Training Log Archive: Swisstoph

Went up to Hanging Lake.

Event: RMOC Orienteering Meet - Fox Run Regional Park
 

Event: Big Mountain Trail Run
 

Event: Desert RATS Festival
 

Desert RATS 25 mile trail run - I started this race out at my usual too fast pace. The weird thing it that everyone around me was going fast too. Not wanting to drop too far behind I kept pace even though my hear rate was usually between 160 and 165. After the second aid station, and still maintaining this too fast pace I started to feel like I could maintain this pace, which was averaging 8:30 to 9:00 minute miles. It is an incredibly runnable course and I felt like I'd be able to put up a great time.

Then at the mile 20 aid station there was a gigantenormous and wicked steep hill directly out of the aid station. This physically killed my calves and they started cramping whenever I'd try to fire them and do some work. As a result I wasn't able to run any of the slight uphills and barely hobble on the flats and downhills. After the crazy steep climb we ran along the top of the ridge and what was annoying me was that fitness wise I still felt great, I could feel that I was pushing but it was still well within my limits, but I couldn't because my calves were muscularly unable.

Eventually I adapted to shuffling along with my calves in lock down so that they wouldn't cramp on me, but still allowing me to make better forward progress than a walk. In the end I was able to still meet my original goal of running this under five hours. Also the scenery on the very technical single track trails (95% was on trail) was spectacular as we ran along several different height geologic shelves along the Colorado river. All in all an amazing day!!

C • so interesting to see your race! 2

Evening run around the loop around the campsite at Colorado National Monument. Checking out the trails and views. Nothing hard because of the big run tomorrow but I did want to try out my new shoes one more time before deciding which shoes to wear. Wisely stuck with the broken in race veterans.

CRC (ran with Deb and Laika)

C • Worried 4

Urgh!! No time to train... I have waaaay too much work to do.