Running For Skin

Today KK and I went to Kittatinny to get in a few miles on the Sussex branch Trail.  We did somewhere around 5 miles, give or take.  It was cold, around 20 degrees Fahrenheit but sunny, which was nice for a change.

A while back my best friend Annie founded a non profit organization called The World Skin Project
This organization developed to help promote skin cancer awareness.  Check out their website to read the back story.  Late last year Annie and the WSP sponsored me in an ultra race, the TARC Summer Classic, in which I ran a 50k.  It was an awesome race! Very awesome, home grown race series. I have included some picture of this race:

Annie and I during one of my re-supply stops.

This was the first race that I ran under the sponsorship of "Running For Skin".

This next season coming up I plan on doing several skydives for "Jumping For Skin".  Trying to promote skin cancer awareness among the skydiving community, a sport, that like running, spends a lot of time in the sun.

 

This is my finish.  I had such a great time.  This was a beautiful course and I look forward to coming back.

2014

So, I know that we're already almost a month into 2014 and this is my first entry.  Yeah, I get it. The past few months have been hectic to say the least. The winter, I have determined, while beautiful, sucks. There's no skydiving at may favorite DZ and running in 3 degree weather isn't very fun.  So, I've taken to being a bit lazy, much to the dismay of my new skinny jeans and my running partner, sorry KK :(
One of my resolutions (and I HATE resolution people) is to try and be more consistent in both my blogging and my running.  I would love to be able to toe the line in September at the Pine Creek 100 and finish under 30 hours and still manage to go to work Monday morning.

I have also been trying to plan races and some trips for the year.  So far this is what I have going:

February:  Puerto Rico Skydiving Boogie
March:  Safety Day and Grand Re-Opening for Skydive Sussex
April: Thailand and Dubai trip
May: 3 Days at the Fair
June:Vegan Power 50k
July: Nada
August: Zilch
September: Pine Creek 100
October: Zero
November: One Day at the Fair
December: nothing yet
I used this site for my New England Ultra Races as well as the TARC running series

Newton Pool Run

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The name of this run is a bit of a misnomer. We didn't actually run IN the Newton pool, more like dropped KK's kids off at their swim practice then ran FROM the pool.

Today was cooler (70's) than the past few weeks.  Nice light breezes followed us thru the center of Newton on our loudest, busiest road run in a long time!  Lots of cars, some people, kinda weird people, all kinds, and a strategically placed rogue brownie that, thank goodness, KK warned me of in time because it could have been messy.

Lots of recapping from the last 24 hours we hadn't really talked.  I love that our runs are therapy and that when we're done running we can still talk and talk and talk : )

 We are trying to get in the race mode for Running with the Devil coming up in less than 2 weeks.  Hopefully some of these heat and hill runs we're doing is preparing us both mentally and physically.

Winding Hill Repeats

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This was our brain child of a workout this morning. We decided that we need to focus on hills more because of the upcoming Running with the Devil race in less than 2 weeks.  Since I live on the top of a hill that has 2 hills leading up to it, we figured it would be a great workout.  Great was an understatement!

So the plan was to start at the bottom of one side of Winding Hill Rd and run up Pleasant Valley drive, turn onto my street and run to the driveway edge.  Then walk down to the start point (another really steep side of the hill) and then run back up in the opposite direction. This is one set.  Our goal was to do 6 sets of 2.  Apparently mother nature didn't get my TPS report requesting a cooler morning (probably because there was no cover sheet on it, get it, Office Space reference. never mind : ) and by the end of the first LAP we were sweating like we were in an oven!!

On our way up the backside of the hill, the much steeper backside,  my neighbor, whom has a key eye for the obvious, says something to the effect of "Wow, what are you girls doing? We don't see many runners coming UP this hill".  Thanks Capt. Obvious. I'm your neighbor, only runner on the street, and no shit, I've never done a hill workout on this road before.  All types, right?

Anyway, we finished about 10 lbs lighter from all the sweat but it was a great workout.  I'm pretty sure that we'll do it again before the race.


LATER THAT EVENING:

Man oh man are my quads killing me!! Those hills did exactly what I was hoping they would do; kick my butt, literally!!

Aquaduct at Great Glen

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This was a pretty straight forward run.  I decided to double up today on the runs because I wasn't sure when I was going to be able to run alone again.  Good idea, right?  Well needless to say this was the most stressful run I have run in a long time. Let me explain.

During the afternoon before this run, I found a magazine in the lounge of the Lodge I was staying in.  It had an excellent article about a stretch of highway/trail in Canada that, over the past 20 years or so, has seen numerous unexplained murders.  Many of these bodies have never been recovered.  The victims are all young women.  I'm going to try and locate this article and post it here so you can also be scared ; )

So while I was running this trail, I had the un-nerving feeling that someone/something was watching me or stalking me.  I fought the feeling of turning back the entire time! I know I know, I should really listen to my spidey senses when it comes to this, but I knew in the back of my mind that this was a safe area to run.  I made sure that I checked in with the awesome staff at Great Glenn trails before and after my run.  They knew exactly where I was going and I gave them an approximate time as to when I would be back.  When I returned, the front desk was waiting for me : )  They said what I did was pretty smart and they wished that more people would do the same. Yay me!

No pictures for this run but there are others that I will include at a later date.

Old Jackson Road Recovery Run

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This run was used as a recovery run.  I wanted to get out and do some trail running in the few days that I had before the YM's arrived.

I began at Joe Dodge Lodge and took the Old Jackson Road trail.  This is an old fire trail/road that has narrowed over the years and connects Joe Dodge Lodge to the Auto Road.  Very rocky at first but then leveled out towards the turnaround point.

I met a volunteer from the AMC, Sherri, along the way. She and I chatted a bit about her pack and the pack that I was carrying.  She told me she was trying to break into trail running and asked some advice.  Awesome! We spoke for about 10 minutes or so and then parted ways.  Interestingly enough, I ran into her AGAIN at a not so local outfitter 2 days latter while trying to score some bargain gear.

This run was a challenge!  I didn't remember that it was nothing but rocks in the beginning and it made me do a double take.  I was frustrated with my slow progress but then cut myself some slack.  I had just run UP Mt. Washington and here I was, doing more hills the very next day!

Once I got past the majority of the rocks, I began to remind myself that I was in some of the most beautiful scenery in New England and that I could still enjoy it on the way back down the trail, too. Once I hit the turn around point at the Auto Road I was in a grove.  I sailed back down the trail and was able to stop and take some pictures as well.

I only passed a few hikers on the way back, but for
 the most part I was alone.  I really like the quiet of the trail and the fact that everything else just falls away and it's just you.

Mt. Washington Auto Road Race 2012

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 I arrived in NH on Friday morning and checked into Joe Dodge Lodge over at Pinkham Notch.  It was like I had never left! I had to mill around a bit because packet pickup wasn't until 5pm so I drive over to the auto road and poke around.  The weather was gorgeous.  Light breezes and clear view of the summit of Mt Washington.

At packet pickup, I met up with my ride down the mountain, George and his son Patrick, who was also running the race.  This would be his second time running.  The other racers that I met at the packet pick up were all very nice and all seemed to have the same energy about them.

Race Morning

I woke up kind of early because I wanted to have a quick bite to eat and let it digest.  I had a few mini bagels with almond butter and some orange juice.  I went back to bed for another hour and then started getting my summit bag ready.  George and Patrick came to my room, conveniently they were also staying at Joe Dodge, and grabbed my summit bag and headed over to the start.  Since George was driving to the summit ahead of the running field, he had to have his car staged and ready to go.  I put my warm (rather Phil's) warm, Iron Temple sweatshirt and some fleece pants in the bag.  The summit has some of the worst weather ever recorded in North America so I wanted to be prepared.

As I made my way over to the start field, I ran into some traffic, which is rather uncommon up there, but I'm sure they were the other runners making their ways over as well.  As I approach the start line area, I see a huge blow up arch welcoming the racers to the event.  I haven't felt jitters like that in years!! It was awesome!
I stage my car in the spot were the runners whose vehicles are staying behind park.  I figure I have time for a wait in the porto pottie line, so I head over.  As I'm waiting, I strike up a conversation with an older gentleman who says he's run this race 25 time!! He simple says have fun and run your own race.  Have a strategy before you start and stick to it.  Great.  I hadn't planned one so I start thinking.  I text KK and Phil to say good morning, since this is one of the few areas I actual get cell reception.  They are both excited for me and I tell them that I am actually nervous.  They both pretty much tell me the same thing; KK a bit more eloquently "Run the Mile you're in and relax" (sounds familiar ; )  and Phil "Get over yourself, you're going to do great and have fun". I love them both : )

I make my way over to the starting line with about 20 minutes left to go.  The announcer has been great giving the countdown ever 5 minutes or so.  I am literally maybe 100 yards from the start line so I'm not too terribly worried about missing it.  As I stand and stretch a bit, another runner strikes up a conversation.  He and his running partner have been running together for almost 30 years!  Wow!  He says that they are there to just have fun (I guess as much fun as one can having running up Mt Washington) and soak in the experience.  I ask him about his playlist on his iPod.  He says that he and his running partner downloaded the same one and train to it when they aren't running together.  What a cool idea! KK and I don't use music but I have started keeping it on hand for the times when I find my mind wandering during a long run.  I find that this way the music keeps it's motivating power and it's not stale from using it all the time.

As the National Anthem is being played I pop to attention and get goose bumps.  I notice throughout the field there are others also at the POA.  It's probable safe to assume that they are also military or in some type of field that this is the custom.

Gear I'm wearing

I have decided to go with my red Semper Fi Fund t shirt from New Balance, my C9 running shorts I grabbed as a bargain from Marshall's (thanks KK for this addiction) my very old but comfortable Champion sports bra, Asics trail shoes and my Injinji toe socks with Salomon S-Labs gators.  Aquaphor is my friend and so is my Asics running visor.  I was struggling with I was going to bring my ipod on the run or not.  The scenery in the Mt. Washington Valley is so gorgeous I wasn't sure I wanted to ruin it with music.  In the end (or begining, whichever way you look at it) I decided to bring it.  As I waited at the start line I decided on a quick listen and guess what I found? Go ahead. I pressed play and......nothing. I had charged it and it was playing but my earphones were dead!! After some small pieces of duct tape and cursing, I was able to get the left one only to work.  Whatever, better than nothing!  Moral of the story, ALWAYS CHECK BOTH EAPHONE BEFORE THE RACE MORNING!
I brought various other items with me for this run.  Since there are water stations along the route I was unsure of what type of hydration I was going to bring with me.  I finally decided to go with my Nathan intensity Hydration Vest
I purchased this vest back in March and used it for the first time at the NJ Trail Series Ultra Fest .  I love this vest! It is women's specific and very adjustable.  I find that the straps are easy to operate while running.  I will do a gear review on this at a later date as well as my other gear.  Let's just say this pack rocked it on the Washington Run!
I decided to not take my camera with me but I did bring my cell phone.  I'm in the process of trying to upload the pictures that I took enroute to the top.  I also had my gold St. Michael coin in the pack.  Good luck? Superstitious? Whatever, I just woke up and wanted it in my pack, ok ; )

Mile 0-3

All I can say is wow. I was lulled into a false sense of security in the first 1/4 mile because the race starts on a downhill.  I had to keep reminding myself to NOT get caught up in the moment and go out too fast.  Once I hit the first uphill I practiced running on my toes and swinging my arms a bit deeper.  The first few miles were so packed it was hard to keep running in a straight line. You were constantly being elbowed (unintentionally) and cutoff.  I tried running in the shoulder for a bit to pass some of the walkers that were clogging things up.  On a side note; I don't mind walkers, I do it frequently, but for Pete's sake PLEASE MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROUTE!! Nothing is worse than being focused on your run just to come to a screeching halt behind a LINE of walkers spread out across the road/course.

Mile 3-6

The end part of this segment was the last I would see of the tree line.  As we approached the final curves I said goodbye to the cooling shade of the trees and hello to the unrelenting sun.  The Valley was so gorgeous and visible I actually stopped to take a picture.  You could see over 90 miles!! No wind! Everyone kept remarking on how incredible that was.  In all the years I've been coming up there, I don't think I ever remember a time that there was no wind.  Amazing.  At the halfway mark, I was under an hour and would find out later, that the winning male would finish in another 2 minutes!! Crazy!
 I also found out that in the first part of the race, you tend to start running in small groups.  These groups tend to feed off each other and maintain the same pace and strategy.  My strategy at this point was to run for 1 minute and walk for 1 minute.  It was tough to keep with this but I was so glad that I did.  I ended up in this small group of women who were just so pleasant to be around and chat with.  We talked gear for a bit and then the topic fell to the annoying guy that was running near/around us that kept asking every few minutes "Do you think at this pace I can make the sub-2 hour mark"?  He had no watch on, a golf shirt and jean shorts.  His shoes looked like he had gotten them from a second hand store that morning!! We just gave him some funny looks and a "Maybe" every now and then and that seemed to suffice.

Miles 6-Finish

This picture is taken just as we reached the 6 mile mark.  I was amazed when I turned around to see the rest of the field behind me.  Mind blowing!

Here is the view off to my right: Tuckerman's Ravine

This picture was the the final "straigh-away" until you reach the final "hilly bend" before the finish.  The dark cloud in the background moved out of the way as I reached the final 200 meters or so.  This last stretch was so steep, and I had nothing left, so I walk/shuffled it.  It was exhilarating to hear everyone cheering for you as you came up on the finish line.  Wow!! I glanced at the clock and saw I was finished at 1hr 56 minutes and change!
Here's where the cloud went to right after I finished:

The awesome volunteers at the finish line presented our medal and a very warm, PolarTech blanket that had been donated by Polartech, instead of a colder mylar blanket! Score!!

After I made my way over to the actual summit, I had some nice folks offer to take my picture if I did the same for them:

This was an amazing experience and I hope that I'm lucky enough to get in next year as well.  After my driver, George, collected his son, who also had run, along with another few runners, we made our way down the mountain for a much deserved turkey dinner complete with all the fixings provided by a local restaurant.

I had some great company for dinner: a few Suffolk county officers found their way to my table and we quickly were chatting each other up and recapping the race. What great guys!  I finally made my way back to my room at Joe Dodge, took a nice warm shower and hit the sack early (7pm).  Sheesh! You'd have thought that I ran up a mountain or something ; )