Like everybody else, I'll do a little year in review. It's certainly been a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs. Luckily my memory sucks, so this shouldn't be too lengthy. Most of what I will remember will come from reviewing my running log.

This time last year I was just coming off of my IT band issues after I started training too soon after the City of Oaks Marathon. At that time I was still committing my training to triathlon. Following my step-wise progression, this was suppose to be the year of the half-Ironman, so I signed up for the White Lake Half since several other friends were doing so.

Training was going great. I had a high volume routine with a couple of two-a-days and lengthy brick workouts. I still wasn't completely satisfied with my cycling. In April, I had a full race weekend where I ran both the Tarheel 10 mile and the Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon on back-to-back days. I met my goals in both with sub-7:00 min miles (which happened to be a PR for my half marathon!).

Unfortunately only two weeks before the race, I developed a stress fracture that sidelined my race plans. This meant a solid 4-6 weeks without any running, again devoting most of my energy to swimming and cycling. It wasn't until July that I was able to start hitting the pavement and trails again.

At some point I decided to put triathlons on the back burner. I don't casually give up on goals like that, but I ended up weighing my sparse enjoyment of cycling against the things I didn't like about it: the costs, the time commitment, the hazards, etc. For the moment, cycling and I just aren't in-sync, so for it's just a cross-training activity.

What I did fall in love with was trail running, which I guess I started after Greg invited me to a weekly trail run headed by Daren Marceau, Meredith and his father[/in law]. The focal point of my training became the Medoc Mountain Trail Marathon in October. With a lengthy build up, I hit some incredibly mileage goals that, given the time to publish, I would proudly boast. The training paid off with a first place in my age group, and fourth overall.

That race quickly moved into my first attempt at an ultramarathon. I had eight weeks to get ready for the Lookout Mountain 50 miler in December. If my marathon training was grand, then this was epic. 6 hour runs, 5 and 5 back-to-back long runs, 3x3 hours, etc. One week I will proudly say I broke the 100 mile mark.

Sad to say, a week before the race I fell of my roof and broke two ribs. Still able to run; however the "nagging" was just too distracting and unpredictable that I decided to postpone the race. What's followed since is some pretty typical weekly mileage, but broken down differently where I've been running based of what I want to do, as oppose to a set schedule.

Yesterday, my final run was the Carrboro 50k, where I successfully ran all 3 laps. It doesn't make me an ultra-runner since it's not an official race, but it settled some frustration I had from not being able to run my 50 miler.

Now, it's time for a run. Maybe a follow up post I'll put in some of my basic stats from the year, and speculate on what 2012 will bring.

I had a somewhat pleasant run this morning. I had purposefully taken the week off after I broken my ribs. I did the same thing when I broke my foot back in April. That time it was mandated by my doctor; self-imposed this time. But learning from that previous experience, I think after any major training easy, whether it ends well or early or unexpectantedly, it's a good idea to cool the jets.

But this morning I got back on the trails. I do have a couple of races on the horizon, but for at least another week, until after Christmas, it's gonna be about running how I feel and want to. And I guess if you include yesterday, that also includes some fooling around with my Vibram FiveFingers.

My sister and brother-in-law fly in tonight and official kick-off a week of the holidays [and its stress.]

Everything was going good and on schedule.

Then yesterday I was trying to clean the gutters and get leaves of our roof. I slipped and fell, hit my abdomen on the railing to the deck and broke two ribs. No spinal injuries or problems with my liver or kidneys (given where I hit).

However, broken ribs are obviously painful. My race is next weekend. The ED doctor said no way, but prefaced that it wasn't dangerous; just that it would be too painful to breath. I did a trial run this morning. Yes, there was pain, but not from breathing and not intolerable, so now it throws in the air the whole possibility of still going, how well I would/could, etc.. I'm so torn right now, given that this is the second time it's happened in the last year. Am I just terribly injury prone?

Greg cursed me. The other day he asked if I would end up going through pre-race nuisances of feeling really crappy then beginning to feel great. Well, I hadn't experience it much recently, and said as much.

While it happens during the normal course of training, I was particularly aware of how "off" I felt. I was doing my running at Wrightsville Beach while conducting my Coast Guard obligation. My long run was done at Umstead on Friday before I left, with two mid-range runs on and near the island. The sensation is hard to explain. Feeling "off" is the closest, but vaguest term. It's like a felt like I was working really hard, but had the sensation that my pace was slow. Then I get done with the run, eventually look at my watch, and realize I was running at a typical pace. While it's good to know I was working steady, the out-of-sync sensation is bothersome.

I love December and all the seasonal Christmas atmosphere. By this I of course mean the holiday selection at Trader Joe's. I try and experience a new item once a week, and always consider what, if anything, to stock pile for the rest of the year.

I've also been cooking/baking a bit more. Sometimes from boredom, sometimes from cravings. Thanksgiving helped when I was able to make cornbread and then into cornbread stuffing, as well as a a "knead-less" yeast bread loaf. Then I made a PB cookie-dough, granola-mixed brownie contraption. Still undecided on how much I enjoy it. Oh well. Most of the time I make more than enough to satisfy any taste cravings. The rest usually gets sent to my dad's office or taken to YMCA. I hope both are appreciative.

Maybe third time's a charm? I've been off and on with this blog and this is back to an "on" moment. It's partially due to being mentioned in my friend Laura's blog, so I hope to do it right.

Tapering has started this week for the Lookout Mountain 50 miler. Yes, my first ultramarathon. I'm a wicked excited. As always it's a constant teeter-totter between pushing hard enough and too hard. After a tough weekend of running (5 hours Saturday in the Uwharrie Moutains, 5 hours Sunday at Umstead) I'm battling some muscle tightness. Here's hoping it'll go away with the taper.

Training ebbs and flows. I'm beginning to accept and appreciate daily and weekly fluctuations to my running schedule and mileage.

Last week, after a thorough weekend of running, my sister and I took an overnight trip to Asheville for some hiking. Scaling mountains can be a feat unto itself, much so after back-to-back 19 and (approx.) 13 miles. But it was tons of fun. By the way, if you didn't know, going DOWN can sometimes be as tough or tougher than going UP (since when stepping down, there is a significant braking/bracing effect on the quads) and I definitely felt this on our trip. Sunday we took a long trek along part of the Mountain-to-Sea trail. The following morning was a climber up Mt. Pisgah. I'm sure the view WOULD have been great... if it wasn't for the fog... and it was bit nippy out (thankfully I had carried a windbreaker in case of rain).

Funny mishap at the "The Athlete's Foot" social run last night. I get over to the store to discover that I've pack one old shoe, one new shoe (as evident by the different shoelace color, otherwise the shoes are identical). Another glance and I discover that it's also TWO RIGHT shoes. Well, crap. Digging into my resources, it turned into a shorter run in... VIBRAMS! It was a risky move: I haven't run in them since April when I broke my foot (while using them!) and had never done over about 2.5 miles (I ran 6 last night). Of course, most running injuries/issues don't present themselves until several days after the fatal workout. However, right now, the only symptom is blisters, and moderate calf aching. Cheers.

Pending the hurricane, this weekend will be the last race in the Triangle Open Water Swim Series. A one-mile swim, I hope to get my last age-group win and complete my awards collection (so far two beer glasses and a coffee travel mug).

I'm beginning to settle into a good cycle for my workouts, though that's looking to be unsettled. Tomorrow I start a once-a-week job packing and delivering local produce. Hopefully it will be a "gateway" job into an industry that I have a interest in.

Another weekend with the Coast Guard. Most people would be astounded by how early I will wake up to get in a run. 4:00 for 12 miles on Saturday (to be ready for ANOTHER 2.5 with the unit at 7:30) and 3:30 on Sunday for 8 miles (before standing watch at 5:30). I still don't think I could be considered an earlier bird. I can get up early, but that's mainly because I'm slow. I usually take at least half an hour to get rolling before a workout.

Interesting fact of the week:

The etymology of the name Duran. French in origin, meaning "enduring." Make sense: duran, durable, endurance. I'm certainly not one to buy into superstition, or "fate" regarding people's name. However, I like entertaining the idea of being a long-distance, ENDURANCE athlete named Duran.

I'm still stuck at around $125 for donations to Team USO. Come on folks!