Here's how the week went:
Wednesday- no YM/scouts due to campout. So, did 6 miles heat training right after work. It was hot but the running felt good!
Friday- 3 mile run barefoot (with Vibrams of course). Hoping to implement and run in them at least once a week for foot strength and a kind reminder how I should run. Can home and cleaned the downstairs carpets with a rented Rug Doc.
Saturday- Busy day... did all the upstairs carpets, got the 4 wheelers ready for the first time this year! Havyn, Suzie, and I went for a ride up by Strawberry. There are still tons of wildflowers all over the place. It was the start of one of the bow hunts, so we saw lots of camping groups. Havyn was excited to see: cows, horses, 2 deer... one of them right in the road in front of us and was a spike, and a moose! We stopped by Heber and got a slushy and some Wendy's. It was a great/fun ride! Note: Kynia was working at Seven Peaks and Lexy was with Grandma Sue for the day doing back to school shopping, as their tradition. I mentioned to Suzie that we should go to a movie since I knew Havyn would crash early tonight (she was falling asleep on the 4 wheeler). But we missed all the 7 shows and didn't want to go to the 9 shows since we'd both probably fall asleep. So, I decided to go on a run. I did 4 miles... saw 3 deer. 1 momma and 2 baby deer crossing the trail right before dusk.
Deer count for the day: 5.
Lace 'em Up! Chainsaw
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Post 50 miles
I felt better after doing the 50 miler than after running the marathon last year. Crazy. Don't get me wrong... I was very tired and sore. I had indegestion and really couldn't eat well or sleep well the night after my run. But overall, not too bad.
I took off running for 3 days and on Wednesday, went and worked out with Rich at the gym. I told him of my hurt knee but it was feeling a little better. We did some leg work and did some sprints on the treadmill. I should have told Rich no and refuse and listen to my body and not him, but I am dumb and didn't. My focus had turned to the 100 miler and wanted to get back on track with training. The next day my knee really started to hurt again... it did not get better the next few days after that either. It was hurting even when walking so I was scared it was something major. Again, I should have recovered more. I was getting a lot of recommendations to go get it checked out by doctors but really didn't want to go down the surgery road.
So, basically, I took about 1 month off from running knowing that this really shot my chance at the 100 miler... at least for this year. I would try running like 3 miles here and there when my knee was feeling good, but at about 3 miles everytime it would begin to hurt again. I was getting very frustrated! Any runner would know this feeling. Well, eventually I was able to run 3... then 4, 5, and finally I got up to 7 miles. This was good since our scout troop was going to be hiking King's Peak Aug. 10-13. Well, we did it last weekend!! King's Peak is the highest peak in Utah at 13,500 elevation. We backpacked in (my backpack weighed 44 pounds) for 9 miles to base camp. We then summited on Friday (12 miles total that day... it was tough with the last part really steep, just bouldering with no real trail to follow) and then backpacked out on Saturday. So, a total of 30ish miles. I kept waiting for my knee to act up, but it didn't. I am very glad! We saw a few runners while backpacking down and a few when we were summiting... after getting back, I found that there was a small informal run up to King's Peak that runner's were doing in 1 day. I also found out that a runner named Davy Crockett (funny eh?) did a double King's Peak in 19 hours. Probably the first to do this.... almost 60 TOUGH miles in 19 hours. Started me thinking it would be fun to run that too... not a double, but just the 30 miles in the same day. We'll see.
My future: Since my 100 is shot this year.... I'm looking for a shorter race this fall- either a 50k or another 50 miler. Maybe I'll do Antelope Island 100 in March... there's also another 100 in May of next year.
Also, I get the Ultra Runners magazine and was really looking foward to get the issue with the Squaw Peak 50 miler, my first Ultra Race, results. Well, there was a mistake and they put in the race results for last years race... I was disappointed. Well, I emailed the editor and she said they were going to republish and asked me to write a short blip about the race to be included. So, looking forward to seeing that.... I am now published ;)
Here's what I summarized for Squaw Peak 2011 race:
Due to 300 - 400% of normal snow pack, this year’s race was done on an alternate course due to washed out roads/trails and the inability to get volunteers to certain aid stations. The changed course was an out and back, so it was good to see the leaders coming back as well as say hello and give encouragement to other runners. The course was just as tough, if not more tough, than the normal course and seemed to add 30 to 60 minutes to past runner’s normal course times. There was over 12,000 ft. in elevation gain/loss. Another item that was tough for runners was the hot temperature on race day. Race day saw one of the first warm/hot days of the year and became tough for some runners due to their lack of any heat training prior to race day. There were 195 finishers and 38 DNF’s. One of the finishers, Bill Peck, broke his nose coming down Rock Canyon somewhere between mile 6 to 11, but went on to finish.
Lace 'em Up! Chainsaw
I took off running for 3 days and on Wednesday, went and worked out with Rich at the gym. I told him of my hurt knee but it was feeling a little better. We did some leg work and did some sprints on the treadmill. I should have told Rich no and refuse and listen to my body and not him, but I am dumb and didn't. My focus had turned to the 100 miler and wanted to get back on track with training. The next day my knee really started to hurt again... it did not get better the next few days after that either. It was hurting even when walking so I was scared it was something major. Again, I should have recovered more. I was getting a lot of recommendations to go get it checked out by doctors but really didn't want to go down the surgery road.
So, basically, I took about 1 month off from running knowing that this really shot my chance at the 100 miler... at least for this year. I would try running like 3 miles here and there when my knee was feeling good, but at about 3 miles everytime it would begin to hurt again. I was getting very frustrated! Any runner would know this feeling. Well, eventually I was able to run 3... then 4, 5, and finally I got up to 7 miles. This was good since our scout troop was going to be hiking King's Peak Aug. 10-13. Well, we did it last weekend!! King's Peak is the highest peak in Utah at 13,500 elevation. We backpacked in (my backpack weighed 44 pounds) for 9 miles to base camp. We then summited on Friday (12 miles total that day... it was tough with the last part really steep, just bouldering with no real trail to follow) and then backpacked out on Saturday. So, a total of 30ish miles. I kept waiting for my knee to act up, but it didn't. I am very glad! We saw a few runners while backpacking down and a few when we were summiting... after getting back, I found that there was a small informal run up to King's Peak that runner's were doing in 1 day. I also found out that a runner named Davy Crockett (funny eh?) did a double King's Peak in 19 hours. Probably the first to do this.... almost 60 TOUGH miles in 19 hours. Started me thinking it would be fun to run that too... not a double, but just the 30 miles in the same day. We'll see.
My future: Since my 100 is shot this year.... I'm looking for a shorter race this fall- either a 50k or another 50 miler. Maybe I'll do Antelope Island 100 in March... there's also another 100 in May of next year.
Also, I get the Ultra Runners magazine and was really looking foward to get the issue with the Squaw Peak 50 miler, my first Ultra Race, results. Well, there was a mistake and they put in the race results for last years race... I was disappointed. Well, I emailed the editor and she said they were going to republish and asked me to write a short blip about the race to be included. So, looking forward to seeing that.... I am now published ;)
Here's what I summarized for Squaw Peak 2011 race:
Due to 300 - 400% of normal snow pack, this year’s race was done on an alternate course due to washed out roads/trails and the inability to get volunteers to certain aid stations. The changed course was an out and back, so it was good to see the leaders coming back as well as say hello and give encouragement to other runners. The course was just as tough, if not more tough, than the normal course and seemed to add 30 to 60 minutes to past runner’s normal course times. There was over 12,000 ft. in elevation gain/loss. Another item that was tough for runners was the hot temperature on race day. Race day saw one of the first warm/hot days of the year and became tough for some runners due to their lack of any heat training prior to race day. There were 195 finishers and 38 DNF’s. One of the finishers, Bill Peck, broke his nose coming down Rock Canyon somewhere between mile 6 to 11, but went on to finish.
Lace 'em Up! Chainsaw
Squaw Peak 50
Okay... so like it's been 2 months since last post. Just haven't felt like blogg'n when not running much.
Here's my recollection from June 4th 50 mile run that I completed: Started early in the morning (I think at 5a.m.) and it went straight up and over Squaw Peak mountain from Start/finish at Vivian Park. It was probably like 6 miles to the top.... this was a tough section that was done in a fast hiking speed. It was basically single file up a single track, so the motivation to keep moving was the many people behind you that would run over you. I was feeling strong at the top and started the crazy run decent... had a snow pile to run over and some muddy places, but mostly it was just steep going down for a few miles until we hit the top of Rock Canyon trail. This section provided good running with a wider running area (not single track).... I ran this aggressively-- too aggressively. At the bottom of Rock Canyon, a co-worker, J. Wait, had come up to see the run and snap a photo or 2. At this aid station (mile 11), while I was there, a runner came in with a badly bleeding nose that he said a rock hit. I don't know if he fell or how it happened (but found out later it was broke but he'd gone on to finish anyways).
As I started out from this aid station, my right knee started bothering me... my I.T. band started disagreeing with how aggressive I ran down Rock Canyon. Not good this early with 39 more miles to go. So, I was reduced to VERY slow running and mostly a fast pace hike across the face of the Y mountain range along the Bonneville shoreline trail to Springville.... At this point we had to go up and over a mountain. About 1/6 of the way up was mile 20 aid station. I took this opportunity to change my shoes just to give the old feet a little change. The next 2.5 miles up it was very rocky terrain, so couldn't really run even if I wanted to. After hitting the top there was another 2.5ish miles to the next aid station at mile 25. I was going as quickly as I could, still slowed by my I.T. I had been taking advil for the last many hours to see if that would help. I spent a little too much time overall at all of the aid stations, but mostly at the 25 mile turnaround point to try and refocus.
Getting to the 20/30 mile aid station was good the second time because I saw 2 familiar faces... Adam and Michelle (Michelle is Suzette's cousin) that I had spent some time chatting with at the pre-race packet pick up the previous night. Seeing them really encouraged and remotivated me. By this time it looked like a death march for the next 9 miles back to Rock Canyon. The temp was very hot and the sun just beat down on everyone (for the back of the packers like I was at this point). I passed many runners that were throwing up and many at aid stations that had dropped out.
Funny, at this point when so many were struggling, I actually was getting stronger again. At mile 35, I got a text from my friend Chris Nelson that he was going to meet me on my way to the next aid station (mile 39). It was great to see him coming down the trail around mile 37 1/2 ish. Talking to someone really helped a lot at this point to take my mind off the knee pain and we started running a little bit. Chris was getting ready to run the Utah Valley Marathon in the next week or two. Some guy stopped us to ask what event was going on and walked the next 2 miles with us. He was asking a lot of questions and was very intrigued by the race. He lives right next to the Bonneville Shoreline trail and had never heard of a 50 mile race before. This also helped get my mind off my knee.
Chris pealed off right before the mile 39 aid station at the bottom of Rock Canyon and wished me well. I knew what was ahead of me and it wasn't going to be easy to get to the finish line. Again, I saw Adam at this aid station and he was awesome in helping and giving me encouragement to keep going. Some of the aid stations, especially the last one at mile 35, looked a little like a hospital waiting room area. A lot of the runners were just beat up bad! I hit the trail ready for what was to come.
texted me (this is around 7:30ish.... I had planned to finish around 7:00) that they were waiting at the finish and she didn't think Havyn (2 yr old) was going to last much longer.
Between it getting dark and worried I would miss on seeing my girls at the finish, I really pushed it down the step mountain for 4 miles to where we come out on the Provo River trail. I saw Adam and Michelle again by Bridal Veil Falls again and said hello as I kept running. About 1/2 mile from the finish, I saw my daughter Alyxis and my sister Em with her son Griff coming towards me. It was great to see them, but I told them I couldn't stop to talk...as I was afraid that if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to start running again. My body was pretty numb at this point. So, I continued to run while they ran along (in their sandels and flip flops). I felt bad and waited for them so that I could run with them towards the finish line. It was great to see Suzette and Havyn along with my Mom... I picked up Havyn and ran with her... only to realize the finish line was further away than I thought it would be... but I made it anyways. I made it! Relief! It was a great feeling and a great experience. My final time was like 15 hrs 55 minutes.
Lace 'em Up! Chainsaw
Here's my recollection from June 4th 50 mile run that I completed: Started early in the morning (I think at 5a.m.) and it went straight up and over Squaw Peak mountain from Start/finish at Vivian Park. It was probably like 6 miles to the top.... this was a tough section that was done in a fast hiking speed. It was basically single file up a single track, so the motivation to keep moving was the many people behind you that would run over you. I was feeling strong at the top and started the crazy run decent... had a snow pile to run over and some muddy places, but mostly it was just steep going down for a few miles until we hit the top of Rock Canyon trail. This section provided good running with a wider running area (not single track).... I ran this aggressively-- too aggressively. At the bottom of Rock Canyon, a co-worker, J. Wait, had come up to see the run and snap a photo or 2. At this aid station (mile 11), while I was there, a runner came in with a badly bleeding nose that he said a rock hit. I don't know if he fell or how it happened (but found out later it was broke but he'd gone on to finish anyways).
As I started out from this aid station, my right knee started bothering me... my I.T. band started disagreeing with how aggressive I ran down Rock Canyon. Not good this early with 39 more miles to go. So, I was reduced to VERY slow running and mostly a fast pace hike across the face of the Y mountain range along the Bonneville shoreline trail to Springville.... At this point we had to go up and over a mountain. About 1/6 of the way up was mile 20 aid station. I took this opportunity to change my shoes just to give the old feet a little change. The next 2.5 miles up it was very rocky terrain, so couldn't really run even if I wanted to. After hitting the top there was another 2.5ish miles to the next aid station at mile 25. I was going as quickly as I could, still slowed by my I.T. I had been taking advil for the last many hours to see if that would help. I spent a little too much time overall at all of the aid stations, but mostly at the 25 mile turnaround point to try and refocus.
Getting to the 20/30 mile aid station was good the second time because I saw 2 familiar faces... Adam and Michelle (Michelle is Suzette's cousin) that I had spent some time chatting with at the pre-race packet pick up the previous night. Seeing them really encouraged and remotivated me. By this time it looked like a death march for the next 9 miles back to Rock Canyon. The temp was very hot and the sun just beat down on everyone (for the back of the packers like I was at this point). I passed many runners that were throwing up and many at aid stations that had dropped out.
Funny, at this point when so many were struggling, I actually was getting stronger again. At mile 35, I got a text from my friend Chris Nelson that he was going to meet me on my way to the next aid station (mile 39). It was great to see him coming down the trail around mile 37 1/2 ish. Talking to someone really helped a lot at this point to take my mind off the knee pain and we started running a little bit. Chris was getting ready to run the Utah Valley Marathon in the next week or two. Some guy stopped us to ask what event was going on and walked the next 2 miles with us. He was asking a lot of questions and was very intrigued by the race. He lives right next to the Bonneville Shoreline trail and had never heard of a 50 mile race before. This also helped get my mind off my knee.
Chris pealed off right before the mile 39 aid station at the bottom of Rock Canyon and wished me well. I knew what was ahead of me and it wasn't going to be easy to get to the finish line. Again, I saw Adam at this aid station and he was awesome in helping and giving me encouragement to keep going. Some of the aid stations, especially the last one at mile 35, looked a little like a hospital waiting room area. A lot of the runners were just beat up bad! I hit the trail ready for what was to come.
texted me (this is around 7:30ish.... I had planned to finish around 7:00) that they were waiting at the finish and she didn't think Havyn (2 yr old) was going to last much longer.
Between it getting dark and worried I would miss on seeing my girls at the finish, I really pushed it down the step mountain for 4 miles to where we come out on the Provo River trail. I saw Adam and Michelle again by Bridal Veil Falls again and said hello as I kept running. About 1/2 mile from the finish, I saw my daughter Alyxis and my sister Em with her son Griff coming towards me. It was great to see them, but I told them I couldn't stop to talk...as I was afraid that if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to start running again. My body was pretty numb at this point. So, I continued to run while they ran along (in their sandels and flip flops). I felt bad and waited for them so that I could run with them towards the finish line. It was great to see Suzette and Havyn along with my Mom... I picked up Havyn and ran with her... only to realize the finish line was further away than I thought it would be... but I made it anyways. I made it! Relief! It was a great feeling and a great experience. My final time was like 15 hrs 55 minutes.
Lace 'em Up! Chainsaw
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