Peaks and Valleys

Training has been going pretty stead except for some travel this fall which threw off my training plan.  The tendonitis comes and goes and I've been reacting a lot better / listening to my body and backing off when needed.  I've had several long runs in the 12-14 mi range that were solid and quite enjoyable actually.  I LOVE Fall in the Carolinas :)  Yesterday I headed out to Salem Lake to get in 2 laps (14 miles) on a crisp fall day.  Some trees were still color splashed with vibrant leaves, others bare.  A reminder that the cold weather is moving in and soon the leaves on the trail will be replaced with snow.  Jazzed by my long run yesterday and a revamped training plan to take me through the Asheville Marathon in March (which I signed up for a few weeks ago), I signed up for the Frosty Fifty 50k at Salem Lake today!  And with that, I've got 2 months to finish training for my first ultramarathon.  I'm not worried about times or paces - the goal the last 6 months has been to get back to a healthy, high mileage running routine.  I'll be happy to cross the finish line with a hard effort and a smile on my face.

Speaking of smiling - here are some peaks and valleys from yesterday's long run at Salem Lake:

Peaks:

• Colorful fall leaves on trees / trail 
• Salem lake has water in it!  (hadn't been there since the dam was finished so that was a pleasant surprise - made the view on the trail even better)
• Catching myself smiling periodically at nothing in particular #RunWithJoy
• Around mile 6 I was running up over a hill and the sun was shining down on the trail when just ahead of me a huge hawk/falcon/large bird of prey swooped down and started gliding down the trailpath up to the peak of the hill in front of me.  Who gets to see sights like that?  So cool!  It was such a neat sight and reminds me to be thankful of the time I get to spend outside while running
• Ducks in Love...there was a cove with several mallard ducks all paired up every 10 yards or so.  Glad I didn't have my bird dog with me or we would have both ended up in the water together!
• Seeing a Pudelpointer on a walk around the lake.  Neat breed - will have to add that to the list of potential sisters for Oliver (current list includes:  another GSP, Griffon pointer, wirehaired pointer, Pudelpointer - whats up with all the pointers?)
• Pumpkin cheesecake (was waiting for me at home - Not really a peak on the run, but talk about motivation to earn some calories!)

Valleys:

• Copperhead crossing the trail around mile 4 on my run.  Eeeek!  Fortunately it was small (maybe 14-16") and not moving all that fast.  I wasn't moving all that fast either so I was able to adjust course and run AROUND it before I ran ON it.  I swear I spent the next 5 miles with my eyes glued to the trail for snakes.  I HATE SNAKES....figured they'd be settled in for the winter but not quite yet...

Only 1 real valley and it wasn't in the realm of falling apart on the run, or face planting, or hitting a wall - so I guess I'll take it.*

*No I am not encouraging snakes to meet me out for a run...

Week in Review: Base Building Week #1

Week 1 is in the books and I'm on my way :)

Here's the Week in Review:

• Monday-  2.21 miles easy
• Tuesday-  rest day
• Wednesday - 5.01 miles of trail running at Pilot Mtn with hills
• Thursday - rest day
• Friday - 20 minutes of raquetball followed by 1.07 miles on treadmill at Y
• Saturday - 3.02 miles moderate
• Sunday - 4.99 miles long run and 1 hour yoga

New this week - Cross Training at the YMCA.  I got a guest pass to check it out and did 20 min of Raquetball with hubby Friday and went back today (Sunday) to do an hour of yoga after my long run.  I forgot how awesome yoga is - getting centered, stretching, meditating.  <3!!  Plus all of the balancing positions really tested the stability muscle in my feet which are weak and why I keep getting tendonitis...

My dad called an offered to get me a 12 month YMCA membership for my birthday this month which I am super excited about.  I'm the kind of person that might not use a gym membership allll that much on my own dime, but will absolutely not waste it when someone else is paying so it is actually more motivating.  I've really enjoyed the few things I have done already and look forward to trying more classes and maybe even some swimming...

That's all for now!

So about that race...

I woke up Monday morning this week and realized that running NRT50K was pushing it if I wanted to do it right and do it healthy.  My base was nearly base-less and the training plan was too aggressive.  So before getting injured again (bonus pt - maybe I am finally learning?) I decided to scrap my plans at a 50K this fall.  Instead, I'll be setting my sights on a "Hometown" course if you will - the Salem Lake Frosty 50K held the first Saturday in January each year.

New race, new plan.  I have 10 weeks of "base building" now before the actual 50K training plan starts.  High mileage weeks fall after most of our Fall travel plans and tapering occurs right over the holidays :)  I've been apprehensive in the past about doing races at Salem lake because that is where a lot of my long run are and to be frank - 7 mile loops get boring.  But the Frosty 50K is a double out-and-back horseshoe course with some trail and some greenway.  I can roll out of bed and be at the race within 10 min rather than lugging myself across state lines and staying in a cheap motel with no sleep the night before.

KT Tape to the rescue!!

Also, to get me where I need to be (athletically) I need to be more than just a runner which means crosstraining!  I've got to work on endurance, cardio, core strength and flexibility.  Coincidentally, my dad offered to get me a YMCA membership for a year for my birthday next week.  Woot!  I've already printed out the class schedule and plan to head over today to check it out and become a card carrying member.  Those 5:15am cycle classes are going to kick my butt, but probably not as much as the sport conditioning classes (I hear they make you do wall sits!!  ahh!!!)

Oliver sporting his new trail pack!

 Hoping everyone had a great July 4th.  Being a Wednesday, we stuck around but did manage to get out the door (after a little foot taping) for a trail run at Pilot Mountain before it got too hot.  I did an enjoyable 5 miles on the Corridor Trail and Chris / Oliver went ahead to get a total of 6 miles in.  Oliver's reward was a dip in the Yadkin River to cool off afterwards.  It was his first open water adventure and after a few nervous minutes, he was running out into the middle of the river and paddling back.  <3 !