Training Log: jsnyder

Longmute - home to reformatory branch to concord to battle road to work with gravel bike. One of the walkways still closed and now fiske hill closed on the battle road, bummer.

Slow reformatory branh/wetlands run with the group. Legs still pretty sore after sisters but managed to get them to move.

CX around the fells. Felt fine on the bike but hurting walking around.

Warmup

7 Sisters Trail Race
I was very nervous going into this one because I haven't been feeling very well since Boston. I only had a little bit of trail work in the legs prior to the race and my heels and other random body parts keep hurting. It was nice to be on the line with a very happy and supportive elite girls group (I'd like to see if I can get a copy of that photo they took of everyone). Good to see Alex at a race, but I will admit I was pretty nervous she was going to chase me down the hills.

Started out in front (unnecessary but no one else seemed to want the lead). Got passed near top of hill and I tried to hang on as best as I could. I actually seemed to be running faster down the hills, but the lead lady was putting distance on going up. I passed her at one point because she was going pretty easy down. This turned out to be a mistake because she passed me going back up. She also asked me if I had run the race before, which yeah I get it I was probably going too fast.

We were passing a lot of guys in the elite group at this point, and I started to get further and further back, sometimes having a hard time passing the guys. I was drinking a lot of gatorade, but I had made it too strong and it was kinda gross. At this point I was just trying to maintain pace and I felt like I was much more in tune with the race this year. Another woman caught up to me around the top of the last hill, but I seemed to take the downhill a bit faster than me. I chugged the rest of my gatorade and filled my handheld with water at the bottom.

The other girl didn't fill anything so she got a lead on the uphill. I caught up to her pretty quick, but she was running more of the ups than me. And I think I crashed a little bit on this uphill, so took in a gel and let her get away. I was feeling better by the top but off a little so never reeled her in again. I felt like I just couldn't get any flow anymore, but managed to keep things going along mostly well. Got more water at the next 2 aid stations and ate one more gel along the way. Last year this portion seemed to go on forever, but I felt much better getting through the second half this year.

Until that is the top of the last hill. My stomach cramped up something awful and it was hurting like crazy coming down. One guy passed me going rather quickly and I could hear one more gaining (definitely worried that it was Alex but turned out to be a guy). Made it to the finsh but had to sit down because my stomach hurt so badly. Thankfully got water from a friend and watched Alex finish.

I was waiting for another friend to finish still sitting down and just started to feel worse and worse. Dizzy and pukey and couldn't even think about food. Ended up standing up and throwing up water in the woods. Went over to awards for 3rd place prize, but was walking around almost passing out. Got told to sit down and stayed there for a bit. But eventually ended up going back to the car and lying down in grass for a few minutes. Definitely couldn't consider ice cream. Had a banana in the car and was feeling somewhat better by the time I got home.

Worst post race thing ever. I've thrown up before but never felt like this. Maybe too much sugar/gatorade intake? I might have over done it since I felt a bit bonky last year on the way back.

Last year I was a couple of minutes faster according to strava. I think Boston put a wrench in things this year. Not planning on doing Boston again next year, but maybe will try some different trail races too. Who knows.

C • Oh jeez 2