Sunday, 4/10/11 to Saturday, 4/16/11

I ran 4 times this week, 35.65 miles.

Sun, 4/10/11: 11.75 miles, 2:18:25, 11:38 pace, 50F, cloudy, a bit windy up on the road, no pain.

The informal start ...

CJ and I headed down to one of our "home away from homes", Letchworth State Park, for Sehgahunda Practice Run #2. This run was from Check Point (CP) #1 to CP #3. I was a bit nervous about this run ... this is where I fell last year. I ran carefully ... there was a lot of rocks, roots, mud, slippery creek crossings to look out for. I had to remind myself to look up to check out the yellow blazes to figure out where the trail was going next. I remembered to take my Gu's and hydrate. I slipped awkwardly on a downhill once ... my right knee didn't like how I bent it when I slipped on some mud. I got to CP #3, 8.39 miles in 1:39. I had a choice ... either run back the way I came or run back on River Rd to CP #1 where our car was and call it a day. I chose to run back on River Rd. I figured that I was running the Muddy Sneaker 20K next Saturday ... no need to push it.

Afterward ... chilling, eating, waiting for CJ ...

When I got back to the car at CP #1, CJ wasn't there. I figured out from a couple pics on my cell that she had gone down the trail. I changed my clothes and had something to eat. She came back about 40 minutes later, happy that she had gotten muddy. She went all the way down to the yellow trail and then left for about 4 creek crossings before she headed back ... perhaps 2 miles of muddy fun!

We did a bit of grocery shopping at Aldi's in Henrietta on the way back, then settled down to watch the wild finish at the Masters, link here; while reading the Sunday paper.

Mon, 4/11/11: Rest day.

I definitely needed a rest day. My stomach was unsettled after supper ... I definitely did not feel my best. The weather was different for April ... it got up to 80F but was very windy, a 66 mph peak gust in Rochester.

Tue, 4/12/11: 6.5 miles, 51:30, 7:55 pace, 45F, cloudy, calm, no stops, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for FF Cobbs Hills run, 1 Y, 3 loops

The weather was really different when I woke up ... 42F. After work, CJ and I went down to Fleet Feet for the usual Cobbs Hill run. I went out nice and easy. I decided to mix up a bit with 1 Y and 3 loops. CJ didn't have on her Nike+ but she went up to Highland Ave and back, about 2 miles.

Wed, 4/13/11: Rest day.

Just your average rest day. After an enjoyable pre-supper stretch, CJ made an excellent supper of roast chicken, green beans with a sweet potato ... scrumptious!

Thu, 4/14/11: 5 miles, 37:18, 7:28 pace, 50F, sunny, calm, a couple stops for traffic, no pain.

Garmin Connect Activity for Remington's Run #1

CJ and I headed down to Remington's for the Thursday night Remington's Run. A big crowd turned out since Urban Fitness met there too. I found Steve J to run with who also ran my pace. The miles were covered quickly and easily, I was astonished at the pace when we got done ... sweet! CJ walked the 3 mile route and was sweating when she got done.

Fri, 4/15/11: Rest day.

A definite rest night since I was running Muddy Sneaker on Saturday.

Sat, 4/16/11: 12.4 miles, 2:15:01, 10:53 pace, 45F, cloudy, rainy, windy, no pain.

CJ and I woke up and made out way down to the High Tor Wilderness Area south of Canandaigua Lake (about a 70 minute drive) ... then up as we climbed up to the start area of the Muddy Sneaker 20K. It was a raw morning ... 45F (or less), cloudy, light mist to light rain and windy. I told CJ that trail runners are certifiably crazy ... she definitely agreed. 

The start ... note the muddy road ...

Before the start I was cold and wet. The start came at 9AM ... soon I was somewhat warmer, still wet and soon my feet were much wetter and muddier. After a start on the road, we soon made it to a couple miles of ankle deep (if not deeper) mud and streams along with roots and rocks. Then we went to miles of up and down double track ... easier but still challenging. Then a whole lot more slippery mud, roots and rocks ... scary going downhill or uphill when I was so tired. I reminded myself to make good decisions about my footing and not to take chances. More uphill and more downhill ensued ... a big stream crossing, then a long uphill climb along with a scenic waterfall sighting to the finish. I must say that Muddy Sneaker was the most challenging trail race that I have ever had the opportunity to run.

I grabbed some pizza and cookies along with a free tangerine sample of Vital Energy at the finish. I was wet, cold, exhausted and crabby by the time I got back to the car. CJ didn't make it out of the car after the start ... she was chilled to the bone. She did take some pics before and after the finish. I found some nice gifts in the goodie bag; a long sleeve Muddy Sneaker T-shirt and a pair of SmartWool trail socks that I immediately put on ... nice! Everyone got a Muddy Sneaker mason jar at the finish too.

I must say that I was utterly exhausted after the race ... an hour later I was still dragging. CJ says I need to Gu more. She is correct. I had only one along 2 cups of water and 6 cups of Gatorade during the race.

CJ drove home. We stopped by ... where else ... Fleet Feet so I could sign up for the Sehgahunda Trail Marathon and the Dirt Cheap Trail Series. This is probably TMI ... but my wet tech shirt left me with sore nipples, particularly the left. I really should put on BodyGlide before every race. I just didn't think of it when it was wet and rainy! I felt better after a nice, hot bath along with a nice lunch of salmon, rice and peas. The lovely CJ takes good care of me.

CJ says I looked even worse before I changed.

My Salamons and trail socks were totally drenched.

All in all ... Muddy Sneaker ... certainly lived up to its name! I finished 61st out of 136, link here. I was put in the wrong age group, but I did finish 13th out of 34 in the 50-59 age group, link here.