A Very Special Race

Hashawha Hills 50K will always be special to me for a number of reasons.  It was Hashawha where I took my first trail run on a day with so much ice, I shudder when I remember it now.  Hashawha was where I learned to run trails...where I learned of a special band of friends and trail runners who even took their name from the relentless hills, together "lovingly" called "the Evil Sisters."  Hashawha is where Beth taught me not to be afraid, Chris taught me to run straight through streams, Pam taught me how to "chop-chop" down hills and Coach Alan taught me not to be a sissy with pithy advice like, "it takes more energy to try and run around mud than to run through it" and "its not if you will fall, but when, and how bad." But he always ended every run with "Did you have fun?" and I could honestly say "YES!"  And four years ago, it was at the Hashawha Hills 50K where I ran my first ultra.  I had no intention of becoming a trail runner, let alone an ultra runner.  But that is what Hashawha did to me.  The peaceful beauty of the trail wrapped itself around me and called me in.

Each of the last three HH50's I have become faster, from 7:35 on my first finish to a 50K PR of 6:45 last year.  But years and times can't be compared, because the trail holds all the power.  Weather, footing and training change, and what looks like the same trail can turn into a completely different run.  I like that.  It is what makes trail running magical.  The first loop this year was an icy, frozen, horse print filled trail, with numbing stream crossings and slick road sections.  I did my best to run steady, controlled, and even then, I slipped more than once.  I felt good coming through the mid way aid station, and headed back out looking for more of the same, but was treated to a kinder, gentler trail for the first few miles.  The earth had softened, the mist had let up, and the untreated roads were now dotted with puddles rather than ice.  Ahhh. This was nice.  Then, the out and back to the rubber bands.  Slipping, sliding, down through the stream, and using my hands to get back up on the bank.  More running, more sinking, more rinsing and repeating.  Then the fields; the first time through, they were hard, unforgiving clumps of grass and corncobs.  Now they were soft, mushy and refreshingly pleasant.

Another stream crossing, inches of mud, a few more climbs, the little log cabin, and then my favorite part - the pines.  I can vividly remember the first time running through them years ago...how they smelled so good, how soft the needles were underfoot...how they were lined up in perfect rows.  It was a short section, but it signaled the end of the race, so near the finish.  With mostly downhill now, I could take off, and run faster than I had in a while.

Down the hill and through to the finish.  I probably tried to run too fast, since I was out of breath and panting coming in.  I wasn't prepared for the muddy grass at the end, and it took everything I had not to go flying as I came around the corner. But I crossed the line, and received my third beautiful clay mug from the inspiring race director, who just happens to be the original "Evil Sister".  As much as I love Hashawha, I may stop at 4 so I can become one of the amazing volunteers who make this a wonderful memory more than just a race!

Thank you, Hashawha!

Ahead with Running...Behind with Life

In the last 7 days, I have run 76 miles.  That might help explain why I still have winter decorations out at my house.  At least the Christmas stuff  has been put away (okay, not put away, but at least its in the basement!!).  I was feeling pretty guilty about all the snowmen, especially as the temperature hovered near 60 today.  Luckily though, another blast of Arctic air is expected tonight and we may even get snow tomorrow.  Whew, that was close!  It also explains why I went out today for a 20 mile run, even though it was technically a "rest" day.  How can anyone pass up the chance to knock off a long run on a day as glorious as this???  The first 15 miles I did on the road, but just had to jump on the trail for the remaining 5.  I haven't been on this reservoir trail for a while and it sure has taken a beating this winter.  The erosion was wicked and the blow downs were everywhere.  Not sure if the county/city will come in at some point and clean it up, but it did make for a pretty adventurous obstacle course.  I know I probably spent way too much time out there, but boy, did it feel good!  I even shared the trail with bugs - a sure sign of spring!  Now I can look forward to NOT bundling up for a long run tomorrow...heck, I might even get those snowmen down after all!

A 50K Closer...

The wind was howling and it was cold, cold, cold as I headed to Columbia for the Mid-Maryland 50K on Saturday.  I brought a bag filled with clothes, not completely decided on what to wear.  Sometimes being in the woods can really block the wind, and I didn't want to be too hot.  Then again, as I sat in the car before the start and watched the trees bend nearly to the ground, it didn't look like there would be much protection.  Luckily, we came through the starting pavilion 5 times, so wardrobe changes were easy.  The first 10K loop was not!  For some reason, everything felt hard. The ground was frozen and that seemed to extend right into my shoes and up my legs.  I felt as if nothing was bending right and I had cinder blocks on for shoes.

Warming up a little before I started running might have been a good idea, but the thought of moving from the pavilion (and my coat) didn't hold much appeal.  Thankfully, after the first mile and a half of open field, gale force winds and stinging cold, we moved to the woods, where indeed, the wind settled some.  There were still times when it sounded as if the trees above would just crack and land on my head, and in fact, I narrowly missed a chunk of ice that fell off one tree, but for the most part, the running in the woods was a welcome reprieve.  This course was 5 10K loops with a longer field area start, and I wondered how I would do with that.  Umstead is also loops and I have never done a loop course that repeats more than once.  After the first time, knowing that it is halfway over is a big mental break.  Here, after each return trip to the pavilion, I would still have 4-3-2-1 loops to go.  Surprisingly, it didn't bother me all that much.  I think that trails are wondrous in the fact that each time you pass, even if only an hour+ later than the previous time, everything looks and feels so different.  I know the footing sure changed.  What started as rock hard frozen brown ice transformed each time we came through, until the last loop, when it was sloppy, slick, mud soup.  Another aspect of this trail was the runnable nature - other than the mud, there was nothing preventing runners from going all out.  This is good and bad for me.  I have always known that climbing up and running down hills is much easier for me than continually running steady.  Although my garmin had the total elevation being just under 8000 feet, it was a series of little ups and downs that really didn't justify walking.  Slow running, maybe, but not an all out walk. I tried to make sure to take little breaks and stretch, and it must have worked since I am not at all sore today. I haven't seen my splits yet, but I think I probably ran my slowest split on the third loop, and my fastest on 1 and 5.    My watch (which stops when I do) had me running a few minutes faster than the actual finishing time, but it was still my 2nd fastest 50K, and not too shabby for having already run 30 miles in the preceding 4 days.  Bring on Hashawha!

They Told Me There'd Be Days Like These

When I sat down last weekend to write the latest post, I felt like this...

...a little tired, but euphoric because lately, each run has been better, faster, stronger than the one before.  I was smugly feeling a little invincible thinking every day would just keep getting better.  Somehow, I never finished writing though, and in the meantime, the Ravens WON the Super Bowl, (Hooray!) I am back to teaching, and yesterday my run was not stronger, not faster and definitely not better!  Today I feel more like this:

I am figuring out where my tipping point is, and it seems to be that long 15 miler after two days of faster, speedy runs.  Saturday I clicked off 15 miles in my fastest time yet, then followed with 8 and 6, also at a good clip.  So come Wednesday, when I set off for another 15, again in the cold and wind, I knew I was in for a battle.  I plowed ahead though, and now I have two glorious days of rest before the Mid-Maryland 50K on Saturday.   By then, I know I will be sufficiently rested for a play day in the (snowy?) woods!