When you can register for a marathon for $35, you always do it; and this was my third time doing so. The 2014 Bear Brook Marathon has become a favorite for me, even though the distance has gotten longer. According to my Garmin, the 2012 race was 26.85, the 2013 race was 26.80 miles, and the 2014 race was 29.26 miles! This is roughly 47 kilometers...an odd distance, but very fun! Perhaps for next year, the name of the race should be changed away from Bear Brook Trail Marathon to something more accurate.
The morning began even before the sun came up, because around 4:45 there was some kind of animal rummaging around outside the tent. I heard little grunting noises, and thought that maybe an animal like a bear was causing the dog in the adjacent camping spot to make these noises. Upon waking up at 5:10, I looked out of the tent and saw that it was a skunk! While it milled around, I just sat there watching it for a while, until it was far enough away for me to be able to get out of the tent.
With this fun way to be awakened, we drove to the race start, which was about 15 minutes away. On the drive I put on a cd of the Greek clarinetist Yiorgos Mangas, which really got me excited to run!
Basically, the run was a lot easier than the previous 2 years, even though the distance was 2.5 miles longer. I wore the New Balance Trail 1010 Minimus, and they performed outstandingly. My legs didn't cramp up at all, and I think I have to owe it to the shoes. I did not take in any gels, but ate a bunch of bananas, chips, cookies, PB&J sandwiches, M&Ms, and Gatorade. Maybe taking in a lot of calories (usually on a run this size I will just consume 3-4 gels) helped out a lot.
Due to some chaffage on the nips, I had to pull off the shirt at around mile 18. I thought that this would make me more susceptible to being bitten by the deer flies, but I had no problem with those pesky insects. Around mile 22, this dude named Alex started running with me, and we talked and rolled on into the finish together. Although we could have pushed it a bit, we just took it easy and finished it out.
My total time was 5:05:27, which seems pretty good for this being just a training run, basically, and because I had only busted out a 20 miler in June and a 21 miler last week in preparation for this run. Now, 5 hours after finishing, my legs still feel really good. I think it has to do something with the shoes I ran in today, and also because I have been wearing Xeroshoes for the past three weeks. Good stuff!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Back in the game: Greenland Trail 50k Race Report
Hello!
Again, it has been a while since I last posted. I ran two marathons last July (Mad Marathon (VT) and Bearbrook Trail Marathon (NH)), two in March (Dust Bowl Marathon Series Days 1 and 5 (TX and NM, respectively), the Cedro Peak 45k in April (NM), and yesterday, the Greenland Trail 50k (CO). It has been a great year so far! I joined the Marathon Maniacs and can't wait to run more!
So, I thought it would be cool to keep a race report deal...here is the first one:
Greenland Trail 50k: May 4, 2013 (Larkspur, CO).
Waking up at 4:20 am wasn't really the most fun thing to do, but it was necessary for me to be able to make it up to Larkspur, CO with time to check in and eat a bit of food before the 7 am start. We arrived at the Greenland Open Space right at 6 am, right as the sun was coming up. The temperature was in the mid 30s, not really my favorite, but at least it wasn't below freezing and there was no wind.
I ended up wearing running pants and a turtleneck because I hate cold. The dude who ended up winning the race (for the 3rd time in a row) took off at the beginning at probably a 6:30 pace...I was just using this run as a training run, so I kept it slow, at around 9 minute pace, with brief walking breaks every mile or so. It was a 4 lap course, with aid stations at either end of the lap (about 3.5-4 mile between them), so I really didn't need to wear my Camelbak, but I liked the security it offered. I tried to down one gel at each aid station, followed by a couple sips of water. I need to get down how to properly take in nutrition during an endurance race. One would think that by now, after running marathons for 7 years now, that I would have it down, but who knows? I seem to not be able to take in enough calories...gels are good, but I don't want to have any GI problems, so I limit myself to one every 4 miles or so.
The race course was very well groomed and not hard to run on at all! On the ultraunning calendar, it is listed as a "3 terrain" and a "2 surface," but it seemed a lot easier. I would say that it is actually a "2 terrain" and a "1 surface." During the race, I was telling someone that it is sort of a trail race...it doesn't offer too many challenges. There are only about 3 real hills on the backside of the course, but if you run/walk an 11 minute mile, you make up the time on the downhills by easily running 7-8 minute miles. Even on the last lap, when my foot was hurting and legs were tired, I was still managing to hit 7:30 pace on the downhills.
Speaking of the foot, I noticed around mile 22 that the outside left of my foot was hurting. I knew that it couldn't have been overtraining, because I had only been averaging 20-40 miles a week for the past month (I have been swimming and biking a lot...triathlon style!). Upon coming home, I noticed that it was a bit red where the peroneal tendon is. I decided to try to self-diagnose (as I always seem to do) and was scared at first that it was a stress fracture or a tendon tear/rupture. I iced a bit and took two cold soaks (mostly for the legs) and when I woke up saw that it was still only red, not purple/brown as a sprain/tear would be. I basically think that the shoe was just too tight and caused a bruise on the foot...nothing too serious, but I will need to take it easy for the next couple of days. The only thing planned is a 25 mile bike on Tuesday, so I have 2.5 days for it to feel better!
Back to the race, I finished the 50k course in 4:39:13, right on my planned pace! This broke down to a 9 minute mile average; not bad for a long training run! This course was a lot more easier than the Cedro Peak 45k, which took ~35 minutes longer for a course 3 miles shorter! Since I have been running a lot this year, the legs are feeling pretty good today, a day later, and I look forward to a very speedy recovery before some quality bike rides this week and then my first triathlon on Saturday (the Ordinary Mortals Triathlon in Pueblo, CO). I am very excited for this 3.5 run/12.5 bike/300 swim, but am worried that I won't have the speed in my legs that I want for the run. I mean, I used to run a sub 18 min 5k no problem, every week...but now, a sub 20 would be pushing it (I did run a 24 min 4 miler last July, but that was after quick marathon training). I want to run around 21-21:30 for the run, 38 min for the bike, and then a 7:00-7:30 swim, which would be at just around 1:10 (including transitions) for the triathlon...hoping for the best! And also hoping that the foot bruising clears up!
Well, I guess that is all...this was sort of a race report. Oh yeah, the best thing about the race yesterday was that there was free beer and pizza at the end! I think I had 7 pieces of pizza (although they were small) and two Coors light. A great way to start recovery :)
Until next time...happy training!
Again, it has been a while since I last posted. I ran two marathons last July (Mad Marathon (VT) and Bearbrook Trail Marathon (NH)), two in March (Dust Bowl Marathon Series Days 1 and 5 (TX and NM, respectively), the Cedro Peak 45k in April (NM), and yesterday, the Greenland Trail 50k (CO). It has been a great year so far! I joined the Marathon Maniacs and can't wait to run more!
So, I thought it would be cool to keep a race report deal...here is the first one:
Greenland Trail 50k: May 4, 2013 (Larkspur, CO).
Waking up at 4:20 am wasn't really the most fun thing to do, but it was necessary for me to be able to make it up to Larkspur, CO with time to check in and eat a bit of food before the 7 am start. We arrived at the Greenland Open Space right at 6 am, right as the sun was coming up. The temperature was in the mid 30s, not really my favorite, but at least it wasn't below freezing and there was no wind.
I ended up wearing running pants and a turtleneck because I hate cold. The dude who ended up winning the race (for the 3rd time in a row) took off at the beginning at probably a 6:30 pace...I was just using this run as a training run, so I kept it slow, at around 9 minute pace, with brief walking breaks every mile or so. It was a 4 lap course, with aid stations at either end of the lap (about 3.5-4 mile between them), so I really didn't need to wear my Camelbak, but I liked the security it offered. I tried to down one gel at each aid station, followed by a couple sips of water. I need to get down how to properly take in nutrition during an endurance race. One would think that by now, after running marathons for 7 years now, that I would have it down, but who knows? I seem to not be able to take in enough calories...gels are good, but I don't want to have any GI problems, so I limit myself to one every 4 miles or so.
The race course was very well groomed and not hard to run on at all! On the ultraunning calendar, it is listed as a "3 terrain" and a "2 surface," but it seemed a lot easier. I would say that it is actually a "2 terrain" and a "1 surface." During the race, I was telling someone that it is sort of a trail race...it doesn't offer too many challenges. There are only about 3 real hills on the backside of the course, but if you run/walk an 11 minute mile, you make up the time on the downhills by easily running 7-8 minute miles. Even on the last lap, when my foot was hurting and legs were tired, I was still managing to hit 7:30 pace on the downhills.
Speaking of the foot, I noticed around mile 22 that the outside left of my foot was hurting. I knew that it couldn't have been overtraining, because I had only been averaging 20-40 miles a week for the past month (I have been swimming and biking a lot...triathlon style!). Upon coming home, I noticed that it was a bit red where the peroneal tendon is. I decided to try to self-diagnose (as I always seem to do) and was scared at first that it was a stress fracture or a tendon tear/rupture. I iced a bit and took two cold soaks (mostly for the legs) and when I woke up saw that it was still only red, not purple/brown as a sprain/tear would be. I basically think that the shoe was just too tight and caused a bruise on the foot...nothing too serious, but I will need to take it easy for the next couple of days. The only thing planned is a 25 mile bike on Tuesday, so I have 2.5 days for it to feel better!
Back to the race, I finished the 50k course in 4:39:13, right on my planned pace! This broke down to a 9 minute mile average; not bad for a long training run! This course was a lot more easier than the Cedro Peak 45k, which took ~35 minutes longer for a course 3 miles shorter! Since I have been running a lot this year, the legs are feeling pretty good today, a day later, and I look forward to a very speedy recovery before some quality bike rides this week and then my first triathlon on Saturday (the Ordinary Mortals Triathlon in Pueblo, CO). I am very excited for this 3.5 run/12.5 bike/300 swim, but am worried that I won't have the speed in my legs that I want for the run. I mean, I used to run a sub 18 min 5k no problem, every week...but now, a sub 20 would be pushing it (I did run a 24 min 4 miler last July, but that was after quick marathon training). I want to run around 21-21:30 for the run, 38 min for the bike, and then a 7:00-7:30 swim, which would be at just around 1:10 (including transitions) for the triathlon...hoping for the best! And also hoping that the foot bruising clears up!
Well, I guess that is all...this was sort of a race report. Oh yeah, the best thing about the race yesterday was that there was free beer and pizza at the end! I think I had 7 pieces of pizza (although they were small) and two Coors light. A great way to start recovery :)
Until next time...happy training!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Back on Track!
Hello again!
It appears that I have not posted for a long, long time. Running has been going okay...last summer, though, I was eating a lot of food and drinking a lot of beer, so it seemed that I had a bit of a gut that caused me to stick with 4 milers all the time.
But since then, I have really trained a lot, and put in a lot of good miles...starting in September of 2011, I decided that I was going to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon again at a spring marathon, and that's what I did! I was fortunate enough to have run 3:01 at the Colfax Marathon in Denver, which is great, since evidently it is at a mile above sea level. In the months prior to that awesome race, I ran three 10 mile races, a half, and a 25k trail race. All of these were great, and tons of fun.
So, now that I have qualified for the 2013 Boston Marathon, I am going to go! I was there in 2007 with my brother...he actually set a PR there!
For the fall, I plan to just get in some good long runs, the Boulder Backroads Marathon (in October), and perhaps a 50 miler (The Bear Chase, in Denver, CO). I am spending the summer in Vermont, and have had a lot of free time to run and really enjoy the roads! Plus, there is a lot of elevation changes! This morning I ran 16 miles, and the Garmin said that I gained 1600 feet and lost the same...that is a lot of hills!
Well, that is all for now...
Oh yeah, and I also bought a Trek 1.2, so hopefully I will be doing a lot of biking...I went for a 12 mile and a 16 mile ride last week, but I have not really been too regular about it. There is also a pond to swim in nearby, but it is sort of creepy...I might sound like a bitch, but I really wish there was a pool here :)
It appears that I have not posted for a long, long time. Running has been going okay...last summer, though, I was eating a lot of food and drinking a lot of beer, so it seemed that I had a bit of a gut that caused me to stick with 4 milers all the time.
But since then, I have really trained a lot, and put in a lot of good miles...starting in September of 2011, I decided that I was going to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon again at a spring marathon, and that's what I did! I was fortunate enough to have run 3:01 at the Colfax Marathon in Denver, which is great, since evidently it is at a mile above sea level. In the months prior to that awesome race, I ran three 10 mile races, a half, and a 25k trail race. All of these were great, and tons of fun.
So, now that I have qualified for the 2013 Boston Marathon, I am going to go! I was there in 2007 with my brother...he actually set a PR there!
For the fall, I plan to just get in some good long runs, the Boulder Backroads Marathon (in October), and perhaps a 50 miler (The Bear Chase, in Denver, CO). I am spending the summer in Vermont, and have had a lot of free time to run and really enjoy the roads! Plus, there is a lot of elevation changes! This morning I ran 16 miles, and the Garmin said that I gained 1600 feet and lost the same...that is a lot of hills!
Well, that is all for now...
Oh yeah, and I also bought a Trek 1.2, so hopefully I will be doing a lot of biking...I went for a 12 mile and a 16 mile ride last week, but I have not really been too regular about it. There is also a pond to swim in nearby, but it is sort of creepy...I might sound like a bitch, but I really wish there was a pool here :)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Back into it...
I think I am back into running! I have been slowly building up my mileage, and this week I should be at 44 miles or so! I also did a long run of 12 a couple days ago, which was great!
It feels awesome to have gotten back into a training schedule! And, I have set some goals...there is a 50k in March that I think I will be ready for...and then one in April...and then a 50k/50M in May. Who knows what this spring will have in store for me?
Below is this graph from my running log showing the past year. It is neat to see how I build up, then sort of peak (or get injured!) and then start up again:
It feels awesome to have gotten back into a training schedule! And, I have set some goals...there is a 50k in March that I think I will be ready for...and then one in April...and then a 50k/50M in May. Who knows what this spring will have in store for me?
Below is this graph from my running log showing the past year. It is neat to see how I build up, then sort of peak (or get injured!) and then start up again:
Sunday, December 27, 2009
7 Miles!
7 miles today!
GREAT treadmill run. Talked on the bluetooth a bit, threw in some pullups every 10 minutes or so...did some tabla rhythms...all good things to keep you excited to run!
Tabla
This guy sometimes teaches the classes I take! I would be ecstatic if I could get to be 1/100th as good as him!
Also, did some good PT today. Feel really in shape. The legs feel strong again. I think I can do more pullups in one set than ever. Maybe I will do that later this week...
Haven't gotten the motivation to go out into the cold to run. Probably won't. I shoveled a bit today, though...for only 5 minutes...
GREAT treadmill run. Talked on the bluetooth a bit, threw in some pullups every 10 minutes or so...did some tabla rhythms...all good things to keep you excited to run!
Tabla
This guy sometimes teaches the classes I take! I would be ecstatic if I could get to be 1/100th as good as him!
Also, did some good PT today. Feel really in shape. The legs feel strong again. I think I can do more pullups in one set than ever. Maybe I will do that later this week...
Haven't gotten the motivation to go out into the cold to run. Probably won't. I shoveled a bit today, though...for only 5 minutes...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
6 miles!
Hello again!
Today was a momentous run, I think. When I left California, I got up to doing 4 milers 4 times a week...and back here in Nebraska, I have been doing 3 miles almost every day on the treadmill (too cold outside...plus I don't want to risk hurting the ankle again, like if I slipped on ice or something).
So today, I decided to do 6 miles on the treadmill. What was the hardest part was not getting bored! When you run for longer than 20 minutes on a treadmill, things become very tedious and boring!
To battle the boredom, I threw in 15 pullups every 5 minutes (did that 6 times), and also talked on the bluetooth. Ha! That's how you stayed enthused while on a treadmill!
Anyway, the 6 miles felt really really good! I think I will be ready to do sixes every day next week, and then bust out some 10 milers the next week.
I have beat the avulsion fracture! Hooray!
Hope your running is going good too!
Today was a momentous run, I think. When I left California, I got up to doing 4 milers 4 times a week...and back here in Nebraska, I have been doing 3 miles almost every day on the treadmill (too cold outside...plus I don't want to risk hurting the ankle again, like if I slipped on ice or something).
So today, I decided to do 6 miles on the treadmill. What was the hardest part was not getting bored! When you run for longer than 20 minutes on a treadmill, things become very tedious and boring!
To battle the boredom, I threw in 15 pullups every 5 minutes (did that 6 times), and also talked on the bluetooth. Ha! That's how you stayed enthused while on a treadmill!
Anyway, the 6 miles felt really really good! I think I will be ready to do sixes every day next week, and then bust out some 10 milers the next week.
I have beat the avulsion fracture! Hooray!
Hope your running is going good too!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Back on My Feet!
This past Wednesday, the physical therapist said I could run again! Since then, I have ran a mile on the treadmill on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and today (Sunday).
IT IS AMAZING TO BE RUNNING AGAIN!
My fitness seems to be pretty good still...have been swimming and aqua jogging like 3 or 4 times a week. Have been doing a lot of PT, too...so that is good!
Now I will have more to write in my blog, so stay tuned!
IT IS AMAZING TO BE RUNNING AGAIN!
My fitness seems to be pretty good still...have been swimming and aqua jogging like 3 or 4 times a week. Have been doing a lot of PT, too...so that is good!
Now I will have more to write in my blog, so stay tuned!
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