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| The foothills are turning green. Photo from 4/14 on Corrals Trail looking up at the ridge. |
Monday, April 15, 2013
Mid-April Update
Amazingly, it's already been 3 weeks since the Canyon Meadows 50k. My training has gone very well lately and I'm definitely growing in confidence. For the second Saturday in a row, I've covered 28+ miles & 5500'+ vertical running some great routes through the foothills. Even better, each Sunday I've woken up with little soreness and a fair amount of energy being able to cover an additional 13-17 miles. So far in April I've got in over 150 miles and 23k of vert. I'm hoping for 300 miles and 45k by the time April has passed. Only a month-and-a-half to go before Bryce.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Another Month in the Books
March is already over. Wow. I had my first race of the season in California and Boise is starting to warm up. It's the best time of the year. The entire season is ahead & my job as a teacher is only a short time away from taking a 2 month hiatus. I ran consistently in March logging 288.75 miles and 45,050' of vertical. Solid numbers. If I can keep it up throughout April & the first part of May, I'll be confident of finishing the Bryce 100 miler.
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| Lands End Park looking out to the Pacific Ocean - San Francisco, CA |
Race Report - Canyon Meadow 50k
Coming off a couple weeks of low-energy and social interferences, I had slim hopes of feeling halfway decent for the Canyon Meadow 50k.
I flew into Sacramento on Saturday afternoon, drove a couple hours to the hotel in Alameda and got out for a quick shake out run along the Bay. I actually didn't feel all that bad. Maybe it was just the change of scenery or altitude that had me feeling a bit better. Whatever it was, it sure was a better feeling than I had in the last couple weeks.
Race morning came quick and we drove up winding roads into the foothills above Oakland. It was pretty cool early in the morning, nearly perfect for racing. After checking in, getting my number pinned on and my Salomon pack put together, I was ready to go...although I didn't actually have time to "go".
With some pre-race instructions, we were off up the trail. Literally, we climbed up a steep trail for the first mile or so. I'd get to run it 3 times on the day. That first climb was nice and I noticed how much my hill training did for me. I blasted past people yet felt very relaxed. I rolled through the next several miles comfortably with a few 50k runners passing me or me passing them.
The course was beautiful. We ran through redwood and eucalyptus stands on double & single track trails. The weather was continually warming and I downed liquid at each of the 3 aid stations and took Clif Shot gels periodically. I didn't have a lot of pep, but I didn't feel too bad either.
By the end of the first lap, 13.1 miles, I believe I was in about 5th place overall. I cranked up the steep climb for the second time on the day and motored along once again passing by a lot of trail users not in the race. It was really great getting cut off by numerous dogs or clueless pedestrians taking up the entire trail. Around 18-19 miles in, I started to get the first signs of cramping in my hamstrings. I had been drinking a fair amount, but I think the pace was a touch faster than I've done in training & the weather was a lot warmer than I've had in Boise thus far.
I passed through the second lap, 26.2 miles, still in about 6th place, but my hamstrings were really starting to tighten up. It was very reminiscent of the Weiser River 50k last April when I had the same trouble. I downed more liquid at the aid station and took off for my third trip up the steep climb. It wasn't all that pretty this time. I was passed and dropped into 7th place. I didn't actually feel bad, just couldn't run very far without my hamstrings catching.
I did the best I could, taking salt tabs, drinking as much as possible, but just couldn't get going. I was passed again with about 2 miles to go. I knew there wasn't far to go and just tried to maintain good form. Eventually I caught another runner and moved back into 7th and only a little behind 6th. I finished in 4:26:10 & 7th overall.
It was a great day on the trails. The time was slower than I hoped, but I have to put it in perspective as I've done little speed work nor have I trained in warm weather. I also trained through the race logging 60+ miles in the days leading up. I'm actually pretty happy and the best part is that I didn't have much soreness. In fact, I got in another 78 miles the following week...with several trips to wineries & breweries along the way!
I flew into Sacramento on Saturday afternoon, drove a couple hours to the hotel in Alameda and got out for a quick shake out run along the Bay. I actually didn't feel all that bad. Maybe it was just the change of scenery or altitude that had me feeling a bit better. Whatever it was, it sure was a better feeling than I had in the last couple weeks.
Race morning came quick and we drove up winding roads into the foothills above Oakland. It was pretty cool early in the morning, nearly perfect for racing. After checking in, getting my number pinned on and my Salomon pack put together, I was ready to go...although I didn't actually have time to "go".
With some pre-race instructions, we were off up the trail. Literally, we climbed up a steep trail for the first mile or so. I'd get to run it 3 times on the day. That first climb was nice and I noticed how much my hill training did for me. I blasted past people yet felt very relaxed. I rolled through the next several miles comfortably with a few 50k runners passing me or me passing them.
The course was beautiful. We ran through redwood and eucalyptus stands on double & single track trails. The weather was continually warming and I downed liquid at each of the 3 aid stations and took Clif Shot gels periodically. I didn't have a lot of pep, but I didn't feel too bad either.
By the end of the first lap, 13.1 miles, I believe I was in about 5th place overall. I cranked up the steep climb for the second time on the day and motored along once again passing by a lot of trail users not in the race. It was really great getting cut off by numerous dogs or clueless pedestrians taking up the entire trail. Around 18-19 miles in, I started to get the first signs of cramping in my hamstrings. I had been drinking a fair amount, but I think the pace was a touch faster than I've done in training & the weather was a lot warmer than I've had in Boise thus far.
I passed through the second lap, 26.2 miles, still in about 6th place, but my hamstrings were really starting to tighten up. It was very reminiscent of the Weiser River 50k last April when I had the same trouble. I downed more liquid at the aid station and took off for my third trip up the steep climb. It wasn't all that pretty this time. I was passed and dropped into 7th place. I didn't actually feel bad, just couldn't run very far without my hamstrings catching.
I did the best I could, taking salt tabs, drinking as much as possible, but just couldn't get going. I was passed again with about 2 miles to go. I knew there wasn't far to go and just tried to maintain good form. Eventually I caught another runner and moved back into 7th and only a little behind 6th. I finished in 4:26:10 & 7th overall.
It was a great day on the trails. The time was slower than I hoped, but I have to put it in perspective as I've done little speed work nor have I trained in warm weather. I also trained through the race logging 60+ miles in the days leading up. I'm actually pretty happy and the best part is that I didn't have much soreness. In fact, I got in another 78 miles the following week...with several trips to wineries & breweries along the way!
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