It's looking doable!

I've had some really good runs lately, and some not so good ones. One short run even where I posted how sucky it was to facebook, and sat my arse down on a fallen tree. I ended up finishing the run (more of a hike in running clothes) and proceeded to have two more sucky runs, feeding off my negativity from before. Somehow I kicked myself out of that rut and have since had some really good hilly runs in a new area (well - new to running, I ride there a lot). I keep meaning to share stories - close encounters with a hidden bear? (Not as exciting as it sounds) but blogging seems to be off my radar a bit at the moment.

I've started (3rd class tomorrow) a new weights class at my local fitness centre. Ohmygosh she makes you work, assuming you put in the appropriate effort level. You could cop out, or modify where necessary, but where's the fun in that? It's on three times a week at the very civilized hour of  7.45am, as opposed to 5.45am that I was exhausting myself to get to. I noticed some improvement, psychological or otherwise, on my run today. I'm not sure I really made that much gain physically from just two classes, but I think it helped demonstrate to me that the leg strength is there, I just need to dig deep and keep the turnover when I'm tired. I think I'll get a lot of mental benefit from the class as well as being able to work on particularly my upper body strength. An 'extreme' deep tissue massage or holding back a feisty pony is no problem but other than that I've got nothing.

I feel much better about my goal at Big Basin next month after today's run. I ran a marathon, first half alone, then met T (ThankYou!) at the trailhead so she could get some mileage and cheer me on for the second half.

Well earned sit-down at the end

I missed my goal by one minute, which I'm not upset about at all. There was a failed experiment involving 'Ensure' that I drank on our way out for lap two. It came back baby-spit style and what was left did not sit well in my stomach at all. This is why we test in training, I know of many runners who have great success using this. I had one full on somersault, one fall (my foot hit a tree nowhere near me - who does that?), and a nasty ankle roll that isn't going to feel good for a couple of days, but I persevered and got it done. Cooling off in the (bloody cold!) ocean felt great and awful. The sand was really hot but after 26 miles I really didn't feel like running in deep sand, and while the cold water felt good it also made my feet a little crampy. I think it helped though as my feet aren't at all sore now, and I was wearing my very thin Altra Superiors. I also never really hit the wall. Yay TailWind. It needed to be mixed stronger for my second lap, but it was all I had left in the bag. There were definitely times that didn't feel good, and I could have used something, but it is possible to just use it alone, which would be ideal. But either way I DID IT! One more of those and I'll feel pretty set! So exciting :)

Attempt One

Attempt Two

Success!

How To Be An Ultrarunner

This entertained me :) Enjoy

Nearly Breakfast

As in, I was nearly breakfast. Okay, slight exaggeration, but I feel like being melodramatic. My alarm went off early. I got up, had my usual cup of coffee, and got dressed in my running clothes. I stopped at the store to grab a mid-run and post-run snack, and headed out to Russian Gulch. The plan was to do the nine mile loop twice, pausing at the truck to top off my hydration pack and get my snack in between. There was nobody else about this morning, and I was by myself. I didn't bring a dog due to the distance I was going for. Turned out, I only did seven and a half miles. I was quite peacefully running along the trail when movement ahead caught my eye. I stopped and watched something bound a short way up the trail ahead of me. Ooh, bobcat. Should get my camera... Then it turns and looks at me, and I register the tail and the distinctly non-bobcat face. Uhoh. You are a mountain lion, and a mini one at that. Why are you bouncing down my trail alone? You probably aren't alone. Oh @#$%, that means Mrs Mountain Lion is highly likely to be around here somewhere, and she'll be mad if she thinks I'm messing with her kid. Of course it darted off the trail into the shrubbery before I got my phone out my pack to snap a picture. I also got my pepper spray out (just in case, but felt like such a dork!) and cautiously continued down the trail. I kept an eye out around me just in case, and listened out for movement. I tried looking the direction the cub (/kitten, both terms are correct) to see if I could still get my picture but it had vanished. I decided to avoid risk and take the next trail back to the fire road and cut my run short for the day. I wasn't really feeling it anyway, so opted to spend some extra time stretching and hanging out with my foam roller. I haven't been rolling enough lately and have been feeling it, so thanks baby mountain lion. While you have done nothing to help convince me that I won't die a bloody death from your mauling one day, you were definitely adorable :) I think I might give Russian Gulch a miss for a little while...

Ok I know Simba isn't a cougar, but he fits my melodramatic need :)