I finally had the opportunity to run the "Don't Fence Me In" 30k put on by/for the Prickly Pear Land Trust in Helena, Montana. This run is about 19.1 miles with more than 4,000 of total elevation gain. Helena has an extensive trail system that begins in the downtown basically, which is really cool and unique.
The day was perfect, with cool morning temperatures and clear skies. I was feeling pretty sluggish after a long difficult week (work and travel wise) so I had no expectations other than to enjoy the day outside. I certainly enjoyed the day outside, though the course was pretty tough with relentless up and down. There really wasn't anything flat to speak of. It was pretty apparent that I'm not in tip top shape... in fact I'm really not feeling so hot these days.
The course is beautiful though with a mix of forest and meadow, mostly on buff singletrack. The competition seemed pretty fierce with none of my super fast friends even coming in top three in their respective genders (and by fast I mean people who have been known to win or place high at major trail races). That made me feel better about eeking in somewhere near the back of the pack in 4:22 (somewhere between a 13:30 and 14:00 average pace). Or maybe I'm just making excuses for myself. I did spend the majority of the race contemplating what a suffer-fest San Juan Solstice 50 will be if I don't get my act together in short order. San Juan Solstice has more than 13,000 feet of gain at high altitude, climbing north of 13,000 feet. This alone might kill me. So, in a fit of terror I also ran 22 miles on Sunday to bring my week up to 57 miles, a hefty jump from the 15ish/week I've been phoning in.... I think more than miles I need to do hill repeats though. Does anyone have suggestions for an effective hill workout? SJ 50 is June 23 so I have about 4-5 training weeks. Or is it hopeless?
This is a horrible picture of me and my pasty chubby legs but as you can see maybe I also took a hard fall during the race on a fast downhill. I need to watch where I'm going it seems.
Finally, last week I visited my Grandmother in the Daytona area and got in a few 8ish mile runs on the beach. One day it was 95. I started off being grumpy about the heat but found that if I relaxed a little and opened my mind it wasn't so bad. In fact it was pretty awesome. The beach is neato.
11 comments:
okay if it makes you feel better, running 19 miles would make me cry right now. And a 22 the next day. Crazy!
You're beautiful!
And you need to practice hiking hard uphills. SJS50's climbs will be long, steep, and at altitude. All that equals hiking. Maybe practice, too, running down 2-4,000 foot descents so your legs get used to that, too.
How about: find an 1,800 vertical foot climb in no more than 2 miles. Hike like hell up it, bomb down as hard as you can, have a snack, then do it again. Whadda think?
Laps on Mt Brown.
Ha thanks Mary.
Meghan that sounds similar to what Ronda S recommended. I will start doing that maybe tomorrow if my legs are recovered from the weekend.
Dave I have to confess I'm not even sure which is Mt. Brown. But that sounds like a good idea. You want to go do laps on Mt. Brown this Saturday? :-)
Meghan and Ronda beat me to that:) Good to have like-minded folks reading, huh? Takes a guesswork out of yours - now go do it!
Ha thanks Olga.
The only thing you need to do is do what you like the most as long as it's sort of running-ish. That's the most effective training for people like you and me. I think specific training is highly overrated unless you go for a time goal, and you probably don't have anything really flat around you anyways. I have never understood why people bother with random PR kind of goals unless you want to kick your best friend's ass (which is a guy way of expressing affection). Longevity and fun is far more important. And beer, afterwards.
I personally like hills because I find it more fun to get to a top and then go down than to do something flat, which honestly bores me to death (unless it's on snow of course hehe).
Cheers, Beat
Those trails are quite inviting - how could you not want to run that??? Ouch on the knees and good luck with the SJS training regimen!
Beat I am just terrified about making cutoffs. Maybe I am overreacting though.
Dani--wow! Those trails look amazing. You're making me miss Montana again, dang it!
Nice name for a race, I love it and it looks beautiful. You run in some of the best scenery! Kick butt in the hill repeats and you will be fine for your race.
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