Spudman 2016 Registration. Time to commit!

I received a message this morning asking if I was ready to make a commitment.  It’s time to register for the Spudman 2016 Triathlon and my triathlon buddy wanted to know if I was up for the challenge. We are a team. When we commit, we commit for the team. I did a quick calendar review, a brief head to toe assessment and an internal evaluation before saying, “Yes, let’s do the Spudman!” Let me explain.

Calendar Review –

I know of no babies, blessings or burials scheduled for late July. I’ve reached the point in my life where those are the happenings around which I must work my schedule. Everything else is flexible or not so very important. My calendar is clear.

Head to Toe –

I was committed to Spudman 2015, as were my teammates. However, I was nagged with an injury most of the spring and summer that spoiled my training efforts.  In the end, I was unprepared and unable to participate. The other team members were in much the same predicament.

My head to toe assessment indicated that I am currently healthy, my injury (calf tear) of 2015 has healed and I am more educated as to how to prevent a recurrence. (Read this article about running shoe designs) I began a half marathon training program on January 4 and things are going well – thus far.  The physical assessment is positive.

Internal Evaluation –

In other words, is my head in the game? Often the mental commitment required to participate in an endurance test such as the Spudman Triathlon, a half marathon, or the Grand Teton Relay is greater than the physical commitment. This is what I have learned – My body can handle the physical strains if I prepare, and sometimes even if I don’t fully prepare. The preparation, however, first requires a mental commitment.  Am I willing to devote the time necessary to prepare? Do I have a desire to endure the discomfort associated with the preparation? When an obstacle such as an injury or calendar change occurs, do I have the determination to work around it to achieve my goal? My head is currently in the game.

So, yes, we are doing Spudman 2016. We are committed and we have time to prepare. Call me a crazy old lady, but it’s one of the highlights of my year. 

Read about our previous Spudman races.

Spudman 2012

Spudman 2013

Happy Running!

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The goal is so close and yet so far



Will's Hill.  Halfway point on one of our runs.

I’ve hit that point in my half marathon training when I just want it to be over. I’m enjoying my training partner, and I always feel good after the workout, but the anticipation of the long runs and speed work days is starting to get to me.  My legs are tired. We have just over two weeks until race day.  Only two more long runs and two more speed workouts loom before we reach the goal.  I know I can make it.  I just need to get my head in the game – recommit if you will. 

Training for a road race, especially a half marathon (I wouldn’t know about marathon training and I doubt I ever will) is much like any other path towards a goal.  How often do we get so close and yet the end is far enough away that we consider aborting the mission?  We begin to doubt our ability to achieve the goal that once seemed so worthy, so attainable. How can we recommit?

Sometimes it helps me to look from whence I came.  For instance, before the training began I was logging about ten miles per week – often fewer.  I wasn’t timing any workouts so I didn’t know how fast or slow I was running.  After a ten-miler on Saturday I will have logged 26 miles this week.  That does not include walking miles to warm up and cool down.  I have also cut 30-40 seconds off my average per mile pace over a three-mile run.  I have made a new friend in Kelli who has enriched my life.

I made some commitments this summer for which this training will help me prepare.  First is the Fitfor Life Half Marathon.  I ran it last year and I am hoping to beat my time.  We runners call that a PR (Personal Record).  After this race I can cut my mileage back just a bit, but not too much as I am doing the Burley Spudman Triathlon two weeks later with my good buddy, Paulee. My run leg is a 10K (6.2 miles) so I should be well prepared for the distance.  Again, I am hoping to beat my time from last year. Lastly, and probably craziest of all is the Grand Teton Relay two weeks after the Spudman.  My training has prepared me for the distance, but the elevation could be my nemesis! You can expect a full report sometime after I have recovered.

I’m feeling better already!  This quick evaluation of my progress towards my goals has changed my perspective. I can get through the next seven timed workouts.  I can do the long runs and the speed work.  They will help prepare me for the race.

I encourage you to evaluate your progress towards a goal.  Maybe it is possible, after all, to write your novel, kick that bad habit, or reduce your debt load.  Take a look at from whence you have come.  You may be farther down the path than you thought!

Happy Running!

Training time

Busted SpudmanTrophies!

It's time to start training for races.  That means sticking with prescribed mileage and timing my runs.  I've been postponing it, but next week will be twelve weeks prior to a half marathon.  It's time to get serious.  I'm preparing for the Fit for Life Half in July.  There will be a couple of 5K's thrown in there in the meantime like THIS ONE.  The half marathon is actually in preparation for two other races that I am planning for this summer. 

This will be my third year competing with my good buddy, Paulee, in the Burley Spudman Triathlon.  This one is special because I get to do it as a team with one of my longest (I don't want to say oldest anymore) friends.  It is a little bit about competing, a lot about companionship, and even more about the silly trophies.

The second race is going to be crazy!  It will be my first relay and I picked THIS ONE!  I am still trying to coerce team members into participating.  I need two more runners, but I think I have a couple in my back pocket if some don't come forth.  The Grand Teton Relay is a 12 person 180 mile race over a 24 hour period.  Did I mention the altitude?  Let's just say it's about 5000 feet higher than my current residence.  Oh, yeah.

It's all good, right?  I mean, after all, it gives me something to write about and I love that!

Burley Spudman 2013 – A little older and a little faster!

Awesome Friend Paulee

I’ve told you about my awesome friend, Paulee.  She talked me in to joining her for a team effort in the Burley Spudman Triathlon last year.  It is a beast!  Paulee did the first two legs, swimming a mile in the Snake River and then biking 25 miles! She is also a beast!  I ran the last six miles.  We thought we were pretty cool last year when we won our age group – until we broke our trophies!  Read about it here.

Another year.  Another Spudman. Did I mention we are in the oldest team age group?  Sometimes you can get more competitive as you age because you move into an older group.  Ya, we don’t have that luxury to look forward to.  Fortunately, you don’t have to win to get a trophy. You just have to finish in the top three.  (We really wanted another trophy since both of ours are broken.) We knew the competition was going to be tough and kept telling each other that we were doing it for fun, to keep in shape for snow and water skiing, and we just needed to finish.

Some of our fans

Experience is invaluable.  Last year I was nervous for nearly two hours before it was necessary.  This year I knew I had more time to get prepared for the run and I stayed much more calm waiting for Paulee to return on the bike.  My tummy was happy about that.  Paulee’s swim was FAST and she really cut time on her swim to bike transition – opting to forgo socks and gloves this time.  The weather was cool.  It even rained a bit during the run.  I was equipped with my new light Pearl Izumi runners and I was able to manage my mid-run fuel better.  I ran my fastest 10K thus far!

 

Three must be our lucky number this year.  We cut three minutes off our time from last year and we placed 3^rd in our age group – good enough to get another coveted Spudman Trophy!

Unbroken Trophies

The best part?  That would be doing something I love with a friend I love.  That, and all the obnoxious bragging we do to our hubbies!

Obnoxious post-race selfie

About my new Pearl Izumi Runners

There's mud on my new shoes!

I promised a product review of my new Pearl Izumi Project Emotion running shoes courtesy of Shu's Idaho Running Co. so here it is.

I have been running in Asics Kayanos.  They have a lot of stability and cushioning and I LOVE them!  I thought that a free pair of shoes meant it was a good time to try a neutral runner.  I was right!  I recently competed in the 2013 Burley Spudman Triathlon – more on that later.  I took my new shoes for two short runs before the 10K leg of the Spudman and decided to try them out in a race.  So, after about ten miles with the new shoes, this is what I know.

The Pearl Izumis are LIGHT and comfortable! The upper is soft all over and I have no toe/nail/blister problems after a six mile run.

Definitely a road shoe as the sole is very smooth.  They were okay over 2 miles of dirt and gravel during the race. We had a little rain and they felt slippery on the wet pavement.

The verdict?  The Pearl Izumi Project Emotion is a great road racing shoe, but I wouldn’t recommend them for wet conditions.  It is oh, so comfortable!  I will stick with my Asics Kayanos for off-road and inclement weather.  They are heavier and I still think they are a very good training shoe.  I will save the PI’s for days when I need speed or I am feeling self-indulgent or when my toes feel beat up from a long run in the Asics.

Two great pairs of shoes - one happy runner!

Mud.  Proof that they've been worn off-road.

Running out of year ...

This running granny is running out of year!  The holidays (I am not being politically correct.  I am simply including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my birthday!) have been tough on this runner.  Too much celebrating and not enough running, but things will begin to settle down - maybe late next week!
I thought it mighthelp if I listed the running accomplishments of the past year.
January - No races. However, I kept running through the cold weather.
February - Some days were two-a-days.  I ran in the morning and took Mom too the track for a half mile strol in the afternoons.
March - I began training for my first half marathon.
April - I visited Erie, PA and ran with my daughter and granddaughter.  The three year-old made it nearly a mile!
May - Beat the Coaches Fun Run in Parma - track team benefit.
June - Ahh, June!  Old Fort Boise Days Fun Run.  I finally broke a 30 minute 5K!  Then I almost died in the High Desert Half Marathon.  Read about it here.
July - Spudman Triathalon in Burley with my good buddy Paulee.  We took first place in our age group!
August and September - Cross Country. Running with the kids!
October - The Color Run with Tami and Karli.
November - A lazy Turkey Trot with my hubby (just the two of us) on the hills in Cache Valley.
December - Bust Your Bells Fun Run!

That feels better.  I can see that I did, indeed, keep on running all year - injury free!  I expect I will do the same in the year to come.   I will, however, find an easier half marathon!

2012 Spudman Triathlon

I made a commitment several months ago to join my old chum, Paulee, on a team for the 2012 Spudman Triathlon in Burley.  This was my first team effort.  My assignment was simply to run a 10K after she had completed a mile swim in the Snake River and a 25 mile bike ride.  I think I had the easy part! 

There are a lot of logistics to contend with in a triathlon.  Here is how it went down …

I drove to Twin Falls on Friday afternoon where Paulee met me for a little spiritual strengthening before we picked up our race packet in Burley.  The packet included the usual t-shirts, race number, complimentary baking potatoes (It’s the Spudman!) and ever important timing chip.  After racking her bike, accidentally applying chain grease to my jeans, returning to the parking lot for the plastic bag with our number that would house Paulee’s soggy wetsuit and towel after the swim, and placing her biking gear in strategic order for the transition from swim to ride, we returned to her home to visit and digest our pasta dinner.  Carbo loading is one of my favorite parts of racing!

Hopeful before the race.

Bright and early Saturday morning Paulee said, “I didn’t sleep very well.  I kept worrying about our timing chip.”

“It’s in the bag.”  I replied confidently.  She was more nervous than I thought!

“Okay, well, I didn’t see it, but it must be there.”  What I didn’t know is that she had looked for it the night before and it wasn’t there.  We looked again.

“I know it has to be there, because I saw it last night.”  Where was it?  “I bet it is in the truck.  I saw it when I pulled our shirts out of the bag last night.  Let’s go look.” 

It wasn’t in the truck.  Even an under the seat inspection with a flashlight failed to locate our timing chip. The chip was attached to a Velcro strap and stored in a small zipper bag.  It should have been easy to locate.  We deduced that it must be in the parking lot.  I obviously dropped it when I was retrieving the bag for the swim equipment.  We had two points of hope.  First – someone may have found it and turned it in.  Second – we could get another timing chip from the race director.  We opted to hurry to the race start (it was 6:15am) and plead for mercy.  There was ample time for pleading before the 8:00am start of Paulee’s swim heat.  We hurried.  

Maybe it has something to do with age.  After all, we were in the 138-Over Female Team category.  If they had a 150-Over category, we would have qualified for that! I only remembered stashing the timing chip in the door pocket of her truck AFTER I glanced down and spied it! We had a good laugh as we often do and headed to the race.  The nervous rush of adrenaline normally reserved for the start of the race had come and gone!

My teammate is a strong swimmer.  I followed the racers along the bank, trying to pick her out, but every racer was wearing an orange swim cap.  I could identify men because they were large. A few swimmers did not wear wetsuits, so I eliminated them.  After that, I had no clue which one she was!  She finished in 20 minutes!  For those who don’t know, that’s pretty fast.

I was there to cheer her on during the transition.  Then I made my way back to the swim start where we would pass off the timing chip and I would begin my run.  My nerves began to factor in.  So did my dinner.  (Runners often have tummy troubles on race day.) 

I wore my Running Granny Green outfit so she could find me when she came in at the end of her ride.  You can’t miss that shirt!  I snatched the chip from her ankle and wrapped it around my own.  Then I was off.  It wasn’t a stellar run, but it sufficed.  I kept thinking, “I have to keep moving.  I owe it to Paulee.”  I later learned that she had similar thoughts while she was competing, “I want Carol to take a trophy home!”

The trophies … we earned one!  Sometimes it pays to be old.  We placed first in our category. I am sure our competitors were somewhere in the Over part of the category, as were we, but I didn’t ask how far over.  We proudly stayed for the awards ceremony so we could collect our trophies.  Paulee mentioned an article in the newspaper that cautioned folks to be careful with their trophies as they were breakable. 

We gathered our belongings and dragged our tired bodies to the truck parked across the golf course and down the street, both of us gently holding our trophies in one hand and a bag of gear in the other.  We talked about the race and about getting old.  We probably talked about the men in our lives. We each have only one – both of us married for years and still in love.

 Fifty yards from the truck there was a loud “clunk” and a sudden lightening of the load in our trophy laden hands! That is right. We managed to knock the bases off both trophies in one fell swoop!  Who else could do that?

And we laughed. 

This is a testament to our friendship.  We survived the adrenaline aided panic of the missing timing chip.  We hoped for success more for our teammate than for ourselves.  We created a disaster together and laughed about it.  In the end, we had so much FUN!

And we won!

Distracted Training

After recovering from the High Desert Trail Run, it was time to gear up for the Spudman Triathlon in Burley this weekend.  I only have to do the 10K run leg.  My high school buddy and forever friend, Paulee, will be swimming and biking.  I figured I could handle the 10K after doing half marathon training – I just needed to scale back my training and keep at it.

I’ve had a few distractions. 

I opted to do elevation training last week.  I packed my running shoes and even my road bike for a trip to McCall.  What is my definition of elevation training?

Lounge around for a few days at a higher elevation than where you normally train. (I never laced up those shoes nor did I hop on my bike.)

That’s about the size of it.  I did run Will’s hill on Saturday, but now it is time to taper before the race this Saturday!  I thought about extending my two-mile run to three this morning, but talked myself into following the training plan.  That doesn’t make a lot of sense, since I didn’t follow it while my company was here!  However, I had my first running induced nosebleed at the end of two miles, so I guess the training plan worked.  I think the dry weather is actually responsible for my nose, but it sounds more exciting to say I ran so hard I made it bleed.

The distractions left yesterday and that is sad. I have another 3-4 mile run planned for Wednesday and then it’s back to hydrating and carbo loading.  I hope I can hold up my end of the deal in Burley …