Scratch | A Runner's Story

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We’ve had some rain and snow the last couple of days. That doesn’t help the trail conditions but the cool weather is a decent trade off. This morning’s twenty mile run began in a crisp 43°. It finished less than three hours later still under 60°. The cool clime contributed to an 8:33 pace. Twenty seconds per mile faster than last Saturday.

This is my final tough workout before the Boulder Marathon on October 5th. Hoping for similar weather then. I only drank one liter of Scratch and consumed the same quantity of Hammer Gels as last week – three for a total of 240 calories. I plan to double that during the marathon. I burned about 3000 calories and lost five pounds in two hours and fifty-four minutes. An hour later, I feel great. I’m ready.

To let you know, the race starts from the Boulder Res at 7:15am. The course loops through the res again at the half. Chris Price should be coming through the res on his first half at 8:45am. I expect to pass through at about 9:00am. Come out to support us and take pics. Chris is pushing to break 3:20. I hope to finish in 3:45.

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

The 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.