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Spikes in Snow

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

colorado cross country championships, Cross Country, New Balance Leadville 2010, race results, Sushi Hapa

XC RaceAnd now, for something totally different.  A cross country race in the snow.  I’m not expecting to run very fast this morning.  Grass is considerably slower than paved roads.  Not that there is much grass visible on today’s course.  The course is buried under a few inches of ice and snow.  The weather isn’t too bad.  It’s snowing and under 20°, but there is very little wind.  Cold air is fine for running – without wind.

I studied my previous two runs on this course at Harlow Platts Park from January and last November.  I was in similar shape but only averaged a 7:22 and 7:38 pace respectively.  I find it difficult to believe I couldn’t manage a sub-7 minute pace for such a short distance.  My thought is the course cannot possibly impact my pace that much.  I suspect the race scenario results in too much of a sprint at the start.  My first mile isn’t too fast, but my first quarter mile is.  Probably, simply my first 100 yards.  So my race strategy this morning will be to crawl off the starting line.  This might have implications later trying to pass other runners, but I’ll take the risk.  It will be a good experiment if not a winning strategy.  Not that I’m going to win anything today.  I can’t place in cross country without a team.  And a large number of these runners are fairly elite.  But it’s not about winning.  I get a kick out of lining up with these hotshot harriers.

I realize any thoughts on running fast or race strategy is moot once I begin my warmup.  Running over this snow is hard.  I was hoping for a snowpack but this is loose powder.  Traction is poor.  The course has been snow-plowed.  This helps to follow the path but does little to help with footing. I talk with another runner who tells me his spikes don’t help because the snow is too powdery.  I’m running in my New Balance trail flats.  Wish I had spikes.  Long ones.  This is going to be a slow race.  My new strategy is to simply avoid being lapped by the elites before I complete my second loop.  It’s a three loop race over four miles.

I line up in the back with a few older guys.  The field looks like about 50 runners of various ages.  There’s a team of 70 year olds and a couple of 80 year old runners.  I would tell you I run to plan by starting off slow, but it’s impossible to run fast in these conditions.  The hills are made exceedingly difficult by the snow.  I count five hills, all short in length but extremely taxing.  Kids are sledding down the largest hill.  Traction is so poor I actually can’t tell you how I manage to climb it.  I think I will myself to the top on each loop.  Spikes would really help for this hill.  If these conditions are not bad enough, bales of hay are stacked at one spot on the course.  Apparently positioned just before the race start because I didn’t see these during my warmup.  This is insane.

I complete my first mile in 7:53 and feel strong with my breathing but still can’t run any faster.  I run mile two similarly in 7:56.  Nice even pace.  This gives me the energy to push my third mile.  Running hard on the third quarter of any race, regardless of distance, is my typical race tactic.  We’re so spread out, I only pass one runner.  I do run faster though in 7:45.  I finish my final mile in 7:57 for an average 7:52 pace for the 6K.  I feel good afterward but not sure this qualifies as a race.  Still, glad I got out.  And the elites didn’t come any where close to lapping me.  Always good to not get lapped.  I meet up afterward with Brit and Ellie, and Brit’s boyfriend Forrest, for lunch at Sushi Hapa.  We follow that up with some browsing at the Boulder Bookstore.  Not a bad snow day.

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Berthoud Pass

21 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Colorado Trail, Running

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Boulder Marathon, boulder marathon cancelled, CDT, continental divide, Denver Marathon, GoGo Squeez, New Balance Leadville 2010, Pearl Izumi

sunriseI receive the email Friday afternoon informing me that the October 5th Boulder Marathon is cancelled.  I have made such a big deal out of this race that I’m stunned.  But only momentarily.  I quickly recover and register for the Denver Marathon October 19th before it’s full.  I’m fast to move on.

A few hours later, I drive up via I-70 to Idaho Springs.  I meet La Plata at the Tommyknocker brew pub at 6:30.  We break bread and share grape.  More specifically, we have jalapeno poppers and mac-n-cheese with red chili.  This is similar to Cincinnati chili, but with mac rather than spaghetti.  Very satisfying and highly recommended.  After dinner, we shuffle my van to the massive parking lot on top of Berthoud Pass and camp down at the Herman Gulch Trailhead off I-70 at exit 218.

Herman LakeThis site is less than ideal with incessant engine noise reverberating along the canyon walls throughout the night.  I don’t sleep well, but at least it’s warm.  We breakfast on oatmeal and trailhead coffee.  At 6:30am, we hit the trail.  We gain 3000 feet in elevation over the first six miles.  By this time, we also shed our cold weather gear and are down to running shorts and a T.  I wear my Pearl Izumi 2and1 ultra trail running shorts.  The long seam brief works well to protect against chaffing.  These shorts are great but could use additional pockets.  I’d like to see what I call a “shark knife pocket” stitched on the brief alongside the outside thigh.  It would be underneath the shorts so it would not be visible.  I’m thinking of two or three times the size of the gel pockets along the back sides.

saddleDespite the steep grade, we get in a little running each mile.  I can’t begin to describe how perfect this supple trail is for running.  You can see it well here if you click to enlarge this photo.  The ground feels raw with fresh dirt.  We’re quickly above treeline and mostly stay above 12,000 feet.  Our highest point is 13,200.  Not surprisingly for a trail following the Continental Divide, it runs mostly along the very top of the ridge with unbelievable views in every direction.  At one point, we are running a thin ridge lined with craggy rocks.  I feel like I’m running across Godzilla’s spine.

ridgeThe sun is out strong and creates interesting light between glare and shade along the ridge.  You can see how the trail undulates along the ridge in this photo with La Plata.  You can even see some snow to the right.  The cool air countered the full sun and kept us comfortable all day.  We both forget to wear hats but apply liberal amounts of sunscreen continuously.  Still, the backs of my legs are now sunburned.

beaver creek coupleThe muscles in the backs of my legs are hurting too.  The 6000 feet of total elevation gain is a tremendous workout for my calves, hamstrings and glutes.  This twenty-plus mile run along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is perfect marathon training.  Rather than the three hour, twenty mile workouts I’ve been running on the weekends, this run will take eight hours.  We planned for eight and we finish with twelve minutes to spare.  Clearly, it’s mostly hiking, but at an aggressive pace.  Averaging over 12,000 feet, we are often winded as if we are running.  It feels great to be up here with light packs.  The weight in my pack is mostly from the 70 ounces of water in my camelback reservoir.  I also carry warmer gear should the weather turn bad – which it never does.  For nutrition, I carry Epic Bars and Hammer Gels.  I have Skratch mixed in my water.  The idea is to practice consuming what I will rely upon for my marathon to ensure my stomach can handle it and that it keeps my muscles from cramping.  Everything works out great.

rocksMy new trails shoes also do well.  These New Balance Leadville 1210s have a rock plate in the front of the sole.  I don’t feel it in there, these shoes are so pliable, but I never feel any rocks either so it does the job.  These would have been fine shoes to race the Boulder Marathon in, on that course’s dirt roads.  Their tread proves capable on this extreme trail by gripping loose dirt with confidence during steep descents.  My ankles are quite fatigued now, hiking boots would have provided better support.  But I love being able to run a trail with light shoes and pack.  I’m thinking though about buying new shoes for the Denver Marathon as that run is entirely on paved streets.  I’ve been thinking about buying a pair of Hokas.  I know they are a bit gimmicky, but everyone I’ve talked to, like Gadget Girl, absolutely loves them.  I would need to train in them of course first, but I have time for that.

jones passAnother new item I intend to pick up for the Denver Marathon is a gel-like snack La Plata gave me – GoGo Squeez.  It’s 30 calories less than my 90 calorie Hammer Gel, although 3 times the volume at 3.2 ounces.  Still, the real fruit content is yummy.  Not often you can say that about these sports foods.  Plus the twist cap is convenient and overall the pack is less sticky than gels.  There is nothing better than real food.  Fruit performs well in terms of supplying quick energy.  All these products do well on my stomach while running.  And fortunately, I didn’t have issues with the poppers from the night before.

berthoud passI expect to see more people out on this trail, being so close to Denver.  I can’t imagine a better day to be out here.  We do see a couple wearing Beaver Creek caps.  Several other hikers and one trail runner.  And a few bikers.  They really impress me with the technical nature of this trail.  Good for them though, riding on top of the world.

jennysSaturday’s 20.6 mile trail run was so much better than I could have imagined.  Perfect in every way.  From the weather, to our pace, to my conditioning that made itself evident.  Despite the altitude, my breathing felt strong.  And the workout my legs received will help me in the Denver Marathon.  We lunch at Jenny’s, a small cafe in Empire.  We both eat the half pound buffalo burger.  Very tasty.  We will meet up again next weekend for a forty mile backpacking hike along the CDT that extends from near Breckenridge to the Grays and Torreys Peaks.  We’ll be joined on this outing by La Plata’s college buddy, George Schools.  George is an extremely fit athlete from Austin.  This could turn out to be a three-day race under the load of 35 pound backpacks.  Can’t wait.

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Shoes & Brews

06 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

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Tags

Boulder Marathon, Hammer Gel, New Balance Leadville 2010, Scratch

Leadville 1210The day after last Saturday’s nightmarish trail run, I went to Shoes & Brews to buy this new pair of trail running shoes.  The New Balance Leadville 1210s.  This is how you recover from a bad run; you buy a new pair of shoes.  Running’s not complicated.

This was my first visit since they opened.  How brilliant is this?  They sell running shoes and related gear.  And they sell a unique selection of tap beer in an attached pub.  I still wasn’t feeling up to par Sunday, so I can’t critique the brews.  But I just like having the option.  They organize group runs along the Longmont Greenbelt on Saturday mornings and supply Scratch sports drink along the route.  Check them out.

I got some good runs in during the work week, although my legs felt heavy most days.  Felt so much better this morning though.  I went out early on the LoBo Trail for 21 miles.  The temperature started out well below 60°.  It was only 64° three hours later when I finished.  Rain clouds hung low, nearly kissing the ground.  I love Colorado clouds.

The cool weather supported a fast pace.  My goal wasn’t speed of course, simply the miles.  I suspect I started out fast to stay warm.  I ran a consistent 8:30 pace the first 12 miles.  I ran into Chris Price after 6 miles.  He ran 15 miles at a 7:30 pace.  Wow.  By 15 miles, I slowed down to a 9 minute clip.  My overall average came out at 8:50 per mile.  Makes me think, with similar conditions, I can expect to run a 9 minute pace for the Boulder Marathon in October.  Hope so.  Chris will be running as well and I suspect I might hang with him for his first two miles.  He starts out slow at around a 9 minute pace.  He’ll speed up to a 7 or so minute pace.  I imagine I’ll speed up to 8 minutes and then settle down to 8:30.  Then 9 minutes.

I started to feel fatigue today at 12 miles.  My arm started to hurt after 15 miles.  That’s not unusual in a marathon, that muscles you would not normally associate with running begin to hurt.  In addition to breaking in my new shoes, I experimented with two new nutritional supplies.  I loaded up on 70 ounces of Skratch in my Camelbak.  With the cool weather, I only drank about 30 ounces.  Scratch is brewed in Boulder.  It’s highly valued by runners and analysts for its even digestion on long runs and bike rides.  I also ate three Hammer Gels, one at 6, then 10 and again at 12 miles.  I was quite pleased with these gels because normally they make me want to puke.  These were so flavor neutral that I didn’t even need to rinse out my mouth after eating them.  I didn’t experience any gastrointestinal distress today so I think both these products will work out nicely for the marathon.  I’m considering wearing my camelbak so I can drink something more nutritional than the free Gatorade at the aid stations.

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