Pikes Peak Ascent

[katluvr]

So I just finished registering for Pikes Peak Ascent. If you don't what that is, it is a 1/2 marathon UP Pikes Peak (starting over 5000 ft elevation and climbing about 7000+). Yes, I live in Florida, at sea level with no hills (except bridges and overpasses) and no mountains. Training is going to be very creative! But I just KNOW I can do it. I have 6 hours and 30 mins, I can do that!
So still waiting confirmation that they can verify my qualifying race finish time, but otherwise I AM IN!
Been waiting for registration day for months. Whoo-hoo! Just celebrated with a beer brewed in Colorado (no, not Coors light!)
K

[Trek-chick]

Wow, that sounds awesome! Congrats and do give a report after the trip.

[Kimmyt]

Dude! I just signed up for this too, along with my husband and two friends from PA. I am so excited slash terrified! I have no idea what to expect from this race... good luck to you and your training!

[Bike Chick]

That sounds like such a cool race and a unique challenge. Good luck to both of you.

[solobiker]

Good luck everyone!! And for those of you not from CO remember to drink plenty of water....It will help with dehydration (It is dry out here) and it will help to keep AMS or such away. AMS is no fun at all.

[kacie tri-ing]

Awesome!

[colby]

Wow, that looks super fun! (And I think going down would be worse!)

[chicago]

OMG I did this!!, in 2005!!! You won't believe what happened to us!! This may scare you, but it's something to be prepared for regardless. At 10 miles, near tree line, a storm came in. It dropped 6" of hail!!, I'm not kidding!! Some runners got sent back down the mountain, we were cleared to go to the top which was horrible and scary... but we made it... but only to find 200 runners stuck at the top!! Okay, I know, probably not the best to post this, but this is reality when you are climbing mountains that high!! I know you can't carry alot, but try to carry something just incase it rains or get's cold, etc.

I ended up sneaking a ride on the cog rail train that went down the mountain. Most of the other runners did not get down for 2hrs later. If you ask around when you get there, I'm sure people will remember the horrible weather of 2005.

Good luck... train hard!!!, it's not easy!!... and you know if you don't make the markers in a certain amount of time, you have to climb back down!!!

[katluvr]

Yep, 2005 bad year and I think 2008 weather was yucky, too.
So I DO plan to carry something...not sure what yet. I am a little freaked out about the whole thing and training on an treadmill with 11% or more incline does not sound like fun. I try to be "aware" and "prepared" but sometimes push those bad "things" out...or I would not be able to do this. I really feel that "I can" and "I will". So hopefully good mental imagery will help. But I am aware that I cannot in the LEAST simulate what I will experience when I get there. So I'll train hard (of course now I am feeling behind in my training) and go prepared.

Thanks!

K

[chicago]

katluvr, are their stairs at all where you can train? like a stadium of some sort?

that's what i trained on. we have high toboggan stairs here and i trained on those all summer. i did pretty good... except for the dang hail!! it hailed so hard on us we all had welts on us the next day. we walked 3 miles in pelting hail, it was awful. i did get dizzy at the top some, but i'm sure it was stress and weather related. i felt cheated that i didn't get a nice finish with nice weather like i see so many others have.

you are walking/hiking with alot of other people... be aggressive with your walking and pass as often as you can. if you get behind someone who is slow, pass them, LOL!!... but don't over do it too early.

i wish i had a more exciting finish to report for you, but i don't, uggh. i think the most difficult part was being dizzy at the top and the rain. if it hadn't been for the rain, i think it woudl have been awesome. i do remember my breathing becoming shorter... like when i would breathe in, my lungs would fill up sooner type thing, lol... but i did okay. i just didn't over do it, but i was consistent and persistent on my walking.

you'll be fine... but do train hard... if you can find some stairs... that might help.

[katluvr]

115 days until the race. I am in week 10 of my training plan (17 weeks to go). Today was 6 miles of hill repeats, I use a bridge/overpass. It got HOT (yes summer like temps of upper 80s) past few weeks. I always thought of the heat as part of my training plan and purposely have not tried to get out early before it gets hot. It is going to be a long, hot, training plan.

Sometimes I feel like I am behind, but other times I think I am progressing. I don't want to injury myself, burn out, etc. I continue to mix up "hill" repeats, some incline TM work (more about that coming), regular runs. But I try to "push" myself on all runs.

So if I can average 3 mph I should have no problem completing. So I do walking on TM at 3 mph. I have discovered that up to 9% incline no problem. After that my HR really gets up there. Then at 12% incline and greater the back of my calves and all the way up the back on my legs just scream for me to ease off the incline. But I keep going up. Walking at 15% incline is do-able, but like I said the calves are talking (yelling) at me.

This weekend is 9 miles for my long run. I'll just do it flat and a bit faster than my normal long runs. Next weekend is 10 miles, I plan to drive (yes, not very "green" of me to drive to run) up to an area that has hills and run a "hilly" long run.

I am still very excited. 95% of other time I am positive, know I can do it, sure I can do it. Then for short moments I worry that I do not know what I have gotten myself into. I have not idea of the feeling of a continuous incline for that long, or the fact that I will be at altitude. Those are not things I can plan for. Or when I will hit the wall (or the true steepness of the mountain). But I keep saying "I can" and keep seeing myself at the top!

Off to shower now!
K

[solobiker]

OMG I did this!!, in 2005!!! You won't believe what happened to us!! This may scare you, but it's something to be prepared for regardless. At 10 miles, near tree line, a storm came in. It dropped 6" of hail!!, I'm not kidding!! Some runners got sent back down the mountain, we were cleared to go to the top which was horrible and scary... but we made it... but only to find 200 runners stuck at the top!! Okay, I know, probably not the best to post this, but this is reality when you are climbing mountains that high!! I know you can't carry alot, but try to carry something just incase it rains or get's cold, etc.

I ended up sneaking a ride on the cog rail train that went down the mountain. Most of the other runners did not get down for 2hrs later. If you ask around when you get there, I'm sure people will remember the horrible weather of 2005.

Good luck... train hard!!!, it's not easy!!... and you know if you don't make the markers in a certain amount of time, you have to climb back down!!!

This is very typical for CO. Thunderstorms roll in around noon and sometimes much earlier. I had a friend do the race about 6 years ago and it snowed on them at the top. I would try to bring a light wind breaker, gloves and a hat. I have spent a lot of time up in the mountains and the temps can go from the upper 70s to the low 30s in a short period of time without much warning. Good luck and have fun. It is awesome out here.

[skhill]

Just wondering, how does someone in Fla. train for the altitude? That's what would scare me.

But it sounds like a great adventure, and a good challenge!