Tag: slacker

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.

About April

Oops.

Apparently I ghosted the blog. And I still need to finish my post about Cathedral Rock in Sedona. Actually, by the time I get that post up I am going to need to tell you about Yosemite too. Oops.

So let’s see….

April was both longer and shorter than I feel it should have been.

I ran but barely. Started out ok in the beginning but a migraine rolled in halfway through and overstayed it’s welcome. Not everyday reached full migraine but after 16+ days of headaches, I was really over it.

One of my runs let me know that it was way past time that I retired my Altra Rivera’s. Oops. Not too worry, I’ve had a new pair stashed in the closet for a couple months. They rolled out a new version and I may have panic bought an pair of the older version when they went on sale. What if I don’t like the updates??

Oh and my hair is falling out. Seriously. It started in March and had been full bore ever since. I’ve gone to my GP and my dermatologist in regards to it. I also chopped most of it off. I couldn’t put it in ponytail anymore without massive loss and I told myself that at least shorter hair falling out looks less dramatic in the sink or shower. Lies we tell ourselves. And here I thought I was pretty relaxed when it came to hair but I was very wrong.

Work has also turned super stressful so I crack jokes that it’s causing my hair to fall out.

The farthest run I did in April was 5 miles. Kind of worrying as May starts with 2 big races. Then once the headaches increased, running either didn’t happen or became a walk just trying to get the time on my feet.

So yeah, April was interesting. Onward and upward, right?

Vacation- Birthing Cave

The Birthing Cave trail in Sedona is nice, short, fairly easy trail to do. Unless you do it the same day you do Soldiers Pass and you’re overweight and out of shape.

Oh, wait, that was me.😆

Honestly, getting to the trail head was probably harder than the trail was. My GPS disagreed with what AllTrails said. And I didn’t actually find the trailhead. I stopped too soon and parked along the road near the Mescal trail head. Which is also how I learned there was another route to Devil’s Bridge but I’d already been there the last time I was in Arizona.

We started out on the Mescal Trail thinking we were just going to go a mile or so in and see what there was as we knew we weren’t in the right spot. Luckily a quarter mile in, we hit a trail junction that included a branch off onto the Long Canyon Trail which is where I had been trying to drive to. So we took it. It was a nice single track with some elevation drop.

Once at the Long Canyon trailhead, we headed back towards the Birthing Cave. Or, at least we hoped, this trail doesn’t have signs and there some places you could another direction. We ran into others just as confused as we were. Good thing was that this trail was pretty flat, wide and actually runnable if you wanted to.

After a little more winding back towards the cliff walls, you start to climb. I had to take a break, I’m so out of shape.😂. Then you start to scramble up, careful you don’t try to use a cactus as your handhold. The cave is cool but also not as big as you think it will be and it fills up quickly. It’s also very slippery and I was too tired to try climbing all the way in. I didn’t need to break my face.

After a short time in the cave enjoying the views, we headed back to the car. With the extra we tacked on with parking at the wrong trailhead, we came up just under 3 miles. Like I said, short but still good.

Success! 22/11

I finally did it!!!

I finally made it out for a run after work last week. I had a bag of clothes at work for months so I really had no idea what was in the bag. Luckily it wasn’t too bad and I kind of matched. And hey, I found the 3/4 zip I had been missing.😂

I can’t even remember the last time I ran after work so I wasn’t sure how much time I had before it got dark. And because I planned poorly or didn’t plan it, I didn’t have any of my lights or reflective gear. Stupid.

All that aside, I still managed to fit in just under 3 miles before it got too dark. It felt kind of awesome.

Wish I could say the rest of the week was similar but nope. I was packing for a trip on Saturday and while I had planned to do my long run before leaving, I just felt too stressed. You know the feeling? When you think you’ve packed too much and also not enough at the same time? Yeah, I decided spending the day getting ready was more important.

Then, Sunday it was time to drive! I’m going to have so much to talk about 🤣

22/8 CHRAOS

Last week was just crazy chaos, so chraos. One of my favorite made up words. Sometimes my brain and my mouth are not on the same track and combined words come out. My coworkers have started keeping a list of the ones they like the best.

So yeah, chraos, lets not even talk about the weekdays, I don’t want to go back there. I was looking forward to the 3 day weekend, I had plans. Boring plans but still plans. I wanted to get in a least 2 runs and a trail. I wanted to clean my car inside and out and watch some brainless tv. Some of that was accomplished but not all of it. Boo.

Saturday was a good start. Got in some errands and managed to get out in the early afternoon for a run. I got in just over 4 miles and I ran!!! First time really running since COVID. Granted it was still run/walk intervals with a lot of walking, it was still running. Yay!! I also got stalked by a cat which made me laugh. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a run that much.

Sunday was a fail. Again started with some errands but these were farther away from home and I got tired, haha. I decided to rest a bit before heading back out for a run but never followed through. Normally I would feel guilty missing the run especially since I am just getting back into it but not this time. I am trying really hard to listen to my body since COVID not just ignore it and move on.

And it’s my blog, I’ll do what I want so let’s talk about Monday too. This time I got things done. Laundry done, nasty car cleaned and a run! Well, kind of. I headed out for a few miles in the afternoon and I was feeling it. The weather was amazing, I was wearing shorts for the first time in months, I was feeling good. Until I wasn’t. 2 miles in my stomach cramped in that way all runners know and dread. Oh crap, pun intended. From there I took the shortest route home, speed walking as fast as I could. So, that day brought me just under 3 miles, haha.

I am really trying to get back on track with these posts. And life. I used to be organized… what happened?