I’m not sure how many weeks have gone by since I last posted, but I know I haven’t written about some of the amazing experiences I’ve had for awhile. I’ve really been loving training this summer because it has forced me out of town and to new trails and experiences I might not have had if I didn’t need to get more mileage and altitude running in. Tim and I made an agreement that in order for me to be able to train and balance family and life, we would incorporate training runs into our family plans. Which this summer has meant running in new places almost every weekend. I was forced out of my comfort zone of predawn running and many times only running when the family schedule allowed. This past weekend the schedule “allowed” mid-day into the evening runs.
After pulling an all-nighter at the Michael Franti concert at the Cuthburt Theatre here in Eugene (complete with a Denny’s breakfast afterward’s) we headed to the Umpqua River for some rafting and of course running. Tim’s friend Hal was visiting from Kansas and although there is a lot to see in Eugene, we wanted to show him our favorite river. I took off as early as I coul dafter getting maybe 4 hours of sleep, and still eneded up at the trail head at 11:00. Just in time for some good heat training. I planned to leave the acr at Horseshoe Bend so that when Hal and Tim were done rafting, they’d have a shuttle car. I began at the Umpqua trailhead on the Calf section and ran south west down the river. The Calf section was recovering from a fire and it was eerie running through a blackened skeleton forest, wildflowers blooming, but HUGE trees fallen and charred. The trail was rocky, somewhat unfriendly to my feet and potentially dangerous to a misstep or fall. After about 4 miles on this section, I began the Panther section. (5.5 miles) This section is completely different. Soft pine needle trail, lots of dense foliage; ferns, oak, pine, waterfalls and streams. This section is especially meaningful to me because this is where Tim chose to propose to me. I took a picture of the waterfall but unfortunately the picture did not save. Great memories on this trail. The next section is the Mott Trail. It takes you 7+ miles down river past Steamboat lodge to the location of Zane Grey’s cabin. Calf and Panther sections are rolling loop-d-doo hills, very runnable, but constant up and down. On the Mott section, it is fairly flat, some technical places but far between. On this section I was closest to the river and the constant sound of rapids was deafening at times.
I turned around on this section to make for a 27 mile day. 3 miles short of my goal, but not bad after the all-nighter. Tomorrow was another day and 20 was on the schedule. So I headed back up the trail and got to the campsite about 6:00pm. Tim and Hal had made some food and Tim was in crew mode waiting to help ease me into the river to soak the legs. After 15-20 mins in the cold water, a change of clothes and a beer, I was a little stiff, but on the road to recovery.
That night, I reconsidered my plan to run more of the trail because of some heel pain. I ended up heading back to Eugene to run “laps” on the Pre Trail. Thinking the flat ground would be kinder to my heels than the rocky ups and downs. After 3-4 miles on the bark trail, the pain and stiffness in my heels went away and my “laps” went by somewhat effortlessly. The laps also proved to be a better way to put in miles in the heat of the day because I could use my car as an aid station and refuel and fill water bottles every 4 miles. I easily drank a gallon of water during the run and possibly one after, but I had no cramping or fatigue due to dehydration!
Some of the things I learned from summer running:
1. I love the heat
2. Every chance I get I drench myself (especially my head) in the streams or lakes
3. Mosquitos have a harder time catching you if you’re running
4. There are highs and lows in every run, and usually they go away if you focus on the beauty around you.
5. I love to run in the middle of the night
6. The more I run with Buddy, the better dog he becomes (& skinnier)
7. When my mind, body & spirit work together, running is effortless (almost)
8. I’m more flexible than I thought I was with planning & life in general
9. Running on the Umpqua Trail is still one of my favorite places on earth
10. I have a very supportive husband who is willing to crew, pace, encourage, coach or give much needed foot massages.
After pulling an all-nighter at the Michael Franti concert at the Cuthburt Theatre here in Eugene (complete with a Denny’s breakfast afterward’s) we headed to the Umpqua River for some rafting and of course running. Tim’s friend Hal was visiting from Kansas and although there is a lot to see in Eugene, we wanted to show him our favorite river. I took off as early as I coul dafter getting maybe 4 hours of sleep, and still eneded up at the trail head at 11:00. Just in time for some good heat training. I planned to leave the acr at Horseshoe Bend so that when Hal and Tim were done rafting, they’d have a shuttle car. I began at the Umpqua trailhead on the Calf section and ran south west down the river. The Calf section was recovering from a fire and it was eerie running through a blackened skeleton forest, wildflowers blooming, but HUGE trees fallen and charred. The trail was rocky, somewhat unfriendly to my feet and potentially dangerous to a misstep or fall. After about 4 miles on this section, I began the Panther section. (5.5 miles) This section is completely different. Soft pine needle trail, lots of dense foliage; ferns, oak, pine, waterfalls and streams. This section is especially meaningful to me because this is where Tim chose to propose to me. I took a picture of the waterfall but unfortunately the picture did not save. Great memories on this trail. The next section is the Mott Trail. It takes you 7+ miles down river past Steamboat lodge to the location of Zane Grey’s cabin. Calf and Panther sections are rolling loop-d-doo hills, very runnable, but constant up and down. On the Mott section, it is fairly flat, some technical places but far between. On this section I was closest to the river and the constant sound of rapids was deafening at times.
I turned around on this section to make for a 27 mile day. 3 miles short of my goal, but not bad after the all-nighter. Tomorrow was another day and 20 was on the schedule. So I headed back up the trail and got to the campsite about 6:00pm. Tim and Hal had made some food and Tim was in crew mode waiting to help ease me into the river to soak the legs. After 15-20 mins in the cold water, a change of clothes and a beer, I was a little stiff, but on the road to recovery.
That night, I reconsidered my plan to run more of the trail because of some heel pain. I ended up heading back to Eugene to run “laps” on the Pre Trail. Thinking the flat ground would be kinder to my heels than the rocky ups and downs. After 3-4 miles on the bark trail, the pain and stiffness in my heels went away and my “laps” went by somewhat effortlessly. The laps also proved to be a better way to put in miles in the heat of the day because I could use my car as an aid station and refuel and fill water bottles every 4 miles. I easily drank a gallon of water during the run and possibly one after, but I had no cramping or fatigue due to dehydration!
Some of the things I learned from summer running:
1. I love the heat
2. Every chance I get I drench myself (especially my head) in the streams or lakes
3. Mosquitos have a harder time catching you if you’re running
4. There are highs and lows in every run, and usually they go away if you focus on the beauty around you.
5. I love to run in the middle of the night
6. The more I run with Buddy, the better dog he becomes (& skinnier)
7. When my mind, body & spirit work together, running is effortless (almost)
8. I’m more flexible than I thought I was with planning & life in general
9. Running on the Umpqua Trail is still one of my favorite places on earth
10. I have a very supportive husband who is willing to crew, pace, encourage, coach or give much needed foot massages.
No comments:
Post a Comment