Hill Week 2014: Trexler

You should always save the best for last.  I had to end the first ever Hill Week with a run at Trexler.  It was National Trails Day.  It was a perfect morning when we got started on the 8.5 mile loop.  I didn't sleep much.  We had a nice turnout.  The only disappointing thing was that Jerry was the only runner new to Trexler and even he wasn't really that new.  Apparently, he had trouble finding the loop on a few times out there.  I was hoping to introduce some other to the awesomeness of Trexler.

I started off leading the group.  I knew Aaron and Pat would be ahead of me shortly.  Pat went by on the first steep hill.  I was hoping to run a lot of the trail.  I have a half marathon on Sunday, so the plan was to take it easy.

Aaron took some more time to get by me.  He went past on the shorter climb by the bison pen.  Jerry, who was running with his dog Boone, stayed behind, but had me in his sights.

As I was rounding one turn, Pat came out of the woods.  I guess he went to the bathroom and Aaron passed him.  They then ran together.  They were up ahead, but I could see them.

A mountain biker came onto the trail from the road, before we did the long climb.  I gradually caught him on this climb.  As I passed him, he said, "you are making me look bad."  I responded with, "those guys up ahead are making you look worse."  I think Jerry might've passed the guy as well.

Aaron seemed to take off uphill, but then Pat caught back up.  I wasn't losing much ground to them and that really helped.  Mile 2 clicked off and I saw it was a 7:44.  I almost broke out laughing.  I don't know if I've ever run a mile that fast at Trexler.  Plus, that was a mile with the uphill.  I didn't think I was going too hard either.

We got to the view area and I took some photos.  I kept going though.  I still had those two in my field of view and could see Jerry and Boone behind me as well.  The others were probably fairly far behind at this point, thanks to the fast pace.

Once again, I was fooled by the short hills before the big one.  I didn't walk them though.  I kept going.  I ran all the way to the big hill, which is close to 4 miles.  I really wanted to try to run up that one too. 

Pat began walking and I actually caught him.  However, I wasn't gaining much by running, so I decided to just walk.  I'm a little more confident now that I could actually run up that entire hill on its own.  Before this run, I wasn't so sure.

Aaron and Pat went ahead.  I kept going along.  I had been amazed that my pace was at almost 8 minutes flat, before the big climb.  Now, of course it was much slower than that.  Still, it was much faster than I had ever run this route.

I ran up the second steep hill and that wasn't too bad.  I just kept plugging along.  Aaron and Pat broke off to do the 10 mile loop.  I couldn't stop now, because I was on record pace.  I recovered pretty well on the downhills.

The creek crossing was fun.  Of course I couldn't run that part.  I had been recovering pretty well in between the hills.  I knew the long uphill after the road crossing would be tough and it was.  I plugged along and made it up that.

That part had be a chore and then the grass hill starts right after that.  I didn't even give the grass hill a chance.  I began walking briefly.  I probably should've tried running because it really isn't that steep.  I didn't waste too much time walking.  I did notice that Jerry and Boone had fallen back a bit.

After the grass hill, I knew quite a bit of recovery would be coming and that I could run some pretty fast times too.  I got back to running an 8:34 mile at one point.  I had 2 sub 8 minute miles throughout this run.  On the one downhill, I flew past Wayne and his wife.  They were running the shorter route.  I also had to dodge a few small dogs that a woman was walking on the trail.  Apparently Boone had some fun with them.

I kept focusing on trying to run and run more.  I started figuring out paces in my head as I was around mile 6.  I began to realize that I was going so quickly that I should comfortably run under 1:20 for the route.  The 1:25 that I ran last month there was a previous record for me, so I was happy with that.

I crossed the creek on the road section.  Then it was through the muddy part.  My somewhat tired legs didn't enjoy that much.  I hoped that they could still get me up the long climb.  I had no such luck though, as I had to hike again briefly.

I lost some time while doing this, but not too much.  By the top, I only had about 1.5 miles left.  I knew the dirt/stone road section would be fast and it was.  I was glad I knew the route, because the sides of the trail have grown so much that I could've missed the sign to turn. 

I cruised along the rolling uphill and neared the final half mile.  I was amazed that my overall pace was still run at sub 9 minutes.  I didn't think I could do a loop that fast around there.

I kept running as I crossed the road into the final section.  I knew I had one very steep hill left.  I really wanted to run up it, to finish the run.  However, as I got near the top of it, I was staggering and breathing heavy, so I opted to play it safe and walk.  I did that briefly and then ran the last short hill to finish.

If you don't count the creek crossing, I only walked 4 times total.  All of them were fairly brief too.  There was far more running than I've usually done at Trexler.  If I had to guess, I'd say that I ran about 8.25 of the 8.45 miles.  I surprised the heck out of myself, as I finished in under 1:15 minutes.  That crushed my personal best there by over 10 minutes!

Since Aaron and Pat did the longer loop, they didn't come back yet.  Jerry and Boone were back first.  I was happy for them, because I figured that he didn't get too lost.  Aaron and Pat then came in, followed by Tim and Jeff and then the rest of the group.  I waited at the end in my chair to take photos of everyone finishing.

Although I ran harder than I should've, it was an awesome run.  It was a fun day to end a great week.  I was glad I was able to push myself.  It was also one of the few times that I've actually run there and not been sore afterward.  I think having good trail shoes now, has helped my feet a lot too.  They always used to be sore after these runs.

I will definitely do this Hill Week again.  Since I wasn't running hard too many days, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be.  It was productive anyway.  Tomorrow, I'm heading down to Philly bright and early for the half marathon.  That should be fun.  I have goal time ideas, but really I don't care.  The heat could get to me.  I don't know, but I'm not taking the race too seriously.  A bunch of friends are running it as well.

8.45 miles - 1:14:42 (8:51 pace)