Post Arrowhead

Two weeks ago right now I was only a few hours into footing the Arrowhead.  About this time I was thinking how everyone thought I was 'Crazy' for signing up for the run, but even though it was a little hard only going 4 MPH, it was also kind of nice to be traveling along slowly at my own pace, not having to try to keep up with that lead pack of bikers.  About 24 hours later I would revisit this thought and came to the conclusion that signing up for the Run was not crazy, it was naive, Crazy would be doing it twice.  Over the last couple weeks, after more contemplation and more people calling me crazy, I've decided Footing it was not crazy, but moreso doing the same thing over and over is crazy, without any challenge in your life, like getting up, going to work, coming home to eat and watch TV, repeat.  So how does footing compare to biking you might ask?  The time!  Biking and trying to keep up with that lead pack and pushing a fully loaded bike uphill are harder from a cardiovascular standpoint, but the time aspect of Footing it is so much harder.  After a full 24 hours in, watching the sun come up, and knowing you still have 12, 24 or even 36 hours left, it's so hard psychologically as well as physically.  Would/will I do it again, most definitely!  It is hard to decide sometimes as it only comes once a year, I was so torn on missing the bike race, but I would highly encourage everyone to experience the Arrowhead in a different mode.  Someday I'll ski it, and surely Foot it again, but next year I'll be back on the bike.

I was a wreck the rest of the week after finishing the Arrowhead.  I could barely shuffle on the outside of my feet for about 3 days, resembling somewhat of a crab.  I had three times-a-day blister popping sessions for about 3-4 days before they stopped filling up again.  About a week later, I essentially shed all the skin/blisters of the upper half of both soles.  I'll lose two toenails.  I didn't realize how tired my legs were until my feet were good enough to walk.  I skied the Sunday after, and was amazed how much my quads hurt.  I ran last Thursday (1 1/2 weeks after AH) and it was hard finishing 5 miles.  I biked for the first time in 2 months, and although it's using some different muscles, my legs still feel dead.  This past weekend did a 10 mile run and a 30 mile bike and felt minimally better.

I've resorted to catching up on lots of house chores, reading books, some TV, brewed a Bock and Black Lager, it just seems like I have so much time on my hands as I no longer can or need to train that much.  Next up on the schedule; my wife and I are going down to St. Paul on St Patty's Day to do the Get Lucky 1/2 marathon, and partake in some Irish Heritage Festivities.  I'm signed up for the Chippewa and Superior 50k Trail Races, maybe the Madison Marathon Memorial Weekend, then after June 1, it's pretty much all biking thru next Winter.