Long hilly run done!

I'm pretty happy with the nice little 14 mile hill run I did at Umstead this morning. I'm so glad there were a few friendly folks there making sure I didn't get lost (it can happen), and pulling me along for much of the run. Despite the heat and humidity, it was beautiful.



I'm also pretty happy to have finished my second consecutive week of doing all the workouts I'm supposed to. I just need to keep that up for the next eight weeks...

Now, time to eat massive quantities of tasty things.

Conquering the Trail

With the end of Fleet Feet's Sunday group run, I've finally switched over to Saturday long runs with the Chips. Chips group long runs will be great for my training, because Chips tend to be pace-conscious, have goals, and are usually training for a specific race. Plus, most of the Chips I run with are faster than me, which I can always benefit from.

I set out for my first official Chips Saturday long run last weekend, and drove out to the Nimbus Hatchery at lake Natoma. Coach Jen encourages us to incorporate trails in these "Lake Loop" runs, and I expected to go off-road a bit next to the bike trail.

We set out in a large group, and almost immediately were off-road on the decomposed granite paths. These gave way to meandering, narrower paths through think trees, often snaking around a short distance from the bike path. I knew I had to keep up, because with my sense of direction there is no telling if I would make it back to the bike path without the group!

We got to the halfway point in Downtown Folsom, and set out for the path back. I heard talk that we would be going up to the top of the bluff, and I was a bit hesitant. Not wanting to bail on my excellent workout with the group, and knowing I would slow if I did run alone, I fell in line to finish our 12 mile run.

Pretty soon, we were in a steep climb to the top of the bluff. I was thinking- "I thought trail runners walked up hills!" I kept up pretty well, and got to catch my breath while it was simultaneously taken away by the view over the lake. Not too long later, we descended, and took back to the meandering trails before heading up to the Hazel overpass and back to the Hatchery parking lot.

Once we stopped, I was so happy that I was able to hang on for the entire run. I was shocked to hear the others in the group say that they didn't know if they'd make it back- I wasn't the only one who was challenged! This run made me want to start trail running for real. I know a bunch of Chips run the trails regularly, and maybe I can tag along. I just need to be sure to leave my "I can't keep up" attitude at home, and go for it!

Pacific Grove: What a Beautiful Place

Photo credit: VisitAsilomar.com

I had the opportunity to run eight miles along the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Grove on Tuesday morning, after the cold fog had mostly cleared. It was beautiful.

I stayed at the Asilomar Conference Grounds for the Rural Housing Summit, and wasn't sure if I'd be able to run while I was there. I didn't know what facilities will be available at this pseudo-camp facility, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a decomposed granite trail along the beach once I left the conference grounds and crossed the road towards the ocean.

Photo credit: www.montereypeninsula.info

I was scheduled to do eight miles, but had decided that I'd be fine with four if there wasn't a good place to run. I went out, expecting the trail to end and force me onto the windy, oceanside road. But it didn't really (it ended a few time, but picked back up a few yards later). So I kept running, and turned around at about four miles, after running around the curve of the Monterey peninsula.

Photo credit: runplo.yolasite.com

Waves crashing, beautiful landscaping, and well-kept trails. I was in vacation running heaven.

Race Report: Blood, Sweat and Beers

This morning, John and I went to Auburn to do our first trail race- Blood, Sweat and Beers. We did the short course, which was 5.9 miles. We decided that for our first trail race, without really training for the race, we would not be too ambitious.

Despite our stated lack of ambition, we did check out the results from last year, as well as the course elevation profile, yesterday to make a race plan. I noticed that the top five in my age group last year (20-29 for this race), came in under 1:01. At over ten minutes a mile, I figured maybe I could come in in the top five, though I wasn't betting on it because I didn't know how big the difference would be between trail and road. I decided not to be disappointed if I didn't place.

John's age group is much more competitive than mine-a good portion of the top ten in every race we do is his age group. He knows that no matter how well he does, he isn't 130 pounds and on a racing team, so he probably won't finish in the top 3 or even 5. But he did want to finish in the top ten if he could.

We decided not to run together, because he would be better at the uphills than me, and I wasn't as concerned with my finish. So I saw John run off about 200 yards after the start, when I decided not to push too hard. The first half mile or so was downhill on fire roads, then straight uphill on single track trail. I was a bit winded through this section, after having tried to keep up with John at the start.

Suddenly, there was a switchback with someone posted to tell people to take small steps. It was straight downhill, windy single track, with one edge too close to the edge of the trail for comfort (a wrong step and they might need a helicopter to get you home). I tried to reel it in a bit and not coast down, since any loss of footing or difficulty stopping when needed would be dangerous. I think I held my breath, because at the bottom of the hill- at the first aid station- I had a huge cramp in my side. I walked for a minute, then started running again.

The next mile was fine, then we started a long series of long uphill stretches. The inclines were so steep that no one ran up them. I did my best to run until I was winded and my legs wanted to give out, then I would walk to catch my breath.

Photo credit: Flickr User kittyz202

At about three and a half or so miles, we came to an uphill marked "Cardiac Bypass Hill." I ran about half of this section of the course.

After this section, we got another aid station, a bit of relief from the hills, then right back to uphills again.

I thought we were close to the finish, and got out of one trail and onto the fire road again. I thought I'd make it in under an hour, and possibly place. My Garmin read 5.33, but a marker on the road said 5, so I got a little disheartened. Plus, I quickly noticed that the fire road was straight uphill. So I ran, then walked, then ran.

At this point, I thought I had no chance of coming in under an hour, and I was bummed. But at least I would finish strong.

And then, I heard the announcer, and realized how close the finish was. I rounded the corner back toward the park, and ran in.

Chip Time 56.25.7
Avg Pace 9:34/Mile
Age Group Place FIRST (of 40) in F 20-29
Overall Place 36 (of 371)

Man, am I excited about this finish! The next person in my age group was a full six minutes behind me. Six minutes!

John did a great job as well, smoking me by four minutes.
Chip Time 52.29.4
Avg Pace 8:54/Mile
Age Group Place 9 of 54
Overall Place 19 of 371

After we both caught our breath, we went over and got our beer from Hoppy Brewing. Yum! It was just what we needed. The barbeque was fantastic as well. We walked around, had out two beers each, ate, and then started home...

But not before I collected my award.

Trail running

As I mentioned on Sunday, John and I signed up for a trail run at the end of next month. It was partly due to someone mentioning it at our Sunday group run, and partly because we both needed a challenge to motivate us before fall race season. Over the past few days, we've both become very excited about it.

I pulled out the special trail issue of Runner's World from a few months ago, and we've started talking about going up to Folsom and trying a few runs before the race. John realized we needed new shoes (in addition to the new shoes we just got), because the hills can require traction apparently. Always the one to buy new gear, I've been shopping online.

I'm excited about this new challenge, but also scared- it won't be on the road. The most off-road I get is the gravel portion of the Parkway on Sundays. We'll see how it goes.