The Season is Shaping up

It has been a long, hard road, but I am almost back to the mileage of a few years ago.

I finally got in a 50k at Afton last weekend, and managed to keep a "decent" pace for the entire 2 loops.

When talking with the "boys", I realized I have not put in a 2 looper out there in almost 3 years. 3 Years!! It is not from a lack of trying. It is a result of letting myself slide.

So my goal was get in 2 loops, then decide on a race.

So I signed up for the Zumbro Midnight 50. This is a slight rebirth of the Zumbro 100k from 3 years ago which also started at midnight. I am one of the proud 5 to have ever finished that race (okay...... it was only 1 year and I think only 9 started it). I have a great piece of hardware in my basement showing I won my age group. I was the only one in my age group who not only started, but also finished.

But now we have about 50 signed up. I get race against my nemesis, Zach Pierce. None of the faster Matt's are signed up, but that doesn't mean I won't be the slowest Matt.

Bottom line, I feel good. I have confidence. I actually have a decent amount of training (3 runs of 20 miles or more since Feb). This is a far cry from my 2 long runs going into Ice Age last year.

So if this goes well, and Ice Age goes well, I may consider more. Not sure I want to go back to 100s, though.

Thinking of doing a speed loop tomorrow evening at Afton if anybody is up for it.