So, last weekend while running the Fat Ass 50K, I met up with: Bob, the other Bob, Rob, and Sara. The main organizer of this informal group is Bob Gaylord. He is apparently notorious for gathering stray runners and collecting them into an ad hoc trail running group on Saturday. He made me (and Toni) memorize his email address at the race so we could be added to his email list for Saturday morning runs.
True to his word, he send out a message on Thursday saying that he would like to meet up at the Hemlock Overlook at about 7:30 on Saturday for a 18-20 mile run. I answered the email that I would be there (not thinking at the time that the PERF Christmas party would in any way hinder my enjoyment of the run). On Saturday morning, it was a crisp 25 degrees and 7 of us showed up for this run. There was Bob (fast old guy- leader of the group), Sara (fun, fast runner from last week), Rob (Lightening- slowed down for us mortals), Casey (young pup Airforce Lieutenant), Denise (super sweet- I would-never-leave-you-behind-runner), Toni (the other "new" addition who will say anything!) and me. If I had not participated in the "open bar" at the Christmas party the night before, I think that I would have enjoyed myself a lot more. That said, I had a great time considering my physical state was less than optimal. We did a 18 mile out and back along the course of the Run Bull Run 50 that is held in the spring. It was COLD at the beginning, but I eventually warmed up (though the temperature was not above freezing for the whole run.)
Sara, Bob, and Rob would run ahead and wait for the rest of us to catch up. We would catch up, have some GU, enjoy some interesting conversation, and head out for another 5 miles or so. There was still about 1 1/2 inches of snow on the trail- so that added some resistance for fun. I have to say that the run was absolutely gorgeous. The woods, the hills, the snow, the river and the good conversation really helped the time pass. Running in Virginia is quite a treat and I am happy that I am getting the opportunity to do it again.
So, we made it through the run, no one died, got left behind, fell in the river, puked,or otherwise suffered permanent injury. Toni and I have been officially welcomed to join other runs. We are all going our separate ways for the holidays, but will be getting together again after the first of the year. I am so glad that I ran into these people, it was really enjoyable and I look forward to doing it again. Toni is hilarious and thanks to her- I will never think of plain GU in the same way again!
PS- I remember Bob telling me that he retired from the Army after 37 years, and I thought that he was probably pretty high in rank. It turns out that he was....he was a brigadier general! Pretty impressive, and for a guy in his 60s-- he is smoking fast.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Dreadmill
I was going to try to go all winter with no "dreadmill running." That officially ended last night. It was in the 20s with wind gusts of 25-30 mph. No outside running!!! It was a lot better than the last time that I ran on the treadmill- but it was still threadmill running. I may have to continue this trend for a while until the weather clears up here. It is supposed to snow Thursday- that could make the run more interesting......
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Western States 100 Conversation
Here is a quick text to movie that I made about the WS 100 lottery. I can see this will be a fun thing to play around with in the future, hopefully I will get better...... enjoy!
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8074127
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/8074127
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Magnus Gluteus Maximus 50K 12-11-10
Yesterday was my first "Fat Ass" event - so I was not sure what to expect. For those of you who may not know, Fat Ass runs are held all over the country, they are somewhat "unofficial" events with no timing, no entry fee, no awards, and sometimes no aid. Really it is just a bunch of people getting together for a really long training run.
The weather was COLD for a Texas girl. It was 25 at the start and "warmed" up to the 40s. I did not take off any of my gear for the whole day.
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club puts on this event every year. "It is just like a large Christmas party for type A personalities," quoted the RD at the beginning "briefing." We went out into the cold for the start picture and then he said "go." I was surprised to hear that there would be a couple of aid stations that we would pass twice- I was not expecting aid stations. They were self serve but fully stocked with water, Gatorade, and multiple snack options. Oh yeah, there was also a bottle of Bourbon at the turnaround aid station, for anyone who wanted a swig.
As usual, the trail running crowd is a friendly bunch and within the first 20 minutes I was chatting with a group of runners. Bob and the other Bob were the most vocal, but they were all chatting and laughing at the start. Bob #1 had recruited Karen at a marathon to try trail running, so he was accompanying her for 20 miles (another benefit of Fat Ass runs- you only do as much mileage as you feel like)- so they were turning back early. Sara was in this group and was disappointed to learn that they were not going the whole distance. Bob pointed out that I was doing the full 50K and that Sara and I could run together. This was a great suggestion.
Sara was a great running partner. We soon left the other group and started out on our journey. Thank God I had Sara to show me the route. This is an area that she runs frequently, so she knows the trails- I would have been lost for sure. The route is "blazed" and I am pretty good at following trails, but there are some wild turns in this route. We talked about everything under the sun, kept our pace steady, spent way too much time at aid stations and generally had a pleasant day of running. We finished in 6:57, my slowest 50K time, but the course was difficult and it was not a real "race"- we were just having fun.
We get back to the lodge (this is where we started too- warm with a lovely fireplace) and everyone was waiting for the second round of pizza to be delivered. I took a quick shower, dropped in for a couple of slices of pizza before heading out for a evening filled with errands. They also were fully stocked with beer at the end- but I was unable to partake- darn city car to drive. I have to admit, I like this crowd. Laid back, friendly and not afraid to toss a couple back at the end. Feels like home. :-)
Bruce was running the Texas Trail 50K in Huntsville at the same time. (It was like we were running a 50K together- but not really). He had totally different weather and terrain, but he finished in 7:54. I know that running in the heat is not his thing, so I know that it was difficult- it was in the mid 70s in the afternoon. Allen and Denise were also out in Huntsville battling the old "Sunmart" trails. It sounds like they all had a great time too and I am sorry that I missed it- but I was with them in spirit!
The weather was COLD for a Texas girl. It was 25 at the start and "warmed" up to the 40s. I did not take off any of my gear for the whole day.
The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club puts on this event every year. "It is just like a large Christmas party for type A personalities," quoted the RD at the beginning "briefing." We went out into the cold for the start picture and then he said "go." I was surprised to hear that there would be a couple of aid stations that we would pass twice- I was not expecting aid stations. They were self serve but fully stocked with water, Gatorade, and multiple snack options. Oh yeah, there was also a bottle of Bourbon at the turnaround aid station, for anyone who wanted a swig.
As usual, the trail running crowd is a friendly bunch and within the first 20 minutes I was chatting with a group of runners. Bob and the other Bob were the most vocal, but they were all chatting and laughing at the start. Bob #1 had recruited Karen at a marathon to try trail running, so he was accompanying her for 20 miles (another benefit of Fat Ass runs- you only do as much mileage as you feel like)- so they were turning back early. Sara was in this group and was disappointed to learn that they were not going the whole distance. Bob pointed out that I was doing the full 50K and that Sara and I could run together. This was a great suggestion.
Sara was a great running partner. We soon left the other group and started out on our journey. Thank God I had Sara to show me the route. This is an area that she runs frequently, so she knows the trails- I would have been lost for sure. The route is "blazed" and I am pretty good at following trails, but there are some wild turns in this route. We talked about everything under the sun, kept our pace steady, spent way too much time at aid stations and generally had a pleasant day of running. We finished in 6:57, my slowest 50K time, but the course was difficult and it was not a real "race"- we were just having fun.
We get back to the lodge (this is where we started too- warm with a lovely fireplace) and everyone was waiting for the second round of pizza to be delivered. I took a quick shower, dropped in for a couple of slices of pizza before heading out for a evening filled with errands. They also were fully stocked with beer at the end- but I was unable to partake- darn city car to drive. I have to admit, I like this crowd. Laid back, friendly and not afraid to toss a couple back at the end. Feels like home. :-)
Bruce was running the Texas Trail 50K in Huntsville at the same time. (It was like we were running a 50K together- but not really). He had totally different weather and terrain, but he finished in 7:54. I know that running in the heat is not his thing, so I know that it was difficult- it was in the mid 70s in the afternoon. Allen and Denise were also out in Huntsville battling the old "Sunmart" trails. It sounds like they all had a great time too and I am sorry that I missed it- but I was with them in spirit!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Interesting training runs
There are a few things that I learned about this area.
1. There are awesome trails around- but you have a bit of a drive to get to them.
2. What is considered a "flat" course is not really flat- it is just not mountainous.
3. People here call paved bike paths "trails"--- these are not trails in my book.
4. It gets dark so unbelievably early (before 5 pm).
5. Some of the best runs are when you have no idea where you are going or where you will end up.
My daily runs are usually less than interesting. I run on the streets in a busy (Midtown-ish) area of Arlington. There was a great bike path only 1/2 mile away, but now it is dark too early to use it. Morning running? Fugget-abowt-it! Too freaking cold (and dark).
However, when Bruce has been in town, we have headed into DC for some really great runs. (I admit it-he did all of the route planning.) We ran the National Mall one night- around the Capital, Washington Monument, WWII Monument, and Lincoln Memorial. Running along and seeing our national monuments lighted and running to the top of the stairs at the Lincoln to pay your respects.....priceless. It was about 5.25 miles and it was great!
For our next running adventure, Bruce found a set of stairs in Georgetown that was used in the movie "The Exorcist." It was the scene where the priest fell out a window and down a huge staircase to "get the demon out of him." All I remember about that movie is that is scared the crap out of me and I wanted to forget everything in it. We ran there, made it to the top, and back down- conquered "the demon." Then we got a little lost, I almost got run over by a truck (my fault), crossed a highway, went over a grassy hill and ended up at the Lincoln Memorial. We ran along the National Mall again to the Metro and boarded a train for home. Total 5.72 miles @ a 9:30 average pace- not too shabby.
When Bruce is here on the weekends, we head down to Prince William Forest for our long runs. We did a few 10 or-so- mile runs there. It is an awesome park and we have the trail system down pat- almost. We usually run, change our clothes and go grab a bite in Stafford before heading back. It is amazing that you can run 10+ miles, change out of wet clothes - do some minor "clean up" and go out and not be offensive smelling. The temps and lack of humidity are nice!
I have also run along the aforementioned bike path, to the Potomac and past the Memorials on the Arlington side of the river. It was an incredibly nice day when I did this run, the sun was out and it was in the 40s - 50s, with low humidity. It was so nice and beautiful that I was originally going for 8, then 10, and finally 11 miles. Thank God there was construction or who knows how far I would have gone. I was just so pretty to look out over the river and see the monuments in the distance.
1. There are awesome trails around- but you have a bit of a drive to get to them.
2. What is considered a "flat" course is not really flat- it is just not mountainous.
3. People here call paved bike paths "trails"--- these are not trails in my book.
4. It gets dark so unbelievably early (before 5 pm).
5. Some of the best runs are when you have no idea where you are going or where you will end up.
My daily runs are usually less than interesting. I run on the streets in a busy (Midtown-ish) area of Arlington. There was a great bike path only 1/2 mile away, but now it is dark too early to use it. Morning running? Fugget-abowt-it! Too freaking cold (and dark).
However, when Bruce has been in town, we have headed into DC for some really great runs. (I admit it-he did all of the route planning.) We ran the National Mall one night- around the Capital, Washington Monument, WWII Monument, and Lincoln Memorial. Running along and seeing our national monuments lighted and running to the top of the stairs at the Lincoln to pay your respects.....priceless. It was about 5.25 miles and it was great!
For our next running adventure, Bruce found a set of stairs in Georgetown that was used in the movie "The Exorcist." It was the scene where the priest fell out a window and down a huge staircase to "get the demon out of him." All I remember about that movie is that is scared the crap out of me and I wanted to forget everything in it. We ran there, made it to the top, and back down- conquered "the demon." Then we got a little lost, I almost got run over by a truck (my fault), crossed a highway, went over a grassy hill and ended up at the Lincoln Memorial. We ran along the National Mall again to the Metro and boarded a train for home. Total 5.72 miles @ a 9:30 average pace- not too shabby.
When Bruce is here on the weekends, we head down to Prince William Forest for our long runs. We did a few 10 or-so- mile runs there. It is an awesome park and we have the trail system down pat- almost. We usually run, change our clothes and go grab a bite in Stafford before heading back. It is amazing that you can run 10+ miles, change out of wet clothes - do some minor "clean up" and go out and not be offensive smelling. The temps and lack of humidity are nice!
I have also run along the aforementioned bike path, to the Potomac and past the Memorials on the Arlington side of the river. It was an incredibly nice day when I did this run, the sun was out and it was in the 40s - 50s, with low humidity. It was so nice and beautiful that I was originally going for 8, then 10, and finally 11 miles. Thank God there was construction or who knows how far I would have gone. I was just so pretty to look out over the river and see the monuments in the distance.
Races and Places
So, since moving to the DC area, I have run a couple of races and of course some awesome training runs. I will start with the races:
On October 31, 2010, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon for a PR of 4:03. I really really wanted to break 4 hours, but that (4:03) was the absolute best that I could do that day. Bruce flew in for the weekend and was along the course as I ran. What a nice bonus! The weather was super- overall a wonderful race. Many thanks to Sandra and Mike, as they helped me get into a race that was officially "closed." Also, an unexpected bonus was that because there was some crazed sniper up here taking shots at Marine facilities in the days leading up to the marathon, so there was a ton of extra security. There were helicopters (police and military) constantly buzzing the route. It was a nice diversion especially since as I thought at one point (around mile 20), that I may possibly die from this effort. :-)
On November 20, 2010, I ran the inaugural Stone Mill 50 mile in Damascus, MD. This course did not seem to have any flat sections - constant rolling hills. Not huge hills, but for a flat-lander it was quite a challenge. Of course there were low temps at the start and a little (ankle deep) water crossing at mile 4 and 47-the usual ultra-running stuff. They also decided that a 50 mile race was so blase' they would have a 51 mile race (with a 56 mile option). Crazy ultra trail running people. Gotta love em. I finished in 10:47, which is one of my slowest 50 mile times, but the terrain was reasonably hard and I was semi-ready.
I have semi-officially notified the Virginia Happy Trails Running club that I will also be running the Magnus Gluteus Maximus 50 km this weekend. It is on the same course as a popular 50 miler (Run Bull Run). I will let you know how that one goes. I am not looking forward to the cold this weekend, but at least there will be about 180 other crazies out there with me!
On October 31, 2010, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon for a PR of 4:03. I really really wanted to break 4 hours, but that (4:03) was the absolute best that I could do that day. Bruce flew in for the weekend and was along the course as I ran. What a nice bonus! The weather was super- overall a wonderful race. Many thanks to Sandra and Mike, as they helped me get into a race that was officially "closed." Also, an unexpected bonus was that because there was some crazed sniper up here taking shots at Marine facilities in the days leading up to the marathon, so there was a ton of extra security. There were helicopters (police and military) constantly buzzing the route. It was a nice diversion especially since as I thought at one point (around mile 20), that I may possibly die from this effort. :-)
On November 20, 2010, I ran the inaugural Stone Mill 50 mile in Damascus, MD. This course did not seem to have any flat sections - constant rolling hills. Not huge hills, but for a flat-lander it was quite a challenge. Of course there were low temps at the start and a little (ankle deep) water crossing at mile 4 and 47-the usual ultra-running stuff. They also decided that a 50 mile race was so blase' they would have a 51 mile race (with a 56 mile option). Crazy ultra trail running people. Gotta love em. I finished in 10:47, which is one of my slowest 50 mile times, but the terrain was reasonably hard and I was semi-ready.
I have semi-officially notified the Virginia Happy Trails Running club that I will also be running the Magnus Gluteus Maximus 50 km this weekend. It is on the same course as a popular 50 miler (Run Bull Run). I will let you know how that one goes. I am not looking forward to the cold this weekend, but at least there will be about 180 other crazies out there with me!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sorry for the lack of attention
Ok, so since I have moved to the DC area, I have been errant in my blog posting. Many apologies. I have been doing a little racing and I will post the race reports soon. I just wanted to start posting to my blog again as something EXCITING happened today.....
I entered the Western States 100 with no real expectation of being selected, so imagine my surprise this morning as I checked the website to learn that I was selected!!! I will be ramping up my training to get ready for this premier event. I am so excited! I already have 2 excellent pacers that I know I can count on to help me through. The race in June 25-26, 2011, so I have some time to prepare.
I will keep you posted....
Until then, if you are interested in learning about the Western States 100, here is the link:
http://www.ws100.com/
I entered the Western States 100 with no real expectation of being selected, so imagine my surprise this morning as I checked the website to learn that I was selected!!! I will be ramping up my training to get ready for this premier event. I am so excited! I already have 2 excellent pacers that I know I can count on to help me through. The race in June 25-26, 2011, so I have some time to prepare.
I will keep you posted....
Until then, if you are interested in learning about the Western States 100, here is the link:
http://www.ws100.com/
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