Seven Weeks until Mt. Washington

As I think of the training I have put in over the last 12 months or so, I feel as if I have worked really hard. As of May 1st, I was 734M ahead of the same date in 2009. The body is feeling much stronger and I am very happy with where I am at with my training....and then I read Anton Krupincka's blog - http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/antonkrupicka/. It is then that I realize how much more the human body can achieve. I would like to meet Tony one day, as he seems like a really cool dude.

So what is coming up for me? I am trying to run a many hills as possible while living in Marietta, GA. The treadmill has helped me run some longer simulation efforts at a high gradient. The weather has turned significantly warmer over the past week or so. On 5/15 I will run the Twisted Ankle Trail Marathon in Summerville, GA. This promises to be a very difficult and technical course. I don't think anyone has approached 3 hours but I will try to do so, coming off a 120M week. The following week I am hoping to catch up with an old friend, Frankie Adkins, in Asheville. The aim is to run up Mt. Mitchell on Saturday and perhaps incorporate some of the tougher trails the following day. I have backed off racing a little due to the tough miles but I did manage a slow (15:36 5k) on the first humid morning of the year, at the Big Peach 5k.

As most of you know, Mt. Washington (www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com) is the trial for the U.S. team to be selected for the World Hill Running Championships. I am hoping to qualify for both the 50K World Trophy and the WHR Champs, even though they are just seven days apart. The filed for Mt. Washington is fantastic due to added prize money this year. Some of the top contenders are Joe Gray, Max King, Ricky Gates, Eric Blake, Jason Bryant, Matthew Byrne, Dave Dunham, Zac Freudenburg, Justin Fyffe, Simon Guitierrez, Chris Lundstrom, Shiloh Meilke, Timmy Parr, John Tribbia, and Luke Watson. On a Hill race anyone of these guys could win....or maybe I'll surprise them all!