So no sooner have I recovered from this 100K, I find myself looking for another run. I think I want to do the 100K again. It seems to be a great distance! So poking around on the Ultramarathon website I find several prospects. One quite close to my cousins down in Lake Charles. The Cajun Coyote. It's December 1 and 2. Yep, Its the same weekend as St Judes, Nope, I'm not registered for St Judes and I'm kinda glad now!
This one appears to be 3, 20 ish mile loops around the swamps of Chicot State Park. Pretty Flat, dirt trails....swamps...hmmm could be kinda scary at night...
But I'm contemplating it. I feel like I want to do another 100K before I ever consider increasing my distance.
Hopefully my recovery will go smoothly and I'll feel like running again in a week....heck, I feel like running now but I know better.
My recovery has been swift! Monday I felt terrible, fluelike, hungover and jetlagged. Also pretty sore in the calves and quads. Yesterday I felt good as new, with just a little residual soreness. I actually met my friend to walk after work.
Today I'm looking for another Ultra to run. This is a strange sickness....
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Post Punkin'
So after the hoopla died down, the race organizer gave me my medal and took my chip away. Thank goodness... Phil went off to get restocked for his last loop. I assured him his last loop was going to fly by like lightning! I hoped it would.
The organizer told me to go step over by the camp fire and stay warm, it was 2 am and there were two early 100 mile finishers (yeah, they are not human) sitting by the fire with some others who had finished the 100K and the race director, a few friends and family supporters.
There were a couple of runners there who had been at the Do Wacka Do there ...I talked to them for a second, realizing I was in a little bit of a daze and needed to shake out of it. I was still sweaty from the run and needed to put on dry clothes before I cooled of in the night air. I knew Tala would be coming in soon, but still should change to keep from getting chilled. I hobbled over to my car and thought....."Return Text Messages"!.
I had seen Annette Blanton during my halfway point at the start finish and she emphatically insisted that I text when we finished to let her know we were OK. That was the first thing I did. I sat in my car and sent as many text messages as I could remember to send at that time. Then, I leaned out of the car and hobbled over to the showers that fortunately Eagle Bluff was kind enough to leave open for us. My hip flexer was killing me and I could not raise my right leg more than a half an inch off the ground. I got into the shower and attempted to rinse some of the trail dust off my feet to put on dry clothes. The water was semi warm and I did not want to spend too much time in there because moths were swarming around. I finally got dressed, put on yoga pants, a long sleeve shirt, and a long sleeve jacket with a hood. Droped my stuff by the car and hobbled over back toward the fire. As I was approaching the fire a nice young man came up to me and said. "That's quite a limp, are you OK?" I said, well my hip flexer hurts pretty bad. "Thats typical" he said, where ya heading?" I replied, "Over by the fire" . He said, "Do you want a chair?" I said "Yeah, I guess, I have a chair over there with that bag on it. You can just put that bag on that ice chest and I'll use that"
He was so nice, he got the chair, sat it by the fire and then asked me if I needed anything to eat. He brought me a cup of chili, and a bottle of water, the chili was delicious, I ate almost all of it. And I sat in the chair and stayed warm waiting for Tala to get in.
Not long after Tala rolled in, and after some initial confusion over a lost timing chip she finished shortly after I did. Apparently she had forgotten her chip when she changed her socks at the half way point. Then I unknowingly disrupted the scene by moving the bag off the chair. We searched for the chip in the dark for about 10 minutes then I finally went back to the race director and asked if anybody had turned in the chip, finding it on the ground. He looked at me and said "don't worry about it. Go to your hotel and sleep. If it turns up it turns up, if not....big deal" I was so thankful to hear that, I told Tala what he said and we packed up and drove back to the hotel.
Finally after showers and texting, I got to sleep at 4 am....dozing off I was wishing I had closed the curtains on the window...but I was too tired and sore to bother....Oh well,
It had been a good day.
And just in case anybody was wondering....other than a sore hip flexer, her is a summation of my injuries from the 17 hour journey:
one scratch on my left leg....
That's it. Not a single chaffed place, not a single blister (which I thank the new shoes for) not even a bug bite....one tiny scratch that I don't even remember getting....
Yeah, strange! :)
The organizer told me to go step over by the camp fire and stay warm, it was 2 am and there were two early 100 mile finishers (yeah, they are not human) sitting by the fire with some others who had finished the 100K and the race director, a few friends and family supporters.
There were a couple of runners there who had been at the Do Wacka Do there ...I talked to them for a second, realizing I was in a little bit of a daze and needed to shake out of it. I was still sweaty from the run and needed to put on dry clothes before I cooled of in the night air. I knew Tala would be coming in soon, but still should change to keep from getting chilled. I hobbled over to my car and thought....."Return Text Messages"!.
I had seen Annette Blanton during my halfway point at the start finish and she emphatically insisted that I text when we finished to let her know we were OK. That was the first thing I did. I sat in my car and sent as many text messages as I could remember to send at that time. Then, I leaned out of the car and hobbled over to the showers that fortunately Eagle Bluff was kind enough to leave open for us. My hip flexer was killing me and I could not raise my right leg more than a half an inch off the ground. I got into the shower and attempted to rinse some of the trail dust off my feet to put on dry clothes. The water was semi warm and I did not want to spend too much time in there because moths were swarming around. I finally got dressed, put on yoga pants, a long sleeve shirt, and a long sleeve jacket with a hood. Droped my stuff by the car and hobbled over back toward the fire. As I was approaching the fire a nice young man came up to me and said. "That's quite a limp, are you OK?" I said, well my hip flexer hurts pretty bad. "Thats typical" he said, where ya heading?" I replied, "Over by the fire" . He said, "Do you want a chair?" I said "Yeah, I guess, I have a chair over there with that bag on it. You can just put that bag on that ice chest and I'll use that"
He was so nice, he got the chair, sat it by the fire and then asked me if I needed anything to eat. He brought me a cup of chili, and a bottle of water, the chili was delicious, I ate almost all of it. And I sat in the chair and stayed warm waiting for Tala to get in.
Not long after Tala rolled in, and after some initial confusion over a lost timing chip she finished shortly after I did. Apparently she had forgotten her chip when she changed her socks at the half way point. Then I unknowingly disrupted the scene by moving the bag off the chair. We searched for the chip in the dark for about 10 minutes then I finally went back to the race director and asked if anybody had turned in the chip, finding it on the ground. He looked at me and said "don't worry about it. Go to your hotel and sleep. If it turns up it turns up, if not....big deal" I was so thankful to hear that, I told Tala what he said and we packed up and drove back to the hotel.
Finally after showers and texting, I got to sleep at 4 am....dozing off I was wishing I had closed the curtains on the window...but I was too tired and sore to bother....Oh well,
It had been a good day.
And just in case anybody was wondering....other than a sore hip flexer, her is a summation of my injuries from the 17 hour journey:
one scratch on my left leg....
That's it. Not a single chaffed place, not a single blister (which I thank the new shoes for) not even a bug bite....one tiny scratch that I don't even remember getting....
Yeah, strange! :)
Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd Part 2
So I left the start finish area, slowly, slowly....at a slow walk. My Garmin had been showing low battery so I left it at the start finish area because it would most likely die before I completed the second loop. I did not want to carry the extra weight of a dead garmin around for 20 miles.
I decided to try a caffeinated Gu to get me over this hump. A risk because Gu can make me nauseous in the heat. I slowly sipped on it and let it dissolve on my tongue as I walked the gravel road. A man passed me in a red shirt, he had a 100 mile bib on. I did not envy him.
As the Gu kicked in I sped my pace some and eventually caught up with him. We walked and talked and when the downhill hit we ran. I decided at that point, I would do my best to stay with this person. If he did not mind. He had to reach certain goals by certain times or else he would miss cut off times. This would keep me on pace. I stuck with him and we talked about the course and the heat and other things and he said "It will get better when it cools down" and I took him at his word and carried on.
We got into Mad Dog aid station where I had a bathroom break and got my camelback refilled. My friend got away from me some as the aid station people had a little trouble with my camelback and it took them a while to refill it, but I caught him on the large downhill out of the area there and continued to follow him. I did eventually ask if it were OK if I stuck with him and he was said "of course!"...His name was Phil.
Phil and I continued our walking up hills and running downhills and flats to 6 mile aid station at the out n back and the sun was setting. This aid station had chicken soup. I was still partially recovering from my sick feeling from the heat earlier and finally felt I could take some soup and I'm glad I did. The broth was warm and super salty. It hit the spot! We headed out on the out n back and decided it was headlamp time. I had my Black Diamond in my pack and a bandana. I slipped off my headband and tried like an idiot to tie the headband which blocked my view. Next time I'll do this a little earlier in the day for sure! I was veering into the ditch, blinded trying to tie my bandana. Phil was laughing and trying to keep me on a straight course. Finally getting that situated and my headlamp adjusted I decided to keep the setting on low beam, as the high beam could signal aircraft.
Coming back from the out n back I saw that Tala was very close behind me and that made me feel better. I knew she was close.
We got back to the 6 mile aid station, got more soup then carried on. Phill was beginning to lament a rock in his shoe so I noted that at the 13.4 aid station I had a drop bag and I would restock my gu and stuff and that would give him lots of time to get the rock out. He thought that was a great idea. We made it to 13.4 and did out things, got our soup, restocked and refilled and carried on.
Getting out of the aid stations was the challenge and I was glad Phil was with me to keep me going. I did not want to hold him up and he was quick out of the aid stations. That was a real help. I'm sure I would have added at least two extra minutes to my time per aid station if he had not been with me.
We left out of the 13.4 and I was thinking....I'm 3/4 done....I'm 3/4 done. Unlike poor Phil who still had another 31 mile loop to go after this one. I did not want to gloat too much, but at this point I was feeling amazing. No stomach issues, not really tired, I felt peppy and alert! It was great!
The two miles of pavement came upon us. It was not nearly as bad as it was before. Being dark and much cooler. It never got cold enough that I though I needed a jacket though.
After we passed the pavement we came upon that 20 mile aid station again. The one with the bathtub rocks. When we passed the chairs to get to the food table to get some soup I saw a young kid sitting in a chair with his head between his knees.....Yikes I thought....He went out too fast, got hot, can't eat....now feels like shit....At least that was my assessment. I was pretty much right. He was in the 100 mile race so had, like Phil, another loop to do after this one.
We chatted, had soup and I was in a really good mood , knowing I was withing single digits of my finish. We headed out and the kid decided to go with us.....Yikes!
Phil had to help me over the bath tub rocks this time. I nearly fell in. We hopped and jumped to the other side and the kid hopped and jumped with us. He had sat still for so long he was shivering in the cold. I was hoping beyond hope he did not fall out on us or get really sick. As selfish as it sounded, Phil and I were making good time and I did not want anything to mess that up. ( I know....It's really bad of me). But when I found out the kid had not done more than a 50K before registering for this 100 mile run I had no sympathy......nope....
There was one more aid station between me and the finish, 6 miles of darkness. I was getting anxious and there were a couple steep climbs I had to get over. My right hip flexer started to give me problems. It hurt when we walked, so oddly enough, it motivated me to run more. We continued our walk run, not holding back for anything. Downhills get run, flats run, uphills, walk.... After another hour the dark started playing trick on your eyes, the headlamps made it worse. I was walking on the left hand side of the trail near the brush and shadows do strange things to the overly fatigued. As We got closer, my spirits began to lift to annoying levels. I was laughing and talking and making jokes. I'm sure Phil and the kid wanted to knock me down in the poison ivy.
We got to the lollypop stick of the course, a mile and a quarter from the resort. I was running almost 100 percent at this time. I could smell the hay! (sure I had been smelling hay for 15 miles, but this was actually the good kind of hay).
Getting to the iron bridge, the kid was infront of me walking. I knew I had to get ahead of him because he was not going to be in my photo puking his guts in the back ground nor walking in front of me. I told Phil, "I'm running it it!" Phil was like OK and went with me. Phil was welcome in my finish photo cause he had let me stick with him for 31 miles! Had it not been for him I would have been rolling in an hour later. for sure!
We ran around the park, past the cars and tents, I saw the orange colored pumpkins and through the chute! I was done. It was such a great feeling...Done! and I felt great! Of course my hip flexer was screaming, but who cared!!!
Done!
I decided to try a caffeinated Gu to get me over this hump. A risk because Gu can make me nauseous in the heat. I slowly sipped on it and let it dissolve on my tongue as I walked the gravel road. A man passed me in a red shirt, he had a 100 mile bib on. I did not envy him.
As the Gu kicked in I sped my pace some and eventually caught up with him. We walked and talked and when the downhill hit we ran. I decided at that point, I would do my best to stay with this person. If he did not mind. He had to reach certain goals by certain times or else he would miss cut off times. This would keep me on pace. I stuck with him and we talked about the course and the heat and other things and he said "It will get better when it cools down" and I took him at his word and carried on.
We got into Mad Dog aid station where I had a bathroom break and got my camelback refilled. My friend got away from me some as the aid station people had a little trouble with my camelback and it took them a while to refill it, but I caught him on the large downhill out of the area there and continued to follow him. I did eventually ask if it were OK if I stuck with him and he was said "of course!"...His name was Phil.
Phil and I continued our walking up hills and running downhills and flats to 6 mile aid station at the out n back and the sun was setting. This aid station had chicken soup. I was still partially recovering from my sick feeling from the heat earlier and finally felt I could take some soup and I'm glad I did. The broth was warm and super salty. It hit the spot! We headed out on the out n back and decided it was headlamp time. I had my Black Diamond in my pack and a bandana. I slipped off my headband and tried like an idiot to tie the headband which blocked my view. Next time I'll do this a little earlier in the day for sure! I was veering into the ditch, blinded trying to tie my bandana. Phil was laughing and trying to keep me on a straight course. Finally getting that situated and my headlamp adjusted I decided to keep the setting on low beam, as the high beam could signal aircraft.
Coming back from the out n back I saw that Tala was very close behind me and that made me feel better. I knew she was close.
We got back to the 6 mile aid station, got more soup then carried on. Phill was beginning to lament a rock in his shoe so I noted that at the 13.4 aid station I had a drop bag and I would restock my gu and stuff and that would give him lots of time to get the rock out. He thought that was a great idea. We made it to 13.4 and did out things, got our soup, restocked and refilled and carried on.
Getting out of the aid stations was the challenge and I was glad Phil was with me to keep me going. I did not want to hold him up and he was quick out of the aid stations. That was a real help. I'm sure I would have added at least two extra minutes to my time per aid station if he had not been with me.
We left out of the 13.4 and I was thinking....I'm 3/4 done....I'm 3/4 done. Unlike poor Phil who still had another 31 mile loop to go after this one. I did not want to gloat too much, but at this point I was feeling amazing. No stomach issues, not really tired, I felt peppy and alert! It was great!
The two miles of pavement came upon us. It was not nearly as bad as it was before. Being dark and much cooler. It never got cold enough that I though I needed a jacket though.
After we passed the pavement we came upon that 20 mile aid station again. The one with the bathtub rocks. When we passed the chairs to get to the food table to get some soup I saw a young kid sitting in a chair with his head between his knees.....Yikes I thought....He went out too fast, got hot, can't eat....now feels like shit....At least that was my assessment. I was pretty much right. He was in the 100 mile race so had, like Phil, another loop to do after this one.
We chatted, had soup and I was in a really good mood , knowing I was withing single digits of my finish. We headed out and the kid decided to go with us.....Yikes!
Phil had to help me over the bath tub rocks this time. I nearly fell in. We hopped and jumped to the other side and the kid hopped and jumped with us. He had sat still for so long he was shivering in the cold. I was hoping beyond hope he did not fall out on us or get really sick. As selfish as it sounded, Phil and I were making good time and I did not want anything to mess that up. ( I know....It's really bad of me). But when I found out the kid had not done more than a 50K before registering for this 100 mile run I had no sympathy......nope....
There was one more aid station between me and the finish, 6 miles of darkness. I was getting anxious and there were a couple steep climbs I had to get over. My right hip flexer started to give me problems. It hurt when we walked, so oddly enough, it motivated me to run more. We continued our walk run, not holding back for anything. Downhills get run, flats run, uphills, walk.... After another hour the dark started playing trick on your eyes, the headlamps made it worse. I was walking on the left hand side of the trail near the brush and shadows do strange things to the overly fatigued. As We got closer, my spirits began to lift to annoying levels. I was laughing and talking and making jokes. I'm sure Phil and the kid wanted to knock me down in the poison ivy.
We got to the lollypop stick of the course, a mile and a quarter from the resort. I was running almost 100 percent at this time. I could smell the hay! (sure I had been smelling hay for 15 miles, but this was actually the good kind of hay).
Getting to the iron bridge, the kid was infront of me walking. I knew I had to get ahead of him because he was not going to be in my photo puking his guts in the back ground nor walking in front of me. I told Phil, "I'm running it it!" Phil was like OK and went with me. Phil was welcome in my finish photo cause he had let me stick with him for 31 miles! Had it not been for him I would have been rolling in an hour later. for sure!
We ran around the park, past the cars and tents, I saw the orange colored pumpkins and through the chute! I was done. It was such a great feeling...Done! and I felt great! Of course my hip flexer was screaming, but who cared!!!
Done!
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd! Part 1
Alarms went off at about 4:45 and I got out of bed and headed to the shower. Tala was up as well and milling around in the room.
I got dressed, in my black LuLuLemon Pacesetter skirt and Swiftly Tech t-shirt. My camelback bladder was in the fridge filled and ready to go as well as my Pedyalite drinks. We muched on a bagel with peanut butter and had coffee from the hotel breakfast area. The morning was very quiet and uneventful. We got up, got ready and gathered our things for taking out to the car. We stepped out side into the 39 degree weather....yikes...much cooler than I expected but I guess that's a good thing. As we were leaving I filled up one last time on coffee and grabbed a banana.
Just for grins, I tossed the new shoes I had purchased the day before into the car, thinking, it would have to be a really really bad situation with my current shoes before I decided to change them, but I'll take them just in case. I'm glad I did.
We made the 15 minute drive out to Eagle Bluff resort and parked in the ever growing lines of cars parking in the lots near the cabins at the start/finish area. We got a good spot, right at the end of the sidewalk that led away from the congregation area, we could watch what was going on without even getting out of the car. It was perfect. We got there in plenty of time, got out of the car to wander up to the tables an tents where the registration/packet pickup/ chip pick up was. We got our chips and ankle straps, put our drop bags in the appropriate places for transport out to the 13.4 mile mark and headed back to the car. .
After that we just waited and watched people come and go, looked for our other Arkansas friends, chatted with them. Got back in the car....it was cold outside!
When 7:50 rolled around we got our camelbacks on and headed up to the start finish area. Took some photos and then at 8 am we were off!
So this was the plan....Run no faster than a 10:00 minute pace...ever. When I walked, try to stay as close to a 15 minute pace as possible. Eat and Drink....Have Fun! That was it.
Tala and I positioned ourselves toward the back of the pack. Avoid the adrenalin of the front runners. We began at a comfortable pace out of the park and across the iron bridge that went over the beautiful Illinois river.
I have to stress how beautiful this course was. The leaves were changing, the sky was clear and blue, there was a warm breeze cutting into the chill. We ran through vast pastureland with marshmallow shaped bales of hay dotting the hills. Cows munched grass and stared at us in amusement as we ran past. Broken down barns and old horse trailers slept along the roadside, and the grass was still green and lush. Every turn held a beautiful picture. I was completely in awe of this course.
There were hills , rolling hills, and one very steep hill that was added as an option. The Great Gourd Challenge. This would bring your race to 63 miles instead of the mediocre 62 you may have settled on. After the slow climb up the hill you signed your name on a large poster board with a sharpie...as PROOF that you completed the challenge. Back down again, you got your Challenge Completion button. I pinned mine on my skirt with pride! :)
There were Aid Stations! Great Aid stations, and since it was a two loop course, I got to visit them twice. The Mad Dog had ginger snap dog biscuits that were the most delicious cookie I have ever eaten on the run! I had two. They also had peanut butter and jelly sandwich which I enjoyed. At 6 mile aid station before the out n back they were frying up pancakes. I passed on them and chose to munch my mixed nuts and candy corn instead. I had another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I had cheese nips at mile 18 and a pickle. All the while munching on my nuts and candy corn.
Between miles 13 and 18 Tala and I chatted with a lady named Susanne. That's the fun of these long runs, you meet the most interesting people, and make new friends.
At mile 18 I ended up getting separated from Tala. I listened to my Ipod most of that time. When the afternoon rolled around, in rolled the heat. It reached 81 degrees on Saturday...completely not what I was expecting. I kept working at staying hydrated as I crossed the most horrible part of the course. Two miles of pavement. It was terrible, hot, lonely and ....terrible. I did my best to run the downhills and flat parts, but the heat was killing me. Seeing the end of that pavement and the next aid station at mile 20 was a welcome site.
I got to the aid station and talked to the volunteers a bit. I probably stayed there the longest recovering from section in the heat. I had an entire orange. It was wonderful and cold and drank cold water ...then moved on. Over the bathtub rocks, an interesting phenomenon where the river carves out bathtub shaped bowls in the rocks over time. It was a little scary to cross. with deep drops between the raised sections you had to hop over. I stopped for a minute in the middle and looked down into the pools. It was like nothing I had ever seen. But I had to move on....there was one last aid station before I was back at the start/finish area. I felt terrible from the heat. I wanted to quit when I got to the start area. I got my bag and drank my pedyalite, restocked my gels and candy corn. Then went on. I went passed my car on the way out and at the last minute I took stock of how I was feeling. The worst of my pain was in my feet. My feet were rubbing, painful and hot. I decided to take a risk...a calculated risk...
I changed into my new trail shoes, purchased from the day before....
It was and Asics, lightweight trail-shoe with more cushion in the sole. They were clean and dry and felt great on my feet. It was a quick decision, but one I would appreciate. As I was leaving the park I saw Tala, she was carrying on...and so was I.
I got dressed, in my black LuLuLemon Pacesetter skirt and Swiftly Tech t-shirt. My camelback bladder was in the fridge filled and ready to go as well as my Pedyalite drinks. We muched on a bagel with peanut butter and had coffee from the hotel breakfast area. The morning was very quiet and uneventful. We got up, got ready and gathered our things for taking out to the car. We stepped out side into the 39 degree weather....yikes...much cooler than I expected but I guess that's a good thing. As we were leaving I filled up one last time on coffee and grabbed a banana.
Just for grins, I tossed the new shoes I had purchased the day before into the car, thinking, it would have to be a really really bad situation with my current shoes before I decided to change them, but I'll take them just in case. I'm glad I did.
We made the 15 minute drive out to Eagle Bluff resort and parked in the ever growing lines of cars parking in the lots near the cabins at the start/finish area. We got a good spot, right at the end of the sidewalk that led away from the congregation area, we could watch what was going on without even getting out of the car. It was perfect. We got there in plenty of time, got out of the car to wander up to the tables an tents where the registration/packet pickup/ chip pick up was. We got our chips and ankle straps, put our drop bags in the appropriate places for transport out to the 13.4 mile mark and headed back to the car. .
After that we just waited and watched people come and go, looked for our other Arkansas friends, chatted with them. Got back in the car....it was cold outside!
When 7:50 rolled around we got our camelbacks on and headed up to the start finish area. Took some photos and then at 8 am we were off!
So this was the plan....Run no faster than a 10:00 minute pace...ever. When I walked, try to stay as close to a 15 minute pace as possible. Eat and Drink....Have Fun! That was it.
Tala and I positioned ourselves toward the back of the pack. Avoid the adrenalin of the front runners. We began at a comfortable pace out of the park and across the iron bridge that went over the beautiful Illinois river.
I have to stress how beautiful this course was. The leaves were changing, the sky was clear and blue, there was a warm breeze cutting into the chill. We ran through vast pastureland with marshmallow shaped bales of hay dotting the hills. Cows munched grass and stared at us in amusement as we ran past. Broken down barns and old horse trailers slept along the roadside, and the grass was still green and lush. Every turn held a beautiful picture. I was completely in awe of this course.
There were hills , rolling hills, and one very steep hill that was added as an option. The Great Gourd Challenge. This would bring your race to 63 miles instead of the mediocre 62 you may have settled on. After the slow climb up the hill you signed your name on a large poster board with a sharpie...as PROOF that you completed the challenge. Back down again, you got your Challenge Completion button. I pinned mine on my skirt with pride! :)
There were Aid Stations! Great Aid stations, and since it was a two loop course, I got to visit them twice. The Mad Dog had ginger snap dog biscuits that were the most delicious cookie I have ever eaten on the run! I had two. They also had peanut butter and jelly sandwich which I enjoyed. At 6 mile aid station before the out n back they were frying up pancakes. I passed on them and chose to munch my mixed nuts and candy corn instead. I had another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I had cheese nips at mile 18 and a pickle. All the while munching on my nuts and candy corn.
Between miles 13 and 18 Tala and I chatted with a lady named Susanne. That's the fun of these long runs, you meet the most interesting people, and make new friends.
At mile 18 I ended up getting separated from Tala. I listened to my Ipod most of that time. When the afternoon rolled around, in rolled the heat. It reached 81 degrees on Saturday...completely not what I was expecting. I kept working at staying hydrated as I crossed the most horrible part of the course. Two miles of pavement. It was terrible, hot, lonely and ....terrible. I did my best to run the downhills and flat parts, but the heat was killing me. Seeing the end of that pavement and the next aid station at mile 20 was a welcome site.
I got to the aid station and talked to the volunteers a bit. I probably stayed there the longest recovering from section in the heat. I had an entire orange. It was wonderful and cold and drank cold water ...then moved on. Over the bathtub rocks, an interesting phenomenon where the river carves out bathtub shaped bowls in the rocks over time. It was a little scary to cross. with deep drops between the raised sections you had to hop over. I stopped for a minute in the middle and looked down into the pools. It was like nothing I had ever seen. But I had to move on....there was one last aid station before I was back at the start/finish area. I felt terrible from the heat. I wanted to quit when I got to the start area. I got my bag and drank my pedyalite, restocked my gels and candy corn. Then went on. I went passed my car on the way out and at the last minute I took stock of how I was feeling. The worst of my pain was in my feet. My feet were rubbing, painful and hot. I decided to take a risk...a calculated risk...
I changed into my new trail shoes, purchased from the day before....
It was and Asics, lightweight trail-shoe with more cushion in the sole. They were clean and dry and felt great on my feet. It was a quick decision, but one I would appreciate. As I was leaving the park I saw Tala, she was carrying on...and so was I.
Well, It's done!
So...all the training and preparation since March has lead to the following weekend.
Friday morning my friend Tala and I set out toward Tahalaqua OK. I had been repeatedly checking the weather all week to make sure I packed the proper clothing for running . I printed the maps, set the location on my phone, printed my race registration, printed packet pickup info. I packed clothes and all kinds of things for my drop bag.
After testing and trying many different foods during my training, I ended up with things that either I never tried before, or things that got me through marathons. I gathered snack sized bags of fig newtons (which I did not touch during the run for some reason after training all summer with them). Gu with caffeine, candy corn and mixed nuts, honey stinger waffles and bottles with Pedialyte. I picked up extra sling packs from my office using my safety bucks.
I decided to have two drop bags, one that would stay at the start/finish line and another that would go out to mile 13.4 aid station. I had extra socks, body glide, gu and snack pack pudding in each bag, plus a bottle of mixed up pedyalite.
Easy, and straightforward.
So we rolled into Tahlaquah and checked into our hotel. We left to go get some lunch and a wonderful lunch place in downtown Tahlaquah called Vidalia's. It is locally owned, paninis, baked potatoes, delicious desserts. Nice and clean with a beautiful patio.
We then did a little downtown shopping. I made a new trail shoe purchase (which later turned out to be a great idea), and a few other things. We then drove out to Eagle Bluff Resort (another great idea) to see how far of a drive we were looking at in the morning.
When we got back from our drive, it was time for packet pickup and we proceeded to the Presbyterian church where the tables with boxes of manilla envelopes, stacks of t-shirts, race bibs, and entry forms scattered tables.
We quickly gathered our things, chatted with the organizers, asked a few questions and then took off back to our room to chill out for the evening.
This is prep time. The time to load up drop bags, pin on bibs, gather shoes and socks and get them organized for a stress free morning. After the work was done we watched food network, charged our electronic devices and surfed the internet. Very uneventful...that's the way we roll!
When 9:00 pm rolled around we finally slept. setting our alarms for 5 am so I would have time to take a shower. Then we went to sleep dreaming of finish lines!
Friday morning my friend Tala and I set out toward Tahalaqua OK. I had been repeatedly checking the weather all week to make sure I packed the proper clothing for running . I printed the maps, set the location on my phone, printed my race registration, printed packet pickup info. I packed clothes and all kinds of things for my drop bag.
After testing and trying many different foods during my training, I ended up with things that either I never tried before, or things that got me through marathons. I gathered snack sized bags of fig newtons (which I did not touch during the run for some reason after training all summer with them). Gu with caffeine, candy corn and mixed nuts, honey stinger waffles and bottles with Pedialyte. I picked up extra sling packs from my office using my safety bucks.
I decided to have two drop bags, one that would stay at the start/finish line and another that would go out to mile 13.4 aid station. I had extra socks, body glide, gu and snack pack pudding in each bag, plus a bottle of mixed up pedyalite.
Easy, and straightforward.
So we rolled into Tahlaquah and checked into our hotel. We left to go get some lunch and a wonderful lunch place in downtown Tahlaquah called Vidalia's. It is locally owned, paninis, baked potatoes, delicious desserts. Nice and clean with a beautiful patio.
We then did a little downtown shopping. I made a new trail shoe purchase (which later turned out to be a great idea), and a few other things. We then drove out to Eagle Bluff Resort (another great idea) to see how far of a drive we were looking at in the morning.
When we got back from our drive, it was time for packet pickup and we proceeded to the Presbyterian church where the tables with boxes of manilla envelopes, stacks of t-shirts, race bibs, and entry forms scattered tables.
We quickly gathered our things, chatted with the organizers, asked a few questions and then took off back to our room to chill out for the evening.
This is prep time. The time to load up drop bags, pin on bibs, gather shoes and socks and get them organized for a stress free morning. After the work was done we watched food network, charged our electronic devices and surfed the internet. Very uneventful...that's the way we roll!
When 9:00 pm rolled around we finally slept. setting our alarms for 5 am so I would have time to take a shower. Then we went to sleep dreaming of finish lines!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The time draws near...
So tomorrow my friend and I leave for Tahalaquah OK (or however you spell it) for our 100K. I do not have any specific ambitions for the trip except to feel like continuing on after I run the first 31 miles....
We have to loop around the 31 mile course twice, which means passing the start / finish area. This will be the biggest challenge of the run.
I kinda feel partially trained for this event. I missed my 50 miler because I was injured for most of the spring. I did one extra very challenging 50K...The Do Wacka Do. So I'm hoping that will be enough. I did do some very long runs along with that and maintained a 40 mile per week average more the most part.
I hope it's enough....
We have to loop around the 31 mile course twice, which means passing the start / finish area. This will be the biggest challenge of the run.
I kinda feel partially trained for this event. I missed my 50 miler because I was injured for most of the spring. I did one extra very challenging 50K...The Do Wacka Do. So I'm hoping that will be enough. I did do some very long runs along with that and maintained a 40 mile per week average more the most part.
I hope it's enough....
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Germany?
Hello, I just noticed I have been getting hits from Germany. Hello, Germany! How did you come to find this blog?
Monday, October 15, 2012
So, less than a week away
Sorry I have not been posting much lately. I'm simply in a waiting game now. I had a nice weekend of running: 5 miles on Saturday and then 7 on Sunday. The weather was nice and I'm trying to keep my pace slow.
It's strange....I actually have to train to run slow. If I jump into this 100K busting out 9:30 minute per mile pace, I will screw the whole run. I have to stay around an 11:00 minute per mile to be able to sustain my nutrition and strength to the end.
I know that in order to get 62 miles done, I will have to eat several times along the course and the key is never running so hard you drain the blood away from your stomach to your extremities. Once you do that you cannot digest food. That's fine for a marathon but for anything longer, its the kiss of death.
So I'm training to run slow. ...slow...slow............
It's strange....I actually have to train to run slow. If I jump into this 100K busting out 9:30 minute per mile pace, I will screw the whole run. I have to stay around an 11:00 minute per mile to be able to sustain my nutrition and strength to the end.
I know that in order to get 62 miles done, I will have to eat several times along the course and the key is never running so hard you drain the blood away from your stomach to your extremities. Once you do that you cannot digest food. That's fine for a marathon but for anything longer, its the kiss of death.
So I'm training to run slow. ...slow...slow............
Monday, October 1, 2012
Wonderful Weekend of Running Cont.
I have to apologize if this is boring, but heck...its my blog so deal.
Saturday was a somewhat rest day with a nice relaxing 5 mile walk downtown with my friend Lorraine. We shopped and had coffee, stopped in at the finish line of the Big Dam Bridge 100 mile bike race which was finishing up downtown. It was too early for much to be going on down there yet so we moved on.
Sitting downtown and having coffee in a semi outdoor cafe downtown and having great conversation is a wonderful way to start a Saturday.
After that I got back home and walked Frisco for a long time. We started around the block then saw a sign for an estate sale and followed that. It was about a mile off our course but that was fine. I had no other plans for the afternoon.
We got to the house and it was a ranch style home on Leatrice. I entered through the garage where some folks were sitting with a cash box and some others wondering around picking up and examining items, putting them down, turning and asking questions....
seeing nothing of interest in the garage I entered the home.
It was probably built in the late 70's early 80's. Wood paneling covered the walls, and there was thick brown carpeting covering the floors. The kitchen was completely vintage...it had not been remodeled or even painted since the house was built I assume. Dark wood cabinets, linoleum floors. old appliances. This house most likely belonged to an elderly couple who raised their children here, who had either recently passed or moved to assisted living. Time moved on around them and they, unknowingly, let the house slip back in time as well. Probably the liked the look of it and had no care to change it. The children had no care to keep the house, remodel the house or update it. It stood stuck in time and the items for sale were mostly worthless sentimental items standing as witness to the homes forgotten state. Record albums, teapots, plant hangers made of macrame and wicker. Some broken accordion doors. a few dishes that everybody's grandmother had, salt and pepper shakers, old tools. The once loved and used articles now exposed and held up for strangers to pilfer through. What a sad way to go.
Estate sales are sad . Yesterday these items were a families possessions and memories, now they will go to whomever will give a buck fifty for a stack of books.
Needless to say I bought nothing. I did not see the need to carry any of this into the future with me. So it stayed in the house. Frisco and I carried on with our walk.
Saturday was a somewhat rest day with a nice relaxing 5 mile walk downtown with my friend Lorraine. We shopped and had coffee, stopped in at the finish line of the Big Dam Bridge 100 mile bike race which was finishing up downtown. It was too early for much to be going on down there yet so we moved on.
Sitting downtown and having coffee in a semi outdoor cafe downtown and having great conversation is a wonderful way to start a Saturday.
After that I got back home and walked Frisco for a long time. We started around the block then saw a sign for an estate sale and followed that. It was about a mile off our course but that was fine. I had no other plans for the afternoon.
We got to the house and it was a ranch style home on Leatrice. I entered through the garage where some folks were sitting with a cash box and some others wondering around picking up and examining items, putting them down, turning and asking questions....
seeing nothing of interest in the garage I entered the home.
It was probably built in the late 70's early 80's. Wood paneling covered the walls, and there was thick brown carpeting covering the floors. The kitchen was completely vintage...it had not been remodeled or even painted since the house was built I assume. Dark wood cabinets, linoleum floors. old appliances. This house most likely belonged to an elderly couple who raised their children here, who had either recently passed or moved to assisted living. Time moved on around them and they, unknowingly, let the house slip back in time as well. Probably the liked the look of it and had no care to change it. The children had no care to keep the house, remodel the house or update it. It stood stuck in time and the items for sale were mostly worthless sentimental items standing as witness to the homes forgotten state. Record albums, teapots, plant hangers made of macrame and wicker. Some broken accordion doors. a few dishes that everybody's grandmother had, salt and pepper shakers, old tools. The once loved and used articles now exposed and held up for strangers to pilfer through. What a sad way to go.
Estate sales are sad . Yesterday these items were a families possessions and memories, now they will go to whomever will give a buck fifty for a stack of books.
Needless to say I bought nothing. I did not see the need to carry any of this into the future with me. So it stayed in the house. Frisco and I carried on with our walk.
Wonderful Weekend of running
I had an absolutely wonderful weekend of running. Not so much that I logged a lot of miles, but that they were good quality pain free miles.
Friday morning I ran in my neighborhood for the first time in months. It was so lovely getting back to my hilly Midtown runs.
I live in an older area of Little Rock called Midtown. It's a relatively new designation. About 20 years ago, this part of town was considered "West" Little Rock. I remember driving to the shopping center I now live across the street from when I was a kid and thinking I was so far away from home. I lived in North Little Rock at the time and the drive from my neighborhood to this dentist seemed like quite a haul at the time. The area looked so nice and upscale...It was quite an experience. Now I live across the street in a new development neighborhood. Funny how things work out.
It was referred to as West Little Rock because it was the sub urban area west of downtown, south of the really wealth old money homes. It was developed in the 1970's and 80's, mostly ranch style homes with some colonials mixed in. Some of the homes date back to the 1950's in the northern eastern end of the area. If you go further east the homes date back to the 20's 30's through 1950's.
Now, west little Rock is much further west. In the 1990's development began to sprawl even further west. New McMansions went up fueled by the housing boom of the 90's . New neighborhoods with winding streets, pie shaped lots and cul de sacs were created to make absolute most efficient use of every scrap of land that was not a drainage creek or too steep to build on. We never saw anything like it. Not a tree was left uncut and the lots were sodded and minimal standard drainage was snaked through the new "wealthy" housing developments. I was working in Engineering at the water department at the time thinking, who is purchasing these homes, most way over $100,000 ...now that seemed like tons of money at the time. Some homes were going for half a mil in the elevated areas with nice views of Chenal Mountain.
So, west went west and old west is now Midtown..which I LOVE. there is shopping, everywhere grocery stores and coffee shops withing walking distance. A mall withing a mile of my house. The area is busy which I love. I am a city person.
It is also very hilly. When I run my neighborhood it is a hill workout. So getting back to this run was such a nice change. I love being able to step out my front door and get a five mile hill workout. I can run to the heights if I want, Hillcrest is only a couple miles away.
I'm a Lucky Girl!
Friday morning I ran in my neighborhood for the first time in months. It was so lovely getting back to my hilly Midtown runs.
I live in an older area of Little Rock called Midtown. It's a relatively new designation. About 20 years ago, this part of town was considered "West" Little Rock. I remember driving to the shopping center I now live across the street from when I was a kid and thinking I was so far away from home. I lived in North Little Rock at the time and the drive from my neighborhood to this dentist seemed like quite a haul at the time. The area looked so nice and upscale...It was quite an experience. Now I live across the street in a new development neighborhood. Funny how things work out.
It was referred to as West Little Rock because it was the sub urban area west of downtown, south of the really wealth old money homes. It was developed in the 1970's and 80's, mostly ranch style homes with some colonials mixed in. Some of the homes date back to the 1950's in the northern eastern end of the area. If you go further east the homes date back to the 20's 30's through 1950's.
Now, west little Rock is much further west. In the 1990's development began to sprawl even further west. New McMansions went up fueled by the housing boom of the 90's . New neighborhoods with winding streets, pie shaped lots and cul de sacs were created to make absolute most efficient use of every scrap of land that was not a drainage creek or too steep to build on. We never saw anything like it. Not a tree was left uncut and the lots were sodded and minimal standard drainage was snaked through the new "wealthy" housing developments. I was working in Engineering at the water department at the time thinking, who is purchasing these homes, most way over $100,000 ...now that seemed like tons of money at the time. Some homes were going for half a mil in the elevated areas with nice views of Chenal Mountain.
So, west went west and old west is now Midtown..which I LOVE. there is shopping, everywhere grocery stores and coffee shops withing walking distance. A mall withing a mile of my house. The area is busy which I love. I am a city person.
It is also very hilly. When I run my neighborhood it is a hill workout. So getting back to this run was such a nice change. I love being able to step out my front door and get a five mile hill workout. I can run to the heights if I want, Hillcrest is only a couple miles away.
I'm a Lucky Girl!
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