Managed 40km/1100m elevation in the pouring rain and unexpectedly cold temperatures before DNFing. Absolutely nailed nutrition, hydration, plan, pace, & HR but I couldn't stay warm. Sucks but I'm not built for the cold, I was expecting warmth/heat today. I am rolling into a training block for a 50k in August and wondering if I could fit in a solo attempt at the 80km in the fall. It would be a shame to waste all this readiness.
The DNF is rotting my socks! I am going to call that 40km a last long run before tapering and I will have another kick at the 80km in three weeks!
A very EXCLUSIVE race. One runner! One aid station at the halfway point (Yay fam jam crew!). An out and back along a local trail. The inaugural @ThunderHoneySnow Ultra!
Free registration. Start time before sunrise. GPS watch timing. Race photography by selfies.
The cherry blossoms have passed and the lilacs are now in bloom! Beautiful sunny run today. So many birds around. This week running, I have seen four great egrets, a green heron, baby goslings with their Canadian parents, Mallard ducklings with mom, cormorants, and so many red winged blackbirds! I am enjoying the last few runs of my taper! Almost go time!
Pup's new red collar was whipped up by me this afternoon with material and hardware that had been salvaged from broken items. The clasps and D ring came from a puppy carrier that didn't last and the material was a strap on a reusable bag with a short lifespan. Anything that breaks, if I can't repair it, I salvage whatever I can for future projects.
Quite pleased with this! A quick and satisfying make! The other day I also made a big pillow, hemmed a blanket, and I sewed a headlamp onto my waist pack belt for an upcoming race. I will still wear a headlamp but it's nice to have a backup that lights up the ground right in front of me without looking down.
The beauty of double long runs is that by the second half of the second run, my legs are feeling it and I am shuffling along. Slow and steady means lots of quiet time to look around. So many little wonders!
Into the belly of the build. Five weeks in, five weeks out.
Warmer than usual for this time but still cold enough for long tights and gloves. I have been making my own hydration and nutrition for long runs this build. I figured that silicone baby food containers would work for my "gels" - a mix of honey, ginger syrup, and maldon salt. So far so good!
My elevation runs are laps of the sledding hill. Boring but lots of time to think and reflect. And it makes elevation on race day seem luxurious! I was observing today how different I feel since finishing the phd. I feel it in my muscles. In my bones. It's been about seven weeks since graduation and I am still marvelling at the change. I am excited for the next five weeks of build!
1040m of climbing today in the middle of my long run today. Yoga practice 1174 - self guided yin.
Midweek easy run with pup. Into week three of this training block and feeling good. Long run last week had 1000m of elevation and my legs felt great after - the magic of keeping max HR under 70%!!! Love it! A little over seven weeks until 80km! I am appreciative of the time spend on base over the winter!
Pup is a little over 18 months now! Enjoying all the adventures with her!
Yoga practice 1156, a little strength and stability, and a lot of hip mobility. Good stuff!
It's been about four days since the last of my thesis revisions got approved. I am working my way through the administrative processes before I can apply to graduate. I have no more writing left to do.
Holy post race crash, batman!
I can feel it in my muscles. I am exhausted. I really physically feel like I finished an ultra this week. My legs are exhausted. I'm even modifying my training plan. Post PhD crash is no joke!