Week in Review (October 3 - October 9)

Tuesday (9.971 steps) - Barre with Sasha.

Wednesday (13,684 steps) - Runners Roost run club! The run started late so we opted to only do the big loop around the school (with a little bit added on) for just under 3 miles total. I demoed the new Brooks Levitate shoe and actually liked it! I probably could have laced them a bit better because I had some spots that rubbed, but overall, a decent shoe! A ran with Pete and I ran with Janet - fun times! The most exciting part was that I won another grand prize raffle! Looks like A and I will be doing some indoor skydiving soon.

Thursday (14,152 steps) - Berkeley Park run club! Once again A decided that she would hang out with Sully at the store. I had plans to maybe run around just Berkeley Lake, but then I was feeling pretty good so I ran around both. Fastest run in ages! (Cool temps I'm sure help).

The theme for run club was a GABF, so we had our own mini-GABF. We all brought in a bomber and sampled different beers. Fun night!

Friday (11,242 steps) - Barre with Kelly.
Saturday (14,131 steps) - Luckily, Runners Edge's run overlapped with the community/team run at the Runners Roost store in Lone Tree. We had the 7.5 mile turnaround aid station, but neither of us wanted to run that far.

A and I decided to just run to the first aid station and then head back - hopefully seeing our teammates before they all headed out. We ran just over 4 miles and sure enough, got back to the store with enough time for some hellos and a team picture.

We spent HOURS at the store - luckily it was a breakfast potluck, so we had plenty of food. Lots of raffles for both Runners Edge and the team. Between the two of us we won a box of Honey Stinger waffles and a pair of Smartwool socks.

We rushed to pick up our aid station at 10:45, ran home to change clothes and then over to Berkeley Park for their first gear swap. Sadly, it was an afternoon of standing around and not offloading anything except a few running skirts to Kristen. We did, however, make enough money for Torchy's for dinner!
Sunday (28,417 steps) - Louisville trail half marathon.

After the race we headed into Boulder to visit the Roost and pick up my free pair of Asics. I didn't like any of the pairs I tried on so I ended up giving my free shoes to a random lady who was trying some on. Decided to go to the Southern Sun for brunch and to get a beer (there were some new dark beers on tap from the GABF!) We played scrabble AND I FINALLY BEAT A AT A GAME.

Put some chili in the crock pot and went to barre with Heather.
Monday (5,511 steps) - FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR. Womp, womp. Thankfully, with it being Columbus Day there wasn't a ton of traffic so my commute wasn't a nightmare. Skipped the run at New Terrain because it was snowing heavily and we weren't in the mood. As you can tell by steps, I pretty much didn't move all day.

Stats:

• 97,108 steps
• 23.6 miles run
• 3 barre classes

Louisville Trail half marathon (Race Recap)

Sunday, October 8
Louisville, CO
Half Marathon #175
Weather - perfect

With our first snow looming in the forecast, we were really lucky to have perfect running conditions for the last ERS trail race of the year! The Louisville Trail race is also the biggest event of the season.

The half marathon started at 8, so we had plans to arrive by 7, not because it's tough to pick up packets, but because there is basically only street parking and we didn't want to be far away.

We picked up our packets and spent some time talking to Tom. Cycled through the bathroom line once, got more coffee, and got everything ready (I was NOT going to forget my nutrition like I did last year!) I opted to get in line for the bathroom one more time, which caused me to miss the start of the race by a few minutes. No big deal, the race is chip timed.

I took it easy the first mile and then kicked things into a "higher gear" for a while. I did not stop at the first aid station (it was only 1.5 miles out) and did not have to take any walk breaks at all in the first half!

The trees looked amazing off the Coal Creek trail

One thing I like about being the last person across the line is that I can actually pass people! (And pass people I did!). At about 4.8 miles we run back by the finish line, which was a bit disconcerting because the 5K runners were running with us and going into the finish, while we still have 2/3 of our race to go...

Cross under the bridge and I am remembering that this section is deceptively difficult on the way back (I'm  not sure way, I actually think it is a net downhill). There is one large hill, and it's in this section. I take a very short walk break, and that is when I see A - she is running with Tom! Once we get to the top I stop briefly at the aid station and settle in for the last 7 miles.

This section is really pretty and shaded.

I finally saw Kristen and Lisa shortly after the 8 mile marker. I heard Lisa yell that the turnaround was at mile 9. Sweet! I was still feeling pretty good.

I was passing quite a few people at this point and I was really surprised that I was maintaining a speedy pace of mid 10's. Finally, somewhere around mile 10 is when I took a few short walk breaks.

I walked about half of the big hill on the way back and then gave it all I had to run into the finish. The course measured over .2 long, so I probably started my finish line "sprint" too soon.

Thank you Hillary for the heel strike pic!

Happy to be done with this one, and very pleased that this was my fastest half marathon in a year!

Official Time - 2:23:37

Garmin Time - 2:23:37

Garmin Distance - 13.27 miles

Garmin Pace - 10:50

Elevation Gain - 449'

Mile 1 -11:21

Mile 2 - 10:58

Mile 3 - 10:50

Mile 4 - 10:29

Mile 5 - 10:23

Mile 6 - 10:59

Mile 7 - 10:22

Mile 8 - 10:17

Mile 9 - 10:25

Mile 10 - 10:59

Mile 11 - 11:05

Mile 12 - 12:13

Mile 13 - 10:37

Mile 13.3 - 9:58

Meanwhile, A totally ROCKED it! She ran the entire time with Tom (who is a speedy guy) and got a brand new PR (that, yes, is faster than my 10K PR)! Official Time for A - 57:36!!!

A collecting yet another AG prize

The remaining people from the team that were still there when I finished

Thoughts:

• I had a great time running this series again! We had fantastic weather for all events (maybe some were a little warm). However, I think 2018 will be filled with some new events. This is kind of a "been there, done that" now.
• As for this particular event, there was no beer at the finish line, but hilariously, that was spelled out and apologized for in the last email we got prior to the race. 
• This race (I think) was also the fastest time for me last year. I'm sure the lack of technical parts and cooler temperatures probably has a lot to do with it.
• For completing the entire series (one of only two people to run all ten half marathons), I received a cool stainless steel growler - I'll get to fill it for FREE one time at Avery Brewing!

Week in Review (September 26 - October 2)

Tuesday (8,003 steps) - Nothing. Planned on going to barre at lunch. Then I got to work and was reminded we had a meeting, so I had to cancel. A skipped gymnastics so we could go to the "United the Front Range Trailrunning Groups" at Lyons Park. I opted to not run because 1). it was cold and rainy and 2). the run was a relay, with each person running 2.5 miles. I was actually surprised that A wanted to run, especially since the run didn't start until 6:45.

She got paired with a few guys who thankfully let her go first, since apparently there was an ooky, narrow section with a large drop off. At least it wasn't pitch black or pouring during her race. While A was running, I was eating pizza and having a beer. She is badass, conditions were pretty terrible.

This is her running to the "finish" area

Wednesday (15,911 steps) - It had been raining ALL morning. Thankfully, by the time I picked up A it had stopped and was just overcast and chilly. Last Lakewood Trail Series race! I had been thinking that we might have to run on pavement because of all the rain we had the last few days, but upon arrival we were told that we would be running the same 4 mile route we had the first race. At the last minute I decided I would be fine just wearing a singlet and my skirt.

Belmar crew - Mo with Colfax, me, A, Dulce, Paula, Andy, Laurie and Sue

I ran the first mile with Dulce and then was solo the remainder of the race. Walked a few small sections in mile 2, but otherwise, ran MUCH better than I had the first time around - about 3 minutes faster. Managed mid 10 minute mile pace, with my last mile being 9:30 and a sub 8 minute mile sprint!

Dang, I blinked! This is why I wear sunglasses!

I was running well enough that I didn't stop for any pictures other than this one - so pretty!

Afterwards we stayed for the potluck/BBQ. The Westfax brewery was there and we had a lot of junk food for dinner.

Dark, dark, dark

I feel obligated to say that this can was empty - although I did have some of it when Westfax was pouring

Me, A, Francesca and Samm

Thursday (11,617 steps) - Finally headed back to Belmar for run club.

I had thought that I would be walking to "taper," but at the last minute we decided to start with a run and see how we felt. Meredith joined Dulce and Matilda and I (A ran super speedy with Laurie and Annette). It was pretty darn chilly, I was glad I had worn long sleeves. Andy had made some pineapple-fanta-alcohol drinks, accompanied by jell-o shots. Those were tasty.

Headed to Rocko's (for the first time in months) for some nachos.

Friday (8,514 steps) - Nothing!
Saturday (68,836 steps) - Bear Chase 50K!

After I picked up A at Cattail we went back to the finish line. I was finally hungry after running and we had Flippin' Flapjacks (pretty much the best pancakes ever) and sausage. We stuck around until the wind picked up - then we decided it was time to head home. We didn't get home until 6:30 and by the time we showered and had dinner it seemed like it would be a good idea to go to bed.

Sunday (8,003 steps) - Up even earlier because as much as I tried to negotiate arriving "late" for volunteering, I was told I needed to be there by 5:15 (we had gotten up at 4:30). We didn't arrive until 5:30, but it was enough time for us to get set up with packet pick-up.

The half marathon started at 7 and A started to get ready to run the 10K around 7:30. It was a fun morning of handing out medals and taking pictures of teammates. A ran a fantastic race, almost 10 minutes faster than last year!

Official time - 1:05:45
Overall place - 109/239
Gender place - 58/157
Division place - 1/2

A with Jen, her hero!

The last runner didn't come through until almost 11:30 and then we helped with tear down until we left at noon. Immediately headed home to shower so that we could meet up with Dulce for family pictures!! Some of my favorites:

After we got pictures done we went to this cute restaurant in Belmar for snacks and drinks - until the weather took a turn for the worse an it got cold. Our afternoon was cut short and we headed to the grocery store on our way home. In bed early again.
Monday (5,650 steps) - Turns out that it was a good idea to schedule A's make-up gymnastics class for this night as it was POURING all day and we would have skipped running North Table anyway. As you can see I literally did NOTHING all day.

Stats:

• 126,534 steps (thank goodness I ran an ultra. Three days I didn't even hit 10,000 steps)
• 37.6 miles run
• Zero anything else

Bear Chase Trail Race 50K (Race Recap)

Saturday, September 30
Lakewood, CO
Ultra Marathon #26
Weather - Pretty perfect!

I had picked up our packets on Friday after work to avoid the race day pick up, although it wouldn't have been a big deal.

I had slept like crap. Seriously, took forever to fall asleep and then I tossed and turned all night. Got up cranky and tired. A was going to be volunteering with Pete at Cattail while I ran. We left the house a few minutes later than we planned because we were looking for beanies. It rained all week and it was COLD.

Even though the volunteers were supposed to arrive by 5, I hadn't signed her up as an official volunteer because she would be basically pulling a double shift and I wanted to be able to pick her up when I wanted.

When we arrived at Cattail we found that she was only the second volunteer to arrive and Pete was very happy to see her! Chatted for a few minutes before I headed into the park.

I was still there with about 45 minutes until the start so I used the bathroom and then sat in the car until about 15 minutes before the start. I immediately found Francesca, Jandy and Lisa. We discussed our race plans and all started together.

My not-so-secret goal was to run a course PR (around 7:05). I hadn't run the true 50K course since 2012, so NONE of the first loop seemed familiar to me. We ran up the road and then turned onto the trail, where we almost immediately had our first water crossing. More like a baby creek crossing (at least compared to the ones we would encounter later). I was also very surprised to be headed right towards Mt. Carbon. I know A had said that she ran up it last year, but I really did not remember it from the year I ran it.

We were ON Mt. Carbon when my watch beeped the first mile. That type of climbing on tired legs is tough! We all stayed together through the initial decent down Mt. Carbon. Jandy managed to break away and was out of sight pretty quickly.

The course split at the location where the Homestead aid station used to be. I was already getting hot and took of my jacket. I held onto it for a while thinking that I would give it to A. Only after about 15 minutes I remembered that we wouldn't see her on our first small loop. D'oh. Jen was near the road cheering and taking pictures. We crossed the road and ran the same section of "new" trails that we had done at the 7 mile Lakewood trail series event. Just like when I had run it before, took lots of walk breaks along the road as it was uphill-ish feeling.

Hi Jen!

Looped around to the boat ramp aid station where we got to see Sheila. Then it was a few nice miles of shaded trail until we got back to the start/finish and headed out for our first big loop.

Francesca stayed with us for about half of the big loop, although she was getting over a plague of some sort and wasn't even sure if she was going to be finishing the race. We had a great time running/walking and chatting. It was getting warmer this loop and when we got to the river crossings I was pretty happy for the cool down. The third crossing was INSANE this year. I actually had to hold up my skirt to keep it from getting saturated - water was mid thigh on me!!

Like I have done in past years, I took off my shoes on the pavement on the way to Fox Hollow, which is how I discovered I had a hole in my nifty 40th anniversary Runners Roost socks. WOMP WOMP.

All I was taking at the aid stations was soda. I was probably not fueling as well as I should have, but for some reason I was just not hungry. I wasn't nauseous or sick or anything, just not hungry. The stretch from Fox Hollow to Cattail is only 2.4 miles, yet they ALWAYS feel like the longest two miles ever. We have a big climb right out of the gate and then we run along Morrison road for a while until we duck into a small gully where we actually do run next to cattails. We FINALLY arrive at Cattail and I leave jacket on top of A's bag, give Pete a hug and then we head out. A was at the one turn where people have been known to cut the course so we stopped briefly to give her a hug for heading up the last nasty hill of the loop.

It was pretty hot by this point and I was starting to get annoyed and agitated by it. I was watching my watch more than I normally do. At this point it seemed totally reasonable to assume that I would be able to run a course PR as long as I didn't totally fall apart. We ran a lot of the section to the boat ramp, where we saw Sheila again. I had my only fall of the race between the Boat Ramp and start/finish - a pretty decent fly through the air and do a roll type fall. The bigger loop runs on a few other trails and it was longer to get back to the start/finish. Lisa's husband (who I had not met before) was dressed as a character from Pokemon, so that was fun.

Headed out for the last loop, and by calculations, as long as we did the loop in around 3ish hours I would PR. (Spoiler, that didn't happen). On our way up Mt. Carbon we got passed by Michael, who was running the 100K (and going for an actual course PR) . He was on his 4th loop (of 5) and said it was "getting hard." Hahahaha. Lots more walking this loop. The river crossings seemed harder too. The current seemed to be flowing faster and the rocks seemed more slippery.

Didn't bother to take off my shoes this time, and I was imagining the hole in my socks getting bigger by the second. Fox Hollow to Cattail was the longest stretch ever in the whole world. We were really lucky to finally have some clouds roll in and it was no longer a billion degrees. Got to Cattail aid station and A said that she had run with Jandy a bit and that she would be giving her a ride to the finish when she was done.

On our way out of the aid station there was a guy warning everyone about a rattlesnake. WHICH WE FINALLY SAW LIKE AN INCH OF THE TRAIL. I took a picture from a safe distance and we quickly headed out.

CAN YOU SEE HIM???

I knew by then that my PR wasn't going to happen, but we still had a goal for Lisa (which a PR was for her was pretty much inevitable) and we set a goal to finish under 7:20.

A lot more walking than I had hoped. It really seemed like we were never going to make it back. We got close and I told Lisa that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to run into the finish because my legs were soooo tired. Obviously I was being dramatic and I ran through just fine. LONG day, and it was super awesome to have Lisa join me again. She is a good running buddy for these ultras!

Official time - 7:16:18
Overall place - 107/133
Gender place - 37/52
Division place - 15/22
Garmin time - 7:16:35
Garmin distance - 31.1 miles
Elevation gain - 2,310'
Miles 1-5 - 13:35, 11:41, 13:56, 11:20, 12:19
Miles 6-10 - 11:43, 13:11, 12:32, 14:30, 12:17
Miles 11-15 - 15:47, 14:36, 13:23, 14:24, 12:47
Miles 16-20 - 14:02, 14:29, 12:42, 14:49, 14:34
Miles 21-25 - 15:31, 13:10, 15:02, 19:14, 14:42
Miles 26-30 - 16:39, 14:54, 14:26, 14:59, 13:48
Miles 31-31.1 - 14:13, 13:03

Nothing like a celebratory beer!!

Lisa, Ben and me

Me and Jandy

I was incredibly happy to sit down and have a beer. I saw Jandy right away and A was not with her... sure enough A called a few minutes later to ask where I was. On my way...

Thoughts:

• This was my seventh year running this race (all but the inaugural year, otherwise I'd be a legacy runner). I have run the 50 miler twice, this was my third year running the 50K (although one year the course was modified to about 1/3 pavement because of flooding) and the half marathon twice. This is one of the most well organized races I have ever run, which is a lot of the reason I keep coming back.
• The course is very runnable and extremely well marked. Even with multiple distances running, it is very easy to figure out where you are supposed to be. I have never had an issue with knowing where I am going.
• The aid stations are fantastic and are well-stocked with all of the typical "ultra foods." PB&J, chips, pretzels, candy, pickles, soda, etc. I haven't been taking that much food from aid stations, but you totally could use that for all of your needs. They are also very well spaced, I don't think there is ever more than about 4 miles between them, with a few being less than 3 miles apart.
• The course is fantastic for a first ultra. It is a loop course, but the loop is large enough to keep it interesting - plus you have easy access to all of your things every 12.5 miles.
• The medals have a cool new feature this year - they are magnetic and over the next few years you can actually link them all together (sizes vary between the ultra events, the half marathon and the "baby bear," which is the 10K).
• Cool new shirt design this year - red with a Colorado flag logo. If you didn't know, Coloradans like their flag about as much as Texas does, so this is really nifty.
• Will I run this again? You bet! Now that I found out that the 100K offers an early start maybe I'll go for that distance, you never know!