Marathon Tomorrow with 57 days of training

 Me in my Vibrams.

 I busted all the skin off of my big toe; you can see where I bled through my shoes.

Blood, sweat, and tears. Last Sunday I ran three loops around the Kilauea Iki trail, but I had intended to run five loops. 12 miles of pain. The Sun was blazing in a cloudless sky, and I was back in the protective canopy of the forest. Less than a mile left of my first four mile loop, and I couldn't help steal glances at the sheer beauty of watching Pele's Home, Halema'uma'u, steaming just past the crater I was running through. I was thinking how I hadn't brought anything to offer/thank Pele for cruising her turf so often recently. As I peered at the emissions billowing up, I kick a tree root so hard before I could react I was doing the Superman. I flew head first into a ditch, and I had to do the old tuck and roll. I skinned my hands, scraped my hip, blew all the skin off my big toe, and jammed two of my other toes. I rolled around in the dirt for a few seconds, and was thankful no one saw. I jumped up, and began hobbling down the trail trying to force my body to run through the pain.

I forced my self to keep running. I couldn't shake the fatigue from the sixteen mile run the weekend before, and I was starting to feel dehydrated by the middle of my second loop. I was consuming plenty of water, but I had drank too much coffee in the morning, and I was paying for it.

Crossing the bottom of the Kilauea Iki crater on my third loop I jammed my busted up big toe into a out cropping of lava rock. I spun circles, and I almost F*%*ing cried. I hobble forward trying to push through the pain, and I am able to work through it by the time I reach the steep ascent to the Thurston Lava Tube parking lot.  I usually can run almost the whole hill, but I was so fatigued I couldn't make it happen, and had to walk most of it. I ended up calling it quits at the end of that loop. I figured if I pushed through then I would be in the same predicament of fatigue during the race tomorrow.

I am going to pick up my number and packet today. I will catch y'all on Monday.

Rainforest Rain 16 Mile Run

 Feeling strong and confident, I strapped on my gear, wiggled my toes into my Vibram's, and jumped out into the rain unafraid of its wetness! I started down the trail. Splashing through the puddles like a warrior off to Battle. The heavy raindrops splashing beside my feet swishing through the puddles. A mile and a half into the run I encountered a pack of twelve Japanese Tourist, all geared up in some bad ass mystery brand rain gear, smiling and politely stepping aside so I may pass. They must be warriors too! Japanese tourist are rock stars. In the bottom of the crater I passed another man with crazy wet eyes who looked like he may be some spirit of the forest in human form. I didn't see another person until the parking lot at Thurston Lava Tube.

The cold rain made it much easier to run hard. My soaked skin, cold and clammy, was sucking in the rain, and I hardly had to drink off my hydro-pack. My body temperature stayed low resulting in few walk breaks, and almost continuous running the first three loops. I did stop every four miles and take in some food. I am really focusing on being able to fuel up during the runs.

 The rain did cause more gravel to go into my shoes while running through the bottom of the crater. In through the hole on my right foot where I drug a toe the week before, it came in from the tongue area of my left shoe, and I have a nice wound on each foot. The black color of the lava created the most amazing color of puddle water. It was some blue magic water from the Lord of The Rings, and I was splashing my way into becoming a sorcerer. 

The mist starting lift, and the rain was thinning by my third loop. The rain pulled up and stayed in the clouds by my fourth loop. I was fatigued, but held up well during the fourth lap. I needed a little extra water, I walked a good chunk of the second half of the last ascent. I felt that was minor for the first time running 16 miles. 

My soreness this week has been minimal. I am going to run either 16 or 20 miles this weekend. I will have to listen very close to my body this weekend. I don't want to end up injured for the Big Island Marathon, which is the weekend of the 20th.

Chubby Cheetah's Kitchen, # 3, Triple Berry Pie

 I started craving something sweet, and there was nothing in the house. I had lost the Jeep keys a couple of days previous, Jaime was off to work, and Betty and I were at home. I searched through the cupboards until I ended up in the freezer staring at a pie shell from turkey day, and then I looked down and saw our triple berry mix for smoothies. Perfect. I am just starting to do some baking, but my gamble paid off. It was berry good.

The Berries in our berry mix were Raspberry, Blue Berry, and Black Berry.

ingredients -

Mixed Berries to liking.

1/2 Cup Maui Pure Cain Sugar

1/2 Cup Organic Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Molasses

2 Tablespoons Agave Sweetener

2 Eggs

1 Nine Inch Pie Shell

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You will have to adjust cooking times depending if you are using fresh or frozen berries, these are for frozen. Mixed berries, brown and Cain sugar, molasses, and agave. Beat the 2 eggs well in a bowl, and then mix well into berry mixture. Pop in the oven, and cook at 350 deg. for one hour. Turn down to 300 deg. for a half hour, and finish cooking by a half hour at 250 degrees. Let the pie cool on a cooling rack until room temperature, and then chill at least one hour in the refrigerator before serving. This tangy tart treat will light up the senses. Enjoy.

My body is really starting to change

I haven't posted about running for a couple of weeks because it has been going good. Good seemed boring. I have done two 12 mile trail runs, and was only mildly stiff the next day. I was shooting for 16 miles both times. The run is a 4 mile loop, and when I had finished 12 mile both times I could have run all 16 miles, but I would have been risking injury. During the 9 to 12 mile loop, I started dragging and stubbing toes. I decided it would be better to avoid injury, and pull back to 12 miles. I am going to push through to 16 miles this weekend for sure.

Good food and exercise seem to be agreeing with me. My posture is getting better. I have less back pain. My guts seem to be getting back on track, and they have been screwed up for years. My fat is shrinking, but I still am not fat poor. Baby got back! My upper body and core are strengthening and toning. I am realizing i am going to be spending a year on the doorstep of fatigue, and maybe longer. I am going to have to push like a madman, yet be able to be reasonable enough to stop or get rest when I need it. I will be walking a fine line.

Chubby Cheeta's Kitchen Recipes, # 2, Chia Sports Drink

I drank the Chia Sports Drink during my 12 mile trail run and I am barely sore. I drank only water on my 8 mile run six days earlier and I could hardly walk almost until the 12 mile run. I found the idea of a Chia drink while reading about the Tarahumara.

Ingredients- 

Chia-  3 or 4 tablespoons

Maca- 3 or four tablespoons

Hemp Protein Powder- 1 large scoop

Hawaiian Sea Salt- 2 fat pinches

Agave Syrup- 3 tablespoons

Water- 6 to 8 cups

First bring your 6 to 8 cups of water and the 2 fat pinches of sea salt to a boil, vary the amount water to change the thickness or flavor. Remove the water mix from the heat, stir all ingredients, set pot on a cooling rack until the mixture is room temperature.  Pour room temperature mix into a blender, and either pulse or put on slowest setting, and lightly blend.

 You will have the urge to blend it in the blender say 1/2 way cooled, or 3/4 cooled. Well, if your mix is anywhere near the top of the blender, then steam will build in the blender very rapidly, and spit hot shit all over you, burning you, and make a mess in the kitchen. And, if you a really smart kid, like me, then you'll try in twenty minutes when it's still not cool enough, and reburn and mess your shit up again.

Pour into jars or  a pitcher. I save some jars so can split it up for different workouts.

It is earhty yet sweet spice drink. It the only thing I did different between the two runs. I drank four ounces after four miles, 8 ounces after mile 8, finishing the last 4 ounces after mile 12, and wishing I had more, because I famished at that point. A.D.D. Idea. A squeeze of lime might be nice. I think I am going to try some lime. I hope you enjoy. 

The Sore Leg Bathroom Waddle

After the Kilauea Iki 8 mile run, on VD day Feb. 14th 2011, it seemed as if I was OK. I hurt, but for the first time at this distance, my feet seemed worse than my legs. I had more than one sore toe. Not from the  shoes as much as it was the sheer number of steps on uneven terrain.

 Upon finishing my first loop, I stopped to call the girls, and I saw that it was noon, the first loop took over 1-1/2 hours, and I had to meet My wife at 1:00 so she can pass the baby off to me, switch the Prius for the Jeep, and get down the hill to Hilo and get to work at 2:15 PM.

I knew if I was going to make 8 miles I was going to have to haul ass on fatigued legs. I scrambled back out onto the trail. I reversed directions, and descended by Thurston Lava Tube. I flew like a lion through the first steep descent, but I started to fatigue going through the bottom of the crater. The initial ascent is a super steep trail slash rock stairs. As I ran peering up at the ascent, I jammed the ball of my right foot on a lava rock, straining the  muscle, and almost rolling my ankle. I started to try to run the ascent, and immediately fell back into a walk. I walked quickly until I got into the shade. I stopped removed my hydro pack and Micheal Jordan sweat band to allow my body temperature drop. Once my body temp lowered; I consume a couple of small mouth fulls of water not wanting to over do it. I continued. Getting up those steps is like doing lunges, my quads were shaking like jello, but I pushed through, made it to the top, and then was able to start a slow sliding jog. I knew I was running out of time, and had to get to the parking lot. The rest of the is ascent is very gradual, and I was able to run/walk it at a pace faster than my body wanted. I made it to the parking lot just before to girls arrived. I finished the trail 8 miles in 2-1/2 hours. My feet were really stinging, my legs were numb and had an occasional shooting pain, but I thought they just might be OK.

Wrong! I woke up needing to take a leak, and my legs were stiff as boards, and when I put my feet to the floor someone shoved a hot nail in my calves. Whimpering I teetered side to side like I had two wooden legs, and electric shocks ran up to my ass. My legs were like this for the next three nights. I skipped my short runs, and my paddle boarding.

Thursday morning I drizzled out of bed at 6 AM, and hobbled down the hall to draw a hot epsom salt bath. I soaked, and then got up to make coffee and make a breakfast burrito. Then I rubbed my legs down hard with the red Tiger Balm. Please, heal me firery balm! The girls got up, and the Girls and I went to Hilo Bay. There were small waves. I was still in tons of calf pain. I paddle over in the waves. I couldn't take off on a damn wave. I would get all wobbly the moment before dropping in, I would try to contain the fire in my legs, and splash I would kook out and Huli (fall) off my board. My friend Big L. and I swapped boards in the water. His board is a little wider and more stable. And, He is actually a good surfer and can ride my board. I still couldn't catch waves, until I started kneeling and paddling for the waves. I never could get enough blood into the muscles to wash, even if temporary, away the soreness. We swapped boards back. Big L. caught the next wave in to shore. I tried a couple of times, and resigned to paddle across the bay, and over to where the girls were playing on the beach.

Friday, I did stations, I jumped rope, did push ups, sit-ups, pull ups, and ran in place. My calves were still super sore, and I wanted to try for 16 miles the next day. I talked to my wife, who is sometimes very wise, Hey, I said, "Sometimes", suggested I push the run to Sunday. I agreed, in fact I was a little scared of even doing Sunday's run...

Chubby Cheeta's Kitchen Recipes, # 1, Quinoa and Pumpkin Lunch

I made two separate dishes. A savory & sweet quinoa, and a baked pumpkin.

Sweet & Savory Quinoa

Ingredients-

3 small or 2 medium size tomatoes
1/4 cup bell pepper
1 whole mango
dash celery salt
pinch sea salt
3/4 cup quinoa
1-3/4 cup water

Bring water, sea salt, and celery salt to a boil. Slowly stir in quinoa, cover with a lid and put on low heat for 12 minutes. While quinoa is simmering, chop tomato into chunks, bell pepper into fine slices, and the mango into chunks. When the 12 minute simmer is up stir in vegetables and mango, cover, and turn heat off. It will be slightly warm when pumpkin is done.

Baked pumpkin-

Ingredients-

1 pumpkin cut in half, you may use smaller pieces if it is a larger type of pumpkin
Black pepper
Sage
Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut pumpkin in half, and put deep cuts in the pumpkin almost all the way to the skin. Rub the pumpkin with olive oil, and then sprinkle evenly with black pepper, and lightly with the sage. bake on a cookie sheet for 1 hour.

Enjoy this meal full of fiber, protein, minerals, vitamins, and good carbs.