Final Race Prep

 Whispers to a child;

The night doesn’t play with time

The way the sun does.

Friday, March 25, 2022

 I hate to use the term balance, particularly when it comes to races, as those are supposed to be above and beyond efforts. But I’m not one just to throw caution completely to the wind.

First off, I do look at the layout of the course to get a sketch of where I’m going and to plot out a basic fueling strategy.

Given that the furthest distance any aid station is from another is four miles I shouldn’t have to carry much. I’ll start with a full 18 oz. Simple Hydration bottle filled with Beta Fuel from SIS, one or two Beta Fuel gels, and one SIS Go gel (mega dose of caffeine for near the end of the race). That should take me through the first few hours of racing with only getting water or electrolytes from aid stations.

After that I’ll rely on the fuel provided at the race, which is from Gnarly nutrition, which seems very similar to Beta Fuel. However, as this will come from large container mixes from volunteers, it’s quite possible that their ratio of mixing won’t be up to either Gnarly’s or my standards. So a bit of risk, but hey it’s a race and by then I’ll have most of the race under my belt and my stomach should be settled in.

So pretty stripped down; just a bottle and a few gels. No race vest or belt needed for this one.

It's also worth looking at the forecast which is tending toward the warm side, into the 80s, if things go long. I’m anticipating finishing in about 5 hours. The race starts at 6:30. That puts me at 11:30. It’s just about 10 now and still very comfortable out, so not a major concern so long as I don’t walk or slow significantly.

I didn’t look at my competitors or past time on the course. I vaguely remember the course, from I believe 4 years ago, and it does have a grueling uphill start. After that it’s a blur. I’m sure it’ll come back to me as I move along. I know many feel there’s an advantage in doing practice runs on courses but I like the mental aspect of approaching things without any baggage.

One area where I believe I may overdo it compared to some others is with my kit. I hate cold. Last time I ran this event I remember starting with a jacket that I quickly took off and had to carry the rest of the way. With this still not being April yet, you’d think a jacket might be in the cards, but definitely warm enough even for a pansy like me.

But I do believe that too many racers start off underdressed and waste valuable energy fighting to stay warm that could’ve been used later when fatigue starts to creep in. For that reason I’ll start with very light-weight arm warmers and sun protective gloves. I always use gloves in training and at least for the beginning of races. Once it warms up they’ll easily stash in a pocket. That also is a mental signal to me that I’m in the home stretch and it’s time to give it all I’ve got until I get to the finish line.

I’m sure there’s a few thoughts that should’ve come my way as I’ll be reminded of either during the race or after. But I think I’ve got the basics down. Now it’s time to relax.

Topanga

A light touch of sun

Blankets us as we daydream

To the gentle tide.

Friday, March 18, 2022

 There was no master plan, but I feel as if I’m living in just about the perfect place for me at this point in my life.

 Why’s that?

Because I am a trail runner/cyclist and right out the door I can access multiple challenging and scenic trails and isolated undulating long canyon roads that are usable all year round.

 The weather, despite what many will say about Southern California, is not the best there is. We lived in Panama in a small town near the Costa Rica border at 5,000 ft. that has as perfect of weather that I can imagine the world can provide. Never below 55 never above 85. A decent but predictable rainy and wind season, but otherwise nearly ideal.

 Downside was there wasn’t much competition and many of the trails required a decent bus ride. But if I spoke decent Spanish and was rich enough to afford a second place to live I’d be in Volcan, Panama a good amount of time during the year. People in the states talk about the Rockies as the place to be for altitude training but that’s because they don’t know any better.

 The downsides of Topanga are that it’s a shade colder in the canyon than I’m use to; often in the low 30s in winter, but tolerable with the right layering.

 Also, since we’re renters, our stay here is at the discretion of our landlords. They’re in their 70s and though I can’t imagine them leaving, they may at any moment decide they’re sick of having tenants then out of Topanga we go.

 And this being Southern California, it’s expensive to live here. Our rent is doable with full time employment, but I struggle with how much full time work I want to continue to do. Granted with my two-and-a-half-day schedule I’m living the good life, but the itch to look elsewhere where I wouldn’t have to work at all creeps up every now and then.

 The absolute best part of where we’re at is that it’s extremely quiet. That means the world to me and I can’t believe how fortunate I am that it’s been so peaceful here. But that’s also a precarious proposition as we do have people moving around us occasionally and you just never know how new neighbors will be.

 But for now this is the spot. We’re here and I’m doing my best to make the most of it.

The Fashionista 50k

 Let’s walk to the sun.

Warm ourselves along the way

With dreams of summer.

Wednesday March 9, 2022

A great part of what I enjoy about racing is the fashion, and for me it all starts with the shoes.

In a couple of weeks I’ll be running the Valencia 50k. I was hoping to try out a new pair of trail super shoes like the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pros or the Saucony Edges but they’re not going to be available until later in the year.

The Altra Mont Blancs and the Hoka Tecton X are getting mixed reviews so I’m not going to look into those.

I did get a pair of Craft CTM Ultras. I like the cushioning but the upper is too sloppy to chance on a 50k so that leaves me with one of my tried-and-true shoes; the Salomon Ultra Glides. I used a pair last year in a 20 miler and was very pleased. That’s why I bought a pair a few weeks ago to break in for the Valencia race. I’ve also been training in the Brooks Catamounts and Altra Lone Peak 6s, but the Salomon’s just feel more locked in, lively and protective. That’s why I was hoping to get a hold of the Pulsar Pros.

 But for Valencia it’s going to be the Ultra Glides with the black, white and red color scheme. A simple, clean look that I like.

To complement the shoes I’m going to wear my grey Compress Sport grey race socks, grey Zensah calf sleeves, grey and black Patagonia shorts, a black with three mountain stripes Headsweats cap, grey OR gloves and either a  black Odlo long sleeve shirt or a red 2XU long sleeve shirt. It’ll be a very clean look of black and grey with just a splash of red on the tread of the shoes and a line on the cap, or a bit more bold with a ruby red shirt.

Either way it’s going to work. I’ll also be sporting a black Naked cummerbund (race belt) that should work with either shirt.

 I’m hoping that for the June Tough Topanga I’ll be able to get a pair of the Pulsar Pros in the mustard color as Tracksmith makes a pair of trail shorts and a short sleeve shirt that’ll go great with them.

And if the Saucony Edge’s are as good as the Endorphin Pros I’d like to use those for Bulldog in August. But that dusty rose color that I’ve seen in the previews are going to take some creative matching to make them work with a decent trail summer outfit.

I’ll talk about what I’ve got planned for my duathlon races later, but the outfit’s going to be wild.

Half Re-Cap

The jagged skyline;

Verdant green and azure blue,

Slices through the hills.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

 Sunday morning at the Ventura half marathon I ran my first road half marathon in 10 years, as far as I can tell, and will give myself a B+.

 My goal was a 1:25. I finished at 1:26:41. I did work the day before which involved 4 hours of hiking, but I don’t feel that threw me off much.10 years ago I ran a 1:25 so not a terrible rate of deterioration.

 This was my first experience racing in the new super shoes; the carbon plated Saucony Endorphin Pros. They felt great but I don’t have any experience in other shoes of their type, nor do I recall what I use to race in.

But given my time and how comfortable they were, I’ll definitely use them again. I did see a lot of Nike’s out there, but I’ll stick to the Saucony’s and am very much looking forward to trying out their plated trail shoe when it comes out later this year.

And speaking of trails … Next up is a 50k trail race. Haven’t done one of those in a bit either so should be interesting to see what the rate of decline will be over that distance. Though with trails that’s so much more complex to determine.

I wish the new Salomon Pulsar Trail Pros were available. I love the Ultra Glides and if the Pros use the same last and foam but boost it with some kind of plate and manage to come in a shade lighter, I’d love to break a pair in and give them a go.

The trail event is the Valencia 50k. It’s been postponed the last few years. I’ve run it before a few years before that but am determined not to look at those results. I’m aiming for under 5 hours. Usually I’d take a peak at past results and if the course is new to me look and see what others in my age group have done.

But I just want to go into this fresh. I’ll look over the course schematic and  profile to figure out aid stops and get some idea of the course layout, but I don’t want to over think it. My last few trail races, though shorter, were run on courses that I didn’t know much about and I did fairly well just letting the course and feel dictate how I ran. I’m going to stick to that approach for the most part and see if it’ll work over a longer distance. 

One for the Road

Wild cucumber

Wraps itself around the brush

Any way it can.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

 At some point during the week at my work someone will ask me how I feel about running marathons. It’s not as unusual question as you would think given that I work as a hiking guide and the word somehow gets around that I run ultras.

 But I’ve never run a road marathon. No plans to run one anytime soon, nor any huge ambition or bucket list projection to ever run one.

 With these exceptions:

1.    When and if I approach my 70^th birthday and I’m capable of running a 3 hr. marathon.

2.    When and if I’m 100 and can still run.

 It’s not that there’s any bizarre religious prohibition against it, or some traumatic association with the marathon event. It just doesn’t thrill me as much as other endeavors I’d like to participate in for the foreseeable future.

 It’s similar to how I feel about running a 100 mile ultra. Though that challenge does have a few more appealing elements than a road marathon, like running through the night exhausted.

 But I know doing that can’t be healthy. Heck, a marathon or ultra is something the body has to recover from and from a health standpoint shouldn’t be on any smart trainer’s to do list for their client.

 Challenging yourself does appeal to me. And seeing places I couldn’t see except on foot is also engaging. But I can string together a fastpack trip for that. And for now that’s what I’ll do when I get that itch.

 Until otherwise, I’ll stick to road half marathons at most. That distance, and the training for it, seem reasonable to me both as a challenge and to improve or maintain optimum health.

This Morning’s Run

Friday, February 18, 2022

This Morning’s Run

No need to rush the sun this morning.

We’ll warm up whenever he does.

Our door will open soon enough

And we’ll run over the waves of hills

Stopping here and there

To bathe in the light of the woods

And each other.

The streams of our breath a rhythm to follow

Until we feel it’s time to come in. 

Dead Weight

 The jagged skyline

Verdant green and azure blue

Slices through the hills.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

 Sleeping has become a lot like taking care of my teeth as I’ve gotten older; way more complicated and time consuming than I ever imagined it could be and far more complicated than it ought to be.

When I was a kid we brushed our teeth before bed. That was it.

Now I floss, pick, massage, brush, squeegee, and rinse. Well, not quite. I stopped using a mouth rinse, though I’ll probably start up again, and I’m not sure there is such a thing as a tooth squeegee, but I do use a water-pick in the morning and that seems pretty close.

Similarly, when I was a kid I went to bed, and generally fell asleep. If I was having nightmares I sometimes went to sleep at the foot of my mom’s bed. But I don’t want to get into all that Freudian trauma today.

As I’m getting older, I’m finding it much more difficult to get a decent night’s sleep, which I partly understand yet am also very perplexed at.

I get up to go pee a lot. That part I get. But I work out hard and am just wiped out at the end of most days yet I’m having troubles sleeping.

I’m trying to stay away from the electronics at night and switching to an old fashion booklight to read myself to sleep.

I’m using a heating pad occasionally to heat my shoulders. Sometimes it works; sometimes not.

Lastly, I’ve gone to a weighted blanket. That’s also been hit or miss. Not sure why the weight feels good or makes a difference. There’s always that Freudian explanation somewhere lurking in the background. But again, I’m not going to lay back on the couch and free associate about it … unless that’ll help me sleep.