Wed with the Fishes: Fall Quick Hits

It's amazing how healing writing that last blog post turned out to be. I almost instantly started to feel better just getting all those feelings off my chest and into the world. I got lots of great feedback from friends who had been there before and gradually my legs started to come back as well. It's amazing how fast time has gone since I wrote that post! A quick list of things I've been up to:

October 15 Palo Duro 12.5 mile race

I love Palo Duro!!! Last year it was my first ultra and this year I did the short race. It was COLD race morning which my body just loves. I felt great from the beginning and just kept picking up the pace each mile. It was my longest run since Lean Horse so I was nervous about my IT Bands and stuff but everything went great. I had bad neuroma pain in my foot for the last 3 miles but I'm used to that. The after party is what makes PD so fun. Hanging out in the Canyon, cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners, and enjoying new and old frunners.

Erin, Corina, and me on Sunday in the canyon

October 22 Double Trouble 5k

My running club puts on this race and I decided last minute to do the 5k. I had to forgo two 5k's in Sept because I hadn't recovered from Lean Horse yet so I figured it was time to see just where my speed was at. Training for ultras all late spring/summer really slowed me down but it was worth it. My "out of speed shape" 5k pace tends to be around 7:30 - 7:35. My 5k PR from last December was a 6:57 pace so I'm considerable slower but it was good to have a "fitness check" to base my training paces off of. Always love doing club races, the support and volunteers are so amazing and although it's a hilly course, it's a course I've run a million times.

DT 5k coming up the last hill to the finish.

October 30 Monster Sprint Triathlon

Having not done a tri since August 1, 2010 I was feeling really excited and kinda nervous about this. I had one goal...to get first in my age group. When I made my goals for 2011 last December one of them was "1st AG in a triathlon." I only gave myself one shot at it. Haha! Monster Triathlon was my 16th tri since I started in 2006 and the first time I got 1st AG!!! I had been 2nd a few times but never 1st.

Hanging out before the race start

To say that I was excited about winning my AG is an understatement. I didn't train long, only about 5 weeks, but I trained hard. Short bike rides but always focusing on strength and speed. Same with my swims and runs. I didn't need endurance, I needed some speed. It was freezing race morning which really helps me, I knew my legs would still be able to run fast even though I had only done 2 bricks.

The swim was uneventful, I felt just ok the first half and felt great the second half. This was the only thing I was worried about. All summer I had trained my body to run 50 miles, it takes me A LONG TIME to feel warmed up. This race was going to be over before I normally start to feel good. Pushed as hard as I could on the bike, staring at my mph the whole time. I was always about 19-20 except on the hills so I was excited about that. Didn't wear a watch on the run and couldn't feel my feet they were so numb but just pushed hard. I had no idea of my pace but the last mile kept trying to pick it up and couldn't so I figured I had to be going close to 7:30's. I had the fastest bike and run (my 5k run was faster than the previous weekend's 5k race) split in my AG and 3rd fastest swim. It was a great day made even better sharing it with incredible girl friends Marci, Erin, Corina, and Stacy. I felt like such a rockstar having them there, it was really special for me!

Erin, Corina, Me, Marci, Stacy

November 19 Wild Hare Trail Race

Coco, Rick, Me, Byron, George

Heading down to Wild Hare was a last minute decision. I didn't have any November races on the calendar and with the weather getting better, a weekend camping strip seemed great. My brother said he'd camp with me so it was a done deal. I signed up for the 25k realizing it was going to be my longest run in 10 weeks. My plan was to take it easy for the first loop and pick it up for the second loop. Well, my nightmare weather situation played out instead. My body yells a big fat eff you when it's super humid. I just couldn't do anything. My upper body felt like it weighed a million pounds and I was just soaked from head to toe with sweat. I overheated so bad with chills, goosebumps, swelling, and dizziness. This has happened to me a number of times now (even in just the last year) and so I knew I needed to slow down and just treat it as a training run and not a race. Ran decent until 11 and then had to walk it out and concentrate on getting my core temp dropped. It sucked and I was frustrated but still loved the trail and the race and getting to run with my brother.

Mama C, B, and me

This was two bad weekends of long runs in a row for me. My weekday intervals are going great, I'm hitting my paces even when I'm tired but I could use a strong weekend run any day now. I could also use a few consistent weekends of cool weather.

Best part of WH was our camping zone. Mitchell had found what turned out to be the perfect zone. We were right on the trail and in the shade. We stayed there all day and night cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners as they did their loops. We played Bocce ball, grilled fajitas, and drank beer. Knowing how horrible the humidity conditions on the trail were it was just amazing to watch these runners knock out loop after loop. (It also made me frustrated because how come their body seems to handle it better than mine?? It's not the heat...it's the humidity that I can't do anything with.)