I survived my long run this past Saturday. It ended up being 25 miles and almost 5.5 hours but it was all trail, no bridge and all the road miles running to and back from it. I got dropped from the very beginning by Larissa and Jenn, all three of us including another three runners from our Thursday morning runs are entered for the San Diego 100. The ladies chatted and bounded uphills as I slogged my way through, mostly waking the hills. Jenn cut out early but Larissa and I completed the loop with her a couple of miles ahead.
It turned to be a super day because as sucky and congested as I felt it didn't get worse. I really enjoyed myself and frankly it didn't feel long. The climbs were tough and so were the downhills but I felt I could have kept going. Larissa felt the same way but we had to boogie back to the city afterwards as she had a client to train.
Besides spending time with the two studly ladies I ran into Jorge Maravilla as I passed through Muir Beach. Talk about breakthroughs, this guy lost 20 pounds, worked harder at his running, started winning races last year and got picked up by Salomon. A big year for him last year and this year is off to a great start. Great guy and extremely excited about the sport.
Tomorrow is another early day as my running club, Tamalpa, has organized a training run in Lake Sonoma, perfect for those running the Lake Sonoma 50 miler in April. I was entered last year but the course was under water due to recent storms. Not entered this year but at least I'll get to finally run on the trails, for 25 miles of it anyway. I'll bring my camera and maybe I get a few good shots.
Till next time.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Mental Push Ups
It's that time of the year - cold and sickness bugs! Last Saturday I got up feeling weak and funky, like I was coming down with something. I had a 26-mile run scheduled with friends and I thought of canceling but then I decided to go through with it. I figured if I was going to get sick I might as well get a long run in before if fully developed. Like getting a big run in before a storm. Sure enough on Super Bowl Sunday I was laid out on the couch. It would be another four days before I'd feel good enough to run again. Thankfully it's my back off week. I know, I know, back off doesn't mean stop but what could I do. The cold was unwelcome but it's timing was great and now I'm fighting my way back, just a slight detour.
The run itself was fun even though I didn't feel 100%. I met up with Janet Thompson and her friends Gordo and Fox. They rode their bikes to the Golden Gate Bridge and we proceeded from there. Gordo and Fox had shorter routes in mind but Janet kept me company until we returned to the bridge. We ran a similar pace, walked/ran our hills and did a whole lot of catching up. I finished the day with 25.5 miles according to my iphone. Nifty, maybe I spring for a Garmin this year. They were great company, great catching up with Janet and I'd run a long one with those guys again.
My first couple of years in running, training for marathons, it would take me several months to work up to 26 miles from a break, now it takes me a few weeks. I'm happy about that but it's all distance at this point no speed work or anything and I've been choosing routes that isn't too hilly. Just building those base miles for now. While the distance comes back fairly quickly the holiday weight still comes off at a snails pace. Haven't figured that one out yet or maybe I just love food too much.
Tomorrow I'm heading out with my pal Larissa Polishuk. The woman is an inspiration just like her guy Brett Rivers. She wants to get in 30 miles and she has Brett's car which means not having to run the Golden Gate Bridge. What a mess it has been since they started a construction project limiting all foot and bike traffic unto one side. Total mess and dangerous with all the bikes. It's my back down week but I think four days of no running has been enough of a break so I will try to hang for 30 miles. I either make it or head back to the car early, no big deal. Ran two 4 milers the last two days, felt terrible each time but the second day was better than the first and maybe tomorrow will be better than both. Nothing in my chest, all in my sinuses so I'm safe. I don't feel so great but it will be a good opportunity to work on the mental game. Tomorrow will be a day of mental pushups. I pull out my Matt Hart videos on days like these. Thank you Matt Hart!
You guys have a great weekend!
The run itself was fun even though I didn't feel 100%. I met up with Janet Thompson and her friends Gordo and Fox. They rode their bikes to the Golden Gate Bridge and we proceeded from there. Gordo and Fox had shorter routes in mind but Janet kept me company until we returned to the bridge. We ran a similar pace, walked/ran our hills and did a whole lot of catching up. I finished the day with 25.5 miles according to my iphone. Nifty, maybe I spring for a Garmin this year. They were great company, great catching up with Janet and I'd run a long one with those guys again.
My first couple of years in running, training for marathons, it would take me several months to work up to 26 miles from a break, now it takes me a few weeks. I'm happy about that but it's all distance at this point no speed work or anything and I've been choosing routes that isn't too hilly. Just building those base miles for now. While the distance comes back fairly quickly the holiday weight still comes off at a snails pace. Haven't figured that one out yet or maybe I just love food too much.
Tomorrow I'm heading out with my pal Larissa Polishuk. The woman is an inspiration just like her guy Brett Rivers. She wants to get in 30 miles and she has Brett's car which means not having to run the Golden Gate Bridge. What a mess it has been since they started a construction project limiting all foot and bike traffic unto one side. Total mess and dangerous with all the bikes. It's my back down week but I think four days of no running has been enough of a break so I will try to hang for 30 miles. I either make it or head back to the car early, no big deal. Ran two 4 milers the last two days, felt terrible each time but the second day was better than the first and maybe tomorrow will be better than both. Nothing in my chest, all in my sinuses so I'm safe. I don't feel so great but it will be a good opportunity to work on the mental game. Tomorrow will be a day of mental pushups. I pull out my Matt Hart videos on days like these. Thank you Matt Hart!
You guys have a great weekend!
Photo courtesy of Janet Thomspon. In the Marin Headlands, on our way back towards San Francisco.
Too bad it won't be like this tomorrow but rain will also be good. Missing a good rain run.
Monday, January 30, 2012
And I'm Back
Miss me? Well I certainly didn't mean to be gone so long. I'm back though and not just in blogging but running as well. Those close to me know that I take Decembers off and this past December was no exception. In fact I lived it up a little too much. My girlfriend was visiting from London and we ate well and often. I promised her great food in San Francisco and San Francisco did not disappoint. Ah well the extra weight I'm carrying around will only make my legs stronger and I'll be faster once it comes off. Who needs a weight vest if I have a weight waist! Gotta turn that negative to a positive:)
So a quick recap. Last year I went on a seven week trip to the UK and the Philippines, working and living in both places for September and October and I came back out of shape. That Philippine ultra I participated in on my last post, I was only able to finish that because I know what the second half of a 100 mile ultra feels like. I went into it with very little training the four weeks prior to the race and no heat acclimation. It was an event I couldn't pass up however and I made great memories that day and new friends. Like my step dad used to say, "my momma raised no fools that lived". It would have been foolish not to experience a race in the Philippines when I had the time and resources to do so.
After I got back I was in a small panic, I had big plans for the end of the year but in terrible shape. So I ran my butt off. The ultra in Cebu and the handful of runs I managed to do while I was away preserved something and that little bit of something was enough to build on. Two weeks after I got back in the end of October I was off to Javelina to pace my buddy Tony Portera for his fourth finish at Javelina Jundred. I was worried he was going to drop me or I wouldn't have been able to finish my 40 miles of pacing. We've done this event four times, the first year we were over 24 hours but the last three we got that sub-24 buckle. Then it was on to the Quad Dipsea two weeks later. Oh that race was a beauty. I knew I was going to be slower so I had paced myself accordingly. I figured I was going to be at least 30 minutes longer than my time the year before (5:09) and planned my splits based on the slower time. On race day I did hope for a miracle, that I would actually be faster than I predicted but since I wasn't I just stuck to my original plan. I finished at 5:47 or so. Just shy of where I thought I would be but I felt great the entire time. The week after Quad I paced my friend Lisa Klinkefus on her first 50-mile race at the Northface 50-miler. Klink is awesome, I paced her on her first 50k and I'm glad I was able to swing it for her first 50.
By the time Northface came around I was feeling pretty good again. A month of run cramming and events got me back in the groove but then it was time to shut it off again for the year. I like my Decembers off and despite my constant bitching about how much I hate how commercialized Christmas has become, I do enjoy the holiday dinners, get togethers and parties. Took December off and enjoyed my time with my girlfriend until it was time for her to return to London on January 9. I've been training hard ever since.
Besides giving me that mental and physical break from training and racing, these breaks also keep from taking my health and running for granted. Having to work myself back into shape in January and February reminds me how hard this ultra-running really is. It's easy to take for granted. Two weeks ago, on our weekly early Thursday morning Headlands run, I was dealt with a big kick in the butt. A hilly route that I normally run with the rest of the gang, I couldn't complete it without taking walk breaks, especially on the hills. I dragged myself all over the course and was dead last. I came back too soon, I had no business being there but it was a good reality check. This past Thursday I redeemed myself by running the entire thing. The fitness is coming back nicely. Losing it and having to work hard to get it back reminds me it ain't free or easy.
Big plans for the year? Well I'm officially signed up for the San Diego 100 in June…again. Love that run. I plan to run Quicksilver 50-mile before that in May. No planned races at the moment on the lead up to Quicksilver, right now I'm making up my mind on a March 50k. We'll see.
Well until next time.
So a quick recap. Last year I went on a seven week trip to the UK and the Philippines, working and living in both places for September and October and I came back out of shape. That Philippine ultra I participated in on my last post, I was only able to finish that because I know what the second half of a 100 mile ultra feels like. I went into it with very little training the four weeks prior to the race and no heat acclimation. It was an event I couldn't pass up however and I made great memories that day and new friends. Like my step dad used to say, "my momma raised no fools that lived". It would have been foolish not to experience a race in the Philippines when I had the time and resources to do so.
After I got back I was in a small panic, I had big plans for the end of the year but in terrible shape. So I ran my butt off. The ultra in Cebu and the handful of runs I managed to do while I was away preserved something and that little bit of something was enough to build on. Two weeks after I got back in the end of October I was off to Javelina to pace my buddy Tony Portera for his fourth finish at Javelina Jundred. I was worried he was going to drop me or I wouldn't have been able to finish my 40 miles of pacing. We've done this event four times, the first year we were over 24 hours but the last three we got that sub-24 buckle. Then it was on to the Quad Dipsea two weeks later. Oh that race was a beauty. I knew I was going to be slower so I had paced myself accordingly. I figured I was going to be at least 30 minutes longer than my time the year before (5:09) and planned my splits based on the slower time. On race day I did hope for a miracle, that I would actually be faster than I predicted but since I wasn't I just stuck to my original plan. I finished at 5:47 or so. Just shy of where I thought I would be but I felt great the entire time. The week after Quad I paced my friend Lisa Klinkefus on her first 50-mile race at the Northface 50-miler. Klink is awesome, I paced her on her first 50k and I'm glad I was able to swing it for her first 50.
By the time Northface came around I was feeling pretty good again. A month of run cramming and events got me back in the groove but then it was time to shut it off again for the year. I like my Decembers off and despite my constant bitching about how much I hate how commercialized Christmas has become, I do enjoy the holiday dinners, get togethers and parties. Took December off and enjoyed my time with my girlfriend until it was time for her to return to London on January 9. I've been training hard ever since.
Besides giving me that mental and physical break from training and racing, these breaks also keep from taking my health and running for granted. Having to work myself back into shape in January and February reminds me how hard this ultra-running really is. It's easy to take for granted. Two weeks ago, on our weekly early Thursday morning Headlands run, I was dealt with a big kick in the butt. A hilly route that I normally run with the rest of the gang, I couldn't complete it without taking walk breaks, especially on the hills. I dragged myself all over the course and was dead last. I came back too soon, I had no business being there but it was a good reality check. This past Thursday I redeemed myself by running the entire thing. The fitness is coming back nicely. Losing it and having to work hard to get it back reminds me it ain't free or easy.
Big plans for the year? Well I'm officially signed up for the San Diego 100 in June…again. Love that run. I plan to run Quicksilver 50-mile before that in May. No planned races at the moment on the lead up to Quicksilver, right now I'm making up my mind on a March 50k. We'll see.
Well until next time.
Photo courtesy of Gary Wang. In the Marin Headlands, finishing up our Thursday morning trail run.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Cebu Summit 60k Challenge
So that hurt a lot! A month later I think about the race with a lot of fondness and some cringing because of the suffering I went through. I'm talking about the race I referenced two posts back - the Cebu, Philippines Summit 60k Challenge. Oi! I survived the race only because of my experience in the longer stuff. I knew it would come down to that and frankly finishing as well as I did was a small miracle. The second half of that race felt like the end of a 100-miler. No joke. Well it served me right going into the race with very little training and trying to be competitive. I'm an idiot. I chased like I had something to catch and paid for it.
I entered the event after over a month of having only run a handful of times while packing on some weight. I had no heat training either, ouch. You see two weeks before I left the United States on September 11, I ran the Headlands 50k. I had an amazing time and ran well but finished with an injury. I had a strain on the right hamstring due to my "bombing" of all of the downhills. Thankfully I felt the pain half a kilometer from the finish line but I was out of running for two weeks after the event. Only thing that kept me sane was TRX which I had taken up five weeks before and was addicted to. After those two weeks I was off to London where I enjoyed the days and worked through half the night on my freelance work.
I had my reservations of participating but ultimately it was my mom who gave me the push, "if you get tired you can always walk". That I did ma, that I did. So I went for it.
Took a flight out on a Saturday night for Cebu. An island so close to my hometown it only took thirty minutes and a prop plane at that. We went up then came right back down, well it felt that way anyway. At 2:30AM the next day Jonel Mendoza and Gary Garcia picked me up from my hole in the wall hotel and we were off. I was pretty excited, apprehensive but excited. We were off shortly after 4AM and I was surprised to see that despite my usual slow start I was close to the front pack. I was feeling like I was on top of the world that first 10k. Oh I kept watch on the pace, careful not to go out too fast. Even at that time in the morning I was already sweating buckets, horrible, but kept the pace solid. The first 15k was all flat road but after that we started to ascend a mountain road where we alternated between road and fire road. It got hilly quick and we were passing through small villages. These were remote rural areas where people were going about their normal lives. I saw three guys skinning a goat by the side of the road, a husband and wife duo who were each carrying a huge bamboo tree with bolos (machetes) on their hips, farmers minding their land, vendors selling this and that, playing kids, lounging unleashed dogs and lots of road kill that included snakes. It was pretty trippy and despite being so close to my hometown they spoke a different dialect that I couldn't understand. My fellow runners, the volunteers and the locals who I saw along the way were very supportive and offered encouragement, I just couldn't understand them. I never felt like a tourist in my own home country until this race.
Thirty kilometers into this, at 3 hours, I was already ready for the race to be over. Made sense I guess, the only runs I could manage for the previous month were a handful of 1-hour runs. Dying at 3 hours was normal except I had another 30 kilometers to go and the hills were non-stop! As it turned out the hills would continue for pretty much most of the race until the last several miles, the final downhill was painful in it's steepness. These damned cruel race directors - I'm a fan. Not only did I feel tired but I felt it physically, legs ached like crazy. Short of the 45k mark a volunteer ran up to me and asked if I wanted Omega Pro. Except for the Filipino runners, raise your hand if you know what Omega Pro is. Yeah I had the same problem, I was like "what?" said it several times. Finally he just pulled out the bottle. I was feeling so bad I agreed to have him rub the stuff on my legs, besides stopping felt like heaven. Well let me tell you, that salve felt amazing 5 minutes later. The menthol felt great on my legs and long after that wore off my legs continued to feel better. No help for being out of shape and racing heavy however, I still had to complete the remaining miles. At the 45th kilometer I was in 4th place, a position I had held since the 30th kilometer but the downhill slide took a steeper dive from this point forward. I got passed four times before I reached the finish line. It was disheartening even when I thought I was past the point of caring.
With about 6 miles to go we started coming down from the ridge and I was so happy only to find out in a couple of miles that we would start climbing again #$@*$!!! Up and up we went and I started thinking, "this downhill is going to be a bitch". Well it was. The best part was that at the end of the downhill a volunteer pointed me towards a six lane road and told me to cross it. There were no lights, crosswalks or rules about the pedestrian's right of way like you do here in the US, you just play frogger with the traffic. Thankfully the volunteer came with me, two is more visible than one. The last kilometer felt like forever, like having to take a dump but stuck in a long bathroom line. Holding your load would have been less painful I think. A motorcyle volunteer came alongside and kept me company. He radioed in my name and paced me to the final turn. I tell you that final turn took freaking forever. You actually pass the finish line before coming around to it. Did I mention I'm a big fan of the race directors? As I passed the finish line on my way to the final turn the blood blister on my right pinky toe burst. I laughed because it was that kind of day but wow… that pain. There is always that initial pain when raw flesh meets separated skin and it can go on for a minute. The pain was gone by the time I crossed the finish line but I had them take care of the toe at the finish.
The spirit of ultra is alive and well in the Philippines and this race, the support and organization is on par with what I'm used to in the US, even better than some races I've experienced. The course marking was excellent and the intersections were manned by volunteers who waved red flags. The red flags were great in the street sections where the volunteers looked like everyone else - I just aimed for the flags. Really, really great event. I have no complaints. If I need to have one then that finish line beer shouldn't be Lonestar from Texas. It should be the local beer which tastes a whole lot better!
It was a really, really great time and with my finish I got to check off two bucket list items; participate in an international race and finish an ultra race in the Philippines. Great, great time. UItra is going strong in the Philippines and it's growing!
For the complete photoset click here.
I entered the event after over a month of having only run a handful of times while packing on some weight. I had no heat training either, ouch. You see two weeks before I left the United States on September 11, I ran the Headlands 50k. I had an amazing time and ran well but finished with an injury. I had a strain on the right hamstring due to my "bombing" of all of the downhills. Thankfully I felt the pain half a kilometer from the finish line but I was out of running for two weeks after the event. Only thing that kept me sane was TRX which I had taken up five weeks before and was addicted to. After those two weeks I was off to London where I enjoyed the days and worked through half the night on my freelance work.
I had my reservations of participating but ultimately it was my mom who gave me the push, "if you get tired you can always walk". That I did ma, that I did. So I went for it.
Took a flight out on a Saturday night for Cebu. An island so close to my hometown it only took thirty minutes and a prop plane at that. We went up then came right back down, well it felt that way anyway. At 2:30AM the next day Jonel Mendoza and Gary Garcia picked me up from my hole in the wall hotel and we were off. I was pretty excited, apprehensive but excited. We were off shortly after 4AM and I was surprised to see that despite my usual slow start I was close to the front pack. I was feeling like I was on top of the world that first 10k. Oh I kept watch on the pace, careful not to go out too fast. Even at that time in the morning I was already sweating buckets, horrible, but kept the pace solid. The first 15k was all flat road but after that we started to ascend a mountain road where we alternated between road and fire road. It got hilly quick and we were passing through small villages. These were remote rural areas where people were going about their normal lives. I saw three guys skinning a goat by the side of the road, a husband and wife duo who were each carrying a huge bamboo tree with bolos (machetes) on their hips, farmers minding their land, vendors selling this and that, playing kids, lounging unleashed dogs and lots of road kill that included snakes. It was pretty trippy and despite being so close to my hometown they spoke a different dialect that I couldn't understand. My fellow runners, the volunteers and the locals who I saw along the way were very supportive and offered encouragement, I just couldn't understand them. I never felt like a tourist in my own home country until this race.
Thirty kilometers into this, at 3 hours, I was already ready for the race to be over. Made sense I guess, the only runs I could manage for the previous month were a handful of 1-hour runs. Dying at 3 hours was normal except I had another 30 kilometers to go and the hills were non-stop! As it turned out the hills would continue for pretty much most of the race until the last several miles, the final downhill was painful in it's steepness. These damned cruel race directors - I'm a fan. Not only did I feel tired but I felt it physically, legs ached like crazy. Short of the 45k mark a volunteer ran up to me and asked if I wanted Omega Pro. Except for the Filipino runners, raise your hand if you know what Omega Pro is. Yeah I had the same problem, I was like "what?" said it several times. Finally he just pulled out the bottle. I was feeling so bad I agreed to have him rub the stuff on my legs, besides stopping felt like heaven. Well let me tell you, that salve felt amazing 5 minutes later. The menthol felt great on my legs and long after that wore off my legs continued to feel better. No help for being out of shape and racing heavy however, I still had to complete the remaining miles. At the 45th kilometer I was in 4th place, a position I had held since the 30th kilometer but the downhill slide took a steeper dive from this point forward. I got passed four times before I reached the finish line. It was disheartening even when I thought I was past the point of caring.
With about 6 miles to go we started coming down from the ridge and I was so happy only to find out in a couple of miles that we would start climbing again #$@*$!!! Up and up we went and I started thinking, "this downhill is going to be a bitch". Well it was. The best part was that at the end of the downhill a volunteer pointed me towards a six lane road and told me to cross it. There were no lights, crosswalks or rules about the pedestrian's right of way like you do here in the US, you just play frogger with the traffic. Thankfully the volunteer came with me, two is more visible than one. The last kilometer felt like forever, like having to take a dump but stuck in a long bathroom line. Holding your load would have been less painful I think. A motorcyle volunteer came alongside and kept me company. He radioed in my name and paced me to the final turn. I tell you that final turn took freaking forever. You actually pass the finish line before coming around to it. Did I mention I'm a big fan of the race directors? As I passed the finish line on my way to the final turn the blood blister on my right pinky toe burst. I laughed because it was that kind of day but wow… that pain. There is always that initial pain when raw flesh meets separated skin and it can go on for a minute. The pain was gone by the time I crossed the finish line but I had them take care of the toe at the finish.
The spirit of ultra is alive and well in the Philippines and this race, the support and organization is on par with what I'm used to in the US, even better than some races I've experienced. The course marking was excellent and the intersections were manned by volunteers who waved red flags. The red flags were great in the street sections where the volunteers looked like everyone else - I just aimed for the flags. Really, really great event. I have no complaints. If I need to have one then that finish line beer shouldn't be Lonestar from Texas. It should be the local beer which tastes a whole lot better!
It was a really, really great time and with my finish I got to check off two bucket list items; participate in an international race and finish an ultra race in the Philippines. Great, great time. UItra is going strong in the Philippines and it's growing!
With Gary Garcia and Jonel Mendoza.
Bridge crossing, it's so lush over there.
So green.
Intersection with race volunteers.
Chewing on a boiled yam while trying to pose for a picture. I'd prefer the yams over boiled potato but you need a lot of water with it.
Bananas and yams for aid station fare. Oh that candy is called Cloud 9. A type of chocolate snack that doesn't melt with the heat. It worked, all that mattered.
Finish line with medals that included place.
Making new friends.
Passed out post race. Photo courtesy of Jonel Mendoza.
For the complete photoset click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
