10 days before the "big" H2C relay

It's now crunch time as its only 10 days until the Hood 2 Coast relay. I hope I have gotten in good enough shape to help my team out. I know the other 11 guys are also getting into great shape. I've gotten in a few recent quality workouts (including an 8 X 1 mile track workout on Saturday at a 5:32 per mile avg. pace) and consistent mid-to-high mileage weeks. Going back from last week, my last six weeks mileage totals are 69, 82, 72, 63, 69 and 60. It's time to taper down a little more this week and run around 60 miles to give my legs a little break. Other than the knee pain that I've felt since the early summer and can run through, I feel good healthwise.

It has been a long time coming since we initially signed up for this event last September. Hopefully all this training in the hot, humid Southeast will help us run faster in the Northwest. Hope everyone has a good week of training.

Hood 2 Coast 197-mile relay team goal, preparation

Our (Knoxville Track Club) team's goal: WIN IT! To do this, the team will have to beat all the other 1,000 teams that will be competing this year. We feel that our team has the talent to accomplish this tough feat and let the nation know that Knoxville is one of the top running community’s in the nation.

Each person on the 12-man team will run three times during the two-day race (Aug. 28-29), which starts on Mount Hood and finishes in Seaside, Oregon. The team will have two vans serving as a moving headquarters, transporting team members when they aren’t running and supplying us with food, water and motivation.

The team consists of speed—three former University of Tennessee track stars, and endurance—marathon and ultra marathon champions. The team is very serious about this event and expects nothing but excellence. The team is well into training, and will represent Knoxville and the surrounding community with pride.

I have been training hard the past month with weekly mileage levels in the mid 60s. I will be stepping it up another few notches thoughout the next few weeks and will peak at 90 miles seveal weeks before race weekend. More updates as the race weekend approaches and a full recap after the race.