A Few More Miles Down the Trail

The last post was about the Sylamore Trail 50K adventure. 

Since then, Little Rock
Big Rock Mystery Run
Ouachita Trail 50K

Next:
Mount Magazine Trail Run

Between now and then:
Perfect mileage this week
1 day yoga
2 days of 100 push-ups each
cycling

Next week:
Same as this week but fewer miles

I'm tired of solo training.  There has to be a way to put the excitement back in my training considering my life style and location that makes training partners difficult to find.

Sylamore Trail 50K 2013 Edition

My goal was to just finish the damn thing.  The Sylamore Trail is never that "damn thing", but that was the goal.  I love this trail.  My heart felt like I was cheating on the Sylamore Trail when I had to admit to myself that Mount Magazine may be more beautiful.  This is the grand race of the year though.  It will always capture my heart!

My hope was to just finish around the time I finished last year (9:28.27).  Goal met with a time of 9:29.11  Wow, I don't know how I do that!  LOL 

Spirits were low as snow flurries begun before the start of the race.   The snow flurries were welcome, but concerns about my lack of training loomed large in my brain.  This is where the wonder of trail runners steps forward to give a girl hope.  I met Jerry Bailey from northwest AR.  He has such an easy manner, he helped put my nerves at ease.  Then Kevin King reminded me that I just had to get from one aid station to the next, just get to the next aid station.  That helped too.  Hugs from Chrissy and Nicholas always serve as heartwarming soul lifters!

The race was off, I met a few more people as we meandered up the road to the creek crossing.  Randy and Bobbie Davidson started this race many years ago.  It was a pleasure to meet them as we made our way to the trail.

The creek crossing was uneventful.  The miles ticked by as predicted.  The warm potatoes at the first aid station were welcome nourishment.  Bobbie and I played cat and mouse along the trail.  She would power up hill, I would run the downhills. 
Seeing beloved friends at Gunner Pool aid station sure helped lift my spirits and warm the cold day.  I got to the turn around, Barkshed, just seconds ahead of Bobbie.  I had to visit the ladies room, and she was gone.  I never saw her again.  WOW!  I'm impressed and honored to share the trail with this powerful woman! 
The crew at the turn around are always a welcome sight.  I enjoy hugs all around and then scampering back down the trail toward home.  Deb Baker was sweeping the trail.  She caught up to me shortly before Blanchard Springs.  It was so nice to have company.  Deb is a super fast runner recovering from injury.  She is easy to talk to and helped the miles fly by.
My knees were hurting and I didn't have the air power for the uphills so I walked much more during the last section than planned.  It was time to pull out the power tools to get this race over with, the music!  While listening to my butt kicking playlist I couldn't walk... so then the running started happening again :)  Before long it was time to cross the creek once again, one mile to the finish line.  It felt so good on the legs to be in that cold water.  I wanted to just stay there.
Deb took a picture that I just love!  I'm glad there is a smile left in me at mile 30 :)

When hitting the pavement we run the rest of the way in.  Whew, I was glad it was done!  finisher awards were different this year, a beer glass with the Sylamore Trail 50K logo.  Very cool, works well for root beer too!

While nervous about this race, while hurting during the run, I have to say I LOVE this race!  It is on my must do list every year.  That may get harder as this lil race becomes more popular.  It filled in 6 hours on opening day for the 2013 race.  So..... I will run it as long as I can get in:)

Great friends, great sights, snow flurries, creek crossings, lots of alone time with God with buffet tables every 5 miles.  What more could a girl want, maybe a hug or six.

In Training.... :-/

The last 30 days has been very eventful.  There has not been nearly enough running going on though.  I'm changing that, starting NOW!
Monday - 6 miles
Tuesday - 4 miles
                3.25 miles bike
Wednesday - 18 miles!
                In June my family is doing a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.  I can go all day, but what can I do with a 35lb backpack?  I do not know.  So training has begun.  Yesterday, 8 of those 18 miles were done with a 10 lb backpack, fast hiking.  I know I won't be fast hiking during that trip, but that was the only way to get my mileage in for yesterday.  A few different muscles hurt from 8 miles of fast walking than hurt after a run.  So things are good :)

Sylamore Trail 50K is in 9 days.  I'm not ready.  It is so tempting to drop down to the 25K.  I'm not going to though, even though I'm scared to death.  Training just hasn't been going well since May 2012.  I am 5 lbs heavier since Christmas.  Breathing is harder.

For those eventful 30 days:
            Trip to Maryland in January - by car
            Daniel's graduation in Great Lakes, IL on Jan 25th - travel by car
           Another trip to Maryland last week - by car. 
I'm so road weary!!  My husband is on the road for a living.  My heart goes out to him!!!

Off to work in the bike shop :)

Sylamore Trail

The trail called and I answered.

I didn't do the planned 18 miles.  Only made it 8 miles.  My heart just wasn't in it.

I came home and took Smokey out for another mile for a total of 2 runs.

Snow run

Pretty, fun snow run on Tuesday,

Sick on Wednesday

Stayed home from work Thursday

I don't think marathon training is suppose to be this way

2012 in Review

2012 in Review

2012 race calendar

January       15^th –    Chevron Houston Marathon  (PRed 5:26.54)

February      18^th      Sylamore 50K   (Finished DFL)

March          4^th       Little Rock Marathon   (Met goal of 5:30 actual time 5:30.06)

March                     Big Rock Mystery Run  (Super fun!  great race)

April           21^st       Ouachita Trail 50K   (run or volunteer) (Ran, did okay, not spectacular)

May           12^th      Mount Magazine Fun Run 18 miles  (HARD, but done, breathing problems)

June                      CatSmacker   (Horse mishap killed summer of running)

July                       Full mOOn 50K  (Volunteered)

Aug           11th      El Vaquero Loco 50K   (Horse injury prevented race)

Sep                      Bartlett Park Ultras   (8:39.50, - okay after summer not running)

Oct                      AT100 (Aid Station and/or pace) (cold wet year, LOVE the aid station)

Oct                      Styx & Stones 30K or Cossatot River Trail Half Marathon  (got lost DNF)

Nov                      Bona Dea 50K  (SLOW but done 7:46)

Dec                      LoVit Trail Marathon  (YES!  On the 4th attempt finally finished the full 8:25.19)

2012 goals

2012 miles?  dare I?  that is 38.69 miles per week average.  Can I do it?
Finish the 50 miler in Tulsa:

Midnight Madness 50 Mile

Tulsa, OK

July 6, 2012

Lose 20 more lbs and 12 oz (thanks Andi)

Cross train once a week
Yoga once a week
Finish LoVit Trail Marathon Dec 2012  (finished the half 3 times)
Train for Athens Big Fork as a key race. Jan 2013
Play with Maggie once a week
garden once a week
Notice small acts of kindness

2012 goals met = A BIG FAT NO!  what a year of ick, still fat, still slow, stick icky, still not cross training, still no yoga, still not managing time well.
I did finish LoVit Trail Marathon.
I have participated in every AURA UTS Series race to date.

Only 1340.20 miles this year.  With an injury I don't consider this putzing a goal, it is what it is.

2013 Goals and Races

2013 Races

- Jan - Athens Big Fork - just finish the fun run, if a miracle happens and I make the cut off will go for the marathon
- Feb - co RD for White Rock 50K
           Sylamore 50K
-March- Little Rock Marathon
              Big Rock Mystery Run
- April - Ouachita 50
- May -  Mount Magazine Fun Run
- June - Cat Smacker
- July - Mid-Night Madness 50 Miler
            Full mOOn 50K (run or volunteer)
- Aug - El Vaquero Loco 50K
- Sep - Air Force Marathon - Ohio
- Oct - AT100 Pumpkin Patch Aid Station
           Styx N Stones 30K
- Nov - Bona Dea 50K
- Dec - LoVit Trail Marathon

Goals

Be sensible with diet and cross-training
Give this bike thing a try
Get Team RWB chapter going in AR
Balance life more with Smokey (horse) and family
Go through Financial Peace University
 Be present and mindful with worship
Garden more - home self reliant

These aren't measurable really, but I can make improvements.  Those years of goal setting hasn't been working anyway.  I'm going to work on focus areas instead of goals.

Do I dare make a mileage goal?  2013?  but keep it fun?

What are your goals?