Race Course Run

Today was another training run out on Antelope Island with the Buffalo Run crew.  As usual, we met up at 8am and started not too long after that.  It was one of the physically toughest runs I've ever done.  The footing was rough with deep snow and it was cold.  But it was sunny and beautiful and I was feeling great.  We did the 50k course loop (the 50k is two 16 mile loops, which actually makes it 32 miles, not 31) so it was great to see what I'll be expecting on race day.  There is a pretty tough steep section from approximately mile seven to nine (then again at mile 23-25!) that I had never been on before.  There was a lot of walking during those miles.  In fact mostly all walking because it was a series of switch backs and then another stretch up uphill after that!  I can imagine that doing that for a second time around mile 23 will be challenging, to say the least.  I was happy to run along with two other runners who ran a similar pace as me.  All in all a wonderful run and I finished with a smile on my face.  Just the way I like it!

It was C.O.L.D. cold at the start!  This was in the parking lot before we headed out onto the island.  It warmed up to a balmy 9º before we headed out on our run.  I have to say that at first, my face and fingertips where quite numb.

A sea of white.

It was so quiet and serene. 

Here comes the sun!  Once the sun came up it was quite pleasant, despite the cold.

Uneven footing much of the way.

A bit of uphill.

We ran all that way!

The rocks and snow are quite dramatic.

Afterward the race director once again had hot chocolate for everyone and I was more than glad to have a pb&j waiting for me in my car along with some coconut water and a large chocolate milk.  I was famished!  What a workout!  After I made it home I was wiped out and my calves cramped up.  After some foam rolling, stretching, a hot bath with Epsom salt and some icy hot I'm feeling quite good. I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight!

16.12 miles

4 hr 12 min

15:38 pace

Snow Love

When I took Clarissa to school this morning it was pretty cold.  I was a little nervous about the run I had scheduled for less than two hours later. 

Luckily it was a sweltering 15º when we headed out and 20º by the end of our run.  Since both Katherine and I had other things going on in the north end of the valley this morning, we decided to hit up the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in a different spot.  We got on at the Emigration Canyon Trailhead and soon discovered that it was going to be a tough run.  The first half mile or so was a pretty tough uphill.  Luckily there were lots of rolling hills after that and the sun was shining.  It was a fun new trail and we had a wonderful adventure.

This section of the trail was up above the University hospital and was not the best scenery.  We skipped running on this section again. 

Ahhh... Now that's more like it!

So when Katherine says she wants to go up this hill to see what's on the other side I totally assume she's joking.  Wrong.

Up the hill we go!

We made it!  Unfortunately there were only more similar hills after this one, so we turned around and headed in a different direction.  Too bad we didn't have a sled!

Can you see me?

We were sure glad we turned around, because we found an awesome stretch of trail that was hidden, winding and beautiful with a spectacular view. 

On top of the world!

Deer tracks!

I also got the chance to try out my new Kahtoola microspikes.  Let me tell you they were worth every cent!  I never once slipped, ran like a beast downhill, crossed frozen puddles without worry and couldn't even tell they were on my feet!  Love at first run!  Even though running in the mountains in the snow is hard, it's so worth it.  I felt like a million bucks afterward and have had a fantastic day!  The cold wasn't even an issue and it turned out I was overdressed.  Fantastic!

7 miles 

1 hr 45 min

15 min pace (not shocking with all those photo op stops and uphills!)

Daily Snow Hike

Today Katherine and I hit up the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  It was 25° out and snowing.  It was very rough going as the trail was very uneven and very slippery.  We had to slow to a crawl in many places just to get up and down steep slippery sections.  I was feeling very stiff and achy.  I found myself cursing a week of sea level runs.  It was, however beautiful out and I'm sure it was very good training for my race as it could very well end up being similar conditions.  Not that I want to think about a.) running in conditions like that for 31 miles, or b.) how long it would take me to finish a race in those conditions!  It felt more like a snow hike than a run.  What did Katherine call it?  A snowy mountain adventure, I think.

  Katherine snapped these three photos while we crept along.  Killer icicles.

Making my way down a rather slick section.

Blue skies over the valley.

I snapped this one after we were done.  I have a snow mustache!

We called it quits early.  Honestly I'm glad we made it as far as we did!  

3.1 miles

56:48

18:19 pace (The answer to how long would it take me to run a 50k in these conditions?  9 hours 27 mins at that pace! Yikes!  Hope for sunshine!)

Brutality to Bliss

Never ever ever stop a run because you feel crappy, before mile three. These are words I must live by. Yesterday I started off in search of a trailhead (The Orson Smith Trailhead) that I couldn't find. After thirty minutes of driving around in the van I found it. I was rather frustrated by that point and not in a happy mood.  Then, the first entire mile was uphill into the wind (the weather called for 31 mph winds, gusting up to 43 mph.) I had Ozzy on the leash because there was a biker up ahead of me and I didn't want him bothering him. I was feeling like the six miles ahead of me might as well be a marathon, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other.  I kept reminding myself that I can't control the weather on race day and promised myself to run at least three miles, but by the time I got to mile two I was feeling much much better.  I was on a smaller section of trail that hugged the mountain a bit more and the wind let up considerably improving my mood immediately.  There were patches of snow, ice, mud, water and rocks on this part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail that I'd only ever run a couple times before.  By the time I hit mile three I was feeling like a champ and by mile mile five I was running in the eights! Fantastic!

6.13 miles
1hr 16 min
12:24 pace

This picture was taken, literally, on the run!

My very happy running buddy.

Yes, I was wearing shorts.  It was only about 48 degrees out.

Beautiful!  This is why I love trail running!

Daily Mile

0 miles
0 minutes
0 pace

Impressive, right?  Ugh!  Today was very busy and I don't know if it's the air quality or what, but I'm having some asthma issues.  LAME!  So, I didn't run today, even though I should have.  Hoping to be hacking less tomorrow so I can get my five miler in.  I hope you still went running!

"No matter how slow I run, I'm still faster than my couch."
-Anonymous

Training Week 2

Today was my first back to back long run,* and the end of week two of training.  When I woke up before my alarm at 6:40am I could hear the wind raging outside and did not want to get out of bed.  After peeling my tired legs out of bed and getting ready to go Ozzy and I headed out on a loop that is uphill for the first three miles.  Let me just say that those first three miles were B R U T A L!  Not only was I tired from yesterday's trail run, the wind was howling around me and my legs felt like lead weights. At mile two I was contemplating the sanity of my decision making skills.  Luckily, by the time I reached the top of the hill and headed back downhill, I was feeling pretty decent and by the time I hit mile six I found myself running at a 9:30 pace!  Honestly, I knew it would get better because the first few miles are always the most difficult, but I didn't know I'd feel that good! What a great confidence booster!  I can almost see the 50k finish line!

7 miles
1:22
11:42 pace

*The back to back run is when you run two long runs in a row.  The purpose of the back to back for ultramarathon training is to prepare you for running on tired legs that you will certainly have on race day.  The back to back goes like this:  Day 1 long run, Day 2 long run of approximately half the distance of the day before, i.e. Saturday= 20 miles, Sunday= 10 miles.

Week 2
Monday: 3.1
Tuesday: 5
Wednesday: weight lifting
Thursday: 3
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 13.1
Sunday: 7
Total: 31.2

Week 1 Total: 23.12
Training Grand Total: 54.32

Daily Mile

Today I didn't set out to run fast at all. I just set out to finish. Sometimes, as odd as it may seem, my short runs are the most difficult. I am just getting warmed up at about two or three miles so stopping at that point seems wrong. Today I actually felt quite speedy and pushed it a bit and ended up with a pretty good time. I usually run three miles in about 30 to 33 minutes. Today wasn't too shabby at all!
3 miles
29:14
9:45 pace