3/25/12 Gorge Waterfall 50K

This was supposed to be my big adventure race for the season.  Then I got invited to run the Boston Marathon.  Now my goal here is to finish without hurting myself. No time goal.  A few weeks before the race, the course was changed from a point to point to an out and back.  Since I am staying with my parents the night before, this change saves me about two hours of driving and shuttling, so I am fine with that.  Then in the days just before the race, the course was changed again.  Here are some quotes from the race website:

"The 2012 race due to a construction project on the Gorge Trail in an area with no alternate routes the course is now going to be an "out and back" from the west end of the route Don't worry the race will still go past almost all of the waterfalls that the 2011 route went past including Wahkenna, Fairy, Ocola, Weisendanger, Multnomah, Oneonta, Ponytail and Elowah. And since it is now an "out and back" you'll actually go past them all twice!

The course has been changed again, yes again! This is the 4th time the course has been changed this month! Sorry. This has not been fun for me either I promise. Latest change is due to 2-3 feet of brand new snow up at Devils Rest. We ran up there Tuesday and it was fine(2-3 inches of packed firm snow) went back up there today to mark the course and it was hip deep and soft. Half of the course we had planned to run is under snow right now and more than a quarter of the course is under very deep snow. There might be more snow coming Saturday night so we made the decision to play it safe and change the course again. The area covered in snow has no road access for ten miles and the only aid was a water only aid station-- I hope y'all understand.

The course will now be a simple "out and back" from Benson State Recreation Area to Elowah Falls via the following trails 442, 420, 419, 441, and 400. No more Devils Rest. No more Angels Rest. No more Horsetail Falls. There will now be 2 full aid stations that you will visit on both the "out" and the "back" at miles 7.1, 14.3, 16.1, 23.3. There will be no water only aid stations. Elevation gain will now be more like 5800-6000ft. There will be 5 miles of paved road. The distance is as close to 50k(the map says it'll be 49k which is close enough in my book to still call it a 50k) as we can get under all these circumstances(trail closures due to construction and washed out bridges, tons of snow, and a route hemmed in by wilderness to the south and a river, railroad tracks and interstate highway to the north)."


For me, these changes are for the better.  I really was not sure if I would be able to handle the full course as originally planned.  I had been fretting over the elevation gains.  Now it looks much more doable and I have confidence that I will be able to run this OK.

I arrive at the start an hour before start time, but the RD is not here yet. Turns out he had a flat tire on the way in and did not make it until 7:40AM.  200 plus runners need to get their numbers so we do not start until after 8:30, more than thirty minutes late.  Its cool but dry.

Start - Flat section on a dirt road with deep ruts.  After about a mile we turn, at Multnomah Falls and start heading uphill.   Series of switchbacks on a paved trail takes us up 800 feet. Now the first waterfalls.  Somewhat muddy trail now and continued assent. I pass quite a few people on the way up, but I feel like I am not working very hard. One small creek crossing with no bridge.  Both feet get soaked and will take some time to dry out.  Watching the elevation on my GPS and when we reach 1,500 feet I know that the first uphill is done.

Mile 3-7 - Just a bit of snow here.  Runnable somewhat level trail.  But now we start going downhill, along the river that feeds Multnomah Falls.  I really try to be careful here and many of the people I had passed are now passing me on the downhill.  We cross the river on a bridge and hit pavement again.  A sign says that this is switchback number 11 of 11.  Switchbacking downhill we eventually veer off the main path and onto a rough trail. It is somewhat level but rocky and tough to run at many places.  Some side trails go off, but our course is well marked with pink flagging as needed.  Eventually I reach the first aid station.  My GPS reads 6.4 miles, but the aid station is supposedly at 7.4 miles.  Really not sure how accurate the course is, but I know that my GPS is off.  Later in the race my Garmin GPS will read 20 miles, while a fellow runner's will read 25 miles.

Mile 7-14 - Fairly level but rough trail. Still lots of up and downs and sharp turns.  More amazing waterfalls.  For one of them the trail goes behind the waterfall.   Gorgeous.  I have to stop and take pictures even though this is the most runnable part of this section.  Now it goes up and then hits some very rocky trail.  Big sharp rocks sticking up.  A new obstacle is that the lead runners are blazing towards me now.  How can they be running so fast?  I am in no hurry so when I see them coming I get well off the trail so they can fly by.  Eventually I get off of this slow section and onto some road.  I was looking forward to the five miles of pavement, but with my trail shoes it is not ideal running.  Of course I can go much faster here, but it is sort of a slog, and not great fun.  I long to see the aid station at about mile 14 and finally there it is.

Mile 14.5-16.5 - I thought that we would continue on the road, but at this aid station we go back onto the trail and uphill.  Downhill and a beautiful waterfall.  This is the turnaround.  I am halfway done, just have to go back the way I came.  Time on watch is 3 hours 30 minutes.  I predict a major meltdown at some point, but I should be able to beat 8 hours no problem.  If I could somehow run back at the same pace, I will finish in 7 hours, but that seems so unlikely.  Up the hill, down the hill and stock up at the aid station.

Mile 16.5 to 23 - About 2.5 miles on the road.  I pass a couple of runners.  Then on to that rough trail.  Pass a few more people and I am feeling good.  I am sure that I am running more and going faster than I did on the way out.  I stop less frequently to take pictures, just feel like I should keep on moving. My body is feeling fine.  With the rocky trail I expected my feet to hurt at some point, but so far so good.  It is nice to have landmarks to run to, knowing what to expect on the route.  Soon I am back at that first aid station, stocking up for the lat 7.4 miles.

Mile 23-30.4 -  Pass Jackie who ran 51 miles last Saturday and a couple of other runners on this rough trail.  Finally reach the pavement and the 11 switchbacks.  Steep uphill I am walking most of the way but I feel like I have decent energy.  Passing many tourists on this busy part of the trail.  Watching the elevation on my GPS.  600ft, 800ft, and off the pavement and onto the rocky wet trail.  Up, up up, still feeling OK.  Pass a couple more runners.  No one has passed me in the second half.  I realize that I have a very decent chance at a negative split.  I start to believe that I can finish in under 7 hours.  If only this trail would quit going uphill.  Meet Maniac Vivian very near the top.  At the snow level now and finally we start to go downhill.  The trail is much muddier than in the morning, with all the runners who have come and gone.  I pick my way around the rocky parts but do not fear the mud or worry about my feet getting soaked when I have to cross the creek.  Three runners, now a fourth pass me on the way down.  The same people I had just passed a while back.  I am being extra careful so as to not fall.  Plus I am now getting very confident that I will beat seven hours and I will be thrilled to have a negative split.  The walking up many hills, the stopping to take pictures and the having to pick my way around rocks has given my body time to parcel out the energy and have some in reserves.  Down the paved switchbacks.  I wonder if there are 11 on this side too, so I count them.  Get to13 and by then I can feel the pounding in my knees/quads.  But now I am at the bottom with just about a mile of flat to go.  I had been a little fearful, not that it matters, that some of my Maniac friends who I had passed earlier on, would catch me.  But I do not see that happening now.  Then I hear someone behind me and there is Jackie saying something.  I thought that I had left her way back there as she seemed to be slowing , but she really kept going well.  Now we are on the flats and I will sprint so that she does not beat me.  On to the dirt road/ruts and I have enough energy to run pretty quickly.  Great feeling to run the second half 14 minutes faster than the first half.  Beautiful course and a great experience for my first tough course ultra marathon.


 

6:46:18

165th of 211 finishers

Race#266

Marathon or Ultra #81

*****

3/11/12 Redmond Watershed Preserve Trail Marathon

I feel like over the past two years I have found a reasonable level of marathon insanity, at least what is working for me.  That is to run a marathon about once every three weeks.  I get a week to take it easy and recover, a week and a half to run harder in training and race shorter distances, and then a couple of easy or rest days before the next marathon.  With a marathon ever three weeks I do not have to do any long training runs, each marathon experience is training or maintaining endurance for the next one.  I will still run marathons on back to back weekends if I really want to do both races but the 2-4 week spacing has been more sustainable and I have been injury free for a while.  Seven plus years of over 100 miles each month.  Race times seem stable too.  A few months back I was planning my schedule and had a long gap between the Wooley Trail Marathon and the Gorge Waterfall 50K in late March so I needed to find something to race, otherwise I may have to go for a long training run.  The Watershed Preserve race was the easiest and cheapest option to fill that gap.  I have raced here three times previously and I know that I will enjoy the trails and low key mostly Marathon Maniac crowd.  Any time between 4:20 and 4:40 will be fine, previously my times here have been between 4:25 and 4:38.  I am not going to push hard, just get in the miles and a good long workout.

This race is actually now called the North West Trail Runs Spring Run for Fun, but for now I will go with the old name.  The course is different with four loops instead of three.  It is a lollipop with two out and backs that the half and full will do.  The five mile and ten mile racers run the lollipop without the out and backs.  Two aid stations on the course so I do not need to carry my fuel belt.  I do take one small bottle of fluids and stuff it in my jacket pocket.  It is about 40 degrees and gray.  The rain will hold off until we are done and the weather will not be bad, just cool with dampness in the air.

Loop 1 (1:04)
I think that 19 of the 21 marathoners take the early start.  8:30AM is not so early, and is better than starting at 9:30AM.  We did lose an hour sleep with daylight savings starting today.   I try to get in the back but most people insist on starting behind me.  After the traditional speech about the course, the confidence ribbons and the horses we go off at 8:32AM.  Small crowd and nobody is super excited, so with the mostly double wide trail it is easy to get into the desired pace.  The trail gets real muddy in bits, then hits some hills that are steeper than I remember.  After mile 1 there is the first out and back with a hill in the middle.  Now a flatter part but this section is rocky and hard in places.  I am still warming up and don't feel so good but pass Maniac Robert anyway.  I have been struggling with cold symptoms in the past couple of days and now can only hope that it does not affect my running.  Pigtails is next in line and if passing Robert was foolish, passing Pigtails would be an exceptionally idiotic move.  I stay a good 20-30 feet behind her, watch which side of the trail she runs on and follow suit.  The middle section of the loop is very runnable and includes a long gentle downhill.  The last two miles are more the the first, muddier and somewhat hilly.  With 58 minutes on my watch I realize that the 9:30 AM start is happening right now.  I am on the return part of the course, so I expect a horde of runners to come crashing towards me soon.  Eventually they come, about 100 strong.  Most stay single file on my left but a few have to duck out of the way as I come along.  A few minutes later I have completed the first lap.

Loop 2  (1:06)
Pigtails is gradually pulling away and that is fine.  At about mile 1.5 I reach the turn around of the first out and back and see that Robert is right behind me.  From looking at the list of entrants prior to the race I knew that he and I were the only two in our 40-49 age group.  In my previous two marathons I have come in 7 out of 7 and 3 out of 3 in my age group.  He passes me and it looks like I will be 2 of 2 this time.  At least he passed me early and really I was expecting it.  Now I am feeling well and enjoying the day.  Heading back to the end of the loop, at what seems like the most narrow part of the trail, I am suddenly stopped by seven horses and riders approaching.  They are all friendly and tell me I can keep moving but I do so cautiously.  Two more riders are a little farther back and also cause me to stop and then walk past, giving them as wide a berth as possible.  I figure that it cost me a minute, but it was a nice diversion.

Loop 3 (1:08)
Trail is muddier from all the runners, horses and multiple loops.  First section hills are getting steeper and longer.  Rocky section is rockier.  Flat and fast part is still nice.  The final two miles are a drag up, and down, but not so bad.  The sun almost makes and appearance.

 Loop 4  (1:13)
I check in after finishing the third loop and try to fill my fluid bottle.  I can not get the top of the juice pitcher to turn and have to ask for help.  I also hesitate about what food to grab, finally settling on some M&Ms and some sort of squishy candy gel thing.  At the middle aid station I also fumble with the fluids.  I pour from two paper cups some liquid that looks like Heed but I soon learn is Mountain Dew.  I don't want to waste it, but I also really do not want to drink this stuff at this point in the race.  The aid station volunteer encourages me to dump it and fill up with the right fluids.  I do so and thankfully my stomach cooperates for the whole race today.  The two aid station delays are minor but make my final loop time look worse that it was.  I slow for sure, but never hit the wall.  A few longer walk breaks on the uphills, but I can push and run strong if I want to.  There is no one behind me who can pass me, so I just ease on to the finish getting in the long run that I needed.

After the race I changed into dry clothes and grabbed a little food.  Hot chocolate was nice.  Talk a bit with Van, Robert, Jill and Leslie.  After I left it dawned on me that I was in some amazing company.  I just had to check the stats and in fact the five of us have a combined 1,006 marathons or ultras completed.  I was the rookie by far in that group.

4:33:07
6th of 21
Marathon or Ultra #80, Watershed Preserve Marathon #4
*****

3/3/12 Donut Dash 5K

First time event put on by Club Oly.  This was supposed to coincide with the opening of the new Children's Museum and we would be able to use the facilities there, however the building is still under construction, so we were outside for all activities.  Good thing the weather was nice.  Just a little breeze, but no rain.  Another little 5K close to home, no big deal, until it was announced that Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall would be there.  Asics and South Sound Running set him up in an area where he could greet fans.  He also had some words for the kids and started the kids race.  I was hoping that he would race the 5K so that I could see him in action, but it was cool anyway to meet him and wish him well in London this Summer.  I expect that I will be between 22:00 and 23:00 today.

Start - Nice big crowd.  I set in about 3 rows back, behind people that I know are faster than me.  We start on the wide road and there is plenty of room to set off at a good pace.  A turn and over some railroad tracks that I do not like but do not cause trouble.

Mile 0.5 - Running alongside a very small kid.  Later I will learn that he is 9 years old.  I think that he is going too fast, but he will go on to finish not too far behind me.  I catch up to Martinho and we run together a bit.  It is funny with all these people here and yet again I am right with Martino and there is Erick Lindburgh just ahead of us. 

Mile 1 - 7 minutes flat.  Now on Eastbay road and heading uphill.  The other times I have raced here it has been early in the marathon and I am at an easy conversational pace.  Working hard here today.  I feel pretty good though and move past Martinho and Erick.  Knowing that they are behind me will give me more incentive to not let up one bit.

Mile 2ish - Cross Eastbay and head back downhill.  Jody volunteering here and snapping a photo.  Now I feel the head wind.  It is not so bad but I wish that I could draft off someone.  I keep passing and then get passed by two guys about my age.  Feel good and keeping a steady pace, but every time my mind wanders a little one of these guys catches me.  Need to just focus on maintaining the speed.

Mile 2.64 - Just happen to look at the watch here and see the distance.  Half mile to go, just keep running strong.  Right turn and then we are really getting close to the finish.  Still with these two guys but no sign of Martinho or Erick.  Push on and wonder if I could get in under 22 minutes.

Mile 3 - Almost there.  Make the final turn and I can see the clock at 21:52 but it is not so close.  Last big sprint and I see the clock flip to 22:00 as I cross the line.  I did not quite get under 22:00 but I was right at the best of my predicted time.  3.12 miles on the GPS.  I grab a donut and head off to the other race in Oly today, the Mountain Marathon.  I do my cool down by running the first/last mile or so of that course a couple of times and cheer on the finishers.

22:01
27th of 298    3rd of 14 in age group
Race # 264
 5K# 69
*****

2/18/12 Woolley Trail Marathon

Sitting in the car with Jody, wondering if this is such a good idea.  It is very dark and the wind lashed rain is splattering heavily.  Good thing we brought trash bags to wear over our jackets just in case.  About ten minutes before the 7AM race start the grey skies start to lighten and the rain begins to die down. It is barely a drizzle when we set out for a long out and back course.

Jody is running the half marathon and I will do the full.  Although it is a trail run, it is a very flat and wide trail that will be easy to keep a steady pace on.  My last couple of marathons have not gone so well, with me hitting the wall and floundering for too many miles at the end.  Today I want to go out slower and try to have a strong finish.  More about having a negative split than trying to beat 4 hours.  Oh and I just learned that I will be running the Boston Marathon this year, so all other races until then become much less important and will be used as training runs to get me to Boston in reasonable shape and with no injuries.  I will not run through any pain in the coming weeks.  With this long out and back course and having Jody here it makes for a good plan to run the first 6.55 miles with her.  Then she will turn around and I can pick up the pace if I feel like it.

Start to mile 6.55 ( 1:05:42) - Half, Full and 50K start at the same time.  With only about 100 total (and some taking an hour early start when the weather was the most miserable), we spread out quickly.  It is very gusty at times both in our face and at our backs.  Run with Maniac Deb for a couple of minutes, then Maniac Jeff.  But mostly it is just Jody and I.  We enjoy the farm animals and odors. Tiny pebble gets into my shoe and will roll around in there for the next 4 hours.   First aid station at mile 4ish.  Now a section of trail that has been recently flooded out but it is not hard to navigate.  Jody has no trouble maintaining a 10 minute mile and we get to the aid station/half turn around at 1:05.  Jody will maintain that pace on the way back and be very pleased with her race as she should be.



Mile 6.55 to 13.1 (1:00:32) - I leave the aid station and head out a little faster.  Nice view of the Skagit River.  More farmland.  A dog chases me for a bit but is not very threatening.  Early starters and fast runners heading back toward me, but there is plenty of room on the trail to let them go by.  I am running by myself and maintaining a steady pace.  Now the rain starts to pick up.  I make it to the Marathon turn around and thank Betsy and Matt for staffing it.  I am glad that I am running and staying warm enough, rather than standing around in this cold wet and I really appreciate all of the volunteers.  It was 39 degrees at the start and will be 41 by finish time.


Mile 13.1 to 19.65 (59:56) - Heading back and feeling fine.  Very gradually catch up to and pass three runners.  I know that I am running an even pace and I do not want to look at my watch so often but I am curious as to how far I have gone, there being no mile markers.  I make up a little game. On this long straight trail I can often see far ahead.  I estimate the distance to some landmark far ahead. "That big tree looks like it is a half mile away", although I am pretty sure it is father than that.  I reach it and see that a bridge looks to be over a quarter of a mile ahead, but I add a quarter mile to the tally.  When my tally reaches 4.5 miles from the turn around I finally look at my GPS watch and am pleased to see that I have gone 5.3 miles.  Just a mile to that piece of trail along the river and then the half turn around aid station.  Just before the aid station I stop to tie my shoe which seems loose.  Two of the runners I had passed zoom on by me.



Mile 19.65 to 26.2 (1:01:33) - I fill my gatorade bottle and take a few steps on this last leg of the race but realize that I tied my shoe way too tight.  I have to stop to loosen it up. But now I am running again. Somewhere past mile 20 I realize that this will be a good one today.  Although my two shirts, hat and rain jacket are saturated with pounds of rain water and although I am carrying my fuel belt adding more weight, I feel like I am running normally and with restraint.  No nausea either.  I have had no gels, just a couple of fig newtons, but less fuel than usual.  Hopefully I will not crash due to lack of energy but right now I feel great.  This time in the marathon, miles 18-24 get so exciting with each step that I do not tire.  Of course it is always great fun to cross the finish line, or to pass people, or to run past scenery; but this feeling that is so rare, to be strong into the 20s is one of the best.   What I need to do now is to just hold the pace and not fret about the miles.  There is still a long way to go and I could use a diversion.  Gradually I catch back up to the guy and instead of passing him, I run with him, making small talk.  I don't want to be the guy that talks your ear off so I just make a few comments and ask a few questions and he talks a bit.  The diversion works great for me and before I know it we are at the aid station with just over 4 miles to go.  Now I am back on my own.  Two of the 50K runners blow by me.  I walk for a few steps at one road crossing just to take a drink but other than that I will not take any walk breaks.  At about mile 24.5 it starts to get difficult.  Well there is not much farther to go, I can tough this out.  I think that I have a chance to beat 2 hours for the second half and I can see the finish line in the distance with 3 minutes to get there.  But it is so far away.  I just can not get there in time.  But I do finish with a strong negative split and no pains so I am very happy.  Nice finishers coin too.  I would have liked to stay around for some food camaraderie and watch other finishers come in, but as soon as I stop running, the shivering starts.  I get a quick change of clothes and warm up soon enough, but for the next hour I will be hit with the shivers every once in a while.  Sopping wet and muddy, but what do you expect for February?  Nice low key event that I would like to run again.

4:07:40
14th of 40
Race #263 Marathon or Ultra#79
*****

2/5/12 Geoduck Gallop Half Marathon

Lets see how the legs hold up after running a 5K race yesterday.  Cold and sunny at The Evergreen State College.  Should warm up as we get running.  Small crowd, new race director.  Course has been changed a bit or so I am told.  Last year it was short, hopefully that has been fixed.  There is a map but I can not make much sense of it, I get all turned around and confused on these back roads around the school.  Although open to traffic, the roads are very quiet and there will be no problem with traffic.  Volunteers at all the turns and chalk arrows on the ground, so I should not take a wrong turn.

Start - We start about ten minutes late.  I have done a half mile half hearted warm up.  Relaxed and ready for whatever may happen.  10K and Half Marathon start at the same time and we go out smoothly.  I find myself running with Terry Fritz (no relation) and Bob Martin, who I beat yesterday.  I know that I am going a little faster than I should, but Bob soon goes out even faster and ever so gradually the distance between us grows.  Terry is just getting warmed up and soon leave me too.

Mile 1 - Catch up to Christie and we run together off and on for a couple of miles.

Mile 4 - Christie is pulling ahead now and I will see her ahead of me for most of the race but will not be able to catch back up.  Meanwhile my legs are already feeling tired.  Sort of beat up.  Now we go down that too steep hill and up the too steep hill out of the gulch.  The hill really takes it out of me and I will not recover my normal running at any point after this.

Mile 8 - We have been doing a big loop for the second time.  Now I am back at that hill, down and up.  If the first time up the hill took the wind out of my sails, the second time makes it all even worse.  I manage to run the whole way up, but one guy catches up to me on the uphill.  We are both struggling pretty good at this point.  This is the only person who has or will pass me since about mile 3.  We run together off and on for about 2 miles but then he pulls away for good.

Mile 11 - Now at the turn around of the out and back section, although the back part is on a paved trail parallel to the road we came down.  No runners around to motivate me but I keep running as best I can.  It is a very different kind of tired in this race.  I have plenty of energy, but my legs just feel tired and beat up.  Too much fast pounding on the pavement between yesterday and today.

Finish - A long straightaway back to TESC, then a few quick turns and I can see the finish line.  Before the race I thought that I would be happy with anything under 1:46. As I sprint to the finish it looks like I will be 1:43 and maybe under that.  But the course is a little short again this year, 12.8 miles on the GPS.  I get in just under 1:43 and am very satisfied with that time.  But it was a lot more tough work to get there than I expected.  Not racing next weekend and I am looking forward to a little rest and recovery.


1:42:52
Results Pending
3rd place in age group ribbon
Race#262
*****

2/4/12 Frienship Run 5K

9th annual event and my 5th year doing this race.  Last year I ran it in 22:37 and had two issues with this race that I otherwise enjoy very much.  First problem was getting all boxed in with the crowded start that narrows down and slower runners starting in front. The other issue was being stopped by a policeman at a road crossing with just a quarter mile to go, so he could let a few cars through.  Both problems were fixed this year.  There were numerous announcements at the start about letting faster runners be in front and I was able to position myself just behind the front row.  At the one road crossing, the cop was replaced with a volunteer and there was no traffic when I passed by, so I did not have to stop.

I ran a 50K last weekend, but recovery went very well.  Way better than usual.  By Wednesday I felt totally fine and I pushed a hard workout on Thursday.  For the first time in many months I feel like I have zero injuries or problem areas.  I have not done any real speed work lately but I am confident of beating last year's finish time.

1.6 mile warm up in the cold but sunny weather.  Just a couple of icy spots on the paved trail.  About 30 degrees at race start.  No wind.

Start - Much better for me than last year.  I positioned myself well and there is little crowding from the get go.  That does make me go out faster that I should however.  Pass Bob Martin at about the half mile mark.  He has beaten me in every race now for many years.  But he is only a couple of weeks out of wearing a boot due to a stress fracture and is just getting his speed back.  This may be my only chance to beat him ever and I will wonder and worry that he will pass me for the rest of the race today.  Everything is going very nicely until the steep uphill to the overpass.  Just like that it becomes a struggle.

Mile 1 - 7:11  Now more paved trail.  Keep up with a guy who is just ahead of me but I just can not catch him.  I'll be 5-20 feet behind him until the last quarter mile and it makes me move faster trying to keep up with him.  No dead zones today for me, where the motivation sags due to lack of competition.

Mile 2 - 14:20 (7:10 overall pace)  Heading back on the road now with a long slight gradual uphill.  Then back on to the trail and overpass.  Sidewalk back to the finish.  I get passed by two runners including one guy pushing a baby jogger.  I don't not feel too bad about it though as my pace is still good, they just really saved something for the end.  Dave blows by me on the final uphill but I run well to the finish line.

Mile 3.1 - Finish  (3.08 on the GPS).  Lots of baked goods and coffee inside at the school.  I win a raffle (5 passes to a rock climbing gym) and a ribbon for second in my age group.  We all got stainless steel water bottles instead of T-shirts this year. Really fun time today.  Now its rest up for tomorrow's race.


22:23
19th place out of 223
2nd in age group
race#261
5K#68
Friendship 5K#5
*****

1/28/12 Lake Youngs Nuts Run 50K

Life has been great so far this year, but not my running life.  I ran the Yukon Do It Marathon on 12/31 and intended to shuffle through a 5K race the next day.  I have a six year streak of New Years Day races at Steilacoom and wanted that to continue.  I just could not do it.  Maybe if I had been preregistered I would have had more incentive to get out of bed.  Well I soon learned that my battered legs needed some rest anyway.
January 4 - easy run, feeling OK, then I pull a hamstring and have to walk it in.  Not too serious, but I know that I will need a few days off.
January 7 - White Elephant 5 Miler - Good thing I did not preregister.  I went as a spectator and rested my leg.
January 8-13 - very slow and easy running.  Low mileage.  Leg is improving.  One day I am plugging along and get a sudden pain in the ball of my left foot.  Feels like a bruise or a cramp.  It is so bad that I have to stop and take off my shoe and massage it a bit.  It gets better right away.
January 14 - Run for Faith 5K - Did not run.  Had not planned on it anyway since we were on an awesome family ski trip that weekend anyway.
January 16 - Month is half over and I need to put in some miles otherwise I will lose my 100 miles per month streak.  Ice and snow on the ground but I slog out 10 miles anyway, probably with little training benefit.
January 17 - snow
January 18-20 Major snow, branches down everywhere, power out for 36 hours.  Managed a couple of short runs and a nice one up in our Seattle refuge.
January 21 - Steilacoom 10 miler is cancelled due to the storm
January 22 - Tumwater Cross Country 5K is cancelled due to the storm.


I need to race at Lake Youngs in order to get over 100 miles for the month and to continue my streak of running at least one race per calendar month every month since December 2007.  My 50K PR (5:09) is here but I have no expectation of doing that well.  I hope be able to get in under 5:30

This is my third year here.  Previously it was directed by Pigtails.  This year some of her friends are taking over, the Nuts Runners.  Everything seems the same as it has been and they do a fine job of putting on this event. 

Pulling in to the parking lot I get a great view of a large coyote.

Loop 1 (1:33:29)
Smooth start down the big hill.  At the bottom of the hill though there is some frozen mud and ice.  Some slipping but no one goes down.  Wide trail now for easy sorting out.  Run and leapfrog with Ken, Kurt and Kristin.  Walking up the hills and keeping the pace around 10 minutes per mile.  I like this course with its rolling hills but nothing too steep.  Wide trail of various surfaces.  King County did a terrific job of getting all the downed trees and branches cleared out.  Many sections of fence are new (the trail follows the fence line and it is impossible to get lost).  There are some small branches and a few loose rocks to watch for, but no real obstacles.  Not as muddy as last year.


Loop 2 (1:32:53)
Strike out on my own and I am feeling very good.  I do step on a rock on the ball of my left foot and it seizes up, like that day two weeks ago.  I am worried that it will become very painful but I am able to squish my toes as I run and stretch things out and in about a half mile I have forgotten about that problem.  I can see Pigtails a ways ahead of me and I am gradually gaining on her, but I will be smart and not try to pass her.  I like the long straight gentle down and up at mile 5.9.  After this will be a steep uphill where I will reward myself with a walk break.  I make the turn but the hill is not there.  By mile 7.5 I realize that the big hill must be earlier on the course and I just can not remember covering that ground on this loop.  I feel very very good and am thinking that maybe I will have a good finish time.  If I can keep up this pace, I'll have a PR.




Loop 3 (1:48:50)
As soon as I leave the aid station however I start to tire.  I am running OK, but my pace has slowed.  I have been eating two fig newtons on each loop but now I decide to use a Powebar Gel.  The cookies just get so dry after a while.  The race drink is Nuun, which I am not really used to.  I should have kept one bottle as plain water.  The instant I try downing the gel, myt stomach rebels.  I had not been feeling all that nauseous, but now I instantly feel like I am going to vomit.  I am picturing myself on my knees on the side of the trail.  I am able to keep things down though, but I have to move so slowly to recover.  It takes about 2 miles before I feel better able to run.  Now I have obviously given up on any PR, that is fine.  There are four of my friends/rivals just behind me.  I can not see them when I look back, but knowing that they are not far behind gives me some incentive to keep pushing along.  Walk, run, shuffle, mostly jog along in low gear.  So happy to see this loop come to an end

Loop 4 - 2.2 mile out and back (26:42)
Back on the trail for the out and back.  Try to run most of it.  On the way back I can tell that my finish place is secure.  Only two people passed me after the second loop, despite my slowing.  I also realize that I will beat 5:30, so I don't kill myself to finish.  Ease up the steep hill and on to the finish line.  I am very satisfied to have completed this race.  Other than hitting the wall and the short term nausea, things went well.  I also have a streak of running at least one marathon or ultra every calendar month for 18 months now and I am happy to continue to run this one every January.



5:21:50
29th place of 56 finishers
7th out of 7 in age group 45-49  (tough age group today!!)
Race#260
Marathon or Ultra#78
Lake Youngs Ultra#3
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