We're Going Streaking!

Well that title brings back fond and zany memories - but its not that kind of streak.

 I finished my 6th Hashawha Hills 50K in February, and that makes me one of two (one male, one female) with the most finishes.  I have a rich history with Hashawha, and even more so with the fantastic race director, his wife,  and all my Hashawha friends.  In so many ways, on so many levels, Hashawha is my happy place. 

I learned of "Coach" (the HH race director) long before I ever met him.  Another runner friend would tell wild tales about a trail running guru who was training her to take on a 50 miler - the JFK no less, and she would have me mesmerized with her training, her ability and her fearlessness.  At that point, some time in 2008 or so, the idea of running 31 miles seemed ridiculous, and 50 was just full out crazy.  She told stories of eating while running - real food, not gu or gel, and falling hard, but continuing on with bandages and blood.  She talked about blisters and gallons of water and baths between the doors of the car.  And she spoke with such fondness, such respect for this Coach, who was carefully guiding her to success. 

The first time I actually met him, he wasn't even running.  He had torn a muscle in his leg and would have to bike, or hike while the rest of us ran.  What??  Wait, he had a TORN muscle and still was going to be out there.  Doing something?  And then just a few weeks later, he was back out there and this time he was running, leading a pack of us through Hashawha.  I just remember the switchback trail, covered in a fresh layer of ice and snow, with crystals everywhere, and looking exactly as if it could serve as the background for a beautiful fairy wedding.  I don't think I have ever seen something so beautifully extraordinary.  And running through it - the stillness, the quiet, it was truly magical.  And all the while, Coach ran silent, just far enough ahead to lead but occasionally stopping to share a trail memory or suggestion.  And, as he always does at the end of every run I have ever done with him, he asked if I had fun.  Afterall, isn't that why we are doing this?

doesn't it LOOK like fun???

I did have fun at this year's iteration of the Hashawha 50K.  In fact, I was enjoying it so much, I had to remind myself more than once this was a RACE - I was trying to go fast, not just meander on the trail I loved so much.  There is so much to enjoy at Hashawha.  So many different kinds of trails, each part affected differently by the weather, the season, the users.  There are places where horses leave deep hoofprints, and when the ground is frozen, these small holes are wickedly tricky to run through. The lower trail can be icy, damp, or comically muddy, as was the case this year.  The mud had a thin glass-like covering of ice, but after numerous runners cracked through, the thick sludge underneath was a shoe sucking mess.  Then the trek up the hill and the trail becomes dry as can be with thick piles of leaves and assorted branches and roots ready to trip up an unsuspecting runner. Gravel road sections can be run full out fast, especially down hill sections and the creek crossing is refreshingly cold and playful.  There is just no part of this trail that I do not love, even the windswept fields, where on a clear day, the view of the surrounding countryside goes on forever.

And the section through the pine rows signasl the end of each lap and and offers a padded surface for tired feet before the final push to the finish.
I didn't start out to make Hashwaha a streak race, but after 6 finishes, I would love to be able continuing running it for as long as I can.  And if I ever stop ultra running, it would be fitting to stop at the place where I started.

Phunt Times in Elkton

I can't believe I ever had time to post timely blogs.  Whenever I think of sitting down and writing a race report, so many other computer chores take priority (dang online bill pay).

In the interest of time, I will set a goal to recap a couple races, with the added  bonus of an awesome training run. That sounds like fun...or PHUNT, which was my first race for 2016.  This is actually the third or fourth time I have signed up for this early-mid January race, but the first time I actually made it there.  Earlier on this blog I chronicled waking up at some obscenely early hour, laying in bad and listening the wind howl, picturing getting lost on this somewhat obscure trail, and rolling right back over.

That was a couple years ago, and although I tell myself I will run it every year, it just never happened until this year.  I'll blame it on my ERR friend Chad, whom I coerced into not only running with me, but driving AND waiting for me to finish!

You have to love a race where the RD sends you off while perched on a 12 foot ladder screaming in a bullhorn as Highway to Hell is blaring over speakers. 
This race used to be run as a "fat ass" but it has become much more legitimate in the last two years, and was full out professional this year!  There were logo embroidered items to buy at the start, give-a-ways from Gore-tex, and pretty damn good swag for finishing.  The course is a double loop, and  from the chatter among frequent Phunters, the course was extremely well marked compared to its former days of a low key "you're on your own" kind of race.  About 3/4 of the field of 400 decided to only go out for the first loop, which, of course none of the 50K runners knew until we saw all their celebratory whoops and high fives at the end of the first 25k!  Uhhh, maybe we should not have tried to keep up with them all on the first loop (whoops).

Oh well, it was nice and serene on the second loop (read: didn't see a soul) but luckily the pithy signs kept my spirits up.

The weather was incredible for the first loop, and only as I got further into the second did the temperature start dropping and wind start to pick up.  I had been running with just a light shirt, but had to stop and put my jacket on for the last 6 miles or so.   The race had a cut off of 8 hours, and I made sure I was going to make that.  I wasn't rushing, just running comfortably, and had a really nice day out there.  With about 3 miles to go I decided to give it an extra push, and finished in 7:49 or so. Chad was waiting for me to finish, and broke the news gently about the lack of lentil soup left.  Oh well, incentive to go faster next time.  He was a swell race buddy, and that became more evident when only about a mile into the drive home, I had to make him pull over so I could puke.  Luckily we were close to a rest stop, and even more lucky, we actually made it there.  So a not so great finish to a great race, but a fun day none-the-less.  Not sure I will risk the January weather again, but for this year, it was a winner.

And Then It Came Crashing Down....Stone Mill Recap

Ultra distance race directors and their teams are generally a pretty chill bunch, but I could tell that there was some anxiety when one of the volunteers offered to do a car pool to the McDonalds just minutes before the start of the Stone Mill 50 Miler.  And when she announced that is was "only for those who had to do number two" I could actually FEEL the stress they were going through.

Seems the custodian from the host school decided he had time to sleep in and then get a coffee before heading to the race start to unlock the bathrooms.  Not sure when he arrived, but it was after the crowd of  runners had either taken a short walk behind a tree or hopped the carpool to the nearest bathroom.  Still, everyone was cheery and ready when we were sent off into the darkness of the morning. 
The road to the trail was a nice way to thin out the group and we established a nice line heading into the woods. We weren't on the trail for long when there was a HUGE crashing sound behind me.  I was sure it was a tree falling just feet away, but it turned out to be a deer trying to get away from the runners.  Unfortunately, the poor deer chose the wrong direction and ended up plowing into one of the runners not two miles into this 50 mile run.  And then, the deer sort of half rolled, half ran down the rest of the hill. Remarkably, the resilient runner dusted herself off and kept right on going!

Since all this took place before 7:00 am, I knew we were in for a great day!  Excitement, adventure, all of the things you sign up for when you run an ultra.  I was hoping that my new found "speed" would really shine on this day, and it did for a while.  I was hitting the aid stations ahead of my last year's time, which was ahead of the year before that.   The trail was perfect - very runnable and well marked. The aid stations had a great variety of food and amazing volunteers who offered to do everything but chew the food for me.  I settled into a good pace and just kept moving along, sharing the trails with folks I see often at races, and others who I only see once a year at Stone Mill. 

After a while, the lack of "facilities" at the start had an impact, and I was counting down the miles until the aid with the port-a-pot.  As I came out, I heard a volunteer shouting for me to hurry and catch the guy in front of me.  I could only hope I didn't have toilet paper hanging out anywhere!  But I listened and got a move on. Coming into the 28 mile aid station, I decided to change my shoes, since I had a hot spot developing.  Getting down on the ground was a lot easier than getting up again, but once I was on my way, I was fine!


There are no mountains, or river crossings, or rocks at Stone Mill, and it is very easy to just settle into a rhythm of running that that leads you to believe it is an easy run.  But 50 miles of relentless bouncing has its consequences and all that uninterrupted running might have been a bad thing for me since it started to do a number on my stomach at about the 40 mile mark. I was having trouble eating and after a while, even keeping fluid where it belongs was an effort, despite using every trick I knew.  Where last year, I was saved by ice chips and Ramon noodle soup, they didn't work their magic this time.  I made it to the final aid station right at the cut-off and was hurriedly sent on my way, even though I would have liked to linger.  Those aid workers know what they are doing for sure, since if I had even stopped for a moment, I probably would not have gone on.

 But I did, and was lucky to partner up with a youngish dude who was struggling as well.  We kept each other company for the last painful 4 miles of winding trails taking us towards, then away from the finish for what seemed like hours!!  In the end I crossed the line, but well behind my time from last year.  Not the stellar performance I was  hoping for after my awesome fall, but the gracious race director gave me a finish, my 5th at Stone Mill, so I am grateful for that.

congratulations....or pity (I'll take it!)

No Reasonable Explanation (aka Catching Up: Pt. 2)

After a couple long runs, a couple of 50Ks, and some shorter runs, I was ready for my fall marathons.  I discovered Freedom's Run  a few years ago, and it has really become one of my favorites.  Some years it has coincided with the Baltimore Running Festival, and that leaves me in a quandary, as I have a streak going at Baltimore.  Well, sort of a streak, since I have done 12/15 of the marathons.  Because it is the hometown race, I feel somewhat compelled to support it. 

Luckily, this year both marathons were on different weekends. Yeah!  Of course they were only one week apart, and I was also signed up for a 50K on the next weekend, but is there REALLY too much of a good thing??


I just can't

Freedom's Run is just so beautiful.  Starting in Harper's Ferry, this run has some of every  kind of scenery imaginable. And despite my hate/hate relationship with the canal towpath, I ran every step of it this year.  It was as if I switched on autopilot and just cruised the full 10 or so miles.  Coming off the canal, there are some killer hills, and I continued my plugging along until I got to the Antietam Battlefields.  There are also some serious hills here, but the "downs" really balance the "ups".  It was here that I looked at my watch for the first time and had a "WTF??" moment.  Anyone who knows me as a runner knows that I don't much focus on time, rather run by feel and effort.  This run was feeling pretty comfortable, so when I saw I might finish in under 5 hours, I had to focus on that!  It would be my first sub-5 hour marathon in 7 years, and I have NO IDEA how that happened!  But I wasn't going to let it slip away so I really pushed the final few miles and came in at 4:58.  No one was more surprised than me!

sunrise over Harper's Ferry Visitor Center

such beautiful views

Of course after running a good race at Freedom's Run, my expectations for Baltimore were somewhat muted.  It was only 6 days later after all.  The weather looked to be perfect, and I was feeling pretty good.  And that is the way the race started, and continued until about 22 miles in.  At that point, my legs hurt so badly I just wanted to get to the finish.  Again, I looked at my watch and saw I could do a sub 5, but every step was agony and running fast was impossible.  I alternated walking and running for a little while, then fell in with some folks and tried to hold their pace.  I knew I would be okay if I could just stay ahead of the 5 hour pace group. 

Guess what didn't happen???  Yeah, they passed me and try as I did, I finished in 5:05, with my legs screaming in agony.  The good news is that for the first time in 3 years, and even with a faster time by 15 minutes or so, I didn't throw up, so there is that.  Still, Baltimore is a great race, and I will most likely always be tempted by the siren song of the run through Charm City.

I actually won a free massage from Geiko, but had to wear their shirt!

A week later I was at the starting line for the 2nd annual Patapsco Valley 50K.  Again, my expectations were not that high - last year it had taken me 8:24 to finish the deceptively hard course, and I was beginning to feel the cumulative effects of so many races in so few weeks!  But the day was gorgeous as was the course, and I came over the line in 7:59!

So three races, three weeks apart, with three best times in a long time.  Not even sure what happened there, but I'll take it!  Sometimes it is better to not question, just go with it!

Fall Races (aka "Catching Up")

Yes, I was successful at Schloss... and several races after that.  In fact, it seems every weekend for the last three months I was racing, running, or resting.  And by resting, I mean only running 15-20 miles instead of 26 or more.  Because the only way I will remember is to write about them (and thank goodness for pictures) here is a brief summary:

The Big Schloss...I have to devote some time to this because it was epic, I tell you.  The rain, the thunder, the lightning.  Pounding down the side of a mountain with little rivers at my feet, the huge drops pelting my face as the thunder boomed loud and near.  It was amazing.  There are some runs that I feel like I am flying and this was one of them.  The views, even through the clouds and persistent rain, were amazing.  It was just cool enough to be pleasant, and this run felt as close to effortless as can be. 

A week later (or maybe two?) and it was the Women's Half Marathon.  I can't remember how many times I have completed this race, but it is an annual Evil Sister reunion, and missing it is not an option.  While a bit warm for me, I did  just fine and had a pretty good run.  Nothing compares to the camaraderie of this race and the singing send off of "Happy Trails"  by VHTRC men is priceless.

Another week, and another 50K. This was Blue's Cruise, and a new one for me.  When I registered for this, I was looking for a race that would be a supported long distance, but not too technical or rocky, since I was running a marathon just a week later.  I didn't pay much attention to the distance (very close to Philly) and I definitely wasn't banking on the swarms of bees that attacked my knees and thighs early in the race.

I had these welts all over my legs and knees

The  race circumvents a lake, and sounds pleasant enough, but there were stretches that were long and less than scenic.  I didn't have my camera so I couldn't capture the prison that highlighted the long 5 miles to the finish.  Not sure I would do this again, but the folks were great and it served the purpose.

I'll stop here, because my next few races were marathons, and the Patapsco 50K.  They deserve their own post since each one was a great race as well as some freaky anomaly of speed that caught me by surprise!  (I realize that waiting until 3 months after a race is probably not considered an official "report", but hey, life.

Big Schloss or Bust

So this is what I am doing this weekend...

The big Schloss.  I haven't run a successful 50K since May and I am more than a little nervous that it won't go well, but I am also more determined that it will.  At least that is what I told myself all this weekend as I ran 38 miles of trails to cram for this event. 

can you say "unprepared"

Its not like I haven't been training.  I ran the A-10 last weekend, and for the first time in 11 years, did not spend the afternoon dying on the couch.  It was hot, but I ran it like a trail race, nice and calm, and while my time was pretty abysmal, I felt terrific afterwards.   This road race is historically the day before my kids start school, and since I usually wait until Sunday afternoon before the first day to get school supplies, I end up at Staples looking like a dehydrated zombie.

But I actually felt pretty good after, and since I had gotten to the start at 3:30 am, I had a prime parking spot and got out of there zip quick.   A stealth change in the car and I was perky enough to stop at IKEA on my way home AND I even built the storage organizer I bought.  Now that was an endurance event.

I only want to finish Big Schloss.  No lofty time goals or PRs.   Just get me to the end to restore my confidence and I'll be a happy camper.  I mean, its only a 31 mile mountain run. What could possibly go wrong?

Two Fails and a Drop

July was not kind to me.  For some asinine reason, I thought signing up for three 50Ks on three consecutive weekends was a good idea.

Catoctin was to be the first, and a redemption run.  I ran it two years ago in not ideal circumstances, and came in 3 minutes over the 9:15 cut off time.  This year, I thought I would give it another shot, and since I had been doing weeks of 18-22 mile long runs, it seemed a pretty sure thing.  Yeah...no.

My head was  not in the game and while I made the first few cut offs, by the time I was headed to the Manor area, I  pretty much gave up.  This is a tough race to begin with, and being a million mental miles away for the first half did not help.  As I arrived at the stream and tried to gracefully cross it, the aid workers told me there was no hurry, and that was not what I wanted to hear.  But I admitted defeat and spent the rest of the day floating in the pool.
 

My next race was the summer edition of Rosaryville.  I did this last year and was pleased that I finished in a not horrible time since it was a)summer and b)hot.  The course is MUCH easier than Catoctin and there was some other members of my running group going, so it looked to be a fun day.  And then this:

and this:

It wasn't looking good.  I loaded my hydration pack with ice, took an extra bottle of ice, and wore next to nothing, but was still baking just 10 miles in.  I tried so hard to tough it out for the full 50K, but somewhere after 15 miles I just shut down, went back to the finish and settled for a 25K medal.  Not my proudest moment, but I had puddles in my shoes and just could not drink enough to rehydrate.

So that left me with the last of my 50Ks for the month, and I ultimately had to drop out of that due to family schedule things.

Since July was less than successful, I have decided to take August off, at least until the A-10 the last weekend and concentrate on just running for fun.  I'll wait until September to start worrying about the 50 miler I signed up for today.