LA Girl On The Run

“Don’t expect the future to look like the past. Clear away expectations, and let yourself picture a wild, grand new world.”- Martha Beck

I am so thankful for all of the blessings of 2010.  If someone had told me on NYE 2009 that in 2010 I would lose 30lbs, set all sorts of PRs, run 4 marathons and an Ultra, I would not have believed any of it.  I look forward to the infinite possibilities of 2011….

I had fun celebrating Christmas with my family in Northern California but it feels good to be back home in LA tonight.  I am chomping at the bit to get out and run.  The last few days have been nonstop family celebrations that did not leave too much time to run.  

I had a great time hiking with my Dad and sister yesterday.  I snuck in a hill repeat during our hike (it helped that I was wearing my trail running shoes).  

Picture from yesterday: My sister took this picture of me taking in the view of the meadow at the top of the trail.  It was a beautiful day.  I highly recommend Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.  Next time I am there, I plan to do a longer trail run. 

Workouts this week: Mon hike 4 mi (not sure exactly, I was not wearing my garmin) Tues. rest Wed. run 5 mi, spin Thurs. 8 mi trails, spin Fri. double spin Sat. 14 mi (I hope I can get my long run done on New Year’s Day.) Sun. spin

My legs are almost back to normal.  I have been spinning more than running for the past week.  This morning I went for a 6 mile tempo run with the ultra gang.  It felt pretty good, even in the pouring rain.  My goal for the next couple of runs is to find a slower pace and sustain it for the entire run.  This should help speed my recovery. 

I have been thinking a lot about my 2011 racing schedule.  After so many races in 2010, I am going to keep the racing to a minimum in 2011.  My current plan is to run the LA Marathon in March and either St. George or Portland Marathon in October.  My goal is to increase my speed to qualify for Boston 2012.  Yesterday the Boston Athletic Association said that they will be releasing a new system in January (since the 2011 race sold out in 8 hours this year).  My 2011 schedule will likely depend on what the new system demands.  I still have quite a bit of time to shave off of my marathon time to meet the current BQ times.  

Workouts this week: Sun spin, Mon spin, Tues 6 mi tempo am, double spin pm, Wed rest, Thurs 5-7 mi easy, Fri 5-7 easy, Sat Christmas! (does opening presents count as cardio???)

My alarm went off at 4:30 this morning.  I almost shut it off to go back to sleep but I had already told my friends that I would be there so off I went into the damp, dark morning.  I figured that I had given it 11 days since the 50K and I was ready for hard run.  I was wrong. Running straight uphill for 3.75 miles on the trail was tough and the 3.75 back down was not that much better.  I felt good when the run was over but realized that I need to take it easy for another week or so. 

Since I started this blog, I have been in various states of taper/recovery.  I am looking forward to getting back into actual training but will have to wait it out a little longer. Until then, I will start working on my LA marathon training plan.  Stay tuned!

“When we are faced with a challenge, a helpful mind-set can be found in the concept of Ishvara pranidhana, or non attachment to the fruits of ones actions. As the ancient sage Pantanjali says in ll.1 of the yoga sutra, Ishvara pranidhana can be a powerful practice that affects the way we approach every action we take. Pantanjali advises us to focus on the quality of an act, rather than it’s outcome, leaving the “fruits” of our actions to something greater. From this perspective, everything we do becomes an opportunity for practice: we do the very best we can do, whether we’re running a race, giving a big presentation , or doing the dishes. Regardless of the outcome, the mind is calm, clear, and present because our joy comes from the act itself, rather than the result.”- Kate Holcombe

It really is about the journey and not the outcome.  Many people have pointed this out to me in the last few months. On my run this morning I thought about how grateful I am that my body is allowing me to take this journey.  I am so thankful!

Soak in the joy of the journey!  If there is no joy, find a new path.  

Workouts this week: Sun spin, Mon spin, Tue 6 miles am, spin pm, Wed 5 mi, Thurs 7.5 mile trail, Fri spin, Sat 10 mi easy Total mileage: 28.5 

Recovery from the Ultra has been slow.  My calves felt beat up for a couple of days.  My guess is that feeling was a result of running miles uphill in the sand.  I went to spin class on Tuesday with the hope of taking it easy and spinning out the lactic acid. Instead, my instructor Reilly taught one of the hardest spin classes ever (a full class of the new Girl Talk).  I could not stop myself from taking the class as a personal challenge.  My legs felt wonky afterward (not a surprise).  I decided to pull back and take Wednesday as a rest day.  I had every intention of running this morning but sleep beckoned. Today turned into another rest day.  I am okay with that. The good news is that my legs feel great. 

A friend asked me to join her for a week of “extreme” boot camp next week (an hour boot camp class everyday).  I said yes because I am always up for a new workout. As much as I would love to workout with her, I recognize that taking a week of extreme anything a week removed from my third race in 50 days may not be the smartest decision.  Extreme boot camp will have to wait.  

Post Ultra week workouts: Tuesday spin, Friday spin, Saturday 7-10 miles easy, Sunday spin.  

I was inspired to run an ultramarathon after reading Born to Run.  I read Born to Run just after I met and started running with the group that I refer to on this blog as the “ultra gang”.  They are serious runners that have helped me evolve my running to the next level. I am so thankful that I met them and had it not been for them, I would have not been at the start line on Sunday. 

Ridgecrest is basically in the middle of nowhere California.  It is located in the high desert at the foot of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains.  I had never been anywhere near Ridgecrest and had no idea what to expect.  I arrived after dark on Saturday and was unsure of what the terrain looked like until Sunday morning.  I was told to expect sand as well as moguls (like ski moguls except you have to run up and down them).  I did not really know how long this terrain would last.  It is safe to say that I was totally naive about the whole experience.

I arrived at the start and everyone huddled around the race director so she could give us last minute instructions: follow the pink/green ribbons and the flour lines on the trail, if you have not seen ribbons, turn around and make your way back to the trail.  This was the part that I was most nervous about, getting lost.  I have a great sense of direction but was still uncertain how clearly marked the trail would be.  Luckily, it was very clearly marked the whole way.  I never felt lost/confused. Whew!

Me at the start.

As we began running through the desert landscape, I could not help but feel that I was in a Coen Brothers movie.  It is very isolating in the desert, even running among a few hundred people.  Luckily, the Ultra community is extremely warm and welcoming. Everyone is very serious about their craft but do not take themselves seriously.  They are hard core runners.  Everyone I talked to had qualified/run Boston several times. One man I met runs an Ultra EVERY MONTH!  Wow!  The first 13 miles of the race were not bad and the time flew.  I commented to a woman who I ran with briefly, “This is easier than I thought”.  She looked at me, laughed, and said, “It is not over yet”.  

The desert landscape.  Take note of the sand and the pink ribbons up ahead on the left.

While I knew there would be sand, I had no idea that the whole race would be varying degrees of sand.  Yes, I know it is called the desert and deserts are sand but again, I was naive and out of my element.  I have to say that the hardest part was running up hill for a four+ mile stretch in the sand (somewhere between miles 20-28).  I would have trained differently had I known that in advance.  Maybe hill repeats up sand dunes in Malibu?? I do not know.  It was hard, very hard.  Everyone stopped running and walked the hardest inclines.  I am not sure if it was the sand or what but literally everyone walked.  I spoke to a seasoned veteran and asked him why everyone was walking.  He said you have to save your energy in different parts of the race since you have no idea what is coming later in the race.  The terrain is a variable that you have no idea how your body will react no matter how you train.  Interesting concept.  

A desert oasis, aka support station, at the top of one of the hills. The support stations ROCKED!  They had tons of food and drink.  This was the most well supported race that I have ever done, period.  The Ultra folks certainly know how to take care of their own. 

Another view from the trail.  Salt flat in the distance.

Lessons learned running my first Ultra

1) An Ultra is NOT a marathon plus 5 miles. They may both be distance running events but most marathons are road races, not trail races.  Trail races are a whole different ball game.  2) Traversing rocks and moguls on miles 28-31 is HARD.  3) Running an Ultra is HARD and a lot slower than a marathon.  You cannot be concerned with time during your first Ultra. Did I mention that Ridgecrest is considered an “easy” Ultra?  4) Ultras are FUN, even running uphill in the sand!  I had a great time.  

 Me running uphill at Mile 31 to the finish. YAY!

I cannot thank the Ridgecrest Ultra community enough.  They were AMAZING!  They made this outsider feel like she belonged.  Everyone on the trail was so encouraging.  I would definitely recommend this race to anyone who wants to run their first Ultra.  You will not be disappointed.  Just remember to do hill repeats in the sand dunes! 

I have never been sick the week of a race.  It has been a jarring experience.  I have been the recipient of many concerned looks.  Honestly people, I feel a lot better than I sound! Instead of dealing with the usual phantom pains and race week preparation, I have been consumed with getting healthy.  The good news is I do feel better and my workouts have improved throughout the week.  All of the hard work is behind me.  The Ultra is just the icing on the cake.  Cannot wait!