My long training session this weekend marked the end of another 70-mile week in preparation for my first 100-mile ultra marathon. I’ve been training on the SD100 race course in Cuyamaca State Park frequently so for a scenery change, Marie and I got on the Noble Canyon trail located 45 minutes east of San Diego in Pine Valley, California. From the top-down, its one of the most popular downhill mountain biking trails in southern California so running up it is perfect for my training. The trail climbs over 11 miles to the Sunrise Highway for a vista of the Anza-Borrego Desert.

My beautiful view

At the top of Noble Canyon, we crossed Sunrise Highway, connected to the Pacific Crest Trail and traveled south for a gorgeous stretch on the PCT with the desert in full view. Instead of looping back on the Big Laguna trail that reconnects to Noble Canyon, we opted to run on the road for a few miles back to meet the trail. The lollipop-shaped route then descended back into Pine Valley for a total of 31.5 miles.

4/18: 14M Run-commute

4/19: 31.5M Noble Canyon Trail

4/20: 9M Mission Trails Regional Park

I was strong all day, legs never got tired and training is on right track. 7 weeks until the SD100!!!

The half-ironman workout last weekend and recovering to run 28 miles on Saturday was crucialI've broke through a mental/physical barrier. I've dialed in the remaining 60 days of my training and I no longer have any lingering doubt about my abilities. My level of preparedness was more so evident when I started and finished Sunday's 8-mile recovery hill run with no soreness. Monday was a rest day and I was strong and ready for an extended cycle-commute totaling 3 hours yesterday, run-commute today, Friday and then back to the mountains Saturday for a 43-mile training run at altitude. I'm going to couple that with a 9-mile recovery run on Sunday for a grand total of 66 miles in 3 days and 80 for the weekmy most ever.

Sunday night, Marie and I sat down and sketched out what weekend training distances need to look like for the next two months. I’ve included 14 miles of running each Friday so I start Saturday long runs on semi-fatigued legs. This way, I’ll be even stronger on fresh legs at the start of the SD100. The following schedule the basic weekend mileage until June.

4/11: 14M

4/12: 24+19= 43M Cuyamaca State Park

4/13: 9M Mission Trails Regional Park

4/18: 14M

4/19: 30M Pacific Crest Trail

4/20: 9M Mission Trails Regional Park

4/25: 14M

4/26: 26+24= 50M Cuyamaca State Park

4/27: 4M (Marie--La Jolla 13.1)

5/2: 14M

5/3: 33M Noble Canyon Trail

5/4: 20M Lake Hodges

5/9: 14M

5/10: 52M Peñasquitos Canyon (PCT?)

5/11: 18M Mission Trails Regional Park

5/16: 14M

5/17: 30M Cuyamaca State Park

5/18: 20M Lake Hodges

5/23: 14M

5/24: 24M Pacific Crest Trail

5/25: 13M Peñasquitos Canyon

5/30: 14M

5/31: 9M

6/1: 0! (Marie--Rock 'n' Roll Marathon)

6/2: Memorial Day

6/5: Steve arrives

6/7: SD100

6/8: SD100

Here are a couple snaps from Saturday in Cuyamaca State Park, home of the SD100:

Saturday morning, Marie and I made our third-straight weekend pilgrimage to Cuyamaca State Park for our last long trail run this month. We got on the second portion of the SD100 race course for seven hours. There are still lots of downed trees blocking the trail from last year’s firestorm. No way will these be removed before the race which will be quite the surprise for runners who haven’t previewed the course. They got the best of Marie on several occasions. Her sexy legs still look sexy, but were badly scraped by the end of our 27-miler—ouch!

We’ve now scouted the entire race course and I’m feeling optimistic. I’m confident in my support crew, even more so now that it includes my brother—making a guest appearance from the east coast. Secondly, I’m stoked because my fitness level is right where it needs to be. This became more evident when the alarm sounded at 6:30 am Sunday--my legs were fresh and I crushed an 8-mile recovery run, followed by 2.5 hours on the bike like it was nothing. Training at altitude is amazing!

Monday, I spontaneously took the day off from work to capitalize on a mountain bike trip with my good friend Tim. He got us full suspension bikes for the day because he is scouting trails out near Idyllwild for a trail running event he is directing in October. The route we took was by no means suitable for this type of running event but we still had blast.

Training for my first 100-mile run is exciting and throwing a half-ironman in the mix has made it even more fun. The Ford Ironman California 70.3 on 3/29 is almost here. I’m going to hold off on any more long runs until April. Once April hits, I’m going to peak with some serious mountain running sessions (including night running sessions) into the beginning of May and then taper down to harness the energy for 6/7-6/8.

While Marie and I were traveling to Catalina earlier this month for the Avalon 50, we were discussing my race calendar for the year that I’ve since settled on and shared with you Tuesday. I use the expression “settled on” because I felt as though something was missing from my schedule. More specifically, I wanted to attempt an Ironman-distance triathlon in 2008.

Yesterday, my wish was granted. I received the news that the SD100 has been moved up four months from October to June. Not only will I be faced with the challenge of preparing for a 100-mile run with 4-months less time, but I’ll now add an Ironman-distance event to 2008, the Silverman full-distance triathlon. I’m not sure what to say except thank you. Is that sick? In no way is this meant to discredit the difficulty of the SD100 but it seemed like the year was very spread out and I feared burnout with my peak race so late in the season.

Adjustments to my racing calendar will be minor. The major change leading up to the SD100 will be an increase in training volume with attention to the long runs. Since the race will be in Cuyamaca State Park, and not on the Pacific Crest Trail, I’ll be sure to get out there as often as possible between now and June 7.

When I shared the news with Marie, she responded by asking, “What do we need to do to make it happen?” (Isn’t she amazing?) She even suggested we replace the Mountain of Gold race on March 16 for a training run in Cuyamaca SP. Plus she had already recruited her coworker/training buddy, Rebekah, to be a part of my crew team for the race. Marie and Rebekah crewed for Joe Decker and his girlfriend Nicole in the 2007 SD100 so they already have experience crewing in Cuyamaca SP. I’m honored to have them in my corner and that much more confident things are going to workout.

Are you guys in my corner too!?

My ultimate fitness goal for 2008 is to complete the San Diego 100-mile endurance run (SD100) on the third weekend of October. With some guidance, I’ve outlined a series of incremental goals, races and periods of rest over the course of the year that will gradually prepare me for this main event.

After finishing 2007 with a 52-mile training run and beginning 2008 with a 50-mile race, I’ve decided to use the sport of triathlon to build my fitness while taking a small yet strategic break from ultra running. My first half-Ironman distance triathlon is on March 29 in beautiful Oceanside, California. To prepare for this particular 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run, I’ve broken my training schedule into three phases and the first phase began Monday.

Bike course:   

For the next 16 days, I’ll be training in all three triathlon disciplines, a variety of cross-training exercises, plus racing a Triathlon Club of San Diego (TCSD) Duathlon on February 2. My next break is President’s Day weekend, where I’ll use a long-weekend of backcountry skiing in the Sierra Nevada as active recovery before beginning the second training phase.

The focus of phase two is “brick” training or the combination of two triathlon workouts into one and less of a focus on cross-training. For instance, upon arriving home from cycle-commuting, I will immediately go for a run. The purpose of this is to train my legs to learn how to make this transition and get used to the switch so on race day, I can jump off the bike and break out into a fast half-marathon. During this phase, I will bump up the weekend mileage on the bike and race in another TCSD Duathlon on March 3.

Phase three includes brick training, a long training ride, plus a trail race in San Luis Obispo called the Mountain of Gold on March 16. I plan on running the 25km option and Marie will run the 50km race. This way, I can fit one last long run in before my event and I will be able to pace Marie for the first two loops of her four-loop course.

I’m nervous about the half-Ironman since it is an unknown but I like the pressure since it is rapidly approaching. I need to focus right away and get to work. Having confidence in my base fitness helps, but I’m honest with myself and admit that my swimming needs work, my cycling needs work and I must include plenty of brick workouts between now and March 29 to have a decent race.

Now that I have my sights set on the SD100 in October, I’m excited to get into triathlon shape and to roll over the fitness into the next event on the list: The Leona Divide 50 on April 19. This year is off to a great start and I plan on checking in with you all along the way. Let's make thisa fun and exciting year. All the best to you and your 2008 goals!

Yours in Adventure,

~Toby