2020 Wildflower Virtual 50k

The Background

After running the Wildflower Virtual Marathon on Saturday, I decided to go for the Double Day wit the 50k on Sunday.  I had never run back-to-back races before, but my recovery time had been good since I started racing every week.  Before it would take 4 days to recover from a race but after the last couple I was okay after a day.   Mostly walking in between the races I'm sure helped overall.

The Race

I started off and my legs were good.  I decided on the 1.9 mile loop around my neighborhood streets, but did one loop to Forest Oaks Park so there would technically be some trail.

At this point, I'd settled into a rhythm for running 50ks.  I ran to 20 miles.  Walked 3.  Ran to marathon.  Walked two.  Ran it in.  Finished in under 7 hours.

Reflections

It was cool that I could run two races back-to-back.  If I do it in the future I'll need good training though I'm sure.

I'd been following the TROT Virtual Races Distance Leaderboard and this race put me in first place by 20 miles.  I'm a slow runner...most races I have no shot at the top.  It's fun to compete in this.  We'll see how it goes.

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon

The Background

I had finished the Crazy Desert Virtual 100k the previous weekend, and I wasn't even that sore.   Another weekend and it was time to race again.

The Race

I had several possible distances for this race, so I kept my options open.  I did 20 miles at the Forest Oaks Park .56 mile lake loop.  Then I headed back to the neighborhood and walked three miles.

My mind wasn't on point, so I decided to stop at marathon.  I ran in a couple miles to finish it up.

Reflections

While an underwhelming day of racing, this was my 50th race finish, marathon distance or longer.   10 years of running and 50 marathons...let's try for 100!

I decided I'm going to do the Wildflower 50k back-to-back so we will see how that goes on Sunday.

2020 Crazy Desert Virtual 100k

The Background


I was rolling along pretty well with the virtual races.  I'd race about once a week (not super hard), then do a lot of walking and a little running in between.

The Race

I was signed up for both the Crazy Desert 100k and the Blazing 7s 100 Mile, so I figured I'd head out and see how far I could make it and hopefully finish one.

Wanting to get in some trail, I brought a cooler to Forest Oaks Park for loops around a little lake.  A side trail, traffic would be less than the main trail and the trail was wider, so I felt it was responsible during COVID-19.

I ran for 39 miles on the .56 mile loop.  I ran through 20, then took a walk break as I had the previous races.  At 23 I ran to marathon. After that, it was a very small amount of running and a lot of powerhiking.

Around 38 miles I hit a low, tired, dizzy.  Sitting down a couple times on the concrete, I tried to recharge.  I had planned to run the .7 miles back home then do loops around the neighborhood, as the park closes at night.  Thinking I need real food, I headed back around 4:30pm when Teri arrived to pick up the cooler.  At home, she made me a quesadilla.  I ate, headed out again, and still was woozy. I sat in a chair in the backyard, ate some chips, then slept for maybe 5-10 minutes.    Really wanting to quit, I decided to go back out.

At this point I was at around 42 miles and I came back to life.  Able to knock our 15-16 minute miles, I felt good and chipped away at it.

At 100k I decided today it would be Crazy Desert.  Half was that it was wise to put in the training before attempting 100 miles and half was I was tired. But it was a race finish.

Reflections

Apart from the low point, this was manageable.  Good mental training.  The next day I wasn't that sore.

When the results were posted on the TROT virtual races leaderboard, I was in 2nd place overall.   That makes me feel good.

These races mean a lot to me.

2020 Colorado Crossing Virtual 50k

The Background

The spring racing season was going well.  I was racing a ton, nearly every week, due to trying to stay motivated during the coronavirus.  I'd been lowering my 50k time each race.

I want to run a 100 miler and suddenly I realized that waiting to June for the Blazing 7s Virtual 100 Miler would guarantee high 80s temps. The heat might counteract any benefits for more training, plus I might get burned out.

So I adjusted my schedule.  Thinking I needed one more 50k as a training run, I'd run the Colorado Crossing 6 days after Brazos Bend.

Also, they began shutting parks down for Easter weekend due to the coronavirus.  Thinking about being responsible, and that I could just set up an aid station on my lawn for the 100, I decided to run a 1.9 mile loop in my neighborhood.

I had originally wanted to hop in a kayak on Lake Woodlands after the race, in keeping with the Colorado Crossing race with boat crossings, but that would be ridiculous given the circumstances of the world.

The Race

Running on the pavement was of course faster.  I was clicking off 10-minute miles for a while.

Again, I started to get tired at mile 20, which I'm sure was half physical, half mental.  I walked 3 miles.  When walking, I was managing a 17 minute pace - not ideal.  Maybe I was tired.

I ran again at 23 miles for two more loops.  Walking from 27-29, I then ran the last loop.

I love having an aid station table!

Reflections

The neighborhood course seems like it will work for the 100-miler.

I improved my time by 15 minutes, but this was pavement so it's probably about the same as last time.  But still the time was good.

If I could run this 50k, I'd have a 2+ hour cushion, based on an 18 minute pace for the 100 miler.  I'd love to be doing 16 minute miles hiking.  Maybe if I get competitive.  We'll see. Regardless, if I can keep hiking 18 minute miles after 50k, I'd have a cushion if I fall apart in the night.  Each mile under 18 would build the cushion.

I'm also signed up for the Crazy Desert 100k so if it all goes wrong I could at least finish that.

I'm going to see what the weather is like the next two weekends and take a shot at it.

I've also been tracking, via a great website a runner put together, the total miles for TROT virtual races.  After this race I'll be close to the front and I think I can be competitive.  It's fun!

2020 Brazos Bend Virtual 50k

The Background

I had run a marathon, a 50k, and a 50k in 15 days.  While I was needing events to keep me busy during the Coronavirus shutdown, I knew it'd be better to wait two weeks before the next race.  In between I did a 20 mile hike on the streets.

Also, I was dieting...1200 calories, one meal a day.  I dropped about 7 pounds, trying to get closer to racing weight.

Next up was Brazos Bend 50k.  April 4 was the day of the actual race, so why not run the virtual version the same day.  I debated trying a couple different locations, and I scouted out a section of Spring Creek Trail that I decided was too winding. I ended up going back to the George Michell Nature Preserve.  Rain was forcasted so I knew traffic on the trails would be light.

The Race

Immediately when I started running, I felt good. I cruised, enjoying the music, at 11 or 12 minutes a mile.

I made a goal to make it to 20 miles still running.  At the Coyote Crossing 50k two weeks ago, I first walked at 13 miles.  20 miles would be my standard training run and it was about time to have that done at least.  Feeling good up to 19, my legs started to get sore and heavy.  Probably half physical, half mental.  I made it to 20.

Then I hiked for 3 miles at a 17 minute pace.  I'd prefer that it was 15 or 16, so I need to work on that.

Then at 23 miles, "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart came on and inspired me to run.  I made a goal to run to marathon distance and made that.

Adding it up, I knew I could get in under 7 hours if I ran the last three miles or so.  Hiking a couple miles until 6:18 on the clock, I ran in the last three.

Reflections

I felt fitter and took 43 minutes of my time from Coyote Run 50k on the same course.  Mentally, I was in a good space pretty much the whole race.

I'm planning to go for a 100 miler with the virtual Blazing 7s.  If I ran exactly what I did here (and I wouldn't want to go too much faster for a 100) I could then do the last 69 miles at 20 minutes a mile and get in under 30 hours.  If I were hiking at 17 minutes a mile, each mile would build cushion.  I still need to work on powerhiking.

I'm having fun racing.  Really, these are training races for me...while trying hard, I'm not pushing to the limit.

Next up is Colorado Crossing 50k in a couple weeks.

2020 Coyote Run Virtual 50k

The Background

The Coronavirus Pandemic disrupted life around the world.  I had time on my hands and races were cancelled.  Luckily, Trail Racing Over Texas offered virtual options - run at your own place at your own pace.  It was cool... for less than $30 (with a discount code for early sign-up), you get a bib, shirt, and medal, official times.  I signed up for the Brazos Bend 50k and Coyote Run 50k.

I'd run the Coyote Run 50k first.  I had run a marathon and a 50k over the last two weeks, but these were slow efforts, mainly training runs.  This would be another training race so I wasn't worried about overdoing it.

When I dropped off the kids with their mom, James asked to play basketball.  I was happy he wanted to and we played one on one to 11 points.

Then I headed to the George Mitchell Nature Preserve.  The 1.5-mile main loop would be perfect for a virtual run.  I left a 1 gallon jug of Hawaiian Punch on a picnic table as an aid station.  The weather was cool and I knew it would likely rain.

The Race

There were a few families out on the trail, but there was still less risk of infection than going to the grocery store.  I ran alone.

For the first 11 miles, I kept up with a 12-minute pace.  My mind started playing tricks on me at mile 11 and I took a walk break.  This was a chance to work on my power hiking and I was pleased to keep to a 15 or 16-minute pace hiking.  I ran again at mile 13 to the halfway point of 15.5.

I alternated running and walking up the the marathon point, hiking consistently at a 15 or 16-minute pace.

It had started raining, and after marathon I got cold.  I wrapped a towel around me to keep warm as I hiked.  I slowed a bit to 18-minute miles.  Then the last mile I ran it in.

Reflections

I really enjoyed this virtual race.  It felt like a race.  It was inexpensive plus no miles on the car, no hotel needed.  No rushing to get to the start, no people passing me, no worries about getting lost.  Of course, it lacks some of the excitement of a regular race.  I love racing and would not give up those experiences, but virtual racing is pretty cool.

This race was an improvement of 1 hour, 15 minutes from the Green Ultra 50k.  The Green Ultra was a tougher course, but I was still in better shape and moving faster a week later.

I was pleased about my powerhiking pace.  If I run a 36-hour hundred, I need a 21-minute pace, and I was well under that. If I run to 50k, or 50 miles, I could hike the rest.

This was fun!  Next up is Brazos Bend Virtual 50k in two weeks maybe.

2020 Green Ultra 50k

The Background

I felt pretty good about finishing an off-the-couch Woodlands Marathon.

Then the coronavirus hit.  Work would be shut down, as would a race I had planned to run, the Abby's Alliance 5k to benefit a friend's family.  I'd be sitting around with time on my hands, so I signed up for the Green Ultra at Millican 50k.  I had a good experience running the 50 miler a year ago.  Plus it was inexpensive, an hour and a half away from home, and most importantly still open!

The Race

For the first few miles, I averaged 12 minutes a mile.  Then I started to really slow.  My GPS has been acting funny, but I'm sure I really was slow.  I made it a goal to run the first loop of 15 miles.

The second loop, I ran some and walked some.  I remembered that this race gave age group awards and since it is so small I might get one. I saw a guy behind me roughly my age...no idea whether he was running my race or in his 40s.  Regardless, it gave me a bit of motivation to move.  I ran a couple of miles, then walked some...finished the race running off and on.  It got a bit hot the second half.

Also, I knew I was close to 9 hours. I ran and made it in in 8:56.

I got first in my age group.  But I was the only one in my age group I later found out.

Reflections

Right now I am really slow.  I haven't properly trained but now I have two long runs in.  I also need to work on powerwalking as I was over 20 minutes a mile walking...at least by my GPS.

After the race, the world went crazy with the virus.  My main job is shut down for four weeks.  No races.  I'm going to run the Brazos Bend 50k and Coyote Run 50k virtually to keep moving.