Training Log Archive: ROUShunter

Event: Sea to Summit
 

Leg One of the Sea to Summit. Start at New castle (Portsmouth), NH and up the Piscataqua and up the Salmon Falls River into Eliot, Maine. Finished next to last. Boats provided and were all very similar, but I did get the worst of the lot. I'm not a super paddler so I wasn't expecting to set the world on fire here and really just didn't want to close contact with the pack as I didn't want to get lost. I was able to maintain visual with at least half the pack all the way in.

Road cycling portion from Eliot, Maine to the Dana Place Inn, just north of Jackson, NH on Route 16. Felt I rode pretty well. No TT bike, but threw some short clip-on aero bars on so the sections they would be helpful. Passed two guys and one woman on the bike (she dropped out due to stomach issues) and caught another guy, but we swapped places for the last 20 miles or so and came into Dana Place together. Very hot day. Went through tons of water and while I managed the heat OK on the bike, I felt it immediately when I started the "run." 18.1 average pace.

Wow. Was I hot heading out on this leg and just baked in the sun. I was walking about 1/2 a mile in and just had to let myself cool off. I probably walked a mile and a half of the 4.4 miles, but it helped. I headed out on this section along with the guy who came in with me on the bike. I sent him ahead. He said he would see me again when we got into "my terrain" and I said "Fat chance." He was moving great. I should have brought water but thought I woudl see my support person sooner than I did. Nope. Bad move. Next time I saw him I took the bottle with me. Good move. I was able to run that last portion to the trail head where I met Chris, my support person, who paced me up the mountain.

Met Chris who gave me my mandatory gear pack which was a small Gregory with a jacket, hat, gloves, water and food. Up we went. I was moving slow and still very hot. I took off my jersey and had Chris drop into the streams to bring me water bottles of mountain water to dump over my head. That felt great! At one point he asked if I "wanted to fire it up?" and informed him that I was sprinting at that moment. We had a good laugh then he looked bummed. I think we were both worried that I might not make the 10 1/2 hour cut off. Then we saw Earl, one of the NYC racers who had finished behind me on the paddle then blown by me on the bike- he was staggering. Passing him boosted out spirits. Then we saw Ross and caught him. He tried to keep up for a while then finally sent us ahead. I had moved into 6th place. This was before the caretakers hut and we started feeling better about our chances. I was moving better, too, and cooling off. Climbing out of the bowl was the toughest part, but Chris talked to a racer support person at the top of the headwall who pointed out the number 5 guy aboce us on the trail. I pushed SO hard to catch him, breathing like a freight train and getting so close that I could read his magic marker number 4 on his calf, but by this point we were almost at the auto road crossing. He saw me and found another gear. I tried to stay with him, but he dropped me and I finished 20 seconds behind. I grabbed the Mt Washington Summit sign and just held on for 30 seconds until I felt like I was stable. Felt great to have been able to push so hard for so long even if I didn't beat the 5th place guy. Surprisingly, this is where I shined. I had the 4th fastest run/hike combo split of the day. Results are here, http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/nh/Aug15_12t... Chest hurt all day Sunday and knees were sore, but other than general fatigue I felt pretty good. Will do this race again.

C • Good job! 3

Rode with SH. Bike portion of brick worout. Didn't push too hard, but then again it's hard not to when you're riding with SH and every hills is like a King of the Mountain competition. http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/nh/peter...

Easy pace run after bike. Shad said I was breathing hard. Suppose I was. Maybe my allergies or maybe just dragging tail.

I'm actually guessing on the distance but it was about an hour. Trail loop from my house instead of a bike since I flatted a tubluar ($120!) Ran with The Kid and Buddy the Dog.