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

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:

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3357432728_f848628aa9.jpg|height=375|alt=Hike|width=500|src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3357432728_f848628aa9.jpg!

Camping and trekking in Joshua Tree National Park

!http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3372565555_fd43138c8b.jpg|height=375|alt=Scottsdale|width=500|src=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3372565555_fd43138c8b.jpg!

Relaxing in Scottsdale, AZ