late winter/spring training: JAX WY, CRA and the tacky leprechaun

Hey it's been FOREVER since I've posted it seems! I've been pretty busy with life, training and other adventures all the while preparing for my next race: Terrapin Mtn 50k. I thought I would do a post and share some pictures from what's been going on with me the past month.

Several days after Holiday Lake ( I had a pretty easy recovery from that race, I feel given the fact I ran the first half so slow and conservative) Brock and I jumped on a plane and spent 5 days in Jackson Hole, Wy to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We had a blast. We stayed at our fav place in the teton village: the snake river lodge:o) We skied 3 days ( it was AMAZING skiing there this year, it snowed tons everyday!) I got in some great runs in the snow, We went to GTNP and got some great wildlife pictures, and we hung out in Jackson a couple afternoons and ate some yummy food! Oh, and I got to see one of my favorite bluegrass bands live at the Mangy Moose: HOT BUTTERED RUM :o)

The snake river in GTNP

a mature bald eagle chillin

a moose ( cow) laying down in the trees

The majestic Tetons ( and some clouds) I love, love, love wyoming...

Brock and Jenny on the banks of a very frozen Jackson Lake and it was about 10F that morning.. BRR!

me in Jackson town square. across from the million dollar cowboy bar and the cadillac grille ( I love the cadillac grill-- they have moose drool on tap :o)

As soon as Brock and I returned back to Va. I had ANOTHER adventure in store for me and I couldn't wait!! I was lucky enough to get invited to go run Catawba Run Around ( thanks sophie!!) which is a 36.04 mile adventure on the AT.. that includes: dragons tooth, the tinker cliffs and McAfee's Knob. SERIOUS climbing over 9000 ft of vert on very technical and rocky trails. Beth, Rick and Doug Blackford also were running, along with SO many of my friends from the VHTRC and WVMTR :o)

The weather forecast wasn't very good. high 40's and rain. :o( boo. I knew going into the run, I probably wouldn't get to see all those amazing overlooks. BUT I knew 1. I'd get much needed time on my feet 2. and get to have alot of fun in the mtns with my friends!

Beth, Rick ( who had ran Mt Mitchell Challenge the week before) and I ran with Dave Sniper and Doug Sullivan and we just had a blast "fun running" We pretty much goofed off for 36 miles.. but the good thing was we were smiling and laughing and pretty much pain free at the finish.. so that was nice! :o) I WILL be back next year to run this event and see all the views and run in the sunshine!!

here are some pictures from that adventure:

in front of dragon's tooth

The IMTR's on dragon's tooth and Sniper captured Rick at a vulnerable angle ( hee, hee)

There were bottles of knob creek all over the place during the run... ( cough gary knipling cough)

Beth and I expressing our opinion of the view from McAfee's that day

Beth, Doug Sullivan, Me, Rick Gray

And this past weekend was the IMTR annual super awesome event: The Tacky Leprechaun trail run. This year we ran our bread and butter 9.3 mile loop on the AT/ IMT in Damascus ( last year we ran 24 miles) but given the fact we had WAY more people this year, we decided to have a fun, light run and stick together as a group. Post run we noshed on guiness cupcakes with bailey's frosting and then went to the whistlepig cafe ( trailside on the Va creeper trail) for a wonderful lunch.

I also have to add that we had a couple new members to the group. Rebecca and Dana Loyd ( love yall!) were nice enough to come run with us! and we hope to share the trail with them VERY SOON! And this is so random, but when we were in the parking lot getting ready to leave this guy ( who was there visiting from Winston- Salem NC and there to bike the Creeper Trail) asked us what we were doing. Rick told him trail running and invited him to come run with us, and he did!!! Viveka: you are a super cool dude for being so spontaneous! I think so many of us could take a page out of your book and live a much FULLER life to step out of our comfort zone and try new things, hang out with new people and check out new places! Thanks so much for spending the morning with us! I know we'll run again together soon!! :o)

Tacky leprechaun Group shot

Kathleen Cusick and I chatting it up before the run

JJ and Dana in their kilts!

socializing with grossman and Annette before climbing up beech grove trail

Eric Grossman in his batik sarong

I love this picture.. sorry kathleen I had to post it even if you are making a weird face... I love JJ's expression in this picture!

my running buddies: eric, annette, kathleen, rick and beth-- love you all!

beth and aliese contemplating... WHY eric's arm sleeves are so baggy

Our newest members: Viveka, Dana and Rebecca

the IMTR's fav hangout THE WHISTLE PIG!!

holiday lake 50k++

I arrived at holiday lake 4h educational center on friday to pick up my race #-- but ended up leaving with some goodies which definitely added to my holiday lake 50k experience.

Firstly, I had been greatly anticipating the release of Montrail Rogue Racers since this past summer. They were backordered EVERYWHERE.. and just not available on the east coast. I was bummed because I had really wanted to run this race in a pair... the drop date was supposed to have been feb 4th but it was pushed back to the 15th:o(

THEN while Brock and I are rolling up the interstate, I see Jeremy Ramsey had posted that the aidstation.com had JUST gotten them in that morning, and would be having them at the pre-race meeting. I messaged Jeremy to hold me a pair! ( which he did) amazingly enough, I didn't know WHAT color I was going to be getting... didn't know if they had the grey/purple or the teal ones in stock.. I didn't care.. but they had the teal ones and LOOK how well they matched my patagonia running skirt and 9 trails vest on race morning! amazing:oP

My new montrail rogue racers = a well coordinated outfit

for those of you wanting to check these out I suggest you buy them from the aidstation.com. Why? because it's Clark Zealand's store! how cool is that?! but seriously, a major thank you to Jeremy Ramsey for holding back a pair of W 8's ( the most popular size in women's shoes)

Then I snagged up a copy of a DVD about David Horton's speed record on the PCT in 2005. I know I'm really late getting to see it:o) but figured now was better than never:o)

for those of you who haven't seen it or don't know what I'm talking about here is a link to a youtube clip from the DVD. HERE

After socializing with all my friends, Brock and I drove back to lynchburg to check into our hotel and go eat some yummy japanese food. Then we came back and I got all my gear/drop bag ready. I couldn't sleep it was 9pm at that point, so I ended up watching "The Runner" ( and it was so good!) and drifted off to sleep definitely inspired.

I woke up at 4am. Breakfasted on oatmeal with sliced bananas, blueberries and chia seeds and a muscle milk ( for beth).

We drive 45 min back to the 4h center and oh, let the FUN BEGIN!

blurry eyed, sleepy but ready to roll:o)

My bud Marlin and I chatting it up at the start line

I had a formulated a plan to try to have as evenly paced loops as possible ( the race is 2 loops-- on clockwise then counter clockwise) and start SLOW and I mean SLOW the first loop. I had NEVER employed this strategy before, but I had ALWAYS meant to.. before EVERY ultra last year.. that I would start slow.. even at frozen sasquatch.. I had meant to start slow. It just never happens. I get WAY too hyper and just take off, it feel like i'm going slow and then I look down at my garmin and realize I ran a 730 first mile without meaning to:/ SOOO..... This is where Sophie comes in--- I knew how Sophie usually runs.. she starts slow and then speeds up as the race goes on and always runs really consistent and strong. She was kind enough to offer that I start with her and tag along with her for the first loop. And that is what I did. I had a goal of running 5:30 so I figured if I came in at 2:40 the first loop, that would be good and give me 10 min to play around with.

Sophie keeping me in check the first loop

So I ran with sophie, marlin, Jenn pharr davis the first loop and it was just pretty much a party.. we all just laughed, chatted and had fun and the miles just clicked along. I got antsy a couple times and Sophie would assure me that I was doing the right thing to sit back-- I would have a much easier time the second loop. They picked it up about 2 miles from the half way point, and I fell back.. still going my pace I had been going.. but I could still see Sophie and marlin in my visuals so I didn't slow up much. I felt pretty strong, and finished the first loop in 2:40 RIGHT where I wanted to be. I really was surprised with how consistent and how NON- icky I felt. usually 16 miles in.. I am already feeling SOMETHING..

I turned to go back to run the loop backwards, it was a little hairy with the single track around the lake and having to pass the people on the trail who were finishing up their first loop.( I had the same dilemma coming in to finish my loop when I would meet all the fast peeps ahead of me) but really I really tried to give tons of room and so did the people going up the trail.. So I think it worked out as best as it could.

I was trying to run faster, and I felt faster.. ONLY I was just going the same pace. LOL it was just requiring more effort. I ran about 13 more miles.. 2 more aid stations where I got to see my sweet husband who was the BEST crew and took so many great pictures during the race.

and then the wheels fell off. BOOM. at the last aid station I had 4 miles to go and brock tried to get me to take a gel with me... which reminds me to point out: I ALSO was doing something else new!! NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT?! ANYTHING?! NO NATHAN VEST this race! I decided to use *shock* MY POCKETS! and drop bag and cool things like that so I wouldn't have to carry so much.. and it was AWESOME! I felt so light and airy! :o) I decided for 50 miles yes.. wear a nathan vest.. but for a 50k with AS every 4 miles.. and a drop bag half way, really no need. so jenny went old skewl.. or is it new skewl since using only my pockets is something new for me? regardless, I liked it.

okay, back to my original story: so Brock tries to get me to take a gel with me, and I refused in my brain dead stupid state.. saying "nah, man I'm fine." I ate about 500 cal so far.. and I felt really good and really felt I was close to finishing. I knew I was slowing down but I felt I could sneak in the 5:30's.. only a couple min off my goal.

run up the trail a mile and sputter, sputter, DIE... well. Isn't that just awesome? 45 min later.....

Jenny gets spit out of the woods, on the pavement.. little 21 yr old liberty girls are passing me right and left.. zoom, zoom, zoom... but Alas! the finish line!

and how great it is TO FINISH! 5:41... yeah, that wasn't an amazing time.. but considering this time last year my 50k PR was 7:31... I'll take it!! I see I'm learning more and improving and it's REALLY motivating! My first true "horton hug" at one of his races!! Finish line camaraderie and don't forget that SWEET finishers patagonia capilene. :o) yay!

many positives from this race:

1. starting slow kept me stronger for longer... glad I finally "stuck with the plan"

2. it was darn good training for me to RUN 33 miles. This course was rolling and def a TRAIL race tons of single track and dirt narrow double track ( think four-wheeler tracks) but it was VERY runnable with only a couple steep sections you could hike up ( but so short you really could run up if you had to) I'm a tad undertrained for the really long distances right now ( winter makes it hard to be outside for 7 and 8 hours at a time!) so really it's no wonder I bonked at 30 miles ( one lesson I learned, when in doubt, EAT THAT LAST GEL AT THE LAST AID STATION) but I think RUNNING that much is going to do nothing but help me gain fitness for my 50k's have planned in the next couple months:o)

3. less is more: go light-- if there are ton's of aid stations.. you'll be OKAY. TRUST ME.

4. The Rogue Racers did AMAZING! ( even though the runner wearing them did not) No blisters, no bruised toe nails, no ouchie feet this morning. My feet are the PRETTIEST post 50k EVER. I love masochists, but rogue racers have some great cush to them that the masochist are lacking just a little. and they are SOO light:o) I would definitely wear these during a 50 miler.

I had to go through a BIG ol stream crossing ( twice) and my new kicks drained VERY well:o)

Frozen Sasquatch 50k 2011

“Never again.”

That’s what I told myself last January 2^nd 2010 as I finished my first 50k at Kanawa State Park in Charleston, WV: Frozen Sasquatch 50k. I clearly needed my head examined for signing up for it in the first place… brutally cold, icy trail conditions and pure greenness when it came to running on technical trails translated into a slow uber frigid slog in the mtns. I completed my first 50k with a blazing time of 7 hrs and 31 min.

Frozen Sasquatch 2010 was a humbling, fish out of water experience to say the least.

Yet by the following Monday, I signed up for terrapin mtn 50k-- my experience chasing the sasquatch was the spark that ignited a flame… yes, it hurt, yes.. I was terrible at it… but I for some reason.. I just HAD to experience MORE. Which led to a crazy fun year of running many, many miles in the mtns with my friends, countless fun runs weekend back to backs in the mt rogers area, 3 more 50k’s, my first 14er climbing/running Mt massive in Leadville, my first 50 miler at Cheat mtn, my first Mountain Masochist… What a stellar and epic year in running I had. I have to admit throughout the year whenever I even thought about Frozen Sasquatch, I would have a knee jerk reaction to it. I was instantly think of deathmarching and being EXTREMELY cold. Even when I saw Dolin at Cheat mtn 50, I pretty much told him verbatim not to look for me at Frozen Sasquatch. Once was enough for anyone!

But this past Friday morning with snow flying in the air, there I was loading up all my race gear in the FJ. Bound and determined to face my inner demons associated with this race. I have to improve my time there on that course, because I knew I could. Oh, okay AND I absolutely LOVE all the WVMTR crew. They are just a super special, kind collective of ultra and trail runners. So NOW I know that a day out in the mountains with the WV peeps—you just can’t go wrong there. Their events are always this dichotomy of very well organized, yet very relaxed and chill. The volunteers are AMAZING…

Brock and I got to Charleston it was 30F and barely any snow! AWESOME!!! There was way more snow in VA, than what they had in WV. SWEET! I may get to run on dirt and leaves the next morning! We went to packet pick up on Friday evening. Met up with my trail parents Rick and Tammy Gray. I was really excited to be running with them because I hadn’t seen them since Mtn masochist in Nov. FS 50k was Rick’s birthday run ( he turned 50!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!!!! :o) Got to hang out there in the concession stand with Dolin ( the RD) and Dan ( the pres. of the WVMTR and RD of highlands sky 40 mi and co –rd of the Trilogy stage races) it was great to just get to catch up and see my friends.

Brock and I decided to watch 127 hours and then let me be a dork and go to sleep at 9pm. I slept pretty soundly until 1 am, I got up and looked out the window and it was a sheer white out… POURING THE SNOW. I looked at my iphone and it said it was 21F. Really, why should I expect any different?? I just kinda rolled my eyes, laughed, and went back to sleep. I got up at 6am.. (one awesome thing about FS 50k—8am start! Woohoo! I get to sleep in!) got dressed about 4 inches had fallen and was STILL falling. I just kept the mentality that it was going to be a FUN day in the mtns.. and running in the fluffy snow was going to be a treat.

Driving to kanawa state park was pretty rough, the roads weren’t that great and people were wrecking all over the place. We finally arrived unscathed! A big ol’ 10 min before start time! I ran into the concession area and said hi to all my friends

and before I knew it I was waving bye to brock and lining up with Rick and the race had begun!

I felt good at the start. I felt much faster than I did at masochist (where I pretty much had ran myself into the ground end of summer and fall) The snow made things a little more difficult footing wise, but I had been running in the snow and ice since the beginning of December.. and I couldn’t have ignorance as an excuse. I was FULLY AWARE of what I had signed up for when I entered this race. I knew it had complete and total potential to be EPIC adventure and time really goes out the window. ( although that doesn’t stop the numerals 7:31 from rolling around in my brain) After a couple miles, I start to determine how I feel ( pretty warm! And happy to be running) and where I am ( on a cool rolling trail and I’m first place female for the 50k and oddly enough 2^nd place female had I decided to run the 25k. I decide that I maybe taking it out too fast and maybe should slow up a little. My goal for the race was to have evenly split loops.

Things were still going well when at mile 8. I see another girl with a 50k bib hot on my heels. Crap. I speed up so does she.. we go into an aid station. I beat her out of the AS and my heart rate is up and I’m breathing fast. NO. don’t mess up now. I try to zoom along the trail up the second climb, I see her on the switch backs.. she’s after me. We get on a forest service road and I get passed AGAIN.. I try to stay with the girl, because I really didn’t want to lose the lead. And I felt I could stay with her.. several more surges and I just let her go.. if she can keep that pace up for 16 more miles, more power to her. I struggle to get recovered from my prideful little battle, and feel a little like a whipped puppy, cowering mentally. I tell myself to snap out of it.. everyone knows the race REALLY doesn’t begin until the second loop anyways. I descend down teaberry rock trail get to my drop bag. Adam’s wife, the lovely Kadra assists me while I fill my new handheld, fix up some perpetuem and get more gels for my vest to fuel me for the second loop. I babble to kadra about the girl and how I was going to catch her.

Off I go… first major climb of the second loop.. ouch… I’m feeling it already. My feet hurt and my calves feel achey. My longest run had been 21 miles since masochist. I had gotten sick 2 different weekends in December and consequently missed 2 planned long runs. So I knew I was lacking “time on my feet”. I try to focus on the serene beauty that surrounded me and took a swig of my nuun.. man, what is it about nuun that makes you feel like a million bucks when felt like dog poo 10 min before?? I start running after I get to the top of the hill and after a couple miles I hear another girl’s voice. Crap again! BUT I turn and look and it’s Mary Jane!! My friend I ran almost ALL of capon valley 50k with last may! I didn’t even know she was running this race! Mary is fast… which I have explained before.. she ran JFK in 8 hours.. she is a 3:2something marathoner.. so I always kinda feel pretty dang special when I find myself in her company at an ultra. She was running with her husband Jason, and was feeling GOOD.. so we ran together for about 5 min, I tell her about the chick who I raced with SEVERAL times and Mary Jane told me how she blew by her too during the first loop, and then I just felt like I was working a little too hard and cut them lose.. dang. Why didn’t I just go with them?

I get to the next aid station and they say “2^nd female!!!” and I say “HUH?!” I leap across the 3 small creek crossings so I wouldn't get my feet wet. I am running with a cool guy from Morgantown.. I excitedly ramble to him that the fast girl dropped.. that means Mary Jane is in first, and I’m in second. ( WHY would she drop when she’s in THE LEAD?!) I had actually, unknowingly reclaimed the lead for part of the second loop. Then lost it again ( head smack!) I have to keep moving and not let any more chicks pass me. At that point there is just 8 miles left, and I’m feeling like I about have it licked.. another hour and twenty min.. I’ll be back.. I’m looking at my watch.. WELL, I’m not going to run 6 hrs.. or 6: 30… if I hurry I may break 6:40.. oh, well… that’s little more than 50 min faster than last year.. I can’t sneeze at that.

So I just busy myself with working towards the finish and listening to my ipod. Yes, it’s really freaking cold. Yes, my nose ran constantly and I had frozen snot and Heed and Clip2 ALL OVER ME and the fingers of my gloves would freeze to my bottle… But you know what? Where last year, I had a very tough time mentally and was pretty miserable the second loop.. this year, I just was pretty darn appreciative and thankful, and the cold and frozen boogers just didn’t bother me they way they did the previous year. I was just pretty darn happy to be there:o)

I get to Teaberry Rock Trail.. and sure enough, it’s just like it was last year.. very icy and treacherous! I just slid down the slick parks and ran with baby steps/elbows out on the steep sections…. I could see through the trees on the switch backs, the finishline! The yellow FJ! Brock in his gig-normous phantom puffy! YAY!!!

I sprint to the finish ( with probably WAY too much energy left at the end of a 50k) crossed at –6:41. Happy it’s over, Happy I placed second overall female, Happy I improved my time on the course by significant amount-- PR by 50 min ( all be it.. I ran WAY slower than I wanted

YAY!! ARTWORK for OVERALL AWARDS!! SWEET!!!

1st overall female the sweet and super fast MARY JANE and I

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK GRAY!!! BIRTHDAY PR!!!

Full results are HERE

This race BOTH YEARS has been EPIC, challenging and humbling.. Michael Dolin really does an excellent job with this race!! I really double dog dare you guys to enter it and run it next year!!!

1/1/11: NEW YEARS DAY trail run with the IMTR's

Eric and Annette took turns with the camera

Trying to find the timer to no avail..... :oP

yesterday the IMTR's gathered together in Damascus, VA to celebrate the New Year running on the AT/ iron mtn trails, and then go to Eric and Robin Grossman's house for post run refreshment.

We ran our bread and butter 8ish mile loop that is in the shape of a figure 8 and I just LOVE it :o) and it was just so wonderful to get to see all my old friends and spend the morning together. We had some great conversations. :o) It was great to catch up with Doug Blackford, I hadn't ran with him in sometime and we talked alot about his trip to UMB and Chamnoix this summer, and how he was planning to return in the event the lottery was kind to him this year. Tears of sheer joy and happiness literally stung the corners of my eyes the last 2 miles of the run when I had the realization of HOW AWESOME it was to see Eric dart up the trail a blur of orange breaking away from the group, his stride so strong and confident.

And then for Annette to completely DUST me on a killer downhill... I was running as hard as I could go and was still losing so much ground to her... ZOOM! she was gone. (she is just SUPER FAST that is all there is to it)

it was AWESOME to see all my friends healthy, recovered, getting ready to get in "fighting shape" and have a great 2011.

and AS FOR ME, I felt blissed out/ blessed to be running myself in the mtns at the pace I was going and feeling GOOD and STRONG! it wasn't 2 months ago... my speed gone, plagued with nagging injuries.. I had a hard time getting out of 9 min/ 10 min pace shuffle. Sure, I could run that way forever... but after runs, I would go back to my FJ on the verge of tears and extremely frustrated wondering if I had FOREVER screwed myself up. BUT... like the old saying "time heals all wounds" I really truly believe that now. It took TIME and I had to be PATIENT. and heeding SAGE advice of my fleetly, wiser, more mature ultrarunning friends... but I too am healed up, running faster ( though not at the level of my 2 speedy friends eric and annette :oP) but FOR ME... I'm SUPER ELATED where I am.

I really hope that I learned some major lessons over 2010 especially from the fall and summer concerning "What NOT to do when it comes to ultrarunning/racing/recovery." I really feel the swimming/strength training/speed work have helped me tremendously in resolving my issues. I really hope that as the year unfolds I'm more in tune with myself in allowing adequate recovery time/rest time when I need it.

after the run, as I mentioned we went back to Eric and Robin's house. Played a fun card game called "apples to apples" with Eric's kids ( Beth Minnick and I RULED at that game:o) JJ was extremely envious of all our green cards we had acquired-- I know:o) Then we all had Hoppin' John that Doug and Martha prepared. ( black-eyed peas and greens) MMM! Delicious! it's supposed to bring you good luck for the upcoming new year. :o)

I really hope all my friends in blogland has a Happy, Healthy, Wonderful 2011. FILLED with many adventures and time in mtns:o)