Entering the Longberger Trail at mile .75 of Rothrock Trail Challenge 30k, 6/4/2011 |
- Not re-injure my healing knee by falling on it. (Falling hard directly on my left knee may mean out of the running (even though being "in the running" is not yet official... for World 100k-not yet certain-but I am too close to take risks!)
- Acquire points for the LaSportiva Mountain Cup
- Be recovered and ready to train by 6/7.
Strategies to achieve these included:
- Give Dorsal Fin a day off (ie: not race)
- Be smart and efficient with fueling, aid and running/hiking transitions
- Remind myself that to race would be to be greedy and in the past, greediness has led to bad things (injury)
I’d heard that Rothrock was an exceedingly technical
course-Jen, one of the race directors, when I met her after Bear Mountain
50M last month compared it to Bear
Mountain-just shorter. Now after running it, I agree-a junior Bear Mountain 50M
and baby Massanutten 100 (without dirt roads).
The course was fabulous and technical and I want to return
when I am not running skittish as to fully appreciate the rockiness of the
possibilities here! Yet I get ahead of myself…
But...do note that the event directors do not recognize participants as runners, yet as Registered Crazies!
Crazies...how cool is that? |
I left Jefferson, NC at 2:20pm on Thursday. This was a ½
day for students in Ashe County Schools and faculty were permitted to leave
after students vacated the building. I drove for 6.5 hours (would have been
less if there was not a car fire and a 2-lane closure on I-77 North that I got
stuck in), and wound up in
Hancock, MD for the night. After staying at a 39.99 Super 8 which I recommend
only to those who like little mice and lots of ants in their rooms, I ran for a
little while on the Western Maryland Rail Trail and C&O towpath before
continuing the 2.5 hour drive to State College, PA.
Friday afternoon I drove out to Rothrock State Forest and
did a little scouting of the markings and terrain. Marked with orange flags and
arrows.Check! Rocky.Check! Rooty. Check! Swampy and wet. Check! The makings for
a fine 19 mile adventure.
Western Maryland Rail Trail...beautiful with tons of community support...C&O towpath just seconds away! |
Race morning, fueled on coffee, English muffin and banana I
drove the 18 minutes from my motel to race start. I could have camped closer
for free-yet I do so enjoy the convenience of having electricity, wi-fi and an
easy way to make coffee. Ten years ago I would not have been caught dead
wasting 50 bucks on a motel room..and perhaps in another few years I’ll think
the same way, yet for now, I enjoyed watching race videos on wi fi, a warm
shower, cup of cocoa and mattress before sleeping on Friday evening!
The race started at 8:05 am. Despite my commitment to not
race, I placed myself near the front –about 25 people back knowing that after
.75 mile or so we’d go to single track and I wanted to be able to run as much
as possible w/o being in a pack. And off we went.
I have little specific memory of the whole event. I ran
carefully and with lots of caution. Running this way is not as fun as being
carefree and racing-actually it was quite stressful for the first 12 miles or
so until I got used to the trail and my self-prescribed approach for the day.
Then after relaxing, I found the idea of just running and not racing, quite fun
and freeing! The eventual 4th place girl and 6th place
girl and I exchanged places several times.
I do remember getting Gatorade at AS #2 and making the
mistake of not tasting it…I feel badly for those who came after me as I think I
was given all the Gatorade sugar and little water. I sipped for
carbohydrate,yet wound up tossing most of the fluidly syrup after a mile or so.
A great reminder to sample what I am taking before committing to it.
Fortunately going w/o fluid for an hour did no harm this day.
This day I ran strong ups-I didn’t have worries of falling
and taking a digger on my left knee. I ran and timidly made my way down the
rocky parts and across the mucky/rocky flats…though blessedly, experience of
the day gave confidence and the descents got more fun and less timid as hour 3
approached!
I am sure the area is beautiful. I could sense it though my
other senses, yet my sight was glued to the ground and rocks in front and /or
under me.
Thankfully, only a tiny flesh wound as a souvenir! |
Jason and Alison..both tough cookies who run with LaSportiva, rockin for 3rd place and living in NC! |
There were 299 finishers all together! Full results here.
Byron Powell, Alison Bryant, Jason Bryant and Me after 3 of the 4 of us jumped in the pond! |
Massage practitioner John and I after a great post race therapy! The school he works for: Integrative Bodywork Therapeutic Massage gave complimentary massages for runners. If you live in the area, please contact these folks: www.ibsmt.com or 814-234-4700. Icing on the cake and fuel for the 9 hour car ride! Thank you John! |
Post-race massage and playing bartender as we waited for the froth to subdue... |
I have never felt "old" during ultras...yet must admit, these shorter races running against (or like today, between) much younger women have reminded me that a 20 mile run and 50 miler are in seriously different categories! So be it. I am not getting younger, yet am eagerly learning and participating as I unfold the story of this lifetime!
Shoes, Clothing and Fuel (from the ground up)
Shoes: Montrail Mountain Masochists, men size 9
Socks: DryMax Trail
Shorts: Mtn Hardwear Pacer Advance Short (style from 2010)
Bra: Patagonia sports top
Tank: Mountain Hardwear wicked lite tank (uniform 2010)
Nathan Quickdraw Plus waterbottle
Carried and ate 1 bottle Clif Shot drink, 6 margarita shot blocks
From aid stations: 1/4 bottle gatoraide syrup, 1.5 bottle h20, 2 PB&J squares..
Post race: 1 12oz beer, 2 slices cheese pizza!
Next up (if the universe is willing!) Chattanooga Stage Races 6/17-619!
7 comments:
Congrats on a smart race.
"Give Dorsal Fin a day off" - Love this.
Nice Post
http://topupdatesblog.blogspot.com/
Pass ur comments on that also.
any chance you'll be running the grandfather mountain marathon? it would be a blast to see you there.
You did well staying patient in this one. Great run under whiles staying patient!
Had fun running with you for most of the day Annette. You kept me going at a good pace all day. I lost sight of you during the last 2 miles though and finished a couple minutes back. Those rocks were fun eh? Still can't believe you drove 9 hours.
-john
To J.edge: Grandfather is an excellent event(as you likely know!)...I ran it once several years ago when participating in the Highland Games Queen of the Mountain Event (The Bear, GRizzly and Marathon!) If you have not yet run it-save something for miles 21-end...little elevation gain, VERY runnable and fun! I would like to run it again, yet this year I'll be hosting my Mom visiting from NY and laying low to get set for World Master's Marathon in Sacramento, Ca a week later...If Mom is willing, perhaps we'll visit the Highand Games and cheer you in!!!!
John-Glad you had a strong finish! I really liked reading your blog post too! 9 hours of driving is okay because I get 40mpg in my Toyota Echo...and I distract myself with borrowed from the library books on CD!
Ahhh...What we do for our passions! 2 years ago George (my hubbie) and I flew to Bergamo Italy so I could run in 1 km+loops for 24 hours as part of Team USA. Silly? Perhaps. Crazy? Perhaps. Worth every second and penny....YES!
I know you can relate in your own ways from your dedicated hiking experiences! Best wishes next weekend: Be smart and bold and seek the beauty in the land and yourself!
YEAHH Annette!! I learn so much from you and I so admire the way you run and think! Congratulations!!!
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