Recently I posted about how great my week has going. I had some quality workouts and hill climbs! Then over the weekend I had planned on doing a 15 miler Sunday. I somehow woke up feeling so out of it- stuffy nose, phlegmy throat and a cough. Coupled with a whopping headache, I just wasn't feeling great. I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep and 2 miles into my run with my teammates, I had to turn around. It just wasn't working out. I felt like shit and would feel even worse every step if I continued. I tried running again Monday, but my teammate tripped and we only ended up running 1 mile. Which is a blessing in disguise, because I really needed another rest day to fully recover.
It isn't that bad- three days off? But for some, it's terrible. As competitive runners, we are so concerned with the quantity of miles, the amount of tempo work, the certain splits we MUST run in order to climb our way up to our chartered success. But then we get run down. We start feeling very fatigued. Running becomes a chore and not a diversionary source of pleasure and release. Before you know it, we are burnt out, unmotivated, and underperforming, or worse, injured.
So, we must take these lows and embrace them. Accept them for what they are- our bodies reminding us to have fun and also enjoy resting.
I came back and ran a quality workout on Tuesday. 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400, 800, 1200, 4x100 ladder. I felt steady, strong and awesome. Then I took it easy Wednesday, and had a inadvertent 7min pace tempo for 5 miles. I had an awesome tempo to the Dipsea 5mi mark and back.
It was an awesome week of quality running. I didn't necessarily hit my target amount of miles, but I am very pleased with all the work and quality running I had put in.
Monday (yesterday), I ran 20 mi on the headlands 50k course. I started just outside the parking lot of Muir Beach, ran through Green Gulch to the start of Coastal heading South. I have always struggled with this trail as it is very steep and hilly. But I was able to complete it sucessfully, a huge plus. Then I bombed down the hills towards Tennessee Valley, cut through and started the arduous climb up Wolf Ridge. I'm going to have to do repeats up this. Its soooo steep! I was exhausted half way up. I started walking but only made it 50 ft before I started running again. (i was uncomfortable walking haha). But instead of doing a loop in the headlands as the course routes, I cut across the ridge to Old Springs trail and bombed that down to Tennessee Valley parking lot.
Then comes the hard climb up Miwok. I took that slow and steady until I got to the flat part, where I could open my stride up again. I was able to hit sub 8 min mis on the downhill and flat sections, which is pretty awesome considering. Then I crossed high way 1 onto Diaz Ridge. I was supposed to keep going on Miwok down into Muir woods, but I got a little turned around. After that had sorted out, I bombed it down. The trail was gorgeously green and I had a little fun hurdling logs along the way. (should've been a steeplechaser!) I made it down to Muir woods, crossed Muir Woods rd, and started the even more arduous climb up Cardiac. (Deer park onto Dipsea trail). In the 50k course, I cannot use the shortcuts, so I had to take the long way up.
I'd have to say, I felt pretty awesome throughout the run, not struggling and definitely managing the climbs. But the climb up Cardiac was the worst point in the course. Mile 15-17.5 were when I "hit the wall". I made sure to hydrate regularly and consume shot bloks so it wasn't too bad. After getting to the top, the course normally makes a loop down Matt Davis to Stinson beach and back up the dipsea, very hard climb but super rewarding trails.
After that, I was able to race down the resumed course on Heather Cutoff. This trail is great. Super beautiful and a lot of fun on the switchbacks. I was definitely smiling. Then it empties out onto Santos Meadow. The start and finish of the 50k. I stopped for a second to take it in, memorize it, and then picture myself breaking the tape. I smiled and raced back to my car. (the very start of the race goes from the meadow, along Redwood Creek tr to where I had parked).
My stats: 20 mi, 3:34 hr, 4100' of climbing. I burned close to 3 kcal and stopped to do leg swings after each climb. (bottom of cardiac too)
Fabulous run. I had a lot of fun, but I was also humbled. I still have a long ways to go and a lot of work. But I have three months to ready myself for mountain climbing. I can't wait. I will emerge victorious!
Some pics from the run:
Heather Cutoff
My watch and Skoras after
Santos Meadow!
View from top of Miwok with tam and Diaz Ridge in distance
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