Another one done

I completed another half marathon (San Diego) without needing energy drinks or sugary gels. Nothing but a cup of coffee before the race!

The race started at 6:45. At 6 I had a cup of coffee. I drank it while walking the 1 mile to the start.

13.1 miles later, I was done. No post race bananas or bagels. O the 2 mile walk back to my hotel I stopped at Starbucks for a grande black coffee.

After a shower I had a fantastic lunch at this place...burgerlounge  Bunless grass fed burger and half a salad. I ate around 1pm. Until lunch, I felt great. No signs of fatigue. During races I always carry a package of almond butter, just in case. I'm happy to say it wasn't needed.

Using fat as fuel is amazing. I never want to go back to being a sugar burner.

Back from Phoenix

without a 100 mile belt buckle.

I'll get that $%*& belt buckle someday!

I did complete a 100K. That got me a pretty etched glass mug.

Here's a quick recap of the fun..

I flew into Phoenix the day of the race. After picking up my rental car, I headed to Whole Foods to stock up on keto-groceries. I hit the mother lode at the location in Scottsdale. Grass fed cheese and bison. Turkey and salad stuff. I even found some sugar free chocolate. I was stocked and ready to go.

The last stop was to eat lunch at Smashburger..

Smashburger is based out of Denver and they're terrific. I had a lettuce wrap burger with avocado, swiss cheese and a fried egg. Delicious! I was now fueled and ready to walk in circles for many hours.

I arrived at Camelback Ranch around 2pm. The loop is 1.03 miles, a chip that attaches to your ankle records your distance. Every 4 hours, the route is reversed. That keeps you from losing your mind.

Camelback Ranch is really pretty, there is a lake and trees and best of all, a real bathroom! With toilets that flush! I never had to use the dreaded Port-a-Lets.

After about 11 hours, I went to my car to take a nap. Despite being in Phoenix, the temps were in the 30's. I cranked the heat until the interior was toasty and piled all my clothes on top of me. I was surprised to find I slept for about 5 hours. When I woke up it was almost 6am!

The next day I had a hotel room (hot showers and a comfy bed!). I alternated between the Ranch and the hotel for the remaining 48 hours.

Despite having tables of food, all I took was water. I only ate the groceries I bought and felt great. At one point in the race, volunteers were standing on the track with open pizza boxes. People would take 3 slices and roll them up like a burrito. The only thing that was tempting was when the big vats of cherry cobbler arrived. I averted my eyes.

Since the race, my ketones have stayed around 1.5 mm. I feel great at that number, no hunger and consistent energy. My goal is to stay around that number for the rest of January.

I'm researching my next race, I think it will be a half in Vegas in March.

Heading to Phoenix

tomorrow for the 72 hour race.
My goal is to complete 100 miles.
God help me...

Next week at this time

I'll be on Day 1 of 3 days of walking.

Around and around a one mile loop.

I'll be almost 12 hours in.

I need to find more hobbies...

6 weeks until another race

This one will be a doozy.

It's in Phoenix, a 72 hour race that finishes on New Year's Day. It's aptly named Across The Years.

Last year I did the 24 hour event. This year I'm in for the whole magilla, 3 days. My goal is to complete 100 miles. Because if I do, I get this nifty belt buckle..

That buckle will look very nice sitting in my office. I want it!

My other goal is to stay in nutritional ketosis until the race. Today my ketones were 1.8, that's where I like the number to be. My fasting glucose was 69. Seems to be a correlation between low glucose and higher levels of ketones.

Day of the Dead Racing Series

was held along the Rio Grande River in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

La Llorona Park

The races began in La Llorona park. La Llorona means "crying lady". The legend is that a woman drowned her 2 children in the river to be with her lover. After the deed is done, her lover rejects her. Now she haunts the river at night. I'm glad to know that I won't be the only one crying at the river. My plan was to do 4 marathons in 4 days.

I ended up doing 2 marathons and 2 half marathons.

This was the cool graphic used for the t-shirt and medal

Despite a 40 degree temp change during the day (low 40's in the am, climbing to low 80's in the afternoon) and some nasty blood blisters, I had a terrific time.

My ketones were 2.8 today, solidly in fat burning. I may step on the scale tomorrow to see what's going on. My fasting glucose was 77.

24 hours of Boulder Race Report

I was pretty bummed out after my doctor's appointment. The next morning I was signed up to do a 24 hour race in Boulder. If I hadn't have paid the money, I may have skipped it.

I'm glad I didn't go the couch potato, boo-hoo, I feel sorry for myself route.

The race was held at the Boulder reservoir. It's a gorgeous place..

The course was an out and back 7.14 stretch of road. Some was on dirt, some gravel, for variety. We had to cross over a bridge with a scary sign..

I was a bit concerned about crossing in the dark, just my luck I would get swept away! Luckily there was a sturdy fence surrounding the open space, even I couldn't take a mis-step.

I did wander off the course 2 times in the dark (ok, 3 times). When I realized my mistake, I waited until I could see other runner's headlamps to show me the way. A couple that I encountered around 3am were concerned about me. I think they thought I was hallucinating. I assured them that I just don't follow directions well.

I skipped all the food tables loaded with carbs. The only thing I took was water and electrolyte capsules. In my car I stocked a cooler with salad, chicken, cheese and nuts. I ate some paleo cookies and muffins so I can't say I was LCHF. No wheat or grains though.

My race result was 50 miles in 24 hours. Actually more like 18 hours. I tried to sleep in my car for 3 hours, which didn't work at all. Then I laid down on a cot in base camp for an hour. I could have easily fallen asleep but I knew other people would like to lay down too. I just closed my eyes.

Next up is my first Quadzilla, 4 marathons in 4 days. I plan on sticking to LCHF for all the races, I'll be interested to see how it works out.

Big Plans, I've got some...

Despite my cranky knee, I've got some races scheduled for the next couple months.

Running is out until my knee heals. That means I'm going to have to do the timed races, I don't think I do any marathons within 7 hours, which is when most courses close.

My plan is..

Aug 31    12 hr event in Las Vegas
Oct 13    24 hr event in Boulder
Nov16    48 hr event in Dallas
Dec 31    72 hr event in Phoenix

I'm also squeezing in a hike in the Grand Canyon at the end of the month.

Here's a couple more photos from last weekend's ET marathon in Rachel, NV..

just before the start at midnight

I love the cool t-shirt and medal

Another Wheat-free race is around the corner

Next week I'll be in Las Vegas for a marathon. I'm confident that I'll be Wheat and Sugar-free. I'm not so confident that my knee will hold up. I'll see what happens..

Another wheat-free race!

The plan was to complete the San Diego marathon.

My right leg had another plan.

For the past couple days my knee has been stiff and sore. In an effort to not make it worse, I switched to the half marathon. It's a good thing I did so, I'm not sure my knee would have held up. I may have ended up in a crumpled heap of despair around mile 20.

The photo above is yesterday's tasty dinner from Burger Lounge. Grass fed hamburger with no bun and half a vegetable salad.

Here's my finishers medal and post race meal. Lara Bar and cherries. And a big cup of coffee!

This evening I'm headed to Las Vegas for a couple days. No free WiFi (suck it Caesars!) so I won't be posting until I'm home on Tuesday.

Fall down 100 times

get up 101.

That sums up my attempts in dumping wheat. I stick to it for a week or so then fall off. Then get back up and fall back down.

Tomorrow starts a new day.

This time I'm doing the small steps approach. First I ditch the sugar, followed by the wheat. Doing the 2 steps at once is overwhelming. One bad habit at a time.

Last weekend, although it was wheat fueled, I completed marathon #39, Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas.

The elevation kicked my butt hard. Here's what the half marathon looked like..

The whole marathon re-traced our steps. We had to turn around and go back up this #*&% hill!

The views were worth the climb, gorgeous scenery was everywhere.

And the t-shirt and medal were terrific...

In 2 weeks I head to Boise to do a 12 hour race. In the meantime, I'll be focused on banishing my sugar habit.

The good news..

since my last post I completed 50.4 miles in the 24 hour race in Glendale,AZ. Two weeks later, I returned to Phoenix to complete the Rock & Roll marathon. I'm still alive and kicking. My next marathon is in Austin in February.

The bad news?

I'm still wrestling the wheat monkey on my back!

It's time to make a change. This time I'm serious. I'm sick of looking like an overweight marathoner. The photos from Arizona make me cringe. If I really want to lose my wheat belly, I need to stop eating wheat. It's very black and white. No wheat.

And so I begin again. This time I'm going to only going to focus on No Wheat. When the habit is built, I'll eliminate processed sugar. My last few leaps into a wheat free lifestyle has been to go 100% Paleo. No grains or sugar. I've learned that I need to take baby steps to succeed. Just focus on one project at a time.

No Wheat for now.

Tomorrow I leave for Phoenix

to do my first 24 hour race.

I'm excited and scared at the same time. I'm hoping to complete 50 miles within 24 hours.

I wish my wheat belly was smaller. Damn you holiday carbs!

Lake Tahoe Trifecta (3 half marathons in 3 days)

So many hills

Look it's a boat!

The elevation was so high that we could see snow

This sign says it all

The hills were tough but the view was worth it

First half marathon..done

13.1 miles done, 26.2 more to go.

The race started at Emerald Bay...

This photo doesn't do it justice, the views were fantastic. The first 3 miles were a brutal downhill, then the course turned onto a bike path. And finished in town.

Bob fusses at me for doing minimal race prep. I usually don't look at race course details, I prefer to be surprised. That's also the case for aid stations and port-a-potties. I figure they'll be on the course somewhere, I'll get to them eventually.

OK, I admit it, I should have read the final instructions. Then I would have known about the non-existent port-a-lets and water only available at mile 10. I knew something was up when I was the only one at the start without a water bottle.

Luckily, after about 2 hours, I came upon a 7-11. I bought a water and used their restroom, all was right with the world again.

Tomorrow I'm going to carry some water, I'm still stumped about the bathroom situation. Maybe I'll stuff some toilet paper in my hat and hope for the best.

I'm packing my bag

and hitting the road for another race.

Actually 3 races. Three half marathons in 3 days in Lake Tahoe.

This should be interesting...

Half marathon mania!

Yesterday I completed my first half marathon without mega carbo loading.

I felt so good I'm doing 3 more!

And did I mention the next three will be this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Yes sir!

I'm heading for Lake Tahoe on Thursday. I'm going to do the Lake Tahoe Trifecta, 3 half marathons in 3 days. That's crazy but it could be crazier, some people will be doing 3 full marathons in 3 days. Or a 50 or 100 or 72 mile race! I fell very sensible only covering 13.1 miles a day.

I am committed to wheat-free eating on my trip. I'm on week 2, it's too late to turn back now..

Getting ready for my first Wheat-free race

Tomorrow I'm doing a half marathon in Santa Fe. The day before a race is usually a big carb (mostly wheat) fest.

Muffins, cookies, sandwiches, etc. Dinner would most likely be pasta. Carbo loading baby!

Today is different. For breakfast I had yogurt and peaches with a little peanut butter. Dinner will be a big salad with a couple caveman cookies.

I'm staying overnight in a hotel but will bring my laptop. I want to download my photos in a timely manner..

coffee, yogurt, peaches & peanut butter

I want to look good in my finish line photos.

Even though I'm always at the back of the pack (sometimes I'm last), I love completing marathons. Being slow doesn't bother me, looking "pudgy" does. Here's my finish line photo from the 2010 Dallas half marathon..

My wheat belly is hidden by my fuel belt & race number

My usual pre-race breakfast is (was) a big bagel and cream cheese. After the race I would usually have a big muffin waiting for me. I would spend the rest of the day indulging in wheat porn.

I'm lucky that I only have to lose 25-30 lbs, it could easily have been more.

I have several races scheduled for fall. My progress will be measured by how I look in my finish line photos.