April was a good month of training for me! 302 miles on the month with a 101 mile week and 4 longer runs of 20-35 miles. I got more done, training wise, in April than I did in all of Jan-Mar for my last race. Here's to a good taper and not blowing up next weekend

I've also juggled stuff on my calendar and am waffling on whether to sign up for UROC. I really want to run this one. It's going to have a huge turnout with lots of the front runners showing up for a shot at that rare prize money. It's also 2 hours away from me, which makes it even more appealing. My concern is that Aug/Sep is already really busy with 3 races between Aug 3 and Sep 14. This would be two weeks later on Sep 28th. Part of me thinks it's too much and I'm asking for trouble, but I still want to sign up and give myself the option to run. It'd be more of a "get out and enjoy the trails and awesome race day atmosphere before it gets cold" thing than a harder race effort (but you know how that race day adrenaline does funny things). I'd also have a big break with nothing on the calendar until my last race of the season 8 weeks later. I'm telling myself I'm going to take off running from Thanksgiving to New Year after such a busy fall too, so I'm rationalizing the busy fall schedule every which way I can

How's everyone else doing? Anyone else with events in May?

Haha, yeah, I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. I plan to hit the start, finish and as many spots as I can inbetween.

I had a great week of training:

Swim: 2 miles
Bike: 100 miles
Run: 50 miles

Feeling pretty ready for my race on Saturday. Hoping to hit 2:20 for the Olympic distance (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run.
26 minute swim would be fine, 1:10 bike would be great, and a 45 minute 10k would be awesome. Add in a few minutes for transition and it's doable.

Yeah man...just go into it with the idea of just finishing and enjoying the day. You'll do great.

Yep, all of this.

I've been getting rocked with allergies for the past week now. Right at the beginning of my taper the leaves came out and I've just been fatigued, dead legs, sleeping for 8+ hours and still wanting more sleep, etc. At first I thought I was recovering from the mileage but after a couple days I looked up the pollen counts (25x increase) and now I've started taking Zyrtec and am hoping for the best on Saturday. I have the fitness there but I just feel wiped after a run with all this pollen in the air. Good news: it's been in the mid 70s all week but Saturday is a high of 57 and partly cloudy!! SO excited about that as April was cold and nobody has been running in "heat".

Do you think seasonal allergies could be behind your symptoms, ampsman?

1/4 in the family category.

Ehhh...theres always going to be another race. If you are questioning at all your health or long term affects from continuing then there is no reason to keep going.
Swallow your pride and drop.

Agreed, but this was just a tight IT band that didn't seem to mind walking at first. It didn't get to the point of "oh shit, maybe this was too much" until the last three miles of the race.

If it were breathing related like your issues in your last race? I'd drop for sure. That's a lot more cut and dry in my book.

For more than 20 hours, I've been watching the packs of runners pass through various aid stations. By now, it seems less like a race, something with a particular competitive object, than like a communal exercise in self-affirmation. To run in the race is to suffer, but also to be constantly told how wonderful you were—to feel a whole world of complete strangers supporting you and cheering you on.

Nice! It feels good doing things you think you may not be able to do doesn't it. Keep it going. Soon you'll be doing more miles than you ever though you'd run in your life and you'll love it.

I think part of the reason I was able to do it is because I'm down 11lbs since the last time I attempted. Plus, there was a hot guy on the treadmill next to me

Even more power to you for doing it on the treadmill. I can't think of many things I hate more than running on a treadmill. I love being outside in the fresh air. Having the wind blow in your hair and seeing wildlife running makes it all that much better for me.