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Foolish Runner

@foolishrunner.bsky.social

200 followers 130 following 630 posts

A mad 50 something on again off again runner who decided he wanted to try for an Ultra. 🇺🇸 in 🇮🇪 happily over 20 years Life is consumed by working horses with my kids, massive house remodel project and running. https://strava.app.link/PTIxEUIsqQb

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Dec 22

December 2023 I found myself in a hospital ER. Doctor said “you now have covid induced high blood pressure and have 2 choices - pills or exercise”

Had a wtf moment and decided “why am I not running?” and off I went and haven’t looked back.

Am goal oriented so why not a crazy goal - run an ultra.

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 24d

“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
- Jane Goodall

RIP Jane.

I wish the good ones like you could live forever

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 25d

Pre-event stress is a silent killer of performance for sure

Sorry to hear about the dnf, hard decision but sure sounds like you made the right call

Always a sign of wisdom when you don’t ask “can I” but instead ask “should I”

Well done!

event.is

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 26d

Yea same. After this ultra I’m going to be conservative. Next week I’ll be back to 5 runs but only 5-7miles each and then ramp up miles over couple weeks. Probs be 3 weeks before I do a long run again

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 27d

Usually take a full week off running but try to walk every day a decent distance.

If no injuries then I start running in week two at a recovery pace and start a sort of reverse taper for next week or two

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 27d

As usual I will eagerly await post race geek out!

I love to hear how things did, or even more interesting, didn’t go to plan

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 27d

I’m on my third pair of challengers. Love them. Use Hoka Speedgoats when only on trail or single track muddy, but love challengers if going to be on gravel or tjere is some road between trails.

Don’t like racing in challengers a bit too much foam, but great for training!

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 27d

Make sure the GP takes 3 measurements in a row. Throw the first one away it will always be high and average the other two.

That is best practice but a lot of them just do one and it will always skew high

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 27d

Have same issue.

Got Covid induced high blood pressure about 2 years ago. No one sure if permanent or will pass

Running has kept it in check, but if I miss a couple days running it defo rises again.

There are different types of BP meds and some have no adverse effect on endurance

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

That’s great to hear I’m not the only one. Feeling like a great big idiot sucked.

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

It was so upsetting really rattled me. Upset with self and afraid it had blown the whole race.

Just kept moving and reset expectations but took a couple hours to really put behind me

Think this is really what ultras are about - having a problem and pushing through

Still - it sucked

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

Yea not my strong suit either. Friends and fam always comment - “you can’t navigate your way out of a wet paper bag”

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

That’s an alcohol free gorgeous local brewed IPA…just sayin

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

Lessons learned from my first 50mi Ultra

1. Don’t follow people - navigate yourself

2. On self contained events - pack enough gel for longer than you plan on running

3. If you think you might need that layer, don’t worry about weight

4. A warm hat might save your race

#running #runsky

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 28d

First 50mi ultra ✅

Mistakes were made and lessons learned

Ran extra 6.8 miles as the lads I was chatting with went wrong at mile 35

Only just made the cutoff because of it

Almost broke my spirit but knew it would pass and kept moving

I’m hooked

Bring on the 100milers

#running #runsky

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 29d

Congrats!!!

Thx a mil!!

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 29d

I know I’m ready but I’m having a heaping dose of imposter syndrome

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 29d

Wow - thank you for that that was really nice, and good advice too

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · 29d

Woohoo! Yes thank you. And you have your 100miler coming up soon!

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 26

Ooof. And I’m just worried about the rain we are going to get on race day….

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 26

Hey running peeps. Had to take a social media break for a bit, sorry if I missed anything good.

Have my first 50miler tomorrow - super excited, super nervous

#running #runsky

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 11

I am once again sad for my homeland.

The chickens are coming home to roost and the rhetoric is now being replaced with violence

There will be more

And it doesn’t matter from which political pursuasion

I’m afraid it’s broken too badly to fix

😢

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 8

she read enough to have “opinions”

Mainly she keeps reminding me of two things - all modern training protocols were developed studying 20yo runners and koop targets elites

“Neither of which you are”

She really likes the targeted training phases that wrap training blocks - we start that after race

Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 8

How are you feeling after the CCC by the way? Some effort!!!!

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 8

I was running basically 15miles a week or less 21 months ago and now 60/week my physio said don’t expect same increase next year

She is advocating for a big pull back in intensity and miles for next 3 months and a focus on heavy strength training as a foundation before mile building again in Jan

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Foolish Runner @foolishrunner.bsky.social · Sep 8

This 💯

On my 60k training run committed to endurance pacing no matter what no matter how slow, hill or flat.

First time ever I felt like I could “run forever”, even after 8 hours…

Didn’t think about the end, just the now. Was wonderful.

Still - 100miles a lot diff from 60k….