November Leaf Shuffling

[yellow]

I use a remote/online/phone coach who trains several ultrarunners. He put me in touch with one of his other clients who was going to be visiting SLC so this other client and I could talk trails for him to run while visiting. He is from NC, closer to the ocean, so you'd think the altitude (and very low humidity and cold) might get to him a little bit. He flew in to town last Monday and we went for a great run in the foothills. Nothing like soaking in the enthusiasm and joy of someone who is grateful to be running in a new place (and really freakin' excited about it). The altitude didn't seem to phase him. It was all I could do to keep up with him on the downhills.

Fast forward to Saturday, when he wanted to go for a ~2 hour trail run. Oh, and he was going to bring along another guy who he met at this class he was attending in SLC. Other guy is from NJ and not a runner, but he is young (20-something) and an elite rower (as in Olympics-level elite). It was snowing and these guys only had shorts (but they did have jackets and gloves). No worries. Off we went on a beautiful snow covered trail. The guys couldn't get over that the snow was not slippery to run on and the fact that it was snowing and they were out running in it. There was a lot of man giggling. We all had a great time and the young non-runner guy had no problem popping off an 11 mile trail run in the snow at altitude (the longest trail run he'd ever done). Ahhh, youth.

Not that I really need reminding, but it was a reminder to be thankful for what I have, where I live, and where I run. I enjoyed sharing my trails with someone new. I usually run alone (mostly because I haven't been successful in finding a compatible trail running buddy), so it was a real treat to run with other humans who were very much in the moment. To witness the joy and enthusiasm of these guys was priceless. Here is a picture from Saturday. Look at those smiles! (Yes, I am short, but they were both tall so that makes me look extra short.)

Back to running with me, myself, and I today. We had a lovely little jaunt. Perfect fall evening.

[VeganBikeChick]

What a lovely photo, yellow! Kudos to everyone getting their runs in!

I'm really starting to enjoy my outdoor runs here, although I sure do miss running in the chilly weather in CO with the sun shining down to keep me warm.

[katluvr]

I, too, have been running but not posting. On Sunday i ran my first trail 1/2 marathon. It was about 84 degrees after the sun came up. Ah, fall in Florida! Here is the race report I posted on FB:

Race report: So it was my first trail 1/2 marathon. I've done many a road race and yes, I have done Pikes Peak--but that's totally different. I did pretty good to start, first 5 miles under 1 hour, made the half way mark at 1:40 so I thought I was doing well. But it was HOT. When not in the woods (where it more technical) we did flat, grassy areas with direct sun. I really think I would of done better if not so hot. It really hit me between miles 8 & 9 and the "walk/run" was on. By miles 11 & 12 it was mostly a walk and short, slow slogging. My best road 1/2 marathon was 2:09, my normal "good" 1/2 is between 2:17 & 2:24, and not trained for 1/2s are in the 2:30 mark. My goal was under 3 hours and I made it in 2:56--thus goal attained! As runners know since this is my first trail 1/2 marathon this is a new PR! Not bad for a short, chubby almost 50 year old!

So my next race is my usual race of a 5 K and 10 K --back to back, 3rd weekend in Jan. My plan is to change my training from endurance and just getting the distance to working on my speed. We shall see how that goes.

K

[yellow]

kat, that is AWESOME! Congratulations!

[OakLeaf]

Wow, way to go Kat! Very nice.

Yellow, nice picture! What a beautiful place to run. Unfortunately, between my asthma and my Raynaud's, I think I'll have to content myself with looking at pictures of anything below 20° ...

My foot is feeling a lot better. Not 100%, but definitely on the road to healing, enough that I'm probably going to go ahead and do the 5K Turkey Trot I'm signed up for. I'm starting to run a little more, and mainly right now I'm feeling the effects of how little running I've been doing the last few weeks. Ugh. I'm sending my recent training logs to my coach so he can get me started on my training plan, and it's flat-out embarrassing. I'm already making excuses to him for my lack of running and I haven't even started his program yet! But really ... they're good excuses ...

[Wahine]

Good work Kat! Nice job meeting your goal on your first trail half.

I am slowly building things back up. My achilles seems to be about 95% recovered and it's not bothering me when I run, just a little tight afterward. I've made it back up to 6 miles. If everything goes well over the next few months, I should be able to get up to a long run of 15 miles and still have 2 weeks to taper going into my first stand alone marathon.

[katluvr]

Love reading about everyone's runs, accomplishments and goals (and support)!
So today was a 30 minute run, a bit under 3 miles. I did "intervals". Just did schedule 1 minute "speed" work. No target pace just ran "as fast as I can without dying" for a minute. Well maybe I didn't run as fast as I can (then again, maybe it was! I'm so slow). But it went well. Except I am SOOOOOOOO damn tired of this humidity. It is like soup out there! Cool front hit us Sunday, hope it dries up some, too.

K

[GLC1968]

Yellow - great photo! I would *LOVE* to run in your neck of the woods. It sounds amazing to me!

Kat - awesome job on the trail 1/2! I'm not sure I could do a full half marathon on a trail without hurting myself (if yesterday was any indication!).

I too have been running without posting. Two weeks ago was a 'rest' week on my plan, so I had 4 short runs and no long one. This past week, I was traveling three days (three days of difficult travel, actually), so my run plan was all over the place. I did manage to get them all in, if a bit off on normal timing. Yesterday was my long run of 10 miles. It was beautiful weather, but it wasn't a great run. I had zero energy (entirely due to a massive calorie deficit I'm intentionally running right now) so it felt like a ridiculously long PLOD. I was so done at the end that when I cut through an unfamiliar parking lot at 9.5 miles to turn towards home, I totally tripped. It was the oddest thing - I guess I was dazed, because I was half way to the ground before I realized what was happening. I threw my arm out in front of me at the last second to stop my fall and skinned my elbow. I immediately turned to look at what I tripped over and it was a speed bump! How embarrassing!

Luckily, today I feel fine. No aches, no pains and no tiredness in my legs. My elbow smarts when in the shower but other than that, I don't even notice it. Phew!