I Never Thought I’d Run In This

Remember I told you about that little race I am doing this upcoming weekend in Leadville, Colorado? (15.5 miles, 3,700 feet of climbing up a real live mountain). Here’s an update and photo I just got:

Attention Heavy Half Marathon Participants! We are hard at work shoveling through the incredible late season snow on Mosquito Pass for your race!

If there was ever a time to say “WTF,” it would be now.

I love running because you never know what the hell you are getting into. There are advantages to this scenario:

• I can lie down and make snow angels when I am tired
• It is the first time I will run in short with 4 feet of snow on either side of me (it’s supposed to be in the 60s that day)
• No porta potty, no problem. I’ll just build a snow cave/igloo
• I can write my name in the snow (hmmm..easier to do if you’re a guy. Or you have a Go Girl)

Last week was a decent training week, although I didn't et in the vertical climbing I wanted.

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: 4 miles – trail (500 feet climb)
Wed: 6.5 miles
Thursday: Rest/swim
Friday:  5.5 miles
Saturday: 12 miles (dirt road up to 8,500 feet – 1,200 feet climb)
Sunday: 4 recovery miles

Total: 32 miles

Magnolia Road outside of Boulder. Nathan Fire Catcher Race Vest.
Altra Trail Shoes. Shorts from Kohls – no joke they are awesome and $7.

I realize will will suffer on Saturday. I also realize it will be exhilarating, gorgeous and a confidence builder (or destroyer depending on how things go).

If you run on trail then you know there are times the trails are either too steep or too rocky (or both) so you have to power/race walk.  There is actually a skill to this. One that I do not possess. Here’s what I’ve learned.

• Check your ego at the trail. It’s okay to walk
• Keep cadence constant, stride short
• Bend into the knees
• Lean slightly forward, don’t hunch
• Breathe
• Don’t cry
• Use butt more than quads/calf muscles
• Fart for propulsion (I made that up but I think it might work)

Would you rather be hot or cold when you run? I think I’d rather be too hot. Cold destroys me.

What are the worst conditions you’ve ever run in for a race? Probably the Boulder 70.3 a couple years ago when it was 100 degrees by the time I started the half marathon.

SUAR