WSER

Owwww

So I got in a 13.45 mile run yesterday. I bagged about 7 miles since I just wasn't into it. Came home, inside to AC, got the chills. Drank a lemonade, showered, and went off to get hair cut and colored. I was developing headache on way, so I got a Tim Horton's iced cappachino, since I figured it was a caffeine-withdrawal headache.
As I sat there in the salon, I was just getting sicker and sicker with my head. I managed to get out of there, grabbed a taco and a medium Diet Pepsi-hoping this was still just caffeine related, and drove home.
Good god was my head pounding. And since I had cleaned out my car, there was no extra little first aid bags of drugs around! I managed to get home, grab some Advil, saw how pale I was, took out my contacts, and crawled into bed.

I haven't had a migraine in over 12 years and this was excruciating. First I had husband bring me a cold compress. Nothing. Then I remembered the reason my head was hurting was the blood vessels were constricting. I then had him start bring me hot compresses for my head, and that started to help a bit.

And I was freezing! Yes, the AC was on, but I was under one blanket and had the husband throw another one on top of me. I was miserable for at least two hours, till either the Advil kicked in, or I finally relaxed enough. I managed to crawl out of bed, FB'd that I would not be up to Cleveland for the training run, and turned off the computer. I woke up around 11 pm with the headache just very faint in my head.

So this morning I'm up at 6 am. I still don't feel 100% better. I'm feeling sorry for myself because everyone is out running today. I am not running today. I don't want a repeat of yesterday's pain. I still have Sunday to get a long run in.

Back to Training

Time to get ready for the Burning River 100!!

I did a little training run in the heat last weekend, about 40 miles. I found out my cooling bandana doesn't work at all with my hyrdation vest. I couldn't get the bandana and ice under the vest, to get it on my skin, to cool me down.
I found that while I love my running skirt, it becomes heavy when wet. And since it was completely soaked through with my sweat (gross) it was an annoyance. I kept wringing sweat out of it! So I may go back to shorts. But the skirt has great pockets which I utilized. I dunno. I got a little time to find some shorts.
I really should have a head covering for the sun. I may look for a Badwater type hat, like Paul was wearing, or will try my bandana with my visor for this Saturday's training run.
Hot temperatures make me want to eat--nothing. The Boost in my drop bags was great, even warm. For BR, I'm going to make more use out of my Hammer Gel, I've got 4 flasks that I prepped for Mo that I did not use. Maybe buy a few more flasks for more drop bags.

I'm going out for a long run today. I'm going to run to a neighboring town, Gnadehutten, and run home. I've dropped some water and Gatorade along the way. I usually run into town, to the local gas station, grab a treat, and head back.

Saturday I am going to join the group for the familiarization run on the last 30 miles on the BR course. I've ran this section once, two years ago, and have paced the last 10 miles in, but this will be good for the memory, as this section will be done in the dark for me. It will also be good heat training as I remember much of this was sun exposed.

I cleaned my car out today

What's that got to do with trail running? Well, after every out of town trail run, my vehicle is just trashed. Dirt everywhere. So today, I stopped after work to use one of those coin operated vaccuums to get all the dirt out. I expected it would take about three bucks. Imagine my surprise when 75 cents and about 3 minutes time got all the dirt sucked away! I'll be doing that again! (The home version consists of, finding the shop vac. Finding the extension cord. Dragging all this outside. Yelling at dogs to not come through open door. Shlep shop vac around 4 sides of vehicle. Put shop vac and extension cord away. Find loose dogs. This generally takes a half hour or more.)
So then I got the deluxe automatic car wash! I barely recognize the Escape now!

I did go for a walk around Lake Park. My quads are pretty much still very stiff. I would break into a little jog now and then, and then just go back to a walk. Maybe a run tomorrow. Maybe say good bye to my little trail around the golf course. With my new job in another town south of where I live, there won't be much reason for me to be in Coshocton. I did develop a little heat rash which I thought was funny. Run 40 miles in hotter weather on Saturday, walk around a little on Tuesday and get prickly heat. Go figure.

My new job is in Cambridge, where I've got Salt Fork State Park to run in!!! Well, you know, after work, and all. Not while at work. You can't have everything.

Something Different this Year

No, I didn't finish. But I didn't time out either. I quit. I stopped running at the Covered Bridge, around mile 42. The heat and humidity just really got to me.
A good downpour hit around 6pm Friday night and then again around 4am race morning. This made, as I feared, the green section really muddy. I was pleased with my decision to wear my old winter trail shoes, that still had the screws in them. I think that helped with my traction.

My race really was okay for quite a while. I hit a bad patch starting on the orange loop with its climbs. I actually had to stop and yell at myself out loud, to get over it. I was eating and drinking; in fact I had iced coffee in a handheld. I could kind of feel the caffeine in my head with a bit of a buzz but no energy. (In hindsight that could have just been part of heat stroke.) I perked up a little when I hit Hickory Ridge Aid Station and started on the long descent to the campground. I was just dreading the run out to the Grist Mill. Although there is now less of the course on the blacktop road, there is still a good 1/2 mile or so to endure in the sun.
I got to the Grist Mill AS, and I am not that much of a complainer, but I'm going to do it now. (This has been the typical experience for me at this AS for 3 years.) Most AS volunteers are great. Someone asks you if you want your drop bag, or water refilled. I get to Grist Mill, and while there are people (volunteers? crew? who could tell??) milling around, talking to each other, I can't get anyone who looks vaguely like they are in charge. "Ice? Ice? Is there any ice? ANYONE??" The only person who answered was another runner-"down there, end of table." I push around two people talking and open the cooler. There is lunch meat perched on top of the ice, so I help myself to a slice while I look around for something to get the ice out with. I end up just pouring the ice into my handheld and hydration thingy. I then look for a sandwich, but there's none made. I go over to where the drop bags are, and I can't figure out where the numbers begin. Some crew handler actually helps me. The food in my drop bag just doesn't look appetizing. I take a bottle of Boost and turn to go. As I am leaving, someone actually says "do you need anything?" Uh, you're about ten minutes late, but I said thank you anyways.
The loop out to the Grist Mill, where you are exposed to the sun, just sucked my energy level. As I started up the hill on the North Rim Trail, I couldn't even get up the hill without stopping. This little section is one mile long. It took me a 1/2 hour. I then decided to just walk (and a real slow walk) the next 2.5 miles back to the Covered Bridge along the river. I realized for me to have a good chance at finishing Mohican, I needed just about perfect conditions. The mud and the weather conditions were the two wild cards that helped me make the decision to DNF at mile 42
.

Now, the weather is not an excuse, it was all my decision to stop at mile 42. I simply just didn't want to go on. And I'm perfectly fine with that.

Big apologies to anyone I have told the Mohican course is well marked. Sorry about that.
As I came into the CB, to head out on the Purple Loop, there was massive complainings about no markings. As I ran the Purple Loop, I was surprised to see this was true. There were only two pie plate markers on the entire course. When you got to the top of the waterfall climb, there was nothing marked to show you to go left or right. There were some other crucial areas, where if you didn't know the course, you would have no clue. And apparently, there were between 10-30 runners that missed turns and were all over the place.

This is the last year for me at Mohican under the current race director. I haven't been impressed with much of the race management since he took over, and I will spend my race dollars and time somewhere else. So many races to choose from!!!

Arghh

I certainly need to finish the Northface Mohican 100 Race this year. Because I am pretty sure I will not return in 2010 for it.

The Mohican 100 has struggled in the last five years of its race existence. Originally (I believe) sponsored by the Cleveland West Road Runners Club, the RD changed hands in 2007. The race was in the red to the CWRRC. The new RD had plenty of issues to deal with that year, and 2008 was an improvement to the 2007 race. It's been embarassing to be a local runner and brag about your Mohican trails, and then to have the amenities associated with the race to be rather disappointing.

Last week, the order of the loops to be run for the race changed. Not that big a deal, and I actually prefer the order now. But the information was casually mentioned in a email post and nothing posted on the website. There was conflicting information on the web site. That finally has been straightened out.

Today's change was this. This was an email on the Yahoo! Groups:
"I've been checking the website daily for period changes and recently noticed that this has been added. Wow!

NEW FOR 2009! Drop bags will need to be in 2.5 gallon Ziplock Bags
Standardizing the size of the bags this year will help our delivery team and aid station volunteers to better sort bags for racers. Often, racer's have had many different size bags, some HUGE and others nothing more than a poorly labled cheap grocery bag knotted at the top. Our intention is to standardize the size and make sure ALL racer's have drop bags that are water resistant. Please pickup the bags you need before you arrive. Thanks for your cooperation.

Where in the heck do you get 2.5 gallon bags this close to the race? Thought I had my drop boxes complete. Guess not!"

Ok. Go over to the website, go to "Mohican Drop Bag and Aide Station" link......and scroll

















down






halfway




and then you find the information.

NOW, asking for standardized bags for AS is a great idea!! And I am all for that.

But NOT five days before the race.

In a poorly located announcement.

Now, Ryan says an email will go out to all registered runners today about this.
Guess what.

Regis doesn't have email. Nor does Gabe. Maryann is on holiday and has no access to her email. What about these folks?? (Oh don't worry I will tell them).


Ok, my solution to this? Don't change something five days before the race.

You know when we will know our bib number? When we pick them up at registration. So much for marking your drop bags with all your information.

Since I am on a good rant now, let me give you another piece of advice concerning the pasta dinner Friday night. The ladies church group are not doing it this year. There's 140 100 mile runners, a bunch of 50 milers, and assorted folks-so say 150 people to serve. I would bring your own dinner with you so you can get food in a timely fashion. I'm just saying.

Race Countdown

This is my scarecrow I made for my garden. He's wearing a Mountain Masochist Shirt. I DNF'd MMTR, so I can't wear the shirt. Yes, I am one of those people who go by those rules. Read Bad Ben's T-Shirt Etiquette to make sure you are following protocol!

Ready!

My drop bags are all packed..although I still don't know what my bib number is...
All I need to add are my MP3 players and my Garmin, and those will be last second to make sure they are charged.
I have my campground bag ready, with pre-race, race, and post race clothes. Taping equipment for feet packed. In fact, I'm ready to run this race tomorrow.

In case anyone doesn't read every single fricking email on the Yahoo! Groups, Ryan has changed the order of the loops. Now, everyone, both 50 Miler and 100 Miler, run the Purple Loop before the Orange Loop.

I actually prefer this. You are getting to the Covered Bridge earlier in the day, you aren't as tired as you will be (compared to several hours later.) The sun isn't quite so strong as you run up the long Goon Road Section.

What I am not happy about was there was no announcement on the official race website. In fact, it was casually mentioned in a response to an email posting to another runner...I had missed this. The course website now has conflicting information on it. To me, you first update all your data for the website, then post something like "NEW NEW NEW READ THIS! ALL RUNNERS TO RUN THE PURPLE LOOP BEFORE THE ORANGE LOOP" and then make an official email announcement on the Yahoo!Groups posting.

But that's just me.

Drop Bag Planning

I haven't had the muse lately. I did write up part of the Mo Training weekend, got busy, and then never finished the post. In short, it went very well for me. I ran 26 miles on Friday, 25 miles Saturday. I was very tired Saturday night and was planning on cutting Sunday short. Then I ran with both Ron and Cheryl, and was so distracted with talking with them that I ran the full 13 miles. I felt very good the next day.

I am now ready to get my drop bags planned out for Mo. I intend on having a drop bag at Rock Point, Fire Tower, Covered Bridge, Grist Mill, and Bridle Staging. You go through each of these AS twice, the CB more times.

I will have the same first aid items in each drop bag. I carry oral meds with me, with replacements in each bag: Tums, Pepcid, Advil, ginger chews, Imodium. I will also carry my Endurolytes in a separate baggy, with replacements in each bag. In each drop bag I will have scissors, (do not count on an AS to have scissors) tape, alcohol pads, and duct tape.

Gear wise, I will have my trail shoes and spare socks at Rock Point. I am planning on wearing my Alpine Cross Trail shoes for the race. The Alpine Cross shoes don't like pavement much, so I will wear road shoes for the first 10 and swap out when we start the green section.

I may stash another pair of trail shoes at Covered Bridge, I haven't decided yet. Getting my feet wet is not that big a deal with me.

Other items in the Rock Point Bag will be: visor; small towel for cleaning off feet; shirt (in case I want to change out later in the day or night); Wet wipes; plastic bag for shoving dirty shoes into; spare iPod and phones (for later in the night.)This is also the bag for picking up my light.

Food

My strategy for this Mohican 100 race is to spend little time in the AS. Instead of grazing at the AS table, I plan on having food bags of my own in the drop bags. I'm going to get water at the AS, grab my bag o'food, and go down the trail. I can eat my bag o'food down the trail just as easily as standing around the AS table.

Since I will hit these AS multiple times, I will have multiple bags in my drop bags. I've begun to plan what is in them, and thought about what time of day I will be grabbing them. There may be too much food in each one, but the item is to eat off these until I get to the next AS.

Foods I plan on having in the various bags: Boost, Whole Wheat Crackers with Cheese, Tapioca (in the little cups), Soft Sugar Cookies, jelly beans, Soup (yes I can eat soup cold from a can), Snowball (those awesome junkfood)

. I will also have Energy Drinks, ClifBlok Shots, HammerGel Espresso. I am also thinking of juice boxes. Soon I am going to have to spend a little time in the junky food aisles at the store to see what will sound good to me at 1 am.
I will also eat soup or noodles if the AS has it, and coffee and coke. I did really well with eating and caffeinating at Umstead, so I want to repeat that at Mo. Keep the blood sugars up and caffeine level up so I don't hit any lows and keep the momentum going forward.

Fire Tower AS Bag

As this station is very near to CB AS, I won't have much in this bag. First Aid, Food Bags. I will stash my Cooling Bandana here. If the temps are warming up, this will be a good place to grab it. The Bandana has a pouch built in to add ice to so you can wear this around your neck. I will also stash a spare ball cap here.

Covered Bridge AS Bag

Since this is the spot which you hit multiple times, this is my bag with the most items. I will stash:
spare shoes (maybe)
socks
shirt
running bra
small towel
Spare eyeglasses
Spare contacts and container
MP3 player and phones
Spare batteries

Grist Mill

Not too much in this bag besides First Aid and Food. I will have spare socks, shirt, and light.

Bridle
Bridle Staging Area is only about 2.9 miles out from CB, yet it will be 7 miles to Rock Point. I plan on having First Aid and Food in this bag, and just a spare shirt.


I mention spare shirts, mainly in the context of needing a fresh shirt at night. I will (as will everybody!) be watching the weather forecasts. A long sleeve shirt might come in handy if the temperature drops at night and you're sweaty.