Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

Went out to Cougar Mountain with Andrea andrea@sweat365.com  and Sarah.  It was so nice to have their company on the trail.  It was Andrea’s longest run since finishing and re-qualifying for Boston at Boston. 

As per my usual while running on the trails the intended run of 90 minutes turned into more than 2 hours.  Luckily we all brought fluid and gels this time.  I had a tri-berry GU and some sport beans (orange).    I learned that I can handle GU again after a short time where it made my sort of  icky feeling.  I still am struggling with the texture, so I will stay away from GU until the 100.

I was also was attacked by a squirrel, very embarrassing to scream hysterics on a tranquil trail, however entertaining is may be to your running partners.  I love to run on the trails…..even better with the best running partners a girl can have.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 05/18/2008
• Time: 07:00:00
• Total Time: 2:12:52.00
• Distance: 11.2 miles
• Average Pace: 11:51.46/mile

The first run after a major event is always a little scary.  The questions that go through my mind are many:  Did I recover long enough, did I take too many days off, will my feet hurt, etc….

This first run was wonderful.  The muscles felt awesome, the toes and feet did not give me any trouble and the hour run was the right time/distance.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 05/16/2008
• Time: 07:00:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 8:34.29/mile

Feeling remarkably fine 48 hours post run.  My body no doubt completed a 50 mile adventure, yet I have no worrisome aches and pains.  I will lose 2 toenails which is probably fine to lose them before the 100.  I have one nasty blister that has been drained 3 times from a rock that I ignored for 20 miles, won’t ignore the next rock in my shoe for more than 5 miles. 

I managed my fluids and nutrition very well and have not had any nausea or fatigue post or during the event.  My feet are not swollen like they were after my first 50 (too much sodium intake), only took two sodium tablets over the nearly 12 hours and only drank Accelerade.

Headlamp worked perfectly for the predawn start, so I have my lighting figured out.  Not so scary running in the woods in the dark.

Things I need to do differently for the 100?  1. A different pair of shorts…..How do I explain…..not enough buttock support?  I have a little butt with a lot of bounce :)    2. Cannot eat peanut butter and jelly crackers while running…..the crumbs get aspirated into the lungs who knew?   3. I love the Jelly bean electrolyte product, very fun to eat and kill boredom, but does not fuel the muscles like a GU.  I will keep them in my repertoire but only for entertainment value    4. Be more aware of the beauty, I had forgotten for a least a moment that I was running in a beautiful national forest and was reminded at mile 46 when I saw a huge bald eagle perched in a dead tree near the edge of the lake, he was awe inspiring and I gave me such an emotional lift.  I will remember to take some time to honor the surroundings. 

Health:

• Date: 05/12/2008
• Mood: Normal
• Sleep Pattern: Normal

Completed my second ever 50 mile run yesterday. The course was grueling at 43 miles we had to crawl/scramble straight up an incline that would take me almost 40 minutes to cover less than a mile.

There was a lot of pressure for this event to serve as a training and preparation for the Western States 100. There was a long list of items that needed to be reviewed. Many questions were answered with this event. I am so thankful that I signed up and completed this endurance hike, can’t really call it a run.

I am better off today than I was before the start.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 05/10/2008
• Time: 05:00:00
• Total Time: 11:50:32.00
• Distance: 50 miles
• Average Pace: 14:13.08/mile

Ran Northwest Trail Runs event atSquak Mountain today.  This particular race is a ½ marathon.  The trails were in great shape with only a few muddy patches and very well marked.  The runners were blessed with beautiful weather; we actually saw the sun a rare visitor to the Pacific Northwest these days.  The course is wonderfully difficult that climbs about 3300 feet.  On the trip up the steep trail I took to a power hike to running pattern.  This is a technique that I will pout to good use during the Western States 100.  I decided that I would go out with a more than comfortable effort pushing a little through the initial climbs.  This event also included a 10k option so I decided to go out with a woman who was doing the 10k; I knew this would keep me on pace for a good trail half. 

Last night just out of curiosity I looked at last years finish times.  The course record was set last year at 2:33:10   Not ever running this particular trail before I had no idea how this time would correlate to other trail run times.  That’s the real beauty of trail running: time is only relevant to that race on that day.  I run sometimes on another mountain near Squak called Mt. Si.  By looking at the elevation of the race I figured I could translate my Mt. Si training run times to this course.  I predicted a time of 2:40, maybe better if everything was perfect, maybe slower if things weren’t.

After splitting from the 10k group, I thought I was either 1^st or 2^nd woman.  I ran miles 4-8 with a young lawyer and we talked politics to kill time and take on the climbs. Even though our politics didn’t match up we enjoyed each others presence, company & support on the trail.  At 8 miles he started to bonk, this was the longest trail race he had attempted.   I gave him some sips of my electrolyte drink and he sucked on a GU as I lost him on the next ascent. 

There was an aid station was at 9.5 miles so I took a GU and looked at my watch, if my math was right I was on pace to break the course record.  This was a big surprise but I decided to go for it!  I thought there may be a woman in front of me, and I wanted to catch her.  I ran like the wind down the winding descent off Squak.  At every switchback I looked ahead to see if I could see any other runners. I never saw another person. 

As I came out of the forest to complete the last 400 meter loop before ending at the parking lot I refused to look at my watch.  I had no idea if I would hit the course record.  I slowed to a more comfortable pace for that last loop.    At the parking lot there was a guy in a lawn chair writing our numbers and the clocktime, a nice simple finish for a lovely day on the trail.

Unofficial Result: First woman, new course record 2:27:39

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/26/2008
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 2:27:39.00
• Distance: 13.1 miles
• Average Pace: 11:16.69/mile
• Ascent: 3,300 ft
• Descent: 3,300 ft

I was feeling rather guilty about not running yesterday until I started my run this morning.  My legs thanked me for the extra rest day with a spirited trek around Mukilteo. 

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/24/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:48:06.00
• Distance: 5.9 miles
• Average Pace: 8:09.13/mile

Feeling great after putting in 8 miles tonight.  It feels like the best run I have had in recent weeks.  It was one of those runs that you are working hard enough to push towards a heart rate max, but feels relatively easy.  I was practicing my breathing and was able to use my breathe to relax.  I chanted some new mantras, as well.  The first 2 miles I did in 8:30 pace, I brought the pace down with each half mile until the 7^th mile which I ran at 7:20 pace.

My energy level was great.  Maybe it is the new focus on eating proper foods for fueling my body.   I am eating lots of brown rice, chicken, beans and steak.  I wore a different pair of shoes, yes a forgotten pair of Saucony.  So the problem of bloody toes and painful feet was gone today.  Sometimes it just all comes together.  I needed a good day.

I will run