6!!
And I just keep coming back. Getting to do a catered run through the caldera satisfies that urge in me to get OUT; to get away from people. Sure, there were some 80 other runners, but after mile 3, we all spread out.
This race really shouldn't have been on my calendar. I'm doing another HARD marathon next weekend. This was also the last day in an 80 mile week for me in my build to Leadville Trail 100. I've been feeling a little ...bleh... like I am not getting the recovery I need. But, I simply can't resist this run. So, I signed up but had absolutely no time goals.
No really.
I didn't review the times from previous years.
I didn't plan how fast to try to get up the first hill.
I told everyone it was a long training day, that I was taking it easy.
I was really glad about this too, because my 14 mile run the day before was a challenge. My legs didn't want to move, certainly not uphill, my hips ached, my hamstrings ached. It was NOT GOOD. Ending that run on a downhill, and the fact that I love being out on those trails was the only thing that kept me from being unhappy about the run. Well, that and there was absolutely no expectation for me to run fast or hard at the marathon the next day.
Surprisingly, after the 1:45 drive up Sunday morning, my legs felt pretty good. I still held back though. K had warned me multiple times that the marathon the next weekend was ridiculously hard. So this needed to be a long easy training day in which I didn't expend any unnecessary energy. The first 3 miles at 9.5 min/mile pace was right on target. I ran through mile 6 or so, and then as it gets steeper, I switched to walking. I tried to work on that a bit and focus on not overstriding, on using my glutes. It was nice not to have to push. I didn't look at my watch until I got to the top. 1:49... I think. Might have been 1:47, but I don't think so. Since I hadn't looked at my previous race times, I didn't remember whether that was fast or slow for me. Ah well, doesn't matter. But the time continued to bounce around in my head, and I became convinced that I was on about 5 hour pace. That seemed about right for me that morning. I checked my speed a few times, and I was right around 8:30 to 10 on the way down. I kept it easy, and expected ES to pass me any minute now... I had passed him as he fixed a sock. I was breathing easy, and my legs felt really great. Way better than I thought they would after 64 miles in the week. I was prepared for that good feeling to go away once I hit the road, and I was prepared to have to hike all of the remaining hills, even the little ones. Wouldn't be the first time. I ate my Honey Stinger Waffles, and kept my easy pace.
I looked at my watch again when I got to the road at the bottom. Not sure why, as the 2:51 didn't mean anything to me. I was so happy to realize that the temperature was not a furnace this year, that it was actually perfect running temperature. And there was a breeze, but not a gale force wind. This was the most fun I have ever had running that road through the bottom of the caldera. And I ran it. The entire thing. I felt great, I kept it easy... Not too far along, I came up on CB. We had run the first 3 miles close to each other. He was having some cramping issues. I asked if he was taking salt tabs, and he was. He ran with me for a bit, and then had to walk - he told me to keep it up, that I was looking strong. I had the fleeting notion that, this was only mile 17, and the wheels were still pretty likely to come off. But actually, I didn't really think they would anymore. I felt great, and felt like I had two or three higher gears if I wanted to use them. But that wasn't the goal for today. Today I was just running at altitude for a somewhat long time. Easy effort. So I told myself that I wouldn't look at the watch again just in case I would start to get competitive and try and beat last year's disappointing time. That decision made me pretty happy and relaxed.
Another 1/2 mile and I thought I saw MM ahead of me. I caught up to her at an AS, said hi, grabbed an orange (where were the potato chips? I kinda wanted some.) and kept running. I thought she'd catch up to me and we'd chat, but I never heard her footsteps. (mmm, maybe I should have waited? I hope she's not having any problems. ah well, she's a great runner, I'm sure she's fine.)
As I approach the trees on the other side of the caldera, it dawns on me that I just ran the entire road section. I've never done that before. Cool! And I still feel like I have lots left in the tank. Even better, I'm sticking to my plan. There's a guy in front of me that is running the STEEP hill at mile 19.5. I hike. I catch up to him. He skips the next AS which I stop at to refill my pack, and I see the next hill he downgraded to hiking too.
I came up to a woman all bent over to the left. I asked if she was doing ok - "No."
Me: "Cramping?"
Her: "yes"
Me: "Do you have any salt tabs?"
Her: "no."
I gave her 2 of mine and wished her good luck. Maybe that first question of mine was a little dumb. Her expression was one of 'I'm in pain, and you are asking really stupid questions, Captain Obvious.' And the second question too. But... it's hard to just open a conversation intelligently after running alone for 20 miles. I hoped she'd make it in ok.
There were no popcorn grasshoppers this year as I ran through the meadow. Hey, I'm almost done. And still feeling like I could go faster and farther than the 3 miles I have left. One guy I pass asks how many more uphills. We're at mile 24 or so, and really we've done them all. But there are a couple of really short rolls... and something about the way he asks me makes me think that he'll count those. "Mostly down from here, maybe 1-2 more short ones."
And it was smooth sailing from there. No drama. I come up to the line and think oh yeah - what's my time this year?
4:39
Wait, what? 4:39? That's a PR of ... maybe 20 minutes? No, 15 minutes? Wow. and I feel like I could keep going. That's a great confidence boost.
And for analysis girl, even though she wasn't in on the planning for this one, I couldn't keep the data away from her:
(mile 9.5 ish)
Year Top of hill Finish
2007 2:04 5:45
2008 1:55 5:13
2009 1:46 4:54
2010 1:54 5:08
2011 5:03
2012 1:49 4:39
Hitting the bottom at 2:51 means I ran the last 10 miles at about a 10 min/mile pace - including the hiking up the hills at 19.5 and 21.5.
So far, so good! Now here's hoping that 2.5 weeks of vacation at sea level doesn't mess up the rest of my training for Leadville!
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