#pony epxress 50 trail run

[phatjosh180]

Ride that Pony ... in 2019

So, last year when I was planning out my 100 mile training plan I signed up for this year’s Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run. Long story short — I’m doing it. There are many reasons for it — stupid ankle, lack of training and most of all … desire. I just don’t want to do it this year.

Even that lack of desire has many reasons. Probably more than anything it’s trying to be a responsible adult (unlike last year) and not doing too much, too soon. Something that’s been VERY hard for me to learn and understand. I idiotically pushed through too much pain last year on a bum ankle that I could have derailed my long term goal completely.

I can’t afford that.

That’s why I have been focusing on just half marathons lately and why I am backing off the long distance in November and December. The only half marathon I am signed up for during those two months is the Bakers Dozen Half Marathon on December 1st. If it was a competitive race I probably wouldn’t be doing it — but, it’s a lax race with a party atmosphere.

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I am not sure if I will do this short-term sabbatical every year? But, I’m 37 and pushing toward 40 — I need to be smarter about my running and racing. If not two months of long mileage — at least one. That seems like a minimum yearly requirement I should adhere to.

But, that’s a whole post for another day.

I’m here to talk about the Pony Express 50. Though I am not doing it this year, I am already looking toward it for next year. Because, I really do want to do it. I am not sure if I will follow that up with my 100 miler shortly afterward, that’s not my worry — I just want another ultra, specifically a 50 miler, under my belt. I love the distance and challenge.

I am being deliberate in my approach, not just in my running, but my fitness as well. I am doing more strength training and specific running workouts during the week. I want to lose a few more pounds to help with that, but really I just need a stronger core.

That’s why I am already planning out my training schedule now — over a year before the race. I want to be ready. I want to be deliberate. And, I want to give myself enough time to mentally and physically undertake this feat. I’ve done it once and I know I can do it again.

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My ultra training will cross over a bit with my marathon training. I will be training for the Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon with a group of friends (many doing their first marathons might I add!). But, pretty much from July onward as I work toward Revel, I’ll be focusing on Pony just as much. Lots of back-to-back runs, uphill runs and midnight runs — even a few long treadmill runs.

It’ll be “fun.”

Luckily, I have a dedicated group of running friends there with the Revel training. Not to mention my friend Shanalee who’s planning on running the Pony 50 with me. I’m hoping to get a few other runners in on the fun, especially the Pony 50. We’re not going for speed, just cutoffs and completion — so if you want to join us, join us!

I am going to hashout a few more specifics on some of these training runs, but I’ll post them either on my Facebook page or the Trails & Pavement page or group? Stay tuned here.

But, without much further adieu here are the planned loooong runs for the Pony 50 and Revel BC. I am not going to post my weekly runs. I do keep those reasonably low 3-8 because I also do quite a bit of strength training/boot camp during the week.

July

05 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 06 – Vigor Solitude Trail – 5 Miles 06 – Follow the Flag 5K 12 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 13 – 10 Miles (Big Cottonwood) 19 – 3 Miles (Bountiful) 20 – Speedgoat 25K 24 – Deseret News 10K 26 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 27 – Timp Half (+3 Miles)

August

02 – 8 Miles (Bountiful) 03 – 12 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 09 – 10 Miles (Bountiful) 10 – 20 Miles (Big Cottonwood) 16 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 17 – Run Elevated Half Marathon (+7 Miles) 23 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 24 – Mt. Nebo Half (+5 Miles) 30 – 3 Miles (Bountiful) 31 – Pocatello Half Marathon

September

06 – 13 Miles (Bountiful?) 07 – Cedar City Half Marathon 13 – 25 Miles (Bountiful?) 14 – Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon 20 – 15 Miles (Bountiful) 21 – 15 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 27 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 28 – 30 Miles (Jordan River Parkway)

October

04 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 05 – 15 Miles (Emigration Canyon) 11 – 5 Miles (Bountiful) 12 – Antelope Island Half Marathon 18 – Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run

The biggest difference compared to my last 50 training plan is a lot more back-to-back training plans. I am not using many marathons as my training plan — just one. Though I will have a 25 and 30 training run to do.

Some of these runs will be midnight runs, some will be deliberately slow and others will be out and backs up a canyon. I love and want the challenge in every run I do. This is not just something physical — it something mentally, emotionally and spiritually that I am undertaking — so I need to prepare that way.

And, I will run plenty of trails. Besides doing the Speedgoat 25K (which terrifies me) I will train in my backyard up Mueller Park Canyon throughout the week. That is something I am looking forward to more than anything.

Anyways — that’s about it … anyone else want to join me?

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Ride that Pony … in 2019 was originally published on PhatJosh | My Life Running.

[phatjosh180]

Ride that Pony ... in 2019

Ride that Pony … in 2019

So, last year when I was planning out my 100 mile training plan I signed up for this year’s Pony Express 50 Mile Trail Run. Long story short — I’m doing it. There are many reasons for it — stupid ankle, lack of training and most of all … desire. I just don’t want to do it this year.

Even that lack of desire has many reasons. Probably more than anything it’s trying to be a responsible adult…