A terrifying thing has happened: I won the lottery and gained entry to the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, a 104-mile, 30K foot elevation gain race in the Alps next August. I joke with Mr. P a lot about how the UTMB will probably kill me, how there’s no way I’ll finish in the 46-hour time limit, how I’ve made a horrible mistake… but actually I do think there’s a chance that I’ll be able to finish. I can climb these steep but mostly non-technical Alpine trails all day (and night — I also handle sleep deprivation pretty well). I think major challenges will be the downhills — will my knees hold up? I’m planning lots of downhill sprints in the spring.
Since getting into UTMB, I’ve bumped up the training several notches — not going ‘all-in’ because it is still January, but definitely getting a base. I’ve signed up for a number of races, including the VT 100 in July (6 weeks before UTMB). I’m excited and scared. This is a challenge, and I may not succeed in finishing… but that’s the sign of a true challenge!
Sat 1/17: Very, very cold this morning — 10 below with the wind chill. I headed to the gym and started with my 30 minute jump-rope and mobility circuit, then 90 minutes of the treadmill, varying the speed and the grades — about 7.5 miles. Later, when it warmed up, I took a 30 minute walk in my new weighted vest.
Sun 1/18: Warmer today, so I headed to Prospect Hill. The road and the trails up the hill were icy. 10 miles, 2.5 hours, 1200 ft elevation gain. In the afternoon I hit the gym for some mobility work and a short but speedy treadmill run (30 minutes, 3.4 miles).
Mon 1/19: 5 miles slow jogging on slightly icy roads. Then — pleasure! Skiing 4 hours with Little Boy at Wachusett. This kid is a fast skier. He did ask for frequent lodge breaks, but when we were on the trails we blazed.
On a ski lift
Tues 1/20: Gym: short mobility workout, then 50 minutes medium effort treadmill. Evening: 1.5 mile walk with weighted vest.
Wed 1/21: 9 miles, Bread and Butter loop plus extra hills, 750 feet elevation gain.
Thursday 1/22: 8 miles (ran to gym and home, with extra hills); some mobility work at gym
Friday 1/23: This should have been a rest day, but snow is forecast for tomorrow, and next week it looks like there is another 2-3 feet coming. I’ll probably rest then. I had to work from home for some work we’re having done on our house for the new dishwasher, so I was able to sneak in some running in the mild snow-free sunshine — last time until April, probably! 2 miles hills (walking) in the morning, followed by 5.5 miles running at lunch, followed by 8.5 miles on trails in the early evening. (And happy anniversary! Today is the 7th anniversary of our “living room” wedding.)
