Tag: heat wave

Silver Moon Race Recap

I first heard about Silver Moon back in 2021 but it was same weekend I was running CDA Half up in Idaho. I was bummed to be missing out on a new local race, especially since most of my local races had all disappeared… and that was even before COVID.

So when it came back for 2022, I was on board. Except it was pricey. I had trouble rationalizing that kind of $$$ for a 10K. The race offered a 10k, 6-12-24 hour, and 100 mile option and a wine walk. The 6 hour was only $10 more than the 10k so I thought why not? Plus the race started at 6pm and ran until midnight which meant hours of running under the full moon. I figured I could do between 3-4 mile an hour and just have fun and enjoy a new challenge. I knew I was in no shape for any form of speed.

Race day came only 7 days after Yosemite Half. Which may have been fine except my quads were screaming from the 7ish miles of downhill and my feet were still raw from wearing the wrong damn socks on race day. #rookiemove Then a period from hell along with a migraine moved in on Thursday/ Friday. In fact, I left work early on Friday, I felt so horrible.

For the next 24 hours, I went back and forth on DNS’ing, dropping to the 10k or stupidly trying for the whole thing. Did I mention it was supposed to be in the low 90’s at go time? The slightly smarter part of me prevailed and I dropped to the 10k.

The race takes place at Cass Winery and consists of a 2 mile loop around the vineyards. Dirt road is my favorite surface and I didn’t even need my trail shoes.

The race actually started a little early and we were off on our first loop. The 10k had 3, so slightly shorter than a full 10K. It was 91 degrees. I died 1/4 mile in. I was so damn hot, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that hot before. I almost lost my lunch around mile 5, never been that nauseous at a race before. I would say I walked 99.9% of this “race”. Even walking, my heart rate was in the red for the entirety of the 6 miles. Ouch.

Finish 1:29:17

I crossed the finish line and wanted nothing more than an ice cold Coke. I found warm coke at the finish line aid but found ice cold water up in the Barrell Room at the after party for the 10K runners and the wine walkers. I also may have hid in the air conditioned room until I was less tomato red, ha!

The party was still going when I left but all I could think about was a nice cold Frappuccino from Starbucks. So I made my way there via the backroads… only to be told they closed early! I was so bummed.

The concept of this race was great and I really liked the loops around the vineyard, this was just not my day. I still hope it comes back next year, I need redemption.

Heating Up

My plan of running all the miles, road or trail was thwarted by the weather this past weekend. Who ordered the above 110 degrees for 3 days in a row??? Not me. And yes, it’s actually kind of typical here for those temps in the summer. The part that made the weekend hard was that it was still hot at night too. At least by our standards, we usually drop into the low 60’s at night when it’s that hot.

I finally made it out for some miles on Sunday by running away to the coast. I headed for MDO like usual but found a completely new trail to me. Yay! It was kind of like entering a whole new world.

The trees and mountains were just so different from the other trails. It’s not the longest but still awesome. I’ve already thought of ways to add on to it as well for future adventures.

As Monday was my actual birthday, I had taken the day off of work in case I was moody, haha. It was freakin’ hot so no running occurred, boo. But I did indulge in my annual birthday tradition of eating too much at Sylvestor’s. Yum. Then I may have taken a long nap er, food coma.

Tuesday was back to work and I was looking forward to running after- I had new shoes to try out! The never ending shoe saga continues. And still continues… less than 3 miles in the Hoka’s and I swear everything hurt. My heel, then my arch, quads, then my shins. Then the back of my knee, then my butt. What the hell???? I know I should have tried them again but was too spooked, back in the box they went and shipped back. Yikes!

How many runs do you give a pair of shoes before you throw in the towel?

How’s your weather?

31- Burn

Other than one of my favorite songs, that word rarely means good things.

At work I have a bad habit of saying that I focus on the big fires first than double back to the little ones. Figuratively, of course.

Except last week there was a literal fire in the parking lot. Really 2020?

All is fine and it was put out quickly with no lasting damage. But it did make me realize I needed to better acquaint myself with where the fire extinguishers are.

A heat wave also rolled in last week and made my usual slacker-ness even easier to do. It was so hot, I actually ate lunch in the building on Thursday and Friday. I usually eat lunch in my car.

After a week of hot weather and laziness on my part, I wanted a woodsy trail on Saturday. So I headed for Cerro Alto. I somehow forgot that Cerro Alto begins the canyon down to the ocean and retains our temps and not beach temps. It was 90 degrees. I was struggling 3/4 of a mile in and knew it was only going to get worse. I knew I could likely finish the 6 mile hike but I would also wreck myself. I wish I could say it was all common sense on my part but it mostly my absolute refusal to become a news headline. “Hiker rescued after becoming dehydrated, air lifted out”. Seriously, that happens all too often out here.

So I turned around and headed back to the trail head. 1.5 miles with around 350 elevation gain in the first half.

But I wasn’t done, I refueled both myself and my car as I hadn’t been planning on making a circle of the county and headed to Harmony Headlands. And the temp dropped to 60, so much better.

Harmony is pretty easy, the dirt path is well defined for 2/3 of it, so I have troubles considering it a “trail run” or a “hike”. The last portion does turn to single track but it’s still what I would call easy. I rarely even take water. I had my pack bladder filled for Cerro Alto so I figured I might as well use it. I power hiked, climbed some rocks and enjoyed some ocean views. 4.3ish miles bringing me to under 6 for the day. My watch tells me Harmony has an elevation gain/loss of 340 each way but I swear it’s flat.

While I didn’t end up dehydrated or with a killer heat induced migraine, I did wind up with a sun burn. Really??! My shoulders were fried as well as the backs of my knees of all places. It was the kind of burn that messes with your internal temp control so I just napped on Sunday. Not that I was super eager to brave the 104* weather outside.

It was little but it was a good week. Onward and upward.

How was your week?

Week 30- Headcase

If I could stop injuring myself, that would be great.

Also could the ants stop invading my bathroom? I know they are just looking for water in the heat wave but there cannot be ants on the toilet seat!!

Last week was a little off. I started the week with a possible concussion and just rolled on from there. This is not the first time I’ve had a concussion, nor is it the first time I’ve given one to myself. Oops.

So that was fun.

Monday- 1.5 miles/ Rest
Once I finally figured out what was wrong with me, I knew there was no way I was running that day. I just went home and tried to chill in a dark room.

Tuesday- 3 mile tempo, 1.5 up/down/ 1.5 miles
I was still feeling off- less dizzy, mostly head pain. I took my run super slow and easy. Which might have happened anyways as it was almost 100*.

Wednesday- 1.5 miles/ 2x 1 mile repeats, 1 mile up/down
I decided to attempt what I thought was the easier of my speed work and as it was 105* out, I headed to the gym. Yeah no. Lingering head pain made me super wobbly on the treadmill. My Garmin tracking was way off again too. Then I had a coughing fit and was getting the stink eye from other gym goers so I bailed. 2.25 miles done

Thursday- 3 mile tempo, 1 up/down / 2 mile tempo, 1 up/down
I didn’t feel like the previous day had been an actual workout so I decided to attempt my other speedwork. It was 95* but there was a decent breeze so it felt ok. I actually probably would have finished the whole workout but I had worn the wrong shorts and the thigh chafing was extreme.

Friday- 1.5 miles/ Rest
Friday snowballed and by the time I left work I was not feeling it. Plus it was the last Friday of the fair and I didn’t want to deal with any potential idiots on the roads.

Saturday- 1.5 miles/ Rest
I had to work on Saturday so I had already planned on pushing my long run to Sunday. Which, considering it was 106* seemed better anyways. I meant to get out in the evening for the missed 1.5 mile run but didn’t.

Sunday- 10 miles/ 9.3 miles
I set an alarm but still snoozed for 2 hours, I was out the door a little after 8. It was still too hot. I don’t know if I was still feeling the affects of the giant bruise on my noggin or what but somehow this run turned into a walk and then a shuffle. I was not feeling it at all. I kept moving forward but it was like I had no ability or desire to move any faster. It was one of those old type runs where I was running to a certain place and then my mom was picking me up to go to lunch. I hit the meeting spot at 9.3 and didn’t even care enough to push it to 10.

16.4 miles for the week. 6 miles off target and the workouts were kind of a farce but it was better than it could have been. And my head is feeling better and the heat wave broke, so yay!

How was your week?

Rambling On

Happy Friday!!

I love Fridays and I think this one will be decent as I do not have to work open to close. Woot Woot!

It’s fair time here and I think I may be skipping it this year. What? Don’t get me wrong, I am craving a funnel cake something fierce but the idea of the costs and all those people does not float my boat. Hell, getting to and from work for the last week and a half has been stupid. We’re a town of 30,000 and right now we’re probably clearing 100,000. And yes, we have that many hotels.

My summer TV binge continues. I finished Veronica Mars over the weekend. I then broke up with Hulu. I really did. Now, I’m on to Teen Wolf. Which I watched before and is surprisingly better than you think. Well, once you get past first season. That was pretty cheesy.

The heatwave is real but I’ve been at work all week and haven’t been able to leave so I feel like I’ve missed most of it. Ha!

I was giving directions in Spanish one day this week and totally blanked on the word 20. What? How basic is that??

Of all the bands at the fair so far, I could only hear a little from Blake Shelton and Cardi B. Why Don’t We has been the loudest so far. I heard nothing from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Really?

My training plan is all messed up this week. I may have given myself a concussion and I have to work on Saturday. Boo.

What are you doing this weekend? Share a random!