Hiking-Trails – Slacker Runner

8-Disappeared

February 24, 2020February 23, 2020 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

I kind of ghosted social media last week.

I didn’t mean to, I just kind of felt like one day it was Tuesday and then it was Saturday. Woosh.

The week started strong. With Monday off work, I headed down to a new set of trails that opened recently. Holy moly- it was like Disneyland! I have never seen so many people at a trail before. The good sized parking lot was full as well and we had to park on the other side of the freeway about 1/2 mile away. I was with my mother and she was feeling super sore so we picked one of the shorter trails. We ended up with around 3.5 miles.

The trails were very runnable and had gorgeous views. I can’t wait to go back. However, I was very irritated by the lack of trail etiquette by so many people. There were already trampled down short cuts visible and people were climbing all over a tree that clearly has signs saying to stay away. I may have snapped something very not nice at them.

Tuesday was a long day at work but I held strong and changed into my running gear. I headed out for an easy 3 after work. My legs were feeling the previous 2 days worth of running but overall it was a decent run.

After 3 days running, I knew I needed a rest day on Wednesday. My legs are not used to that.

I had planned on running on Thursday, I really did. I told myself if I ran on Thursday, I could enjoy a leisurely Saturday with no guilt. But thanks to some family drama- more ER trips, that did not happen. I did got to dinner with my mother though.

I thought about trying to run on my lunch on Friday but I chose to read a book instead.

Despite failing to run on Thursday, I did take the leisurely Saturday. With only a minor built of guilt.

This weekend was supposed to be chilly and rainy so I slept in on Sunday and headed out for my run in the early afternoon. It was not rainy. The run started off very sluggish and rough. I tried to not think about it at all and just keep going. Not gonna lie, I am currently using a run/ walk strategy for my long runs. And the running portion isn’t very long. Like I ran 9 miles in the time it used to take me to do 10. However, it is what it is and I need to stop stressing about or I run myself into a panic attack. So that is what I tried to do this run. I have to say that it ended much better than it began.

15.4ish miles for the week. Better than last week, time to keep moving up.

How was your week?

BibRave, Hiking-Trails, Run!, Slacker

Week 46- Solid

November 18, 2019November 17, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

By most standards, last week would seem less than stellar. By my standards, it was a surprisingly solid week.

Not that it was without it’s ups and downs but I’m going to stop challenging the universe by saying “things should calm down soon”. The past few months have shown that it only comes across as a challenge. Message received.

Monday- Rest
Normally on days when I don’t work, my goal is to push for extra miles. However for the first time in months, I actually woke up feeling not tired. It had been so long I almost forgot what it felt like. I was loathe to lose that feeling so I just enjoyed it.

Tuesday- 3 miles
I wanted to try the river path for a night run. I knew most of it was lit but was unsure on the rest. Good news- the big section has the most lights I’ve found in my town. Bad news- the dark section is DARK. I’m still looking for the best option for night running. Plus was this run was pretty chill.

Wednesday-????
ummmmm, crickets?

Thursday- Nothing
I should have run but I wasn’t feeling it. Stupid.

Friday–
Let’s just forget Friday was a thing.

Saturday- 6.3 miles
I was feeling not great, not horrible but off. I had an odd back pain and felt just sluggish. I headed out in the mid afternoon, not expecting much. I never got over the sluggish feeling and there were plenty of walk breaks- ok, let’s be real- run/walk intervals- thrown in. That being said, it was a decent run.

Sunday- 3.5ish miles
Dirt. I headed for a trail to get in some time on the hills. This was also the first time I’ve run trails by myself so that was pushing my comfort zone more than a little. There were plenty of people out there but I never realized how the time change effects the light on the trail. So much shadier and darker! Not cold- it was 85*, ha! Where is fall? But it was exactly what I needed. Just me, my running shoes and the dirt. Can’t think about anything when you have to watch your footing right?

So, 12ish miles for the week. Like I said not much by most people’s standards but decent by mine. Especially recent weeks.

How was your week?

BibRave, Hiking-Trails, Run!, Training

Detour

October 29, 2019October 28, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Sometimes you get lost on the trail.
Actually that’s kind of fun, and something I’ve done more than once.

But sometimes, you’re paying attention to the trail markers and you head back the way you came before too much harm or drama.

Disclaimer: I received Gatorade Endurance products to use as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

In this case, I pause.

I had big plans for October. 1 road half and 2 hard trail half’s. The last one was supposed to be my victory dance for the year. Ok, maybe less victory and more proof of will power but still.

Then October knocked me back a few pegs. I feel like I lost 5 years of fitness in the last 4 weeks. Is that possible? I feel like it is now. This bout with asthma is kicking me hard. It’s been years since it’s been this rough and I still can’t figure out what triggered it. I ran 5 miles last week- 5. (Also consider this Week 43) How is that going to get me to a 50K? It won’t.

And for once I’ve been smart about things. I dropped to the 10K for both the road race and Space Rock. And that last trail half that was supposed to be a party? That was supposed to happen a few days ago- Sunday. I didn’t even try. I knew I wasn’t in the head space or shape for 13ish miles of hard effort climbing. And they had no shorter distances. Attempting it likly would have set me back months in the long run.

I’ve run numerous races sick, some feverish and possibly out of it. Why? Because Goonies never say die? That’s stupid. I may be getting to an age I don’t want to admit anymore but maybe I am finally learning a few things. Maybe.

So when the road hits a fork, you have choices. I could bury my head in the sand and just be a lazy bum until next year. I mean, cold weather is coming right?

Nope. I am still aiming for a 50K in the early months of 2020. So in keeping with that theme, I have a new plan for the next 7 weeks culminating with a local-ish 25k in December. This should give me time to make up some of the ground I lost in the last few weeks. Also this race is a known entity– I know where the killer climb is and where the other mountain is. And the cruel turn-around. And I will be training on these trails. If I say it decisively, it will happen, right?

I may have finally figured out how to fuel my body, now I just need it to breather properly.

Join me while I fight my way back?

Hiking-Trails, Race Day, Recap, Run!

Space Rock Trail Race Recap

October 17, 2019October 16, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

I am not exaggerating when I say if I hadn’t dropped to the 10K, I would have DNF’ed the half and likely have needed help off the course.

I first heard of Space Rock last year and thought it looked awesome but likely too far away. A little Googling and I learned it was only 3 hours south! But I had an insane October already last year with 2 halves at opposite ends of the state and a 2+ week work trip. So I passed. Instagram adds got me this year and I signed up.

Then the last 3-4 weeks went to hell in a hand basket and I wasn’t sure I was going to even start the race. However I knew that if I did, I was not in the mental shape for a tough trail half nor was I feeling physically up to it so I messaged the race and dropped to the 10K.

If you watch anything sci-fi- you’ve seen this rock

I headed down towards Santa Clarita on Friday wondering if the race was even going to happen due to large fire about 20ish miles away. Somehow the air over Vasquez Rocks seemed clear. I picked up my race stuff and checked into a hotel.

The race swag was awesome- the coolest tye dyed shirt and cutest canvas bag.

Race morning dawned clear and early. Parking was fairly convenient in a dirt lot. Then I walked the mile in to the start. The race started about 30 minutes late due to one of the bus shuttles breaking down. Just gave me time to use the port a potty.

Did I mention I was running this race in new trail shoes and a new watch?? 😂
We lined up and we were off.

Mile 1- 11:58
I was wheezing 1/4 mile in. Wait, what? It wasn’t cold and it wasn’t humid. The only thing I can figure was that I breathed in a bunch of dirt. I’ve run numerous trail races but I’ve never seen as much dirt in the air as I did here. I now understood the people I saw with Buffs over their face at the start- they knew. Other than that, we had a decent downhill and then we on to the single track. And the first person to fall in front of me hit the dirt. He rolled well and was up and running before I could finish my question if he was ok.

Mile 2-15:17
There was some climb here and I still couldn’t breathe properly but the main slow down was the out and back. We were running super narrow single track and it was and out and up then down and back. Those going up slammed to a stop numerous times to let the runners coming down through. We were doing the best we could but we kept bottle necking. And the second person took a tumble.

Mile 3-4- 14:58, 15:12
I still couldn’t breathe. I loved the downhill and I loved the scenery of the canyons as we were running. We came out of the canyon and started the climb that would break me. Oh, did I mention we ran through the darkest tunnel ever??

Mile 5- 18:06
I have never stopped during a race before, and I have run some doozy trail races. I stopped a few times going up this climb because I could not breathe and I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. My only consolation was that I was not the only one struggling. Everyone around me was hiking and I wasn’t the only one coughing.

Mile 6- 17:20
Are we ever going to stop climbing?!! The woman next to let a few f-bombs fly when we reached a false summit. I agree. I ran all the downhills and struggle bus’ed the climbs and stopped a few more times. Passed an adorable orange haired boy doing the 5K and he cheered me on. So cute! Then we were down near the rocks again and I was walking to the finish. I maybe jogged 20 yards at the end?

Finish- 1:33:57

Slowest 10k ever! I crossed the line wheezing and tired.

But the medal made me smile and the hot coffee being served made me want to jump for joy.

I would do this race again for sure, just maybe a little healthier and with my face covered in the beginning. Plus for all the roadblocks this race organization hit, they did a remarkable job adapting on the fly. Like water- their original water provider couldn’t get to the race due to the fire but they had plenty of bottles on hand at the finish and the 2 aid stations on the course seemed well stocked. Also, other my lungs, my body handled all the ups and downs well, I was only a little sore in my calves the next day. Oh and somehow in my struggle up the hill in mile 4, I landed in the top 10 in Strava segments. Yeah right!

What was the last race you underestimated?

Hiking-Trails, Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 29- Return

July 22, 2019July 21, 2019 Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Ok, reentry to work was a little rough.

Monday and Tuesday were the last of my vacation days. They were hot ones. Not gonna lie, I was pretty lazy these days. I did finish a book so maybe not too lazy. Then it was back to work.

My body felt out of whack from sitting in my chair at work. I had a headache by the end of the day on Wednesday, Thursday and FRiday. Oh no, am I getting old?? I really do like my job, I just felt a little achy last week. 🙂

I got a little too flexible with the drag and drop feature of my training app. I had big visions of how the week was going to go. I really should just stick to the plan. I was also supposed to run a race on Saturday but that didn’t happen.

So instead of highlighting what I should have done, how about just what I did?

Monday- 2 miles
I was fried from Sunday’s trail run and anytime in the sun made me feel abnormally hot. I found a baggy race shirt, left the pack behind and made it out for a shuffled 2 mile run. T- shirts are hot! Who wears those?? Did I mention it was 100*?

Tuesday- 2 miles up/down, 6x 400 at 5K pace- 4ish miles
Still in the middle of a heat advisory, I took my sad self to the gym. I had originally hoped to run my long run on this day as it was the last day of my vacation but I knew that wasn’t happening on the treadmill. So I did Thursday’s intervals instead. The treadmill and my watch disagreed so even though the treadmill said I nailed my repeat paces, my watch had me a minute slower. Grrrr.

Wednesday- 2 miles
The temps dropped drastically so this was a breezy, cool 2 miles.

Thursday- Oops
Was planning on either my mile repeats or my long run but The Lion King called instead. And copious amounts of popcorn.

Friday- Nada
I have to start running in the morning. Even though I take my bag of gear inside every Friday, I don’t use it. By the time we close, I am just done. Especially this Friday.

Saturday- 10 miles
It was supposed to be cooler and I woke with a migraine so I pushed my run to the afternoon. It was 80 but there was a good breeze so it should have been fine. However I tried to throw my mile repeats into the workout instead of running a steady pace. Yeah, I flamed out. I finished the run but was off pace for both the 2 repeats I did and then the later “easy” miles. It was actually my second slowest 10 miles ever. ha! Thanks for that tidbit Smashrun.

Sunday- 4ish miles
I knew I was behind miles for the week and part of me planned on running twice this day. The other part won. I did run up and down a steep trail though. Ok, power hiked up and ran down but still. Again, I ran in the afternoon but it wasn’t too bad. The trail had its shady parts. Though I did kind of want to jump in the water at the end.

22.5/25 miles for the week. Still short but I am calling it good.

How was your week?