My excellent running adventures
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Were You at the Cupcake 5k Saturday 3/24?
To my readers, I left a few stickers at the registration table for my blog and I was wondering if any of you are new readers that got to my blog by finding those stickers ... So if you are send me a comment, let me know what you think of my blogs and ideas for improvements or topics you wanna read about!
A Great Day for a Run ...
Saturday saw a break in the cold rainy pattern around the Seattle area. Since I am still recovering from Chuckanut I didn't have any grandiose running plans for Saturday, except accompanying SGF on her first ever 5k, which actually was pretty grandiose in unto itself ... Friday night, came an email from Bob Muk (ESNW). Bob was inviting people to support an ultra runner, Kevin D, as he runs 100 miles around Greenlake in Seattle, WA, by coming out in the eery morning hours for a lap or two with Kevin. I figured if I woke up I would go. And I did wake-up, at about 2:50 am ... Was a great night for run. A little chilly, some overcast, but still the stars shined on the lake. We met up Kevin D. as he was about 50 miles in his goal, so 16-17 laps left to go to his goal. I was really impressed, not only the distance was challenging but running laps around Greenlake is utterly boring. Another runner accompanying Kevin, Jesse, explained to me that there is a reason to the madness: running laps for so long so far toughens you up mentally. Something to consider, maybe I could run a 50k around Greenlake ... Greenlake has a paved loop around the lake for recreational users but we followed Kevin around the outer loop which has a softer track, compact dirt and grass. Bob and I stayed for one loop, which was about 3.3 miles ...
I am glad I came, very impressed with Kevin D, so much so I am inspired to do my own little ultra 50k run around the lake to challenge myself now ... A 50k would take ten laps. Maybe make it 11 for effects? And if I could keep that average pace of 11 min/mile, the entire run would be about 6 hours ... A great confidence builder after my 8 hr 53 min Chuckanut run .... mmm ... definitely thinking about it now ...
After our loop with Kevin D we headed back. I met up with SGF then SGF and I headed to the Armar Road trail head of the Centennial trail to do the Cupcake cake 5k fun Run/Walk. SGF has been training hard to walk her first 5k and I was looking forward to walk it alongside her. She did great, I am very proud of her. Although I figured I would just walk the 5k along side her, I made it a little more challenging for me by jogging it backward instead!!
In the end the best part could be that I won first place male in the 5k ... By virtue of being the only male in the 5k. For a minute I though I was getting the award for finishing first backwards eh eh ... But I'll take it, this may my only first place ever ...
Actually there is a reason for the madness of the 5k backward as well [besides providing a visual carrot to SGF] ... My physical therapist suggested simple exercises to strengthen my backside, such as: swimming on my back, going backward on the elliptical machine or running backward. Because the field of runners is quite small at the 5k I figured, why not, let's try jogging it backward. And so I did ... The backward jogging felt good. I felt like it relieved some of the tightness/pressure I feel in my right buttock. I should remember to cooldown after my runs with a five minute jog backward on a regular basis, feels great [mental note!].
For good measure I jogged down tot he main intersection at 172nd and 67th, another 1.41 miles. When all was said and done I realized that I ran in one direction or another (pun intended) like 8.0 mile. Although non-consecutive this was still pretty cool, but way bad by recovery standard ... Can't help it though, I am addicted to running !
I am glad I came, very impressed with Kevin D, so much so I am inspired to do my own little ultra 50k run around the lake to challenge myself now ... A 50k would take ten laps. Maybe make it 11 for effects? And if I could keep that average pace of 11 min/mile, the entire run would be about 6 hours ... A great confidence builder after my 8 hr 53 min Chuckanut run .... mmm ... definitely thinking about it now ...
After our loop with Kevin D we headed back. I met up with SGF then SGF and I headed to the Armar Road trail head of the Centennial trail to do the Cupcake cake 5k fun Run/Walk. SGF has been training hard to walk her first 5k and I was looking forward to walk it alongside her. She did great, I am very proud of her. Although I figured I would just walk the 5k along side her, I made it a little more challenging for me by jogging it backward instead!!
In the end the best part could be that I won first place male in the 5k ... By virtue of being the only male in the 5k. For a minute I though I was getting the award for finishing first backwards eh eh ... But I'll take it, this may my only first place ever ...
Actually there is a reason for the madness of the 5k backward as well [besides providing a visual carrot to SGF] ... My physical therapist suggested simple exercises to strengthen my backside, such as: swimming on my back, going backward on the elliptical machine or running backward. Because the field of runners is quite small at the 5k I figured, why not, let's try jogging it backward. And so I did ... The backward jogging felt good. I felt like it relieved some of the tightness/pressure I feel in my right buttock. I should remember to cooldown after my runs with a five minute jog backward on a regular basis, feels great [mental note!].
For good measure I jogged down tot he main intersection at 172nd and 67th, another 1.41 miles. When all was said and done I realized that I ran in one direction or another (pun intended) like 8.0 mile. Although non-consecutive this was still pretty cool, but way bad by recovery standard ... Can't help it though, I am addicted to running !
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thoughts on Chuckanut - The Day After
Well it's a day after Chuckanut, starring at the computer screen wondering how to write my expeirience at Chuckanut ... Regan, a runner I was chatting with on the way to Aid Station 4 told me I should let the day sink in, and wait a couple of month before I reflect on the day's event ... This was his fourth 50k, and this his second Chuckanut. So I think it's a good idea ... I have flashbacks from the run, bits and pieces. Why don't I write 20 thoughts about Chuckanut instead? In no particular order:
1 - Walking will eventually hurt more than running.
2 - After ten miles pain goes away if just ignore it long enough.
3 - Projection is a powerful thing. While running the last few miles I projected my core was a warp drive and when I yelled "engage" out load on the trail I was propelled like 5 feet forward instantaneously!
4 - Popping my ultra cherry hurt.
5 - At mile 19 you will have to decide how committed you are to this insanity.
6 - At mile 20 you will embrace your insanity.
7 - Mud will get under your toe nails and skin if you run long enough and deep enough in it.
8 - Ponchos will make you look weak and sissy next to elite runner in short but the poncho will keep you dry and warm rain or snow!
9 - Baked over-salted potatoes is your friend.
10 - Don't swallow a wad of peanut butter at mile 13 your mouth is so dry it will stick to your throat and you will choke!
11 - Thanks a friendly volunteer! It was harder for them to hike to and setup the aid station than it was for you to run to it!
12 - Rule #1: don't slip over rocks next to a huge 150 ft drop ... If you slip, refer to rule #1!
13 - If you though you don't do ankle deep mud ... you do now.
14 - Who the hell is Dan?
15 - Who would had though: tumbling several miles downhill never felt so great than tumbling down Claytor road and the Lost Lake trail directly following hiking up Chinscrapper.
16 - There are two reasons why the Chinscrapper is called the Chinscrapper.
17 - If you can still think you have nothing left inside you, there is still plenty more to go (or else you wouldn't be there to begin with)
18 - Movie quotes work best out on the trail ... The cheesier the better !
19 - There is no comparison to the feeling of ecstasy you get crossing that finish line at mile 31. You will be high on endorphin and will laugh uncontrollably for hours on after the end of the race.
20 - With every high comes a low.
1 - Walking will eventually hurt more than running.
2 - After ten miles pain goes away if just ignore it long enough.
3 - Projection is a powerful thing. While running the last few miles I projected my core was a warp drive and when I yelled "engage" out load on the trail I was propelled like 5 feet forward instantaneously!
4 - Popping my ultra cherry hurt.
5 - At mile 19 you will have to decide how committed you are to this insanity.
6 - At mile 20 you will embrace your insanity.
7 - Mud will get under your toe nails and skin if you run long enough and deep enough in it.
8 - Ponchos will make you look weak and sissy next to elite runner in short but the poncho will keep you dry and warm rain or snow!
9 - Baked over-salted potatoes is your friend.
10 - Don't swallow a wad of peanut butter at mile 13 your mouth is so dry it will stick to your throat and you will choke!
11 - Thanks a friendly volunteer! It was harder for them to hike to and setup the aid station than it was for you to run to it!
12 - Rule #1: don't slip over rocks next to a huge 150 ft drop ... If you slip, refer to rule #1!
13 - If you though you don't do ankle deep mud ... you do now.
14 - Who the hell is Dan?
15 - Who would had though: tumbling several miles downhill never felt so great than tumbling down Claytor road and the Lost Lake trail directly following hiking up Chinscrapper.
16 - There are two reasons why the Chinscrapper is called the Chinscrapper.
17 - If you can still think you have nothing left inside you, there is still plenty more to go (or else you wouldn't be there to begin with)
18 - Movie quotes work best out on the trail ... The cheesier the better !
19 - There is no comparison to the feeling of ecstasy you get crossing that finish line at mile 31. You will be high on endorphin and will laugh uncontrollably for hours on after the end of the race.
20 - With every high comes a low.
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