Spring Running Thread

[OakLeaf]

Good luck tomorrow, RnR! Go have fun and kick some butt!!

[Catrin]

Have run RNR!

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks Ladies,

We survived. It was hot and humid which does not go well for either of us. My husband in particular. I was soaked from head to toe by mile 3. The course was nice, lots of nice single track. It was however connected by open field crossings. No fun in the heat and very brushy. I was glad I sprayed with bug spray on my legs. So it went ok considering. The last couple of miles were tough. I have never cramped in my life and when I finished even my feet were cramping. No fun. I was well hydrated and my nutrition was fine, I think it was just that there was no way to keep up with salt loss.

We do not have any races planned over the summer, but will start back up in September. I had been seriously considering a full trail marathon last year, but I think I am going to shelve the idea and just stick to trail 1/2 marathons and shorter. My teaching load is really heavy next year, I have 80 AP students registered, almost double the norm. It is going to be a heavy load to carry and I want to be smart and manage and enjoy my training. Keep things in balance.

So there you have it. Survived. Got good swag, got to run with hubs and one of my former students who met us there. All good.

[Crankin]

Sounds like a good experience, despite the weather.
And, your plan for sticking to halfs during a stressful year sounds good, too. More people should do this. It avoids burning out and ending up hating something you loved.

[rocknrollgirl]

Sounds like a good experience, despite the weather.
And, your plan for sticking to halfs during a stressful year sounds good, too. More people should do this. It avoids burning out and ending up hating something you loved.

That is my biggest fear. I LOVE trail running. I don't want it to become a "thing"

[Catrin]

Sounds like you had fun outside of the cramping. I'm sure you've nailed proper prep for endurance activities in the heat - have you ever tried something like Salt Stick Buffered Electrolyte capsules? They have two versions, one with caffeine. I've found in serious heat it really helps to pop one periodically. They are on the large side, but well worth it.

Focusing on what you love without allowing it to become stressful is a great idea! It's so easy to go there without really realizing it...

[rocknrollgirl]

Catrin,
we have tried everything, endurolytes, S-caps, gatorade, nuun, gatorade and nuun mixed. Usually I am just unhappy and slow i n the heat. My husband gets clobbered. I am at a loss of what to do. I am starting to think it might be a blood sugar thing with him. He rarely takes nutrition on our long runs, and so he is not used to doing it on race day. Yesterday he ran 13 miles of trail on 1 gel. I had 1 before and 3 during. I am thinking this because I gave him a coke after the race when he felt bad and it was immediate improvement.

So it may be a combo of mile dehydration and low blood sugar.