I attempted what was supposed to be my longest run thus far this year on 6/21. Things didn't quite work out as planned!
I mapped out a 18 mile run in Wildcat Canyon. I made a few mistakes planning this run: I underestimated how steep the hills were, I underestimated how much water I'd consume in 10 miles and I got a late start...
It was hot this day and I really should have started running around 7. As it turns out I didn't get started until almost 9 - oopsie! It was quite warm out there between 10:30 and 11 - right around the time I ran out of water! The route I planned took me on trails I haven't run before. I knew they were probably hilly, but they were a lot tougher than I had planned. The first real hill was Belgum Trail. It was a steep climb of ~320' in just over 1/2 mile. I ran up this hill thinking it would be the worst I see this day. Unfortunately once I hit San Pablo ridge trail, I had a ridiculously steep climb for the next 1/4-1/2 mile... The plan was for a relatively flat run this day...oopsie!
The route I mapped out did not have water available after about ~2.5 miles out until the 12-mile mark. Unfortuantly out in the sun, running on a hot day, the liter of water I carried with me ran out around mile 9. By mile 12 I wasn't feeling so good - oopsie again!
By the time I made it back to a water source around the 12-mile mark, I was pretty cooked. I kept running until ~mile 16-17, and then I just walked the rest of the way - I was done!
Hopefully, I learned my leason and will stick to flatter courses on the days I'm trying to increase my mileage! Oh, and to make sure I have enough water... Oh, and to remember that I melt in the heat!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Dick Houston Memorial Woodminster X-C Race
Sunday I completed the 43rd annual Dick Houston Memorial Woodminster cross-country Race. This was a tough 9-mile trail run in Joaquin Miller and Redwood Regional parks in the East Bay hills. This was the third and final race of the East Bay Triple Crown Trail Championship events. The Woodminster race is an interesting event in that it is handicapped by age and gender. The start is in waves, with Older runners getting a head start. There were 6 waves of runners at 4 minute intervals.
This was another tough course. After only 1/2 mile we hit the first hill which climbs ~550' in less than a mile. This is particularly challenging, since in that first 1/2 mile we're not really warmed up or settled into a pace yet. Additionally, the hill is almost single track, so you either have to run the first 1/2 mile too fast for good position or try to pass other runners on a narrow, steep trail with inconsistent footing. I opted for a compromise and ran the first 1/2 mile slightly fast to not get behind too many slower runners on the hill and to hopefully keep touch with a few faster runners.
After the top of the first hill, the course trends downhill, with only minor hills to climb, for the next 3 miles. By the halfway point we have dropped over 700' to the lowest point in the course. I generally held my own thru the first half of the race, some faster runners from later waves passed me and I passed runners from earlier starts. At the 4.5 mark we start the big climb of the event, affectionately refered to as the "Woodmonster". The toughest section climbs ~650' in ~3/4 of a mile. The hills in this course are tough because they aren't a steady incline that you can settle into a slow pace on. They are full of rocks and roots and steps which force you to constantly change your stride. We ran this course last weekend, and in that training run I ran the entire way up the "Woodmonster". During the race, however, I decided not to try to run the steeper sections and to focus on just getting up the hill as efficiently as possible.
After the "Woodmonster", the course is mostly flat or downhill. I had saved enough to be able to run these last 3 miles at a pretty good clip and passed ~10 competitors in this section. Most of the last 1/2 mile is a trecherous downhill. I could hear another runner right behind me running this section, so a barreled down this hill at a reckless pace. I was able to keep him behind me and finished solidly mid-pack - 93rd of 178 runners (some of which benefitted from their headstart). Without the handicapping my time was good for 82nd place - again solidly mid-pace. My actual running time was 1:23:50, which is almost 15 minutes faster than my time from last year.
This was another tough course. After only 1/2 mile we hit the first hill which climbs ~550' in less than a mile. This is particularly challenging, since in that first 1/2 mile we're not really warmed up or settled into a pace yet. Additionally, the hill is almost single track, so you either have to run the first 1/2 mile too fast for good position or try to pass other runners on a narrow, steep trail with inconsistent footing. I opted for a compromise and ran the first 1/2 mile slightly fast to not get behind too many slower runners on the hill and to hopefully keep touch with a few faster runners.
After the top of the first hill, the course trends downhill, with only minor hills to climb, for the next 3 miles. By the halfway point we have dropped over 700' to the lowest point in the course. I generally held my own thru the first half of the race, some faster runners from later waves passed me and I passed runners from earlier starts. At the 4.5 mark we start the big climb of the event, affectionately refered to as the "Woodmonster". The toughest section climbs ~650' in ~3/4 of a mile. The hills in this course are tough because they aren't a steady incline that you can settle into a slow pace on. They are full of rocks and roots and steps which force you to constantly change your stride. We ran this course last weekend, and in that training run I ran the entire way up the "Woodmonster". During the race, however, I decided not to try to run the steeper sections and to focus on just getting up the hill as efficiently as possible.
After the "Woodmonster", the course is mostly flat or downhill. I had saved enough to be able to run these last 3 miles at a pretty good clip and passed ~10 competitors in this section. Most of the last 1/2 mile is a trecherous downhill. I could hear another runner right behind me running this section, so a barreled down this hill at a reckless pace. I was able to keep him behind me and finished solidly mid-pack - 93rd of 178 runners (some of which benefitted from their headstart). Without the handicapping my time was good for 82nd place - again solidly mid-pace. My actual running time was 1:23:50, which is almost 15 minutes faster than my time from last year.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon
Click on the Elevation Profile above for a better view - looks like fun, huh?
Today was the Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon. This was a challenging, hilly run; primarily on trails, around Lake Chabot. I had a great run, finishing the tough 13.1-mile course in a time of 2:01.
I started out conservatively, knowing that I had some challenging hills ahead. At mile 3 the fun began with a very long, steep hill - climbing about 600' in elevation in less than a mile. The course continued to be hilly thru mile 8. It was a fun race. I had runners to run with, and compete against, for the entire run.
I'm very pleased with my results. I didn't have a goal for this event, but I certainly didn't expect to come in so close to the 2-hour mark. I 'm also very happy to find that I that I was able to run all the hills just fine and felt pretty good at the finish. All the miles I've logged, and hills I've been running have paid off...
I started out conservatively, knowing that I had some challenging hills ahead. At mile 3 the fun began with a very long, steep hill - climbing about 600' in elevation in less than a mile. The course continued to be hilly thru mile 8. It was a fun race. I had runners to run with, and compete against, for the entire run.
I'm very pleased with my results. I didn't have a goal for this event, but I certainly didn't expect to come in so close to the 2-hour mark. I 'm also very happy to find that I that I was able to run all the hills just fine and felt pretty good at the finish. All the miles I've logged, and hills I've been running have paid off...
Looking at my splits, I don't think I could have done a better job of pacing myself. I ran the first 3 miles in a leisurely 26:40. By mile 10 of this hilly course, I was still strong enough to knock out the final 5k in 25:35, or 8:14 pace - not bad!
I finished 103rd out of a total of 243 runners.
This was the 2nd of the East Bay Triple Crown Trail Championship events. In two weeks I'll race in the third and final event: The Dick Houston Memorial Woodminster Cross Country Race - a tough 9 mile run through the Oakland hills...
This was the 2nd of the East Bay Triple Crown Trail Championship events. In two weeks I'll race in the third and final event: The Dick Houston Memorial Woodminster Cross Country Race - a tough 9 mile run through the Oakland hills...
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