After surviving WV Trifecta Weekend plus course sweep, my next event was the Carowinds Run Ride Half marathon. Run the Half, then enjoy the park! I hadn't been to that amusement park before, so I was looking forward to it. It would be like Disney because of the running through the park, minus the abundance of characters and fireworks. There were some characters, though! And some of the cutest!
But first, the training...
Thursday, Aug 31:
5.0 in 42:01, 8:24 average, 2 degrees of incline. Right leg was a little bit jacked up, but not bad. Surprisingly strong, even though it wasn't long after the weekend. My heart craved cardio today, so it was good to get back out on the treadmill.
Saturday, Sep 1:
First, a game of Settlers!
Then, 3 miles of kayaking! Only my second time really being out there. I went in the junior kayak so that my friends could take the paddleboard and larger kayak. We went out leisurely, goofing around and taking pictures, but we hoofed it back. Maybe we were all hungry for dinner. Fun day out! 1 hr out, with stops, and 30 min back. I had trouble keeping up on the way back.
Monday, Sep 4:
45 min body weight strength:
Situps: 60
Plank: 3 + 2.5 = 5.5
Abductor/Adductor leg raises: 75/80 + 115/85 = 190/165
Pushups: 25 + 25 = 50
Mt Climbers: 100
Single Leg Squats: 65 + 75 = 140
Jumping Jacks: 100
Flutter Kicks (4-count): 40 + 50 = 90
Assorted dumbbell rows
Ruck: 1.4 mi
No squats - right knee hurts when I try.
Thursday, Sep 7:
4.5 mi in 37:39, 8:22 ave. It was only 3 days before the HM, so I didn't want to do too much. I didn't run the previous day, which would've been ideal, but this run was at 6am, so it would still give me a good amount of time to recover. I did a compromise between 4 and 5 miles. I went right until my legs started feeling a bit of lactate. Did 4 strict pullups afterwards.
Splits> 8:33, 26, 20, 17, 4:03 for 0.5.
CAROWINDS RUN RIDE HALF MARATHON
Looking at last year's results, I thought I had a shot at 3rd, if I had my usual peak performance. I wasn't sure that I'd be in peak shape, though, because of how I pushed it in WV. It was tempting, though, so I went out with usual aggression. Temps were cool in the sports bra pre-race, but that meant that it would be nice once we got going.
I went out hard. It maybe even felt like 5K effort, even though the pace was HM pace. There's actually surprisingly not that big of a difference between the two. Percentage-wise, big, but mph-wise, not that much. Pacing right is a true skill. It's one that I tend to mess up when I'm eager for a podium spot.
The race started out going around a parking lot. It was a good way to get us warmed up, excited for the park, and spread out a bit. Then, we went into the park. Cool sights, lots of park time, and lots of winding around. It felt like they took us through as many roads in the park as possible, which was nice. At Disney, they only take you through a portion, it feels like.
I got passed by the 1:40 pace group at around mile 4. I could tell that the wheels were probably coming off, and it would be a struggle to the finish. It would be about getting an age group prize at this point. The next portion of the course went through the campground attached to Carowinds. It was the hilliest portion, and the winding that happened there was mentally tougher to deal with, because you were ready to get out of the hilly area, not keep going around it. Then, we headed back to the start, where we'd move on to our second lap. Oh man, I got jealous of those who signed up for the Quarter Marathon and got to finish after the first lap. I was tired out after one lap!
Second lap would match the first... I was more alone this time, now that people were even more spread out. I was kicking hard, trying to hang on. Back through the park, struggling.
Splits> 5) 8:14, 6) 7:52, 7) 7:16, 8) 8:25.
Back into the campground. Got a gel on the way in, and another on the way out. There were actually 4 opportunities to get gels on the course, which was an unexpected surprise. The HM Swag had also been good - a buff, a magnet, and a hat. I'm not a big hat person, but I do like buffs!
Finally, the push to the finish. We had to do an extra little out and back, where you have to mentally muster what you have to get through. It was hard, but I finished.
I ended up 2nd in my AG, where the prize was a pint glass and a park ticket that I got to give to a visiting friend.
The medals were cool. They actually had 4 races that weekend: 1 mi, 5K, QM, and HM. Each one had a different character's medal, and they could all connect via magnets. If I had known earlier, I would've been really tempted to do more than one! I'll definitely look out for it next year!
Afterwards, park time!
Our favorite coaster was the Fury 325 - some insane height there! Night Hawk was also cool, because you were supermaning it above water. Short, but wild! There was also a laser gun ride, reminiscent of Buzz Lightyear, that I enjoyed. The lines were short, which made for an action-packed day! We were in the park from about 10am to 3pm. Our legs started getting pretty tired as the HM started setting in during the afternoon.
Fun fact - half of the park is in NC, and half of the park is in SC!!! I didn't realize this before!
I've been getting into progressively bigger OCR weekends. Back-to-back events. It's a natural progression, maybe. Either go longer, or go more.
TRAINING:
Sunday, Aug 20:
The day after the Terrain Race, I decided to go for a trail run. I ended up rolling my ankle worse than usual. I might've heard a sound. Usually, I can just run it off pretty much immediately. This time, I had to stop for a few minutes. When it felt good enough to continue on, albeit with an effective stride, we did. Made it back to the car, although I'd have to let it take its time recovering after that.
3.9 in 43:29, 11:08 ave. 380 feet elevation gain.
I think I need to get back into some of the exercises that I used to do up until a year ago... the hip strength exercises, which also hit some other stabilizers that would probably make my ankle stronger. I had been neglecting them in favor of getting in more reps towards the Deez Nutz WOD, but staying healthy is more important, anyways.
The rest of the week, I fully rested.
WV BEAST:
I left Charlotte at around 3am, to make the 3hr 50 min trip up to Glen Jean, WV, for the inaugural trifecta weekend. It was being held at Summit Bechel, a massive boyscout camp. It reminds me of the whitewater center, minus the whitewater center, plus a skate park and gun-related activities. It's bigger, though... massive. It's another pretty setting for a Spartan race, with the ponds around the festival.
The elite women were scheduled for 7:45am, but there was a 30 min fog delay, so that the Youtube live coverage could let people see more of what's going on.
(We made it on Youtube, much bigger this time!)
I recently got my Legendbourne OCRWC jerseys in the mail, so today would be a good way to test drive. I wore the 2016 version of the jersey. It was neat standing around the elites at the beginning, before they got called up for the start.
(I could see myself again here!)
We headed out in dense smoke, so thick that everyone stopped completely because we couldn't see a thing. Then, we got moving again.
The course started with the longest steep climb in memory. Kept going up and up, with false summits along the way. At the top, Hurdles and Over-Under-Through.
Then, we started more climbing and descents through bushwhacked forest. After last weekend's ankle roll, I KT taped
it, and hoped for the best. The main goal was to make it through the
weekend without further injury. I took it really carefully down the
hills and on the uneven, cambered paths. Slow, but safe.
Back down after our first traverse through the forest, we encountered a twist on the Slip Wall. Instead of a full-length rope, there was only a short rope at the very top. That meant giving it a good running start. A bit daunting, for short people like me. I didn't make it the first time, but I tried it again, and got it the second time. You just have to let go of any hesitations and power up with everything you have. Hesitate, and you won't make it all the way up. Trust and power up.
Steep descents down the grassy knolls, then rolling mud and dunk wall, climb back up, then a really long and steep bucket brigade. Looking back at the Youtube coverage, it looks sooo steep, like straight up and down.
After the bucket, into the forest again, for more bushwhacking, steep climbs, and steep descents. Brutal. Maybe the riskiest thing for an already rolled ankle, but I somehow made it through unscathed. In the midst of going through the forest, the pull lace loop on my Reebook All-terrains got hooked onto a tree branch that was on the ground as I stepped over the branch. My body continued to move forward, but my leg was pulled back. Fortunately, I was going slowly enough that I stayed upright although tilted forward and standing only on my non-hooked leg. I felt like an animal caught in a trap. Also fortunately, there was another racer behind me who kindly helped to get my shoelace off of the branch and free me. I chuckled at myself for having a "Lindsay Webster" moment (she famously got her hair caught in barbed wire for a long time, and other racers helped to free her, at one of the US champion series races).
Z-wall near the top, Stairway to Sparta at the top (summit of the whole course) with great views to take in for a few seconds before going down, Bender, 6' wall, and back into the festival.
Bridge, a swim onto burpee island for 5 burpees, Tire Flip, Rope Climb, 7' wall, Sandbag, Inverted Wall. No burpees so far! Until Spear Throw... burpees. Went out onto some plains...Vertical cargo, plate drag, barbed wire. Tyro - made it, for the 2nd time ever? Atlas carry, Monkey bars NBD, 8' wall, Log carry wasn't that bad for me carrying it on the top of my upper back, A-frame cargo, Twister (2nd time on it ever - made it this time! Used matching hand technique, not skipping any grips, straight arms because I can't do L's). Herc hoist really hard but did it, stepping on the rope to give myself breaks. Olympus fail, Multirig fail on the transition to the pipe that was much higher up than the rings, fire. It was the hardest, longest-duration Beast that I've done, probably.
14.5 mi in 4:05:49, 20:29 average.
VOLUNTEERING POST BEAST:
After finishing, I had to quickly transition to get ready for my volunteering shift. No time to go back to the car for my usual volunteering gear (backpack, change of clothes, hiking shoes), since the car was so far away. I made do with the gear I had checked in, and it actually turned out for the best that I volunteered in my race shoes and shorts. That's because my Course Sweep Shift entailed re-doing the whole course!!! Steep stuff and all... the only part I didn't have to redo were the obstacles.
I was teamed up with another volunteer. Our job was to catch up to the last runners and stay somewhat behind them to call out obstacles as cleared, so that they could be prepped for the next day's races. We also picked up trash along the way.
The first part was intense, since the last runners left a while before we did. We caught up to them, though. It was cat and mouse the whole time. It felt like Lord of the Rings when the Legolas and Gimli were chasing down the Orcs who had kidnapped the hobbits. Running through all kinds of terrain trying to catch them.
My dad chose to volunteer too, since he'd otherwise just be driving back and forth to the hotel, or else waiting in the car or festival the whole day. He was at Bender, and I was excited to pass by him and say hello during my chase.
We were chasing one couple during the first half-ish, then it switched to another guy who showed a lot of grit and determination. We stayed with him for a good bit, before switching to another duo. By the time we finished, it was dark, and we were using flashlights. It was a little after 9pm.
Went to the hotel, to get a little rest before the second half of the weekend - the Super and the Sprint, to finish up my trifecta weekend.
WV SUPER:
I wore my first-edition Reebok All-terrains with normal laces for day 2. This way, I wouldn't have to worry about having to stop periodically to re-tighten my pull-string lace loop the whole day. I may need to just replace those default laces on the new models with traditional laces. Not only would I save that re-tightening time, it would also be safer for my ankles, to have more secured, tight shoes on my feet.
I had a 11:15 start time, but I met up with a friend with a farm in WV who came to watch, beforehand. It's fun to introduce new people to the world of OCR. We're a crazy bunch. With such a late start time, I'd have to keep a reasonable pace, to make it back in time to start my Sprint before the last heat of the day.
Same steep initial climb, third time that weekend. Longer rope on the slip wall, since the Super and Sprint versions of the obstacles are sometimes made easier. That's one variation of making things easier, with the other being the rig where the pipe can be exchanged with more rings. Fortunately, the Bucket course was shorter today, too. Yesterday was tough.
It was fun to see my friend during the festival obstacles. I got my closest ever on the Spear, with a 1) run-and-throw, and 2) arch technique. Not enough force to make it stick, but at least it was on target, in the middle of the hay this time. I made the Twister again! And the difficult Herc Hoist! Got a bit farther on the Olympus today vs. yesterday, but still failed. Because my friend was there, I actually forgot to do my burpees after the Olympus, but I did double burpees after the Olympus after the Sprint to make up for it. It would've nagged at me forever if I didn't make them up.
Made the pure ring rig, then fire jump! 8.5 in 2:44:13, 20:31 average.
Quick transition to drop off my medal and Super shirt, and put on my Sprint race chip, then head out for the Sprint! My friend left right before the Sprint.
WV SPRINT:
It was all about survival now. 14.5 mile beast, 14 mileish course sweep, and 8.5 mile Super = 27 miles covered so far over the weekend. 4th time up the steep hill. Slow-ish but steady. Looking forward to a shorter course. Similar to the Super, no Swim, took out the plains portion, but still lots of obstacles.
Still failed the spear. Got Twister a third time! Could barely budget the Herc hoist this time. Near total fail on the Olympus, where I did 30 + 30 makeup burpees from the Super. Did the Rig!
4.5 in 2:05:15, 31:18 average. Trifecta accomplished! Good prep with heavy mileage and obstacles for Iceland 24 Hour Ultra World Championships. I ran into a fellow endurance junkie friend right in front of the giant billboard, and told my dad, "Surprise! I'm going to Iceland for the 24 hour race", at the same time that I told my friend. Should be epic.
Good Sierra Nevada beer afterwards. I'm so glad that Spartan has finally embraced good beer. It was a great venue, and I hope they're back in WV next year!!!
I had planned on taking the day off, to go see the total solar eclipse
from Columbia, SC. However, project stars aligned so that I couldn't really get away. Toooooo bad. That meant that I'd be seeing a 98% eclipse, as opposed to a total eclipse. I was hoping to get to experience the once-in-a-lifetime event with my dad, but that got scrapped.
I had been anticipating it for months. I had purchased eclipse glasses on ebay months ago, although when the news reports came out of potentially fake glasses, I ended up making pinhole cameras, instead. It would be a different take on the experience. Still unique and cool in its own way.
I woke up feeling lots of excitement about the day. Even that morning, something seemed different about the sun. I was excited the whole day.
Fortunately, we were at least allowed a break during our 1-3pm meeting to watch the 2:30pm eclipse for a few minutes. I had almost given up hope of being able to see it at all.
With 98% coverage, the sun still looked pretty much like it always does, to the eye (not that I really looked) or the iphone camera.
Looking around at ground level, you'd figure that it was just a cloudy day, for the most part. It did get slightly more twilighty at one point, but probably nothing like what the total eclipse regions got to experience.
People were nice and passed around hopefully legit shades.
I didn't get to try out the pinhole cameras, since I was in a different part of campus than the rest of my friends. I heard that they didn't really work, anyway, though... I probably make the holes too big. However, some people shared a manila folder with a hole, which had the same effect.
(If you look at the folder on the ground, you'll see a little crescent - so cool!)
Asheville Spartan weekend had been an unprecedented big one, with the Elite Super, the HH, the Sprint, then volunteering. 4 things. It was time to recover, before my next event. I felt like I had a chance at the podium at Terrain, so I wanted to be in good form for it.
3 WEEKS OF TRAINING LEADING UP:
Thursday, Aug 3:
The previous day, I finally felt like I was starting to recover. 5.0 in 41:48, 8:21 average, 2 degrees of incline, at the gym. It went better than expected. I could've biked instead, but I wanted to run if I could handle it. Splits> 8:35, 8:26, 8:26, 8:19, 8:00.
Saturday, Aug 5:
50 min strength session at the gym. Still continuing work on the Deez Nutz WOD.
Sit-ups: 70 + 45 = 115
Squats: 145
Plank: 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 min
Flutter Kicks (4-count): 50 + 45 = 95
Pushups: 30 + 25 = 55
Adductor/Abductor = 60 / 100 - need to bring these back into the rotation, to keep my hips strong and therefore my knees happy
Lunges: 55
Mt Climbers: 100
Assorted dumbell rows
Sore the next day, especially in my hammies and glutes. Ate a lot, feeling like it would help with my recovery.
Monday, Aug 7:
I was going to bike at first, but my legs were feeling good, so I decided to try a run. I would've done long slow distance, but it seemed like it would be drudgery, so I decided to go for intervals. I haven't done speedwork in so long (5 months!!!), but it ended up going super well. Good prep for Terrain!
1 mi warmup in 8:18, 3 x [0.75 mi in 5:00 (9mph), 0.25mi in 1:58 (7.5mph)]. Still got it! 4.0 in 29:16, 7:19 ave, 2 degrees of incline.
Wednesday, Aug 9:
75 min of biking, more than my usual 60 min. Wouldn't have been able to run safely. This was a good shakeout from the intervals.
Saturday, Aug 12:
Trail run to go for some distance while I can... not too much, but something a bit longer than the weekday runs. 8.5 mi in1:22:48, 9:42 ave. I hit the trails at Latta Plantaion, at 6pm. Pretty hot. Body felt fine, but the effort was much harder than it should've been, probably because of the heat. My whole body, especially my legs, felt heavy. 508 feet elevation gain. Got thirsty. Had to work in the morning, felt bleh. Getting out and getting in some movement makes me feel better on those bleh weekends, though.
Tuesday, Aug 15:
5.0 in 41:27, 8:18 ave, 2 degrees of incline. Last run before the race. Splits> 8:43, 8:21, 8:17, 8:06,
7:58.
THE RACE:
I had signed up for the competitive 10K, hoping that my endurance would be a strength, vs. signing up for the competitive 5K. The course was a 5K course, so I'd be doing 2 loops. Terrain is one of the race series that has mandatory obstacle completion, so that would be my primary focus.
A unique thing about Terrain is that we start off in a pool of water, and have to get out of it at the gun. We were off. We ended up going onto the kids course early on. Some realized it quicker than others. I wasn't sure, so I did the obstacles anyway. I didn't want to get DQed or anything, in case the people who felt like we were on the kids course were wrong. The obstacles did seem oddly easy, but it was my first time doing this series, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
We got back on course, back to the big obstacles. 5 foot wall, tall wall with rope, tire flip was heavy with no differentiation in weights for men vs. women, short and light bucket brigade, cargo, tubes, wading, tire drag (really heavy, too, and no differentiation between mens and womens weights), light wreck bag, rope climb, tire golf, tire yolk, rig with balls and handles and foot rings, rig with alternate rope and arm rings, wading, monkey bars, monkey roll.
A little before the last gauntlet, a guy said that I was fourth, and that third was not behind, and that I should try to chase. As I was on the last obstacle, I heard the announcers say that 3rd place (not me) was nearing the finish line.It was impossible to tell who was signed up for the 5K or the 10K, but if I was already 4th, and some of the top 3 were doing the 5K only, I was feeling pretty good. I'd just have to survive the mandatory completions for the second lap. But as I crossed the line, expecting to be directed right onto the second lap, I found out that they only gave awards based on placement after the first 5K. I was sooooo disappointed. I had been going very conservatively, thinking that I had twice the distance to do. I felt like I could've gotten at least third, since they were just like 20s in front of me. Why advertise it as a competetive 10K, if it's really only a competetive 5K with the option to run a second untimed lap afterwards? Oh well... fuels my embers to come back with a vengeance next time. And I'll be able to go even faster, now that I'm familiar with all of the obstacles and know that I can do them. I did them all, twice.
The way I dealt with that disappointment was trying to keep the end game in mind. I may have lost on prize money, but my big goal for this year is getting as far as I can at OCRWC. Keeping my band there will be really hard, but this practice with obstacles and getting stronger and focusing on completion will help.
Afterwards, volunteered!
Interesting race series. Small, fun culture. Unique twists on obstacles. Lots of creative uses of tires. Challenging rigs. I'll be back!
