Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

Day 1

It rained….all day every step for 6 hours.  Well that is not completely true, it snowed for about 45 minutes early in the run.  Just for the record it was 100 degrees last week covering the same terrain.  I was ready to leave the winter gray and rain of Seattle and test my ability to run in the heat.   As I was packing for this 3 day training camp I laid out several running outfits, none that would have been enough cold weather protection for the 40 degree day.  At the last minute I packed my new tights and jacket, to be honest, only because I think I look totally cute in them and wanted strut around the post dinner gathering looking svelte.  Once again my huge ego comes through for me.  The outfit kept me toasty warm all day.

We completed 28 + miles today.  It took exactly 6 hours.  I ran the entire distance with
Pierre; he will be my pacer at WS for the last 38 miles.  I met him online through the WS pacer request site.  I swear it was like match.com or trying to e-date.  But Pierre and I chose each other and after today I know I made the right choice.  He is in excellent shape, better than I am.  Knows when to talk, knows when to encourage, knows when to go ahead and follow.  He is a very nice guy and wants to run WS next year hopefully this is good training for him as I know he would be a lot faster without me.  He is great! 

Much of the course was muddy…..so many colors of mud in the Northern California Mountains.  Today I ran through gold colored mud, some might call the color newborn diaper yellow, but I prefer to see it as gold.  Each runner was covered in mud and my shoes were saturated by 3 miles.  Pierre who boasted briefly about his Gortex shoes was soaked through shortly thereafter.  I brought another pair of trail shoes as well as a pair of street shoes so tomorrow I will switch into my Asics. 
 

Pierre only brought one pair of trail shoes, so in true running partner form I brought his shoes to my hotel and I showered with them to de-mudify them.  They are currently sitting on my hotel room heater drying (I hope), as Pierre and many other camp participants are tenting it in the rain with no chance to dry out today’s gear.

All in all today both boosted my confidence for the WS 100 and scared me.  I felt pretty good and the pace is well within the 30 hour time limit, more importantly it is also within the 24 hour Silver Buckle pace but…..can I keep running another 18- 22 hours? 

Tomorrow is supposed to be similar weather so my tights and jacket are next to Pierre’s shoes.  I ate some chicken, mashed potatoes and mac & cheese.  I will take some Advil and try to sleep.  What a perfect day.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 05/24/2008
• Time: 09:30:00
• Total Time: 6:00:00.00
• Distance: 28.5 miles
• Average Pace: 12:37.89/mile
• Ascent: 9,000 ft
• Descent: 9,000 ft