kirsten's thoughts, mostly running-related

Just another blog ~ some helpful stuff ~ some feelings etc

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ultra#12 – Thank you sir, may I have another

April 22, 2018 /

OK first, lets start here…

FAQ:

faq2

That about covers that stuff I get asked all the time.

Here is what happened yesterday.

The setting is a trail once used by the CIA to train cadets, before it was the CIA (OSS) and adjacent to where Marines and FBI are trained today.

After a week  of not eating or sleeping properly on a trip to the West Coast, I landed then headed to the race.  So in my head it was only 4am when it started and I don’t sleep on planes so I hadn’t slept since Thu.

I started training for this race beginning of Nov.  I trained 5 or 6 days per week for three months and was just starting to feel like I was in a groove and making progress.  My goal was to get a new PR.  Then on the first day of February, I deadlifted 175 lbs.  I have no business doing such a  thing and I paid the price (sciatica). <ouch man

Here’s the thing about that, I think my trainer and I share responsibility in the foolish move that I ended up paying the price for.    I mean, I did say, No, I cant (after two pulls) and he said, Do it.  And I did.  And then, I just kept working out.

I could have stopped.  And during the weeks of significant pain that followed, I could have done more stretching, then worked from that to push ups then squats,  and been strict with my nutrition etc but I didn’t – I got depressed and gained weight and got wicked out of shape.

So ironically all that workingout lead to me being  less prepared rather than more.

It was 5 years ago, on the day, I did a Bad To The Bone series 50k.  It was very hard (it is on a mountain).  Until yesterday, it was my slowest 50k finish, at 10 hrs.  BTTB races have waist high water and significant elevation.  I ran that one an hour faster than the one yesterday.  In fact, this is the slowest of 9 50ks Ive ever done, all on tough courses.

Loop one I was fine.  I finished it feeling like I was possibly going to do 8 or more (each loop is 10k so 8 loops is 50 miles).  Loop two the sciatica started talking to me.   First a whisper, then a shout.  It’s the first sensation of pain it’d given me for weeks.  I thought I was healed.  Maybe something like that never fully goes away though and can be aggravated  and if ever I was going to exacerbate it, I guess running on choppy terrain on no sleep w no training, would be the way.

I however, was not going to at least do 5 loops so it would still be an ultra.  Midway through loop 4, I wasn’t sure I could do one more.  Every step I took on the left side felt like what I imagine being stabbed with a knife would feel like.  And if I have learned one thing in ultra-running, it is that if you start favoring one side, something will go wrong on the other side (100% true).

Sure enough, I started feeling bad in a few different places.  But the trail quality was perfect and the weather could not have been better and the best part, I hadn’t fallen (huge for me – long story).   Probably because I was going so slow, but still.  For perspective on the speed, I can run a 10k in an hour or less.  I was doing these loops in about 90 mins, taking about a 10 minute break after each loop by the time you add up grabbing food and doing first aid and using the facilities (not to gross you out but my stomach was a disaster the whole time and its that time of the month on top of all that).  Woohoo!

So I end loop 4 (marathon distance) and I just keep on going.  As I said, it was a perfect day – and all the beauty of it overwrote the discomfort…

trailbeauty

Loop 5 wasn’t that bad.  By the way, it’s a lollipop loop, so after you head up the base, you can go left or right.  Most people choose right, because they find its easier to do the majority of the climbing on fresher legs then zoom downhill to the finish.  This  really makes sense and I should have done it but I got this thing in my head a long time ago (Ive done this race 4 times) that I want to go in the same direction every time and since I went left the first time, it’s the only way I go.

When I finished loop 5, I knew I could do more.  Alex, the RD, he knew it too, and told me he wouldn’t cut my timer chip off.  Technically I could have rested and gone back out.  Afterall, its whatever you can do in 24 hours, and I’d only been  our there 11.  I had 13 more hours to go.  Maybe if I rested, or had a crew (aka nitro coffee) or took a few advil, I could knock out a few more loops.  But I wanted to be in my bed for the first time in a week and I wanted to see my doggie and just be home.  So I cut the chip off myself.

So Athletic Equation Trail Race #6 done.  By far my favorite Trail Race series of all.  Cant say enough about the crew and amenities and course.  Love it

Final message, If I can do that, in the shape and condition I was in, anyone can.

And yes, I just signed up for my next one!!

a month away

March 27, 2017 /

Today I went out and got new shoes and couldn’t wait to try them out on the trail. It was like I had to spend that $100ish dollars to force myself to run. I had to right? Race is a month away, one little run wont matter but still…

I hate to write too much about my upcoming race, since I don’t even know if Im going to run it, but here it goes. If I do show up, despite that it is a conflict with an important work event, and Im in the worst shape Ive been in since I started running in Oct 2010 – my Level One Goal is to do 4 laps, which would be a full marathon. I haven’t run longer than 5k in a year, and Ive maybe only run a half dozen times.

I did just do a 6 week metabolic fitness challenge and it didn’t change my life or anything, but got me back on the right track.
My handful of excuses for the worst shape ‘of my running life’ is new job (with just as much travel and a ton more commuting etc), moving (after 9 yrs in one place, which is the longest Ive ever lived anywhere) < and 2 months later Im still not even half done, kid stuff and other stuff – whatever. No matter what life throws at us, we’re always in a position to make choices and what we do or don’t do fitness and wellness-wise, is on us. I think I can do the full – which will be a lot with zero training and my plan is one lap at a time after that. If I do one more lap, that’s ultra #11 in a little under 6 yrs. 3 more laps would be 50 miler #3, and another 2 laps would tie my distance PR for 100k – but before I start talking about how many more laps to get to a new distance PR or 75 miles etc – I know that Im not in the shape I was in two years ago when I did 100k. And, that year Id done a full and a 50k just 2 and 3 weeks prior to the 100k That would be like expecting to have done 4:20 at FlyingPig like I did at Shamrock, when I was simply no where near the same shape. What I really love about the Athletic Equation timed races is that you just go out there and race yourself. There are no cutoff points and Im not saying that makes it easier, its just a very different race dynamic. Its metaphorical of each day of our lives isn’t it? Facing ourselves, maybe our greatest opponent and ally!! Think about it. Be well Love ~k

Keeping it really real

February 26, 2017 /

Its an on-again, off-again journey < harder for some that others. For me, registering for races isnt just a motivator, its about the greatest feeling of all, the finish line. This last iteration of off-the-wagon was a combination of starting a new job, increasing my commute, moving, and a series of other crap that just took a priority over my fitness.

I entered a 6 week challenge 6 wks ago to kick my a$$ back on track.

Ive been lifting a lot but not spending much time doing cardio. I happen to know that you CAN cardio your way thin. Too thin even. My first full marathon, Oct 2010, I was gross skinny. My next marathon, 5 months later, was the best shape of my life, 10 lbs heavier, all muscle. Ive run 8 total fulls but never that fast again. It was also the year I PRd 50k and 50 Miles. None of my fulls or (10) ultras since have I done so well. But Im searching for a different kind of PR this year…and its going to be more about my mental stamina than anything!!

Anyways, adding muscle to a frame that isnt carrying fat is easy. I said it. Its fucking easy.
I have fat to lose now, so I cant just keep lifting. I need more time on my feet to build the endurance to spend 24 hours moving on a trail. Pretty basic stuff.

Ive been mixing spin, running (I just started back up) and lifting (HIITS). Today I followed a sprint video and there were only ten 30 second sprints but phwew, I was feelin’ it!!

Lifting is definitely my favorite of the three types of activities but I know theyre all important. As a side note, my new house has a pool, so no more excuses to not swim. I cant wait to open it and start training – for my first Iron Man. But I digress….first I need to do my next ultra, in exactly 2 months!!!

So I close with a horrifying before-after pic (wine belly).

before and after

Be well my friends,

xo

K

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”

Same ;)

October 4, 2015 /

Yes, all of us are unique individuals. I had a person tell me last week that surfing for however many hours equates to 25 miles of swimming which by effort on a mile to mile ratio is the same as running 100 miles. Ive never surfed an inch, I wouldnt know.
Ive also seen and heard, I don’t know how many times – the question asked, what’s harder, a century ride or an IronMan or a 50 Mile run etc.
Yo. Really. I don’t know. I suppose we’d all like to think whatever we’ve done is the hardest. Was your run assisted or unassisted etc? Its all debatable.
I know that I’d rather be sitting on a bicycle seat on a down-hill, with no more effort that the wind in my face than running down that sucker. And actually, I can run past people on bikes on the hills where I live. So, there’s that.
They say a mile is a mile. I get it. It is said to encourage the slower runner. I should’ve prefaced to say, I am one of those slower runners. And I can tell you – at least for me – a mile is not a mile. An 8 minute miles is a hell of a lot harder *for me* than a 12. I actually have been more worn out crushing a 5k than meandering a 50k. Depends on the day.
A flat mile is a lot easier than a steep incline. The road and the track and the trail are all very different. So no, a mile is not a mile in running. Going all out on a flat, lit, short loop for 24 hours might be just as ‘hard’ as holding back on a crazy technical mountain single track trail for 30 hours – I don’t know – I have yet to do either – I actually imagine that would be mentally horrific – but I know what Ive done and as much as I don’t mean to discourage anything that anyone else does –Im here to tell you – it is NOT the same.
But here is what IS the same. Doing and trying. Do it. Try. Or else all the pontificating in the world equates to a big fat zero. Get your butts out there, every day – and DO something.
Be well all my friends
Xo
~K~

cinque anni

September 27, 2015 /

As anyone who has talked to me recently probably already knows – October 30 is the 5 Year Anniversary of my first marathon aka “marathon-versary”. And in just a few days – less than a week, I am attempting my first 100 Miler.

It will be my 40th race, and 9th ultra.
Oh, how my life has changed so much! Ive added so many new and wonderful people to my life. Ive learned so much about who I am, and what Im capable of.

During this journey so far, starting with training for my first full, five years ago – I have been in so many different places, in terms of fitness and training. There were races that I ran EVERY day for. I remember following plans to a T. I remember between work trips or my kids’ basketball, football and lacrosse games, I would use those periods of time to hit the trail – I always had my shoes and gear on me or near me. Football practices were 6 nights per week, so why not run around the practice field the whole time? People in the community just came to know me as a stinky person.

That’s what I did.

Ive been injured to the point of completely incapacitated. Ive had a pulled back and a ripped open knee. Ive been just plain old lazy and my weight has ranged up and down in a 30 pound window!!

For me personally – Ive over trained. I dislocated a toe (that is still not connected to my foot) doing incessant hill-repeats for hours. And I’ve under-trained, driving hours away to a race where I found myself barely able to walk anymore, nevermind run! What a lesson!!

When you don’t listen to your trainer about how to fall (roll into it) not only do you break your hand – sometimes you end up with enough rocks in your knee (and left over flesh on the trail) that your ass is stuck on crutches for
weeks.

Every step of the journey is a learning experience. Ive had to learn about what nutrition works by trial and
error. Ive learned about shoes, socks, jackets, lights, hats, bottles and gloves – and every kind of gear you can imagine. What treatments are effective? Do I want a collagen injection for tarsal tunnel? Do I need KT Tape? Are compression socks going to help me? How much fluid do I really need?

And all of this has to be learned by experience. Since each of us is different, no two stories will ever be alike.

When people ask me what to do – I try to always tell them what worked for me with the caveat that all advice is a nothing more than guideline that they have to adjust to work for themselves by listening to their own bodies.

Please know this, no matter who you are, what youre attempting and how you’ve prepared for it – there’s no telling what race day has in store for you. Whether you are doing something you’ve done before or something brand new – there are many factors that all work together to determine the outcome – positive or negative. There’s weather and nutrition – there’s every aspect of your health, to include a bonus element if youre female – theres unexpected mishaps like falling or getting lost (hey, it happens).

This isn’t just a running thing or an ultra-running things. This is a life thing. You do your best and you hope for the best but there is always the unknown, no matter how unlikely, even if its only an iota of a percent of a chance for things to turn out in the unlikely way possible – you cant control anything – other than your will.

Be well and move forward.
<3 ~K~

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~

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

BQ Training Session #2

May 28, 2015 /

I did 12 400-Meter sprints (12 jog backs) = 7200 meters. Average sub 2 minutes (in the heat).
And I see the pattern here.
My trainer Joey is having me maintain a marathon BQ pace in longer and longer intervals.
He stood at the halfway point and on the turn back he would tell me how many seconds I had to get to the end. This inspired the heck out of me and I found myself pushing in a way I never would on my own. THAT is how a trainer changes things. For me anyway.
In my head, every time I passed him, I was 100 meters from the BQ finish line with 30 seconds to qualify. And so, in my head, this morning, I qualified 12 times. It was crazy.
Its exhausting just imagining 5k…10k…10 miles….
You use a whole different set of muscles for different activities. Its like, I can do 12 minute miles for 20 hours…but I cant do 7 minute miles for an hour…..its all part of the ride.
I have a half this weekend – in the wicked heat. I should maybe push it and see if I can PR??
Maybe the bonus in all this craziness will be dropping a few pounds??
Still spinning 3 times per week for an hour, meeting with Joey once (will increase this soon) and doing whatever I have time for on my off days.
May your journey never end. There is no finish line.
Philippians 3:12 ~ I have not arrived, and I PRESS ON.

First Training Session on the road to Boston

May 19, 2015 /

Spring 2k15 racing season has come to a successful close with a decent full, a decent 50k and my first 100k – I feel pretty good about how it all turned out.
Today was the first training session in pursuit of BQ.
It was good. I did 16 – 200 meter sprints (and 16 jog backs).
The goal was 72 seconds per sprint. I averaged around a minute and change with my best time 47 seconds (6 min/mile) and my worst 1:07 (closer to 8.5).
I finished strong with .55 after 12 at or slight above one minute (6 at sub 60).
Eventually Joey will teach me how to do pace cycles and that will be the key in Oct in NY. He said we’re not ready for that yet though, we’re getting a feel for my speed capability – and who knows when Ive been all about the ultra for a few years now.
I am confident that if qualifying for Boston is a possibility for me, I’m going to do it w this guy training me – and not because he’s cute – because he doesn’t mess around (I only told him a hate him once or twice).
If youre looking for a trainer and live in the NoVA area, this guy is the bomb.
GREAT session!!!
Weekly training =
1 hr spin X 3
1 hr personal trainer (whatever he tells me to do)
On the off days – do whatever I want to include walk, jog, weights, core and bike for anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes or up to a few hrs if I have the time for the trail.
Hope everyone’s doing awesome.
Xo – be well,
~K
joe training

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