Today I am scheduled to run 38 miles in the canyons. At this distance, my plan is to run up and down three canyons and then turn around do the same thus the Triple Double.
Starting at 7AM I knew this was going to be a long slow day. I loaded up with water, gels, frozen oranges (my newly discovered favorite running food), and PB&J. Once again, starting in Foresthill, the group took off. The run was going great as I finished the first half in less than five hours. After filling up with water in Last Chance, we headed back.
I felt good as I came to the bottom of the Devil's Thumb. Earlier in the run I had commented to another runner that I thought the Devil's Thumb was not too bad. She was obviously surprised by my comment but let it go. This week was warmer than the previous week and I was starting back up the Devil's Thumb later in the day. I saved one of my frozen oranges for the climb and was purposely conserving water for this portion of the run. Well, groundhog day it was. The orange tasted great and did give me a good boost but I was once again chugging my water as if I had a spare water cooler behind me. The Devil's Thumb crushed me this time. As I made it to the water pump at the top, the gal I had made my comment to asked me if it was easier this time...I could only laugh...as did everyone else!
I had another 2.5 mile climb heading into Michigan Bluff and the only thing I was thinking about for the more than 60 minutes of walkign uphill was asking for a ride to Foresthill to skip the final 6+ miles. I was the last runner in our group to come in and promptly collapsed on a bench. A few of the other runners planned to stop so I had my ride lined up. After a few minutes of drinking Gatorade and water as well as an awesome chocolate chip cookie I felt a little better but when asked if I wanted to go on I quickly said no thanks! One person said to me, "if you don't get sick you aren't working hard emough." I smiled and walked around the corner and had a short bout of dry heaves.
One of the gals running with us looked at me and said, "if a bone ain't showin', keep on going." We all laughed but eventually I got up and continued on.
This was by far the toughest run I have ever done. Someone was wearing a GPS watch and said the run was about 12,000 feet in elevation gain and loss...brutal!!!
I know it will pay off for the race but come on!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
May 14th - Face to Face With the Devil's Thumb
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Mo Bartley has been helping me with my training and she said one of the most important parts of my training would be getting into the canyons. The canyons are the most difficult part of the Western States course and it would be critical to get familiar with these parts of the course.
The part of the course I had the most about was a hill referred to as "The Devil's Thumb". This is a hill that is less than two miles long and climbs more than 1700 feet. To add to the intensity, for most runners, they reach The Devil's Thumb in the late afternoon when race day temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. There are 32 switchbacks on the hill and it has been known to thoroughly destroy runners.
I hooked up with a great group of other runners at 7AM for a 30 mile run into the canyons. I was a little nervous at the start as I had no idea what to expect. The weather was perfect and the other runners were all fired up for the run. Many of the other runners were also training for WS 100.
Starting in Foresthill, the run went the opposite way of the WS 100 course which took me through Volcano Canyon and into Michigan Bluff. This stretch was not too bad in terms of steepness. The next stretch took me down to El Dorado Creek and once across the creek I climbed up for almost five miles to the top of Devil's Thumb. This would be a good way to see this highly feared stretch going downhill first. Someone quickly pointed out the rock formation named The Devil's Thumb. It was really steep going down but I have always liked the downhill runs so it really did not seem to bad. Once at the bottom the group quickly turned around and headed back up. The return trip of 15 miles would be the same direction I will be heading on race day.
It took about two minutes for me to begin to appreciate the horror stories of this stretch. I was sucking air and guzzling water at a pace which had me worried about not only how long it would take me to get to the top but also how I would be able to make it the next 13 miles back to the car. After nearly an hour, I made it to the top of the less than a mile Devil's Thumb. As I passed the rock formation on the way back I could only think it should be renamed..."The Devil's Middle Finger".
There was a water pump a mile from the top where I took a break and got some friendly harassment on my first experience. Memorable but scary considering it was only 70 degrees.
Slugged out the rest of the run and finished 30 miles in a little more than eight hours. I was really happy with the run and can't help but feel stronger about the upcoming big race!!
The part of the course I had the most about was a hill referred to as "The Devil's Thumb". This is a hill that is less than two miles long and climbs more than 1700 feet. To add to the intensity, for most runners, they reach The Devil's Thumb in the late afternoon when race day temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. There are 32 switchbacks on the hill and it has been known to thoroughly destroy runners.
I hooked up with a great group of other runners at 7AM for a 30 mile run into the canyons. I was a little nervous at the start as I had no idea what to expect. The weather was perfect and the other runners were all fired up for the run. Many of the other runners were also training for WS 100.
Starting in Foresthill, the run went the opposite way of the WS 100 course which took me through Volcano Canyon and into Michigan Bluff. This stretch was not too bad in terms of steepness. The next stretch took me down to El Dorado Creek and once across the creek I climbed up for almost five miles to the top of Devil's Thumb. This would be a good way to see this highly feared stretch going downhill first. Someone quickly pointed out the rock formation named The Devil's Thumb. It was really steep going down but I have always liked the downhill runs so it really did not seem to bad. Once at the bottom the group quickly turned around and headed back up. The return trip of 15 miles would be the same direction I will be heading on race day.
It took about two minutes for me to begin to appreciate the horror stories of this stretch. I was sucking air and guzzling water at a pace which had me worried about not only how long it would take me to get to the top but also how I would be able to make it the next 13 miles back to the car. After nearly an hour, I made it to the top of the less than a mile Devil's Thumb. As I passed the rock formation on the way back I could only think it should be renamed..."The Devil's Middle Finger".
There was a water pump a mile from the top where I took a break and got some friendly harassment on my first experience. Memorable but scary considering it was only 70 degrees.
Slugged out the rest of the run and finished 30 miles in a little more than eight hours. I was really happy with the run and can't help but feel stronger about the upcoming big race!!
May 7th - Marin Headlands Run
My legs were still a little tired from last week's 50 mile run and to be honest it was tough to motivate to get out and hit the road. Jen and the kids all came down to the Bay area for the weekend and the plan was to drop me off in Marin for my run and they would go play with friends in the area. I was shooting to do 25 - 30 miles cruising around the Marin Headlands and then head into San Francisco.
I had a hard time finding the right trail head to get started so Jen and the kids dropped me off on the hill above the Golden Gate Bridge. The wind was blowing about 30 mph with a slight chill. I sat in the car for a moment and Jen "politely" said..."okay, have a good time." I jumped out and Jen and the kids said a quick good bye and took off.
My hesitations on starting the run were quickly erased once I got to the top of the hill and had a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco in one direction and the rolling hills loaded with spring flowers with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean in the other direction. My run took me on six or seven different trails around the Marin Headlands which led me to Tennessee Valley, Muir Beach, and Rodeo Beach. The trails were absolutely amazing and this is one of the most scenic runs I have ever been on. Saw a few more snakes but no rattlesnakes!
As I made my way to the Golden Gate Bridge I was really running out of steam. The run across the bridge brought back some fun memories of living in SF and running with Jen. It was close to 3PM and the fog was starting to roll in making it really chilly. For the last five miles all I could think about was how I could catch a cab to take me to the hotel in SF. Did not find any empty cabs running through the Marina so I jumped on the 45 Muni bus. After running for 6+ hours I was smelling particularly fresh and I noticed no one wanting to sit next to me. Can't say I blame them!!
The run was very hilly which is what I needed but my legs still felt "heavy" from last week's run. I am getting the impression my legs are just going to feel tired for the next few months.
I had a hard time finding the right trail head to get started so Jen and the kids dropped me off on the hill above the Golden Gate Bridge. The wind was blowing about 30 mph with a slight chill. I sat in the car for a moment and Jen "politely" said..."okay, have a good time." I jumped out and Jen and the kids said a quick good bye and took off.
My hesitations on starting the run were quickly erased once I got to the top of the hill and had a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco in one direction and the rolling hills loaded with spring flowers with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean in the other direction. My run took me on six or seven different trails around the Marin Headlands which led me to Tennessee Valley, Muir Beach, and Rodeo Beach. The trails were absolutely amazing and this is one of the most scenic runs I have ever been on. Saw a few more snakes but no rattlesnakes!
As I made my way to the Golden Gate Bridge I was really running out of steam. The run across the bridge brought back some fun memories of living in SF and running with Jen. It was close to 3PM and the fog was starting to roll in making it really chilly. For the last five miles all I could think about was how I could catch a cab to take me to the hotel in SF. Did not find any empty cabs running through the Marina so I jumped on the 45 Muni bus. After running for 6+ hours I was smelling particularly fresh and I noticed no one wanting to sit next to me. Can't say I blame them!!
The run was very hilly which is what I needed but my legs still felt "heavy" from last week's run. I am getting the impression my legs are just going to feel tired for the next few months.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saturday April 30th - Quicksilver 50 mile run
Starting at 6AM in the foothills south of San Jose, I toed the start line for the Quicksilver 50 mile run. There were around 300 people either doing the 25k, 50k, or 50 mile run. I knew this course would be challenging as the elevation profile showed a gain of more than 8,500 feet for the 50 mile portion. This would be my second 50 mile run after finishing the American River 50 last year.
The course was tough with steep climbs and sharp descents. The descents are usually where I can make up for the extra time it takes me to do the climbs but a few of the descents were so steep you needed to go slower or risk stumbling down the hill. Things were going good as I came down to the 31 mile mark which was the finish for the 50k runners. While they took a quick right to finish to cheers and an awaiting BBQ with beers on ice I stopped to fill my water. The guy who helped me get water was drinking an ice cold Guinness smiling and telling me I only had another 19 miles to go. What he did not tell me was the next four miles were mostly straight up.
With the temps rising as it got past 1PM I quickly ran out of water only two miles in. I walked most of the remaining two miles and had my first wildlife encounter. With my head down staggering up the hill I heard a rattle. Five feet in front of me was a three foot rattlesnake. The rattler stopped and I swear it looked right at me, shook its rattle, and was waiting for me to make a move. I froze and told the snake that I saw him, he shook his rattle again and slowly moved off the path but not before I was able to snap off a few pictures.
Once I got to mile 41 I started to work through my funk and finished the race feeling strong.
May is when the training really ramps up. I will be running a minimum of 40 miles each Saturday for the next six weeks...
The course was tough with steep climbs and sharp descents. The descents are usually where I can make up for the extra time it takes me to do the climbs but a few of the descents were so steep you needed to go slower or risk stumbling down the hill. Things were going good as I came down to the 31 mile mark which was the finish for the 50k runners. While they took a quick right to finish to cheers and an awaiting BBQ with beers on ice I stopped to fill my water. The guy who helped me get water was drinking an ice cold Guinness smiling and telling me I only had another 19 miles to go. What he did not tell me was the next four miles were mostly straight up.
With the temps rising as it got past 1PM I quickly ran out of water only two miles in. I walked most of the remaining two miles and had my first wildlife encounter. With my head down staggering up the hill I heard a rattle. Five feet in front of me was a three foot rattlesnake. The rattler stopped and I swear it looked right at me, shook its rattle, and was waiting for me to make a move. I froze and told the snake that I saw him, he shook his rattle again and slowly moved off the path but not before I was able to snap off a few pictures.
Once I got to mile 41 I started to work through my funk and finished the race feeling strong.May is when the training really ramps up. I will be running a minimum of 40 miles each Saturday for the next six weeks...
Monday, May 2, 2011
4/16/2011
I am on vacation with the family over on Lanai, a small island near Maui . It has been hot and the island is all hills. I had a great run today. The run took me from the beach to the top of the island. Saw some deer and a family of wild turkeys. Views were amazing with Maui and Molokai in plain view. Went 25+ miles and probably climbed around 3,000 feet and descended the same amount. After my previous “setback” with the heat and hydration I was well prepared for the heat. No issues with hydration or with the stomach.
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
4/9/2011
Went for the first run since my “setback” last week. Was a little nervous to see how the body would take the run. After about 20 minutes everything seemed to be in good order.
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
4/2/2011
The first part of the run had us do three consecutive up and backs on the K2 hill I mentioned from last week. This only covered about the first seven miles. From that point forward I could not catch up on my hydration. By mile 21 I was getting rather loopy and had to walk for along stretch. At mile 33 I was really hurting. I spent some extra time hydrating and eating at an aid station set up by some of the generous folks who organized the run. A few folks dropped from the run at this point. One guy looked at me and said “there’s no quitting in the Western States?” which was all I needed to hear to push on.
Unfortunately, around mile 39 I noticed some blood in my urine so I figured this was a good time to stop. To add to the misery for the day, I had to walk another two miles to get to the main road and I was still faced with needing to hitch a ride back to my car. After 30 minutes of hitching, an older gentleman pulling a horse trailer picked me up. He looked at me funny and asked what the hell I was doing. After explaining to him about my training he went on to tell me some of the history around how the Western States 100 is run on the same course as the Tevis Cup which is the 100 mile horse race. Ironically, I told him how the Western States 100 was born when a Tevis Cup veteran showed up at the start with the idea of running the 100 miles. He finished the race under 24 hours. Check out more Western States 100 history at the following link… www.ws100.com/historyoverview.htm
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
3/26/2011
Went for great run on different parts of trails in the Auburn area. I did two up and backs on the Stagecoach Trail which goes from the American River K2 . This one is a little less than a mile and climbs around 600 – 800 feet. Okay, I didn’t run the whole thing as I was sucking big time air. This hill should be called the “humbler” as it really reminds you are not in good shape! I finished up by running the Lake Clementine Trail which was my first time. Beautiful trail which goes along the North Fork of the American River , up to Lake Clementine , and back along the Middle Fork of the American River Lake Sonoma
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
For more information or to make a donation,
please visit http://www.jennaandpatrick.org
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