Prepping for the Quad

The Mt. Taylor Quad is coming up. I have done my training: I have biked 14 miles so far in 2015, skied about 5 miles and snowshoed 3 miles. I have run a lot. The only thing to do now is figure out how to pack, right?



Of course, it all depends on the weather.

Let's pretend that it is 45 at the start, expecting a high on the mountain of 45 and a high back in Grants of 60. I will start with bike shorts (no chamois), calf compression sleeves and knee warmers. Short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, jacket. Hat and gloves. I did horribly last year on the bike. Thought I was going to fall over since I was going so slow and couldn't turn the cranks. Oh, and I kept having problems with shoe/cleats. This year, I have a "new" bike that is quite fine. I figure the bike will save me 20 minutes!! That's why I haven't bothered to train. The bike will do it all.

The transition from bike to run bag will have a couple of bars and gels. Running shoes with screws for traction. I will get rid of the knee warmers and the jacket, the hat and the gloves. Oh and the helmet. This is the easy part. As long as the road isn't icy. I hate running on ice. Won't be any faster this year than last year.

Transitioning from running to skiing will be a bit more of a challenge. On go wind pants, hat and gloves, and jacket. This bag will have food! There will be food in every bag. Last year I almost starved since I left all the food in the bag at the start/finish. My skins will be on the skis. I will have new poles. Going up hill is just a slog. No skiing involved. My pack will contain my snowshoes and shoes. Trying to decide if I want the shoes already strapped in or not. If they are strapped in, then they won't "stack" and I will have to carry the big pack and put them inside. If the shoes aren't strapped in, I can strap them to the back of my pack and put my shoes inside the pack. Not a big deal. No faster for this section.

After struggling to the ski/snowshoe transition, I just drop off the skies, put on the shoes/snowshoes and head on up. Which shoes? My Keens? Nice and light but the strap kind of hurts my foot when I wear them with snowshoes. Whatever. Technique is not important for this uphill section. Breathing is important. I will hit the top and then start my flight back down. Question is, do I stop and have a shot or just keep on flying? Only if they have Wild Turkey!!

Back to the ski transition. Will change out and repack my shoes and snowshoes, grab some calories and get ready for the scariest part of the race. Downhill. On skis, On ice. With turns. I am terrible! Last year I had to take the skis off and walk a bunch of the turns. But this year, I have new skis with metal edges. I haven't bothered to train for this leg. The skis will do it all. I should save 30 minutes relative to last year!

How can 3 miles downhill on cross country skis take 2 hours? I think it did last year. But finally, if I am still alive, I will be able to leave the skis and the snowshoes behind and grab my running shoes again. I should be really psyched by now. I can fly downhill. That will be the best part. I will need food. I have to feed my face. And drink some water. Plenty of water.

Back to the bike. Change shoes, eat some calories and throw on the helmet. This time I will go fast on the downhill. Not like last year when I was afraid to go fast. This year I will fly. All the way to the finish. I should save another 20 minutes here.

So, as you can tell, I am going to do great this year. Absolutely fantastic!!

New Shoes

Oh boy, oh boy. I have new shoes. These shoes are going to be perfect. I'm sure of it!! I am coupling the Altra Superior 2.0 with the Keen TR86.







The Keen shoe is fairly minimalist and quite cheap; the Altra has lots of cushioning but still flexes. I think switching these two off during Bighorn 100 will be the perfect strategy. I will start with the Keens, and wear them during the first 50 which has some nasty uphill sections.

At the half way point, I'll switch into the Altras. More cushioning and a big ole toe box will be like heaven. They will be fantastic for the downhill sections

I am going to be so ready this year!!!!

But first, there's a 50K (Sugar Loaves) down by Los Cruces on January 31. Then I have the Quad....I think I'll go skiing tomorrow. Gotta get used to the new skis. I am going to be awesome!!

I wish. I hope. Oh please......

Physical Therapy!

Jenny, a running coach, said my broken ankle may have been a blessing in disguise. I did not feel blessed; I felt damned unlucky!

But, I have finished up my physical therapy at Peak Motion http://www.peakmotionpt.com/. Their theory is that movement is the best medicine. They set up a program that kicked my butt. Seriously, I spent 2 hours there, twice a week for six weeks. I worked out....hard. I had to carry a towel around to mop up the sweat.

Now I am running again and I feel stronger than I have in years. My knees are better, my ankles are better, I am faster, I can (almost) jump. I am pretty excited!!

So what's on the schedule for the spring? Lots of fun. First is the Mt. Taylor Quad. I want my Doubler scarf.  Last year, I made a really stupid mistake. I left all of my food in the wrong drop bag. It took me over 7 1/2 hours to finish the race and I did it with only a banana and one gel. I was ravenous by the end. I thought it was going to be an Alferd Packer finish.

This year I will have my  own bike and I WILL HAVE CALORIES!

But the big event is Bighorn 100. I am focused on it. There will be a number of races along the way as preparation: Behind the Rocks 50 miler in Moab the end of March. Cedro Peak in April....I just need to decide whether 45k will be enough, or should I do 45 miles??? A new race in New Mexico, Cactus to Cloud 50k in May. Will probably do Jemez 50k towards the end of May. And then I will RETIRE!!! And play and play and play! And complete Bighorn!!!

I will complete Bighorn!

Running again

Three months after I broke my ankle, I finally feel like I am "running" again. It has been a long road back and I still don't have much endurance. But, I ran today. Without guarding every step.

Going to Leadville over Christmas to do some cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Getting ready for the Quad. This year....well, this year it will be better, right? We always have plans for improvement. This year, I will remember to take food. This year, I will be riding my own bike. This year, I know what to expect. This year, I will probably be slower. That is how life goes.

A bone to pick: In this month's issue of UltraRunner, there is an article about NOT asking to pass (Trail Right/Trail Left by Errol “Rocket” Jones). His argument is that if you're behind him on a trail, then you should just relax and not worry about passing. After all, if you were in contention, you wouldn't be behind him. This is missing the point. You may be in contention for the 60-69 year old women's award. You may have stepped off the trail to, uh, you know... and he passed you and now you want to pass him again. You may be getting your second wind and want by. Why is he so upset about stepping aside for two seconds? After all, he is not in contention!!

My rant for the day.

Planning the work

Nice to have a major goal for the coming year. People keep asking what I'm going to do when I retire. I don't want to say that I am just going to run. They think I am strange enough. Now they want a grand goal: I am going to write a book, feed the hungry, cure cancer, volunteer for the humane society.

No, seriously, I just want to run. I will get tired of it I am sure. I am already lining up a bunch of races for next year. Moab, Bighorn, Pagosa Springs, pacing some friends. It should be a blast.

Speaking of blasts, I did a Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving in Carlisle, PA. I did not do it alone. I had all four grandkids. Jonas told me I had to keep them all with me. Now, he is the boy who used to run races by himself when he was their age. I promised they would be safe, they wouldn't get lost, they wouldn't run away and we would all get together at the end.

There were lots of runners. We lined up at the end of the runners but in front of the walkers. When we started up, the older two asked if they could take off. Sure. Then Linus asked if he could go too. Sure! Isaias and I ran/walked (my walking required that he run) together holding hands. We caught up to Linus about half way through. We never saw Elise and Avery until the finish area.

Now, you know what really pissed me off? There were no treats left when we finished. Bananas and water was all that was left. I saw people walking around with several bags of pretzels and cookies. The kids ate their bananas without complaining though. In fact, they never complained at all. Woohoo!!!!! Makes a dust ole gramma happy!

Recovery?

Always the doubts; I am too old, too slow, too tired, or too lazy. But now I have a new one (of course): I am too clumsy. Dang, I went out and fell again. No real injuries but I hurt all over. Even my ear was bleeding. I guess this comes from not running. Just forgot to pick up my feet. I tripped several times, but only went down once.

Scout has been going with me. I figure it is cool, I am very slow, and not covering much distance. She is going great!! Yes, she runs funny, but she and Sadie have been having a lot of fun out there. That's cool.

I am trying to set up a training schedule. I want a 50 miler around the middle of April. Can't find one. Will keep looking.

Meanwhile, perhaps I need to buy some more stuff?

From 0 to 100 in 215 Days??

in I have been very careful during the recovery from a broken ankle. Very, very careful. I keep telling myself that it is like gluing the handle back onto a coffee mug: you must let it sit undisturbed until it is dry, or in this case, healed.
I wore a cumbersome boot for almost 6 weeks. During that time, I walked, a little at a time, using hiking poles. Very, very carefully.
I biked a little with a bike shoe on my right foot and a regular shoe on the left so that I wouldn't twist it. I rode very, very carefully.
This week I got the all clear to begin physical therapy. Started therapy at Peak Motion.

 

Told him I wanted to do the Mt. Taylor Quad in February. I want another Doubler Scarf. He assumed I meant that I wanted to do the running part as part of the relay. Ha! Nope, I want to do the QUAD!

Also told him I wanted to do the Bighorn 100 in June. He looked dubious but I am used to those looks.

But first, I have to run a 5k on Thanksgiving Day with the four grands. They know they don't get to eat turkey unless they run. Should be great.