Toluu

Long Run Solutions

Marathon Training - 3 weeks inNovember 7

This week marks three weeks into my marathon training/pre-training program. Over the last three weeks, in order, I have run 18 miles, 22.5 miles, and this week I expect to come in between 23.5 and 26 total miles.

On Saturday I am going to do my first speed workout. I expect to run 3 to 5 one mile repeats at or near race pace. I will warm up for a mile or so and then get started with my repeats. If I can pull it off, I would like to run the repeats at right about 7 minute miles and then walk a quarter mile over about four to five minutes. I will then try to repeat that process and I really don't know what to expect. Ultimately, to meet my goals, I will need to work up to 10 or so repeats at a little under 7 minutes.

Right now though, I have to keep that out of my mind while working out because I cannot get my head around it. What I do know is, my training program will prepare me to meet my goals if I stick with it. This last year I made a 21 minute improvement on my personal best marathon time. When I started my training last year, I couldn't get my arms around that idea. I wanted to run under 3:30 and aimed at running under 3:25. This year, I'm only looking to make a ten to twelve minute improvement. Don't get me wrong, I'm aware that's a big move. However, I've done it before by putting a plan in place and hanging in there and making it happen. All I have to do now is repeat that process. Sounds so easy.

Buffalo County MonsterNovember 4

I wish I could claim this amazing monster rack as part of our QDM success, but I cannot. This beauty was shot in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Anyone who knows anything about big whitetails is familiar with the reputation of Buffalo County. Buffalo County is dominated by private land and QDM programs.

 

My sister and her family live in the Mondovi area and there are always stories of big bucks. This is a very rural area of the country and they grow some dandy whitetails. Congratulations to Bob Decker of Eau Claire, Wisonsin. From here on out this rack, this mount, will be known as the "Decker Deer". Hmmmm, must be nice!

Read the whole story by clicking on this link.

Another Quality WhitetailNovember 4

As promised, I am posting another quality buck picture from the Wisconsin QDM property. This beauty was taken by bow from a ground blind at 26 yards.  

Nice mass and really nice G2 and G3 antlers. This big guy green scored around 135 Pope and Young and weighed in at a solid 180 pounds. The young man pictured with this whitetail made a picture perfect double lung shot. The buck managed to cross a small creek, but only made it 100 yards from where he took the arrow. Congratulations Kurt!

Wisconsin Trail Cam BuckOctober 31

For some years now we have been practicing quality deer management (QDM) on property in northern Wisconsin outside of Turtle Lake. QDM makes a lot of sense from my perspective for a number of reasons, however, I'm also aware of the "trophy hunting" mentality that sometimes takes over a well meaning QDM effort.

After years of decidedly mixed success, we are finally seeing some real results. And the difference has been clover. At first we noticed almost no difference in the deer herd. There was a big difference in the hunt because we weren't shooting the first deer we saw. Consequently, we were watching a lot more deer and learning much more about their behavior.

But we were not harvesting bigger bucks until we got serious about the clover. Now we are consistently seeing more bucks and bigger bucks and we are harvesting them, too.

 

At left is my son Blake with his quality whitetail from our 2007 gun deer hunt. Rumor has it I will have another picture of a quality d

Deer with ArrowOctober 30

A friend sent me this trail cam picture of a deer having just been arrowed. Nice shot. It reminded me how much trail cameras have given us insight into the behavior of animals, especially whitetail deer.

Wow. Talk about graphic. That deer did not go farther than 60 yards.