The radio said it was 61 F, but it felt more like 70. I got out after work for a little 4 mile spin around the local park system, it felt good to be in shorts and one shirt again!!
I'm repacking my drop bag again. Horton's last email said:
"It is finally here! There is good news and bad news. The good news is that there is no rain forecast for Saturday. The bad news is the predicted high for Montebello on Saturday is 43 degrees with a low that morning of 22 degrees. Keep in mind that the second half of the course is much higher than the first half, and that means that you better make sure that you pick up a jacket and gloves when you leave aid station 10 (26.9 miles)."
I guess there is such thing as perfect weather for an ultra!!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
74 Caterpillars
Or woolly bears as they are also known here. I counted 74 of them on my 6 mile run today.
I had to coax myself outside.It was very windy, and it just seemed cold out there. So I waited until noon and it was 50 degrees.
What a beautiful day!! Blue skies, lots of gusty wind, no cars on the road. I actually got overheated in my 3 layers. I ditched the hat and glove almost immediately, there was no need for them.
I felt good. I got back home, and we took the dogs out for their second walk of the day.
I have my drop bag packed for the race, my race day clothes, and my post-race bag packed. All I need to do is the overnight bag for the non-running clothes. I like to work several days ahead, because all I need is a work crisis to hit and then not have time to get everything ready for the out of town trip.
I feel good. I'm pretty calm. There's nothing else I can do to prepare for this race besides rest and eat right. Training is over!!!
In fact, I'd love it if the race was tomorrow to get the waiting over with!!!
Taper Time
I have my drop bag (only one!! at mile 26.9!) packed. I have my race day clothes and gear all packed. I have my bag packed for post-race. I haven't packed the 'overnight bag' with the non-running clothes yet, that is last minute and can wait. I have everything checked off my list, except for a few items to buy sometime this week.I have downloaded more songs to my iPod-not to listen to on the trail, to listen to in my vehicle on the drive to the race.
Now I remember what else to do-a list of the cut-off times at the aid stations and maybe put the elevation map on the other side, so I can see what is ahead of me.
It's been a lazy weekend here. We had horrible weather, gusting winds, snow, sleet, rain, so I didn't get my run in. I am getting ready to go outside and run today. It's warmed up to fifty but it's still terribly windy out there.
Now I remember what else to do-a list of the cut-off times at the aid stations and maybe put the elevation map on the other side, so I can see what is ahead of me.
It's been a lazy weekend here. We had horrible weather, gusting winds, snow, sleet, rain, so I didn't get my run in. I am getting ready to go outside and run today. It's warmed up to fifty but it's still terribly windy out there.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
On the Trail-from Trail Runner Magazine
On the Trail . . .Mountain Masochist 50 Mile
Dave Horton is not vanilla.
By Rachel Toor
As featured in the April 2004 issue of Running Times Magazine
Mountain Masochist 50 Mile
Lynchburg, VA
Oct. 18, 2003
David Horton is not vanilla. When you mention his name to ultrarunners, you get a strong reaction. Sometimes it’s fanatical adoration, similar to the devotion inspired by his boss at Liberty University, the Reverend Jerry Falwell. Sometimes it’s a look of horror and disgust—and a stream of unprintable epithets. Often it’s just a shrug and a smirk. Whatever people think of him personally, though, there is complete consensus on one thing: He puts on extraordinarily well-organized events. Horton’s races—the Mountain Masochist 50M Trail Run, the Promise Land 50K, and the Holiday Lake 50+++K—are Horton’s races. The personality of the race director permeates.
Apparently it was Horton’s wife who gave his longest-running run its title. Horton decided in 1979, after running the JFK 50M, that he wanted to bring ultrarunning to his town of Lynchburg, VA. When Horton was fishing about for a name, his wife said, "Call it the Mountain Masochist—that’s what you all are, anyway." The name stuck, and it works. It appeals to the kind of runner that Horton loves—those for whom suffering is the goal—and is off-putting to those whom Horton dismisses
The original goal for the Mountain Masochist Trail Run, according to its creator, was to make it the biggest ultrarun on the East Coast. Horton’s ambitions have changed over the years. Now, Horton says, he wants the race to have a "homecoming atmosphere."
"What I hate most," he says about the 240 starters in this year’s race, "is that I don’t know everyone’s name." He certainly knows a lot of them. Many have returned year after year, not only to suffer on the course that includes 9,000 feet of climb and 7,000 of descent, but also willing—eager, even—to be reviled and rebuked by Horton if he feels that they have not run to their potential. His is a Calvinist, fire-and-brimstone, holier-than-thou, black-and-white world. After giving out awards to the winner of each race, he moves on to listing the first losers. If you don’t win, you lose. If you don’t run your guts out, you are unworthy. David Horton is known in the ultra community for originating the award for "Best Blood."
Horton is nothing if not a competitor. He’s finished over 100 ultras and won 40 percent of them. In 1991 he nabbed the Appalachian Trail speed record, covering the 2,144 miles in 52 days (10 days faster than the old record). That wasn’t enough. Like Forrest Gump on dexetrine, he raced across the country in 64 days, the third fastest trans-continental time. This is a man who loves to push himself.
He also clearly loves people. Horton teaches a running class at Liberty. At this year’s MMTR, at least 10 of his students finished the race. They are disciples. Former student Bethany Hunter, 24, has gone on to become one of the best in the country. She’s already won the Massanutten Mountain 100M. This year she was competing against the strongest and deepest women’s field ever. As the final race in the Montrail Ultra Cup series, the MMTR attracted a number of ultrarunning big dogs. Jenny Capel and Luann Park showed up, as did Janice Anderson and Ragan Petrie. But whether it was a hometown advantage or fiery threats from her former professor, Hunter broke the course record and finished in 8:14.
Clark Zealand, another Hortonite, wasn’t there to defend his record this year, and Coloradan Dave Mackey took it away, finishing in 6:48. The race was close until mile 41, when last year’s winner, Sean Andrish, "gave up," according to Horton. Andrish finished 10 minutes later, still the third-fastest time ever, and only the fifth person to break seven hours. Good, but not good enough for David Horton.
The course is not particularly difficult; most is on dirt roads and fire service trails with only small portions that are technical. Still, the finishing times are slow. Everyone talks about "Horton miles." While the race director can’t move the Virginia mountains to make them higher or harder, he is known for measuring his courses on the long side. Most people who have run it believe that the 50 miles of the Mountain Masochist is more like 54 miles.
This year, for some, the race was even longer. A group of malicious hunters moved the white streamers marking the course. A number of the front runners were led astray until Tom Greene, the only person to have completed all 22 editions of the race, came to the crossroads. He realized that the markers were wrong and took the time to take them down. "That was a real act of kindness and confidence," Horton says. Greene still managed to finish in a laudable time of 9:57, winning the grand masters division.
At breakfast the morning after the race, Horton greets a guy wearing his finisher’s shirt: "You earned that shirt, buddy." What about the rest of us, I ask? Didn’t everyone who finished earn his or her shirt? He thinks for only a second. "No," he says. "If you don’t give it everything, if you don’t run to your potential, then, in my eyes, you’ve failed."
This does not surprise me. When I crossed the finish line, 10 hours after starting my first 50 miler, having had an amazing experience chatting with folks on the trail, taking it easy because I knew I wasn’t fit enough to race, David Horton greeted me, as he did every other runner, by name.
"Rachel," he said. "I gave you that low number. Why did you run so slow?" Indeed, I had messed things up for him: The first five women finished in the order he’d seeded them.
I’d never met David Horton until the morning of the race. In the dark he handed me my (sixth seed) number and commented that I was smaller than he’d expected. I don’t know what he was expecting of me, or what his basis for expectation was, but he told me, that next morning at breakfast that he knew I could have run faster and had lost respect for me because I didn’t. Too old, too arrogant to be intimidated by him, I pushed back.
"I can live without your respect. I’m okay with that," I say.
"I’m using reverse psychology on you," he confided.
"Yes, David, I know," I answered.
"I am 99 percent transparent," Horton said, in a fit of self-reflection. He continued, "I’m also insecure. I feel like a fake, incompetent." In the space of a moment he morphs from a blow-hard, castigating, tough-as-nails, win-one-for-the-Gipper kind of guy, to a sweet, gentle and open man. He says he spends the days before the race feeling like he’s "hanging on a cliff by my fingertips."
No doubt this fear of failure, this will to perfection, this drive to overcome either real or perceived inadequacies, is what makes his races so good. It also propels David Horton to continually push his own limits, and to inspire, poke, prod, shame, and challenge everyone around him to find theirs.
Copyright ©2006 Running Times Magazine. All rights reserved.
Dave Horton is not vanilla.
By Rachel Toor
As featured in the April 2004 issue of Running Times Magazine
Mountain Masochist 50 Mile
Lynchburg, VA
Oct. 18, 2003
David Horton is not vanilla. When you mention his name to ultrarunners, you get a strong reaction. Sometimes it’s fanatical adoration, similar to the devotion inspired by his boss at Liberty University, the Reverend Jerry Falwell. Sometimes it’s a look of horror and disgust—and a stream of unprintable epithets. Often it’s just a shrug and a smirk. Whatever people think of him personally, though, there is complete consensus on one thing: He puts on extraordinarily well-organized events. Horton’s races—the Mountain Masochist 50M Trail Run, the Promise Land 50K, and the Holiday Lake 50+++K—are Horton’s races. The personality of the race director permeates.
Apparently it was Horton’s wife who gave his longest-running run its title. Horton decided in 1979, after running the JFK 50M, that he wanted to bring ultrarunning to his town of Lynchburg, VA. When Horton was fishing about for a name, his wife said, "Call it the Mountain Masochist—that’s what you all are, anyway." The name stuck, and it works. It appeals to the kind of runner that Horton loves—those for whom suffering is the goal—and is off-putting to those whom Horton dismisses
The original goal for the Mountain Masochist Trail Run, according to its creator, was to make it the biggest ultrarun on the East Coast. Horton’s ambitions have changed over the years. Now, Horton says, he wants the race to have a "homecoming atmosphere."
"What I hate most," he says about the 240 starters in this year’s race, "is that I don’t know everyone’s name." He certainly knows a lot of them. Many have returned year after year, not only to suffer on the course that includes 9,000 feet of climb and 7,000 of descent, but also willing—eager, even—to be reviled and rebuked by Horton if he feels that they have not run to their potential. His is a Calvinist, fire-and-brimstone, holier-than-thou, black-and-white world. After giving out awards to the winner of each race, he moves on to listing the first losers. If you don’t win, you lose. If you don’t run your guts out, you are unworthy. David Horton is known in the ultra community for originating the award for "Best Blood."
Horton is nothing if not a competitor. He’s finished over 100 ultras and won 40 percent of them. In 1991 he nabbed the Appalachian Trail speed record, covering the 2,144 miles in 52 days (10 days faster than the old record). That wasn’t enough. Like Forrest Gump on dexetrine, he raced across the country in 64 days, the third fastest trans-continental time. This is a man who loves to push himself.
He also clearly loves people. Horton teaches a running class at Liberty. At this year’s MMTR, at least 10 of his students finished the race. They are disciples. Former student Bethany Hunter, 24, has gone on to become one of the best in the country. She’s already won the Massanutten Mountain 100M. This year she was competing against the strongest and deepest women’s field ever. As the final race in the Montrail Ultra Cup series, the MMTR attracted a number of ultrarunning big dogs. Jenny Capel and Luann Park showed up, as did Janice Anderson and Ragan Petrie. But whether it was a hometown advantage or fiery threats from her former professor, Hunter broke the course record and finished in 8:14.
Clark Zealand, another Hortonite, wasn’t there to defend his record this year, and Coloradan Dave Mackey took it away, finishing in 6:48. The race was close until mile 41, when last year’s winner, Sean Andrish, "gave up," according to Horton. Andrish finished 10 minutes later, still the third-fastest time ever, and only the fifth person to break seven hours. Good, but not good enough for David Horton.
The course is not particularly difficult; most is on dirt roads and fire service trails with only small portions that are technical. Still, the finishing times are slow. Everyone talks about "Horton miles." While the race director can’t move the Virginia mountains to make them higher or harder, he is known for measuring his courses on the long side. Most people who have run it believe that the 50 miles of the Mountain Masochist is more like 54 miles.
This year, for some, the race was even longer. A group of malicious hunters moved the white streamers marking the course. A number of the front runners were led astray until Tom Greene, the only person to have completed all 22 editions of the race, came to the crossroads. He realized that the markers were wrong and took the time to take them down. "That was a real act of kindness and confidence," Horton says. Greene still managed to finish in a laudable time of 9:57, winning the grand masters division.
At breakfast the morning after the race, Horton greets a guy wearing his finisher’s shirt: "You earned that shirt, buddy." What about the rest of us, I ask? Didn’t everyone who finished earn his or her shirt? He thinks for only a second. "No," he says. "If you don’t give it everything, if you don’t run to your potential, then, in my eyes, you’ve failed."
This does not surprise me. When I crossed the finish line, 10 hours after starting my first 50 miler, having had an amazing experience chatting with folks on the trail, taking it easy because I knew I wasn’t fit enough to race, David Horton greeted me, as he did every other runner, by name.
"Rachel," he said. "I gave you that low number. Why did you run so slow?" Indeed, I had messed things up for him: The first five women finished in the order he’d seeded them.
I’d never met David Horton until the morning of the race. In the dark he handed me my (sixth seed) number and commented that I was smaller than he’d expected. I don’t know what he was expecting of me, or what his basis for expectation was, but he told me, that next morning at breakfast that he knew I could have run faster and had lost respect for me because I didn’t. Too old, too arrogant to be intimidated by him, I pushed back.
"I can live without your respect. I’m okay with that," I say.
"I’m using reverse psychology on you," he confided.
"Yes, David, I know," I answered.
"I am 99 percent transparent," Horton said, in a fit of self-reflection. He continued, "I’m also insecure. I feel like a fake, incompetent." In the space of a moment he morphs from a blow-hard, castigating, tough-as-nails, win-one-for-the-Gipper kind of guy, to a sweet, gentle and open man. He says he spends the days before the race feeling like he’s "hanging on a cliff by my fingertips."
No doubt this fear of failure, this will to perfection, this drive to overcome either real or perceived inadequacies, is what makes his races so good. It also propels David Horton to continually push his own limits, and to inspire, poke, prod, shame, and challenge everyone around him to find theirs.
Copyright ©2006 Running Times Magazine. All rights reserved.
Great run today!!
After two days off, I got out for a run. I wore trail shoes on the road, my New Balance 832s, because I wanted to make sure they were good to go for Masochist. It was cold, in the high 40's and slightly raining, but it felt so good to get outside. I had a good strong run. My path went steadily uphill for about 2.5 miles, and I was running all of it! Turned around and did a fast downhill, followed by about 1.5 miles on the flat road. A good time, a good workout. I then stretched for 15 minutes afterwards. I had that nice endorphin rush wash all those race insecurities out. I have a ten miler planned for Saturday, then a few short runs til Thursday, when I leave for the race.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Working out
I cross trained today, 40 minutes on the elliptical. I cranked it up a notch because I felt I wasn't get that good a workout-that helped!
It occurred to me, on the trainer, how much I love to work out. I love feeling my muscles move, loosen up and work together. I love the way physical excercise makes me feel.
I did a good 15 minute stretching session afterwards too. No aches and pain anywhere.
A massage after work tomorrow also!!!
It occurred to me, on the trainer, how much I love to work out. I love feeling my muscles move, loosen up and work together. I love the way physical excercise makes me feel.
I did a good 15 minute stretching session afterwards too. No aches and pain anywhere.
A massage after work tomorrow also!!!
Monday, October 23, 2006
Life Path Number
| Your Life Path Number is 11 |
 Your purpose in life is to inspire others Your amazing energy draws people to you, and you give them great insight in return. You hold a great amount of power over others, without even trying. You have the makings of an inventor, artist, religious leader, or prophet. In love, you are sensitive and passionate. You connect with your partner on a very deep level. You have great abilities, but you are often way too critical of yourself. You don't fit in - and instead of celebrating your differences, you dwell on them. You have high expectations of yourself. But sometimes you set them too high and don't achieve anything. |
Don't you hate when these things ring true. I have very high expectations.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Housekeeping
I had a day off today. I slept in until 730am, really late for me! Then I cleaned house, and then we went outside and did chores-cleaned leaves out of gutters, brush-hogged, spread straw on all the mud patches where the dogs track mud into the house, cut some branches out of trees. This didn't leave me feeling like doing much excercise, so I called it a rest day.
My workouts for the week are light, 4 or 6 mile runs. That's cool because I need to get a massage after work and make an appointment to get my eyes tested so I can get new contact lens. I'm on my last pair and the last thing I want is to have to wear my glasses during my race!
I started back on WW today; I had WW Online reset my weight. I was getting rather tired of seeing my original weight of 225 lbs; that was several years ago and really isn't the issue anymore. Don't get me wrong, losing 75 lbs totally changed my life and lifestyle. Here is my weight loss website that I created several years ago. I've gained about 25 lbs back now, and that's what I am concentrating on losing now.
I am going to follow the "Core" WW plan this time. You aren't really journalling your food intake and points, which freaks me out a bit; in fact, you only keep track of points that are not on the "Core" food list. The "Core" is really about eliminating the sugars and white foods from the diet, which is really what I am interested in. I saw a friend on Friday, who has lost about twenty pounds around his mid-section and looks great, and he did it all by eliminating bread and those nasty white sugars from his diet. So he really inspired me; if he can do it, I can do that.
My workouts for the week are light, 4 or 6 mile runs. That's cool because I need to get a massage after work and make an appointment to get my eyes tested so I can get new contact lens. I'm on my last pair and the last thing I want is to have to wear my glasses during my race!
I started back on WW today; I had WW Online reset my weight. I was getting rather tired of seeing my original weight of 225 lbs; that was several years ago and really isn't the issue anymore. Don't get me wrong, losing 75 lbs totally changed my life and lifestyle. Here is my weight loss website that I created several years ago. I've gained about 25 lbs back now, and that's what I am concentrating on losing now.
I am going to follow the "Core" WW plan this time. You aren't really journalling your food intake and points, which freaks me out a bit; in fact, you only keep track of points that are not on the "Core" food list. The "Core" is really about eliminating the sugars and white foods from the diet, which is really what I am interested in. I saw a friend on Friday, who has lost about twenty pounds around his mid-section and looks great, and he did it all by eliminating bread and those nasty white sugars from his diet. So he really inspired me; if he can do it, I can do that.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Stomp the Grapes 1/2 Marathon Report
What a beautiful day for a race. This was an inaugural 1/2 marathon at theWinery at Perennial Vineyards in Navarre Ohio. It was in the 30's or 40's at the start of the race, but it warmed up rather quickly after a few miles.
My friend Nancy had emailed me Thursday, asking if I wanted to run with her on Saturday. I told her I was running a 1/2 marathon, and she quickly signed up too! In fact, she picked me up and we drove to the event together, catching up on running and personal life with each other. Nancy expected me to out run her, but I was content to run at her pace-this was my last race before Masochist; I was wearing the clothes I am planning on wearing to MMTR, with my same water bottle waist pack, and I just wanted to try everything out. Besides, running and chatting with Nancy is fun.
The race was out in the country, nice rolling hills, then we turned onto the towpath for about 4 miles-that was the best part of the run, off the roads! Nancy and I chatted up through mile 10-I turned around to admire a tree or a flower or something and damn! she took off on me!! She had already told me she was planning on picking people off at mile 10, and she did it! I set off in pursuit, but my hamstring, which had been annoying me since mile 3 or so, really starting to twinge. I didn't feel I could get much leg extension. (I've had this chronic hamstring issue for years.) So I hobbled in behind Nancy in a 2.17 or something like that.
When we went inside for food, they were out of Subway sandwiches!! Gasp! In fact, the only thing left was bananas, some doughnuts, popcorn, and chips. So Nancy and I left to get some real grub-which ended up being Subway sandwiches we paid for! Still, that will happen for an inaugural event.
So the local race scene is over for the year, and now it's time to concentrate on Masochist!!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Wednesday Run
I shortened the run today. After about 2 miles, I felt a twinge in my IT Band. I was kind of ignoring it, then thought better. So I ran 5 miles and got a nice stretching session in. I have really neglected my stretching, feeling guilty for getting home so late after run/races, and haven't been paying enough attention to that.
I tried to do some logistics planning in the middle of my all day meeting (full attention wasn't needed..) and realized I have no idea of what the weather will be like in the mountains of Virginia. And the race is a week later than before. So I will probaly bring about 4X the amount of race clothes with me, so I have all options covered!
Yeah. And it's almost taper time. I think that will begin after my final fall race, the "Stomp the Grapes" 1/2 Marathon.
I tried to do some logistics planning in the middle of my all day meeting (full attention wasn't needed..) and realized I have no idea of what the weather will be like in the mountains of Virginia. And the race is a week later than before. So I will probaly bring about 4X the amount of race clothes with me, so I have all options covered!
Yeah. And it's almost taper time. I think that will begin after my final fall race, the "Stomp the Grapes" 1/2 Marathon.
Monday, October 16, 2006
What a Great Run Today
I got out for my ten mile run. It was a bit cool, maybe 60, totally overcast. I ran some back country township roads that went up a ridge and down the other side. I had the chance to power walk the uphills and run the downhills. I scared an entire herd of cattle. It's painful watching 1200 lb cows run away...I was afraid the farmer or cow-owner would come by and yell at me..I'm sure the cows never saw anything as freaky as a female runner running up the road.
But what a great run. After a day off, my legs felt good. My shins were a bit tight for a mile or two, then felt fine. My quads weren't tight or rocky at all. I was just out there, enjoying nature, loving the fall colors, the scenery, so happy to be living in an area is so beautiful.
I do have to think about shoes. I have a brand new pair of Brooks Trail Shoes-I need to get them out of the box, and run in them!! And figure out what I want to run in at Masochist!
But what a great run. After a day off, my legs felt good. My shins were a bit tight for a mile or two, then felt fine. My quads weren't tight or rocky at all. I was just out there, enjoying nature, loving the fall colors, the scenery, so happy to be living in an area is so beautiful.
I do have to think about shoes. I have a brand new pair of Brooks Trail Shoes-I need to get them out of the box, and run in them!! And figure out what I want to run in at Masochist!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Running Bag Packed
Well, I had to work today, so no run for me. But I have a 10 mile run scheduled for tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. I'm running the route I did last Thursday, along with the 'road less travelled' and see how many miles it will take me to get back to my vehicle. I'll carry a water bottle and a gel. It should be about 62 degrees,which will feel balmy after that Saturday run. I plan on practicing ultra-running technique: powerwalking all the uphills, running the downhills. The race date is approaching rapidly.
My final training for the Masochist has begun in earnest...I have started surfing the web and reading every race report and comment I can find about the race. . Horton, or David, or Dr Horton, or whatever you want to call him kind of scared me when he sent out the elevation map of the course. I had to query several ultra-friends about when altitude becomes a problem when running..they assured me it was at a much high altitude than the Mountain Masochist race..so I am going with that assumption!!!
I've beeen training for David's race since the spring. Running 61 miles at Mohican gave me a huge confidence boost about the distance...I know I can run 50 miles...or 54 miles...the question is, can I meet the cut-offs...
So this is where the positive self-affirmations start, learning about the course, about whether I need to carry food or water, what shoes to wear. What will the weather be November 4? It's a bit later than the races before, will this be a cold race. What to wear, where are the drop bags located. Should I stash dry clothes along the way in case I drop or time out...I post this because I am a newby to this race. I have a very positive attitude about running the race, but I also want to be realistic and not freezing in case I have to drop...another up and down emotion in the race day planning.
My final training for the Masochist has begun in earnest...I have started surfing the web and reading every race report and comment I can find about the race. . Horton, or David, or Dr Horton, or whatever you want to call him kind of scared me when he sent out the elevation map of the course. I had to query several ultra-friends about when altitude becomes a problem when running..they assured me it was at a much high altitude than the Mountain Masochist race..so I am going with that assumption!!!
I've beeen training for David's race since the spring. Running 61 miles at Mohican gave me a huge confidence boost about the distance...I know I can run 50 miles...or 54 miles...the question is, can I meet the cut-offs...
So this is where the positive self-affirmations start, learning about the course, about whether I need to carry food or water, what shoes to wear. What will the weather be November 4? It's a bit later than the races before, will this be a cold race. What to wear, where are the drop bags located. Should I stash dry clothes along the way in case I drop or time out...I post this because I am a newby to this race. I have a very positive attitude about running the race, but I also want to be realistic and not freezing in case I have to drop...another up and down emotion in the race day planning.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Post Run
What a cold miserable run. It was a high of 45 degrees when I returned, so with the wind it was in the thirties. I alternated between sweating, due to my 3 layers of top, to freezing, once the wind hit me. I ran 14 miles instead of 20 also. I think I got everything out of that workout that I was going to get. But at least I got out and ran 14!
Prep for the Run
I stuck my head outside a few minutes ago...it's COLD, about freezing, and windy. I thought about bagging the run. Then, I thought,Mountain Masochist might be in very similiar weather conditions in the mountains....and realized this would be a good practice run for that weather. I also realized I can overdress, and will just toss my layers off the road, since we'll be driving back to town the same route later in the day. So I've had my oatmeal, and now need to go find the running tights and winter hat for the run!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Planning a Running Route
I consulted Google Maps today...a good thing I did not travel down the road less travelled yesterday. The road intersected another road, which would have then led me back to road my vehicle I was on...had I looked at the map earlier..but now I know, and have a new "around the block" to run.
I had running route angst this morning, mainly because it was so cold and windy, and I did NOT want to consider a long run on Saturday morning. And all my normal routes looked so boring..and I didn't have time to drive over to Mohican...and the deer hunters are in the woods at Salt Fork...and I was so whiny...so I looked at Google Maps again, and used Sue & Paul's Gmap Pedometer thingy and made myself a long convoluted route on back township roads around here. I admired the map, then realized it would take me an hour to write down where all I was running for my husband, so he would know where I was. Then I had the bright idea: "Why not just run to town and back?" It's out and back. This was my original idea when all the whining began...it just looked nice and simple after the extensive map routing. I'll run to town, to the gym, it's exactly ten miles, use the restroom, get water, then run home on a different road. Twenty miles! Easy!
I had running route angst this morning, mainly because it was so cold and windy, and I did NOT want to consider a long run on Saturday morning. And all my normal routes looked so boring..and I didn't have time to drive over to Mohican...and the deer hunters are in the woods at Salt Fork...and I was so whiny...so I looked at Google Maps again, and used Sue & Paul's Gmap Pedometer thingy and made myself a long convoluted route on back township roads around here. I admired the map, then realized it would take me an hour to write down where all I was running for my husband, so he would know where I was. Then I had the bright idea: "Why not just run to town and back?" It's out and back. This was my original idea when all the whining began...it just looked nice and simple after the extensive map routing. I'll run to town, to the gym, it's exactly ten miles, use the restroom, get water, then run home on a different road. Twenty miles! Easy!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
C-cold Run Today
Well it happened. The first cold run of fall. It was in the 40's today, and pretty windy, the weather channel said "felt like 36". Luckily, I had my windshirt in my vehicle since I haven't really unpacked all the running gear for the last month, and it came in handy. The gloves that I had already worn at the Akron marathon must have made their way to the house, so my hands were cold for the first mile or so.
It was still a beautiful run. I went up a township road that I had never run before-because I just got my new Garmin 205 and can run again anywhere and know my mileage!!
Our fall foliage has just about peaked. I kept going up and up this township road, and was rewarded with a gorgeous view of orange and yellow trees, green pastures, black dots which were cows out there grazing. It made me happy that I kept going up the hill, because I do have some knots in my quads that I need to work out. And I ran by a homestead where there were at least 15 dogs tied up--and they all started howling as I ran by. I was just happy no dog uprooted the stake they were tied to (I hate to see dogs tied up like that) and came after me.
The road at the top of the hill intersected another township road. I started running down it, then hesitated. It was such a temptation to take the "road less traveled" and just see where I ended up; but reality was I was hungry, tired, and cold, and not entirely certain that the road would intersect with a road that would take me back to my vehicle. So I used caution, and just retraced my steps. Hopefully a glance at a local map will help me create a new "around the block" route on these untravelled country roads.
It was still a beautiful run. I went up a township road that I had never run before-because I just got my new Garmin 205 and can run again anywhere and know my mileage!!
Our fall foliage has just about peaked. I kept going up and up this township road, and was rewarded with a gorgeous view of orange and yellow trees, green pastures, black dots which were cows out there grazing. It made me happy that I kept going up the hill, because I do have some knots in my quads that I need to work out. And I ran by a homestead where there were at least 15 dogs tied up--and they all started howling as I ran by. I was just happy no dog uprooted the stake they were tied to (I hate to see dogs tied up like that) and came after me.
The road at the top of the hill intersected another township road. I started running down it, then hesitated. It was such a temptation to take the "road less traveled" and just see where I ended up; but reality was I was hungry, tired, and cold, and not entirely certain that the road would intersect with a road that would take me back to my vehicle. So I used caution, and just retraced my steps. Hopefully a glance at a local map will help me create a new "around the block" route on these untravelled country roads.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Treadmill Run
It was raining after work today so I decided to use the treadmill instead. I just hate starting runs in the rain; starting races in the rain is okay, I can do that.
So I ran 95 minutes on the treadmill; arrghhhh. It was good there was some trash TV on to watch,TLC's "Take Home Chef" .
My dog, Tino, decided to take the shortcut
across the back of treadmill; luckily I was still just walking. He slid off just the same. Silly dog. He maintained a respectful distance after that.
So I ran 95 minutes on the treadmill; arrghhhh. It was good there was some trash TV on to watch,TLC's "Take Home Chef" .
My dog, Tino, decided to take the shortcut
across the back of treadmill; luckily I was still just walking. He slid off just the same. Silly dog. He maintained a respectful distance after that.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Tuesday Workout
It's Tuesday already? Today was a 4 mile run. I actually power walked a nice 2 mile incline/hill, then jogged down it. I might use this more in the next few weeks to do some more power walking up hills. I have been advised I will be doing this at Mountain Masochist.
I did not get any blisters at Mohican on Saturday. However, I had a bunch of shredded skin around my 'slugtoe' and the next toe. So, before the 1/2 marathon, I taped both toes. Then my dilemna was, what to put over it? I wasn't sure if I could use petroleum jelly or A&D ointment-it seemed to me these would work the tape loose. So this time I used BlisterShield in my socks and no jelly/ointment. Now, this was on a totally flat course, and my gaiters kept out all the small pebbles even. But I did not end up with any blisters.
So my question is, if you tape, can you still use a lubricant ointment/gel on your feet in the same area?
I did not get any blisters at Mohican on Saturday. However, I had a bunch of shredded skin around my 'slugtoe' and the next toe. So, before the 1/2 marathon, I taped both toes. Then my dilemna was, what to put over it? I wasn't sure if I could use petroleum jelly or A&D ointment-it seemed to me these would work the tape loose. So this time I used BlisterShield in my socks and no jelly/ointment. Now, this was on a totally flat course, and my gaiters kept out all the small pebbles even. But I did not end up with any blisters.
So my question is, if you tape, can you still use a lubricant ointment/gel on your feet in the same area?
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Towpath 1/2 Marathon Report
What a nice day. I ran a 2.19 or something, I really wasn't paying much attention to the clock. I just a great morning of running.
That time itself is funny because I ran a 20K or a 1/2 marathon earlier in the spring in the same time, and I did this one on tired legs.
I was beat when I woke up this morning but discovered on the drive north that I had stashed jelly beans in the car console so I started snacking on them. I found Roy almost right away who had my race number and chip, and then walked until about race time, trying to get my quads to unkink a bit--it was more the 1.5 hour drive than the run that had them stiff.
The marathon and 1/2 marathon started together, and I ran with Roy at the back of the pack for awhile. We spotted Art, who is a very accomplished runner. Art has run the Mohican 100 10 times; he's run 279 ultras and 500+ marathons. So it was fun listening to Art and Roy talk while we ran. Roy split off with the marathoners about mile 5 and I continued on with Art the rest of the race. It sure was fun and educational to hear about races that Art has done, We ran and joked and talked until I made a 30 second port o potty stop at mile 12; Art said he would slow down but I had trouble reeling him in. I almost caught up to him just before mile 13, but I swear he turned on his kick and beat me in.
I hung out for awhile, talking to friends and waiting for the full marathoners come in. I swear, if I didn't see the local ultrarunners last weekend at Akron, the rest of them were here at the Towpath.Bob Combs found me around the finish line probaly due to my pink DirtyGirl Gaiters I was wearing-the Akron Towpath Marathon is on the towpath (natch) so there is alot of fine pebble and grit. I wanted to see if the gaiters would keep this out and it did!! Plus it's a cute color. Bob and the other Team PR folks were timing the 5K race and were also just hanging out at the finish line. This seemed to be the area that the other local ultrarunners found as we cheered in some local ultra runners finishing in the top 10 of the marathon. I finally split off to get home at a decent hour.
Second ice bath in two days, legs feel pretty good.
This has been a great 1.5 months of racing. I feel sad that it's pretty much over, I've seen ultra friends almost every weekend for the last 8 weekends, some of them have been at every race I've been at.
Now to read the schedule to see what I am supposed to do tomorrow!!
That time itself is funny because I ran a 20K or a 1/2 marathon earlier in the spring in the same time, and I did this one on tired legs.
I was beat when I woke up this morning but discovered on the drive north that I had stashed jelly beans in the car console so I started snacking on them. I found Roy almost right away who had my race number and chip, and then walked until about race time, trying to get my quads to unkink a bit--it was more the 1.5 hour drive than the run that had them stiff.
The marathon and 1/2 marathon started together, and I ran with Roy at the back of the pack for awhile. We spotted Art, who is a very accomplished runner. Art has run the Mohican 100 10 times; he's run 279 ultras and 500+ marathons. So it was fun listening to Art and Roy talk while we ran. Roy split off with the marathoners about mile 5 and I continued on with Art the rest of the race. It sure was fun and educational to hear about races that Art has done, We ran and joked and talked until I made a 30 second port o potty stop at mile 12; Art said he would slow down but I had trouble reeling him in. I almost caught up to him just before mile 13, but I swear he turned on his kick and beat me in.
I hung out for awhile, talking to friends and waiting for the full marathoners come in. I swear, if I didn't see the local ultrarunners last weekend at Akron, the rest of them were here at the Towpath.Bob Combs found me around the finish line probaly due to my pink DirtyGirl Gaiters I was wearing-the Akron Towpath Marathon is on the towpath (natch) so there is alot of fine pebble and grit. I wanted to see if the gaiters would keep this out and it did!! Plus it's a cute color. Bob and the other Team PR folks were timing the 5K race and were also just hanging out at the finish line. This seemed to be the area that the other local ultrarunners found as we cheered in some local ultra runners finishing in the top 10 of the marathon. I finally split off to get home at a decent hour.
Second ice bath in two days, legs feel pretty good.
This has been a great 1.5 months of racing. I feel sad that it's pretty much over, I've seen ultra friends almost every weekend for the last 8 weekends, some of them have been at every race I've been at.
Now to read the schedule to see what I am supposed to do tomorrow!!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
It seemed like a good idea at the time
Wah. I am beat. I ran 6.5 hours today, at Mohican. It shouldn't have been so long, but the first portion I ran, a 4 mile loop, took 1.10 hours...got a little lost on it.
Since Mohican is 1.5 hours away, I left home at 630am and got home at 5pm. I am now eating my second bowl of pasta to carb up for tomorrow's race. Actually it probaly was a good idea at the time, signing up for the race forces me to get the miles in.
I just hope Roy didn't sign me up for the full marathon.
Since Mohican is 1.5 hours away, I left home at 630am and got home at 5pm. I am now eating my second bowl of pasta to carb up for tomorrow's race. Actually it probaly was a good idea at the time, signing up for the race forces me to get the miles in.
I just hope Roy didn't sign me up for the full marathon.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
It's a Running Weekend
Okay, I lied about my last scheduled race..well I didn't really lie, I just decided to run the 1/2 marathon at the Towpath Marathon this morning at 6am. It was kind of contingent on having someone pick up my packet on Saturday, and my friend Roy can do so for me.
So I am running a 24 mile or so run at Mohican on Saturday morning, a nice hilly trail run. I am so looking forward to that, being on my great trails at Mohican. As far as I know right now I am running by myself, which is fine, but I also put the shoutout on the Yahoo! Groups.
Then Sunday morning will be the 1/2 marathon in the Cuyahoga Valley. I did think about running the full marathon, but decided it was getting too close to my race day to risk an injury. I sometimes don't bounce back so fast with an intense training schedule.
The husband didn't seem real thrilled that I was basically booked solid for the weekend, but I did point out that this is all training for the Masochist run.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
On to Mountain Masochist!!
Well, I actually have one more organized race before Masochist, I have to register for it still, "Stomp the Grapes 1/2 Marathon" which is a brand new race, in the town of Navarre, less than one hour away from me--that's totally local!! It's October 21, which is my last long run, which is supposed to be 16 miles, so this 1/2 marathon will work out just fine.
This week of running is going well. I ran 5 miles on Sunday, legs were a bit stiff, but I worked the kinks out. 4 miles on Monday, my hill course around the gym. Today was a 2 hour run in the local park system. Our local ultra runner friends are coming over for "Wing Fest" on Wednesday, so that will be my rest day. Saturday is my reward day, I'm going over to Mohican and run 24 or 26 miles on the trails.
This week of running is going well. I ran 5 miles on Sunday, legs were a bit stiff, but I worked the kinks out. 4 miles on Monday, my hill course around the gym. Today was a 2 hour run in the local park system. Our local ultra runner friends are coming over for "Wing Fest" on Wednesday, so that will be my rest day. Saturday is my reward day, I'm going over to Mohican and run 24 or 26 miles on the trails.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Akron Relay Race Report
It was a good time out there. There was a 80% chance of rain by race day, and it was sprinkling on us. We saw Sue, our first leg, off at the starting line. Rob and I were the 4th and 5th leg of the relay, so we had plenty of time to kill, so we were able to cheer Sue on when the course came back through town. We were then able to walk .8 of a mile over to the 3rd leg and make sure Sarah had made it in.
A man was emptying his trash as we walked by. He asked us if there was a walk-athon going on. Rob told him, no a marathon, just down the block. The man asked Rob how long that was. Rob said "26.2 miles." The man looked very seriously at us, and replied "That is the same distance of the New York City Marathon." We managed to keep a straight face, and said, why, yes, it was, and had to walk on so we could giggle.
I finally boarded the bus for my leg and it seemed to take forever! We finally get there, just as the first relay runners AND marathoners are hitting the 15K mark. I go for a short jog to warm up. It's raining now and I have my garbage bag on. I also have throwaway shorts on, and 3 T-shirts. I've been a bit cold, but not too bad.
Being a relay runner is hard!!! Everyone wants to run. Especially in the cold rain!!! All that pent up energy!! I see another ultra runner and say hi to her as we wait. I actually saw a bunch of the local ultra folks out there at Akron.
Finally I hear my number 5283 and I whip off my Thsirts to run in my blaze orange singlet and blue shorts. Sarah and I have a perfect handoff and I am off! Running a bit too fast, because I'm cold and soo want to run.
My leg is a bit of a downhill, then it climbs out of the valley, about a two mile uphill. It seems like no time that I am almost down with my leg. My friend Wendy, catches me on the hill and passes me!! She's running the marathon, how embarassing for me. Wendy went on with another BQ and her best time of 3.35.
I crest the hill and the temperature drops five degrees, we were protected from the wind in the valley. I sprint to the relay point, hit the chip mats and look for Rob. No Rob!!!! I scream "ROB" at the top of my lungs, and turn and see him running toward me--ooops, I was early for him!!! Hey, that was five seconds off his time, not mine! I ended up running a 29.37 I believe. I wanted to do it under 30 minutes so I was pleased.
I turned in my chip, and then I ran the rest of the marathon on, a 10K. I needed more miles for the day. Although it was cold and raining, it was really fun to be "off the clock" and just running. Akron was my first marathon in 2004, and it was fun and different to be at the 20 mile marker and up and not be as tired. I ran into Lloyd another local ultra runner on the course. He was the 3.40 pacer. He said he wasn't doing that great, but hitting his miles. (Lloyd also ran YUT-C last weekend too...) For not feeling that great he was quickly past me!!
I finished and it took awhile to find Shelly and Dan. In the meantime I ran into Elizabeth who was also running the relay-and she informed me that her team had won the mixed relay!! Rats, I guess that means my team did not!!
We did great though, 34th in the mixed, and 67 overall out of 679 relay teams. That was alot of fun, and we had a great postrace party afterwards.
A man was emptying his trash as we walked by. He asked us if there was a walk-athon going on. Rob told him, no a marathon, just down the block. The man asked Rob how long that was. Rob said "26.2 miles." The man looked very seriously at us, and replied "That is the same distance of the New York City Marathon." We managed to keep a straight face, and said, why, yes, it was, and had to walk on so we could giggle.
I finally boarded the bus for my leg and it seemed to take forever! We finally get there, just as the first relay runners AND marathoners are hitting the 15K mark. I go for a short jog to warm up. It's raining now and I have my garbage bag on. I also have throwaway shorts on, and 3 T-shirts. I've been a bit cold, but not too bad.
Being a relay runner is hard!!! Everyone wants to run. Especially in the cold rain!!! All that pent up energy!! I see another ultra runner and say hi to her as we wait. I actually saw a bunch of the local ultra folks out there at Akron.
Finally I hear my number 5283 and I whip off my Thsirts to run in my blaze orange singlet and blue shorts. Sarah and I have a perfect handoff and I am off! Running a bit too fast, because I'm cold and soo want to run.
My leg is a bit of a downhill, then it climbs out of the valley, about a two mile uphill. It seems like no time that I am almost down with my leg. My friend Wendy, catches me on the hill and passes me!! She's running the marathon, how embarassing for me. Wendy went on with another BQ and her best time of 3.35.
I crest the hill and the temperature drops five degrees, we were protected from the wind in the valley. I sprint to the relay point, hit the chip mats and look for Rob. No Rob!!!! I scream "ROB" at the top of my lungs, and turn and see him running toward me--ooops, I was early for him!!! Hey, that was five seconds off his time, not mine! I ended up running a 29.37 I believe. I wanted to do it under 30 minutes so I was pleased.
I turned in my chip, and then I ran the rest of the marathon on, a 10K. I needed more miles for the day. Although it was cold and raining, it was really fun to be "off the clock" and just running. Akron was my first marathon in 2004, and it was fun and different to be at the 20 mile marker and up and not be as tired. I ran into Lloyd another local ultra runner on the course. He was the 3.40 pacer. He said he wasn't doing that great, but hitting his miles. (Lloyd also ran YUT-C last weekend too...) For not feeling that great he was quickly past me!!
I finished and it took awhile to find Shelly and Dan. In the meantime I ran into Elizabeth who was also running the relay-and she informed me that her team had won the mixed relay!! Rats, I guess that means my team did not!!
We did great though, 34th in the mixed, and 67 overall out of 679 relay teams. That was alot of fun, and we had a great postrace party afterwards.
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