Well its that time of year again. When the prairie grasses turn to gold and the sumac a brilliant shade of crimson. Signs which tell me that summer is ending and the Flatrock 50km is right around the corner. The Flatrock 50km was the first ultra marathon I had ever tried and has been the benchmark of comparison for all the other ultras I've done to date. Though I've run tougher ultras this one still remains to be my favorite and holds a special place in my heart.
After the year I had and complications in my schedule for work. I was in doubt as if I would return to attempt my seventh finish in as many years. With a couple of disappointing finishes in races this summer. I was also in doubt I would be able to toe the line with the confidence I've had in the past. Time marched on though and after a lot of soul searching and a couple of shorter distance races to regain some of my confidence. I feel ready to take on the ROCK once again. Continuing the love hate relationship I have for this brutally tough course. This year I'll have quite the support crew there to keep me focused. All of them determined to not see me fail. I WILL NOT FAIL, no matter where I finish as long as I finish it'll be a step in the right direction.
Training has still continued to go well for some three weeks now. In some sporting circles that is known as a streak. Hopefully I can continue this streak for another 10 days. That would be just fine with me. I just finished up the last of my speed work last night and though it didn't go as well as I'd liked it to have gone. Overall, it was still better than I've done in the past. Now I start my tapper, easy miles gradually decreasing in distance until race day. At this point the hays in the barn. Nothing I do now will make me any faster on race day. Its time to get the head screwed on tight. To pull back from being an open person and start focusing on the race. Coming out of my shell only after I've crossed the finish line.
So as the title of this blog entry says. " For those about to Rock", I salute you all. For those of you who are running the race for the first time. You will come away with a great sense of accomplishment upon finishing. For the veterans. Its another notch in the belt towards the nobility of knighthood into the Flatrock Hall of Pain. I wish everyone a safe race and I pray that the Gods of the Rock will be kind to all this year.
