Can't Get Enough Fall Running! 10/25-10/31

[Jolt]

I ran the Larch Hill XC race (3 miles) this morning in 26:39 (about a 2:30 improvement over last year). Nice weather for the race today--sunny and about 48-50 degrees. There wasn't as much standing water and mud on the course this year, but there were puddles right at the beginning so I did have cold wet toes for the whole time! The hay barriers were higher this time...last year some of them were just one bale high but this year almost all of them were two stacked on top of each other so I had to vault over them or step up rather than being able to clear them almost without breaking stride like I can when it's just one bale. The only one that was one bale high had another one right in front of it so it was too long to jump clean over. Overall the race felt a little harder this time but I think that was mostly because of the time of the month...does anyone else feel like they're running in lead shoes right before their period? And besides it turns out I was going faster as well, so I was working harder. I was the only one in VFFs this year (last year there was somebody else wearing them). There were a couple of guys behind me at the beginning who could use some form work--their footsteps were LOUD!! I was relieved when they passed me b/c then I didn't have their stomping throwing off my rhythm. I guess I can't be too hard on loud runners though, because later on I was right behind some people and my breathing was pretty loud at that point so I was probably kind of an annoying person to be running near...

[OakLeaf]

Way to go Jolt! Sounds like a lot of fun!

[colby]

Congrats, Jolt!

And, good luck tomorrow, skhill (though you are hopefully sleeping now). We'll be thinking of you.

I did an hour or so on the treadmill at the gym last night on "random hike" up to 7% and 6.5mph (basically at 0% it would go 6.5mph, and it would decrease speed to stay at a consistent effort as the incline increased). Based on how my feet felt after running, I decided not to run today before my 16-18 tomorrow.

My KSOs have a hole in the seam on the left side of the right big toe. Sigh. I'm sure I could stitch them up by hand, but I'd rather have them fixed properly so I asked Vibram what they'd recommend. I guess I'll be running in the Bikila from now on. I don't want to wear the hole through to the ends and make it harder to fix (should I end up fixing it myself).

I'm also debating a third pair of CW-X non-insulated tights to run in (I have an insulator pair that I run in in the cold of winter and wear for snowboarding). I have 2 pairs of capris with seams worn through that are awaiting repair, but I really miss them. I think I'll buy a pair of full-length pro or expert tights (rather than 3/4) to support my ankles a bit too for the marathon (the new revolution tights look super sweet, but $195 ).

[OakLeaf]

Love love love my CW-X!

The full-length Ventilators are noticeably cooler than the regular non-insulated ones (but low 50s is as warm as I could wear them for a sustained race pace).

[Bike Chick]

Good luck SK! and Congrats, Jolt!

[skhill]

...did not start auspiciously. At 3 AM, I woke to the sound of my dog Pokey having a seizure-- that makes 8 now. I sat with him holding his paw (so to speak) until he calmed down and went back to sleep, and then just dozed a bit until time to get up.

For the race itself, the weather was great, the runners were great, the course was scenic, and the local residents were very gracious. It's got to be annoying to have your town taken over and roads closed like this! First 10 miles went great-- 1:34 at that point. All I had to do was cruise on in at 10 mpm to finish in 2:05. But alas, that's when I started cramping up and feeling nauseous. I drank less than I had in the past, hoping to avoid multiple stops at the port-a-potties, and paid the price. So I ended up walking more and more in those last three miles, and ended up finishing in 2:08, same as last time. Oh well. I learned something important (better to need the potty breaks than deal with the effects of dehydration) and basically had a good time.

Now, if only Pokey would vacate the couch, I'd stretch out for a nap. Don't have the heart to make him move right now. He's feeling fine right now, BTW, just tired and sore (like me!)

[Bike Chick]

Great job, SK! That's still a good time. Any HM is still an accomplishment IMO.

Poor Pokey! Hope he gets better

[solobiker]

Did a nice 5 mile trail run with about 1500' of elevation gain. Beautiful weather..sunny and temps in the low 50s. I did have a little tumble and bruised my hand and knee but it could have been worse. I think I am getting stronger with the trail running because I can maintain a pretty high heart rate for longer periods of time. Have a great week next week everyone!!

[indigoiis]

I also did a trail run - 8 miles. First we drove up there and parked and rode our mountain bikes home. Then we changed into running gear and ran back and got the truck. A cool biathalon on a beautiful day!
I did not wear my VFFs... I wore them yesterday on a hike, though.

[indigoiis]

work--their footsteps were LOUD!! I was relieved when they passed me b/c then I didn't have their stomping throwing off my rhythm. I guess I can't be too hard on loud runners though, because later on I was right behind some people and my breathing was pretty loud at that point so I was probably kind of an annoying person to be running near...

I'm glad you had fun, Jolt! I have to mention that I, too, am a heavy breather!

[denda]

I did 7 miles yesterday. It was a very pretty morning.

[colby]

Love love love my CW-X!

The full-length Ventilators are noticeably cooler than the regular non-insulated ones (but low 50s is as warm as I could wear them for a sustained race pace).

Yeah, I have (had) the 3+1 pairs of them, and if the seams didn't inevitably wear through it'd be a no brainer. After putting on my zoot compressrx last night and feeling instant love, though, I think I'm sold on another pair of fall/sprint/winter (until it's too cold) tights. Now to debate the model.

[colby]

...did not start auspiciously. At 3 AM, I woke to the sound of my dog Pokey having a seizure-- that makes 8 now. I sat with him holding his paw (so to speak) until he calmed down and went back to sleep, and then just dozed a bit until time to get up.

For the race itself, the weather was great, the runners were great, the course was scenic, and the local residents were very gracious. It's got to be annoying to have your town taken over and roads closed like this! First 10 miles went great-- 1:34 at that point. All I had to do was cruise on in at 10 mpm to finish in 2:05. But alas, that's when I started cramping up and feeling nauseous. I drank less than I had in the past, hoping to avoid multiple stops at the port-a-potties, and paid the price. So I ended up walking more and more in those last three miles, and ended up finishing in 2:08, same as last time. Oh well. I learned something important (better to need the potty breaks than deal with the effects of dehydration) and basically had a good time.

Now, if only Pokey would vacate the couch, I'd stretch out for a nap. Don't have the heart to make him move right now. He's feeling fine right now, BTW, just tired and sore (like me!)

Learning still makes a race valuable even if you didn't PR. Sometimes it's hard to find the balance between drinking/eating too much or too little, especially since it varies with the conditions. The good news is up to that point you were right on pace, so you CAN and WILL PR when the right time comes. Rest well!