Training Log Archive: Harps

Event: Collegiate Peaks Trail Run
 

Well, that didn't go very well.

Lead up was far from ideal, delayed flight, stressful work commitments (I'm that guy on the phone while they're trying to take off) and no in-flight entertainment (shitty UA). By the time I made it into Buena Vista it was near midnight and a 5:30am registration. Used to this with AR so not a big deal to get 3 hours sleep.

I went into this race with 2 options - give 100% potentially putting the rest of my (training) weekend at risk with recovery or 80% have fun and enjoy the experience. The plan was the latter of the two but once the canon fired I knew it would be difficult to hold back. Ah well f*ck it, let's do this.

As we sauntered out of town at a pretty relaxed pace I kept checking my HR which was quite high but I chalked up to the adrenaline of the race. I expected it to eventually settle in but it never really did. Once again I thought ah well f*ck it - I was pretty sure I could hold near a 160 HR for 4 hours in a race if need be. As we climbed the first big mountain I noticed very little power in my legs and I started getting passed. I was in the second pack but was caught and continued to get passed as the race progressed. Not something I'm familiar with as I'm usually decent pacing myself and picking up spots as the race proceeds.

I was only 90mins in and all enjoyment was gone, I was in a bad self loathing funk that never let up for the remainder of the race. Pure misery for 3 hours straight. I wasn't able to hold much of a pace without my HR skyrocketing. After the second climb I shuffled along downhill at a shitty pace to finish the race. There was even walking on near flats that could hardly be called an incline.

I suspect I had a less that good race due to altitude but I don't know the symptoms very well but it felt like I was performing at 90% of my usual training-level abilities for pace and climbing. If it happened at sea level I would just call it a bad day. So I'm not sure if it was the altitude or not but either way it sucked. My opinion on long distance running remains the same - any running longer than 3 hours sucks. Except in my case it was apparently 90mins.

After a few hours of self-pity and reflection I sucked it up and rented a MTB to ride the Monarch mountain trails in Salida. Thankfully I did, it was a huge morale booster and confirmed another one of my thoughts, why would anyone run when you can bike? Especially on the trail here - WOW. While I was still quite sore and tired the riding was so much fun.

C • Altitude for sure. I remem... 5

C • Represent this weekend! 6

Easy ride, had to soak in some decent weather. NP 219w.

With Al on a nice day while he reached a few top 3 strava segs, good pace for a hilly ride. NP 247W.

Fa*cking manuscripts killing me for work but had to get out in the awesome weather and clear the mind.

NP 250W.