Gotta be the shoes! (or is it the training?!)

So it looks like I'll only be posting every 2 weeks or so these days...blogging takes a back seat to most things. Hope my few readers don't mind! Sadly - Not much is being missed other than just running. Still no races. Getting a bit antsy and halfway wish I was running SweetH2O on the 21st.
Training is going well. (Is it "training" if I am not scheduled for a race?). How well?

In my 6th week of between 36-43 miles/wk - averaging just over 39 mi/wk. My typical is more towards 33mi/wk going into this.. I have done 39 a week before, for 3 weeks, as I was training for Chicago Marathon and my running was going particularly well. I was running a bit faster then, but I'm getting that back too.
Speedwork, temp runs and 2 hill sessions seem to be working. Last 4 long runs have been 17,18,13&18. If I do 20 this weekend (may do more, we'll see), that'll make 46 for the week - before playing golf Sunday.
Today after work - went out to Paris Mountain. Only been there once this year, back in January. I recently bought some Brooks Cascadias and have worn them once for a 6 miles at Lake Conestee before today. Man they feel light compared to my Asics 2160 trails shoes!!
I ran the upper loop and then came down and ran the 7k course (trails only, leaving out the road portion). Legs felt very strong for most of the 1st part and my time really showed that. I've run that loop in just under 57 minutes just a few times. Today's loop: 51:43. Whew! Wasn't even spent as I went down and ran the lower loop in my fastest time too: ~37.
Shoes or training?

Either way - I'll take it!

I need to sign up for something...Black Mountain 12hr is about to be mine!

Still re-living the Harbison 50k

...and still feeling the pain. Trudging thru 6+ inches of snow this morning made my knee ache some more. Hopefully I can get back to something soon. Not sure what the cause was...Many twists and turns on the course, uneven footing, brand new (generic) orthotics, the last 3 weeks with 2 runs, starting up the stationary bike during that time, 7 times for a total of 75 miles?? Not enough of a running base? Shoes only have 200 miles on them. Hmm, who knows?

Random tidbits:
34th out of 93, with 20 DNF's. I knew there were alot of 1st timers out there. Wonder how many passed me in the first 5 miles and dropped...
Looked like alot of close finishers to one another. 3 within 46 seconds of me too (Guess I did hear footsteps!). I never paid any attention to which runners were at the aid stations. Guess that is where I passed Ty & David. They were Very happy when they finished (Ty's longest before this was Shut in at just over 18 miles I think - awesome!!)
Some amazingly fast runners/times: 4:11 for Mark Lundblad, 4:14 Jim Sweeney! Anne Lundblad in 5:03 to win the females by almost an hour.
Was happy to cheer on some people finishing and see how happy they were...I know the feeling! (But that log in the final stretch - why?? I went around it.)
And the wind? Yeah - it blew down the finishing clock.

Running alone:
Not sure what it is about me and running alone. It happens more often than not, and I assume since I train alone, it doesn't affect me as much as it may affect others. I certainly enjoy the company during races (still hesitate to call any of these events "races"), but my pace just must be that odd. Whether it is a 20 mile training run alone or 20 miles in an event, especially on trails - I am just enjoying being out there. New trails or old trails - it's just peaceful.

1000 miles!

I almost forgot - my run on Sept 1st (Wednesday's hill run) made it an even 1000 miles for the year so far. That is even with 5 weeks of practically no mileage while I tended to my foot. Last year it took me until the first week in November to reach that mark. I just missed 1000 miles in 2008. I know some people set mileage goals for the year. Hmmm, did I? Doesn't seem like I did.
I have tentatively written down a schedule for the remainder of the year, building towards a 50k in the 1st week of January 2011. That plan would get me another 500 miles in the next 3 months. Probably a bit much, but it is always adjustable!

Any bets on when I will hit the 1000 mile mark in 2011? Or a total mileage guess? Your guess is as good as mine!