I have to admit that I've been having a TON of fun planning on my races for 2013. Perhaps a bit too much fun at the wrong time of the year! I'm going to make a mental note NOT to plan on the following year's races until the present year is done. What difference does it make? I'm glad you asked!
My last race of 2012 was in late September and I didn't have any other races planned for the year. I joined a gym and started working on strength training with a personal trainer twice per week. I was on top of my nutrition with Isagenix and feeling amazing! But I had the inevitable itch to race with a bunch of running buddies. So, I began looking at potential races for 2013. I spoke with others about their experiences at races I was interested in. I did research on courses and distances. I scoured my calendar for acceptable weekends to participate. And then, I started registering for races. One in January, one in February in Virginia, my first 24 hour in late April, my first 50 miler in May and so on. I was SO excited!
And then, before I knew it, December hit with a bang. Ah, December. Full of good tidings, good friends, family, gatherings with yummy, er I mean evil bad foods and wine, family birthdays with cake...and the gym? Who the heck had the time or energy for the gym or even running when there was shopping to do, gifts to wrap, gatherings to attend, food to eat, and wine to drink!
Of course, the inevitable happened as well. I got a rotten cold a few days before Christmas. I thought I had kicked it by New Year's. I was tired a lot, had a tickle in my throat, and a dry cough but not a "regular" cold.
My first race of the season was on January 5th at RUN4RKIDS. An indoor 6-hour track race. I hadn't trained much and relied mostly on my base from 2012 to carry me through. The good news is I beat my distance from last year but didn't quite make my goal. I had my own personal crew member which really, really helped! (Thanks Jeff!) The bad news is that I got sick again or my cold was hibernating and decided to come out during the warm January snap just after the race! Whatever energy I had was almost completely wiped out.
Before I knew it, I was on antibiotics for both a sinus and ear infection and told to rest as much as possible. (I love doctors who say to mothers to rest, as much as possible, with a completely straight face). I haven't run since the RUN4RKIDS race and I haven't been in the gym since mid-December.
Which leads me to race number two in February. I made the decision today to defer my race fee to another race offered later in the year. This was definitely NOT in my 2013 plan back in October/November. I had to pause and be honest with myself though. I'm not even close to being ready for an 8-hour trail race in Virginia; I got through the 6-hour race mostly because it was indoors and flat. Driving 11 hours to Virginia, poorly running a race that I'd only chastise myself for later, and then driving 11 hours home did not seem like a good plan or enjoyable.
So not exactly the way I had planned the beginning of 2013! I'm disappointed in myself for not getting to the gym and training. However, I think I'm being smart about my races. Finally. I'm OK with saying I'm not ready. I have a lot of goals set for myself in 2013 and the fact is I need to concentrate on those specific goals. This February race would have been fun but it isn't going to help me get to where I want to be. Especially if it takes a toll on my self-confidence!
Again, reminder to self - no planning for races until the beginning of a NEW YEAR. January 2nd at the earliest!!
My focus now is on the O24 Trail Race in late April. My first 24 hour race. Held in Ohio, it's a 1-mile crushed-stone trail loop with a few rolling hills. My aim is 100 km. Ultimately, my aim is to finish with a smile on my face and no regrets!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Thursday, October 4, 2012
My Last Race of 2012
The Self-Transcendence Ultra Classic 6 12 24 Hour Race is an annual event held at the Louis Riel Dome in Ottawa. Yes, an indoor 400 metre track.
After my trail runs this year, I was kind of looking forward to a flat, predictable run. I run better on roads and trails that are maintained although I'd rather be out on single trails in the forest at any time. Knowing this race would have a constant temperature and reliable washroom facilities made my 12 hour race seem somewhat easier to plan for.
I made a goal for myself of 65-70km in 12 hours. A few other running friends thought that 80km was doable and I actually planned to aim for that. (More about that later!). I had completed 56km in the dark in 11 hours. I did 50 km in just over 10 hours in slick mud and torrential downpours. I decided that given the nature of consistency I'd have at a track, my first goal wasn't unrealistic and knowing that I run better on such a surface, the 80km didn't seem to be too "out there" either. My only concern was that a cold had settled in my upper lungs. It didn't seem to bother my breathing but it was just "there" making me cough when I least expected it.
The morning of the race I was woke up nervous and as usual, I hadn't sleep very well. One day, I really need to figure out a way to get a good night's sleep before a race! I'd taken a variety of clothes to wear (although I have no idea why - again, the temperature and overall climate would be consistent in the dome) but I was chilled so I threw on running capris and a tank top. I figured for sure I'd overheat at some point but right now my legs were happy with my decision. We (a running friend who was in the 24 hour race and another running friend who was there to crew for four women - poor guy!) made it to the dome with time to spare. We quickly got our aid table set up and before we knew it, the race director was calling the racers over. The starter "conch shell" went off and away we went!!Just a small issue arose after the first corner of the track. It was the start for the 24 hour race. Not the 12 hour race. Apparently, I had printed off an older version of the guidance notes when the 24 hour and 12 hour race started at the same time. This year, they had changed it so that the start times were all staggered by one hour. I chalked it up as a warm-up jog and left the track....
Actually having the extra hour worked out great. I was able to mentally get focused for this race which was one area that seemed to be missing out of my race plans all year. I changed into shorts, I visualized the turns, I decided that I'd take a bathroom break every hour, I got my mp3 player ready....it was a really LONG hour...
I was so darn ready to get going by 9 a.m.! The 24 hour participants had been going by for nearly an hour and I was chomping at the bit! A quick photo shoot of the 12 hour participants and then the conch shell announced the beginning of the 12 hour race! We were off...finally!
Now many runners, whether road or trail, will tell you that running a track is incredibly difficult mentally. Let's face it, you see the same things around and around and around for quite a long period of time. It can get boring. It can get monotonous. And eventually, as I found out, it can hurt. A lot. But running the track taught me a lot about self-discipline and getting through the mental game. Obviously there are no hills or technical areas that will naturally slow you down, so you have to really pay attention to your body and the clock. I didn't think I was running fast until my crew member Ken was pushing out his hands at the aid station reminding me to slow down. After all, I did have to get through 12 hours. It was hard to ignore the extremely LARGE digital clock on the wall of the dome but I did manage it. I was able to have some cool conversations with people I'd never met or never had a chance to really speak with before. I really did try to make it fun for myself and it seemed to work. Earlier in the season, I mentioned that I don't smile much during a race. Well, I can honestly say that I did during this one. I just felt mentally prepared and "together".
The first six or seven hours of the race actually went very well. I was off my mark for reaching 80km by only two or three kms and I was certain I could make that up. I wasn't tired, winded, and I was doing everything correctly. My cold didn't seem to be bothering to much either. I was drinking enough, I was snacking and eating (using a new nutrition program that I LOVE), and I was still smiling and joking with people. I knew, by far, this was the best race I had been in. And then (because you know something had to happen) my left groin started to hurt. From there it was downhill (without the hills). My left ankle began to swell and I kept stopping to loosen my left shoe laces. The tendons behind both my knees began to ache. By the beginning of the eighth hour to the last lap of the race, I walked. This wasn't part of my overall race plan but there was no way I was leaving the track early either; I finished the race.
I finished with a distance of 71.6km. If my Dad were still here he would have asked what happened to the last 400m - that was my first thought when I saw my distance! All in all, I'm quite pleased with the race. It exceeded my personal goal, is the farthest I've gone to date, and it wasn't so far off the goal of 80km. I know if it hadn't been for my injuries, I could have absolutely met that 80km goal.
After physio today, I learned that I've done a number on my legs, especially my left one. Happily, it has less to do with my training and far more to do with going around, bearing left, for over seven hours. My groin is healing fine. However, the ligaments behind my knees are still swollen and they will be for another few days. They are "over-used" and need lots of time to heal (no running for three weeks!!! Noooooooo). My left ankle is actually the worse off because it took the brunt of the work from my left groin and knee. The physiotherapist thinks the entire top of my foot as well as around my ankle will bruise significantly. Can't wait to take a picture of THAT!
Oddly though, the race result and even the injuries have motivated me even more than ever. I feel like a runner. I feel like an ultra runner! My winter is going be filled with core and strength training as well as running. I know I can get better, stronger, and faster. I want to get smarter at this too. I started running to show my kids (and remind myself) that if you keep you eye on your goal, you can achieve anything. That's what I'm proving to myself and it's worth every moment!
After my trail runs this year, I was kind of looking forward to a flat, predictable run. I run better on roads and trails that are maintained although I'd rather be out on single trails in the forest at any time. Knowing this race would have a constant temperature and reliable washroom facilities made my 12 hour race seem somewhat easier to plan for.
I made a goal for myself of 65-70km in 12 hours. A few other running friends thought that 80km was doable and I actually planned to aim for that. (More about that later!). I had completed 56km in the dark in 11 hours. I did 50 km in just over 10 hours in slick mud and torrential downpours. I decided that given the nature of consistency I'd have at a track, my first goal wasn't unrealistic and knowing that I run better on such a surface, the 80km didn't seem to be too "out there" either. My only concern was that a cold had settled in my upper lungs. It didn't seem to bother my breathing but it was just "there" making me cough when I least expected it.
The morning of the race I was woke up nervous and as usual, I hadn't sleep very well. One day, I really need to figure out a way to get a good night's sleep before a race! I'd taken a variety of clothes to wear (although I have no idea why - again, the temperature and overall climate would be consistent in the dome) but I was chilled so I threw on running capris and a tank top. I figured for sure I'd overheat at some point but right now my legs were happy with my decision. We (a running friend who was in the 24 hour race and another running friend who was there to crew for four women - poor guy!) made it to the dome with time to spare. We quickly got our aid table set up and before we knew it, the race director was calling the racers over. The starter "conch shell" went off and away we went!!Just a small issue arose after the first corner of the track. It was the start for the 24 hour race. Not the 12 hour race. Apparently, I had printed off an older version of the guidance notes when the 24 hour and 12 hour race started at the same time. This year, they had changed it so that the start times were all staggered by one hour. I chalked it up as a warm-up jog and left the track....
Actually having the extra hour worked out great. I was able to mentally get focused for this race which was one area that seemed to be missing out of my race plans all year. I changed into shorts, I visualized the turns, I decided that I'd take a bathroom break every hour, I got my mp3 player ready....it was a really LONG hour...
I was so darn ready to get going by 9 a.m.! The 24 hour participants had been going by for nearly an hour and I was chomping at the bit! A quick photo shoot of the 12 hour participants and then the conch shell announced the beginning of the 12 hour race! We were off...finally!
Now many runners, whether road or trail, will tell you that running a track is incredibly difficult mentally. Let's face it, you see the same things around and around and around for quite a long period of time. It can get boring. It can get monotonous. And eventually, as I found out, it can hurt. A lot. But running the track taught me a lot about self-discipline and getting through the mental game. Obviously there are no hills or technical areas that will naturally slow you down, so you have to really pay attention to your body and the clock. I didn't think I was running fast until my crew member Ken was pushing out his hands at the aid station reminding me to slow down. After all, I did have to get through 12 hours. It was hard to ignore the extremely LARGE digital clock on the wall of the dome but I did manage it. I was able to have some cool conversations with people I'd never met or never had a chance to really speak with before. I really did try to make it fun for myself and it seemed to work. Earlier in the season, I mentioned that I don't smile much during a race. Well, I can honestly say that I did during this one. I just felt mentally prepared and "together".
The first six or seven hours of the race actually went very well. I was off my mark for reaching 80km by only two or three kms and I was certain I could make that up. I wasn't tired, winded, and I was doing everything correctly. My cold didn't seem to be bothering to much either. I was drinking enough, I was snacking and eating (using a new nutrition program that I LOVE), and I was still smiling and joking with people. I knew, by far, this was the best race I had been in. And then (because you know something had to happen) my left groin started to hurt. From there it was downhill (without the hills). My left ankle began to swell and I kept stopping to loosen my left shoe laces. The tendons behind both my knees began to ache. By the beginning of the eighth hour to the last lap of the race, I walked. This wasn't part of my overall race plan but there was no way I was leaving the track early either; I finished the race.
I finished with a distance of 71.6km. If my Dad were still here he would have asked what happened to the last 400m - that was my first thought when I saw my distance! All in all, I'm quite pleased with the race. It exceeded my personal goal, is the farthest I've gone to date, and it wasn't so far off the goal of 80km. I know if it hadn't been for my injuries, I could have absolutely met that 80km goal.
After physio today, I learned that I've done a number on my legs, especially my left one. Happily, it has less to do with my training and far more to do with going around, bearing left, for over seven hours. My groin is healing fine. However, the ligaments behind my knees are still swollen and they will be for another few days. They are "over-used" and need lots of time to heal (no running for three weeks!!! Noooooooo). My left ankle is actually the worse off because it took the brunt of the work from my left groin and knee. The physiotherapist thinks the entire top of my foot as well as around my ankle will bruise significantly. Can't wait to take a picture of THAT!
Oddly though, the race result and even the injuries have motivated me even more than ever. I feel like a runner. I feel like an ultra runner! My winter is going be filled with core and strength training as well as running. I know I can get better, stronger, and faster. I want to get smarter at this too. I started running to show my kids (and remind myself) that if you keep you eye on your goal, you can achieve anything. That's what I'm proving to myself and it's worth every moment!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
"Helluvamudbath" aka Haliburton Forest Trail Runs
Ever since last fall when I ran 26K at the Haliburton Forest Trail Runs, I've been dreaming about completing the 50K this year. I have no idea why other than as soon as I sat down with my kids and friends last year after the run, I decided that 50K was attainable. Which in retrospect is quite amusing considering I hurt my IT Band and hadn't trained very much. But the weather last year, oh the weather, was absolutely perfect.
365 days later.....
I was so pumped up for this year's 50K race at Haliburton. I'm not sure what it is about this race but regardless of my personal ups and downs or doubts or questions around my training, I got really excited about this race. I achieved 56K last month in a timed-event and was ecstatic about that. This race, however, was a 50K event; I had a specific distance to achieve.
Although I certainly didn't train as hard as I did for Dirty Girls, I had a base to work with and some long runs under my belt since I completed 56K. Physically I felt great - my runner's knee was almost gone, my endurance was amazing finally, and I had been eating well. Just like Dirty Girls though, my mental preparedness was weak and I really need to work on that. Funny how you go through so much physical training but tend to skip out on the mental training. And its one of the aspects of ultras that seasoned veterans will instill on you. At some point during a race or even a long run, you are talking to yourself about why you shouldn't stop, how to keep moving, and not to give up. Ok, I do anyway! The other part of that equation is that life is going to throw unexpected hurdles at your everyday stress levels regardless so its best to be as mentally prepared for getting through those too.
We woke on Saturday morning to pouring rain and cool temperatures. Luckily, I had prepared my running clothes in advance and felt confident in what I had chosen to wear; running capris, long shirt, rain jacket, and my Saucony Progrid Razors which have an attached, zipped gator. In retrospect, it didn't matter what shoes anyone wore. Our collective feet were going to get wet and muddy FAST. The one item I didn't have was a hat because hats force me to overheat and I rarely even wear one in the winter. This meant that the torrential downpours and high-wind water sheer was hitting my face or dripping down from my head most of the day!
I also wore my first hydration pack for this race and I can honestly say that I can't believe I waited this long to get one! I've run with a waist pack and with handhelds but a hydration pack for me works the best. I still have difficulty running and drinking from a handheld at the same time. I'm just not that coordinated! But the hydration pack allows for easy sips and my new pack has lots of very handy compartments within easy reach.
The pre-race line up begins with being "piped-in" to the start line...a very cool tradition and after hearing it last year from a trailer, it was pretty neat to be actually following the Bagpiper this year for the 6 a.m. start. The first 12-15kms I got through with a later time than I wanted but still within reason. Considering the weather and the MUD (I'm still not 100% sure it was mud but a dirt equivalent to sludge), I was happy with my time. After that though, I slugged through the course with soaking wet clothes, wet feet, and wet shoes. The mud was runny and slippery and it was the downhills that became dangerous (again at least for me) in some spots. I was thrilled to hit the 50km turnaround and then sheer dread set in. I had to run the same distance back.
Not long before I hit Aid Station #4 (about 34 km) on my return, I was once again contemplating not finishing. I was feeling exhausted, my ankles were starting to bother me from dodging around pools of water, mud, and oh yes, those downhills. Again, the mental factor kicked in. I kept telling myself that my kids were expecting me to text them that I'd met my goal. That once I finished I could crawl into dry clothes and sleep. Anything to keep me going! Once I got to the Aid Station though, a whole crowd of smiling, supportive faces met me and they urged me that 16 kms really wasn't that bad in the grand scheme of things; I could certainly walk it. So I sucked it up and kept going!
By the time I hit the next aid station, I was starving and this has never happened to me before. I had run out of food that I stashed in my pack. The fact is I hadn't counted on aid stations being so far apart. I simply didn't make good calculations about what I needed. I pigged out at the aid station and grabbed hot water. I still had 12 kms to go and most of that was around a lake. Between the previous aid stations, the sun had actually made a brief appearance and I was drying out. I started to speed-walk and got into a comfortable rhythm. And then the skies opened up again, the wind picked up, and the temps dropped. It was worse than the morning had been! At this point in the run though there is only one way to get back to the start/finish line - so DNFing really isn't an option.
Two more aid stations and I grabbed salty beef broth and more hot water. I was soaking wet and I heard someone mention the words "drowned rat". I kept smiling though and wondered aloud if the medal should have the customary wolf or perhaps a duck on it this year. At least my mood wasn't completely low!
By the 2K mark to the finish I got my usual burst of "almost done" energy. I have no idea where this energy comes from or how to harness it, but it exists. By the time I got to 800m from the finish line I was in a full out sprint. Which in hindsight probably just looked like a faster-than-fast walk but it felt like a sprint!
As soon as my medal went around my neck I knew what I was going to do first. I texted my kids from my car right away - Mom finished what she set out to do!
365 days later.....
I was so pumped up for this year's 50K race at Haliburton. I'm not sure what it is about this race but regardless of my personal ups and downs or doubts or questions around my training, I got really excited about this race. I achieved 56K last month in a timed-event and was ecstatic about that. This race, however, was a 50K event; I had a specific distance to achieve.
Although I certainly didn't train as hard as I did for Dirty Girls, I had a base to work with and some long runs under my belt since I completed 56K. Physically I felt great - my runner's knee was almost gone, my endurance was amazing finally, and I had been eating well. Just like Dirty Girls though, my mental preparedness was weak and I really need to work on that. Funny how you go through so much physical training but tend to skip out on the mental training. And its one of the aspects of ultras that seasoned veterans will instill on you. At some point during a race or even a long run, you are talking to yourself about why you shouldn't stop, how to keep moving, and not to give up. Ok, I do anyway! The other part of that equation is that life is going to throw unexpected hurdles at your everyday stress levels regardless so its best to be as mentally prepared for getting through those too.
We woke on Saturday morning to pouring rain and cool temperatures. Luckily, I had prepared my running clothes in advance and felt confident in what I had chosen to wear; running capris, long shirt, rain jacket, and my Saucony Progrid Razors which have an attached, zipped gator. In retrospect, it didn't matter what shoes anyone wore. Our collective feet were going to get wet and muddy FAST. The one item I didn't have was a hat because hats force me to overheat and I rarely even wear one in the winter. This meant that the torrential downpours and high-wind water sheer was hitting my face or dripping down from my head most of the day!
I also wore my first hydration pack for this race and I can honestly say that I can't believe I waited this long to get one! I've run with a waist pack and with handhelds but a hydration pack for me works the best. I still have difficulty running and drinking from a handheld at the same time. I'm just not that coordinated! But the hydration pack allows for easy sips and my new pack has lots of very handy compartments within easy reach.
The pre-race line up begins with being "piped-in" to the start line...a very cool tradition and after hearing it last year from a trailer, it was pretty neat to be actually following the Bagpiper this year for the 6 a.m. start. The first 12-15kms I got through with a later time than I wanted but still within reason. Considering the weather and the MUD (I'm still not 100% sure it was mud but a dirt equivalent to sludge), I was happy with my time. After that though, I slugged through the course with soaking wet clothes, wet feet, and wet shoes. The mud was runny and slippery and it was the downhills that became dangerous (again at least for me) in some spots. I was thrilled to hit the 50km turnaround and then sheer dread set in. I had to run the same distance back.
Not long before I hit Aid Station #4 (about 34 km) on my return, I was once again contemplating not finishing. I was feeling exhausted, my ankles were starting to bother me from dodging around pools of water, mud, and oh yes, those downhills. Again, the mental factor kicked in. I kept telling myself that my kids were expecting me to text them that I'd met my goal. That once I finished I could crawl into dry clothes and sleep. Anything to keep me going! Once I got to the Aid Station though, a whole crowd of smiling, supportive faces met me and they urged me that 16 kms really wasn't that bad in the grand scheme of things; I could certainly walk it. So I sucked it up and kept going!
By the time I hit the next aid station, I was starving and this has never happened to me before. I had run out of food that I stashed in my pack. The fact is I hadn't counted on aid stations being so far apart. I simply didn't make good calculations about what I needed. I pigged out at the aid station and grabbed hot water. I still had 12 kms to go and most of that was around a lake. Between the previous aid stations, the sun had actually made a brief appearance and I was drying out. I started to speed-walk and got into a comfortable rhythm. And then the skies opened up again, the wind picked up, and the temps dropped. It was worse than the morning had been! At this point in the run though there is only one way to get back to the start/finish line - so DNFing really isn't an option.
Two more aid stations and I grabbed salty beef broth and more hot water. I was soaking wet and I heard someone mention the words "drowned rat". I kept smiling though and wondered aloud if the medal should have the customary wolf or perhaps a duck on it this year. At least my mood wasn't completely low!
By the 2K mark to the finish I got my usual burst of "almost done" energy. I have no idea where this energy comes from or how to harness it, but it exists. By the time I got to 800m from the finish line I was in a full out sprint. Which in hindsight probably just looked like a faster-than-fast walk but it felt like a sprint!
As soon as my medal went around my neck I knew what I was going to do first. I texted my kids from my car right away - Mom finished what she set out to do!
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