In my "research" of Susitna, one of the blog's I came across was "Up in Alaska" from Jill Homer in Juneau. She recently completed the Iditarod Trail Invitational - 350 miles on bike. I finally just sat down to read her full report and it is awe-inspiring to say the very least. If you have the time, I know you will enjoy it, and possibly come away as changed as she did herself. I only wish I had half the heart and writing ability of Jill. As an example: "Veterans go ultralight and rookies bring their insecurities." The way she describes the landscapes and her emotions is incredible.
http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/2008/03/day-one-knik-to-skwentna.html
Also, congratulations to Liz Parrish, who I had the pleasure to meet while she was training; Liz finished her first Iditarod last weekend. Liz is a "local" from Oregon.
http://www.iditarod.com/race/race/musher/racemusher_295.html
Wow, wow!!!!!!!!! Way to go girls!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Chucka...nuts!!!!
I've run a total of 43 miles in the past month. Last weekend was 2 "dumb ass" loops at Tiger that left me hobbled for most of the week leading up to Chuckanut, so I wasn't expecting much out of Saturday.
I think I gained some mental-toughness, maybe, I was really pushing it the whole time. Kept telling myself "this will end, it always comes to an end," and gave it everything while I was out there. However, I was really sucking on the flats and uphills. I always suck at the flats, nothing new, but usually I can pass a lot of people on the uphills, and I was struggling to do so at Chuckanut. Arthur was wearing his can't be missed flourescent MM hat, so it gave me a goal to catch up to him on the climb up to the third aid station. That was hard!
I had a blast running the downhills on the ridge - felt like I was skiing, just hopping, skidding and flying over hills and roots. A couple people said they were not going to pass me on the uphills because they knew I'd go screaming by on the downhills; I did my best to keep up the speed on the ups so as not to piss them off. I know how I feel when I get held up going uphill, like you're walking in place.
On the downhill to the last aid station I met up with Bill Beard, who I used to go to daycare with, that was a "trip." The people you meet!
I truly bonked the last 6 miles. I never bonk at the end. That was a little frustrating. Trying to push it, waiting for my second wind - it ALWAYS comes to me at the end, but it never came. I was mentally "in it" and trying, but my heartbeat was in my ears (on the flat, not a hill!) and my legs were weak and without energy. I wasn't sore or stiff, although I'd had some major calf-cramping coming down the last hill, but I just couldn't get my legs to move.
I will say that the last 6 miles, although frustrating, went by very fast! I'll chalk that up to perspective. Roy Seliber, who'd I'd leap frogged the last 6 miles, told me to take the lead at the end and we finished right together. Thanks to him, I added 30 seconds to a 1 min PR. I thought I'd run slower, so was happy when I came home and checked out 2007 results to see that I had run slightly faster.
I know I've said this, but this will be the year to show me if I've improved at all. During the last year+ I improved my times, but I think all that is due to becoming more efficient, learning to power-walk the uphills, becoming a student of the virtues of Immodium-AD, etc.
"Aunt" Monica kicked some serious butt - placing 42nd overall in 5:05. Wish we really were related and maybe I'd have some of that speed :) I'd had some thought that Eric, Arthur and I would finish together so I could make a "Heathers" joke (80's movie - c'mon you know it, Winona Ryder, Christian Slater) about cutting off one head, and another grows in its place (since Hester and Stoyles were not there), but alas, I got my head handed to me on a platter by both of them as well.
Was not sorry to miss out on PacRim, but had fun harrassing *tc via text messages and asking for updates. Great job all.
I think I gained some mental-toughness, maybe, I was really pushing it the whole time. Kept telling myself "this will end, it always comes to an end," and gave it everything while I was out there. However, I was really sucking on the flats and uphills. I always suck at the flats, nothing new, but usually I can pass a lot of people on the uphills, and I was struggling to do so at Chuckanut. Arthur was wearing his can't be missed flourescent MM hat, so it gave me a goal to catch up to him on the climb up to the third aid station. That was hard!
I had a blast running the downhills on the ridge - felt like I was skiing, just hopping, skidding and flying over hills and roots. A couple people said they were not going to pass me on the uphills because they knew I'd go screaming by on the downhills; I did my best to keep up the speed on the ups so as not to piss them off. I know how I feel when I get held up going uphill, like you're walking in place.
On the downhill to the last aid station I met up with Bill Beard, who I used to go to daycare with, that was a "trip." The people you meet!
I truly bonked the last 6 miles. I never bonk at the end. That was a little frustrating. Trying to push it, waiting for my second wind - it ALWAYS comes to me at the end, but it never came. I was mentally "in it" and trying, but my heartbeat was in my ears (on the flat, not a hill!) and my legs were weak and without energy. I wasn't sore or stiff, although I'd had some major calf-cramping coming down the last hill, but I just couldn't get my legs to move.
I will say that the last 6 miles, although frustrating, went by very fast! I'll chalk that up to perspective. Roy Seliber, who'd I'd leap frogged the last 6 miles, told me to take the lead at the end and we finished right together. Thanks to him, I added 30 seconds to a 1 min PR. I thought I'd run slower, so was happy when I came home and checked out 2007 results to see that I had run slightly faster.
I know I've said this, but this will be the year to show me if I've improved at all. During the last year+ I improved my times, but I think all that is due to becoming more efficient, learning to power-walk the uphills, becoming a student of the virtues of Immodium-AD, etc.
"Aunt" Monica kicked some serious butt - placing 42nd overall in 5:05. Wish we really were related and maybe I'd have some of that speed :) I'd had some thought that Eric, Arthur and I would finish together so I could make a "Heathers" joke (80's movie - c'mon you know it, Winona Ryder, Christian Slater) about cutting off one head, and another grows in its place (since Hester and Stoyles were not there), but alas, I got my head handed to me on a platter by both of them as well.
Was not sorry to miss out on PacRim, but had fun harrassing *tc via text messages and asking for updates. Great job all.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)