Great weekend in the desert

The quick results for those who are just interested in my time:
Total = 1:43ish
Splits:

1 - 8:05

2 - 7:55

3 - 7:55

4 - 7:43

5 - 7:57

6 - 8:14

7 - 8:22

8 - 8:28

9 - 8:15

10 - 7:33

11 - 7:10

12 - 7:09

13 - 6:47

I had the privilege of running with two really solid runners. Both Alison and Luke are capable of running sub-1:35s for a course like this. We did, however, decide that we all have much loftier goals this year: Alison will be running Boston in April and most likely a 50k after that, Luke is planning on a 50k for his 30th and I have my 100 miler in August. On top of that, there is at least one Adventure Race in our near future if not more. Therefore, we decided to enjoy each others company and shoot for around a 1:40. I personally haven't run on flat pavement for this long in years and was actually nervous the morning of the race. It didn't help that I slept about two hours of the entire night capped off by a 3AM wakeup call from the drunks coming back from Kassy's Motocross show. Overall, if the rest of the Rock-n-Roll races are this much fun you will see me signing up for the gauntlet over the next couple years (maybe even Nashville and VA Beach this year).

Some lessons I learned:

Lesson 1. Running with company is a riot!



Adventure Racing Team in the making....if we only had a name

 Lesson 2. Doing a 16-miler the week before the race then climbing a 1500 foot mountain the day before the race is probably not the best taper. However, we had a lot of discussion about this and the best part about a destination race is being able to get out and enjoy the outdoors in new places. I'll gladly take some sore quads to get a 360 degree view of the city!

A fairly typical scramble section on Camelback

Would definitely do this hike again the day before a race.

Lesson 3: Finish-line beer is a great motivator around mile 8

 

MGD64 might be the worst beer I've ever had



I have a few more lessons (dealing with post race hydration and icing) but I'll have to post when I get all the pictures from the others cameras. Overall I feel really solid after the race and have managed to get in a few 10k runs. Let's hope the rest of 2011 is as good as this race. Here's to a great year of running!!!

And finally, this weekend could not have been as great as it was if not for a few folks:

-KassFace, thanks for letting me crash on your couch, sit in the Diamondbacks dugout and get a hotel room a short walk from the starting line

-Jeff and Cathy, thanks for all your hospitality after the race. The hot tub, pool, beverages and football made for a fantastic afterparty. I will forever link "I've found my thrill" with you guys ;)

-Luke and Alison, thanks for the company on the run. I don't think I've smiled for 13 miles straight ever in my life. Now if we can just get those damn cops to say hello.

-Chad, thanks for being our mule. You made the logistics of the race as easy as possible for us.

-Laura, thanks for being a wonderful and supportive wife.



Off we go...

Well, I can't say I did a perfect taper for this upcoming half as my daily mileage for race week will be 16, 9, 4 (0.5 mile repeats at 6:50s), 3 (7:30s), 3 (7:00s), rest, 1.5, 13.1 (race). By definition this is a taper but, like i said, not optimum. Ultimately, I'm excited to see how my legs hold up to 1.5+ hours on flat pavement. It's been a LONG time since I've tortured them like this. It will be nice to have the company during the run. Can't wait!!! I'll post after the race.

A gymnast, a discuss thrower and a track star walk into a bar...

Ok, so it wasn't a tavern but this past Christmas vacation did bring together the aforementioned athletes along with two washed up weight room junkies looking for another fix. What did we do? We ran, then drank wine, then ran some more. It was a reminder of what I love most about running...we can all do it! Not only can we all do it, but it should be fun. The next time you need a reminder of what running should feel like, go watch a little kid at a playground. They are running EVERYWHERE and laughing the entire way! I am fortunate enough to still feel like a little kid when I run, I can't help but smile and say hello to every person, bird or dog I pass along my journey. Why then, do only a few people return my greeting or even just throw a smile my way?

That's my question...are these folks too busy wondering what their quarter-mile splits are to acknowledge a fellow runner enjoying the great outdoors? Maybe they are just embarrassed to look at me because I'm wearing some god awful 80's get-up. OR, maybe the only one I'd understand, is that they are pushing themselves so hard that they are blurry-eyed and on the verge of yakking up supper. I guess maybe I'm just asking too much....at least they are out running. Either way, I'm used to rejection so I will continue to shoot a smile and a hello as we pass by.

The R&R Phoenix is only eight days away. I'm looking forward to getting down there and shaking out some race cobwebs and hanging out with old friends. This race will be a training run for me as I have began to ramp up my miles (instead of tapering for this race) as I am seriously considering tackling the Bad to the Bone 50-miler in VA at the end of March. If my training continues on the current path and I can fight off any injury or sick bugs I think I can get myself ready in time. The other motivating factor is that I need to complete a 50-miler this year to qualify for the Cascade Crest 100M. Ultimately, I am in a great spot in life and in running. One might say I have my Chi flowing well :)

Happy Running!!!