Only the ‘dedicated’ enjoy the challenge of icy trails….

My first trail run (six days after my knee mishap) was mellow with a hint of awesomeness. Do I enjoy running slushy, ice trails? Not really. Do I appreciate catching a runner’s high as early as mile 1.71? You bet! Considering last weekend I didn’t even come close to ‘floating’ I’ll take the high early on. 

Then there was the camaraderie between trail runners…yep, small talk amongst trail runners is what keep us trail people on the same wave length...even while running. Just like the belief of all life being inter-connected in the universe in Buddhism, the trail running universe is also inter-connected. We mesh and understand each other on the trails.  

I hit some simple non-technical nature preserve trails for my first run back after my failed 20k, yet successful 10k trail race from the previous weekend. To clarify; my reason for the downgrade in distance was due to some pretty intense and sharp anterior knee pain. Not my winter deconditioned state. I'll be busting out a 50k and a 50-miler this May and June. Winter lung capacity still sucks. 

My knee was fairly cooperative the week following my first trail race of 2015 in my daily 6am heat yoga classes, but there were a couple of days when the single-leg balances just weren’t happening. So I wasn't sure what to expect. But as any endurance athlete would do,  you go back the next morning and try again. Note: In trail running, you never let a 'bad' trail run define you. You put your shoes back on the next day and run again.

When I started my week later ‘recovery’ run my knee was pissed and I didn’t think I was going to complete more than two miles. The terrain was a slushy icy annoyance with occasional spots of mud. Yet I chose this particular trail for a reason: it’s good for recovery runs and good pace. So, despite the circumstances I busted out a pretty good pace. Yay! Redemption! 

For the love of slushy, icy trails. 

The trick to slushy and icy trails is to run 'off-trail'. Running on the grassy, leafy areas on either side of the trail is a great bypass to the middle of the trail that is packed down with snow and ice. It's also a great way to avoid walkers on the trail. Just sayin’.  But be mindful and show Mother Nature’s house the respect it deserves by not leaving any off-trail damage.

Winter sunsets are still pretty awesome. 

Needless to say I finished a fast (according to me), fabulous four miles slightly injured (issues in my tissues). I enjoyed the short miles with a few high-fives to fellow ‘dedicated’ trail runners along the way. The recovery run proved to be a win-win.

Wet trail shoe problems: thankful I always have extra pairs of trail shoes in the Jeep for post-run errands. 

Happy trails,

~Cat~

Happy 2015!

I am 41 and On the Run!

This year I have good intentions of accomplishing quite a bit of running, including more races. I don’t have a goal of x-amount of miles for the year but just to run more with intention. Just like as I practice yoga every day, it is with intention, not about being more flexible or endurance.

Like yoga, running is personal and not competitive for me. Which is part of why I have not ran very many races. I am competitive in many areas of my life, but running is not one of them. I run because I love to run. I love the zen. I love nature. I love the woods. I love the alone time. I love the escape. Trails are like second nature to me. Summer running is my favorite but as a dedicated runner currently living in Ohio I must contend with mother nature and let her do her thing while still getting my run on all during seasons. Weather is about acceptance, right?

My race goals for 2015 begin with the Rocks and Roots Trail Series trail races. The race sold out but thankfully by the good graces of awesomeness and good karma, I got an ‘in’ through Jeff the race director. Life is good. I signed up for the 20k in January and the 30k in February. I figure going with less miles early on is good as it allows me to build up to my goal of a 50-miler and additional 50k races this year.

Starting the year off right, I have been focusing on doing yoga seven days a week. I have somehow become one of those early a.m. workout people. I enjoy getting my time on the mat before heading to work. There’s something about waking up before the rest of the world and accomplishing something that feels awesome. I have worked on squats in the gym a bit but not to the consistent level I need for stronger running legs.

Today, was the first race of 2015 for me and it did not go as I intended. I knew the 12 miles wasn’t going to be easy because of the combination of the weather and me not getting in the training miles I should. But when there is snow on the ground and below freezing temps you just move forward and give it all you got. One of the reasons I was going into this race was to see how de-conditioned I am and build from there. I left this morning for the race guided by a beautiful sunrise (sorry, no pic). I felt great.

Swag

I got to the race early. Not as early as I wanted but at least early. I started the 20k about 5 minutes late because I didn’t realize the start/finish was as far as it was from the parking lot. But the dude working the finish line said it wasn’t a big deal because the sensors track the runner’s time when they cross the lines, not based on the clock with the big red numbers. So, that was cool. I trotted along slow to start. Managing my new GPS, huge mittens, and water bottle.

The trails were not forgiving. However, the race directors and crews did an awesome job of spreading light sand on the hills. That likely saved a lot of folks from falling on their ass. All the water crossings were frozen solid. The only time it was windy was on the trails closest to the lake.

View of the lake from the trail, Oct. 2014

The most awesome thing I witnessed today was a dude who squatted down and slid down a hill on his feet. I told him that is fucking brilliant! I almost wanted to go back up the hill and give it a try.

I kept moving along, albeit pretty slowly, doing the best I could to keep my lungs warm and trying to breathe through my snot faucet nose. As an asthmatic, huffing and puffing with open mouth (gasping, essentially) is possibly the worst way and an unsafe way to run. Diaphragm breathing through the nose is required to get your pace going real good.

Mile four is typically when I start to ‘float’ during a run and ease into a nice steady pace. Sadly, that did not happen today. I had a few moments of floating that were quickly slowed down because of my lungs. Although, I used a gaiter to cover my neck and part of my face, I was struggling with its looseness. The gaiter I have is fleece and is not technically a runner’s gaiter which made it kind of annoying because it retained moisture.

My feet felt great. I took my hand warmers out of my incredibly warm and waterproof Thinsulate mittens and put them on my hip flexors. Lesson learned: run with my actual running gloves and hand warmers if needed, not bulky warm mittens with warmers.  

I tweaked my knee right before mile five by stepping onto a rock to pass over. The gal in front of me even turned around to ask if I was ok after I ‘yelped’ an “ouch”. I told her my knee was just a little angry with me today. 

Unfortunately, the sharp pain in the front of my knee slowed me down and made running pretty painful. I knew at mile 5.5 that I was going to ask if I could just finish out at the 10k distance, and not continue to finish the 20k. The race directors were cool with it. Interestingly enough, when I made that decision my body became eerily cold. Felt like my body went into cool down mode.

I stood and chatted for a bit with some folks at the finish line, and walked back to my Jeep with my head low trying to put into perspective my ‘defeat’. Weighing pride with justification of cutting my miles in half.

I felt like a pussy and had a five minute pity party during my drive home. I’m disappointed in not getting the planned miles I wanted but also respect that my running goals this year are bigger than one race. I reminded myself that I have to keep my head wrapped around the big picture and not the little blips along the way. Telling myself that without the learning experiences and challenges, my journey won’t be as meaningful.

I once stated my thoughts on life’s journey: “Imagine how boring life would be if the journey was just a straight and narrow path. Embrace the ups, downs, twists, turns, leaps forward, and steps back. Live outside the lines with love in your heart, be human, and breathe.” I reminded myself of that today.  

Today’s race reaffirmed me that running through the snow is like trudging through mud except your ass is freezing cold. I was reminded of my dislike for running through snow, but also my ability to make the most of it and deal with what’s in front of me.

As I was reflecting on the day’s events and settling in on my afternoon cup of Yogi herbal tea and a dark chocolate, the tag on the tea string read: “Live through consciousness, not through emotion.” I love my tea and the little tags of wisdom.

See you on the trails in 2015! 

Happy trails!

~Cat~