I wanted to get some elevation in today. However, I have a race on Saturday, so I couldn't go too crazy. I saw that 800 feet of gain would get me over 35,000 feet of gain for the month. I decided to head to the AT in Wind Gap, for some short climbing.
There was a big thunderstorm in the afternoon. Therefore, I didn't get out until the evening. It was still hot and humid, but I guess a little better than it has been. I was drenched by the end anyway.
I decided to head southbound first on the trail. I thought about doing 3 repeats here, but I was unsure. Last time here, I surprised myself by completely running 5 repeats. Early on today, it was clear that that wouldn't be happening.
I didn't get too far before I had to hike. I didn't want to put up too much effort. The rocks were wet and slippery and that made it tough. Also, the trail was overgrown in spots and the leaves were down due to the rain.
I made it to my usual spot. However, that involved quite a bit of hiking. I just wasn't feeling good. Near the top, the trail was pretty overgrown. I turned and headed down. Even that was slow with the overgrowth and slippery rocks.
I got to the bottom and decided that I would only go about halfway this time. Again, it was hiking and running. I ran until my watch went over 650 feet of gain and then turned and headed back.
I refilled my water at my car, as I was sweating a ton. I now headed northbound. I ran some, but hiked a lot too. The other direction uses switchbacks to climb. This side doesn't, so it is steeper.
Running this with the wet rocks was tricky too. I got near the top and over 1,000 feet of gain and headed back down. I had hit my goal for today.
I was surprised to see some people hiking up as I was finishing on the downhill. No one else had been out there on this evening and it was getting late. Then, I finished up and a young couple went up to hike and were asking about the conditions on the trail.
I had less than 4 miles, but I got the elevation gain, so it didn't matter. I was happy with this easy run. I didn't overdo it before the race. I'll rest tomorrow and race on Saturday. It is supposed to be hot, so that could make the 45K interesting.
3.64 miles - 58:00 (15:56 pace) 1004 feet of elevation gain
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Hot and Humid Short J-burg Run
It was another brutally hot and humid day today. I opted for an evening run again. This would be tough though, as I ate at Buffalo Wild Wings beforehand. I had about an hour rest, before heading out to Jacobsburg. I have not been there in a long time. I was just looking to do the standard 10K loop.
I assume it was still in the 90s or near the 90s when I started before 7 PM. At least the sun was starting to set. I went shirtless and knew I had to take it easy. I never felt too bad, so I guess I'm adapting okay to the heat finally.
I knew I had to go nice and slow, not just due to the heat, but the full stomach too. I got into a nice groove. The early hills seemed super easy. There were a few people out walking the main path. Then, I was quickly on to the singletrack by myself.
I went steady uphill. I got to the one powerline and noticed all the trees were gone. I heard PP&L did this. I saw a deer there and for some reason it ran away, even though I was nowhere near it and not going near it.
I felt okay, as I approached mile 2. A lot of the rocks seemed wet. I guess perhaps it rained earlier in the day. I'm not sure. I continued my uneventful cruise along, over the multiple road crossings.
It was smooth, so my pace was solid. Really, I figured I'd just be happy with a sub 10 minute pace. It looked like I'd be well under that too. There were quite a few mountain bikers out. I saw one near the creek.
I then began to head up the powerline. This was slow and steady. Some mountain bikers were walking their bikes up it. I passed them and was surprised that they didn't pass me back on the downhill. I knew I just needed to get up this hill, because it was much easier after that.
I saw more mountain bikers near the crest of the hill. I was thrilled when I finally reached the top. I then opened it up and little and head down. My pace increased of course and it looked like I was now well under 9:30 pace too.
The rest of the run was flat and easy. I saw a dog walker. I then got onto the road. After that, it was through the other part of the powerline. This section was cleared too and now it looks really ugly.
I came back through the woods. Then, it was on to the parking lot. I finished up just past my car. I knew I was under a 9:15 pace, so I was very happy with that.
This was a good day to take it easy and do something different. Tomorrow, it is back to climbing. I'm hoping to do some Wind Gap AT stuff. Either a couple out and backs or hill repeats. Then, I'll rest up before my 45K on Saturday.
6.19 miles - 57:00 (9:12 pace) 402 feet of elevation gain
I assume it was still in the 90s or near the 90s when I started before 7 PM. At least the sun was starting to set. I went shirtless and knew I had to take it easy. I never felt too bad, so I guess I'm adapting okay to the heat finally.
I knew I had to go nice and slow, not just due to the heat, but the full stomach too. I got into a nice groove. The early hills seemed super easy. There were a few people out walking the main path. Then, I was quickly on to the singletrack by myself.
I went steady uphill. I got to the one powerline and noticed all the trees were gone. I heard PP&L did this. I saw a deer there and for some reason it ran away, even though I was nowhere near it and not going near it.
I felt okay, as I approached mile 2. A lot of the rocks seemed wet. I guess perhaps it rained earlier in the day. I'm not sure. I continued my uneventful cruise along, over the multiple road crossings.
It was smooth, so my pace was solid. Really, I figured I'd just be happy with a sub 10 minute pace. It looked like I'd be well under that too. There were quite a few mountain bikers out. I saw one near the creek.
I then began to head up the powerline. This was slow and steady. Some mountain bikers were walking their bikes up it. I passed them and was surprised that they didn't pass me back on the downhill. I knew I just needed to get up this hill, because it was much easier after that.
I saw more mountain bikers near the crest of the hill. I was thrilled when I finally reached the top. I then opened it up and little and head down. My pace increased of course and it looked like I was now well under 9:30 pace too.
The rest of the run was flat and easy. I saw a dog walker. I then got onto the road. After that, it was through the other part of the powerline. This section was cleared too and now it looks really ugly.
I came back through the woods. Then, it was on to the parking lot. I finished up just past my car. I knew I was under a 9:15 pace, so I was very happy with that.
This was a good day to take it easy and do something different. Tomorrow, it is back to climbing. I'm hoping to do some Wind Gap AT stuff. Either a couple out and backs or hill repeats. Then, I'll rest up before my 45K on Saturday.
6.19 miles - 57:00 (9:12 pace) 402 feet of elevation gain
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Recovery Tammany Double Loops
Although my feet were sore after the Escarpment Trail Run, I felt pretty good on Monday. I recovered well. My feet are really my only issue these days. I thought about running the next day, to push my body. Instead, I decided to rest.
I wasn't looking forward to today's run. It was super hot and humid. If it didn't reach the 90s, it was close. I ran shirtless of course. I went in the evening, so although it was hot, it didn't bother me too much.
I went to Tammany with the goal of running two loops. As I was waiting for my GPS to find a signal, the guy parked next to me, said "race you to the top." I was confused because he was wearing hiking boots and hiking clothes. He sure didn't look like a runner. He had a couple minutes head start.
I ran the usual parts early and starting hiking the steep stuff. I couldn't afford to push much. I felt pretty good, as I climbed. I could see the guy up ahead. He had told me his name was Jeremiah.
Somewhere near the first overlook, I caught him. We hiked and ran together, chatting a bit. He comes up here a bit too, but clearly not as much as I. At the boulders, he took a different route up. I climbed fast as usual and pulled way ahead. I never saw him again during the run.
It was good to get to the top, but I didn't waste much time. I ran some of the ridge part of the Blue Trail and hiked other parts. I made the turn and was hiking the flat rocky part. I decided to look into the bushes and about 50 yards away, I saw a bear. I guess they are more frequent at night. That far away is how I'd like to see a bear.
I ran on down the technical stuff after that. The sun was setting and I was getting some glare in my eyes. It made running this junk quite difficult and slow. There were some hikers out at this time, but not too many. There was what looked like a Jewish group of some sort.
I pushed slightly when I got to the more runnable part at the bottom. I cruised down the AT. I made it back to my car at just under 56 minutes. Jeremiah was pulling out and we chatted briefly.
I didn't waste much time toweling off or refilling water. I had not used all my water for the first loop, but I didn't bring enough water for myself either. I really only had about half a handheld now.
I was a bit hot, so I knew this second loop would be much more hiking. I began to climb the technical stuff and realized that my legs were super sore. I'm not sure if it was the heat or not quite enough recovery or maybe both. I knew this was going to be a tough climb, but also a good test on tired legs.
It was mostly just a hike up. I wasn't anywhere near as fast, but I still gained on a hiker. I just kept pushing on and on. Knowing this route so well is both a blessing and a curse. Once I make it past the boulders, I know a lot of the climb is done.
I was careful around the top, in case the bears were around. I saw some hikers being quiet and looking into the woods. I think maybe they saw a bear, but I didn't bother to ask. I just wanted to get to the view.
The view had a beautiful sunset. I stopped briefly. I again ran some of the ridge Blue Trail section. I was so beat now though and basically out of water.
The bear was nowhere in sight on the Blue Trail this time. One of the nice things now was the sun went behind the mountain in spots. I could run a little more. Still, I was tired and my shoes seemed loose. My feet were slipping and sliding all around.
I didn't think I'd make it under 2 hours with how beat I was, but as I was in the middle of the descent, I realized that it was very likely. I cruised on down, running fast where I could. Not my best running here, but it would do.
Before I knew it, I was to the waterfalls. A dog barked at me there, but at least didn't chase me. I ran back on the AT and really pushed. I knew I'd be under 2 hours now and I was happy to do so, as I finished at my car.
I soaked my Buff in the creek and cooled off a bit. It was a challenging run, given the conditions, but I managed. As long as I don't run the whole time, I'm able to do okay in the heat. I guess I'm adapting some. I'm still slow, but better than I was.
Maybe I'll finally get myself to take it is easy tomorrow. It will be even hotter. I should probably just crank out some Jacobsburg miles for once. It has been awhile since I've been there.
7.31 miles - 1:58:32 (16:12 pace) 2373 feet of elevation gain
Mt. Tammany Summits 32 and 33 of 2015
I wasn't looking forward to today's run. It was super hot and humid. If it didn't reach the 90s, it was close. I ran shirtless of course. I went in the evening, so although it was hot, it didn't bother me too much.
I went to Tammany with the goal of running two loops. As I was waiting for my GPS to find a signal, the guy parked next to me, said "race you to the top." I was confused because he was wearing hiking boots and hiking clothes. He sure didn't look like a runner. He had a couple minutes head start.
I ran the usual parts early and starting hiking the steep stuff. I couldn't afford to push much. I felt pretty good, as I climbed. I could see the guy up ahead. He had told me his name was Jeremiah.
Somewhere near the first overlook, I caught him. We hiked and ran together, chatting a bit. He comes up here a bit too, but clearly not as much as I. At the boulders, he took a different route up. I climbed fast as usual and pulled way ahead. I never saw him again during the run.
It was good to get to the top, but I didn't waste much time. I ran some of the ridge part of the Blue Trail and hiked other parts. I made the turn and was hiking the flat rocky part. I decided to look into the bushes and about 50 yards away, I saw a bear. I guess they are more frequent at night. That far away is how I'd like to see a bear.
I ran on down the technical stuff after that. The sun was setting and I was getting some glare in my eyes. It made running this junk quite difficult and slow. There were some hikers out at this time, but not too many. There was what looked like a Jewish group of some sort.
I pushed slightly when I got to the more runnable part at the bottom. I cruised down the AT. I made it back to my car at just under 56 minutes. Jeremiah was pulling out and we chatted briefly.
I didn't waste much time toweling off or refilling water. I had not used all my water for the first loop, but I didn't bring enough water for myself either. I really only had about half a handheld now.
I was a bit hot, so I knew this second loop would be much more hiking. I began to climb the technical stuff and realized that my legs were super sore. I'm not sure if it was the heat or not quite enough recovery or maybe both. I knew this was going to be a tough climb, but also a good test on tired legs.
It was mostly just a hike up. I wasn't anywhere near as fast, but I still gained on a hiker. I just kept pushing on and on. Knowing this route so well is both a blessing and a curse. Once I make it past the boulders, I know a lot of the climb is done.
I was careful around the top, in case the bears were around. I saw some hikers being quiet and looking into the woods. I think maybe they saw a bear, but I didn't bother to ask. I just wanted to get to the view.
The view had a beautiful sunset. I stopped briefly. I again ran some of the ridge Blue Trail section. I was so beat now though and basically out of water.
The bear was nowhere in sight on the Blue Trail this time. One of the nice things now was the sun went behind the mountain in spots. I could run a little more. Still, I was tired and my shoes seemed loose. My feet were slipping and sliding all around.
I didn't think I'd make it under 2 hours with how beat I was, but as I was in the middle of the descent, I realized that it was very likely. I cruised on down, running fast where I could. Not my best running here, but it would do.
Before I knew it, I was to the waterfalls. A dog barked at me there, but at least didn't chase me. I ran back on the AT and really pushed. I knew I'd be under 2 hours now and I was happy to do so, as I finished at my car.
I soaked my Buff in the creek and cooled off a bit. It was a challenging run, given the conditions, but I managed. As long as I don't run the whole time, I'm able to do okay in the heat. I guess I'm adapting some. I'm still slow, but better than I was.
Maybe I'll finally get myself to take it is easy tomorrow. It will be even hotter. I should probably just crank out some Jacobsburg miles for once. It has been awhile since I've been there.
7.31 miles - 1:58:32 (16:12 pace) 2373 feet of elevation gain
Mt. Tammany Summits 32 and 33 of 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
2015 Escarpment Trail Run Race Report
I love the challenge of technical races. When I first heard about the Escarpment Trail Run in the Catskills, I knew I had to do it. It's a very challenging 30K put on by Dick Vincent. The race is now in its 39th year.
The race has qualifying standards and a lengthy qualifying process. It's billed as "For Mountain Goats Only." I'm not a mountain goat, but at least I try to train like one and get on the toughest terrain I can find. I knew there were some sections that were literally climbing to get through the rocks. I feared this course a lot because I knew I'd be slow in stuff like that.
I didn't get much sleep. It was pouring when I grabbed breakfast and left for the race. I was glad it was warm. The clouds parted, at least until I was finished. I met a bunch of fellow Trail WhippAss folks at the start and rode the bus over with Joe.
The race now goes off in wave starts. That allowed me some time to prepare and also watch some of the front runners. It turns out that the slowest predicted times were put in the middle, so that they could finish around the same time as some faster people. In order to get in in the future, you have to break 6 hours. That was my prediction and only goal, not knowing the course.
I ran with a hydration vest because I was unsure. With climbing, I didn't want a handheld. The vest was nice, but then I had to wear a singlet and it was soaked a few hours in. That said, I never did overheat.
The trail starts off with some beautiful singletrack through evergreens. I hiked up to the top of Windham Peak yesterday and was surprised at how relatively runnable it was. It was a long and gradual climb. There were some steeper and technical parts, including some roots, but most of it wasn't too bad.
That said, this stretch was a big early mental challenge. I had to mix in running and hiking. Doing several miles seemed like it took forever. I couldn't wait for the top.
I had passed Kat (a friend who I started with) and another woman early on. Our group got split up into 2 packs I guess. I was sort of leading the second pack. I think the one guy did eventually pass me.
I wasn't doing bad when I got to Windham, but I did feel like I could be doing better. I looked forward to some downhill. What caught me off guard in the early going was some of the short, but steep climbs. They took their toll and my legs didn't feel great.
I knew I had to stay focused and take it either each aid station at a time or each climb. The trail is remote and the aid stations had to hike everything in. They were great!
I was mixing running and hiking already at mile 7. That was frustrating. I expected some struggles, but I figured that that would be later in the race. I just wanted to get to the aid station at the bottom of Blackhead.
I finally did that and took a lot of time there. I refilled my Tailwind, but it took so long. Somehow, I need to find a better system.
I knew Blackhead would be the worst climb of the day. It is 1100 feet of gain in less than a mile. The beginning didn't seem too bad as I hiked up. It did go up and up and up. The toughest part was near the top. It was straight up climbing and a lot of work. To make it worse, it seemed like I'd go up a lot it was only about 50 feet or so.
That said, as tough as this climb was, it was still over quick and I was about halfway done. I was somewhere near 3 hours at that point and on pace for a sub 6 hour run. I had heard that this run was slightly faster in the second half.
Going down Blackhead was just as tough as up. First, my foot cramped. Then, my calf. Those muscles were overextended, so I was more careful the rest of the way. Going down, I often just slid on my butt from there on out.
The cramping potential made me cautious and so did my shoes. With all the rain overnight, the rocks were wet. I slipped a couple times while hiking, so I couldn't run downhill like I'm used to. I'm also used to Tammany, which is a wide trail. Therefore, it has many options, so I don't have to take a direct line down. Here, it is a singletrack, so you have no choice.
As I headed toward the next aid station, I decided to take a gel. I wasn't doing too bad before that, but not great either. This gave me a huge boost and I started running pretty strong. I ran and chatted with a road runner for a bit, as we headed to the next aid station.
After the aid station, I now knew we were on to the final climb, to Stoppel Point. This was another gradual climb. I finally felt my climbing fitness kick in. I passed a bunch of people going uphill. When it got flat, part way through, I used the energy from the gel to run by some people.
I was thrilled when I finally got to the top. There's a cool plane that crashed in the woods there. I took a couple photos. There was a lot of fog today too and that made for some great photos as well.
After the plane, I still ran often, but did have to hike a bit too. Going downhill slowed me and some of the people that I passed earlier had now passed me back. I figured I'd still have enough time to get under 6 hours.
Then I was concerned. We got to the last aid station and I asked another runner if we were going to make the cutoff. We had about 2.5 miles and 50 minutes to go. I don't think he had a watch, because he said it was going to be tough and some of the worst miles ever.
The good thing is this scared the crap out of me. I ran super hard on this flat section. For awhile, the trail wasn't bad. It was flat and runnable and then it would go down some shitty rocks and then become flat and runnable, then more shitty rocks.
There was a half mile section in there that was just brutal and I was merely hiking. After we came to a photographer, there was a lot more runnable trail to the end. I ran a lot, but still got passed. I chatted with a woman from the Philadelphia area.
I opened it up and cruised into the finish. I was thrilled to do so with over 16 minutes to spare. I was beat, but happy with my run. It was a tough race for sure. I was surprised at how much runnable trail it had in between all the shit. At least I can come back in the future.
I do have to figure something out with my foot. It was killing me after I finished. Now, it is good, but it was sore on the ride home. Maybe I'll try running again tomorrow anyway. I doubt I'll run much this week with On the Rocks 45K coming up on Saturday.
18.6 miles - 5:43:09 (18:25 pace) 5119 feet of elevation gain
178th of 219 finishers
The race has qualifying standards and a lengthy qualifying process. It's billed as "For Mountain Goats Only." I'm not a mountain goat, but at least I try to train like one and get on the toughest terrain I can find. I knew there were some sections that were literally climbing to get through the rocks. I feared this course a lot because I knew I'd be slow in stuff like that.
I didn't get much sleep. It was pouring when I grabbed breakfast and left for the race. I was glad it was warm. The clouds parted, at least until I was finished. I met a bunch of fellow Trail WhippAss folks at the start and rode the bus over with Joe.
The race now goes off in wave starts. That allowed me some time to prepare and also watch some of the front runners. It turns out that the slowest predicted times were put in the middle, so that they could finish around the same time as some faster people. In order to get in in the future, you have to break 6 hours. That was my prediction and only goal, not knowing the course.I ran with a hydration vest because I was unsure. With climbing, I didn't want a handheld. The vest was nice, but then I had to wear a singlet and it was soaked a few hours in. That said, I never did overheat.
The trail starts off with some beautiful singletrack through evergreens. I hiked up to the top of Windham Peak yesterday and was surprised at how relatively runnable it was. It was a long and gradual climb. There were some steeper and technical parts, including some roots, but most of it wasn't too bad.
That said, this stretch was a big early mental challenge. I had to mix in running and hiking. Doing several miles seemed like it took forever. I couldn't wait for the top.
I had passed Kat (a friend who I started with) and another woman early on. Our group got split up into 2 packs I guess. I was sort of leading the second pack. I think the one guy did eventually pass me.
I wasn't doing bad when I got to Windham, but I did feel like I could be doing better. I looked forward to some downhill. What caught me off guard in the early going was some of the short, but steep climbs. They took their toll and my legs didn't feel great.I knew I had to stay focused and take it either each aid station at a time or each climb. The trail is remote and the aid stations had to hike everything in. They were great!
I was mixing running and hiking already at mile 7. That was frustrating. I expected some struggles, but I figured that that would be later in the race. I just wanted to get to the aid station at the bottom of Blackhead.
I finally did that and took a lot of time there. I refilled my Tailwind, but it took so long. Somehow, I need to find a better system.
I knew Blackhead would be the worst climb of the day. It is 1100 feet of gain in less than a mile. The beginning didn't seem too bad as I hiked up. It did go up and up and up. The toughest part was near the top. It was straight up climbing and a lot of work. To make it worse, it seemed like I'd go up a lot it was only about 50 feet or so.
That said, as tough as this climb was, it was still over quick and I was about halfway done. I was somewhere near 3 hours at that point and on pace for a sub 6 hour run. I had heard that this run was slightly faster in the second half.
Going down Blackhead was just as tough as up. First, my foot cramped. Then, my calf. Those muscles were overextended, so I was more careful the rest of the way. Going down, I often just slid on my butt from there on out.The cramping potential made me cautious and so did my shoes. With all the rain overnight, the rocks were wet. I slipped a couple times while hiking, so I couldn't run downhill like I'm used to. I'm also used to Tammany, which is a wide trail. Therefore, it has many options, so I don't have to take a direct line down. Here, it is a singletrack, so you have no choice.
As I headed toward the next aid station, I decided to take a gel. I wasn't doing too bad before that, but not great either. This gave me a huge boost and I started running pretty strong. I ran and chatted with a road runner for a bit, as we headed to the next aid station.
After the aid station, I now knew we were on to the final climb, to Stoppel Point. This was another gradual climb. I finally felt my climbing fitness kick in. I passed a bunch of people going uphill. When it got flat, part way through, I used the energy from the gel to run by some people.
I was thrilled when I finally got to the top. There's a cool plane that crashed in the woods there. I took a couple photos. There was a lot of fog today too and that made for some great photos as well.
After the plane, I still ran often, but did have to hike a bit too. Going downhill slowed me and some of the people that I passed earlier had now passed me back. I figured I'd still have enough time to get under 6 hours.
Then I was concerned. We got to the last aid station and I asked another runner if we were going to make the cutoff. We had about 2.5 miles and 50 minutes to go. I don't think he had a watch, because he said it was going to be tough and some of the worst miles ever.
The good thing is this scared the crap out of me. I ran super hard on this flat section. For awhile, the trail wasn't bad. It was flat and runnable and then it would go down some shitty rocks and then become flat and runnable, then more shitty rocks.
There was a half mile section in there that was just brutal and I was merely hiking. After we came to a photographer, there was a lot more runnable trail to the end. I ran a lot, but still got passed. I chatted with a woman from the Philadelphia area.
I opened it up and cruised into the finish. I was thrilled to do so with over 16 minutes to spare. I was beat, but happy with my run. It was a tough race for sure. I was surprised at how much runnable trail it had in between all the shit. At least I can come back in the future.
I do have to figure something out with my foot. It was killing me after I finished. Now, it is good, but it was sore on the ride home. Maybe I'll try running again tomorrow anyway. I doubt I'll run much this week with On the Rocks 45K coming up on Saturday.
18.6 miles - 5:43:09 (18:25 pace) 5119 feet of elevation gain
178th of 219 finishers
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Shoe Test on Rugged Terrain
I took a couple days off after the hot run on Saturday. Those rest days had brutal weather. Today was a little better. The plan was two Mt. Tammany loops.
It was still fairly hot, so I went shirtless. At least a lot of the run was cloudy and some light rain fell at times. That probably saved my butt. I was happy with how I handled the weather.
I mainly wanted to go up there to test out some shoes for the Escarpment Trail Run this weekend. It is a super technical and rugged course. While I don't mind my New Balance shoes, I really feel the rocks. I had laced my Altra Lone Peaks different and it seems to work better. However, I wanted to try them on some gnarly stuff and see if I would wear them this weekend.
I got to the parking lot and began the run a little before 2 PM. It was slightly crowded, but not bad. The trails weren't too busy. As usual, I ran in the beginning briefly. Then, it was on to hiking and being conservative.
Last time I was here, I felt awful at the start. My legs seemed pretty good today. I probably didn't hydrate enough beforehand, as my calves seemed a little tight.
I moved up in what seemed like a swift pace. For some reason, I was really careful around the rocks. Maybe it was because a guy in the western part of the state died from a rattlesnake bite and it was on my mind. I don't know, as I'm usually not worried about it. I tried to run or climb on top of the rocks where I can. I had good balance and flew through the boulder section.
I passed an older lady hiking after that. It looked like her daughter and granddaughter might've been waiting for her higher up. Not long after that, I saw another older lady with a family, who looked almost the same. I think she just had three grandkids with her, including a boy. They were disappointed that they weren't at the top, but I told them they were nearly there.
I hit my 30th summit a short time later. When I had seen that last group, it was the area that I saw the bears last time. I was glad they weren't there this time around. I thought about telling the family about that, but decided not to.
I stopped briefly at the summit and was on my way. I ran a little of the ridge part of the Blue Trail, but I still hiked plenty of it too. As always, I was thrilled to hit the downhill part. I cruised on that. Now it was time to really test the shoes.
The shoes seemed to cushion the rocks pretty well. I definitely like that. I had the heel locked in tighter with the new lacing system, but I still did twist my ankles a few times, more so than in my New Balance shoes. I also thought maybe the laces were putting pressure on the top of my foot at one point, but then it didn't bother me any more. I slipped on some wet rocks a couple times. That is a concern.
I didn't see any bears in the woods when I looked around. I think I passed a few hikers, but I'm not even sure. I cruised a bit when I got to the AT. I ran by a few people, including a big group that was hiking. I got back to my car in about 57 minutes.
I toweled off, refilled my water bottle and was on my way. I think I stopped for about 2 minutes. I headed back up. My legs seemed a little beat now. I really wanted to try to get this loop done before the 2 hour mark. I was sweating a lot, but getting used to it.
I tried to hike up at a decent clip. I'm sure I was a little slower though. I ran some short parts on the way up. As usual, it was still mostly a hike. I came across the family again and they were impressed that I was going for another loop. I guess they had a good time up there.
I pushed on. I wasn't nearly as steady on the boulders this time. I did take 100 calories of Tailwind, but that was all my nutrition. I wiped away a lot of sweat. I made it up a second time without a bear sighting. My watch was at 1 hour and 28 minutes when I got to the top. I took a quick photo.
I figured I could probably make it down in 32 minutes. However, I didn't want to chance it. I decided to run most of the rocky ridge. That would help me make up time. I can run it, but it is ankle twisting and often frustrating, so I frequently hike it. I even ran the very rocky part right before the descent.
I ran the downhill, but stumbled a little early. I wasn't as sharp as before. I was still able to run though. Then, I decided to buckle down and really focus. When you focus, you can glide downhill and fly over rocks. It is just hard for me to concentration for too long. My feet felt better, as I opened it up more and didn't touch the ground as much. I have more issues when I'm cautious, than when I just run free like this.
I was breathing a little heavy, but not too bad. It felt good to run at a different clip and dance over the rocks. The big group was hiking up now. They were really blown away that I was running down this stuff. Practice certainly helps.
I got to the bottom and crossed the bridge by the waterfall. I really pushed on as I headed down the AT. It was clear I'd be a few minutes under 2 hours for the run. The question was by how much. As I neared the bottom, I tried to break 1:55. I was able to just do that.
It was a productive run and I'm happy. I'm still undecided on my shoe choice. That may not come until the day before or day of the race. I love the Altra's ability to handle rocks. I'm very concerned about slippery rocks though and twisting my ankle, especially in the later stages of the race. I also haven't gone long in them since I beat my feet up at the HAT 50K.
I may test them out again on Thursday. That should be my last run before the race on Sunday. I'd like to go to Tammany again, but I'm not sure. I'm going to try to camp with my dad at Hickory Run State Park these next two days. I may just run there.
7.08 miles - 1:54:52 (16:13 pace) 2349 feet of elevation gain
30th and 31st Mt. Tammany Summits of 2015
It was still fairly hot, so I went shirtless. At least a lot of the run was cloudy and some light rain fell at times. That probably saved my butt. I was happy with how I handled the weather.
I mainly wanted to go up there to test out some shoes for the Escarpment Trail Run this weekend. It is a super technical and rugged course. While I don't mind my New Balance shoes, I really feel the rocks. I had laced my Altra Lone Peaks different and it seems to work better. However, I wanted to try them on some gnarly stuff and see if I would wear them this weekend.I got to the parking lot and began the run a little before 2 PM. It was slightly crowded, but not bad. The trails weren't too busy. As usual, I ran in the beginning briefly. Then, it was on to hiking and being conservative.
Last time I was here, I felt awful at the start. My legs seemed pretty good today. I probably didn't hydrate enough beforehand, as my calves seemed a little tight.
I moved up in what seemed like a swift pace. For some reason, I was really careful around the rocks. Maybe it was because a guy in the western part of the state died from a rattlesnake bite and it was on my mind. I don't know, as I'm usually not worried about it. I tried to run or climb on top of the rocks where I can. I had good balance and flew through the boulder section.
I passed an older lady hiking after that. It looked like her daughter and granddaughter might've been waiting for her higher up. Not long after that, I saw another older lady with a family, who looked almost the same. I think she just had three grandkids with her, including a boy. They were disappointed that they weren't at the top, but I told them they were nearly there.
I hit my 30th summit a short time later. When I had seen that last group, it was the area that I saw the bears last time. I was glad they weren't there this time around. I thought about telling the family about that, but decided not to.
I stopped briefly at the summit and was on my way. I ran a little of the ridge part of the Blue Trail, but I still hiked plenty of it too. As always, I was thrilled to hit the downhill part. I cruised on that. Now it was time to really test the shoes.
The shoes seemed to cushion the rocks pretty well. I definitely like that. I had the heel locked in tighter with the new lacing system, but I still did twist my ankles a few times, more so than in my New Balance shoes. I also thought maybe the laces were putting pressure on the top of my foot at one point, but then it didn't bother me any more. I slipped on some wet rocks a couple times. That is a concern.
I didn't see any bears in the woods when I looked around. I think I passed a few hikers, but I'm not even sure. I cruised a bit when I got to the AT. I ran by a few people, including a big group that was hiking. I got back to my car in about 57 minutes.I toweled off, refilled my water bottle and was on my way. I think I stopped for about 2 minutes. I headed back up. My legs seemed a little beat now. I really wanted to try to get this loop done before the 2 hour mark. I was sweating a lot, but getting used to it.
I tried to hike up at a decent clip. I'm sure I was a little slower though. I ran some short parts on the way up. As usual, it was still mostly a hike. I came across the family again and they were impressed that I was going for another loop. I guess they had a good time up there.
I pushed on. I wasn't nearly as steady on the boulders this time. I did take 100 calories of Tailwind, but that was all my nutrition. I wiped away a lot of sweat. I made it up a second time without a bear sighting. My watch was at 1 hour and 28 minutes when I got to the top. I took a quick photo.
I figured I could probably make it down in 32 minutes. However, I didn't want to chance it. I decided to run most of the rocky ridge. That would help me make up time. I can run it, but it is ankle twisting and often frustrating, so I frequently hike it. I even ran the very rocky part right before the descent.
I ran the downhill, but stumbled a little early. I wasn't as sharp as before. I was still able to run though. Then, I decided to buckle down and really focus. When you focus, you can glide downhill and fly over rocks. It is just hard for me to concentration for too long. My feet felt better, as I opened it up more and didn't touch the ground as much. I have more issues when I'm cautious, than when I just run free like this.
I was breathing a little heavy, but not too bad. It felt good to run at a different clip and dance over the rocks. The big group was hiking up now. They were really blown away that I was running down this stuff. Practice certainly helps.
I got to the bottom and crossed the bridge by the waterfall. I really pushed on as I headed down the AT. It was clear I'd be a few minutes under 2 hours for the run. The question was by how much. As I neared the bottom, I tried to break 1:55. I was able to just do that.
It was a productive run and I'm happy. I'm still undecided on my shoe choice. That may not come until the day before or day of the race. I love the Altra's ability to handle rocks. I'm very concerned about slippery rocks though and twisting my ankle, especially in the later stages of the race. I also haven't gone long in them since I beat my feet up at the HAT 50K.
I may test them out again on Thursday. That should be my last run before the race on Sunday. I'd like to go to Tammany again, but I'm not sure. I'm going to try to camp with my dad at Hickory Run State Park these next two days. I may just run there.
7.08 miles - 1:54:52 (16:13 pace) 2349 feet of elevation gain
30th and 31st Mt. Tammany Summits of 2015
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Stupid Humid
I wanted to go to Tammany this morning. A massive thunderstorm rolled in when I was going to get up for that. Therefore, I passed on it and slept some more. By then, it was too late, so I headed to Trexler.
I got there later than I wanted to, after lunchtime. I knew it was going to be crazy hot and humid. I figured that this would be a good way to test my adapting out. Of course I went shirtless. I was drenched and struggling all throughout this run. Even getting some creek water didn't help much.
I always struggle here with water. If I take more than a handheld, then I have to wear more clothing and equipment. My handheld is really only good for about half the loop though. I definitely had to do the shorter loop in these conditions.
I started off from the Environmental Center. I knew to take it nice and easy. I cruised along the new Border Trail. I walked up the new hill. I wanted to be very careful. I ran again and then even walked up the hill by the bison. I almost never do that. It was exposed and hot though.
For awhile, I didn't see any course markings for Quadzilla. Then, they were everywhere. Those guys make the course easy to follow. I was surprised to see the grass isn't shorter the day before the race. It is okay, but usually it is outstanding.
I ran along the early flats and downhills. I knew I'd hike quite a bit of the long uphill. I did that. As usual, the dogs were barking. Again, I was trying to be super conservative here. I was feeling it already though.
As I started through the grass, a mountain biker was on the side, on his phone. He would later pass me on a downhill. Some people were having a party in their yard. That looked like more fun than this run.
I was looking forward to getting out of the exposed sun. I was glad to do that, but then the hills came. My legs had nothing. I don't know if they were dead, the heat was sapping all of my strength or lugging around my heavier shoes was an issue. I found a way to lace my Altras differently so that I wouldn't have too much pressure on my feet. Only issue was they were still too loose and sliding around some. I do love the cushion of them though.
Even hiking up the false hills was tough. I was dragging and I wasn't much past mile 3. I pushed on though. The big hill nearly killed me, especially where it was exposed. I wanted to stop and rest. I continued on, focused on making it to the creek.
The second decent hill was a struggle. I was so thrilled to make it to the creek. The crossing was interesting. Not only was it high, but it wasn't clear. I carefully moved across the rocks. I wanted to enjoy the water anyway. I dipped my Buff in the water and poured it over my head. That helped, but it didn't last long.
I had seen the mountain biker stop, but never did see him again. I walked the uphill toward the zoo. Two people were hiking and one was smoking. I came out to the open field. As I was going up the grass, I saw Aaron (and his son) and Mel marking the course. I figured I might see them somewhere. We chatted briefly and I was on my way. I saw a runner and dog coming down the hill.
I walked a lot of the grass. I wanted to get back into the shade. I was so destroyed already though. It was hard to even get back to running. I did run when it was flat.
This part I was in is one of the easiest parts. However, I couldn't really run even the slight uphills any more, without overworking myself. I hiked a lot. Getting myself to run was a big challenge.
I crossed the road and dipped my Buff in the small stream. I hiked up hill after that. I ran when it flattened out. I wanted to put my Buff in the big creek, but it was too muddy.
The normal muddy section after the bridge was very muddy. I crawled my way up the long hill and headed to the jeep road. I struggled to even run much of this mostly smooth and flat road.
I knew the rolling hills would be tough. Normally, they are runnable. However, they are exposed and it is a gradual climb. I ran some, but mostly hiked. I crossed the road and struggled along some more. It was more uphill and I mostly hiked again.
I finished the loop right by the Environmental Center. I was so hot that I needed a drink from the building water fountain. I stood in the shade for a bit. I then sat in the car with the A/C on for a long time.
I've adapted to the low to mid 80s, but the 90s will always kill me. I nearly did the 11 mile loop in better weather in the same time as it took me for the 9 miles today. I was over 40 minutes slower than my PR here.
Tomorrow is Quadzilla. I will be watching it. I have Escarpment next weekend, so I'll be resting a lot this week. I have to make a shoe choice, so I might test my Altras out once or twice this week. That is probably about it though.
9 miles - 1:56:50 (12:59 pace) 1604 feet of elevation gain
I got there later than I wanted to, after lunchtime. I knew it was going to be crazy hot and humid. I figured that this would be a good way to test my adapting out. Of course I went shirtless. I was drenched and struggling all throughout this run. Even getting some creek water didn't help much.
I always struggle here with water. If I take more than a handheld, then I have to wear more clothing and equipment. My handheld is really only good for about half the loop though. I definitely had to do the shorter loop in these conditions.I started off from the Environmental Center. I knew to take it nice and easy. I cruised along the new Border Trail. I walked up the new hill. I wanted to be very careful. I ran again and then even walked up the hill by the bison. I almost never do that. It was exposed and hot though.
For awhile, I didn't see any course markings for Quadzilla. Then, they were everywhere. Those guys make the course easy to follow. I was surprised to see the grass isn't shorter the day before the race. It is okay, but usually it is outstanding.
I ran along the early flats and downhills. I knew I'd hike quite a bit of the long uphill. I did that. As usual, the dogs were barking. Again, I was trying to be super conservative here. I was feeling it already though.
As I started through the grass, a mountain biker was on the side, on his phone. He would later pass me on a downhill. Some people were having a party in their yard. That looked like more fun than this run.
I was looking forward to getting out of the exposed sun. I was glad to do that, but then the hills came. My legs had nothing. I don't know if they were dead, the heat was sapping all of my strength or lugging around my heavier shoes was an issue. I found a way to lace my Altras differently so that I wouldn't have too much pressure on my feet. Only issue was they were still too loose and sliding around some. I do love the cushion of them though.
Even hiking up the false hills was tough. I was dragging and I wasn't much past mile 3. I pushed on though. The big hill nearly killed me, especially where it was exposed. I wanted to stop and rest. I continued on, focused on making it to the creek.The second decent hill was a struggle. I was so thrilled to make it to the creek. The crossing was interesting. Not only was it high, but it wasn't clear. I carefully moved across the rocks. I wanted to enjoy the water anyway. I dipped my Buff in the water and poured it over my head. That helped, but it didn't last long.
I had seen the mountain biker stop, but never did see him again. I walked the uphill toward the zoo. Two people were hiking and one was smoking. I came out to the open field. As I was going up the grass, I saw Aaron (and his son) and Mel marking the course. I figured I might see them somewhere. We chatted briefly and I was on my way. I saw a runner and dog coming down the hill.
I walked a lot of the grass. I wanted to get back into the shade. I was so destroyed already though. It was hard to even get back to running. I did run when it was flat.
This part I was in is one of the easiest parts. However, I couldn't really run even the slight uphills any more, without overworking myself. I hiked a lot. Getting myself to run was a big challenge.
I crossed the road and dipped my Buff in the small stream. I hiked up hill after that. I ran when it flattened out. I wanted to put my Buff in the big creek, but it was too muddy.
The normal muddy section after the bridge was very muddy. I crawled my way up the long hill and headed to the jeep road. I struggled to even run much of this mostly smooth and flat road.
I knew the rolling hills would be tough. Normally, they are runnable. However, they are exposed and it is a gradual climb. I ran some, but mostly hiked. I crossed the road and struggled along some more. It was more uphill and I mostly hiked again.I finished the loop right by the Environmental Center. I was so hot that I needed a drink from the building water fountain. I stood in the shade for a bit. I then sat in the car with the A/C on for a long time.
I've adapted to the low to mid 80s, but the 90s will always kill me. I nearly did the 11 mile loop in better weather in the same time as it took me for the 9 miles today. I was over 40 minutes slower than my PR here.
Tomorrow is Quadzilla. I will be watching it. I have Escarpment next weekend, so I'll be resting a lot this week. I have to make a shoe choice, so I might test my Altras out once or twice this week. That is probably about it though.
9 miles - 1:56:50 (12:59 pace) 1604 feet of elevation gain
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Shortened By Bears
My feet were recovering from the spring. However, they never got back to 100%. I pushed my training out to 6 days a week and 12,000 feet of elevation gain last week. That was too much and now my feet are bothering me again.
Because of that, I've backed off this week. I took two days in a row off. Yesterday, I would've run, but we went to dinner. I decided not to bother with running afterward. Today, the plan was two Mt. Tammany loops. I haven't been there in over a week.
The weather seemed like it would be nice. I wore a singlet. I was sweating heavy and breathing a lot early on. I guess the lack of tree cover wasn't helping. I did feel better as I went along. I took my shirt off during the second loop.
In addition to running and hiking, I brought my GoPro. I wanted some cool video. I have some from the winter. Eventually, I want to make a video of all the seasons at Tammany (since I'm there so often). I think I got some pretty cool shots. It did slow me down though.
I don't know what it was, but I felt like complete shit from the get go. I guess two days off didn't make me rested. I was tired, my calves were sort and I had no energy. I ate before getting there. I was only doing two loops, so I pushed on.
Some guys were impressed to see me running. However, that was one of my rare running moments. The parking lot was packed, but there weren't too many hikers. When I arrived at the summit, I saw a few.
I ended up hiking a lot of the ridge on the Blue Trail. I still had no energy. It was good to get downhill. That was a mix of running and hiking, since I was taking videos too.
I smelled something and saw a lot of flies, but I wasn't sure what it was. I'm thinking perhaps bear scat, but I never actually saw it. It must've been fresh, whatever it was.
I saw a pink shirt on my way up. I never caught it with all my stops. I saw it again on the way down. Still, I was stopping too much. I ran past a family that was loud. I thought that that was too bad because they were likely scaring away the bears.
I finally caught the woman in the pink shirt. She was hiking with her daughter. Earlier, a guy was carrying his son in a pack while hiking. That would be a lot of work up there. It was fun to be running downhill, even though my feet were bothered some.
I got to the bottom and stopped briefly at the waterfall. I took some photos and videos. A few people were swimming. I headed back on to the AT. Then, I was back at my car. With all the stops, it was a slow loop.
I refilled my water, toweled off and headed back up. I ran past some people early on. I was trying to push more this time. I felt maybe a little better now, but it still wasn't great. I tried to run a little more, since this was my last loop.
My body felt beat, as I pushed on up. I was grateful to get near the top. Then, it happened. I came out to the flat, false summit and a bear was standing on the trail with two cubs. It was quite close, maybe 10 yards away.
I had been wanting to see some bears up there for some time. However, this was probably a little closer than I would've liked. I simply stopped and yelled "go away bear." It looked at me and walked away, down the trail. I yelled a second time too.
I think these bears are too used to people. I was basically near the top and wanted to finish the loop. However, the bears really weren't moving. They went into the bushes a little, but I could still hear them near the trail. I think the cubs were on the opposite side of the mother too. I probably could've made it through okay or pushed them out, but I decided it was wiser to turn around. I was concerned some people coming from the summit would push it toward me.
I went back down the Red Dot Trail. I almost never do that and it has been a long time since I have. It was hard to run much, since it is so technical. That is especially true since I was tired.
The trail is also much harder to follow this way. Taking the correct route over the rocks is difficult. In the most technical section, I warned some hikers about the bear.
Later, as I got closer to the bottom, I warned another hiker. This guy said, "oh, they are there all the time. Was it a mother and two cubs?" I guess he hikes there even more than me. He also apparently had an air horn to scare it if needed.
I ran some near the bottom. It was over 2 hours into the run. I got a lot of gain, even if I didn't go all the way to the top. I was glad to be done and back to the car. Although I didn't go all the way to the top, I did enjoy the bear encounter (once it was over).
Tomorrow, I'll be taking off again. My feet need more rest. Eventually, I think I need to try different shoes. I'm hoping to get back to Tammany on Saturday. Anywhere from three to five loops would be great. I'll probably rest a lot next week, before the Escarpment Trail Run.
7 miles - 2:17:04 (19:35 pace) 2259 feet of elevation gain
29th Mt. Tammany Summit of 2015
Because of that, I've backed off this week. I took two days in a row off. Yesterday, I would've run, but we went to dinner. I decided not to bother with running afterward. Today, the plan was two Mt. Tammany loops. I haven't been there in over a week.The weather seemed like it would be nice. I wore a singlet. I was sweating heavy and breathing a lot early on. I guess the lack of tree cover wasn't helping. I did feel better as I went along. I took my shirt off during the second loop.
In addition to running and hiking, I brought my GoPro. I wanted some cool video. I have some from the winter. Eventually, I want to make a video of all the seasons at Tammany (since I'm there so often). I think I got some pretty cool shots. It did slow me down though.
I don't know what it was, but I felt like complete shit from the get go. I guess two days off didn't make me rested. I was tired, my calves were sort and I had no energy. I ate before getting there. I was only doing two loops, so I pushed on.
Some guys were impressed to see me running. However, that was one of my rare running moments. The parking lot was packed, but there weren't too many hikers. When I arrived at the summit, I saw a few.
I ended up hiking a lot of the ridge on the Blue Trail. I still had no energy. It was good to get downhill. That was a mix of running and hiking, since I was taking videos too.
I smelled something and saw a lot of flies, but I wasn't sure what it was. I'm thinking perhaps bear scat, but I never actually saw it. It must've been fresh, whatever it was.
I saw a pink shirt on my way up. I never caught it with all my stops. I saw it again on the way down. Still, I was stopping too much. I ran past a family that was loud. I thought that that was too bad because they were likely scaring away the bears.
I finally caught the woman in the pink shirt. She was hiking with her daughter. Earlier, a guy was carrying his son in a pack while hiking. That would be a lot of work up there. It was fun to be running downhill, even though my feet were bothered some.I got to the bottom and stopped briefly at the waterfall. I took some photos and videos. A few people were swimming. I headed back on to the AT. Then, I was back at my car. With all the stops, it was a slow loop.
I refilled my water, toweled off and headed back up. I ran past some people early on. I was trying to push more this time. I felt maybe a little better now, but it still wasn't great. I tried to run a little more, since this was my last loop.
My body felt beat, as I pushed on up. I was grateful to get near the top. Then, it happened. I came out to the flat, false summit and a bear was standing on the trail with two cubs. It was quite close, maybe 10 yards away.
I had been wanting to see some bears up there for some time. However, this was probably a little closer than I would've liked. I simply stopped and yelled "go away bear." It looked at me and walked away, down the trail. I yelled a second time too.
I think these bears are too used to people. I was basically near the top and wanted to finish the loop. However, the bears really weren't moving. They went into the bushes a little, but I could still hear them near the trail. I think the cubs were on the opposite side of the mother too. I probably could've made it through okay or pushed them out, but I decided it was wiser to turn around. I was concerned some people coming from the summit would push it toward me.
I went back down the Red Dot Trail. I almost never do that and it has been a long time since I have. It was hard to run much, since it is so technical. That is especially true since I was tired.The trail is also much harder to follow this way. Taking the correct route over the rocks is difficult. In the most technical section, I warned some hikers about the bear.
Later, as I got closer to the bottom, I warned another hiker. This guy said, "oh, they are there all the time. Was it a mother and two cubs?" I guess he hikes there even more than me. He also apparently had an air horn to scare it if needed.
I ran some near the bottom. It was over 2 hours into the run. I got a lot of gain, even if I didn't go all the way to the top. I was glad to be done and back to the car. Although I didn't go all the way to the top, I did enjoy the bear encounter (once it was over).
Tomorrow, I'll be taking off again. My feet need more rest. Eventually, I think I need to try different shoes. I'm hoping to get back to Tammany on Saturday. Anywhere from three to five loops would be great. I'll probably rest a lot next week, before the Escarpment Trail Run.
7 miles - 2:17:04 (19:35 pace) 2259 feet of elevation gain
29th Mt. Tammany Summit of 2015
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