Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 30 miles
6/17/12 -  6/23/12

Sun: 20 miles (Signal Mountain, Day 3 Stage Race)
- See Race Recap

Mon: off

Tues: off

Wed: off

Thur: off

Fri: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.22.12 Avg. Pace:  8.14
- Decided I should try and get back into the game again. I thought that I would have felt better since I had taken 4 days off, but apparently my body was still tight and sore and recovery is not over just quite yet. Also, the top of my left foot was hurting. It is probably due to the fact that I ran so many miles so close together. So I will be watching and icing it because I do not want a stress fracture in the future. That could set me way back. My plan is to maybe take a few more days off and slowly run get back into it. I have some time before my next race the StumpJump 50K, and in between that a new race called the Still Hollow Half Marathon.

Sat: off

Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race

60 Miles in 3 Days

Raccoon Mountain
Day 1 - 18 Miles

Time: 2.23.03

Avg. Pace: 7.56 mi

Place: 22nd

Woke up at 4:40 this morning to eat breakfast and to make sure that I wouldn't be late to the race since I had no support crew a.k.a my dad (family is heading to Florida for the whole week). This was the first race I have gone to by myself. On the way over I realized this race was lower key than the others since there were not as many people but the runners are way more serious. People that were here have done this before and I could tell it from my lower ranking on Ultrasignup.

Started off pretty fast and that's when I realized that these runners meant business. I eventually settled into a pack until the aid station at mile 8 to refill my bottle. Before the aid station at mile 6, I was "chicked" (From Eat and Run - Girl catches you in an ultra) and I couldn't believe it happened so fast and she was hauling!!! After I left the aid station, I ran to catch up with Rock Creek Race Team Member Lance Steele. I cruised with him for the rest of the race until probably about 2 miles left when I let him go on. The exciting part happened at mile 15 when I "unchicked" myself and passed the leading female to retain my manhood which is hard to keep in these long races. I finished smooth and strong around the time expected.

The true test will come tomorrow and definitely Sunday since the trails will be longer and a lot tougher. Overall the legs are currently a little tired and sore. I'm just hoping to survive tomorrow, taking it day by day; it's all I can really do!

Miles Lookout Mountain/Lula Lake Land Trust
Day 2 - 22 Miles

Time: 2.48.35

Avg. Pace: 7.40

Place: 19th

Overall Place: 18th

The alarm went off this morning and I thought to myself "what am I doing?" I was sore and stiff. However, once I got to the race I started to loosen up and started to feel normal. I was just hoping that once I started I wouldn't feel like crap.

Once the countdown hit zero we were off. I started off slower than yesterday and I cruised until the aid station around mile 10. Within the 1st mile, there is a rope that you have to hold onto while climbing up the side of the mountain, and on the way back I took it a bit slow going down it. For the first 6 miles, 2 female runners were ahead of me. I passed the 2nd place female around mile 6ish and caught up to Rock Creek Race Team Member John Wiygul. I followed him until probably a little before the 15 mile aid station and he went on. At mile 10, I picked up the pace along with Wiygul and we headed back down the mountain. The nice easy pace was over and it was race time! Once I hit the last aid station around mile 15 ish I passed right through it and started up the other side of the ridge and did not walk at all going up. I ended up passing the 1st female (wooo, just don't choke tomorrow!) and caught up to Rock Creek Race Team Member Lance Steele and passed him also. Once I ran through the creek that was knee high deep, I ran strong to the finish. Once I finished, I made a B line to get my chocolate milk from my car and headed to the creek and laid in it for 20 minutes (nice and cold).

I honestly cannot believe that I felt so good today. One of the big factors had to be the temperature. It was way cooler in the higher elevation. Also my plan to take the first 10 miles easy (training run pace) worked to perfection for me. I was even more in cue with taking my fluids. I basically felt like a machine out on the trail today, I was just so in tune and focus that it was almost ridiculous. Every person I passed I was feeding off of their energy. My only hope is that it continues tomorrow. I am feeling great and confident about tomorrow!!! Bring it!

 Signal Mountain

Day 3 - 20 Miles

Time: 3.17.34

Avg. Pace: 9.53

Place: 16th

Overall Place: 17th

The third and final day is over with! No more waking up at 4:40 in the morning. I woke up and realized that all the excitement of running really well yesterday was gone. I was a little sore and stiff but not too bad, but it was my ankle that was really stiff from rolling it the day before. Basically just had the aches and pains of running 40 miles and to my surprise it wasn't all that bad.

With the countdown hitting zero I only had 20 miles to go and it would all be over with. The first 6 miles I took pretty slow at 28th place(I know because the first 3 miles were out and back) and once I got back to Mushroom Rock I started to pick the pace up. I ended up catching the lead female rather quickly and stayed behind her until around mile 10. I wanted to get around her before, but it ended up working in my advantage that I stayed because the trail would get very technical soon after I passed her. Once I got to the top of Signal Point I got my second wind but it would not last too long because of more rocks and roots to come. Once I hit the aid station around mile 15ish the trail opened up and I started to push the pace (it was nice to finally get a rhythm going). I finished really strong all the way to the finish.

All I can say is that if the first 40 miles do not kill you, the last 20 will! The trail today was so technical it almost wasn't fun at certain points. It was a good feeling to cross the finish line today. The weather was not as cool today and for some reason I decided I would wear a shirt. My plan worked well and I'm very pleased how my body felt. No cramps at all!!! Just a sore ankle is about it after putting in work in today. Overall great day!

For the race overall it was awesome. I definitely plan on doing it again next year if my life will allow (honestly I’m hoping to be in PT school next summer). I am extremely pleased of how I felt considering I hadn't ran as much 3 weeks prior and was fighting lack of motivation. This race really pumped me up. I can honestly say I won't be running for the next several days, oh recovery! Great race, great weather, and great people make for one GREAT trail race. I am also very pleased with my results since it was my first time doing this race. Each day I raced, I improved my ranking which I am very proud of. I highly recommend this race. It is very achievable to do this race and the volunteers are top notch!

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 69 miles
6/10/12 - 6/16/12

Sun: 11.2 miles (Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain)
Time:1.34.49 Avg. Pace: 8.29
- My dad and I had an amazing run on the Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain at Nickajack Gap near Lula Lake land trust. It’s an awesome trail especially during a light drizzle and must do for all you trail runners or mountain bikers. I plan on definitely doing it again. The trail is very well maintained plus it’s has mile markers every half mile. At 5.6 miles one way you can get in a good 11.2 mile run or any distance in between. It took me 50 minutes to get to the 5.6 mile marker and 44.48 to get get. I was a little conservative on the way out since it was my first time out there. Great run and it was really nice to finally get away from Raisin Woods. Bring on this Stage Race!!

Mon: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.00.23, Avg. Pace: 8.37
- A little sore from yesterdays run but not too bad. Ran late in the evening due to it raining all day. It was a hot, wet, and muggy run.

Tues: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 42.13, Avg. Pace: 8.26
- Was not feeling the love at all today. Too hot and humid outside this afternoon. Had to cut it short. Also was rather sore today.

Wed: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 47.33 Avg. Pace:7.56
- Felt really good today, but didn't want to push it too much. Hoping I feel like this for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Getting pumped for this Stage Race.

Thur: Off
- The calm before the storm.


Fri: 18 miles (Raccoon Mountain)
Time:  Avg. Pace:
- See Race Report

Sat:  22 miles (Signal Mountain/Lula Lake Land Trust)
Time: Avg. Pace: - See Race Report

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 33 miles
6/03/12 - 6/09/12

Sun: off
- Should have ran, but decided not too.

Mon: 11 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace: ?
- Feel like I'm in a rut. Just looking for some motivation.

Tues: 14.5 miles (Raisin Woods), (Downtown Dalton)
Early PM:Time: 1.20.00, Avg. Pace: ? 10
Late PM:Time: ? (4.5)
- Forgot my watch today. I know that I ran 10 and that's about it. Hot and Humid and it's not even the dog days of summer yet

Wed: Off
Time: ? Avg. Pace: ?
- Had to work all day. PT Aid, Cardiac Rehab, and then fitness floor!

Thur: 7.5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Early PM Time: 40.01 Avg. Pace:  (5)
Late PM Time: 19.26  (2.5)
- Starting to feel like I back into routine. Still not where I feel like I should be but I am doing the most I can. If anything I feel like I am maintaining.



Fri: Off

Sat:  Off


Really bad lack of motivation this week. Hoping this stage race will give me a boost coming up!

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 50 miles
5/26/12 - 6/02/12

Sun: off
- Should have ran, but instead I just enjoyed my Memorial Day activities with some friends at a pool.

Mon: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace:  ?
- Feel like I'm in a rut. Just looking for some motivation.

Tues: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace: ?
- Forgot my watch today. I know that I ran 10 and that's about it. Hot and Humid and it's not even the dog days of summer yet

Wed: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ? Avg. Pace: ?
- Worked 10 hours today, luckily I was able to squeeze in 7 miles. Almost stepped on a snake today, luckily the "root" lifted its head up right as I was about to step down and I somehow added a jump into the mix. Still hot and humid.

Thur: 11 miles(Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.27.02 Avg. Pace: 7.55
- Starting to feel like I back into routine. Still not where I feel like I should be but I am doing the most I can. If anything I feel like I am maintaining.




Fri: 12 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.39.33 Avg. Pace: 8.18
-  Felt a little sluggish today running, I didn't realize that I ran pretty fast yesterday. I have to work all day tomorrow, but I am hoping to get something in. I'm just doing what my schedule is allowing me to do.

Sat: off

January:
Total Mileage: 177 miles

February:
Total Mileage: 193 miles

March:
Total Mileage: 190 miles

April:
Total Mileage: 269 miles

May:
Total Mileage: 234 miles



2012 Mileage: 1063 Miles

Last 2 Weekly Recap

5/13/12-5/19/12
Total Miles: 50 miles (Including Marathon Race)
- Wasn't much to keep up with since my race was at the end of the week


5/20/12 - 5/26/12
Total Miles: 23 miles
- Worked a lot this week and due to that I wasn't able to get much running in. 50+ hours of work. Have

Just having a short write up so that I can remember my total yearly mileage. I'm hoping to be back on schedule my next write up. Currently trying to fight lack of motivation and I need it because in 2 weeks I'll be running my first stage race.