Training Log Archive: ernst

Ragged Mountain Part 3 of 3-stage trail race (Ragged, Kearsarge, Sunapee) put on by Six03 Endurance. I signed up for the stage 3 "50k" four days before the race not being sure if it was a good idea for my hip/groin. But the perfect weather forecast (upper 70's breezy, dry) and some encouragement by Jess et al from Six03 prompted me to enter.

Of course I was not at all prepared for the endurance part and the climbing/descent part. Yet what really did me in was my usual leg cramping after 20+ miles in spite of me stuffing my face with (junk) food at the 4 aid stations - this coincided with the Bog Mt section: at this point my brain got tired, and I stumbled quite a bit - wished I had some caffeine gels. I had to stop several times and proceed very gingerly avoiding extra leg movement. Pickle juice and pickles, rubbing in anti-cramping creme at the next aid station, and the slowing down eventually fixed the problem, and I made it unscathed over the hardest part of the course (miles 30 - 35) climbing Ragged and then descending on the gravely trail down the ski slope at a slow and sluggish pace.

BTW 1.2 miles of the distance are extra, b/c we missed turn while babbling around mile 13. Thanks to my carrying a map we were able to correct the mistake.

In the end I finished somewhere in the middle of the pack (actually I was 23 out of 84 finishers- results just got posted). I was the oldest on the course. My legs did not feel particularly tired. But I had absolutely no appetite. I just felt somewhat wiped out from the effort. Ragged Mt Ski area offered a delectable Bar-B-Q but I could only stomach salads. Then after an hour I consumed my free beer which felt great.

Super organization by Six03 with inflatable finish chute, a rasta MC greeting every finisher with a message of accomplishment and loving support by the community of fellow runners, while in between great (and loud) music was filling the arena (Well, I did my cool-down of keeping my leg into the air propped against a wooden structure, and that happened to be right under the loudspeaker - could not help grooving to the music). The aid stations had an eclectic mix of everything, and the "staff" (all runner members of the club) were extremely helpful. A great day!

C • Chapeau! 6

And Sharon won again today in the shortened "middle". She is the clear winner of SOW with 4878 points, ahead of Mulder (4799) and Pletscher (4547). Congrats! BTW, She also won the World Rogaine Champs in Spain with partner Robin Spriggs a few days before the start of SOW.

Just saw that Sharon Crawford (F 75) is overall leading in the Swiss 6 day (top 5 results count). She won yesterday (stage 4) with ~ 2 min lead and today with 7 min lead ! Way to go Sharon!

Bike to work, and then back a few hours later. A mile longer b/c I forgot my key and had to turn around to get it at home.

Bike, and then walk/jog to the river (swimhole)

Then a steady swim up to Matt's dock and back. Calm waters, slightly cooled from the rain last night. Refreshing!

After "opa" "duty" at Packers Falls with Oliver and N, I quickly switched into gear to just get a quick run in before dinner. Kind of hot as the humidity from the last day lingered in the woods (82F), but it did start to cool of a bit. After a warm-up mile around SH, I got into the groove of it, and ventured over to the W F Farm shelter to the switch-back trails, and around and back to SH. Did a fast mile (~ 7:30) on the way back around the shelter loop. Perspiration galore! And kinda surprised that I racked up a seven. Some cool down exercises plus a rain barrel shower ushered in the well deserved feeling of being refreshed - not to mention a hearty pasta dinner afterwards assembled from leftovers and combined with all the fresh goodies from the farm.

A short bike to Packers Falls, Bennett Rd to Cutts Rd (left a message w. K.), then to office. Then short meeting with a student and back home via Mill Rd.

Spruce Wood to bike trails to Thompson house field, back to shelter, W Foss Farm loop and home. I started slow and tried to relax my legs throughout. Goal was to increase the speed to the end. Laps: 10:40, 12:00 (single trails), 11:40 (single trails), 8:50, 8:08. Hot in the sun (82F )but otherwise pleasant. Glad I had a bottle.

Dover, Six03 Pubrun. Good turnout, ~ 20. Started slow, chatting with a bunch, but then settled into my own pace around 7 mi/hr for the 4th mile, then a slow down towards the end. Good socializing afterwards over beer and tacos.

Around the "block" with forays into Toon Lane and Osprey Lane neighborhoods. A young deer appear to be lost on Osprey, but quickly jumped into the woods as I made myself noticable. Nice evening. Clear air. Just needed to get out a bit.