Stick a Fork in Me

Cause I am done. The moment I landed yesterday it was right back down to run business. I don't know if others are like this but when I'm on vacation/away, I find it hard to run and stick to my training program. Being in a new place throws me off, add to that family, other people's schedules and it gets hectic quick. I didn't run as much as I wanted to but enough. Before I even finished unpacking my bags I was out the door, chasing what's left of the daylight. This morning I was up early for a 5.5 hour run, actually it was 5 hours running and half and hour shuffling and walking. I blew a gasket the last 3 miles:) I felt so terrible I couldn't stop laughing. It's a coping mechanism I'm sure and it should happen more often. To be fair it was hill repeats, was out on Hawk Hill. I like running there actually despite the asphalt road and all the tourists. It's a popular lookout point. However there is dirt and gravel on the side of the road for most of the way and the views are amazing. The tourists and cyclists also keep me honest. I ain't walking unless I'm really falling apart - they make for good motivation. This morning because of the foggy weather (no views) and early hours, it was just me and the cyclists. No views, everything was obscured by the fog. Eventually however it did clear up a little and more people came. I spent three hours there, up and down, up and down. And as it usually happens on hill repeats, one of my knees got real sore on the way back. The problem is not the joint itself but the IT band that runs alongside and past it on the outside. So I ended up jogging and walking the last 3 miles back to the casa. Mmm...this will hurt a little tonight and tomorrow. Right now I wish I was back with the family with my legs propped up, lounging on the couch and cursing at the useless channels on cable tv.

So what's going on? I kind of unplugged there for a week. Posted but didn't make my rounds. Time to go see what my fellow bloggers have been up to!

Orlando

Greetings from Florida, where it feels warmer than it actually is...or maybe it's just me, doesn't seem to bother the other folks though. Good thing I'm only here 5 days, mom's cooking, a stocked fridge+pantry and an abundance of chain restaurants could do real damage on my diet. As it is I'll probably gain a couple, can't refuse mom's cooking.

It's been great hanging with the family and this time, with the help of my sister, I've been running on a multi-purpose trail instead of the neighborhood. It's asphalt but a lot better than concrete with fewer interruptions. I've been running in the early evening because I've been working during the day but tomorrow I think I will head out during lunch with layers on. Might as well get some heat training. This evening I was out with only 2 layers and it felt warm and humid. I'll try 3 layers tomorrow in the heat of the day or maybe that's too ambitious. We'll see, they've all been short runs, nothing more than an hour. The only hill was an overpass, like the kind Bob runs on. I get the joke now. If I lived here I'd pull a tire too.

Recovery Week

GoldenGate and San Francisco Triathlon clubs training together on the Sandladder.

Isn't it great that we have achieved a fitness level where we can do hard intense workouts and be able to continue through our day like nothing happened..." I was thinking this right before I had to go back up the hill from Union Square where I inadvertently blurted out in public, "MY LEGS ARE KILLING ME", complete with fist waving. I talk to myself all the time and once in awhile I'll forget that it's a private mental conversation. Definitely not in the condition I was last week where I recovered quickly from Wildflower, did Quicksilver and still had enough to hang with friends. I knew it though, my body told me so during the week. Did my workouts but cut my long run in half. I was thinking it would be a good and safe plan to back off this week on the mileage before finishing up the last bits of training and the Diablo 50k in preparation for Bighorn. So instead of a 6hr run I went about 3. I crossed the bridge and did 2 hill repeats of Hawk Hill. Everyone was out, many events going on and people and animals everywhere. Amazing day. Now my legs are shot. Perfect, I should sleep on the plane tonight. Catching a redeye for Orlando, FL for my sister's graduation.

The image above is from our Tuesday night track workout but instead of track we were at the beach training on the "Sandladder". The next big triathlon event is the "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon. I ain't doing it but some members were itching to get some practice on the Sandladder before the big day on June 2. I never do this race but I'm always a volunteer. Anyway our rival club joined us which was really nice. We always bump into each other at track but never really say hello, now we can. Met their coaches, talked to some of their members. I ran the 6-miles to the workout but hung back to take pictures instead. I was going to torture my legs by hauling a backpack full of sand up and down the ladder. It was 4-6 repeats, alternating between having a pack and without. No thanks, I'll just be here spectating. Boy it was a blustery, cold afternoon too.

The other workouts went fine too but definitely my body was telling me to back off a bit. I'm not strong enough to run two races at 100% on back to back weekend and not suffer some type of slowdown, soreness or fatigue. I know there are athletes out there that can but it ain't me. Too bad I leave tonight, tomorrow would have been a good day for a swim and a short run. Last night I had the most fun time swimming all year. Ariane was the only one to show up for my club posted swim, again! So the two of us headed out. The wind was very strong and was blowing sideways across Aquatic Park. It created for some very choppy water. We swam to the opening with the wind driving behind our backs but when we got there it was craziness. Ran into Scotty, Amelia and Kirsten at the buoy, they had come from the opposite direction. All five of us swam back and this is where it really got fun. We had to cut across the park vertically to make it back to shore and the wind and water was moving horizontally, the chop was broadsiding us all the way down. Pure fun. Ariane and I went back out just to enjoy the ride all over again, much saltwater was drunk yesterday:)

So now I'm just getting ready to go. Sore everywhere but sa'll good. I'll be back before the next weekend is up.

Quickie at Quicksilver 50M

At the start of the run, happy to be back in an ultra running event.

What was it I said on my last post?
..."Very much looking forward to the Quicksilver 50-miler this Saturday. I don't intend it to be some spectacular PR run, just a simple 50-miler to get me back in the groove of ultra racing, fitness check and all that...

Right. Right. So I pr'd (personal record). My fastest 50-mile time ever. Beat my time last year at Firetrails 50-mile by 32 minutes and I personally think that Firetrails is an easier race; more tree cover, more soft single track and less elevation. I wasn't sandbagging when I said what I said, I was being realistic; first ultra of the year and coming off a great long course at Wildflower. What happened was when I got to the start I got very excited and pumped up. I met up with friends I haven't seen from last year and there were all these fast looking runners. It was also great to be back, to be back in the scene. By the time I made it across the parking lot to the registration tent I had decided to go all out. All week I had been feeling great and I had a feeling I could pull a great one out of me. Even then I surprised myself, I didn't realize it would turn out as great as it did.

Quicksilver 50M | 8530 Elevation Gain and Loss
13th Place with an 8:32

Body feels amazing today. They had masseuses from a local school massage school come over and provide free 20 min massages. Chris not only flushed out my legs but she also worked on my shoulders and my back. I was even out last night, dinner and a bar with some friends for more post Wildflower celebrating. At one point we set up a beer aid station and we ran through, one person handing out the plastic cups another to film and several folks for cheering. I don't think the people in the bar got it but that was for Coach Neil. Hahaha it was stupid fun and that's what you get when you have athletes who haven't been out in awhile due to training. I personally avoid being out on Friday or Saturday nights.

Today I feel good enough to run but I forced myself to stay home. Except for church I'm home cleaning, straightening up the apartment. Chores. Chores. Chores.