kirsten's thoughts, mostly running-related

Just another blog ~ some helpful stuff ~ some feelings etc

Tag: grindstone

why

March 16, 2016 /

People ask me why I run ultras.

My dad stated some years ago when I started all this that anyone who would ask would not understand the answer.

The first time I ever raced was 10 miles. I went into it having never run any distance even close to that and had no idea if I could do it. It was the greatest feeling crossing the finish line and Ive never stopped since.

In a few weeks Im going to run my third 50 miler, then a marathon a few wks later (not sure if Im going to run it or walk it yet), and then a week later, my 3rd 24-hour loop race. I did 50 the first time, 100k the second, and I’d like to do 75 miles this time! And that’s my spring racing season, for which I have not really prepared, at least not as far as time on my feet goes.

I will re-assess how I feel about #Grindstone after the summer. I have had people say that I should try a 100 Miler that is less technical. Maybe a nice flat loop race. That’s not what I want to do though. Its not just the miles or distance – it’s so much more. I want to go back to that course which was the hardest most technical thing Ive ever set foot on and accomplish it – and qualify for Western States while Im at it. Qualifying for #WesternStates, is, to me, what I guess, qualifying for #Boston is for marathoners.

And while we are at it – I just watched the Barkley documentary and I cannot stop thinking about it.

The wretched James Earl Ray, who assassinated Dr Martin Luther King Jr, escaped the ‘inescapable’ Brushy Mountain Maximum Security prison.
He made it 8 miles in 54 hours. And THAT is where the #Barkley takes place. It is this unmarked, ever changing course. No gps allowed. Five 20 miles loops going up and down 12k feet every pass – the equivalent to going up and down Everest, twice. Flesh tearing thorns. No course markings. Just books that you tear pages out of to prove you’ve gone where youre supposed to go.
In 30 yrs, 16 have finished, and it took 10 yrs for the first person so finish. No female, ever.

IM GOING TO FINISH THIS RACE.

Mark my words.

And Im gonna do the whole Appalachian Trail, and maybe Machu Piccho. I have got so much to do. One Step at a Time.

Gary Cantrell:

“you cant accomplish anything without facing the possibility of failure”

“to find out that something, about themselves” – “challenge your limitations”

“you cant tell how much you can do, until you’ve tried more”

September 20, 2015 /

I just ran down the stairs – twice. Yep, ran – Why? Because I can. Why? Because I didn’t push it yesterday. Which might sound like the easier path – and in some ways it obviously is – but mentally when you are given an ~10k loop and 12 hours to do your thing – and you KNOW you can do 8 laps, ****you f#$%#$cing KNOW it – but you only do 5 – well, it’s mentally taxing to say the least. Its hard to let people pass you – its hard to step to the side when you hear footsteps getting closer – its hard to get lapped. Its hard to lean on a tree and wish your fellow runner a good day – let them go – it’s a different kind of day for them – it’s a training day for me. And Im glad I can run down the stairs today (usually I cant even walk, I have to crawl backwards). Im glad I feel ok today. I have the Grindstone in two weeks, and that, however lofty a goal, is my priority.

And for that very same reason, I have offered my Diva Half bib to someone else. Because no tiara, no boa, or tutu or chocolate covered strawberry served with champagne by a shirtless fireman will be worth tweaking or straining or injuring in part of myself a week out from Grindstone. 5 girls will sleep out at my place, and I will cook them pasta and give the a ride and cheer for them – but Im not running it.
Im NOT in my best shape – but Im not in my worst either – and Im not giving up – and I’m sure as hell not going to sabotage myself or act ignorant. The mere race is and of itself enough of a foolhardy ambition to last me a while 😉

I am satisfied with however it turns out. I met so many wonderful people yesterday – many who have run 100s,
several who have attempted and/or accomplished Grindstone – some who tried multiple times. I realize, that like a full-scope-poly or qualifying for Boston – it often takes more than one try. I got to hear multiple personal testimonies describing this very story. Stories of things ceasing up, stories of incessant vomit or passing out. Stories of grit and grime and glory.
And so – maybe I’m just going to learn a bunch of lessons and accomplish nothing more than figuring out what Im capable of that day. There are good days and bad ones. Off and on.

Maybe I wont even distance PR but this adventure is unique to this course – no two distance are alike – that is like no other I have even tried. I have no crew. I have no one to pace me. Im scared of the dark (terrified of being lost and alone). This isn’t a flat, lit, loop track. This is 24,000+ feet of gain and loss on narrow, loose rock with steep deadly drops.

Im going to ride my bike whenever Im home over the next two wks between travel. I might try to find gyms at my hotels when I can. Maybe I’ll even jump in the ocean for a few laps.
Never give up my friends. Much love.

Be well,
<3 ~K~

here we go

September 13, 2015 /

Well, this is it. I have three business trips and three races in the next three weeks.
Not different than any other autumn but they are big races, and important trips (and a bunch of other stuff).

My overall attitude for the 12 hour in a couple days is that Im more than satisfied with 50k, which is a million percent achievable, and will be my 3rd ultra in less than 6 months. If I finish with miles greater than that, its just a bonus. Likely I’ll do more but Ive given myself permission to be satisfied regardless, viewing it as a training run. I’ll just enjoy the experience (it’s a great course and amazing crew) and avoid injury – as my first
100 miler is just two weeks later!!!

I am also pretty relaxed when it comes to said 100 miler and here’s why.
My mantra is I’d rather DNF than DNS. Last year 55 people out of 262 did not finish, that’s almost a fifth of the runners (17 didn’t start).

That means, Yes Im going to attempt it, and Im going to find out what Im capable of. Not what Im capable of forever and always, but in that specific moment. And it might be more or less than what Ive done before but Ive never done this course before and it is a significantly difficult course – no one can argue that.

So it is an adventure. A journey. Something I cannot predict the outcome of. It is very exciting.
Ive run 50k on a trail in 7 hours before – and guess what – it took me that long to do 20 miles on this course. Its brutal but lovely and fun.

My dream. Well, my dream specific to this race – is – that I finish of course. Im even cool with last place. I just want to make all the cutoffs and not get DQ’d, but I know that that is not unlikely (note aforementioned stat).
I am not letting myself off the hook here, Im fully hooked. I have just been going over and over this in my head lately, usually while riding my bike and I really am ok with just figuring out just what I can do – and then using that as a point to play off of in the future.

I have definitely shifted from wanting to BQ, to wanting a Western States Qualification.

I am an Ultra Runner. Lets go.

pretty sure Im doing it

August 25, 2015 /

So the skinny on the training run I keep talking about goes like this.
I finished dead last. Yes I know its not a race, it’s a training run.
My excuses range from, I haven’t been training that hard, I didn’t sleep or eat properly beforehand and didn’t eat one bit that day – I also didn’t drink much and didn’t pee for over 9 hrs (déjà vu).

AND my fear of falling, mixed with this being the hardest terrain I have ever been on.
(more technical than NorthFace and JFK and BTTB and ATR combined)
It wasn’t even so much the elevation that killed me – it really wasn’t – it was the terrain and my lack of grace.

I have a 12 Hour race in a couple weeks and a half the following week. I have tweaks here and there but am otherwise uninjured and feeling good. I want to keep it that way and a training run is not the place to wipe out (like I have in the past). If youre going to break something or gash something open, do it on race day.

A stick that I picked up along the way that was my savoir I cant tell you how many times. I am a klutz in the best of circumstances, never mind on a loose rock incline or decline with trunks and stumps and vines galore. That stick was my friend and I brought it home 😉

My phone says I only ran one of the 7 hours out there – that’s sad but hey, to meet all the hard race day cut offs you have to maintain a 22 min/mile, which, is a fast walk.

Im sure I can make the ultimate cut off – hell if I had to bet on it, Im sure I can keep going for days nonstop – that isn’t the point tho – can I make the cut offs along the way though? Im not sure. I cant realistically say that I can. Not after Sunday.
I’ll say this though, I was telling myself over and over again throughout the day (I was alone the majority of the time) that I did NOT want to do this again – nevermind times five – but the moment I reached the end – and the director and a few other people cheered and called my name (someone cheered at every checkpoint for me) I was like IM GOING TO DO IT – HELL YES.

“What hurts?” they asked me. “Nothing, just my pride” And really, I wasn’t tired or hurt. And I’m only slightly sore now. I can do this.
Or at least say I tried.
Yep.
That.
It will be a Happy 5th Marathoniversary to me – closing out a year with 1 half, 1 full, 2 50ks and a 100k and at least an attempted 100 Miler!
(if it doesnt work out I’ll just stick around and help the crews)

*Pretty sure the below picture depicts the run on Sunday*

grindstone training run
LezGo

Easy is boring ;)

August 20, 2015 /

Well, Ive had the Grindstone 100 page bookmarked for quite a while now (literally and figuratively). Im not in my best shape. I was for a minute there but my training has gone down the tubes. But – this weekend, Im going to do a 22 mile training run on the Grindstone course. This run will be less than a quarter of the actual race. If I cant handle it, Im one week away from the chance to change my mind and get a refund, and try again another year.

Someone recently said, and to a point I agreed – that a 100 miler is more achievable than a BQ. Depends on the race. In some cases yes. I went and picked one of the hardest. A bonafide Western States Qualifier with not one inch of flat.

We’ll see how I feel after the training run. Im also registered for a 12 Hr in a couple weeks and a half a week later. I do have around 6 weeks to train my guts out for the big day. I have a feeling that unless something catastrophic happens this weekend, Im going to just go for it!

I got nothing to lose right. I either win now, or learn a lesson and win later.

And if all else fails, I should get some great pics 😉

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