Tim and I got up to our campsite on the Umpqua well after dark and had just enough energy to pop the top, walk the dogs and climb into bed. We stayed at a new campground and luckily found a site so we could open the slider to face the river.
The Umpqua is truly a special place for us. It was the place Tim proposed, it is the River we have rafted with friends and family, it is the river Tim got hurt and it is the trail that is my favorite. I don’t think I could live here but it is our favorite place to recharge.
We slept well and also wanted to enjoy the morning and not rush so before heading out on the trail, we made coffee and ate our favorite pumpkin cookies with brown sugar frosting from Sweet Life and some homemade granola. The only thing that would have made the morning better was our Ugg Boots. The morning was a little cool and I ended up having breakfast with a blanket wrapped around my feet.
We planned to start at Mott Bridge trailhead and run down the river for at least 5 miles so Tim could get 10 in, and then the plan would be for me to continue on the Calf section with Buddy while Tim made camp by the river at Canton to soak his legs and let Lilly rest. Running on the Umpqua trail is some of the most enjoyable running there is, not because it’s easy, but because of the beauty. It‘s hard not to want to stop and watch the river, or wait for the fly fisherman to make the catch.
Just before the turn around Tim spotted a sign which I had seen many times that said “Homestead” with an up arrow. “Wanna go?” he said. Uphills don’t phase me now especially because the race I’m about to do has 20,000ft of elevation gain/loss, so this being a training run, I said “Sure!” Up we went, and up and up. It was a mile uphill exactly. Sometimes we had breaks with switch-backs, but for the most part it looked like a trail going directly up the hill – pretty intense. When we got to the cabin, we took just enough time to drink copious amounts of water and have some calories before heading down. For both of us, downhill is not our favorite but we decided to take it slow and try our best not to get hurt.
Back on the trail, it was an easy rolling grade, slightly uphill the whole way back to the van. At the Mott Creek trailhead there is a water spigot which makes it an ideal place to fill up for another section. Here, Buddy and I said goodbye to Tim and Lilly and planned to meet in 2 hours which would allow me to easily run another 10 miles. Unfortunately, I didn’t look at my watch correctly and down the trail I noticed I only had 1 hour before we were scheduled to meet. I decided to run as fast and as hard as I could with the goal being to get to the waterfall where he proposed and then head back. I knew if I was a little late he wouldn’t be worried, but an hour late and he’d be running up the trail in search mode. It was a quiet run, Buddy and I saw only 2 hikers in the last 1/8 mile of the trail which surprised me because usually I see a few mountain bikers. We made it to the waterfall and after Buddy had a chance to cool his feet in the water, we turned around.
When we got back to the Mott trailhead, we headed out to the highway to run the road to Canton Creek campground which was the agreed upon meeting place. As I crossed the bridge, I looked over and there was Tim sitting in the creek “icing” his legs. Lilly was close by up to her chest in the cold water. What a great sight. I ended up with only 17 miles for the day, but because of the good effort, I was happy to be back at camp.
I joined Tim in the creek and after my 20 min. icing, changed into some warm dry clothes, drank some beer, ate some chips and promptly fell asleep in the sun. After sweating in tech gear for many hours, there is nothing better than warm cotton clothes!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Crew hats are ordered!
I just ordered the hats from Triangle Graphics for everyone on my crew for Pine to Palm 100m. If anything, this race is go a great excuse to get family and friends together to have a great time. Traingle Graphics is the best printing shop in Eugene. Marie has been wonderfully patient and helpful with all of her suggestions. This is also where we print the t-shirts for Surfing Safari and they've done an outstanding job.
Saturday Run
This weekend was my last long run before my taper for the P2P 100m and I don’t think it could have been any better. Saturday I planned to run 30 miles and in the planning, I was either going to be running at Crater Lake, on The Umpqua Trail or in Eugene. Planning ended with Saturdays run in Eugene and Sundays run on the Umpqua trail. These places fit into the family plan a little better and also allowed us to meet up with friends, and to have a great camp out (if only a short one) in our favorite place.
Saturday I got up at 5:00 even though the bed felt SO good. Because we were driving to Roseburg for a BBQ with friend at 3:00, I only had so much time to complete my run and get on the road. So I fixed my coffee and PB oatmeal and headed out the door by 5:45. The plan was to run on Ridgeline trail and up the Powerlines and then head over to Mt. Pisgah to finish up before heading back home on the road. I wanted to run hills, but I also wanted to get a lot of runnable miles in too.
When I got out the door, I was surprised to find out it was raining. We have had rain all summer and I couldn’t believe we finally got some on my last long one. I headed up Rexius and then Powerline and tried to run some new trail but got stumped a few times and ended up having to retrace my steps – not fun. So I decided to stick with the plan. Ha! About .5 mile later I met up with my friend Laura and her friend, Dani coming the other way and decided to turn around and run with them. One thing about planning to run 30 miles by yourself is that sometimes it just gets lonely and the thought of having company for a some of the miles was just what I needed. Dani was going to show us how to connect Ridgeline to Hendrick’s park so off we went.
I’m not sure if I could find my way to Hendrick’s Park from Ridgeline, but Dani did make it look easy, and having company was great. Dani was nursing a sore leg, so she cut out at Hendrick’s and Laura and I continued on. Laura also didn’t seem to want to try and find our way back to Ridgline so we ended up running down to the river and running on Pre’s trail before heading back in the direction of our homes. Laura is a great running partner and her easy going attitude from pace, route and easy conversation makes the miles click along. When we parted ways on 24th St. we were each at about 20 miles.
The next stage in the run was to pick up Tim and go to Pisgah to finish up the last miles, so I ran home to pick him up and Buddy & Lilly. We drove to Mt. Pisgah and decided to run around to the backside before we summated because it’s more dog friendly when you get away from the Super Highway Summit Trail. We took a new trail #2 which I thoroughly enjoyed and will run again in the next 3 weeks during taper. It is a double track with plenty of room to run side by side with your partner and has plenty of uphills. We ended up a little below the summit before heading back down toward the parking lot to refill water and drop off Lilly. After we finished the last few miles our Pisgah run ended up to be 12.25, just enough plus a little cushion to cover my goal of 30 miles.
After taking the dogs to soak in the river, we headed home for some leftover pizza and showers before jumping in the van for the drive to Roseburg to visit with friends at the BBQ.
Saturday I got up at 5:00 even though the bed felt SO good. Because we were driving to Roseburg for a BBQ with friend at 3:00, I only had so much time to complete my run and get on the road. So I fixed my coffee and PB oatmeal and headed out the door by 5:45. The plan was to run on Ridgeline trail and up the Powerlines and then head over to Mt. Pisgah to finish up before heading back home on the road. I wanted to run hills, but I also wanted to get a lot of runnable miles in too.
When I got out the door, I was surprised to find out it was raining. We have had rain all summer and I couldn’t believe we finally got some on my last long one. I headed up Rexius and then Powerline and tried to run some new trail but got stumped a few times and ended up having to retrace my steps – not fun. So I decided to stick with the plan. Ha! About .5 mile later I met up with my friend Laura and her friend, Dani coming the other way and decided to turn around and run with them. One thing about planning to run 30 miles by yourself is that sometimes it just gets lonely and the thought of having company for a some of the miles was just what I needed. Dani was going to show us how to connect Ridgeline to Hendrick’s park so off we went.
I’m not sure if I could find my way to Hendrick’s Park from Ridgeline, but Dani did make it look easy, and having company was great. Dani was nursing a sore leg, so she cut out at Hendrick’s and Laura and I continued on. Laura also didn’t seem to want to try and find our way back to Ridgline so we ended up running down to the river and running on Pre’s trail before heading back in the direction of our homes. Laura is a great running partner and her easy going attitude from pace, route and easy conversation makes the miles click along. When we parted ways on 24th St. we were each at about 20 miles.
The next stage in the run was to pick up Tim and go to Pisgah to finish up the last miles, so I ran home to pick him up and Buddy & Lilly. We drove to Mt. Pisgah and decided to run around to the backside before we summated because it’s more dog friendly when you get away from the Super Highway Summit Trail. We took a new trail #2 which I thoroughly enjoyed and will run again in the next 3 weeks during taper. It is a double track with plenty of room to run side by side with your partner and has plenty of uphills. We ended up a little below the summit before heading back down toward the parking lot to refill water and drop off Lilly. After we finished the last few miles our Pisgah run ended up to be 12.25, just enough plus a little cushion to cover my goal of 30 miles.
After taking the dogs to soak in the river, we headed home for some leftover pizza and showers before jumping in the van for the drive to Roseburg to visit with friends at the BBQ.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hagg Dust 50k
I did PR 5:47:44 I think. It was my fastest even when I was 35 yo - yahoo. I came in second between a 30yo and a 20+ yo which isn't that important because there wasn't a lot of competition, but I have to admit, it did give me an ego boost. The best part was that it was a fantastic race for me. I felt great the whole time, good head space - no negative talk. Just ran, felt strong and had a blast. New songs on the ipod helped a lot, I was jamming.
Tim and I ran the first "lap" together and that was a treat. I love running with him and I was very proud. 17 miles in 3:13. I ran the second "lap" only a little faster, but I had a few surges in there that made me feel like I was flying. It was fun to pass some of the people that had been a head of us on the first lap.
There were a few differences between Hagg Mud and Hagg Dust but also a few similarities. Both courses follow the same ~14 mile “lap around the lake with a “finger” for the first 3 miles. The 50k race is two laps and I say laps because this is one of the mind games I play on myself, “Just one more lap Carolyn”, “Just ½ lap to go” like I’m on a track or something! Another similarity was the barking white dog. I was surprised to hear/see him again, but once I heard the bark, I remembered him barking in the February run also. His yard backs up to the road for the finger section and he stands in the woods in his backyard and barks at all the runners going up and down his street. He must start as the first runner crosses his yard and I bet he doesn’t stop until we are all gone. In February he sounded more eerie probably due to the foggy cold morning. I remember I had called him the ghost dog.
In February the course is a mudfest, mud, it’s claim to fame. In the summer the trail is hard packed and full of ankle twisting ruts from the spring mud. I probably could have worn road shoes, although there were still some technical ups and downs that extra tread helped out with.
Hagg Dust turned out to be a great low key run, small group, 1-2-3 go attitude with maybe 50 runners for the two races (25k/50k) combined. Tim and I were hurrying to get him ready after a last minute decision to start the race with me when Fuzz said “GO”. We were still at the van prepping and had to run across the field in order to try and catch up with the rest of the runners. Just like the good ‘ol ultra days!
All in all, a great day that ended in a room at McMinnamin’s. We met up with some friends from Portland who came down for dinner to celebrate. Drank great wine, ate pizza and then went to our room to ice our knees and feet and turn out the lights!
Tim and I ran the first "lap" together and that was a treat. I love running with him and I was very proud. 17 miles in 3:13. I ran the second "lap" only a little faster, but I had a few surges in there that made me feel like I was flying. It was fun to pass some of the people that had been a head of us on the first lap.
There were a few differences between Hagg Mud and Hagg Dust but also a few similarities. Both courses follow the same ~14 mile “lap around the lake with a “finger” for the first 3 miles. The 50k race is two laps and I say laps because this is one of the mind games I play on myself, “Just one more lap Carolyn”, “Just ½ lap to go” like I’m on a track or something! Another similarity was the barking white dog. I was surprised to hear/see him again, but once I heard the bark, I remembered him barking in the February run also. His yard backs up to the road for the finger section and he stands in the woods in his backyard and barks at all the runners going up and down his street. He must start as the first runner crosses his yard and I bet he doesn’t stop until we are all gone. In February he sounded more eerie probably due to the foggy cold morning. I remember I had called him the ghost dog.
In February the course is a mudfest, mud, it’s claim to fame. In the summer the trail is hard packed and full of ankle twisting ruts from the spring mud. I probably could have worn road shoes, although there were still some technical ups and downs that extra tread helped out with.
Hagg Dust turned out to be a great low key run, small group, 1-2-3 go attitude with maybe 50 runners for the two races (25k/50k) combined. Tim and I were hurrying to get him ready after a last minute decision to start the race with me when Fuzz said “GO”. We were still at the van prepping and had to run across the field in order to try and catch up with the rest of the runners. Just like the good ‘ol ultra days!
All in all, a great day that ended in a room at McMinnamin’s. We met up with some friends from Portland who came down for dinner to celebrate. Drank great wine, ate pizza and then went to our room to ice our knees and feet and turn out the lights!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Pre-100m Anxiety
It's coming. I can feel it. A combination of excitement, worry, thrill, super-woman ideas, Amelia Badelia absent mindness, obsessive compulsive LISTS - and to know all of this will disappear as soon as I take my first step.
And then after the first step, a whole new wave of thoughts and experiences take over - I love it!
And then after the first step, a whole new wave of thoughts and experiences take over - I love it!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Summer Running
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.
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