Cuss It Until It Loves You

Coming out of a high mileage week and gnarly Loon race meant one thing: keep wildly rolling... I had a gnarly workout planned but postponed to give my body a few extra long days of rest and will rip some speed sessions (phase 2) next week. 

Be sure to follow this smut with following my twitter handle for on the beat updates (@wildFerenc)... It's going viral and wild!!!

Monday - Voltroned with Greg on the recovery trails of Grafton Ponds. The decision was to have some recovery and moderate terrain (virtually impossible in the here parts) and rolled 10 miles. We weaves through the GP trails before linking up to the upper Ledge Rd trains an the Lost Trail. Great run with a lifer  the weather was perfect and cooperated nicely with the recovery theme. 

Shoe of choice was the La Sportiva Helios, by far the best show I've rolled trails in. Def leaning towards this being my race shoe in Poland. 

Tuesday - today was hotter than a cussing devil fart and just overall nasty warm. I put a run in my head and I refused to let the weather dictate my plans or alter my plans. 

So, I headed out to the Athens Lookout. It's a very honest 7 miles out with loads of climbing and I wanted 14, so I hustled the same way back. The girls came with me and I adjusted the pace and stopped at all water spots so they could hydrate. 

It was so humid that I couldn't see 15 miles away Stratton! Dear cuss it was warm and my body was leaking excellence excessively. Ain't no rest for the wicked!

Wednesday - today was supposed to be a workout, but with goal race not far away, total body recovery is the most essential goal so I opted to double and chase a few miles. 

United with Greg at the Westmoreland rail bed for an early morning stroll. I felt amazingly awesome and added on a couple at the very end totaling out 10. Friends fuel the motivational fire. If you ain't got no friends, then cussing find some!

Later in the day I brought up and coming Jamie Moire out to the Latham Trail head for a West West/Athens hour. This trail is no joke and very tough. It's deco only tough bc the first 20 minutes is all flat to rolling then its straight down some amazing switchbacks followed by straight up to Athens Lookout. Very cool to fuel the fire of another...

Thursday - only have a dime on the schedule and made it a morning 10. Talked with JMoore and hustled to Saxtons River (2.5) then an out and back on Rt 121 (2.5) then home for a 10 mile morning. 

Def have a trail mind, the 12 cars that passed us were too much for me. Can't stand the roads, I'm wild and need wildness of the wilderness!

Friday - zipped down to Putney and ran (raced) with Fyffe for 9 miles. It is a super awesome run through the back roads of Putney and into Dummerston. Lots of rollers and we were rolling! Fyffe getting back into it is awesome. 

Later in the day I took the girls to GP for some light work on the single track and 9 more. 

It was going to be 12 but I hammered my ankle (so hard I almost threw up) and cut it short as too get in the river and soak. 

Dear cussing cuss it hurt like a cuss! What a cluster cuss of hog cuss...

 

Saturday - my hetero-lifemate, Matt Haley, is making his way north from the dirty ATL. This is great, he's a former KSC Owl and therefore lifer! 

I wanted to make a bigger day out if it, so I teamed up with Fyffe in the AM for 10 Grafton dirt road miles. This run is great bc there is one hill (7+/- min) and the last 3 miles is down hill and flat. Great run, and Grafton is a picturesque town. I feel like a running Chevy Chase from Funny Farm, town looks the same. 

Later in the day (after Haley arrived) we went back to Grafton to roll 12 on the power lines. The whole first half is almost all uphill which makes the turn around awesome running back. 

Big plans for Sundays run! Avalonian Ridge Run!!! Cuss Yea!!!

Sunday - Greg, Haley and myself teamed up at my place and the goal run is this: 2+ hour run from my house to the top of Putney Mtn via all trails on the Avalonian Ridge. At half way (The Pinnacle), Fyffe would meet us and finish the run with us. 

Total trail miles is around 18+ and is gnarly running the first 8. 

I felt awesome from the start. Greg raced the day before and Haley traveled so they weren't feeling as great as me. 

The weather was awesome, as it was cooler in the shade of the woods the whole run. There was also a great breeze that would grace is with its presence. 

This is one gnarly run as not for the weak hearted, def a bear heart run. Getting to the Pinnacle is a tough section of trail with loads of elevation gains. 

Fyffe was, as always, waiting for us and we continued as a full powered machine. 

Great run, great dudes, lifers! Cuss yea!!!

Always fun to get wild...

Total miles for the week: 113! 

Tip your waitress and follow more wild moves @wildFerenc!!! 

Relentless Wild Wickedness

This week was supposed to be phase one of a three part phase I'm going to do. 

Phase One: build through the high miles with tough, hilly/mtn runs and continue the 100+ mile weeks. 

Phase Two: alternate hills/mtns with some speed or faster paced intervals, probably on the roads. 

Phase Three: fast, relaxed with recovery and melt faces and devour souls. Cuss yea!

Monday - Hustled to Stratton for a morning Mtn Therapy session. My goal was to spend 2 hours on the mountain and climb as much as possible. 

Holy cuss cuss, it was tough, but more so bc of the humidity. Visibility on the summit was 30 meters. Very successful morning session, and I totally mushroom slammed the work! 

In the afternoon, Greg, Najem and BDavies came out and we rolled a 12 miler. We did the Sap Lines in reverse and ran a quicker pace. I felt awesome for this run as it was the lightest of light work. 

Tuesday - headed to Keene with Greg, Fyffe and George for a flat 10 miler on the rail bed. I work up feeling fine but felt like donkey cuss the way out (it is an out and back). On turning around I felt awesome which was a confidence booster. 

In the evening I slipped in an easy 5 miles at Grafton Ponds with my girls. It was lazy and felt great to cover some ground ad steal a few more miles.

With Poland the ultimate goal, it's important I roll every run with a purpose. These shake out miles are great to feel good! 

Wednesday - Voltroned with the morning crew of Tuesday in Pisgah for an 8 miler around Kilburn Pond. Those guys are getting after it ad racing the next day so they are looking for a low key run. It was great. I felt a little humanesque and was fine with 8. 

In the afternoon I banged on a 6 miler out in GP. Ran honest on the single track then soaked the legs in the river. Great day!

Thursday - today is very important to me, as it is my girl Ellie's birthday! She's the best friend you covet. 

There is a local 5k in town and I had a bunch of my students and future XC runners running so I ran with them. It was cool to run with them and see 11-12 year olds run so cussing well. BFXC will be legit. All in all on the very hot day I bagged 14 with a huge warmup and bigger cool down. 

Later in the day, the Fyffes, Najem, StephCott and Emily came out to chill and BBQ by the river at my private beach. Great day. 

Friday - I needed to get any miles I could as I was going to a two day cluster cuss bachelor party for my lifer Phelps. 

I was only able to steal 7 before I hustled down the Charlemont MA for some camping and wild shenanigans. There were so many shenanigans to be had I felt like pistol whipping someone. 

Only 7 effects my big week but its for a lifer and my loyalties are too deep. 

With Loon looming on Sunday, some light miles won't be the worst thing in the world. 

Saturday - dear cuss... My body hates me. I don't drink or fornicate with drugs, but the bachelor party was fueled with liquids that inhibit the growth of humanity and add fun to by brethren. Long story short, played of ton of games and I got parts of my body sore that I don't know could be sore: or example, the game is cornhole, where you throw bean bags into a slanted wooden box with a hole in it. My mothercussing forearms are ruined (but I did find out that its just more activities I'm awesome at); followed by Poleish Horshoes, which is frisbee throwing at a target balanced on ski poles, back of my wrists is sorer than a fluffer from he industry; followed by Kan Cuss Something, where you chuck a frisbee at a cylinder and have to hit it or slam I in the top; followed by beach volleyball on the sand (this killed my legs); and all are played with a beverage in your hand. I went to bed on very hard ground, very very cussingwoke late. My poison of choice was Dr Pepper. 

Longer story short, I ran 5 miles with Mark Miller and JPhelps, before starting the whole day over again but this time it started at 9am. By the end of this day I felt like I ran 30 miles on pavement in the sun. Cuss. Tomorrow is a step to the ultimate goal and the objective is to do everything I can to get to the top, race as much as I can and be competitive. 

Sunday - Loon Mountain Race, 5.3+/-  

I woke up feeling tired but surprisingly ok (especially considering the last 30 hours) and headed to Loon. 

I have heard of this races difficulty and I'm not about to down play the toughness of it, but I wanted to live it and experience it myself. A common theme people have is "death," when discussing it. I will say, I will show no signs of death, I will conquer and I will be successful. Loon is a bigger piece of a huge puzzle and since I am a bit fatigued, from the miles and alternative lifestyle, it will be great for my prep for Poland. 

Once I was all registered I went and warmed up with Eric MacKnight. I felt horrendously flat and I could only hope that the uncuttable mane of manliness surrounding my iron rod of godliness would be enough to conquer foes. 

Seeing Eric Blake was cool and damning at the same time. I would have loved to had prep'd for this race and gone in feeling awesome to see where I would have stacked up, but the ultimate goal is not today. Got to fight with the tools you have. 

The race started and the pace was out hot. The first mile has a bit of downhill and flat in it and it was like watching wasps get all riled up. The usual players I was concerned with were there (don't be offended if you read this and you are not on my radar, and if you are offended, train harder!) with Brandon Newbould, Kevin Tilton, EMac, and many others (happy, I included you). 

Newbould went after the lead early and looked like a wild beast just unleashed from Hades. This pumped me up and got me going and made me forget about any excuses of fatigue, being tired or anything else. 

I jostled positions with EMac and another dude, but by 2 miles I could see the future (or people's fate) and settled in. By 2.5 I moved into 3rd (behind Blake, who looked like he had the rage virus as he crushed the climb, and Brandon). I started catching Brandon very very slowly, and every downhill he would open a small gap but I closed on the climb each time. Brandon is a great dude and I want to see him be successful, so when i passed him I tried to fire him up, I hope it helped. But let's not forget, it's a race, and just like Larry, MJ and Magic, there're friends, but want to beat each other with the same ferocity that binds them. So I but small efforts in here and there as I pulled away and hoped it would be enough to sustain my place and keep 2nd. 

Loon has the I famous "Upper Walking Boss," which is supposedly 1000m of unreal climb. I will attest and say that it is an unreal climb, holy cuss cuss, what a cluster cuss of a cussing climb. This was the soul purpose of going to the race. My buddy Greg suggested I get some hills with tough climbs ad possible speed/power hiking, to simulate what could be out there at Worlds and UWB was it. I was going to run until my stride length was inches then power hike the rest. 

This holy war of vert comes after 4 miles of climbing and right before a steep downhill, (which I ran like a raped ape). Which got me thinking... I envisioned the climb was whispering a song to me as I climb, Nirvana's, "Rape Me." The climb wanted to be abused and conquered by me and just kept telling me over and over again: 

"Rape me my friend

Rape me

Rape me again"

 I was set into power hiking mode mentally, and could see Blake ahead. The climb is tough and he was power hiking and running. I was most efficient while power hiking and felt that I was closing the gap (I kept telling myself this, and it was highly motivating). To catch Blake looked improbable, so to limit the percent back was my mindset). 

"I'm not the only one"

I wasn't the only one suffering, everyone else was, but I was going to be the only one! Last Hero Only Hope!!!

Hate me

Do it and do it again

Waste me

Rape me my friend

The climb hated me as I geared up it and powered through, and also encouraged me to repeat my efforts again and again, in due time I would have wasted the climb as a memory of success. 

My favorite inside source

I'll kiss your open sores

Appreciate your concern

You'll always stink and burn

My favorite inside source was my mental ability to encourage myself to triumph any challenge out in front of me. I really think I can do anything (except give birth or any other lady only thing). 

The climb would not be kissing my open sores as I kneel for no one or no thing! 

I'm glad the UWB appreciated my concerns and efforts this day as the climb made me stink of excellence and did add a burn to my legs. 

Rape me

Rape me my friend

Rape me

Rape me again

Upon my final efforts to the top, I completed your challenge as I conquered every step and was successful. Thank you UWB for the encouragement and consent to abuse you repeatedly. 

It was symbiotic, and a def love hate relationship. 

But the race ain't over here... At the top of the UWB you have about 500m left and 450 seemed like a very steep downhill. No one was going to catch me and I wasn't going to catch anyone, so I just needed to finish and I changed gears and finished strong. 

I was very fortunate to finish 2nd and very grateful for an awesome day on the climbs with awesome people. 

On the cool down (EMac, Brandon, Todd Callahan and another dude) ram down the mountain and saw a larger black bear. This was awesome and made the day that much better. 

Total miles for the week: 101... 

Przynieść Ból

I can feel it happening and I love it: hunger, desire, need... I'm hungrier than a starved great white on cocaine. 

The miles have been getting increased and the rest has been minimal and I'm feeling the effects: confidence. 

Last week was a 95 mile week and this week was an increase of that. My soulfire is burning hot and I'm getting after it. Soulfire burns hot and is ravaging, and you must let it run its course. 

Monday - took my rest day here before I unleash and opted for a 5 miler. I felt unreal from the beginning but promised myself that soul devouring would commence soon enough. 

Tuesday - I hustled to Mount Monadnock for a fitness day of mountain therapy. I was going to put two solid efforts in; one was up and over then up and over to come back. 

I hit the trail where the record was set by Elijah Barrett (24:44), the White Dot. This is about 1.9 miles and I'd never been on it. When Elijah set the record he def didn't have the mountain background that I have, and 24:44 would be a huge effort (so I was thinking...). My goal was to get up aggressive and down with getting hurt or twisting anything. 

The weather was hot and humid and made the conditions tough but ideal for adverse effects. 

The White Dot is very tough (as I found out) and was happy to reach the summit in 25:44 on a very solid effort. The Bossman (Elijah) set a very tough standard and it was great to have his energy around me as I worked. 

I then hit the White Cross trail on the way down to the toll road. This is about 2.3 and very runnable up the road. My goal here was to really stride it out and run fast, then grind like I do the rest of the way and hit a solid time. 

I made it back up the summit in 27:00, work was done, felt great. Descended the White Dot, took my time and logged a very honest and solid 10 miles. All before 9am. 

Wednesday - zipped out to Grafton to do a little light work on the power lines. I opted for an out and back. I want to be as ready as possible for my world domination in Poland. This course suits me more (based on the profile), where there is a lot of climbing early (1600m to start the race) then a lot if rolling mountains after that. The power lines are similar, on a very small scale, as there are some steep sections and some gradual climbs. Solid 15.

I'm the afternoon I teamed up with the Moore boys for 7 on the Vermont Academy trails. I then ran home to slam a 9 for my afternoon run... Cuss yea! 

Thursday - I took a mini adventure with Fyffe to Gilsum to run with George. Ran a very interesting 10 miler. We would push the hills then slow down on the flats, but was a solid run nonetheless. 

In the afternoon I hit Ledge Rd with the Moore boys for 9 on the Lost Trail. They wanted me to show them some awesome runs, that's all I do, so in talk g them to my normal days running areas. 

Friday - woke up a bit tired but shook it off with a 7 miler at Grafton Ponds. It was a lazy run just to snag a few miles. 

In the afternoon I hit up Putney with Fyffe, Greg and Najem. Runs like this with my kinsman reassure me that I can do anything. Great run with great lifers! 

Saturday - woke up at 6am and got my day started and over with ASAP. I logged 17 flat road miles on the Marathon Road, but did it as an out and back. The weather cooperated where it was hot, but never unbearable. 

Sunday - Putney long runs may be back for good. Cuss yea! We Voltroned at Fyffe's for a long run and had a solid group. The regs of Greg, Najem and Fyffe, but also had PacMan, Brett and a newbie, Brandon Davis. We ventured from the covert culvert for a hybrid of trails and roads. Upon returning to the culvert for a swim and cool off, we were greeted by a VT woods nymph with a wonderful strawberry tone. Good gracious! Thank goodness for the freezing healing waters of Putney or magic would have def been on display... 

Solid week: 110 miles and 205 for two weeks. Time to get nasty...

Wanderlust

This was the last week of school and very hectic. I was asked to be a run leader/instructor at the Wandelust festival at Stratton Mtn on the weekend and needed to start getting wild with some miles to be ready for Poland. 

Monday - Najem came out and we tackle the Sap Lines 12. This was the day after Mt W, and my ankle was feeling destroyed. It held up the whole run and the legs felt fine. 

My arms and back were sore from cliff climbing down Washington's Huntington Ravine. That was a poor choice as I twisted the cuss out of my ankle and bc I'm not going to rest, caused a long recovery process. Ain't no rest for the wicked. 

Tuesday - Voltroned with Greg and Najem on the rail bed for a 10. The rail bed is as flat as flat comes. It was great to cruise an easy 10 and hang out. I felt particularly good in the legs and enjoyed the idea of feeling good. 

Wednesday - I woke up and ran 5 on the trails begin the house. Felt fairly good as it was early. The temperature was ideal. The only way I get 5 is a lollipop type run or an out and back and both are hilly and take forever, but both finish downhill, as all my runs behind the house do, which seems more pleasant on the shorter runs. 

In the afternoon I headed over to Stratton to see the planned run I would be leading Waserlusters on the next few days. When I got there I couldn't find the dude I needed to so I went with plan B: run up Stratton to the long trail and go out 5, turn around an come back to get 10.

This was awesome. Stratton is a tough climb, am I was welcomed to the top by a large, yet young, juvenile moose. Very cool. 

I propellered  my cuss to show him who was boss, and then went about my way. The guy that has the record record up Stratton is a gnarly dude. He has uncuttable cuss hair, cuddles with a whole prides worth of lionesses, drinks from the fountain of youth, tickles great white sharks and kill a yak from a mile away with mind bullets; and yes, it's me. 

Thursday - solid 7 with a group that signed up at wanderlust at Stratton. The run they picked was no picnic, especially for people that are not your daily runners. We took our time and rolled. The coordinator thought it was going to e 6.2, but turned out to be (my Highgear gps) 7.1. We averaged just over 10 min pace total, so it was alright.

I was representing Lululemon as an ambassador and was looking real fine in their swaggered gear. It is a hell of a gig, I'm getting paid to run and hang out with cool people, not to mention, it's a yoga festival where 73% of the population was women that are health conscious, fit and open minded... Long story short, I became popular ;). The small fraction of men that were there was a combination of dudes with their girlfriends or dudes that don't like fems, fish in a barrel, fish in a barrel. 

I then went home and ran 10 more for 17 on the day. Hit the switchbacks and was feeling great. 

The music was awesome and was a hell of a time. I headed back to Stratton to partake on the music piece of the festival and loved every sec. 

Friday - I paid for all the dancing... Haha. Not really, my ankle  is still ballooned/swollen like my cuss in jockey's. Today at Stratton I only ran the 6.2 version of the run. I had a little more of a less experience group than the day before and we just covered the distance. Most of the people are from major cities and loved just being in the woods. It's easy to get caught up and forget how awesome the woods are and they were getting back some primalness. 

I don't take the outdoors for granted and never see myself ever. It was a ton of fun to see the people loving the trails. Also, I swore that Jennifer Aniston was in my group, I had to look at her for a solid 7 min to maybe doubt it. It took me running behind her  to finally conclude that it might not be. I was picturing the scene from The Break Up where she strolls down the hallway nudical, and just couldn't get it. This girls pseudo name sounded and looked like Jennifer Aniston. 

Saturday - early morning run at Stratton, then hustles home to roll 10 more with my girls. 16 on the day and felt great about it. 

Sunday - I had an ambitious group today and we had a great run. At the end there was an option to roll up half the mountain and that was what we did. Great group of people and solid run. 

Najem then came out and we tackled Ledge Rd, into Grafton Ponds, for a 13. We got on the pace and had a solid run, might have even Channing'd all over the Tatum. Great way to end the week. 

Total miles: 95 and it's about to go down! (by miles going up!!!)  

Peccavi

Post Ascutney I was feeling fine. I was hoping for a solid week of building some miles and maintaining my awesomeness through the epicness of Mt Washigton. 

I was mentally preparing for Washington and knew I had something gnarly in the works (if I run smart). 

Monday - 12 miles with Najem and TPaq on the Sap lines. We rolled and chatted about this and that and cuss. Solid run followed by the miday tradition of crushing wings at tw Saxtons River Brew Pub aka. Pleasant Valey Brew Pub. Solid day, and one say closer. Mental preparation is def in the works as I put together the psyche of a God and ready myself for epicness. 

Wednesday- Zipped out to Ledge Rd for an easy 5. Today was a physical epiphany, and was perhaps the best I've felt since I got sick, no bull/horse/goat cuss about it. I felt amazing and was overwhelmed with confidence. Really feeling ready to cuss things up and it was a scary feeling, feeling this good. 

Thursday - Headed back out to Ledge Rd to bask in the energy of the day before. I'm down with transcendant energies and if it was flowing the day before, I soak it in again. 

Had a great mental conversation and the symbiotic relationship between my psychosis and my amazing physical precense was awesome. 

Friday - Eric MacKnight met me at my place as we were about to embark on a solid adventure to the Whites. Najem and Boj were not far behind and we headed out. Our destination was the Auto Road to pick up our bib numbers. Cussing cuss it takes forever but we made it there in time to get our numbers. 

MacKnight and Najem knew there numbers but I didn't. Someone (name not needing credit) tried busting my balls about not knowing my number, so I had to venture to the board to find my digits. When I returned from the board, I returned with a number a fraction of my buddies, the clerk had to unlock a golden chest infused with platinum and jewels where my number was securely kept.

We then headed out for a flat 3 miles before heading to the hotel and dinner. 

Saturday - Mt. Washington Road Race

Woke up knowing I was going to venture to the depths of all I had and leave it all out there. Today was going to be a great day. 

I had a feeling that I had a shot at a 1:03:high, and was expecting to run well. The race plan was simple: run conservative early, then kill all ahead of me and let their gods sort them out. I wanted to go through half way feeling effortless with my breathing totally under control and then throw everything I had at every section. If it was runnable, I wanted to pick it up and open my stride the best I could; if it was steep, then I was to lock back into my climb gear and pin the needle as close to the red line as I can without blowing up. 

The race started fast, as always, and I wanted to have another year where I only pass people and not get passed by anyone (not one person passed me last year or my first year in 2004). I went through the mile feeling ok, about 35th place, but knowing that a a lot of people ahead of me were souls about to be devoured. 

I slowly started passing people by just locking in to my best low/fast/grind gear. 

By half way I was around 15th place and 32 flat. I mentally prepared myself to not think /worry about the first half and only focus on the second half. I was perfect at half way and the light work was over. The second half has some spots that I run very well and I started changing gears and breaking things up around me. 

I was excited to get to the dirt road. I was in 9th place at the start of the dirt road (5 miles-ish) and started blasting. I went hard and kept the throttle down and kept the throttle pinned. 

This worked and I was ravishing the road like Haiti. By 6 miles I moved into 6th place and was quickly catching 3rd-5th. This was inspiring and insanely motivating and the fire couldn't have been any bigger. 

My mouth is big, my ego is bigger, but my heart is the biggest, I made it hurt. 

This was also short lived, the catching part, and by just before 7 I started to stop gaining and started losing ground on them. This felt like a problem and I had to focus on getting done. 

I had some bizarre thoughts around this same time, this being the most impacting of my whole being: I am an infinitesimal particle speck in a never ending space/universe, but this moment means everything.

I want it more, I need it more, now finish!!! I did everything I could do to finish, I left carbon particles on the mountain. The culmination of thoughts, as above, mixed with the effort and the scenery and overall beauty was overwhelming and I had an hear grinding  finish.

I tried to sprint and change gears, it felt like I was but who knows if I did. With 400m to go I started getting tunnel vision and a little wobbly, but still had to grind. I could see Boj up ahead of me cheering, and that was uplifting. Composure was almost lost, then I had to climb 20+% to the finish... Cuss! 

On the final climb I had to pause and use my hands to catch myself from falling, the cheers and support were instant energy fueling me to the finish. 

1:05:35, 6th place, it was all I had. Cuss yea! Solid effort and an amazing day. 

The Cool Down: cuss me!!! I chatted up Joe Gray earlier in the week and the idea was to run 2 miles of trails, the intersect the road, then 4 miles down the road. This was an awesome idea, but just a cussing idea. Boj, Najem, Jeff Dengate, and myself then embarked on a wild friendship test. We found ourselves heading down the Huntington Ravine Trail, which I later found out that YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HIKE DOWN!!! Yea, that's how gnarly, we cooled down an epicly hard trail. If Joe does that to all his friends, he probably doesn't have that many left. Haha. As gnarly as you want to be!

At the bottom I also found out some sweet news: I will be representing TeamUSA at the Long Distance Mtn Marathon World Championships in Poland! Cuss Yea!!!

Saturday - easy 10 I'm Pisgah with my hetero-lifemate Greg. Decent week, cuss you and cuss yea! 

Ascutney

Ascutney Mtn 3.7 miler

Mountain running is a fine balance. On one side I find that I have to tack the needle to the red line and balance the other side of constant relaxed grinding cadence.
Today's race was a battle within myself. I've had this conversation with Fyffe many times, and we find it interesting: some people don't know how to put themselves into a painful debt. I've been to the stairs of the kingdom, traversed the path and paid my homage to the throne of the King of Pain. Being the Last Hero and Only Hope, I've dethroned many, devoured souls and have conquered pain, absorbing that of which I destroy to only become stronger, more hungry and epically awesome.
My plan going in was to lock into a pace and use Ascutney as a training day for Washington. If my race pace is enough to do something, that will be awesome. I had a couple lingering ideas of the marathon tolls but those were soon diminished.
I had some fortunate events that led to me having a successful day and winning another mountain race. A lot of guys raced a fell race the week before and it sounded like they were still beat up. This played a very minor roll in my race preparation and plan, but definitely gave me an advantage. I also knew the course very well after spending over 2 hours on the mountain the week before.
We rolled in 3 strong with Fyffe, MacKnight and myself. It was great seeing Double J and Brandon N. I hooked Brandon up with some pure VT maple syrup. I def didn't want him leaving VT without it this time. We all hob knobbed a bit and then warmed up. 3.7 miles with only a few places to recover made for a tough challenge with a tough field.
Upon the start of the race I found myself right in the front and people filing in behind me. This didn't last very long when Jim Johnson took the lead before Eric MacKnight made a significant move on a very runnable section just after the half mile. Eric opened up a very large gap on what was now Brandon and myself.
I felt Eric's early move was a bit early for me to try and match it so I let him go. Just over 1.5 I started to catch Eric and I was catching him quickly. I did exactly my plan and was locked into a pace that was both relaxed and comfortable. My breathing was controlled and I was in control.
I caught Eric just before the half way and by the way I was rolling could tell that I was going to continue to press the pace that would be tough to match. I knew it would be tough for anyone to catch me.
The second mile went by very quickly and before I knew it, I was at the 3 mile. This is where I wanted to make a move and push and accelerate through turns. There is a very flat and minor down hill stretch after 3 and I needed to get away here so not to be run down. I didn't have the pep or turnover I usually do but had enough of a lead where I just opened up the stride before getting to the last climb just before the finish. 1st place, 29:54.
It was a very pleasant surprise to take home a W, but it is a VT race and I really wouldn't have it any other way. This boasts great confidence for next weeks race and has me thinking I may be able to mix it up and possibly run sub 1:06. I'll have to run smart and an early relaxed pace is going to be key to later success.
My mouth is big, my ego is bigger, my goals are bigger than that and I'm epic. Hoping to get a solid week and welcome myself to being cussin back!

187

It's been two full weeks since the marathon and there be some transgressions on the going ons.
This unlawful act has been how fast I'm feeling like I'll recover. I figured there would be some down time and also figured on running every other day the first week then settle in to being awesome and ravaging some miles like Haiti.
The first week was lazy, still had some tender areas, but could tell I was going to recover faster than any other race of that distance.
Teamed up with some lifers during the week. Najem and Thomas "Whats in my Paquette," "PacMan" Paquette made the start time. Definitely feels great to run with the bros. Made some trips around the area and hit some miles with Greg and cussing Fyffe!!! Hell yea. It is great to have Fyffe back on it.
This past week led me to the conclusion that I was going to spread my dominance back to the mountain scene with a showing in my backyard at Ascutney. It's a 3.7 miler and I haven't been back since I won the whole series (along with the New England Mtn race) in 2004. There's a reason I haven't been back and that's bc it cussing a tough race. But... Ain't nothing tougher than me, so it'll go well. On a serious note, the race will hopefully be a great sign or great training run for upcoming Washington Road Race.

Monday - Slapped 10 miles out on the rail bed with Greg, Fyffe and Najem. The flat terrain was great and made a slow recovery day an awesome fun run with bros.

Tuesday - Headed south to Pisgah for a run with Greg, George Adams, Najem and Fyffe. We hustled 10 on the trails in crisp great weather. Physically didn't feel great but I was mentally starting to sharpen up.

Thursday - Najem met at my place and we hustled down to Putney and met Fyffe for a run on the Pinnacle trails. Fyffe is back on it and it is awesome. It was a great run, solid 9.

Friday - in miserable rainy weather I Voltroned with Greg in Putney for a 9 miler. This weather is the type that stabs at motivation, but I'm always ready to endure and hustled a solid run with a lifer.

Saturday - I'm getting the fever, for not only more cowbell, but miles and miles and miles. Day before a race is usually a chill day, but I don't give a cuss so I decided to roll out a 8 and 5 double.
I ventured to Ledge Rd for a very hilly and very slow 8 on the Lost Trail. Brought the girls and it was great.
Later in the day, Eric MacKnight was making the trek to challenge Ascutney the next day. We zipped out to Grafton Ponds for a zig zag 5 miler on the single tracks. 13 on the day is a great step in the right direction.
Tomorrow will def be a tough race with a lot of competition. My plan: lock into a solid cadence and run my own race and hopefully that will put me in a good position to mix it up. I'll never count myself out and I'll never bet against me, I expect epic outcomes and I'll be tough.