Escarpment Trail

2 weeks ago I had such a great time running/hiking in the Catskills that I decided to go back. Despite the weather forecast for 85F weather (ok, I know, that's not that hot, but when you've been running in <60F, it's a shocker). And silly me didn't get to the trailhead until after 9am. Gathering up my gear and filling my Camelbak, I was chatting with a guy who had been waiting in his car. Turns out the person he was waiting for was out training for the same race that I'm doing - Massanutten Mountain Trails 100!! Wow! Pretty amazing considering they only allowed 180 people into the race. Anyways, I got all ready and joined him in waiting, then the 3 of us took off together up the trail. After a few miles, he split off to loop back to his car. Around 2 hours into the run, we were on the north side of a lake, I split off and continued north on the Escarpment Trail while she headed back south to the cars. I wound up climbing to another peak, past an old plane crash, then down to a spring where I got more water.



Found this little guy in the spring.



Then back up and over, around the lake and back to my car. Whew!! All told, 7 hours on the trails covering ~30 miles (maybe less). It was pretty slow going at times due to the ruggedness of the trail. Not sure if I've ever seen a trail quite like this one. You'll be running (or more likely, hiking) up a rock strewn path and suddenly the trail disappears. You stop, look around, and realize the trail took a hard right UP a series of rock ledges. Alrighty then!



Like that!! You call that a TRAIL?!?!

New gear!

I think I've been trying to turn the economy around single-handedly this month, looking around at all my new gear! It started with all my shoes wearing out at about the same time. So I bought 1 pair new road shoes and 1 pair trail. I ordered another pair of road shoes online (didn't have my size in the store) as I usually have 2 to rotate. But they wound up being backordered, so I also bought a pair of racing flats. Then at Boston I bought the Vibram Five Fingers. Yikes!!! And... some trail running gaiters and Moeben sleeves (also backordered).... a new 3L Camelbak (gonna need it for my Grand Canyon adventure and peak bagging) and a SureFire flashlight for trail running at night... and Zoot compression shorts and a tri top.

You'd think I had just gotten into this sport and had no gear. Ok, so I don't have gaiters, and new shoes are really necessary... but yeah, I could probably live without the other stuff. Actually, the Camelbak and flashlight were purchased with my REI dividend... so they were basically free (yes, excuses, I know).

Looking forward to a run/hike this weekend. Not yet sure where I'll go, but I definitely will be testing out the gaiters and with temps predicted to hit the mid-80s, I may also take the new Camelbak - some trails don't have very many water stops. And maybe test out the compression shorts too... see if they help with the downhill running or recovery... though I gotta say... they are really really snug at the top (not sure how I'm gonna wear them while running and eating!).

Sunday I'll be packing it all back up to get ready to move into my new apartment - YIPEE!!! It's a less populated area and closer to trails. I might just be able to run trails on weekday evenings! WOW!! But it's a heck of a lot bigger than my current place... so I'll have space to get a sofa and a dining table! Looks like I'm not quite done with the spending...

It's been a few weeks...

... ok... 3 weeks... since I last wrote an entry. I guess I've been pretty consumed with work, training, apartment hunting, etc. Most of my training to prepare for Massanutten 100 is done and the race is 25 days away! After my 50 miler in VA, I headed back down the VA the following weekend, with a fellow ultrarunner, and ran 25 miles of the MMT100 course. It'll be slow going at night, covering rocky terrain (ad looking over my shoulder every 5 seconds for bears), but it's nothing I can't handle.

With a 3 day weekend for Easter, I headed up to the Catskills for the first time and did a bit of running up there. Not as rocky as what I was running in VA, but there were definitely some really nice climbs. I'll have to head back up there more often and explore other trails. I did get a few nice photos while I was out, but I expect it will be even better this fall with the vibrantly colored foliage, rather than the naked trees I ran among.

This past weekend I was in Boston for ~2.5 days for the 113th Boston Marathon. Truth be told, I wasn't all that psyched up about it heading up there, as I expected it to be ridiculously crowded - and I hate crowds and waiting. Yes, it was crowded and there was waiting... but it was entirely worth it. Seeing almost the entire 26.2 mile course lined with spectators was AMAZING! I also was very impressed with the city itself - soooooooo much nicer than NYC. I'd actually like to go back and visit again at some point. Spent a good part of Sunday wandering around, snapping pictures of pretty buildings, went to see the USS Constitution and drank some good beer. Had a great race. Qualified to go back next year and set myself a new PR! I'll write up a full RR this week. Suffice to say that I'm quite happy with my time.... and I have now set my sights on qualifying for the NYC marathon.

Photos from Bel Monte

Bel Monte Endurance Run

I signed up for this race to serve as my “get your butt in gear” run. Winter training had been, well, not much training at all. I was lacking long runs and hills, with MMT 100 looming ever closer. So what better way to prepare than to head to the same state where MMT will be and run a hilly course? Turns out, I think it was fantastic prep... it was rocky! Ok, not all of it, there were some really nice portions, but other sections were like crossing rock fields.

2 days before the race I finally looked up directions... and realized it would be ~7 hours driving each way. Oops. That didn’t seem like a good idea, but I’d already reg’d and paid. That night I packed up everything I would need for a couple days. Friday after work, I began the long drive down to VA, near the Charlottesville area. Having not gotten enough sleep all week, I only made it 40 miles before needing to stop for coffee. I picked at the food I had packed for lunch, as well as some munchies I had bought the night before for the drive down. Many hours and a couple stops later I was close enough to the start that I decided to stop for the night. Found a hotel, got a (too expensive) room and grabbed <6 hours of sleep.

By 5am I was checked out and making the last 30 minutes of driving to the race start. Got there and parked just after 5:30a, then went to grab my packet and shirt. It was chilly and damp enough that I wound up just relaxing in my car listening to music to pass the time. When it was time for the pre-race briefing, I went back up to the pavilion and stood in front of the roaring fire, cooking the back of my legs. Ahhhhhh. “When you see these flags, you have 6 tenths of a mile to the finish. If you have anything left, don’t take it home with you!! Bring it to the finish!” We climbed up onto the levee and after a bit more waiting, we were off! Slowly.

There were really 3 races starting at the same time: 25k, 50k and 50M. So more than 300 people trying to get onto the same segment of single track and going uphill made for a very slow first couple miles. Some stream crossings early on got my feet feeling rather refreshed. Too late I realized that my combination of shoes/socks did not drain water very well. After the first AS the pack started to thin out a little bit and I found some people to run behind at a good pace. At the second AS, somewhere around 7.7 miles, the 25k runners turned around and headed to the finish. I grabbed some Coke and oreos and continued on. The next segment was quite nice. Mostly downhill, and it was on a fireroad, so passing was not an issue. Chatted with a guy for a while as I ran down this segment. He’d run this race a couple times before, as well as another race that uses the same trails.

After a 5 mile descent we were at another AS and then running along a relatively flat crushed gravel/dirt road. Ok, not terribly scenic here, but no significant climbing. Actually, the lack of climbing for miles concerned me a bit. I thought the race website had said 8000’ of climbing. Long flat parts in the middle had to mean that there would be brutally steep climbs later in the race. Not good. But for the moment, I was focused on moving forward. It looked like a lot of people were not well prepared or had gone out too hard and were walking the very gradual climbs on this road, so I was able to start slowly picking off runners in front of me and passing them.

Eventually we turned and headed back onto single track and another stream crossing. We had been told this section was mostly downhill to an unmanned aid station. There would be a password written there, so we could prove we had been there. Starting the hike back up, I pulled my camera out. I figured as long as I was going slow and stopping for runners coming downhill, I might as well take pictures of them. I was not able to get any scenic shots, as the whole area was shrouded in fog the whole day. Boo! So, just a few pics of the trail and runners. Back through the stream, to the AS, and headed out for another out-and-back segment.

This section started relatively flat – or so I thought. Running back I realized it was slightly sloped. Many stream crossings, 3+ miles of gradual uphill, then 2+ miles of uphill hiking to a guy with a cowbell (he was awesome) and the AS at the top of the hill. Grabbed some Coke, the most fabulous PB&J sammie ever and more gummy bears. After a quick bit of socializing, I took off tearing down the trail. Yes, trashing my quads in the process. I noticed that some runners were quite a ways behind me. Not good as I was 1 hour ahead of the cutoff; looked like some people would have to be pulled from the course. Back across 3 or 4 streams (up to my knees!), through the AS, and heading back along the same gravel road.

Ok, nevermind what I said before about it being flat! Ha! Ok, so I was flat or very gradual grade, but my legs were definitely starting to get tired, and even running up a 3% grade was very tiring. It was also getting a bit boring. I had been running solo for the last ~20 miles. Sure, I had seen other runners, but I wasn’t running and talking to anyone. A guy with a yellow shirt came into view and I pushed a bit harder to catch up with him. After a mile or so I eventually caught up with him and the next AS too! More sugar and it was time to start another long climb.

Running down this section earlier in the day I hadn’t realized we would have to go back up. Oh man, it was LONG. The first 2 miles were steady uphill, mostly too steep to run at this point. I quickly caught up with a guy and we chatted for a while. But after a mile I was feeling rejuvenated by my slowed pace and took off running up the hill. CHARGE!!! I continued walking and jogging up the hill. On and on. After an hour I started thinking I had to be getting close to the AS at the top. I just had to!! But with the winding trail and fog I could tell where the top was. Caught up with and passed another guy.

I was starting to feel really low on energy. I realized I probably had not been eating enough. My plan had been to “live off the land”. Meaning I was carrying no food and subsisting entirely off of the aid station fare. Every other race I have always carried some gels just in case, but I opted to carry a camera for this race instead of food. I didn’t think I’d be able to get in enough calories to feel good again, so the last 10 miles would be all about just trying to keep it together. Another ½ hour later and I was at the top. Finally! It had also started a very light rain. I lingered there, dreading the steep descents I knew I would have to cover to get to the next AS. Had more Coke, oreos, a Twinkie (awesomeness!!) and another handfull of gummy bears.

Whoever had told me the last 8 miles from that AS to the finish was all downhill had been lying through their teeth! Admittedly, there were no long climbs, but the next 3 or 4 miles were far from “all downhill”. More like rolling. Up, down, up, flat, down, up. And rocks, lots of rocks. This section was the worst. Rock and boulder fields that I simply could not run across. Eventually I made it to the downhill. Did I say steep and treacherous? Rocky steep descent, with wet leaves, in the rain. Yup, I was walking. It took me nearly 1.5 hours to cover just over 5 miles.

The remaining 2.4 miles were relatively flat. No big uphills, no big downhills, but still very slow. Prior to the race, looking at previous times, I hoped to finish in 11.5 hours. Up to mile 30 or so, I had been running well and was thinking <11 style=""> Now, I was pushing to finish under 11.5 hours. Though really, I was just looking forward to finishing, regardless of what time was on the clock. Running around the lake, out onto the road we drove in one, and finally I saw the flags indicating I was 0.6 miles from the finish. Yipee!! But there was nothing left in the tank, so I just kept at my slow jog. It was a great welcoming reception. The finish was set up on a slight rise that you ran past, then up and across the grass. Meaning they could see you coming the last 0.2 miles and get out the cowbell and cheer.

Official time: 11:27:32 OA: 25/43 5th Female (out of 7)

Apparently I "won" my AG (F20-29)... all the others DNF'd

103 starters, 43 finishers - really low finish rate for a 50M - partly the course, partly the cutoff IMHO

Stood around chatting with the guy who finished a bit ahead of me, waiting for the next guy to finish. Had some of the best mac’n’cheese ever, then went to clean up and start the long drive home. Took of my soggy shoes and socks to find the bottoms of my feet had turned to marshmallows. After >11 hours in wet shoes, my feet were white and wrinkly.

Hmph!

Ok, I was really really hoping March would be better than February. And it started out that way... for the first 3.5 days. Then I did something to my left foot... d'oh!! I was 5 miles into a 10 mile tempo run. I don't like stopping, but I usually will walk or slow down to see if the pain goes away. Not Tuesday night. I was fighting a setting sun and cold temps - not much choice but to continue running fast, or I risked being in the park arfter dark, getting very cold and possibly having my car locked in. Ok, so next time I will plan it better. 3 days of no running - and not much else - has helped a little bit. But I've still had to scratch the 50k I had schedule for today. Booo!! My first DNS ever and I'm not happy, but I also know that there is no way I could run it. Heck, I don't think I could run 1 mile right now without a fair amount of pain. Not to mention it would be really stupid.

I've been scouring the internet and my copy of "The Runner's Repair Manual" to figure out what could possibly be wrong, but still have not found anything that seems to fit my problem. Go figure. But now I'm starting to think it may be something as simple as not enough arch support in my shoes. I initially chucked out the idea it could be related to my shoes since I'm on pair #4 of the same exact model and this pair only has ~150 miles on them. How could it possibly be the shoes. Unless.... my feet have changed? My arch has gotten weak? Over-stressed? Could it be connected to the issues I've been having with feet cramping - especially my left foot! - while swimming? Hmmm.... ok, I seem to have suddenly raised more questions than I have answered. But, I put on an older pair of shoes this morning with good arch support and was able to walk around the house without pain (though maybe it just didn't walk far enough). I also know my work shoes that I wear every day have zero support - I just haven't found a good pair of shoes that actually fits my oddly sized feet.

So, I guess I'll be stopping at the running store on my way home from the coffee shop today. Pick up some nice insoles with good arch support and test them out. Maybe head out for a walk... maybe try a tiny bit of running and see how it feels. And while I'm at it... maybe I'll spend a few hours looking for new work shoes (thought I shudder at the thought of going to the mall on a Saturday!). Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I'm still harboring some hope that I might be able to run the half marathon I'm signed up for tomorrow.

A new month....

... a new Jessi? Hope so. Last 1.5 months haven't been the greatest - work, life and training. Work seems to be slowing down a tiny bit - as in, getting closer to manageable from chaos. I'm trying to stay motivated to train and prioritize my life by going to the gym before work instead of telling myself I'll go after. Life, well... it's a work in progress, I guess.

I went to the Doc last week. Talked to him about my list of problems. I got prescribed some happy pills once again, but he's also recommending therapy as well. While a great idea, since I'm sure with drugs alone I will relapse again... I didn't exactly have a blast the last time I tried it, nor did it seem to help at all. It's also a bit tougher going into therapy when you are shy/quiet/introverted and really not good at talking about feelings... at all. Sigh. Maybe once the drugs start to kick in? I dunno... not excited about therapy... don't want to be on drugs forever... and don't want to relapse (but the odds are stacked against me).

While I was there, he also gave me an echo for my heart murmur - looks like leaky valves, but I'm guessing I'll get a full report once a cardiologist looks at it. And they sent out some blood to make sure I don't have some rare auto-immune disease causing the numbness in my fingers... probably just Raynaud's.