Ok, I admit. I have been a little lax in my posting (one post in 6 months? bad girl!!). That's not to say that I haven't been doing my thing - far from it (come visit me at my other blog if you have the stomach for it). I think I've had a really excellent year, and I'll put it all down here while I'm thinking about it and feeling good about it.
working backward from this weekend...
Ghost Town 38.5
Last Sunday I ran 40 miles. The race (Ghost Town) was only 38.5 miles - but I'm 40, and I wanted 40. So Beloved and I walked an additional 1.5 miles. The race was hard, but that last 1.5 was excruciating. I don't recommend it (getting extra mileage, that is). Total time: 9:23 for the 38.5, plus another 20 or so minutes for that last 1.5.
The course was mostly jeep trail with some paved at the beginning and end, and a few sections of singletrack. The terrain was varied, Garmin says it was at least 7000 feet of climbing, all told. I ran where I felt like it, I walked where I felt like it, I took the day to do my thing. I felt best in the last 10 miles when the heavy caffeine started to kick in (I save my caffeinated gels for the back half of the race).
Even though my feet were aching, I had no other issues to speak of: my nutrition was fine, I was tired, but I had no mechanical failures. No ITB issues, no springs or sproings, no nothing.
I look a leetle too perky here, that's how I know this was early in the race.It was a hard race, no doubt about it, but I guess it still hasn't hit me that I actually ran 40 miles. Somehow that's become No Big Deal.
Huh. Maybe that's a sign...
Beach to Battleship
I did another Iron distance in late 2009. This one was an emotionally satisfying event - I had a really excellent race in which I did not bonk, I felt good, I had no stomach issues, and most importantly, I did not overheat. I finished in 13:53, which is 2 hrs faster than my previous Iron distance effort.
Two hours. I could hardly believe it myself.
I really think the temperature made a big difference. Also, the flatness of the course was a big contributor. Compared with Vineman, well, this course is just not the same. But I'm better trained and smarter, and faster. These are all good things.
This course featured a downhill swim. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not: The swim was in the causeway with the tide - about a 0.5 knot current. My fellow Outlaw SW Tri Gal says we looked like we were on a conveyor belt. Swim time: 1:10.
I can never hope to post a time like that in another race without the benefit of a current, but it sure felt good to see that time on the day.
The bike was also flat and fast-ish. We thought we had died and gone to heaven when the locals told us that under normal conditions, the back half of the loop would be with the wind. Alas, that was not the case for us on race day. The back half was in a headwind, feeling like we were going nowhere. The last 20 miles were particularly demoralizing, and seemed to take hours. Bike time: 6:50.
oh yes, it does feel good to get off the saddle, no matter how cool looking it is.
The run was not so flat, there were a few hills along the route. Still, it was fun and I was ready for it. I went into it prepared to do whatever it took to finish the race and was astonished to find myself full of energy to run, run and keep running. I ran to the first aid station thinking I'd just see how far my energy took me and then walk if I had to, and I was stunned to find that I had bags of energy left.
Had it not been for my IT bands both falling apart on me (not one, but two), I'd have run the whole thing much much faster. My energy was there, but the legs just were not - I felt them start to go at the start of the 2nd loop of the marathon, and by the end, I was in agony.
In retrospect, the week before I had been leveled flat with a flu-like thing and had done no stretching. Seriously. I was sick and did nothing but lie still and wait for the swine flu to pass over me. I think the week of inactivity gave me an awesome taper, but killed my IT bands.
at this point I felt like I could run forever! Bring it on, bitches!
As it was, I had a PR for marathon distance in any race. Run time: 5:23
I think this result is all about consistent training - I'm reaping the benefits of being OCD about my training, doing whatever my coach says. Thanks, Coach!
After that race my legs were pretty useless for a couple of days.
Palo Duro 50K
For me this was the best 50K run ever, bar none. Palo Duro Canyon is a neat little surprise in the middle of the flattest and least exciting part of Texas. We started running in the dark, and as the light rose it revealed a desert palette of reds and browns, and a green strip of river through the bottom of the canyon. The trails of Palo Duro Canyon feature gently rolling hills through desert badlands and riverine habitat. It's just cool!
I tore a hole out of my last 50K run, and PR'd (7:08). I was 90 minutes faster than my Bandera 50K. The last 5 miles I ran faster than I had run the entire race. I was filled with joy for running. I was ecstatic.
I know -- that's weird that it took 27 miles to get to that happy emotional place. WTF?! Perhaps I was just that loopy from dehydration. I don't know.
I love you, man!
I do know that I had no ITB issues for that race. Yah - a 50K and no mechanical issues, unlike the Bandera Rocky Rock 50K Course From Hell. Which I will go back to someday, just because I can.
Vineman 70.3
I went back to Vineman to do the half partly to have a good time with my buddies, and partly to convince myself that I wasn't afraid of the course. And I wasn't.
But maybe I should have been.
Vineman 2009 was my first 70.3 race under 7 hours (6:54), a PR which took every cell in my body to achieve due to intense heat. I know I complained that the Vineman full was inhospitably hot (96), but the 70.3 had it beat: we got back to the car thermometer after the race, which said the temperature was a scorching 102.
Dude, I am cooked.
I know. That ain't right.
This was probably exacerbated by the fact that my Old Lady age group was the next-to-last out on the course. I understand they switch it up every year so that no one age group feels heat of the day, which is good. Or I'd complain. Loud.
The swim was gorgeous, as I remember (45 min). The bike was far less taxing than I remember (3:17), but the run was brutal - like trotting through a 13.1 mile sauna with occasional sprinklers. My run time (2:36) is a reflection of how hard I had to work in that heat. Still, I felt it was a success and I feel I had a really good day. I know if the heat hadn't totally cooked my eggs, a 6:30 was within my grasp.
I also had a moment of light when I saw and spoke with Sister Madonna Buder on the run course. Sister Buder looked strong, and I stopped and waved to her and said, 'you're my hero.' She responded with something sweet, and encouraging. She is amazing. I heard later that 21CM had a conversation with her in transition that went something like this.
21CM: I think you're amazing
SMD: I think everyone is amazing.
Anybody who is so fearless and so giving and so beautiful about her ability, well, what's not to love and admire about that?!
So that's my backwards year. Looking forward, I'm ready to vomit thinking about IMSG...but before then, I'm going to do Ironman New Orleans ('cos that looks fun), and whatever comes up with my Outlaws, my friends, my family.
One race at a time...
I did another Iron distance in late 2009. This one was an emotionally satisfying event - I had a really excellent race in which I did not bonk, I felt good, I had no stomach issues, and most importantly, I did not overheat. I finished in 13:53, which is 2 hrs faster than my previous Iron distance effort.
Two hours. I could hardly believe it myself.
I really think the temperature made a big difference. Also, the flatness of the course was a big contributor. Compared with Vineman, well, this course is just not the same. But I'm better trained and smarter, and faster. These are all good things.
This course featured a downhill swim. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not: The swim was in the causeway with the tide - about a 0.5 knot current. My fellow Outlaw SW Tri Gal says we looked like we were on a conveyor belt. Swim time: 1:10.
I can never hope to post a time like that in another race without the benefit of a current, but it sure felt good to see that time on the day.
The bike was also flat and fast-ish. We thought we had died and gone to heaven when the locals told us that under normal conditions, the back half of the loop would be with the wind. Alas, that was not the case for us on race day. The back half was in a headwind, feeling like we were going nowhere. The last 20 miles were particularly demoralizing, and seemed to take hours. Bike time: 6:50.
oh yes, it does feel good to get off the saddle, no matter how cool looking it is. The run was not so flat, there were a few hills along the route. Still, it was fun and I was ready for it. I went into it prepared to do whatever it took to finish the race and was astonished to find myself full of energy to run, run and keep running. I ran to the first aid station thinking I'd just see how far my energy took me and then walk if I had to, and I was stunned to find that I had bags of energy left.
Had it not been for my IT bands both falling apart on me (not one, but two), I'd have run the whole thing much much faster. My energy was there, but the legs just were not - I felt them start to go at the start of the 2nd loop of the marathon, and by the end, I was in agony.
In retrospect, the week before I had been leveled flat with a flu-like thing and had done no stretching. Seriously. I was sick and did nothing but lie still and wait for the swine flu to pass over me. I think the week of inactivity gave me an awesome taper, but killed my IT bands.
at this point I felt like I could run forever! Bring it on, bitches!As it was, I had a PR for marathon distance in any race. Run time: 5:23
I think this result is all about consistent training - I'm reaping the benefits of being OCD about my training, doing whatever my coach says. Thanks, Coach!
After that race my legs were pretty useless for a couple of days.
Palo Duro 50K
For me this was the best 50K run ever, bar none. Palo Duro Canyon is a neat little surprise in the middle of the flattest and least exciting part of Texas. We started running in the dark, and as the light rose it revealed a desert palette of reds and browns, and a green strip of river through the bottom of the canyon. The trails of Palo Duro Canyon feature gently rolling hills through desert badlands and riverine habitat. It's just cool!
I tore a hole out of my last 50K run, and PR'd (7:08). I was 90 minutes faster than my Bandera 50K. The last 5 miles I ran faster than I had run the entire race. I was filled with joy for running. I was ecstatic.
I know -- that's weird that it took 27 miles to get to that happy emotional place. WTF?! Perhaps I was just that loopy from dehydration. I don't know.
I love you, man!I do know that I had no ITB issues for that race. Yah - a 50K and no mechanical issues, unlike the Bandera Rocky Rock 50K Course From Hell. Which I will go back to someday, just because I can.
Vineman 70.3
I went back to Vineman to do the half partly to have a good time with my buddies, and partly to convince myself that I wasn't afraid of the course. And I wasn't.
But maybe I should have been.
Vineman 2009 was my first 70.3 race under 7 hours (6:54), a PR which took every cell in my body to achieve due to intense heat. I know I complained that the Vineman full was inhospitably hot (96), but the 70.3 had it beat: we got back to the car thermometer after the race, which said the temperature was a scorching 102.
Dude, I am cooked. This was probably exacerbated by the fact that my Old Lady age group was the next-to-last out on the course. I understand they switch it up every year so that no one age group feels heat of the day, which is good. Or I'd complain. Loud.
The swim was gorgeous, as I remember (45 min). The bike was far less taxing than I remember (3:17), but the run was brutal - like trotting through a 13.1 mile sauna with occasional sprinklers. My run time (2:36) is a reflection of how hard I had to work in that heat. Still, I felt it was a success and I feel I had a really good day. I know if the heat hadn't totally cooked my eggs, a 6:30 was within my grasp.
I also had a moment of light when I saw and spoke with Sister Madonna Buder on the run course. Sister Buder looked strong, and I stopped and waved to her and said, 'you're my hero.' She responded with something sweet, and encouraging. She is amazing. I heard later that 21CM had a conversation with her in transition that went something like this.
21CM: I think you're amazing
SMD: I think everyone is amazing.
Anybody who is so fearless and so giving and so beautiful about her ability, well, what's not to love and admire about that?!
So that's my backwards year. Looking forward, I'm ready to vomit thinking about IMSG...but before then, I'm going to do Ironman New Orleans ('cos that looks fun), and whatever comes up with my Outlaws, my friends, my family.
One race at a time...
4 comments:
No no - the conversation went like this:
21CM - I so admire you because you have God on your side
SMB - everyone has God on their side.
duh.
You've had quite the year, my friend! You are officially an endurance junkie now.
Tired one-third the way through... can't finish.
It was great sharing so many good things this year! No go get some sleep so we can start tearing up 2010!
You're doing Ironman New Orleans? Now I really feel like a slacker. I think New Orleans, I think food, drink, and staying up until 4am dancing my ass off. Not getting up at the butt crack of dawn to swim . . . where now? Lord, please tell me it's not the Mississippi.
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