Training Log Archive: Slice

Broken Goat 50km race. Speedcross Pro

The race calls the elevation of this 2600m, but the watch said 2500 so I'm going with that.

So this went off a little better than expected. I was really pretty worried about how these legs of mine would hold up due to the lack of any serious distance training on the run. I quit biking after my weekend with Leanimal in Vangroovy in prep for this race. I hoped that free running stride feeling would come back and prayed that maybe my massive thighs would maybe slim down just a little?

In light of feeling physically underprepared, I got as mentally and logistically prepared as I could. Because the race doesn't post any split times, I looked at Strava "flybys" from last year so I could see what time both the winning female, and the fourth place female, came into certain landmarks and figured that as long as I was falling somewhere in the middle of that then I would be doing okay. I was so worried about going too hard too early!

The race started at 6am (ouff!) in a very light drizzle and about 8C. It was hard to peel the jacket off, but knew that there was no way I wanted to stop 10min up the first climb and lose any positions so I stuck to my guns and stood there in my t-shirt and short shorts. Once we were off, Marcy (a good training partner and super speedster here in town) and I set of with the chase pack just behind last year's second place female Kim Magnus (last years winner wasn't racing as she was injured). Kim is a very strong runner from North Van and has a reputation of kicking butts and taking names. From the moment I saw the start list I was 90% sure that she was going to win the race. A good check point for me was to make sure that I was never ahead of her!

As we climbed up and up and up onto the Seven Summits trail, Marcy stuck right with me. I have never done a running race "with" a friend, so I will admit that I was a little unsure about how this was going to work when she settled in behind me and didn't seem to have any intention of leaving me alone. She seemed pretty content to just truck along behind me and I was a little worried that she was going to chit chat the entire time and I'd lose focus, or that she'd just work me into the ground by pushing from behind and then drop me like old news once she got tired of running at my pace. (This woman manages to pull off sub 5min kms while pushing her double chariot so I know she is fast!). A little ways in I kind of came to terms with it and I realized that it is so much more fun to have a buddy to race along side you! She is just as competitive as me and so we discussed pacing and strategy almost the whole time. We even stopped for a simul-pee. :) Very AR.

The trail was absolutely beautiful. There were a few out and backs so Marcy and I got a good handle of how much time Kim had on us (3min... then 8min... then 10min...) and were able to see some of our other friends along the way. I love out and backs for that.

Before the first aid station (at km 25), I drank 1500mls of Vitargo-infused water, ate two gels, one pack of honey stingers, and one Vega snack bar. At the aid station I refilled one small bottle and grabbed a handful of doritos for the 6km out and back back to the same aid station. I had a pre-loaded bag in the drop bag here, so instead of re-filling again, I put on the pack for the final 7km dowhhill run to Red Mountain base. I knew I could drop this back at Red, so I chugged almost 600mls of water (with Nuun), ate a snickers bar, and ate another pack of honey stingers.

After 38kms of mostly blissful BC ridge running (minus that horrid 7km downhill), we descended to Red Mountain resort where we had to tackle the final 12kms by running straight up the mtn, and back around on some flowy single track. I had the advantage over Marcy here as I ran the 12km last year (with my arm in a splint) and so I knew what a beast the climb was. We were able to drop our packs with our mandatory gear here so I filled up a 500ml hand bottle and grabbed a gel and set off. The RD told me that Kim had abotu 12 or 15min on me at this point. I managed to hoof it up that hill pretty quick and passed a couple of guys on the way. I ate the gell and shoved the empty package into my bra (such a handy pocket!)I looked back for Marcy and couldn't see her. I felt badly that I just kind of took off, but I really did think she'd catch me once we were on the other side. I knew there was a section of road where she would surely be faster than me.I was getting wee hints of cramps in both my adductors and calves as I went up the hill. The body was beginning to get tired! I breathed deep at the top and managed to will the cramps away. Luckily, a great guy from Vancouver named Hozumi was just behind me at the top and provided enough of a chase to force me to get my legs rolling. We chatted on the way down and soon the body relaxed and I felt like a million bucks! We hit the aid station and both chugged some coke. 4kms to the finish! These hurt as there was a lot of climbing single track, but once about 1km away from the finish it was all downhill.

The finish line felt great, as always, but was especially sweetened with a big hug from the RD, a cold beer from my buddy Jeff, and a warm welcome from the whole crew of 25km runner from Canmore who'd already finished. Best. Race. Ever. Yipeeee!

C • Congrats Liza! Sounds beaut... 9

C • Broken and Bleating 1

LIttle spin stop during the drive to Rossland. Also some dynamic stretching.

Tent ridge redux. With Kylee this time.

Leg resting and arm tiring.

Okay, now my legs are tired. Up Tent ridge with Dia in the misty rain. Looking forward to riding my bike after the weekend...

Really, this was a half-day affair, but Strava calls my moving time as such so this is how it is to be. Beautiful day out with Em and Ruchel on Chester/Headwall. I love Headwall lakes so much.