Extreemelies - Wkend Rpts 3/18 -20

ran for a few hours with my running partner this morning. it was cold, brrrrrrr. taper time for Umstead.

50 miles at the NJ Ultra Festival in 12:28 (PR).

Way to go Steve! Aren't you also running Umstead in just 2 weeks? 

I did my last weekend of back to back modestly longer runs before Umstead--17.5 Saturday and then 20 on Sunday. I think it's time to declare myself as ready as I'll ever be and start a gentle taper. I can't wait to get in the car and point south to NC.

yes!

My report is up, by the way: http://stevetursi.blogspot.com/2011/03/nj-ultra-festival-50-miler-1228-pr.html

Congrats on the PR, Steve!!

I went for a lap at Mountain Highway Madness 10th Anniversary.

7.5km up....7.5km down. I usually do 3 laps, but this year I intended to do 2.

Deep snow in the higher elevations prevented me from doing more than 1 lap. Only one person did a second lap. The rest of us transitioned the post race party from the brew pub, to a coffee house (due to the rather earlier finish time).

Fun times in the sun, though.

CW 293

LW 292

SW ~320

GW 220

Gain +1

But I can explain!

Ran a 50 on Saturday and with the loading on Friday and the "recovery meals" on Sunday I ate a lot, but I ran a lot more. Today I'm back on plan and can expect 6-7lbs of water weight to drop off before Wednesday.

Will be out of town next Monday, so my weigh-in will be Tuesday or Wednesday.

 Congrats, Steve!

I was in Longview WA Saturday for the Pacific Rim One Day run.

Ran ok, stopped at 40 miles but then walked a couple of loops so I ended the day with 42 miles.

Strangely, walking for another 8~16 hours held little appeal, so I hopped in my car and drove home.

I walked the last two loops with a NW runner who had just completed the Iditarod 350. Took her a little over 8 days to complete. oh boy

gumbee...I'm surprised you weren't at Chukanut this weekend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudrunner 

gumbee...I'm surprised you weren't at Chukanut this weekend.

I went for a run on the day of registration, got back and the race had sold out.

Man, there were some fast folks there! Geoff Roes ran  3:41 setting a new mens record, and Elle Greenwood ran 4:12 setting a new womens record.

(please delete this post, I put it in the wrong thread.)

Yep....Ellie is on fire this year (she's also a veteran of Mountain Highway Madness).

She set a female course record at Knee Knacker last year (almost catching Gary Robbins) & I hear she did fairly well at the World 100km by running a sub 7:30(sadly for us, she did her patriotic duty & ran for her home country instead of her "homey" country... ;-) ).

I'll go out on a limb and say that (barring injury), she is my top pick for Western States this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gumbee 

I went for a run on the day of registration, got back and the race had sold out.

 

Man, there were some fast folks there! Geoff Roes ran  3:41 setting a new mens record, and Elle Greenwood ran 4:12 setting a new womens record.

 

Saturday I did nothing except grillin' and beer drinkin'

Sunday, I joined the Tobacco Road Marathon half-way to pace a friend to the finish - a harsh reminder of why this kind of event is not for me. Way too many people, and over an hour wait for a bus to the parking lot. Ugh. But was happy to pace this particular friend because she was my lap 8 pacer at Umstead last year so that aspect was fun.

Time to taper.

Way to PR, Steve!

Saturday: Another 100M DNF but I had fun!

Quick Rundown:

I was in the midnight 100M start group. It was sprinkling at the starting line but it was quickly replaced with fog. I was glad I had a headlamp and flashlight as the fog reflected the light back into my eyes. We eventually climbed out of the fog and could see the monster moon through the clouds. The climb to the course high point was no problem and this year I did not get lost looking for the deck of cards :)  At the Lion Canyon/Topa Aid Station I was able to sample some "cat food" dip. 

The run down to the Rose Valley aid station was an easy job in the morning light. I met up with my mom and dropped off my headlamp. Then I headed back to the Lion Canyon/Topa Aid Station. Another easy climb for me. Back at the aid station, I had a volunteer snap a photo of me enjoying the cat food. 

On this next segment, I managed to lose my handheld bottle after visiting the bushes. Fortunately, I had cell phone coverage on the ridge so I called my mom and hoped she could figure something out. When I got to the next ridge aid station, I drank a huge glass of diluted ginger ale as to make sure I didn't pay skimping on water. 

My quads started to hurt on the descent back into Rose Valley aid station but I was able to keep running. There were a few snow flurries as I was running down. My mom was back and Chris Rios made her/me a Duct Tape C2M bottle! As I was changing into a warmer top, several runners suggested I add pants. I ignored them :)

The next climb worked the soreness from my quads so I was able to blast down the sweetest piece of single track into Howard's Creek aid station. It is amazing how good someone can feel after hiking/running 50+ miles! As I came into the station, a volunteer holding a beer asked what I needed. I asked if they had beers for runners. Yep. That beer was so good after that wonderful descent.  

Another climb up and the ridge with no problems. I was really peaked for going up the ridge. The Gridley Top volunteers were all dressed in animal costumes. I refilled my bottles and headed out. After a few turns, I looked back and saw the RD in a pig costume with a runner (Sue, the RD's wife) that I had been yo-yo-ing for the last 50 miles :)  She finally caught up to me and we ran down together until my quads needed a break. That was when the breakdown hit. I got dizzy and really hot. I was sweating like mad. I stripped to cool off and then my core temperature dropped. I was shivering and the outside temperature was mid 50's. I put everything I had on and added hand warmers. I made no decisions and set my mind to getting to the next aid station. It took forever because I was cold and my quads were hurting.

At the aid station, I sat in the car to warm up and drank some soup for 5 minutes. I started to feel a little better but I started shivering again once I stepped outside. I was unsure if I wanted to continue. A volunteer suggested I change into warm clothes.  She and my mom helped me change and I felt a 1000 bucks better. I was getting ready to continue when the aid station caption reminded me that it was 14 miles until the next off-ridge station and real help would be available. Basically, I needed to be sure I would not have another hot/cold attack. I wasn't so I dropped.

Later that night, I woke up with my left sinuses inflamed and my throat swollen. It appears that hot/cold attack was a fever. In addition, it started to rain as we were leaving the aid station. The storm got really bad and the run was shut down around midnight. I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had stayed out there.

Click here to see more photos. I should be adding my mom's photos tonight. 

Chris G

Good call on pulling the plug, Chris....better to be safe to run another day (or more).

Btw....love the dude with the 'fro!

Chris:

Nice pics; I would love to run C2M. Sorry about the dnf, but the race was about to be blown up by the weather anyway, right? The inability to regulate body temp is one of those reasons you should stop running. That can be dangerous, so, good decision.  Did you get to go to the bowling night pre-race?

Fred (who would love to run the C2M, but not with the weather the last two years)

I've been out of the loop for a couple weeks, both running and checking KR.  Because......  Three weeks ago I finished the biggest ultramarathon of my life, my doctorate!  Then two days later, I RD'd a small trail race (http://chillydograce.blogspot.com/).  Then three days after that, I went to Ireland for two weeks vacation.  So not much running for me.  But I did do quite a bit of hiking, including climbing about five peaks (and two of the 12 Pins) in the Connemara.  So I wasn't exactly lazy in the last little while.  But I'm looking forward to getting back to running.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudrunner 

Good call on pulling the plug, Chris....better to be safe to run another day (or more).

 

Btw....love the dude with the 'fro!

I just wish I had snapped a photo from the Gridley Top aid station. All the volunteers were in animal costumes. I was going to when I returned but there was no return.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phredmur 

Chris:

 

Nice pics; I would love to run C2M. Sorry about the dnf, but the race was about to be blown up by the weather anyway, right? The inability to regulate body temp is one of those reasons you should stop running. That can be dangerous, so, good decision.  Did you get to go to the bowling night pre-race?

 

Fred (who would love to run the C2M, but not with the weather the last two years)

C2M is such as awesome weekend. I just wish the weather has been better the two years I've gone. The previous two years the weather was perfect. I'm hoping next year will be better even though I'll be putting in my volunteer time (it is that good). I am going to figure out how to pack bottles so I can fly in my favorite local brew.

My mom and I also did the pre-race bowling. I doubled my score from last year!

My continued failure to finish 100M is so frustrating. It has never been from lack of training or choosing too hard an event. I will be going strong then I hurt myself (Bear 100), don't own proper gear for the conditions (C2M 2010), or get sick (C2M 2011).

Oh well. On to the next goal: finish San Juan Solstice 50M in under 13 hours. 

Thanks All!

ChrisG

Congratulations Dr.Mark!!!

Nice vacation as well!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by markc7 

I've been out of the loop for a couple weeks, both running and checking KR.  Because......  Three weeks ago I finished the biggest ultramarathon of my life, my doctorate!  Then two days later, I RD'd a small trail race (http://chillydograce.blogspot.com/).  Then three days after that, I went to Ireland for two weeks vacation.  So not much running for me.  But I did do quite a bit of hiking, including climbing about five peaks (and two of the 12 Pins) in the Connemara.  So I wasn't exactly lazy in the last little while.  But I'm looking forward to getting back to running.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by markc7 

I've been out of the loop for a couple weeks, both running and checking KR.  Because......  Three weeks ago I finished the biggest ultramarathon of my life, my doctorate!  Then two days later, I RD'd a small trail race (http://chillydograce.blogspot.com/).  Then three days after that, I went to Ireland for two weeks vacation.  So not much running for me.  But I did do quite a bit of hiking, including climbing about five peaks (and two of the 12 Pins) in the Connemara.  So I wasn't exactly lazy in the last little while.  But I'm looking forward to getting back to running.

 

WOOT! Congratulations!