have to say goodbye to some great people I’ve worked with for the past 4.5 years. No matter the outcome, it won’t be easy to deal with. (more…)
