The Long Grind Back

Been gone awhile and I didn't even realize it. I've just been keeping my head down and churning out those training hours; gym, spin and lots of miles. It's been good, especially when I remember to stop thinking of where I was and where I wish to be. I get anxious and frustrated with my lack of speed and endurance. It's a constant struggle to keep in mind where I am now and train accordingly. Patience, patience, patience and more patience. Doing my best to smart. The last couple of years I've made it a game to see how fast I could build up to a 50k long run after taking Decembers off. Last year I got it up to 36 miles by the end of January. Stupid! I spent the first two weeks of February sluggish and sore. The previous year I did something similar. This year I've been ratcheting it up slowly and during the holiday break I actually put in some "maintenance" runs. Four days out of the week I'd put in a 45 minute run, nothing long or intense, just keeping the body moving. It was a much smoother transition back to training this year because of those runs.

Typically I don't enter an event until I've spent at least two months of the new year building my running base and shedding the holiday pounds. In fact the earliest I'd enter an event is March. Not so this year. When my friend Marla told me that she was running PCTR's Pacifica race as a training run I thought "what a great idea, me too!"

I showed up to today's event having completed recent long runs of 15 and 17 miles so I was good mileage wise but my legs were toast. Ohohohoho they were worn out and they gave me the finger early. This past week the weather has been phenomenal and we had a full moon Wednesday and Thursday. I took full advantage of that Wednesday evening, early Thursday morning (early enough to enjoy the full moon) and again Thursday evening. These were clear skies, no wind, no fog, by the light of the full moon runs. Even the foray into the Presidio's trails Wednesday night was done without headlamps. I gave the legs a break on Friday but was back out for a 9.7 mile trail run with The Endurables on Saturday, throwing in accelerations here and there and running all the hills. On that last hill on Saturday's run I knew it was going to be a slog at Pacifica and it played out exactly how I thought it would. Man that was tough to have a low charge on the legs but I made the best of it. I pushed but not too hard and just concentrated on getting the mileage done. Great day, great weather. Tough run and it's only the third week in January. Lots of time to whip myself back into fighting form. My pal Marla did great, ran every step and came in third female for the 30k race.

I ran with my camera knowing that I was going to have time to take a few pictures. Enjoy.

PCTR racing team member Ian Sharman, Michael Popov of PCTR, Ken "All Day" Michal, Mike Bohi and Sarah Spelt of PCTR race morning.

Pre-race brief by Sarah.

PCTR racing team's Marla Moresi-Valdes.

Making our way up the North Peak of Montara Mountain.

Still making our way to the top.

Walter Edwards and Bradley Fenner making their way back down from the top - both were running the 50k race.

Finally, at the top of North Peak.

Yours truly.

Making our way back down.

Going up one of the twenty switchbacks of the Hazelnut loop, Northpeak in the distance. This hill is only a little over a thousand feet but has twenty switchbacks. Drives me crazy but it would be a great hill for training.

And Just Like That...

Jennifer Dicus and Melissa Ownby at Coastal Trail Runs New Year's One Day 6/12/24 hour event.

Wayne Plymale getting ready to start the 6-hour event. Wayne just recently ran his first 50k - in the Philippines! Loved it, back for more now that he's home.

Amy Freund McCrea and Walter Edwards. Walter ran the 24 hour event and came in 3rd with a 108.22 miles. Amy was my ride over, the person who bought me coffee afterwards because I left my wallet and my ride back. I don't want to brag but I'm going to anyway - I have some pretty awesome friends.

It's 2011! They say time passes in the blink of an eye, so who blinked? I only have to look at the archived blog posts, the archived photo albums in Facebook and Flickr to see that it was a full year but a part of me can't believe it's already the start of a new season. Whoa, time to get back on the horse.

Last year was tough, not as great as the two previous years. There were many disappointments, things I didn't do well or failed to accomplish but there were also some pleasant surprises and things I'm proud of. So where does that leave me? With a lot of work to do like everyone else.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
- Cutting out strength training after the winter months.
- Cutting out the spin classes, part of my training the last four years.
- Not being more disciplined about my diet (raced heavier)

WHAT WORKED
- Running with the Thursday morning run group
- Occasional runs with the Thursday run group on weekends
- Learning to run my hills during training
- Switching to shorter trail races when I felt burn out
- Transitioning to lighter trail and road shoes

Happy New Year everyone. I hope to see some of you on the trails!

New Year's Eve with friends from my triathlon club. Come to think of it, last year we also spent New Year's Eve together - good people.

The Christmas Relays

I have been enjoying my off-season. Last Sunday at the Christmas Relays I attended for the sole purpose of socializing and eating after not running all week. Ah it's such a fun event to hang out in. It's a run around Lake Merced, 4 runners each running a loop and the loop is just over 4 miles long. My triathlon club attends every year, fielding a lot of runners. We generally have a great time and not take it too seriously but there are a lot of serious runners out there. Actually not just serious runners but serious teams, the event is part of the PAUSATF (Pacific Association USA Track and Field) - something I only learned about this year when I joined the Tamalpa Runners. I had to get myself a PAUSATF membership so I could score points for the club at PAUSATF ultra events. Anyway, it was very cool to see all these fast runners sporting the names of this track club or this running team. Tamalpa was out in force but I didn't really know who they were. The only people I'm familiar with are the ones who run ultras and even then I don't know all of them. Speaking of which I did see many ultra folk out there.

This Saturday is PCTR's Rodeo Beach race. I had planned on showing up to volunteer and enjoy some of the same socializing and eating I pulled off at the Christmas Relays. That is still going to happen but I am now also scheduled to sweep the 20k race. How did that happen? Brett and Larissa happened. Those two trailzilla's are coming too and LP is sweeping the 20k course and wanted company. It's okay, I've run three times since Northface and all those runs this past week. In fact I have a 6-mile route that I run frequently and I posted my fastest time on it this year yesterday. Also we have a storm rolling in tonight and it's supposed to last the entire weekend into Monday. I'm excited that those trails will be wet for a day and half before the race and the fact that by the time we sweep runners have mucked up the course even further. It's gonna be a fun time I think and I'm bringing my lightweight but toothy Adizero XT's. Fun, fun, fun. I'm gonna bomb a few downhills and let LP pull down the ribbons herself, shhhh.

Lastly I entered Running and Rambling's MT101 giveaway. Donald is an old blog friend who is really a more than decent triathlete and ultra-marathoner. I got the pleasure of pacing him at Headlands Hundred in 08. He reviews a lot and I mean a lot of gear and he's a great writer. By leaving a comment and linking to his blog I get two chances of winning a pair of MT101's. I'm also wondering if flattery gets me a third chance? Did I mention he's a really great triathlete, ultra-marathoner and writer? Actually those of you who also know Donald, I'm looking at you Olga, know it's not an exaggeration.

Daphne showing off her holiday themed boxers and socks.

Oh yeah Ed, show them elf legs. Wait is that a garter?

The ones actually racing.

Tamalpa ladies on the right.

Our very own reindeer, Rachel.

With coach Lori. I owe her for my one and only Ironman finish and I've never forgotten it.

Coach Lori finishing her loop, big, big smile.

Dogs were welcome, this is Huck the Pup although he is not really a pup anymore.

Also welcome were children, especially the ones with Oreo fudge cookie mustaches.

Throwing in another picture of pretty ladies, sisters Hannah and Janet. We just got Janet back after two years of graduate school in Chicago. Welcome home Janet.

Relay team shots.

And finally the big club shots.

The Northface Endurance Challenge

I ended up buying the photo, for those that commented, thank you for the input. I can look at it when I'm old and slow or give it to one of my fans <(my sister, mom).

Anyway, so that Northface Endurance Challenge... wow, yeah, it was as promised - a rockin good time on Marin Headlands and Mt. Tam trails. The field was indeed quite competitive, probably the most competitive ever. I helped mark the course the day before and crewed and paced my friend Larissa on the 50-Mile event. I've run the 50-Mile race the last two years but this year I felt even more involved/connected with the event. I got to help behind the scenes then run 22 miles on the course. The two times I ran Northface I had done the Quad the weekend before but this year I've decided enough is enough of that foolishness. It was the right decision as I felt pretty whooped at the end of those 22 miles. Not once did I feel that I should've have gone for the whole enchilada.

Hayatz coming into the Tennessee Valley aid station, outbound to Mt. Tam.

Larissa coming into Stinson Beach aid station, mile 28.

Larissa is a very strong runner, that girl can keep powering. There was hardly any walking even on the uphills. On the last uphill she just put her head down and ran the entire thing. I didn't have to keep reminding her to eat or drink either, just knows how to take care of herself. Besides LP there were also many friends running the event and it was great seeing them before, during and after the race. Just a great day and of miles and miles of great trails and good friends. It was muddy and slippery because it rained again but it was what it was and I thought the runners dealt with it just fine.

Along with videos I had put up a photo album on Facebook with title slides and captions. I've loaded a copy on Flickr and the links is below. Call it photo race report.

Northface Endurance Challenge.

A few photos from the set.

Dave Mackey and Geof Roes, first two through Stinson Beach, mile 28.

Larissa powering up her hills in Muir Woods.