Oh then perhaps I misrepresented it...Here's the long version:

It was really HARD and my legs are very sore today. By my Garmin, I achieved my goal of 2:20; but it was hard won. The beginning was quite unusual because as we waited, the wind gusted and it began snowing!!  They had bussed us to the start which  was at 1600 ft elevation. Everyone was FREEZING! After much mental debate over what to wear, I had chosen shorts - eek!! and here it was 30F and snowing for the first mile and a half! As we came down in elevation, the snow turned to rain that lasted for the whole race.  I started out trying to keep up with the "fast girls."  I tailed them for about 4 miles and that just wore me out. I couldn't keep up and struggled to keep my breathing under control and not get a sideache. Long before the halfway mark, they'd left me in the dust. I had a mini meltdown of discouragement - my legs have been tired all week and had absolutely no spring in them; my left hamstring has been problematic lately and was really painful at that point along with a myriad of other leg pains. I was a mess! I regrouped and decided I would just try to "jog it in." Well once I relaxed and quit straining, it seemed things got easier.  The trail was flooded in many areas (mud-puddle lakes) which meant a lot of leaping across, leaping sideways, high-stepping through, jumping up on the banks to skirt around, that sort of thing. I think  that recruiting all the extra muscles and tendons took some of the workload off the "straight ahead running" muscles and most of my pains subsided. Plus I confess to walking around some of them because I didn't have the energy to jump. My very fatigued legs were working as hard as they could go. I ate a couple caffeinated Shot Bloks which gave me a boost. There was a surprise hill - short but very very steep about 1/4 mile before the end - at which point I let go of my time goal. Three guys with drums were there to provide music with a marching beat which helped tremendously!  Then it was about an eighth of a mile flat stretch to the finish line. I actually felt strong as I cruised in and was happy to stop my watch on 2:20 - yippee! Honestly though, I was so happy just to STOP.

 

Even though I've run this trail many times before, with all the water on the trail and the rain and the stress of trying to run it fast, some of it it felt a "new" trail to me.

 

There was a fun outdoor after-race party complete with hot food, beer (wine for me), and a couple of fire pits. Everyone was very social and I had a good time talking to people I had never met before. It was quite nice. So it ended on a good note, but still...it was flat out hard!

Still sounds like fun ;-) And you learnt something out there as well and achieved your goal.  So in the end a good day.

Pukekura is wise.

Happy, your trail race Sounds like plenty of fun, and what's a day without snow???

I ran 6 this morning in a beautiful (warm) rain shower and then the sun came out and warmed up the city. I actually sat outside with the husband before dinner (with a jacket), spring is coming.

Still processing events in Boston, but I believe in the greater good and working towards peace.

Happy Wednesday, A

I had a lot of post-race soreness this past week, but went ahead with my planned 10-miler yesterday. It should have been alright - except I tripped on an unseen rock at about 4.5 miles in. In saving myself from falling, I injured my left hamstring or some related muscle where they attach to the top of the femur.  The hamstring was already tight and painful for the last few weeks, but the pain when I tripped was through the roof. Being me - after the world stopped spinning and the adrenalin rush and the pain subsided - I continued on. I did my yoga/pilates workout today to test the waters. Except for not being able to keep the leg "straight" while bending forward (due to pain) and can't fully activate the muscle without pain - it doesn't seem as bad as I feared. I'll go for a 3-mile walk today and see how it feels tomorrow before I decide whether to run.

ZE - I could echo what you said about what happened in Boston to the letter.

Good luck in your trail race next weekend.

 you got a chance to work on your determination.

Funny you should bring that up ... my latest focus is "mental toughness" ... because I need it...  and in more areas of life than just running.

I think both of you, Jeff and Russ, did outstanding in the Boston marathon achieving your goal times -- Congratulations guys!

My 3-mile walk went alright earlier today - took me an hour! but the leg feels better now. I iced it yesterday of course, and today after yoga and after walking.

"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

This has a whole new meaning now.

Brian - What happened to your miles.  You crank out a killer 10K then just retired on a high note?

 

Actually, that's not a bad idea.

No, just a combination of injury and behind on my logging (about 27 miles missing). I think I've been going through what you went through.  On 4/7 during my last really long run before racing on 4/27 my achilles was stiff at the start then progressed to painful and then to very painful. So 18, became 13.  Rested a few days, tried it on Wed. and it was still bad.  So the logical thing was to go ahead and race a 10K that weekend. Since then I've been taking it easy and having a very exaggerated taper. Pretty much pain free this weekend, but still stiff in achilles and calf.  Trying to roll and stretch regularly and hold it together to race day on Saturday.

Again, glad the two of you (and significant others) are safe.  I had three close real-life friends running that day and my son goes to school in Boston. All are safe, but we've been glued to the news all week. Crazy.

The weather is looking great for tomorrow's Big Sur Marathon. I saw some friends and had a nice meal. Now for the worst part: alarm set for 3 a.m. UGH.