Hot August Miles

[katluvr]

I almost posted in the July thread but realized it was August!

Last 2 hard/long training runs:
Yesterday 2 hours on treadmill at high incline doing more of a "power hike". It's hot, hot, hot in the garage! Thanks goodness I have the full 4 seasons of The Big Bang Theory--keeps me occupied! 2 hrs = 6 episodes. Then today I did 8 miles of "hill" (bridge) repeats.

So that's it...nothing but short incline workouts or easy runs. We fly out 1 week from today and the race is on Saturday. I think I am more nervous this time than last year. Not sure why? Maybe because I really know how tough it is. Maybe because I want to bet last years time? Maybe because I worry I am not as fit as last year? And one never knows about the weather or what altitude will do to me this year. Ready or not...Pikes Peak here I come!

K

[Tri Girl]

Sounds like you're as ready as you're going to be!! My good friend is doing it, too. We are flatlanders, so he trains all summer at the stadium steps at OU. He's done it the last couple years, and I think this year he's doing the double (the half then the full the next day)??
I hope to do that some day, but most likely not until I retire, as it's always the first week that school starts and I can't take any time off that week.


My runs have sucked in the heat lately. Trying to heart rate train, and it's just not working out. More walking than jogging/running. So for now, I'm leaving my HR monitor at home and just running (even tho I know it's in the high 160's- I just don't care).
4 weeks until my 50K. I DNF'd the last 50K I attempted at the end of June (only made it 27 miles), so we'll see how I do in the heat with this one. If I have to walk the whole dang thing, I'm going to cross that finish line this time, dangit!!!!

[jessmarimba]

Hey Kat -

If you had to pick between road shoes or fairly light hiking shoes (not boots), which would you go with? Never found trail shoes that worked.

Thanks!

[limewave]

Jess-I have used regular road shoes for trail running. I would wear those over light weight hiking shoes. I know you didn't ask me, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

15 minutes of hill repeats for me yesterday before a strength training workout. And 2x1600's the day before that. . . . Slowly starting to feel like a runner again.

[skhill]

It's not so hot here, at last! The olympics have inspired me to actually do speed work this week: a 4 mile tempo run Tuesday, and today's run included some intervals on the track. There were more people out on the track than I've ever seen before, 4 walkers, one with a little dog.

Looking forward to tomorrow's long run, as it's supposed to get down into the upper 50s tonight!!!!!

[jessmarimba]

Jess-I have used regular road shoes for trail running. I would wear those over light weight hiking shoes. I know you didn't ask me, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

That's what I usually wear trail running, but I won't be running much of Pikes. Just wondering if I'd be better off in the shoes I usually would wear to hike a 14er. The scree at the top worries me a bit, especially since I usually hike with poles. The shoes I'm considering are the Merrell Siren Sport, so I don't think they're particularly overkill.

[katluvr]

Jess,

I wear what I wear on the road....did that last year and no problems. Of course there as no rain, snow or ice (and one never knows). So I would wear what you are comforable in. For me that is my regular running shoes and I hope to stay dry!

As for above tree line...I have VERY short legs and I felt like I needed to be a mountain goat, but truly it is a trail and I didn't feel like I slipped or needed better traction. I did use my hands and find biking gloves useful.

As I think back I saw alot of regular running shoes on folks feet.


I am both excited and nervous!

Kay