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Showing posts with the label San Diego 100

4 x 4 x 48 Goggins Challenge Johnston style

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 About 20 years ago, I first heard of David Goggins.  He spoke at one of the San Diego Tri Club monthly meetings.  Back then, I was getting into Olympic distance triathlons and was amazed listening to Goggins talk about some of his adventures.  Little did I know where my journey would take me. Fast forward to today.  I am signed up to do the very difficult Baja 50K, Oriflamme 50K, and finally Angeles Crest 100 mile in August.  It's been over two years since I have taken on a big adventure.  Hard to believe my last official race was the San Diego 100 Endurance Race.  Some days, I wonder if I will ever finish another long race.  I've been training almost daily but can't seem to mentally cross back into beast mode.  Something has to give. About a month ago, I recalled the Goggin 4x4x48 Challenge ( Link to Goggins Challenge .)  It's exactly what I need to jump start my training.  So beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 4 at 9:00 am mountain standard time, I will run 4 miles ev

San Diego 100, Year Two: This one's for you Dad!

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With less than a week to go, I am trying to wrap my head around my fitness for next weekend's race.  I started off the year making huge strides.  Unfortunately, a late season injury slowed my progress to a halt. My injury occurred at Lost Boys 50 mile trail run in at the end of April.  Talk about an epic, challenging race.  The point to point race, with 9,000 feet of gain, starts in Anza Borrego desert, heads up Pinyon Mountain, up Oriflamme Canyon, up to Cuyamaca Peak, over Middle Peak finishing at Cuyamaca Lake.  The race started off with Brian Gonzalez warning us about severe weather conditions.  As it turned out, we had wind gusts between 50-60 mph coming out of the desert and then windy and cold rain the for the final 20 miles of the race. I was running in the top 20, way beyond my expectations as I hit the summit of Cuyamaca Peak.  Suddenly my left knee seized up leaving me to hobble down the hill frustrated and cold.  I still managed to finish with a time far better

Curveball-PCT 50

Well, this will be short and sweet. Today, three days before race day, I received word that the race might be postponed. Unfortunately, a military helicopter went down on the PCT course, killing two people, and littering the area with explosives. While I'll admit I was a bit bummed, I kept going back to the fact that two people lost their lives. Move on, I told myself. Later in the day, though, I got word that the race would go on. It now would be run on the San Diego 100 course. Cool, I thought to myself, as I have run much of this course and feel comfortable on it. I think it is a bit tougher but also a bit cooler with more to look at. And, much more run-able with about 6200 ft of elevation gain. Here is a course profile . I reserved a camp spot at Paso Picacho State Campground which also happens to be an aid station. Let's get it on already!