Over the last two months I've spent a fair amount of time thinking about running; why I run, how I want to run, how I feel about racing; and I've run two 50 mile races, attempted a 148 km race and attempted a 120 mile race and done some fun running at home.
I think I've come up with some answers, at least ones that are good enough to amp up my motivation. Come to some understandings of why I run, what types of running I like to do, and what types of races I want to do, and what I need from a race to be able to enjoy it.
For now until the rest of the year I have two more races that I've signed up for. A 54 km race in Kamloops that I've done the last two years. I feel like I should be good to go do that race, but definitely won't push hard, it will just be a fun day out. I should be ready to do it, I'm feeling loose in my legs and a week of camping between here and there should keep me relaxed. Two weeks after that is a 100 km road race that I'm going to do. I intend on racing this, I have a crew and it should be interesting. After that, no more ultras for the rest of the year.
So. A few major thoughts.
- I like to run, preferring epic mountains, with beautiful scenery, and amazing single track trails.
- I would prefer this first statement, and be going for harder races with only finishing as the goal as opposed to other runners I know who seem to thrive on competition and chasing after times.
- Flat courses are boring, and I never intend on running one again. Other than road races which I may do on short races. Because there are certin aspects of road racing I find fun.
- I need to research races better; sinister was boring and unstimulating to me because of its constant fire road / atv trail / quad trails and very little trees.
- I really don't feel like being a guinea pig in a races formative years as they work out the kinks.
- I am very spontaneous in my running, and enjoy random challenges.
- I want to finish a 100 mile race (i've got it, I've found the place inside to be to drive myself)
- I want to run hard 100 mile races
So how to combine all these things? I know I"m very spontaneous and don't want structure, but I do know that I will always struggle with motivation to race, but desperately want to finish super hard 100 mile races. I think if I only plan to run two maybe three ultras per year I can do all this. By racing less ultras in a year I will be better prepared, as this year I felt like too many races close to each without proper lead preperation cost me in some races. And by racing less I will be able to afford myself chunks of time during the year where I can just explore and run in my hometown; perhaps lots of little runs, perhaps epic local adventures. Also, I need to spend more time giving back to the running community and so racing less should give me this opportunity as well. Tempering my racing enthusiasm should yield rewards in many facets of running.
So where to go from all that? Long term goal, I want to finish a super hard 100 mile race, perhaps hardrock or the 120 mile fat dog. lots of little things to do to get there, and I shouldn't be trying to hit that goal in a year or two. Steps should be taken along the way. For example; other 100 mile races should be done to get ready for the hard ones, and hardrock requires certain qualifiers. One of the hardrock qualifiers is Western states, so I might as well apply every year for that, meaning another step must be taken, running qualifiers for western states. Also, I want to get faster, if I can maintain a faster speed at a comfortable pace I can finish longer races easier. So, speedowrk. Also, I want to put on muscle mass, I feel like the more muscle I have the better they last during endurance races, so, let's put on some muscle. I also need to do a better job running trails/ascents/descents to match the types of conditions in my goal races.
Main goal:
- Kick ass and finish Hardrock 100 mile and/or Fat Dog 120 mile ultra
Small goals to get there
- run qualifying races: Western states
Goals to get there
- run qualifying races for that
Little details to get there
- pick my races better: don't run races in the summer. Perhaps 50 mile WS qualifiers before June, and 100 mile ultras after August (other than if I get into certain key races).
- do more speedwork
- do more climbing
- more quality running
- with no races booked in summer there is some room for epic adventures of my own
- also, winter/spring can be used for epic/random adventures on my own
Right now: after I finish the 100 km road race September 15: I shall make sure I'm rested for a week or two, then go into a reduced volume maintenance program. With major speedwork and muscle building thrown in.
And go! :)
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
not quite a fat dog yet
At some point during my travels I decided I wanted to come back and give the Fat Dog 120 mile race a whirl. I figured I would rather challenge myself with an epic distance and epic mountain climbs than do race I knew I could complete.
Here is the elevation profile.
100 miles and 28,000 feet elevation gain.
Well; the short story is that I couldn't quite do it. I made it to the 120 km mark. I only went up and down the first three mountains, about 22,000 feet elev gain.
The weather gods are not on my side this year. At sinister it was 39 celsius, and apparently at fat dog it was hitting 30 degrees by 9 am and hit a max of 37 celsius. But I thought I was dealing with it well. I was taking gels regularly, intaking proper amounts of water/gatorade and salts, and my stomach was dealing with the solid food that I was putting in. My sweat/pee functions was good. And I even felt like my body temperature was all that high (well until midday hit, then I started to have issues).
The race started at 4 am in Keremeos, and finishes in Manning park. There was a shuttle bus offered that took you from Manning (assuming you were staying there) to the start line in Keremeos the night before. I hadn't planned far enough in advance to book a room in keremeos, so my plan was to sleep in my car in keremeos after the pre race meeting friday night. Turns out I slept in the hall after the meeting on a pallet. Ha. It was suprisingy comfortable, other than waking up in the middle of the night with a disturbing sensatioon that a bat had landed on me.
Morning of the race we took a school bus that left the hall at 3 am to the start line, arriving there at around 3:45 for the 4 am start. At the sound of a bear clapper 30 crazies started. I should backtrack a bit. The night before I had gone to dinner with a couple experienced runners from Washington state that were volunteering, many times over dinner I got told to go slow, no slower, no slower, you must pace yourself for an epic hard race and the distance. 42 hours time limit, plan for it. And I knew there were a few very expereinced 100 milers in the field, so I figured I wasn't going to go too far away from them.
The start of the race was a rather steep climb in the dark. I attached myself to the heels of a runner that this year had finished his second hardrock. We did a goood pace, good hike pace on the uphills and decent jog on the downhills. The first mountain ascent gave us the sunrise with a perfect view of the mountains around us. At the 31 km mark (which was at the bottom of the first mountain) there was a suggested time of 5 hours. Me and Larry arrived around 4:55 hours. At this point I was feeling great, highs of being at the top of an alpine mountain condition, and running down some nice hiills, felt like my body was holding up good, not too hot yet as we had a decent amount of shade.
Well, at the 31 km aid station is where the heat started. We ran a short ways along a foretsry road in the heat, and then started the ascent up mountain #2 in a very steap open trail. This was slow going. A very hot 5-8 kms later we had gotten back into shadier trails, running along lakes. But that passed and we were back into the open, nearing the peack of the next mountain. There was an 11 hour cutoff time at km 69, which was after a river crossing after going back down the second mountain. Climbing up the second mountain near the top, I was with three other runners and we were quite aware that we would not be hitting this cutoff time. It was far too agreesive. Nonetheless as we came down the awesome singletrack that was ont the side of the mountain face coming down we had to pick up the pace. This was lost a bit as one of the aid stations was moved further along for some reason or another. We had picked up another runner just before this, of the five I was with I was the only one not run out of water (even having shared some of it) hitting the aid station about 6 km before the river crossing at the very low point of the course. At this aid station, we were informed that the race directors were aware of the cut off time being missed by many (turns out had they kept the 11 hour cut off time they would have cut all but 5 runners) the cutoff time was seemingly randomly based off of the previous winners time, plus two hours. At the river crossing we were informed the cutoff had been extended an hour, we still had to book it to make it. Myself and about four other runners came in together, having ran way too fast for the last 4 km to the next aid station, and exerting ourselves too much the 3 km before the river. Turns out 10 runners came through between 3 pm and 4 pm (the extra hour) and they even let 5 more runners in before 5 pm. I wish they hadn't been so indecisive with this, I really felt like I had to push too much to hit this cut off time. I ran 36% of the course distance and about 45% of the elevation gain in about 28% of the total 42 hour cutoff time.
At the aid station at 69 km a fair amount of time was spent getting ready to move on. Shoe change, night time equipment was picked up, and away we went up the next mountain. I was a couple minutes behind a group of 5 runners. They kept jogging the flats. But I felt a little overstretched from trying to hit the last cutoff, so was planning on just power walking for awhile, turned on the music for the first time in the day and eventually I caught up to the group ahead. However, the muscles (perhaps tendons) behind my knees were starting to get tight. About halfway up the third mountain there was a descent, the runners ahead of me started to run, and I just didn't have it in me, the pain in the knees was rough. So I just kept power walking hoping it would go away. I never caught those runners again, but that was ok. Ascending the mountain was another scenic gem just like the last two. So many switchbacks on this one, seemed eternal. But getting to the top it was a beautiful view, canyons straight down on the other side, wonderful cool winds. A couple km's of easy going until the aid station at 88 km at the top of the third mountain. Wonderful folks, had a quesadilla made for me, some nice conversation and away I went. The sunset was watched at the top, and it was a blessed moment. However, just after heading out my legs started to go to shit, specifically now both legs were overly tight behind the knees. And this coincided with the arrival of night time. My first major mental hurdle came. And the low hit hard.
In my head at this point for some reason I thought it was downhill until the next aid station at 102 km. But I was wrong, and realized this very soon. Another mental low, just kept getting lower. As I was feeling like ass of course I stumbled and slightly rolled my ankle. I swore for the first time about 18 hours into the day. When I thought I was at about 95 km, I saw a sign saying 9 km to the next lake (which was where the next aid was) I was now getting further into a mental hole, only this far? I had been passed by several runners, but somehow picked it up and was at least powerwalking the uphills and even jogging the minor downhills. I finally made it to the 102 km aid station, considering dropping. Except there was no way to drop as the guys that were running this aid station only got there by hiking the 18 km up the mountain from the spot where our mext aid station was located. So no choice but to keep going.
I thought to myself that I would at least do my best to the next aid station and see how I felt. Perhaps even feeling recuperated enough to carry on past 120 km. From 102 km it was downhill. The type of trail that has been cut into the side of the mountain, narrow, but wide enough to feel like youi can run, with a steep drop going down the one side of the mountain. Well, my new mental high lasted maybe 10 km. for a 1 km stretch I slipped and stumbled, my legs gave out a bit and I slipped down the mountainside feeling as though I barely caught myself on the way down. I felt so unsafe. THis stumbling happened ten times. FUCK! I was actually feeling scared. What to do? instant low, I felt so mentally out of it. I couldn't even feel the pain in my posterior knee muscles, all I could think of was how am I going to get safely down this trail. So I stopped and sat there. I took my good headlight off, put my junk back up on, sat down and took off my pack and belt and waited. I was mentally prepared to wait until daylight so I could get out safely. However, eventually the next runner came along and I went along with him. I figured at least with someone else I would be safe. By this time I knew there was no other option but dropping when I got to the next aid station. The runner I was with was still holding onto the idea of finishing, but he was going slow. It took us four and a alf hours to go down the 18 km to the next aid station. In the meantime I picked the brain of Jefferey about his motivation to finish, and what gets him through the lows. Some good chats. Eventually we got to the aid station, and I dropped out.
In the end I ran 120 km in 25:25, and did approximately 22,000 ft elev gain, climbing up and down three of the most difficult climbs I've done. the fellow I ran with for a fair bit who has done hardrock said the course was harder than hardrock. I was on my feet continuously for the longest time ever for me, and this is the greatest amount of elevation gain I've ever done, and 5 km shy of my longest run in distance ever. I ran up and down three mountains; watching the sunrise on the first, and the sunset on the third, with so much amazing scenery in between. I am so glad I chose to come take on this course, the greater the challenge the better.
Six days later and I am still a little tight behind my knees, but am capable of comfortably walking. I've biked the last two days for 21 km and 31 km respectively. I could barely walk for three days after the race though. For the first time in three years of trail running I had blisters at the end of a race; one one each heal, the three smallest toes on each foot had blisters, the second largest toe on my left foor had a massive blood blister underthe nail (probably oing to lose it) and my big toe on my right foot is completely black.
I defintely feel like I've come out of this adventure having found the place to tap into in terms of motivatioon to finish/race. So quite pleased with that.
All in all; I am amaxingly blessed to live a life where I have the ability to pursue these sorts of acitivities where I can challenge myself and learn through them.
Here is the elevation profile.
100 miles and 28,000 feet elevation gain.
Well; the short story is that I couldn't quite do it. I made it to the 120 km mark. I only went up and down the first three mountains, about 22,000 feet elev gain.
The weather gods are not on my side this year. At sinister it was 39 celsius, and apparently at fat dog it was hitting 30 degrees by 9 am and hit a max of 37 celsius. But I thought I was dealing with it well. I was taking gels regularly, intaking proper amounts of water/gatorade and salts, and my stomach was dealing with the solid food that I was putting in. My sweat/pee functions was good. And I even felt like my body temperature was all that high (well until midday hit, then I started to have issues).
The race started at 4 am in Keremeos, and finishes in Manning park. There was a shuttle bus offered that took you from Manning (assuming you were staying there) to the start line in Keremeos the night before. I hadn't planned far enough in advance to book a room in keremeos, so my plan was to sleep in my car in keremeos after the pre race meeting friday night. Turns out I slept in the hall after the meeting on a pallet. Ha. It was suprisingy comfortable, other than waking up in the middle of the night with a disturbing sensatioon that a bat had landed on me.
Morning of the race we took a school bus that left the hall at 3 am to the start line, arriving there at around 3:45 for the 4 am start. At the sound of a bear clapper 30 crazies started. I should backtrack a bit. The night before I had gone to dinner with a couple experienced runners from Washington state that were volunteering, many times over dinner I got told to go slow, no slower, no slower, you must pace yourself for an epic hard race and the distance. 42 hours time limit, plan for it. And I knew there were a few very expereinced 100 milers in the field, so I figured I wasn't going to go too far away from them.
The start of the race was a rather steep climb in the dark. I attached myself to the heels of a runner that this year had finished his second hardrock. We did a goood pace, good hike pace on the uphills and decent jog on the downhills. The first mountain ascent gave us the sunrise with a perfect view of the mountains around us. At the 31 km mark (which was at the bottom of the first mountain) there was a suggested time of 5 hours. Me and Larry arrived around 4:55 hours. At this point I was feeling great, highs of being at the top of an alpine mountain condition, and running down some nice hiills, felt like my body was holding up good, not too hot yet as we had a decent amount of shade.
Well, at the 31 km aid station is where the heat started. We ran a short ways along a foretsry road in the heat, and then started the ascent up mountain #2 in a very steap open trail. This was slow going. A very hot 5-8 kms later we had gotten back into shadier trails, running along lakes. But that passed and we were back into the open, nearing the peack of the next mountain. There was an 11 hour cutoff time at km 69, which was after a river crossing after going back down the second mountain. Climbing up the second mountain near the top, I was with three other runners and we were quite aware that we would not be hitting this cutoff time. It was far too agreesive. Nonetheless as we came down the awesome singletrack that was ont the side of the mountain face coming down we had to pick up the pace. This was lost a bit as one of the aid stations was moved further along for some reason or another. We had picked up another runner just before this, of the five I was with I was the only one not run out of water (even having shared some of it) hitting the aid station about 6 km before the river crossing at the very low point of the course. At this aid station, we were informed that the race directors were aware of the cut off time being missed by many (turns out had they kept the 11 hour cut off time they would have cut all but 5 runners) the cutoff time was seemingly randomly based off of the previous winners time, plus two hours. At the river crossing we were informed the cutoff had been extended an hour, we still had to book it to make it. Myself and about four other runners came in together, having ran way too fast for the last 4 km to the next aid station, and exerting ourselves too much the 3 km before the river. Turns out 10 runners came through between 3 pm and 4 pm (the extra hour) and they even let 5 more runners in before 5 pm. I wish they hadn't been so indecisive with this, I really felt like I had to push too much to hit this cut off time. I ran 36% of the course distance and about 45% of the elevation gain in about 28% of the total 42 hour cutoff time.
At the aid station at 69 km a fair amount of time was spent getting ready to move on. Shoe change, night time equipment was picked up, and away we went up the next mountain. I was a couple minutes behind a group of 5 runners. They kept jogging the flats. But I felt a little overstretched from trying to hit the last cutoff, so was planning on just power walking for awhile, turned on the music for the first time in the day and eventually I caught up to the group ahead. However, the muscles (perhaps tendons) behind my knees were starting to get tight. About halfway up the third mountain there was a descent, the runners ahead of me started to run, and I just didn't have it in me, the pain in the knees was rough. So I just kept power walking hoping it would go away. I never caught those runners again, but that was ok. Ascending the mountain was another scenic gem just like the last two. So many switchbacks on this one, seemed eternal. But getting to the top it was a beautiful view, canyons straight down on the other side, wonderful cool winds. A couple km's of easy going until the aid station at 88 km at the top of the third mountain. Wonderful folks, had a quesadilla made for me, some nice conversation and away I went. The sunset was watched at the top, and it was a blessed moment. However, just after heading out my legs started to go to shit, specifically now both legs were overly tight behind the knees. And this coincided with the arrival of night time. My first major mental hurdle came. And the low hit hard.
In my head at this point for some reason I thought it was downhill until the next aid station at 102 km. But I was wrong, and realized this very soon. Another mental low, just kept getting lower. As I was feeling like ass of course I stumbled and slightly rolled my ankle. I swore for the first time about 18 hours into the day. When I thought I was at about 95 km, I saw a sign saying 9 km to the next lake (which was where the next aid was) I was now getting further into a mental hole, only this far? I had been passed by several runners, but somehow picked it up and was at least powerwalking the uphills and even jogging the minor downhills. I finally made it to the 102 km aid station, considering dropping. Except there was no way to drop as the guys that were running this aid station only got there by hiking the 18 km up the mountain from the spot where our mext aid station was located. So no choice but to keep going.
I thought to myself that I would at least do my best to the next aid station and see how I felt. Perhaps even feeling recuperated enough to carry on past 120 km. From 102 km it was downhill. The type of trail that has been cut into the side of the mountain, narrow, but wide enough to feel like youi can run, with a steep drop going down the one side of the mountain. Well, my new mental high lasted maybe 10 km. for a 1 km stretch I slipped and stumbled, my legs gave out a bit and I slipped down the mountainside feeling as though I barely caught myself on the way down. I felt so unsafe. THis stumbling happened ten times. FUCK! I was actually feeling scared. What to do? instant low, I felt so mentally out of it. I couldn't even feel the pain in my posterior knee muscles, all I could think of was how am I going to get safely down this trail. So I stopped and sat there. I took my good headlight off, put my junk back up on, sat down and took off my pack and belt and waited. I was mentally prepared to wait until daylight so I could get out safely. However, eventually the next runner came along and I went along with him. I figured at least with someone else I would be safe. By this time I knew there was no other option but dropping when I got to the next aid station. The runner I was with was still holding onto the idea of finishing, but he was going slow. It took us four and a alf hours to go down the 18 km to the next aid station. In the meantime I picked the brain of Jefferey about his motivation to finish, and what gets him through the lows. Some good chats. Eventually we got to the aid station, and I dropped out.
In the end I ran 120 km in 25:25, and did approximately 22,000 ft elev gain, climbing up and down three of the most difficult climbs I've done. the fellow I ran with for a fair bit who has done hardrock said the course was harder than hardrock. I was on my feet continuously for the longest time ever for me, and this is the greatest amount of elevation gain I've ever done, and 5 km shy of my longest run in distance ever. I ran up and down three mountains; watching the sunrise on the first, and the sunset on the third, with so much amazing scenery in between. I am so glad I chose to come take on this course, the greater the challenge the better.
Six days later and I am still a little tight behind my knees, but am capable of comfortably walking. I've biked the last two days for 21 km and 31 km respectively. I could barely walk for three days after the race though. For the first time in three years of trail running I had blisters at the end of a race; one one each heal, the three smallest toes on each foot had blisters, the second largest toe on my left foor had a massive blood blister underthe nail (probably oing to lose it) and my big toe on my right foot is completely black.
I defintely feel like I've come out of this adventure having found the place to tap into in terms of motivatioon to finish/race. So quite pleased with that.
All in all; I am amaxingly blessed to live a life where I have the ability to pursue these sorts of acitivities where I can challenge myself and learn through them.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
running thoughts; from my travels
I would write in my phone random thoughts about stuff while travelling. Lots of time to think while you're living on a bus for a few weeks. Here are some of my thoughts. Just feel like writing them to ppnder them later.
- I need to plan less in terms of races. Reason is that because I still haven't nailed down my race motivation, I'm very apt to change my mind in terms of what races I want to do. So I should just plan less races and follow my whims for registration
- I like to run. A very simple statement, perhaps complicated meaning for more than running. I value being outside, and I value using exercise/running as a tool for personal growth more than I value the 'race' itself, although I very much enjoy the race day experiemce, I just am capable of recognizing that I have yet to find the thing to tap into that motivates me to truly race properly.
- The immenseness of the grand canyon somehow made me want to skip doing a 50 km race, and come home to do a 120 mile trail race that I knew would be in the mose scenic mountains on awesome single track trails. An interesting revelation that reveals a bit of my preferences I suppose.
no other real interesting quotes.
I found myself coming to terms with my inability to stick with a solid plan; I suppose that is more related to my increasing frustration through this years races of not feeling as though I have had a race result that reflects my athletic ability, or anywhere near it as far as I feel. I've had a fantastic year in terms of running; great people, great places, great improvements.
I spent a lot of time thinking about why race? And have even asked people several times during races something along the lines of "when you are mentally down during an ultra, what motivates you through" - no one really ever had a solid answer, usually just my desire outweighs the cost. I didnn't quite get it, so far this year I wasn't able to get to that point, that is until after I ended my day during fat dog. But more on that later.
So in the end, what are the answers I got for myself about running?
- I really like to run.
- Epic distances and epic mountains are definitely preferred over any sort of accolades, although sometimes its easier to hit those epics through racing.
- I really like to challenge myself through running. Challenges that transcend just the physicality of running.
- I am thankful to be so blessed to be able to live in a place where I have such free time and ability to pursue such lofty ambitions, and to be granted the ability to challenge myself through these sorts of crazy adventures. Always learning, and wanting to push further.
- I need to plan less in terms of races. Reason is that because I still haven't nailed down my race motivation, I'm very apt to change my mind in terms of what races I want to do. So I should just plan less races and follow my whims for registration
- I like to run. A very simple statement, perhaps complicated meaning for more than running. I value being outside, and I value using exercise/running as a tool for personal growth more than I value the 'race' itself, although I very much enjoy the race day experiemce, I just am capable of recognizing that I have yet to find the thing to tap into that motivates me to truly race properly.
- The immenseness of the grand canyon somehow made me want to skip doing a 50 km race, and come home to do a 120 mile trail race that I knew would be in the mose scenic mountains on awesome single track trails. An interesting revelation that reveals a bit of my preferences I suppose.
no other real interesting quotes.
I found myself coming to terms with my inability to stick with a solid plan; I suppose that is more related to my increasing frustration through this years races of not feeling as though I have had a race result that reflects my athletic ability, or anywhere near it as far as I feel. I've had a fantastic year in terms of running; great people, great places, great improvements.
I spent a lot of time thinking about why race? And have even asked people several times during races something along the lines of "when you are mentally down during an ultra, what motivates you through" - no one really ever had a solid answer, usually just my desire outweighs the cost. I didnn't quite get it, so far this year I wasn't able to get to that point, that is until after I ended my day during fat dog. But more on that later.
So in the end, what are the answers I got for myself about running?
- I really like to run.
- Epic distances and epic mountains are definitely preferred over any sort of accolades, although sometimes its easier to hit those epics through racing.
- I really like to challenge myself through running. Challenges that transcend just the physicality of running.
- I am thankful to be so blessed to be able to live in a place where I have such free time and ability to pursue such lofty ambitions, and to be granted the ability to challenge myself through these sorts of crazy adventures. Always learning, and wanting to push further.
White river;
It's been a while since I ran teh white river 50 race, so not much to say this late.
First, pictures for posterity.
the race is just perfect. Amazing scenery with Mt Rainier as the backdrop (as seen in the first picture). The trails were great and well marked. Aid stations were amazing with great people running them and fantastic food at them, nothing was missing. Organization was wonderful. All in all, a great race which left nothing to be desired, I would definitely recomend the race.
In terms of my race; again I struggled with motivation and didn't have the mental umph to push through the pain to dig down for a great race day performance. but maybe I also didn't really ahve ths physical strength as the week prior had 16 hours of exercise in it, as I gave in to the urge of bagging every summit in town. But, I had a nice day out on the trails, ran my fastest 50 mile race in what may be the toughest conditions. I can tell I'm improving athletically when I run faster races, even though I feel pieces are still missing, so that's nice.
At the end of this race I found myself again faced with the question of 'why' to which I spent a fair bit of time thinking about in the following weeks. Why run? What types of races? How do I even want races to fit into my running? I had a nice nine and a half hours to think during this race, I answered no questions, but I better elucidated the questions I wanted to figure out answers to.
First, pictures for posterity.
(photo credit from Glenn Tachiyama; http://www.pbase.com/gtach/wr2012 )
the race is just perfect. Amazing scenery with Mt Rainier as the backdrop (as seen in the first picture). The trails were great and well marked. Aid stations were amazing with great people running them and fantastic food at them, nothing was missing. Organization was wonderful. All in all, a great race which left nothing to be desired, I would definitely recomend the race.
In terms of my race; again I struggled with motivation and didn't have the mental umph to push through the pain to dig down for a great race day performance. but maybe I also didn't really ahve ths physical strength as the week prior had 16 hours of exercise in it, as I gave in to the urge of bagging every summit in town. But, I had a nice day out on the trails, ran my fastest 50 mile race in what may be the toughest conditions. I can tell I'm improving athletically when I run faster races, even though I feel pieces are still missing, so that's nice.
At the end of this race I found myself again faced with the question of 'why' to which I spent a fair bit of time thinking about in the following weeks. Why run? What types of races? How do I even want races to fit into my running? I had a nice nine and a half hours to think during this race, I answered no questions, but I better elucidated the questions I wanted to figure out answers to.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
see ya
Leaving on Friday morning for 5 weeks.
My trip will include the White River 50 mile race in Crystal Mountain, Wa (near seattle), the Corner Canyon Ultra 50 km in Draper, Ut (near Salt Lake City), the Tamalpa HEadlands 50 km in Muir Beach, Ca (near San Francisco), and the Walk in the Park 54 km in Kamloops, BC
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Week ending July 22 (taper?)
July 16 - July 22
Monday july 16: no run
Tuesday july 17: hiked bear creek; about 5 km's. We went up the trail on the one side and then decided to swim in a deep area of the creek, which was then followed up with the brilliant decision to come back down the creek. Only problem was that we both had forgotten just how big the waterfalls were. Further to the top of the creek was the smallest (about 5 metres high) and right below that was the bigger (about 30 metres high). We actually stood talking about trying to get down the smaller for ten minutes, not knowing how much bigger the larger was. I'm quite glad I won the discussion and we turned back... only to try and scale the cliff face instead of just going back teh way we came, that was probably equally as scary as we had wet running shoes on, and there was crap for handholds on the rock climb.
wednesday july 17::
am: 42.3 km road bike around town in 96 minutes
pm1: 8.1 km mountain bike on the greenway to meet up with the pace group
pm2: 10.9 km trail run in 62 minutes. Pace workout; 10 minute warmup, then did sprint pyramids, then cool down.
pm3: 9.5 km mountain bike home from pace run
thursday july 18: rest day: I had intened on running Little White mtn, but wednesday kicked my ass a bit, and it was way too hot out.
friday july 19: Little White! I parked my car at the parking lot near the top of little white fsr and biked to the bellevue trestle, then hiked/ran to top of little white, a little bit along the ridge and back, then biked back to my car. It was cool and cloudy, so great for running. There was still a little bit of snow at the top, so on the way up it was still a little mosquito infested, but thats alright. One of my favourite runs. Biked 13.6 km, ran 22.5 km with 1,116 metre elev gain.
Monday july 16: no run
Tuesday july 17: hiked bear creek; about 5 km's. We went up the trail on the one side and then decided to swim in a deep area of the creek, which was then followed up with the brilliant decision to come back down the creek. Only problem was that we both had forgotten just how big the waterfalls were. Further to the top of the creek was the smallest (about 5 metres high) and right below that was the bigger (about 30 metres high). We actually stood talking about trying to get down the smaller for ten minutes, not knowing how much bigger the larger was. I'm quite glad I won the discussion and we turned back... only to try and scale the cliff face instead of just going back teh way we came, that was probably equally as scary as we had wet running shoes on, and there was crap for handholds on the rock climb.
wednesday july 17::
am: 42.3 km road bike around town in 96 minutes
pm1: 8.1 km mountain bike on the greenway to meet up with the pace group
pm2: 10.9 km trail run in 62 minutes. Pace workout; 10 minute warmup, then did sprint pyramids, then cool down.
pm3: 9.5 km mountain bike home from pace run
thursday july 18: rest day: I had intened on running Little White mtn, but wednesday kicked my ass a bit, and it was way too hot out.
friday july 19: Little White! I parked my car at the parking lot near the top of little white fsr and biked to the bellevue trestle, then hiked/ran to top of little white, a little bit along the ridge and back, then biked back to my car. It was cool and cloudy, so great for running. There was still a little bit of snow at the top, so on the way up it was still a little mosquito infested, but thats alright. One of my favourite runs. Biked 13.6 km, ran 22.5 km with 1,116 metre elev gain.
The summit of Little White
A few shots of the valley from the top of Little White
Bellevue Trestle
the cliff face at Little White; lunch on top!
One of the two big reasons I'm no longer comfortable driving on the KVR
Saturday July 21: Okanagan Mountain Summit run with pace. Ran the divide lake trail to the summit and back. Another beautiful day. I tested perogies as a on the run food this day, seemed to work. Ran 28.2 km with 1,562 metre elev gain.
At the top of Ok Mtn beside Divide Lake
after running I stopped at the bike shop to pick up my road bike; so I couldn't resist going for a quick 14.2 km ride through the hills near home.
Sunday july 22: biked 15.9 km to knox mountain (uphill), then a short 4 km run to test out new shoes (mountain masochists, I like!) and then rode 12.6 km home (down).
Weekly totals:
Bike: 116.2 km
Run: 70.6 km with 3,127 metre elev gain
Total time: 14 hours 55 minutes.
Next week I'm going a 50 mile race, didn't really do much of a taper, but I didn't work this week so I guess I got more rest day. Overall, a fantastic week. I hit the summit of three of the local mountains and it was good.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sinister race thoughts and photos
I don't know where to really start with this race. So a few photos will start I guess.
This is going to be a horrible race report. I don't feel like breaking down the race blow by blow, describing every intricate detail of what went down.
A few key things. I had a good day, running with old friends and new friends. I had a fantastic little holiday with family who came out to support me on my endeavour. I ended up dropping out of the 148 km race at 87 km. The day was super hot, reaching a high of 39 degrees celsius (103 F). I did start the race at what I thought was a slow enough speed to last. Around 34 km I got my first signs of trouble, with tightness coming and going in my legs, and stomach issues beginning. Even though the race was in the mountains, there was no shade, no clouds, and very little trees to block the sun. By 50 km in I was having real issues with my stomach, just felt horrible. Leaving the transition area heading up the hill at the beginning of leg 4 (around 67 km) I started to feel faint, and didn't make it up the hill well at all. By 70 km I was feeling like a real tonne of ass, the heat felt like it was destroying me. At 73 km, there was a river crossing, the runner I was with suggested taking the shoes off and walking through to keep dry as there was 15 km to go until the next crew spot and change of shoes. I sat down at the water station 100 metre later and when I tried to get up and was lightheaded, dizzy and fell back down into the chair. I didn't go on from that point until I could stand up without feeling faint; that took 30 minutes. When I kept going I decided to go to the next water station and re-asses, I felt basically the same, except worse. I was feeling off feelings in my toes and fingers, I hadn't peed in 11 hours, and as well as the light headedness I was feeling funny in the chest (maybe I was having asthma issues due to the elevation).
I decided to drop out at 87 km around 13.5 hours. I was well within the cut off times, but didn't feel moving on was the safest choice. I could possibly have walked it out to the finish and still beat the cut-off time. But finishing is not worth the possible risk. I knew the next leg included lots of deep water, and with the lightheadedness that wouldn't go away I didn't feel like risking falling in a deep puddle, or something worse. I'm totally ok with dropping. Running myself into possibly risky situations isn't worth the risk, just for the reward of being able to say I am a finisher, the risk vs reward ratio tipped in the favour of risk on that day. I enjoy running more than I used to, and seem to be less willing to destroy myself. So that was that.
Thinking more deeply about my DNF though, I think if I were in another race of that distance and feeling the same I will have learned from this and make a different choice. I came into the water station where I ended up dropping out at 87 km at 13 hours. Total cut-off time for the race was 27 hours for 148 km. To finish the race from that under the cut-off time I would have had to do the remaining 61 km in 14 hours, that's a pace of 13:45 min/km (22 min/mile) which is very doable in itself, as long as you can get your head past your current pain state. Also, the cutoff time for that leg was 18 hours for 99 km. I had to go 12 more km in 5 hours. Very doable.
Now here''s the thing; almost immediately (around 13.5 hours) after getting into the car of the volunteer who drove me from where I dropped to the arena, I started to feel better. Part of that was probably me mentally letting go of stress, but maybe I just needed a rest. And within a couple hours I felt tonnes better already. Maybe all I needed was a major rest, and some wicked food in me to be able to ramp it up. What if I had rested at the spot I had dropped for two hours and then kept going. Even with that much I could probably had run the remaining 61 km in under 12 hours. Or what if I had struggled two the next transition area where my crew was waiting, and then rested under the comfort of family and food. Maybe after that I could have even picked up the pace a bit and pushed on faster. So maybe, having pushed hard enough to work myself a buffer under the cut off times, I should have used thta buffer up to try and recover before dropping.
I think I may have just talked myself into doing this race again next year, wrong decisions that are fixable. I don't regret my decision to drop at all. But I think I have definitely learned something from it. After all, I have only been doing this whole ultra thing since 2010, and this was only my third attempt to run further than 100 km. Growing pains I guess.
Write out the thoughts of the race, and talk yourself into a bit of unfinished business.
Happy sighs.
And I'm a week away from a 5 week vacation. !!!!
Around 5 km
Around 12 km
Same shot, just after I passed through.
Around 35 km.
A few key things. I had a good day, running with old friends and new friends. I had a fantastic little holiday with family who came out to support me on my endeavour. I ended up dropping out of the 148 km race at 87 km. The day was super hot, reaching a high of 39 degrees celsius (103 F). I did start the race at what I thought was a slow enough speed to last. Around 34 km I got my first signs of trouble, with tightness coming and going in my legs, and stomach issues beginning. Even though the race was in the mountains, there was no shade, no clouds, and very little trees to block the sun. By 50 km in I was having real issues with my stomach, just felt horrible. Leaving the transition area heading up the hill at the beginning of leg 4 (around 67 km) I started to feel faint, and didn't make it up the hill well at all. By 70 km I was feeling like a real tonne of ass, the heat felt like it was destroying me. At 73 km, there was a river crossing, the runner I was with suggested taking the shoes off and walking through to keep dry as there was 15 km to go until the next crew spot and change of shoes. I sat down at the water station 100 metre later and when I tried to get up and was lightheaded, dizzy and fell back down into the chair. I didn't go on from that point until I could stand up without feeling faint; that took 30 minutes. When I kept going I decided to go to the next water station and re-asses, I felt basically the same, except worse. I was feeling off feelings in my toes and fingers, I hadn't peed in 11 hours, and as well as the light headedness I was feeling funny in the chest (maybe I was having asthma issues due to the elevation).
I decided to drop out at 87 km around 13.5 hours. I was well within the cut off times, but didn't feel moving on was the safest choice. I could possibly have walked it out to the finish and still beat the cut-off time. But finishing is not worth the possible risk. I knew the next leg included lots of deep water, and with the lightheadedness that wouldn't go away I didn't feel like risking falling in a deep puddle, or something worse. I'm totally ok with dropping. Running myself into possibly risky situations isn't worth the risk, just for the reward of being able to say I am a finisher, the risk vs reward ratio tipped in the favour of risk on that day. I enjoy running more than I used to, and seem to be less willing to destroy myself. So that was that.
Thinking more deeply about my DNF though, I think if I were in another race of that distance and feeling the same I will have learned from this and make a different choice. I came into the water station where I ended up dropping out at 87 km at 13 hours. Total cut-off time for the race was 27 hours for 148 km. To finish the race from that under the cut-off time I would have had to do the remaining 61 km in 14 hours, that's a pace of 13:45 min/km (22 min/mile) which is very doable in itself, as long as you can get your head past your current pain state. Also, the cutoff time for that leg was 18 hours for 99 km. I had to go 12 more km in 5 hours. Very doable.
Now here''s the thing; almost immediately (around 13.5 hours) after getting into the car of the volunteer who drove me from where I dropped to the arena, I started to feel better. Part of that was probably me mentally letting go of stress, but maybe I just needed a rest. And within a couple hours I felt tonnes better already. Maybe all I needed was a major rest, and some wicked food in me to be able to ramp it up. What if I had rested at the spot I had dropped for two hours and then kept going. Even with that much I could probably had run the remaining 61 km in under 12 hours. Or what if I had struggled two the next transition area where my crew was waiting, and then rested under the comfort of family and food. Maybe after that I could have even picked up the pace a bit and pushed on faster. So maybe, having pushed hard enough to work myself a buffer under the cut off times, I should have used thta buffer up to try and recover before dropping.
I think I may have just talked myself into doing this race again next year, wrong decisions that are fixable. I don't regret my decision to drop at all. But I think I have definitely learned something from it. After all, I have only been doing this whole ultra thing since 2010, and this was only my third attempt to run further than 100 km. Growing pains I guess.
Write out the thoughts of the race, and talk yourself into a bit of unfinished business.
Happy sighs.
And I'm a week away from a 5 week vacation. !!!!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Week ending July 15 (recovery and race)
July 9 - 15 recovery and race week
Mon: rest day; travelling back from sinister
Tue: 16 km road bike; to work and back after
Wed: 16 km road bike; to work and back after
thu: 6.6 km in 36 mins; road running around home at night after work, very easy pace
Fri: no run
Sat: 15.9 km, 903 metre elev gain, 150 mins; easy pace run with pace in knox mtn trails
Sun: 2 km road run easy pace warm up
Sun: RACE!! 8 km road race in 32:05
Weekly Totals:
Running; 32.5 km and 965 metre elev gain
Biking: 48 km
Total time: 6 hours 22 minutes
I took it excessively easy this week to recover from sinister (I still need to get in writing my thoughts from that day) as I didn't want to push my body after having dropped out due to physical concerns. So I feel pretty good about the week in exercise and general health. By tuesday I was able to be fully functioning at work, so that was good.
Road race on sunday. I entered the race just a couple days prior just to see how I would compare to last year. Last year I ran the flat 8 km road race in 32:38 and this year I finished in 32:05 just shy of my 4 min/km pace, but I still feel pretty good about it. It was a fairly humid day out, so it felt harder than it should have been, and I don't think my body was fully recovered from sinsiter yet, as later that day at work I felt like a complete bag of crap all over my body.
Sunday was my last day of work for at least two months. I'm going travelling, and it' gonna be sweet. Starting with a 50 mile race in seattle on July 28, then a 50 km race in draper, utah on Aug 11 and then a 50 km race in Muir Beach, Ca on Aug 25. Plus I'll add in some time sightseeing around the states in between the races.
Mon: rest day; travelling back from sinister
Tue: 16 km road bike; to work and back after
Wed: 16 km road bike; to work and back after
thu: 6.6 km in 36 mins; road running around home at night after work, very easy pace
Fri: no run
Sat: 15.9 km, 903 metre elev gain, 150 mins; easy pace run with pace in knox mtn trails
Sun: 2 km road run easy pace warm up
Sun: RACE!! 8 km road race in 32:05
Weekly Totals:
Running; 32.5 km and 965 metre elev gain
Biking: 48 km
Total time: 6 hours 22 minutes
I took it excessively easy this week to recover from sinister (I still need to get in writing my thoughts from that day) as I didn't want to push my body after having dropped out due to physical concerns. So I feel pretty good about the week in exercise and general health. By tuesday I was able to be fully functioning at work, so that was good.
Road race on sunday. I entered the race just a couple days prior just to see how I would compare to last year. Last year I ran the flat 8 km road race in 32:38 and this year I finished in 32:05 just shy of my 4 min/km pace, but I still feel pretty good about it. It was a fairly humid day out, so it felt harder than it should have been, and I don't think my body was fully recovered from sinsiter yet, as later that day at work I felt like a complete bag of crap all over my body.
Sunday was my last day of work for at least two months. I'm going travelling, and it' gonna be sweet. Starting with a 50 mile race in seattle on July 28, then a 50 km race in draper, utah on Aug 11 and then a 50 km race in Muir Beach, Ca on Aug 25. Plus I'll add in some time sightseeing around the states in between the races.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Another race DNF
I dnf'd at km 87 of 148 at sinister on saturday. Massive heat and zero clouds and zero shade on the course made for an ass kick of a day. I dropped when I was still well under the cut off times; fingers tingling, chest feeling funny with the first hints of asthma I've felt in a couple years (maybe due to elevation), body shakes were coming on their way, and I was feeling faint in the head.
In the past (at the death race for example) I would have pushed on walking to the finish. On saturday I dropped, the other possible options such as making my body worse, or even passing out and getting severely injured were too great a risk to continue. So I dropped. I'm ok with it.
It seems as though the more I run on a daily basis, and the more fun in my daily runs I have, the less I feel like I 'need' to finish a race. I feel like I'm quite deep in the middle of a process of transitioning my reasons for running. Going from running searching for a sense of purpose in life and to prove that I am capable of doing something tough; and now I'm very much moving heavily towards running for pleasure. I like where I'm heading, but still feel a few questions lingering as a result.
I'll write a probably excessively detailed race post later, just felt this thought was worth writing.
In the past (at the death race for example) I would have pushed on walking to the finish. On saturday I dropped, the other possible options such as making my body worse, or even passing out and getting severely injured were too great a risk to continue. So I dropped. I'm ok with it.
It seems as though the more I run on a daily basis, and the more fun in my daily runs I have, the less I feel like I 'need' to finish a race. I feel like I'm quite deep in the middle of a process of transitioning my reasons for running. Going from running searching for a sense of purpose in life and to prove that I am capable of doing something tough; and now I'm very much moving heavily towards running for pleasure. I like where I'm heading, but still feel a few questions lingering as a result.
I'll write a probably excessively detailed race post later, just felt this thought was worth writing.
Monday, July 2, 2012
week ending july 1 - taper week
This week I only ran three times. Tuesday for 2.5 hours (which was not comfortable yet after my race saturday), wednesday for a evening workout, and saturday for a couple hours.
This year, for the first time in my brief time doing ultra running, I have been mindful of attempting a proper training plan. Doing build weeks, then tapering, and doing specific purposeful types of runs throughout the week. This has been made all the easier by the fact that I joined a running group and have the coach make a training plan for me. The hardest part of the training plan for me to stick to properly is the taper and the rest weeks. I always do much less than advised during the easier scheduled weeks, as though knowing that I will be runniing less and knowing that the purpose of the week is to recover allows me to be less diligant in getting out the door to run. I always feel fine once the shoes are on and I"m at it, but not doing it is harder. The little things, like sitting around after work socialising instead of running becomes an easier choice, and then I've missed a run.
I'm six days away from sinister 7; and I'm getting very very very excited. With getting time off for the race and for travel, I have to work my usual days off, which is making a little harder to try and follow my suggested training plan for the week of the race. The early weeks runs may be nixed in favour of finding time to pack and get ready to leave.
No matter how these last 5 days before the race go, I know I feel ready for it. I feel properly trained, and definitely mentally ready. Every aspect of my training has been with sinister in the back of my mind. I don't have any specific time goals for the race, or placing goals; primarily I have goals based around bodyfeel, nutrition, effort and mindfocus. Hit these goals, and I will be satisfied no matter how I do. But also, anything can happen in an ultra, and all is good no matter what.
Are we there yet? I want to run it already.
This year, for the first time in my brief time doing ultra running, I have been mindful of attempting a proper training plan. Doing build weeks, then tapering, and doing specific purposeful types of runs throughout the week. This has been made all the easier by the fact that I joined a running group and have the coach make a training plan for me. The hardest part of the training plan for me to stick to properly is the taper and the rest weeks. I always do much less than advised during the easier scheduled weeks, as though knowing that I will be runniing less and knowing that the purpose of the week is to recover allows me to be less diligant in getting out the door to run. I always feel fine once the shoes are on and I"m at it, but not doing it is harder. The little things, like sitting around after work socialising instead of running becomes an easier choice, and then I've missed a run.
I'm six days away from sinister 7; and I'm getting very very very excited. With getting time off for the race and for travel, I have to work my usual days off, which is making a little harder to try and follow my suggested training plan for the week of the race. The early weeks runs may be nixed in favour of finding time to pack and get ready to leave.
No matter how these last 5 days before the race go, I know I feel ready for it. I feel properly trained, and definitely mentally ready. Every aspect of my training has been with sinister in the back of my mind. I don't have any specific time goals for the race, or placing goals; primarily I have goals based around bodyfeel, nutrition, effort and mindfocus. Hit these goals, and I will be satisfied no matter how I do. But also, anything can happen in an ultra, and all is good no matter what.
Are we there yet? I want to run it already.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Week ending June 23 (scorched sole report)
June 18 - June 24 (scorched sole week)
Mon: rest day
Tue: rest day
Wed:
am1: road run up highway 33 to pick up my mountain bike that I'd left at the end of philpott rd; 19.2 km in 103 minutes with 582 metre elev gain
am2: mountain bike back home; 20 km in 46 minutes
pm1: road bike from home to meet up for pace workout; 15.5 km in 37 minutes
pm2: pace workout; little bit of trails and a bit of road hill repeats; 7.5 km, 168 metre elev gain in 46 minutes
pm3: road bike home from pace workout; 15.1 km in 35 minutes
thur: short road run; 5.2 km in 29 minutes
fri: short road bike; 9.1 km in 23 minutes
sat: scorched sole 50 mile trail race: 80 km; 3,275 metre (10,670 feet) elev gain, in 9:48:50
sun: road bike; 26.4 km in 62 minutes
Weekly Totals:
Run: 111.9 km and 4,047 metre elev gain
Bike: 86.1 km
Total time: 16 hours 8 minutes
Scorched sole thoughts:
The race was in an inner city park for the first time; and it was a loop course. Five 16 km loops (each with 655 metre elev gain). I'm not one for loops, but with the race being exactly two weeks before sinister 7 I thought it would make for a well timed last long run and a race day situation to iron out any kinks that may be lingering before the big dance.
Lap times:
1. (1:39:15)
2. (1:44:46)
3. (1:56:13)
4. (2:06:03)
5. (2:22:27)
Finish: (9:48:50)
So, my goal for the race going in truly was to just have a well supported long training run, not pushing hard so I made sure not to over do it before sinister. I went out a little hard, and forgot about this goal for the first lap and a bit, but then slowed down into a better pace that felt right for the day. Someone had registered for the race that I figured to be the race winner, so I was happy with that because then I could know there would be no inclination of trying to shoot for the win, as I am nowhere near as fast as him. But he didn't show up race day. So the race started, and we headed out. I was in front with a couple friends, and a couple out of towners. The one friend had told me she was just going for a long training run, but she's a beast and that means nothing, she's competitive and race day is go time. The five of us were together for the first half lap; then it was just three of us in front. We were hanging together for awhile. the second and third aid station was the same location and coming in to the second time the volunteer asked about the friend that had been behind us coming in the first time, but came through ahead of us the second time, problem was she never passed us. Ha! She missed an out and back section, and then to top that she didn't do a couple km's down to the finish and back at the end of the first loop. Giggles all around, a local that runs the mountain regularly going off course... So she was quite aways ahead (she ended up doing the parts she missed later) but I was quite glad that she passed me without passing me though, because if it had been a normal pass, I may have been tempted to go and try and stick with her. She's a great runner, and I feel like I'm good enough that I could compete with her in a race, but definitely not in a race where my main goal is to not push hard. She ended up finishing an hour ahead of me.
Of the three of us that were left running together, the out of towner pulled ahead halfway through the second lap, but never made it more than 8 minutes ahead of me (but this never concerned me, we were where we were, no real focus on the time) we were usually within site of each other with the two out and back sections of the course. I pulled ahead of the other local friend I was running with halfway through lap three, and then started to reel in the guy in front of me. I caught the guy in front of me during the fourth lap, and pulled ahead after the transition into the last lap. Except, when it came down to 'racing' for the win, my philosophy for the day of taking it easy prevailed, and rather than pushing it and exploiting his tiredness to go hard for the first place male finish, I stopped and waited for the other runner to walk/chat the first ascent of the loop with him, and then at the top of the first ascent stopped and waited again to slow jog the easiest section of the course with him. After the major climb of the lap I had pulled away by a couple minutes, and then at the last aid station I think spent a little too much time chatting it up with the volunteers thanking them for coming out, and he caught me just after the last aid station. We chatted leading up to the last short climb of the course, and then with 3.5 km left I wished him well on his way, it was all downhill from there - he was a good downhill runner - and I didn't feel like pushing, I tried to stay true to my goal of the day, no excessive pushing. But then I was like, oh hell no! I'm gonna chase, so down one of my favouruite descents on the mountain I started to just give it hard. We came off one section of single track that led to some double track, which would then lead to the last descent, I was 15 metres behind him for first male finisher.....
So I stopped to chat with one of the race directors for a couple minutes with 2 km left in the race!!! Nice short chat and a hug and I was back on my way. Ended up finished in 9:48. I`ve only run three 50 mile races (the last three years of this event), different courses every year, I wouldn`t say this was the easiest course, and I got my fastest 50 mile time, without a purposeful effort to hold back. There was good mild rain and overcast skies for most of the race, except for most of the last lap which was a super heavy thunderstorm. I didn`t eat enough the first two laps (too much chatting) and came away with some heavy midsection chafing (didn`t vaseline down there, especially bad on a wet day). Other than that I had a great day. No cramps, no stomach issues. I feel very confident leading up to sinister. Just need to remember to start eating early, before I think I need it, and lube up, as well as the other things I was doing. As always, a good day at the scorched sole.
Mon: rest day
Tue: rest day
Wed:
am1: road run up highway 33 to pick up my mountain bike that I'd left at the end of philpott rd; 19.2 km in 103 minutes with 582 metre elev gain
am2: mountain bike back home; 20 km in 46 minutes
pm1: road bike from home to meet up for pace workout; 15.5 km in 37 minutes
pm2: pace workout; little bit of trails and a bit of road hill repeats; 7.5 km, 168 metre elev gain in 46 minutes
pm3: road bike home from pace workout; 15.1 km in 35 minutes
thur: short road run; 5.2 km in 29 minutes
fri: short road bike; 9.1 km in 23 minutes
sat: scorched sole 50 mile trail race: 80 km; 3,275 metre (10,670 feet) elev gain, in 9:48:50
sun: road bike; 26.4 km in 62 minutes
Weekly Totals:
Run: 111.9 km and 4,047 metre elev gain
Bike: 86.1 km
Total time: 16 hours 8 minutes
Scorched sole thoughts:
The race was in an inner city park for the first time; and it was a loop course. Five 16 km loops (each with 655 metre elev gain). I'm not one for loops, but with the race being exactly two weeks before sinister 7 I thought it would make for a well timed last long run and a race day situation to iron out any kinks that may be lingering before the big dance.
Lap times:
1. (1:39:15)
2. (1:44:46)
3. (1:56:13)
4. (2:06:03)
5. (2:22:27)
Finish: (9:48:50)
So, my goal for the race going in truly was to just have a well supported long training run, not pushing hard so I made sure not to over do it before sinister. I went out a little hard, and forgot about this goal for the first lap and a bit, but then slowed down into a better pace that felt right for the day. Someone had registered for the race that I figured to be the race winner, so I was happy with that because then I could know there would be no inclination of trying to shoot for the win, as I am nowhere near as fast as him. But he didn't show up race day. So the race started, and we headed out. I was in front with a couple friends, and a couple out of towners. The one friend had told me she was just going for a long training run, but she's a beast and that means nothing, she's competitive and race day is go time. The five of us were together for the first half lap; then it was just three of us in front. We were hanging together for awhile. the second and third aid station was the same location and coming in to the second time the volunteer asked about the friend that had been behind us coming in the first time, but came through ahead of us the second time, problem was she never passed us. Ha! She missed an out and back section, and then to top that she didn't do a couple km's down to the finish and back at the end of the first loop. Giggles all around, a local that runs the mountain regularly going off course... So she was quite aways ahead (she ended up doing the parts she missed later) but I was quite glad that she passed me without passing me though, because if it had been a normal pass, I may have been tempted to go and try and stick with her. She's a great runner, and I feel like I'm good enough that I could compete with her in a race, but definitely not in a race where my main goal is to not push hard. She ended up finishing an hour ahead of me.
Of the three of us that were left running together, the out of towner pulled ahead halfway through the second lap, but never made it more than 8 minutes ahead of me (but this never concerned me, we were where we were, no real focus on the time) we were usually within site of each other with the two out and back sections of the course. I pulled ahead of the other local friend I was running with halfway through lap three, and then started to reel in the guy in front of me. I caught the guy in front of me during the fourth lap, and pulled ahead after the transition into the last lap. Except, when it came down to 'racing' for the win, my philosophy for the day of taking it easy prevailed, and rather than pushing it and exploiting his tiredness to go hard for the first place male finish, I stopped and waited for the other runner to walk/chat the first ascent of the loop with him, and then at the top of the first ascent stopped and waited again to slow jog the easiest section of the course with him. After the major climb of the lap I had pulled away by a couple minutes, and then at the last aid station I think spent a little too much time chatting it up with the volunteers thanking them for coming out, and he caught me just after the last aid station. We chatted leading up to the last short climb of the course, and then with 3.5 km left I wished him well on his way, it was all downhill from there - he was a good downhill runner - and I didn't feel like pushing, I tried to stay true to my goal of the day, no excessive pushing. But then I was like, oh hell no! I'm gonna chase, so down one of my favouruite descents on the mountain I started to just give it hard. We came off one section of single track that led to some double track, which would then lead to the last descent, I was 15 metres behind him for first male finisher.....
So I stopped to chat with one of the race directors for a couple minutes with 2 km left in the race!!! Nice short chat and a hug and I was back on my way. Ended up finished in 9:48. I`ve only run three 50 mile races (the last three years of this event), different courses every year, I wouldn`t say this was the easiest course, and I got my fastest 50 mile time, without a purposeful effort to hold back. There was good mild rain and overcast skies for most of the race, except for most of the last lap which was a super heavy thunderstorm. I didn`t eat enough the first two laps (too much chatting) and came away with some heavy midsection chafing (didn`t vaseline down there, especially bad on a wet day). Other than that I had a great day. No cramps, no stomach issues. I feel very confident leading up to sinister. Just need to remember to start eating early, before I think I need it, and lube up, as well as the other things I was doing. As always, a good day at the scorched sole.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Week ending June 17 - quitting
June 11 - June 17 - being a quitter rules
mon june 11: no run
tue jun 12: 3 hrs 45 mins and 1,210 metre elev gain over 29.4 km in myra bellevue park. Ran mostly the perimeter of the park, and then into kuipers park as well
wed jun 13:
am: 3 hrs 27 min and 1,077 metre elev gain over 24.9 km in myra bellevue park. First 30 minutes by myself, then had company for the last 3 hours. Quite a nice run, even though it rained... again. The last two days I ran pretty much every trail in myra-bellevue park, and I don't think I can ever get tired of the park.
pm: pace workout (speed session). 15.5 km in 90 minutes with 466 metre elev gain. There was a 2.4 km loop marked, each with 70 metre elev gain, did 6 loops (2 minutes in between), a warmup and a cool down loop with 4 hard loops. I told someone before the work out my goal for the run was for 'total destruction' of my body by the end of the workout, and I feel like I got there. I love it.
thur jun 14: no run
fri jun 15: 14.3 km of road bike in 36 minutes.
sat jun 16: 6.8 km, 460 metre elev gain, in 65 minutes. The goal for the day was to do five ascents of pin cushion mountain (each ascent is 3.4 km up/down with 225 metre elev gain), but work the night before sucked, and then I couldn't sleep so I was running on 3 hours sleep. Cut the run short and went home to nap before work that afternoon. That's why I do longer runs on my days off.
sun jun 17: 15.7 km, 227 metre elev gain in 90 minutes. Road running up highway 33, then garner rd. Feels so weird to run where I usually road bike.
Weekly totals:
Run 92 km; 3,430 metre elev gain
Bike: 14.3 km
Time: 11.5 hrs
The elev gain totals are my most in a week since I've tracked my running, wished I could have got more time in, but saturday sucked and so be it.
I gave notice at my job today, my last day of work will be July 15. I plan on spending August, September, and maybe October travelling and running. Greyhound offers a discovery pass where you get unlimited use of their service for 60 days, I'm gonna buy one of those tickets, travel with a backpack and my running gear and run in some cool mountains. I have a few places to stay lined up already for couch surfing. It's going to be sweet.
The tentative plan is somtehing like this.
- Penticton, BC
- Winthrop, WA
- Redwood forest area, north california
- squaw valley, CA
- marin headlands, san fran, CA
- grand canyon
- boulder, colorado
- oklahoma city
- madiscon, wisconsin
- toronto, on
- montreal
- ottawa
- winnipeg
- calgary
- canmore
- revelstoke
I know I will for sure have couches to crash on in oklahome, madison, maybe toronto and winnipeg, definitely calgary. I'm thinking I may regsister for a 50 mile race mid sept in madison, and then a race in paris, ontario in late sept.
mon june 11: no run
tue jun 12: 3 hrs 45 mins and 1,210 metre elev gain over 29.4 km in myra bellevue park. Ran mostly the perimeter of the park, and then into kuipers park as well
wed jun 13:
am: 3 hrs 27 min and 1,077 metre elev gain over 24.9 km in myra bellevue park. First 30 minutes by myself, then had company for the last 3 hours. Quite a nice run, even though it rained... again. The last two days I ran pretty much every trail in myra-bellevue park, and I don't think I can ever get tired of the park.
pm: pace workout (speed session). 15.5 km in 90 minutes with 466 metre elev gain. There was a 2.4 km loop marked, each with 70 metre elev gain, did 6 loops (2 minutes in between), a warmup and a cool down loop with 4 hard loops. I told someone before the work out my goal for the run was for 'total destruction' of my body by the end of the workout, and I feel like I got there. I love it.
thur jun 14: no run
fri jun 15: 14.3 km of road bike in 36 minutes.
sat jun 16: 6.8 km, 460 metre elev gain, in 65 minutes. The goal for the day was to do five ascents of pin cushion mountain (each ascent is 3.4 km up/down with 225 metre elev gain), but work the night before sucked, and then I couldn't sleep so I was running on 3 hours sleep. Cut the run short and went home to nap before work that afternoon. That's why I do longer runs on my days off.
sun jun 17: 15.7 km, 227 metre elev gain in 90 minutes. Road running up highway 33, then garner rd. Feels so weird to run where I usually road bike.
Weekly totals:
Run 92 km; 3,430 metre elev gain
Bike: 14.3 km
Time: 11.5 hrs
The elev gain totals are my most in a week since I've tracked my running, wished I could have got more time in, but saturday sucked and so be it.
I gave notice at my job today, my last day of work will be July 15. I plan on spending August, September, and maybe October travelling and running. Greyhound offers a discovery pass where you get unlimited use of their service for 60 days, I'm gonna buy one of those tickets, travel with a backpack and my running gear and run in some cool mountains. I have a few places to stay lined up already for couch surfing. It's going to be sweet.
The tentative plan is somtehing like this.
- Penticton, BC
- Winthrop, WA
- Redwood forest area, north california
- squaw valley, CA
- marin headlands, san fran, CA
- grand canyon
- boulder, colorado
- oklahoma city
- madiscon, wisconsin
- toronto, on
- montreal
- ottawa
- winnipeg
- calgary
- canmore
- revelstoke
I know I will for sure have couches to crash on in oklahome, madison, maybe toronto and winnipeg, definitely calgary. I'm thinking I may regsister for a 50 mile race mid sept in madison, and then a race in paris, ontario in late sept.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Running vacation in Canada / USA, how would you do it?
If you were to take a couple months to travel to places to ultra run, and then run in those places and drive in between, where would you go?
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Who reads this? And Why?
Please comment if you make any sort of habit of reading my ramblings.
I was looking at my stats tracker for the first time in forever and noticed there are repeat readers. I mostly write out my thoughts as a way to look back at my training, so if something isn't working or I get injured I can look back and see what I did and change it. And with a history of alzheimers in my family I write this looking forward to the day that I may not be able to remember the details of the things I write about. And I have found that making sure to write at least once a week that I am more motivated to keep running.
So, what do you the reader get out of reading my blog? And why do you read it?
I was looking at my stats tracker for the first time in forever and noticed there are repeat readers. I mostly write out my thoughts as a way to look back at my training, so if something isn't working or I get injured I can look back and see what I did and change it. And with a history of alzheimers in my family I write this looking forward to the day that I may not be able to remember the details of the things I write about. And I have found that making sure to write at least once a week that I am more motivated to keep running.
So, what do you the reader get out of reading my blog? And why do you read it?
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