I have started training but seem limited on time.  I can remember feeling this way last year.  It is very easy to get caught up reading what everyone else does and give you some anxiety like "damn am i doing enough?"  I have to remind myself that its a marathon not a sprint, relax, enjoy it all, do what you can, and most of all don't overtrain! 

Joe DeSena told me he thought I trained too hard last year and he would only train for 3 months if he was doing the death race...something to think about.  I am hitting the gym and Crossfit, but need more long distance weekend things.....  have not done much running.  But I am back to my crazy circuit training (about 50% of where I want to be), eating, and have gained about 5 lbs which is a good thing.  This year I am much more concerned with a little size.  Joe gave me some great tips and I figure if he runs the thing he must know. 

Most upset that my back is  in killer pain right now.  I want to do the Arcadia workout tomorrow, Ill see how it goes..... really looking forward to next month where I have the super Spartan (with weighted vest), and the Seal Beach Death Race training...cant wait to break out the fun toys for the DR crew to play with......

Its all about balance..... I'm spending more time this year focused on my daughter.  Just signed up to coach her all stars, so that takes more....i think it will be that balance and family spirit that will give me the best chance of finishing this year...not the mileage, but the heart.....

Holiday Yule Log Run

So, this pas weekend I went on several training runs up in Griffith Park. This place is an excellent training ground because of the terrain, the hills, and the endless marked and unmarked trails. The first run I did with on Saturday I did with my rucksack loaded with 4 bricks and water. Total weight is just over 20lbs. Not a lot but it does wear on you particularly on really long runs like the one we did up in Henniger Flats some weeks ago. That ruck sack felt like 60lbs after 16 miles :) Anyway, I did a short 3-4 mile run (need to get my iPhone GPS app going so I can get actual distances covered)with my ruck and bricks including 20-30 yard wind sprints up a steep 1/2 mile incline. My legs were on fire! But I managed to make it to the top with gas to spare. On Monday I did the same trail but this time I picked up a nice log that I carried on my shoulder. Large and awkward was the name of the game. Only about 25 lbs but weight was not the goal. That thing dug into my shoulders something bad. Good lesson, though. Must think about some sort of small protective cushion/pad to have at Death Race for carrying large and awkward objects on my shoulder. It can't absorb water and it can't take up space. I thought of using a small inflatable pillow but that idea quickly went out the window when I realized it would get quickly punctured by a gnarly log. I have some other ideas, though ;
Last week I did the same trail with the ruck/bricks AND a 50lb sandbag on my shoulder. That was tough! But great practice for Death Race and the first train race in the King of The Hill series (sponsored by Joe Decker and Gut Check Fitness)!

welcome

Last year I had a blog and kept a lot of my workouts in it.  This year I thought if you all want to join in and write some of your workouts, it might help keep everyone motivated!  Im not sure how much time I or any of us will have to blog...but if you want to start using this, lets do it.  I have just gotten back to lifting and working out.  My plan now is to gain about 5-10 lbs..... hard for a squirrel like me.  I have memberships to Ballys, 24 hour, CrossFit, and LA Fitness now so I have lots of resources.  I can feel myslef starting to come back.....im still a ways a way from where i was last year, but this year I will train smarter.  I feel much more prepared and much more motivated with the great group of people around this time.  I probably wont train as much as I did...but since I have done one of these a lot of the anxiety of not knowing has left.  So i feel much more relaxed, and I have a good base to work from.  I was very excited to meet some great people last month when we did the Henninger Flats run.  Very cool to meet so many like minded animals.... Erika, Tom, Yesel, Joei, myself, Omar, Edgar, Tramp, Michelle, Damion.  Also cool to catch up with Lisa and I cant wait to train with my friends Laura and Jeff soon.  So lots of death race support this time around!

Feel free Death racers to blog, keep this as a community journal of motivation, post pictures, etc.  See you all on the 30th and happy holidays!!!