Sunday, October 31, 2010

Horror Hill

Fall marathon vs. fall ultra.
Pavement vs. trail.
Large crowds vs. small group
Endless logistical issues vs. Simplicity
Hotel with potential bed bugs vs. my own bed.
Potential BQ vs New personal distance record.
Faceless race director vs. Race director who introduced himself and suggested I think about his race.
Toronto Good life Marathon vs. Horror Hill 6hour Ultra.

The trail won.

I went into the race with my longest run being four hours, and about a month worth of sleep deprivation related to endless night shifts so not quite prepared for the distance but prepared for fatigue. I haven't had enough time to swim this month and thus my hip has been bothering me and my chiropractor felt I pulled my sartorius muscle, but she just tells me to tough it out for everything. I was worried about the weather and clothing and a little about my pelvic floor but all non issues going into the race. Now I should say that is was not to be a race but a personal challenge.

The course was a 2.5km loop and the goal for the non- runners is to run around it as many times as possible in the given six hours. I wasn't worried about the repetition and figured I would just get into the mental place that repeats. In reality i LOVED the course. The only part I didn't like was about 200metres long, the section around the pond. I just didn't like the un even ground. There was two walk hills, and one semiwalk hill which I always walked just for the break. These were not major hills but enough you knew it would be in your best interest to walk. It was not to technical but an eye had to be on the trail for portions due to roots.

It was absolutly perfect for a first ultra as I didn't have to carry any supplies. I spent much of the time thinking about what I was going to have at the aid station on the next loop around.. and the loop after that. I have become more and more convinced that the key to successful long and fasts is to not stop taking in calories. I brought enough food to feed the entire race flied I'm sure. I was worried that I would stop digesting and get nauseated/sick but I honestly think I gained weight I was eating so much. I had:
-2 gels
-2 packages of Powerbar gel blasts
-10ish e-load caps
-Half a ham and cheese sandwich
- 1-2 bananas
- 1 apple
-1/2 orange
- Several handfuls of pretzels
-Several handfuls of almonds
-1.5- 2L of water

The race is kinda blurring all together. I wanted to chat but the women were kinda quiet/not friendly but the men were all friendly. I find I go faster if I am talking so I tried to stick with the talkers. However every so often I would get scared I was going too fast and would pay for it later so I slowed down. I had some dark moments between two and three hours as my feet were killing me. I tried some Tylenol - no result so I switched shoes, took more Tylenol, had a sandwich, and a gel and started to feel much better by 3.5 hours. There were no actual blisters but my mizenos are tight. I was convinced I needed a AA width but perhaps not. I had fun singing at times- which helped everybody else run faster to get away from me. I didn't enjoy getting lapped so many fricken times by Laurie M. Other people lapped me but she was the only person I knew by name. There were twins, dressed identically, who appartnely didn't speak a word the entire race who kinda creeped me out.

Overall my goal was to run conservatively- start slow and stay slow. To walk all the hills and pace myself. I wanted to break the marathon distance, and I figured that I wouldn't do much more as I would be going slow.
In the end I did 55.9k. I am pleased with my first ultra experience, I knew I had more in the tank and was frustrated when it came to six hours as every step as a new personal best. I don't see a jump into the ultra distance but now I know it isn't that bad

A day later I feel good. actually. Mildly stiff but nothing like the pain I felt after my marathon. I am on a two week break from running... so if anybody wants to go for a walk.......

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Urgent Help NEEDED


I am doing my first ultra on Saturday and I need new music!!!!! I know I have asked before and got few answers BUT now I need everybody who reads this blog to respond and let me know what you are listening too. I am interested in music types except Jazz. Kathie- please contribute blue grass ideas.

I will be running for SIX hours... do you feel guilty..... Good.
Email: annelizabeth@gmail.com
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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Double Podiem Finish!

This morning Luke and I completed the Autumn Colours 5k/10k in Owen Sound.
Luke did the 5k with a goal to complete in under 25minutes.. and he did it with a time of 24:40!! Also earning him third in the 20-40 age category. In the door prize department in scored us two tickets to the Blythe Festival theatre for any performance during the 2011 season.
I did the 10k. Hoped to complete in under 45minutes. Long story short 46:29. Apparently I have lost all my speed. Got second overall to Tracy Greig... she destroyed me by 5minutes I bet. Had had a little hope that I could have won this small race..... cause I actually have never won a race before and I think that should be on my bucket list. In the door prize department, I won a fan.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Beep Test

For the fourth or fifth consecutive spring/fall I have lead a run clinic sponsored mostly by saucony and logistical organized by the Saugeen triathlon club. I usually lead the 10:1 or continuous running... but at other people's paces I usually don't get enough of a workout in. Sure the discounted gear and free stuff is nice but frankly I was getting sick of it. I wanted a break.

But somehow my name was volunteered to run a 10k clinic. For my own sanity I had to make it as different as possible. Thus we did:
- Two weeks of flied trips to a conservation area for trail running on a course I had to mark out prior to every bodies arrival and take down after everybody was done.
- Hill work out
- Track workout
- Fartlek workout
-This week was a beep test
-Next week is a timed 10k run

Does anybody have any ideas on other group run work outs that are challenging and diverse?

Friday, October 15, 2010

I'm Funnier

So i'm reading Sh*t my Dad Says by Justin Halperm, and what really bugs me is that I say shit like that all the time and I don't get offers from media for book deals, No all I get is trouble.

Now I'm going to get trouble for saying sh*t.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

On Running

- Rest really does wonders. Thank you nights at work.

-I forget how fast just plain running on pavement is. I did my 5k PB tonight with out noticing the effort and ran 17k with what felt like little effort. In 1.5 hours.

- I am going to do Horror Hill a six hour race- basically see how many time you can run around a 2.5k loop in six hours. I don't think I am very well trained for it, but I figure I can always walk. Really i am really excited for the hamburgers afterwards.

- I need to lose 5 pounds to faster.

- I need to buy new shoes, My mizunos don't feel so well after 20k.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The date...

10/10/10

Best day of the year.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Totally Materialist Post

I love my summer rubber boots, they don't love me. They have become too small. Somehow the area in which houses my calves just don't want to accommodate the girth of said calves.

Thus a search for new rubber boots. I have had a wanting for Hunter boots ever since I saw them somewhere virtual years ago. I even asked somebody to bring back a pair from England. She refused. Thus I recently saw them on my last visit to Barrie EVER and instantly without skipping a beat knew it didn't matter how much they cost... I HAD TO HAVE THEM.......but they will not have me. The sadness overcometh.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Visitor

Tonight while nursing the three year old at the computer there were some odd noises coming from the basement. After convincing Luke that yes he has to investigate we find a squirrel held up in our basement.
"So is there like a squirrel removal person we can call?"

Long story short neighbour Dennis saved the day....but could anybody help us figure out how the damn thing got in?

The run that shouldn't been- The Toad 2010

You know how sometimes you shouldn't make quick decisions? Apparently I don't.

People were talking about Run for the Toad and I got all caught up in the excitement and managed to buy a bib to a the sold out event. Sure it would not be recorded as me but that's ok. What is not Ok is racing the race under somebody elses name and also forgetting to put on the chip. Essentially I felt invisible.
My race progressed something like this:
  • Original plan: Gel often, run at a 5:00pace try to practice a novel concept of pacing oneself.
  • Stomach felt a little off so waited to gel at the start line. Ran the first two km in 8minutes- realize that I forgot to put my chip on my shoe. Yell obscenity.
  • New plan: That's ok, no big deal I will know how fast I am go.
  • Get disheartened. New, new plan race the first lap and take it easy on the second. Spend the entire first lap trying to convince myself to keep on pushing- try to focus on the easy fun lap to come. 50% success on that.
  • Complete the first lap in 1:02:43. Immediately start going on easy street. Walk up any hill I want, just trotting along, chatting with people. Spend a few fast kilometres running with another girl - lose her on a hill.
  • Second lap 1:10:ish. Total: 2:12:48. Took one gel. Didn't want to waste them on what wasn't going to happen.

Started to rain heavy the last 6k of my second lap. Course was just starting to get slippy and muddy when I furnished. Went to the chiro for a full treatment, went for a massage by students. The girl I got does not have a promising future. Stood in front of the heater in the massage tent until I stopped shaking. Ran to car. Could not stop shaking. Changed completely to many many layers. Went ate meal. Good food. Sat with strangers- Thanks Ang and Bodo. Watched awards, few door prises- sooo slow. Left to watch the finish line. Got cold and heated back to the car.

Then I heard my name being called... but that was impossible I thought, I was Barb M?? I was worried that Ron was hurt and gave my name so I raced up to the front. No message for Anne Mccutcheon hmmm that's odd I have never encountered another Anne Mccutcheon runner?? Realise about 10km away from the race site realise I filled out a door prise ballet with my name. Yell obscenity to myself.

Ok the course has potential for fast trail times... but I think I prefer tougher technical This felt like high school cross country. Nice facilities... except for my ever present concern of not enough toilets. There will never be enough.