Tapering and Packing

Squeeee it's nearly time to run. I'm particularly excited for this race, I really feel that the ultra finish is within my grasp! LS50 was a minor catastrophe - I had no idea what I was in for, I wasn't a trail runner, I busted my knee which screwed my training, living and studying away from J and working was taking more of a toll than expected, pony troubles, and then a minor slip on wet grass took me out. Rubbish! Then had Big Basin last month not had all the elements it did, I could have got it. I had felt pretty good considering up to the aid station with the cutoff, it was only sulking and screwing myself that made me feel like crap physically. A number of factors both in and out of my control contributed to a godawful race but I finished (even if it wasn't the distance I signed up for). This time around I will get it. I haven't made any agreements to run with anybody, I have had some solid training runs, the morning won't be so stressful, cut-offs are more generous, and many more things! Wheeee! I WILL be an ultrarunner after this weekend!

View from Wednesday's run

But apparently I'm really bad at tapering. Here's my ten pre-run days:
10. 7/23  Gym, 11m hilly run, 10m ride (+pony-trample)
9. 7/24 5m Hike (Couldn't run due to pony-trample)
8. 7/25 Gym, 6.5m Hike (Still couldn't run)
7. 7/26 Off
6. 7/27 18m ride
5. 7/28 5m run, Gym (Got massage :D)
4. 7/29 Yoga
3. 7/30 Gym (light weights), 8m hilly run (Shortened mid-run - planned 11 then remembered 'I should be tapering')
2. 7/31 Off
1. 8/1 Gym (body weight)
**8/2 Race

T keeps telling me off for whining about not running Wednesday evening, today, or tomorrow. But I so desperately want to play with my new toy. IT'S HERE!

And it's not too huge on my wrist:

Much more comfy than my Garmin

I'm ridiculously excited about this, and it will get its own post after I've used it properly. Helps that I got an amazing deal on it (I've been eying it for a long time). Yippee! But no running, you're supposed to be tapering. Badly..

Other new gear includes the compression shorts, which had their test run on Wednesday and performed wonderfully, and didn't feel any hotter/heavier than the shorts I was wearing before. Also disappointing for my girly 'things must match' side, there was no physical reason to not wear the red Acme shirt on Saturday, it was actually pretty good to run in! And at least I don't have to look at the colour-cluster-f**k that will be me on the trail :D  And with T there as a non-runner I shouldn't be able to forget my socks this time!! I'm also bringing my music as a backup, I know multiple loops is mentally hard for me, and this race passes through the start/finish three times. "But my car's right there.......whine whine"

We're camping at Timber Cove Landing in my shiny new tent, bought a couple hours ago. J has a great one for camping, but it's a little involved to bother with for a 'need a crash pad for the night' and needing to be packed up and headed to the start by 7.30. Also much bigger than we need now it's just T and I, the boys have to work :( Timber Cove is only 15 minutes from Salt Point, and check-in begins at 7.45, with an additional briefing for newbies at 8.10. Gun is at 8.30! Did I mention I'm excited? All but my food is packed, so I can leave right after work tomorrow! I have time between the gym and work to cook and mash my sweet potato (I might finally have found a breakfast food that works for me), and throw everything else in the cooler. 

I WILL be an ultrarunner!

Banana slug on a mushroom, spotted on Wednesday's run :)

Nearly Ultra Time

Yay, as I started typing the title to this post, FedEx knocked on the door with my new Under Armour shorts! Will be able to get a test run in them on Wednesday to make sure they don't ride up so I can wear them Saturday :) Shame I won't be able to test my other very exciting new thing that I'm very excited about assuming I can make it work.

Also J is asking please will I wear my brewery shirt (Acme Ale cycling jersey) to represent North Coast. Why might this be a problem for me? My Nathan hydration pack is pink and purple, my hair is half purple, my favourite running skirt is pink. My jersey? Red! This is rubbish. Also highly unimportant, but I can't help it if I like things to match. Wannabe-ultrarunner problems. Maybe it's a sign to get a new pack? Although I really haven't had this one long. I need to do longer races so I can leave a completely ready-to-go pack with a crew and justify having two. And all my pony things match, so why not my running things? I promised to test it on Wednesday and see how it worked anyway.

T and I went for a run this morning - very motivated to hit the trail in time to be back in town at the gym by 7.30 to set up for our strength class. Other than occasionally bumping into myself, the bruises aren't bothering me any more; hiking last week was pretty painful, especially the downhills. Pony did a nice job of smooshing me, but I got lucky with nothing broken (and the black eye never materialised, though any pressure on the bridge of my nose does makes me see spots). Here's how they look five days post-trample:

Knee also kept twinging at trot on yesterday's ride

Nothing like laying in the dirt wondering if you just broke your femur, and realising that since you're not screaming it's probably okay, then looking up to see that your pony did come back to check if we're going to play. And he was perfectly behaved on the ride home to redeem himself. I need to look into a spot tracker type thing, I could so easily have been knocked out, or been somewhere with no reception and actually broken my leg and then at least they would have a rough idea of where to come looking for me. Anybody have any experience with one of these gadgets?

Squeee, Salt Point in four and a half more sleeps (half being the fact that I rarely get much 'sleep' the night before a race no matter how many legs we're using). Then I WILL be an ultrarunner :)

Lots of photos

So thanks in part to the beasty above (technically my fault, but I couldn't have trampled myself. Adventures in baby-pony-riding) I had to downgrade Thursday and Friday runs to hiking. Which means we took a lot of photos! Samples below, at JugHandle Reserve and Russian Gulch Park. So lucky to have this as my playground!

About the only non-blurred photo of Ruger

Tessy Girl <3

How to fail at group photos

Little house and yard made of sticks?

Great trail for learning foot placement

We like jumping :)

Pitiful amount of water at the waterfall

Five Questions

Based on a post from UltraRunnerPodcast, Mel of Boots and Saddles posted "5 Q's With Mel", altering the questions to add in endurance riding. To take my mind off the fact that it's a glorious day and I'm not running or riding or otherwise fun-ing, here are my answers :)

Name: Cydnée Michelle Ross (Née Handley)
Age: 27
Where do you live? Fort Bragg, California
Family status: Married with one horse and one dog (who doesn't get to live with us due to rental)

1. How long have you been riding? Endurance? Running?
I've been riding ~23 years, and discovered endurance in 2008 after moving here from England. I've only had the opportunity to do a handful of rides, but am fortunate to have some very experienced endurance riders to learn from so missed some of the steeper aspects of the learning curve.  Of course, theory into practice is going to come with hurdles and I don't ever expect it to be easy!
I've only been running for a few years, got a little burned out after training for my first road marathon, then discovered trails and the longer distances where it's more about endurance than speed, and I love love love it!

First LD at Cuneo Creek, Sep'08 on Runnin' Rebel

San Francisco Marathon, July'11, Photo by MarathonFoto.com

2. What does a normal training week look like for you?
There's a huge variance in my pony-training week, we do not really have a 'normal' yet. I try to ride two times a week, but since Bugsy is only rising five, we're just getting a slow solid base on. Mostly our rides are walk peppered with some trotting on flat(-ish) or less steep ups. We have a nice six or ten mile loop (and longer when we need...) that we can ride from home, or we tag along with rides from Ricochet Ridge Ranch who are a few doors down from us. We can also very easily ride to the beach, which is perfect for LSD (long slow distance) - about seven miles one way. (Also has some areas of good footing at low tide for a brain blowout as needed :D) Bugsy has yet to be ridden on the beach, though we have hiked there and ponied him when Fuega was still here.

I have some amazing places to train on two or four legs!

As far as MY training week, I try to run at least three times a week, ideally four or five, with one longer hilly run, 99% on trails. I strength train three times a week with a group weight bar class, and go to a 'gentle' yoga class once a week with additional stretching and foam rolling at home. I'm flirting with the idea of other sports that would be great cross training (mountain biking, surfing). Overall I'm at about twelve hours and eight workouts a week, with a goal to up that to 15 hours and ten workouts for a three week cycle prior to my 50. My job as a massage therapist means I spend most of my working hours in a moving lunge, and virtually never sitting at a desk (a few reception hours a week, though we may be getting a standing desk, which would be great).

3. Any advice for endurance spouses?
We are pretty determined, and you probably knew that before you married us, so no excuses there. This is our sanity, and it may not seem productive as we obsess over seemingly minute details regarding our horses, our gear, training and nutrition (horse and human) but I promise it's better than our stir-crazy selves. Like when we're tapering. We're probably not good at it, and for that short period we apologize. If all else fails, keep back and toss grain free/dairy free/insert-blank-free deliciousness at us and know that we love you extra for supporting our slightly mad endeavours to cover vast distances powered by two or four legs.

Entertainment for non-riding endurance spouse

4. Where will this sport be in ten years?  Both sports are growing and becoming more accessible to those wishing to participate. With information available everywhere you turn, there's no need to wing it and hope for the best (though you still can if you want to). I like that more rides are offering intro rides for those thinking about getting their feet wet, but dislike the internal arguments such as why LD is not called endurance; also in running, is a 50k a 'real' ultra marathon or do you need to go 50 miles? I just hope neither sport gets over-commercialised as so many others have done.

5.a) What was your best ride? Why?
Whiskeytown 50, 2011. Fuega's first 50 and my second. A lot of things went right, and some important learning points specific to my horse. We just clicked and had a great fun ride, taking time for photos and enjoying the trail with our riding buddy. She figured out her job (after throwing herself to the ground just after I mounted, and nearly dropping us off a cliff but I would expect nothing less from her...) Then to come in and find out we were 10th and she got high vet score was an extra bonus! Miss this mare!!

5.b) What was your best run? Why?
I keep thinking on this and I really don't know. Nothing sticks out as being truly fabulous, and I could name a number of races for different reasons. LS50, even though I didn't finish, was a fantastic learning opportunity. Nitro was a lot of fun even though a) it was in Oakland and b) it was rainy and windy and gross, but it was my first race and I had a lot of fun (and I came 2nd in my age group - out of three, but still, 2nd!). SFMarathon was my first marathon, and my first real test of persevering. While it wouldn't make it into 'Best Run' category, Big Basin showed me that I have the mental strength to keep on trucking when it's all gone to shit. Headlands was fun to run it with my dad, and great views even if I buggered my knee. I've had some great training runs that I couldn't pinpoint why they were so great. Maybe I can change this answer after Salt Point next week?

Nitro Trail, First Half Marathon June'11

Bonus question: Favorite beer?
Scrimshaw from North Coast Brewing, followed closely by PranQster! Beer is delicious. Also perfect for runners - carbs and hydration :) (Telling myself what I need to...)

Yay Computer!

So hopefully with a computer I can get back to regular blogging. It definitely helps me with processing and reviewing how training is going to be able to write it all out. I've not really been using my training plan other than as a general guide. Mileage is lower than I'd like, but I've been hunting out some decent hills (I was pretty pleased with 3500' climb on a 12 mile run). I've also been religiously working hard at the gym three times a week and am definitely noticing an improvement in my runs from that. I also think the strength work has been the main contributor to the weight loss. Nearly 20lbs down this year, and almost half that has been in the last two months. I don't believe in being tied to the scale, since I'll take strong, fit, and healthy over being skinny any day, but I'm not at my optimal running and riding weight. Especially as we get closer to my baby pony trying his hoof at being an endurance pony, I want to help him all I can. (Plus I'm going to Hawaii in October and my legs may be strong but the upper body is still too flabby for my liking!)

For those who like to run with music - I downloaded a free app called Rock My Run, and love it. I prefer to train without music as many races don't let you have earphones. However, I stop for every squirrel scuttling up a tree because, you know, it's probably a mountain lion. Not helped by the giant bear sharing the trail last week, and another mountain lion encounter a while before that. You'd think that this would help me grasp the concept that they really don't want to eat me, but I'm jumpy as ever. I actually ran with a 3' stick and pepper spray :/ So by having some background music, I'll hear the big things chasing after me but not the little twigs falling! I love the Aftershokz headphones. I didn't have to mess with them once during my hot sweaty 3+ hour run last week.Worthy investment!

"I'm going to review each week" Or Not...

So I've failed massively at blogging about this training cycle as I boldly announced I would. But I don't feel bad - I've been too busy out DOING things, then being too tired to write about them (as well as a sudden increase in hours at work, which is a good thing :D) Sticking to the training plan hasn't worked out exactly as planned due to schedule changes and such, but I seem to have had a nice little breakthrough. I try to not get too hard on myself when it seems that every run sucks and I want to sit down and sulk instead. I've come to realise this is usually the period of adaptation before hitting the next level. (My running seems to improve in big steps rather than a gradual succession.) My last three runs have felt amazing. Running (as opposed to hiking) more hills than usual, feeling strong the whole way through, and

Argh I hate computers. It is dying and keeps crashing and I can't deal with Zblogger on my phone. Just know training is going well, I'm not eaten by mountain lions, and will be back soon (I hope )