2020 Possum King Virtual 50k

The Background

With Thanksgiving week off, I got in ten miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday, broken up into short runs / hikes.  Feeling fitter and training for the Snowdrop 55 Hour Race, it was time to run the Possum King 50k at WG Jones State Forest.

The Race

The weather was cool and cloudy.  I made up my mind to run to 15. Figuring the best plan for Snowdrop is to run the first miles but switch to hiking before my legs get shot, 15 seemed a good number.  I ended up running to 20 and I did slow more than I would have liked: 18-19 minute miles.

Hiking the last 11, I was pretty at peace.  The work on spirituality is paying off in racing, I think.  I haven't felt the mental agony / panic I'd sometimes feel before in races.  

I could have run a few miles at the end but I have a marathon planned before the end of the break.  Plus, I want to log miles daily for Trans Texas so I figured I'd save my legs.

Reflections

Another race where I feel fitter.  Another peaceful race.  Up next is the Brontosaurus Marathon.

Hill Country Trivium Virtual Marathon

The Background

I'd been running a bit more consistently, despite a busy schedule.  Just 1.9 mile loops around the neighborhood, but I felt more in shape than at Freddy Yeti.  November 15 was the last day I could run the Hill Country Trivium Virtual Marathon.  

The Race

I felt good running in the cool weather at WG Jones State Forest.  By 15 miles, I was still in decent shape so I decided to try to make it running to 20.  20 miles had always been my standard training distance so this was a chance to do it.

By 18 miles, I had slowed to a 15 or 16-minue-a-mile shuffle.  Not much faster than power hiking, but I still ran to 20 miles.  I felt good about that.

I hiked the last 6.2 miles.  At one point I tried to run again but my legs were  done.

Reflections

I felt good after this marathon.  I like the medal.

Up next is the Possum King 50k.

2020 Freddy Yeti Virtual 50k

The Background

I got busy, so a month passed between my last race, Release the Kraken 50k.  I did get in several short runs and a 14 miler, so I thought my fitness might be better than the last off-the-couch race.

The Race

I went back to WG Jones so I could socially distance on the wide trails.  Weather was cool.

I ran the first 12, then hit a wall.  I started to feel a bit bad physically and mentally.

I had dinner plans with Terri, so I needed to be home by 5:30pm.  That meant finishing in 8 hours, so it was good motivation for me to push it.  I hiked then threw in short runs of like a mile or so.  

At about 25 miles, I lost my car key!  My running shorts got torn up, so I was running in regular shorts.  My key feel out of my pocket when I got out my MP3 player, so I had to retrace my steps a mile and a half.  Luckily, I found it so I wouldn't be walking home.

I managed to finish in 7:57.

Reflections

A bit fitter for this race.  My goal for this short winter season is the Snowdrop 55 hour race, so I'll get as fit as I can.