Since neither Jim nor I were participating in the marathon this year, but we wanted to be part of the event, we decided to volunteer our entire family at an aid station. So we got the boys up out of bed at 6 am and drove to town. We were able to choose the aid station in front of Cafe Dolce, which is at around mile 10 of the 1/2 marathon, mile 23 of the full. Jim handed out water, I poured water and gatorade, and the boys handed out gummy bears.
I was really hoping to see more of the people who came through, but most of the time my head was down, focusing on pouring liquid into cups to keep the tables full. The boys did a fantastic job for about two hours (I even saw Ike down there doing a little "gummy bear dance" for folks). When they started getting bored, we walked down the street to our friends' house (and trampoline) where we had lunch and a really nice afternoon.
I did get to see the winner of the full marathon come through (Keifer Hahn finished in 2:30:37) and that was pretty awesome. He was cruising. It is so amazing to see people like that run, especially for me since I am usually in the middle of the pack and tend to just see others like myself plodding along. He just looked so strong and solid. The next full marathon runner didn't come by for another 15 minutes, he was that far ahead.
This was the first time volunteering at an aid station (we have helped out in other parts of the race process) for any of us Chases, and I think we all got something out of it. On an intellectual level, we know that volunteering is a good thing, as we have so much appreciated volunteers who have helped us out at other races, and we foresee more in the future. What we didn't realize was how good it FEELS to volunteer. I'm still not sure how the boys processed the experience, or what they will remember about the day (maybe just the trampoline?) but I hope that in some way they learned something...well, even if they just had a good time, it was well worth it.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Mountain to Meadow and more
I have not posted here for some time due to my hard drive crashing. I just got my computer back last weekend and I'm trying to catch up. Here's what's been going on.
I took a few days off after the Pengelly Double Dip, then went for a short run. I felt ok. Then we went to visit friends in Idaho and went for a nice 5-6 miler with Roz. Although we only see each other maybe once a year, she is the person I've run with the most. I felt pretty good, so I decided to run another half marathon the next week, the "Mountain to Meadow," actually a 13.7 mile run on Lolo Pass.
The MtM took place on the same day as the Great Strides Walk, a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ike's Team (ie: me) raised over $1,000, but I decided I'd rather run 13 miles than walk one. It was a cold morning (as they all have been here lately!) and really perfect weather for the run. It got sunny pretty quickly, but never too hot.
The race goes up, up, up, relentlessly, but not nearly as steep as the PDD. I made the mistake of not eating enough the night before AND not eating breakfast, so about 3/4 of the way up the first hill (about 3-4 miles into the race) I had to stop for a snack of water and hammer gel. I had started getting light-headed and actually saw stars a little, thought I might pass out. That has never happened to me while running before. So it was a little bit scary, but the hammer gel did the trick. So glad I packed it in my fuel belt, as a last minute thought.
Jim ran the MtM a couple of years ago, and said that it would be easier than the PDD. I don't know if "easier" is really appropriate. Maybe just not as relentlessly impossible. It was still a challenging course and I could never really seem to get going. Still, it was a beautiful course and I finished in a fairly respectable time (2:26), and when I was done, I started thinking about running the Missoula 1/2 marathon (July 11th)...
Since then, however, I have come to my senses and decided to take a little break from running, then start training for a marathon (the Two Bear, in Whitefish) in September. This coming weekend is the Missoula Marathon and it promises to be a huge event. Jim and I and the boys have decided to volunteer at an aid station.
I took a few days off after the Pengelly Double Dip, then went for a short run. I felt ok. Then we went to visit friends in Idaho and went for a nice 5-6 miler with Roz. Although we only see each other maybe once a year, she is the person I've run with the most. I felt pretty good, so I decided to run another half marathon the next week, the "Mountain to Meadow," actually a 13.7 mile run on Lolo Pass.
The MtM took place on the same day as the Great Strides Walk, a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Ike's Team (ie: me) raised over $1,000, but I decided I'd rather run 13 miles than walk one. It was a cold morning (as they all have been here lately!) and really perfect weather for the run. It got sunny pretty quickly, but never too hot.
The race goes up, up, up, relentlessly, but not nearly as steep as the PDD. I made the mistake of not eating enough the night before AND not eating breakfast, so about 3/4 of the way up the first hill (about 3-4 miles into the race) I had to stop for a snack of water and hammer gel. I had started getting light-headed and actually saw stars a little, thought I might pass out. That has never happened to me while running before. So it was a little bit scary, but the hammer gel did the trick. So glad I packed it in my fuel belt, as a last minute thought.
Jim ran the MtM a couple of years ago, and said that it would be easier than the PDD. I don't know if "easier" is really appropriate. Maybe just not as relentlessly impossible. It was still a challenging course and I could never really seem to get going. Still, it was a beautiful course and I finished in a fairly respectable time (2:26), and when I was done, I started thinking about running the Missoula 1/2 marathon (July 11th)...
Since then, however, I have come to my senses and decided to take a little break from running, then start training for a marathon (the Two Bear, in Whitefish) in September. This coming weekend is the Missoula Marathon and it promises to be a huge event. Jim and I and the boys have decided to volunteer at an aid station.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Race Report
After weeks of preparation, the day of the Pengelly Double Dip finally arrived. It's been raining here for weeks, but the sky cleared and it was a beautiful, sunny day. I awoke with the sun, too excited to sleep anymore. I headed into town and decided to do the early start at 8 am, instead of starting at 9 am with everyone else. Because it had taken me so long to do on my practice run, I was concerned that it might take me that long again and I would be the last to finish. Plus I didn't want to wait around anymore!
A handful of other people also did the early start. One woman was just ahead of me for the first hour.The course was really beautiful - great views, green and tons of wildflowers. When it started to get steep enough to warrant walking, I finally caught up to Mary Ann, and we walked together. Turns out that she is a mom too (5 & 7 year old girls). It was great to have someone to talk to and commisserate with. It was so nice (and different for me, being typically a middle of the pack runner) to be the first ones at each aid station, and at the peaks.
It wasn't until we were on our way back down from the most relentlessly steep climb up to the radio towers that we finally started seeing other people. At first they were surprised to see us, but soon realized that we were not faster than them, we'd just started early. Still, it was really cool to be up there running in the front with the fastest guys. Mary Ann and I reached the summit first, where I called my guys (Jim and the boys had been volunteering at the race and I wanted to let them know when I'd be coming down) and Mary Ann went flying down the mountain.
Soon I started getting passed by the fastest men (7 in all passed me before I finished). The last part of the race is miles of treacherous downhill, followed by a short flat section. I got a blister on one foot and a black toenail on the other from the downhill pounding.
Then I came into the finish chute with all of these people watching (expecting the winners) and my boys came out to join me for part of my final steps. It was really an amazing feeling being one of the first to finish, even though I was an imposter of sorts.
Afterwards Mary Ann found me in the crowd and she was all scraped up. She'd taken a spill on the way down, but didn't seem fazed by it. She'd still managed to beat me to the finish!
What a great race, but I was glad it was over. Then Jim left the boys with me so that he could run the course, twice in a row, as part of his training for the "Devil's Backbone" 50-miler in July. I continued my endurance event by spending the day in town with the boys, first going to the pool, then to China Buffet, then to a kid's birthday party (I did not go in the bouncy house).
I was exhausted, and so was Jim. It took him 6 hours to run the whole thing twice (the equivalent of a marathon). I did my 1/2 in 3 hours. I woke up with aching muscles but Jim was already gone - out for another long run.
A handful of other people also did the early start. One woman was just ahead of me for the first hour.The course was really beautiful - great views, green and tons of wildflowers. When it started to get steep enough to warrant walking, I finally caught up to Mary Ann, and we walked together. Turns out that she is a mom too (5 & 7 year old girls). It was great to have someone to talk to and commisserate with. It was so nice (and different for me, being typically a middle of the pack runner) to be the first ones at each aid station, and at the peaks.
It wasn't until we were on our way back down from the most relentlessly steep climb up to the radio towers that we finally started seeing other people. At first they were surprised to see us, but soon realized that we were not faster than them, we'd just started early. Still, it was really cool to be up there running in the front with the fastest guys. Mary Ann and I reached the summit first, where I called my guys (Jim and the boys had been volunteering at the race and I wanted to let them know when I'd be coming down) and Mary Ann went flying down the mountain.
Soon I started getting passed by the fastest men (7 in all passed me before I finished). The last part of the race is miles of treacherous downhill, followed by a short flat section. I got a blister on one foot and a black toenail on the other from the downhill pounding.
Then I came into the finish chute with all of these people watching (expecting the winners) and my boys came out to join me for part of my final steps. It was really an amazing feeling being one of the first to finish, even though I was an imposter of sorts.
Afterwards Mary Ann found me in the crowd and she was all scraped up. She'd taken a spill on the way down, but didn't seem fazed by it. She'd still managed to beat me to the finish!
What a great race, but I was glad it was over. Then Jim left the boys with me so that he could run the course, twice in a row, as part of his training for the "Devil's Backbone" 50-miler in July. I continued my endurance event by spending the day in town with the boys, first going to the pool, then to China Buffet, then to a kid's birthday party (I did not go in the bouncy house).
I was exhausted, and so was Jim. It took him 6 hours to run the whole thing twice (the equivalent of a marathon). I did my 1/2 in 3 hours. I woke up with aching muscles but Jim was already gone - out for another long run.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Wacky Hip Strikes Again
I love Frenchtown Physical Therapy.
Last week I was feeling pretty darn good, even after running the Pengelly Double Dip course (with scenic route detour) and then doing 9 miles with Jim two days later. Then I went for an easy 4 mile run and felt like total crap. The worst part was that my hip had started to hurt again. I stretched, I massaged with an ice bottle, I rested, but it still ached. With the race less than a week away, I wondered if I would be able to run it.
FPT to the rescue. This time I brought Jim in with me so that he could learn how to fix me. It turns out that I did indeed get my hip out of place again. The good news is that I figured out how I did it, and Jim now knows how to fix it. Apparently, when you have hip problems like mine, it is not a good idea to get all loosened up with yoga before a run, which is exactly what I did. It makes it too easy for the hip to slip out of place, and then comes the pain.
So now all that's left to do is rest, fuel up, and think positive - then race on Saturday!
Last week I was feeling pretty darn good, even after running the Pengelly Double Dip course (with scenic route detour) and then doing 9 miles with Jim two days later. Then I went for an easy 4 mile run and felt like total crap. The worst part was that my hip had started to hurt again. I stretched, I massaged with an ice bottle, I rested, but it still ached. With the race less than a week away, I wondered if I would be able to run it.
FPT to the rescue. This time I brought Jim in with me so that he could learn how to fix me. It turns out that I did indeed get my hip out of place again. The good news is that I figured out how I did it, and Jim now knows how to fix it. Apparently, when you have hip problems like mine, it is not a good idea to get all loosened up with yoga before a run, which is exactly what I did. It makes it too easy for the hip to slip out of place, and then comes the pain.
So now all that's left to do is rest, fuel up, and think positive - then race on Saturday!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Trail Running Shoes
Yikes! I have been super busy. Now I look at the calandar and I see that the Pengelly Double Dip is only a week away. I do think that I am ready, and I am so pleased with how my training has gone.
A week ago I attempted the run the course. However, never having been there before, and only armed with a vague map, I got quite a bit off course. In any case, it was really incredibly beautiful...and steep. It was extremely challenging. I walked a bunch. It was a cool, rainy day (as most of our days here have been lately) and I didn't have enough to eat ahead of time so by the end I was wasted. I went right to Vietnam Noodle Express and got the curry chicken noodle soup - yum!!
Because it was a wet day, I wore my gortex "mountain running shoes," the super heavy duty trail shoes I got for running in the winter. While my feet stayed warm and dry, I felt like I was trying to run with concrete blocks on the bottom of my feet. It reinforced my idea that I needed a pair of lightweight summer trail running shoes. So, on Sunday I stopped by The Runners' Edge to see what they had.
I walked out of there with the opposite extreme of what I already had - the most lightweight trail running shoe I could find. In fact, they are so lightweight it's almost like not wearing shoes at all. I probably should have tried them out with a short little run, but instead I took them out the next day for a nine mile trail run with Jim. This is only the second time Jim and I have been able to run together and it was fantastic. It was a beautiful day and I felt like I was floating compared with the other shoes.
The shoes performed wonderfully - in fact, I didn't really notice them. I was concerned that my feet might get sore because of not enough cushioning, but it wasn't an issue.
So now with just a week until the race all I have to do is rest up and stay limber. I am so happy to not be injured, to be feeling strong and ready to go.
A week ago I attempted the run the course. However, never having been there before, and only armed with a vague map, I got quite a bit off course. In any case, it was really incredibly beautiful...and steep. It was extremely challenging. I walked a bunch. It was a cool, rainy day (as most of our days here have been lately) and I didn't have enough to eat ahead of time so by the end I was wasted. I went right to Vietnam Noodle Express and got the curry chicken noodle soup - yum!!
Because it was a wet day, I wore my gortex "mountain running shoes," the super heavy duty trail shoes I got for running in the winter. While my feet stayed warm and dry, I felt like I was trying to run with concrete blocks on the bottom of my feet. It reinforced my idea that I needed a pair of lightweight summer trail running shoes. So, on Sunday I stopped by The Runners' Edge to see what they had.
I walked out of there with the opposite extreme of what I already had - the most lightweight trail running shoe I could find. In fact, they are so lightweight it's almost like not wearing shoes at all. I probably should have tried them out with a short little run, but instead I took them out the next day for a nine mile trail run with Jim. This is only the second time Jim and I have been able to run together and it was fantastic. It was a beautiful day and I felt like I was floating compared with the other shoes.
The shoes performed wonderfully - in fact, I didn't really notice them. I was concerned that my feet might get sore because of not enough cushioning, but it wasn't an issue.
So now with just a week until the race all I have to do is rest up and stay limber. I am so happy to not be injured, to be feeling strong and ready to go.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The "M"
Thanks to Kate Skinner down at Frenchtown Physical Therapy, I am happy to say that I am back running again and better than ever. Still, with less than two months until the Missoula Marathon, I will not have time to get my mileage up enough to do it. So I had to find another goal for myself. It was not enough for me to just be supportive of my man while he runs his 50-miler (the Devils Backbone). So I went and signed myself up for the Pengelly Double Dip, a steep 1/2 marathon that I volunteered at last year.
I had a great week last week, in terms of running. On Sunday I went out and did 9 miles, the longest since the 1/2 marathon in February, and felt so good that I did it again on Wednesday. On Friday, I decided to try out the "M" Trail in Missoula, since that is where the race starts. In the immortal words of Lance Armstrong after completing his first marathon: "ouch." The trail to the M is less than a mile long, but so super steep that by the third switchback, I was walking every other one. It is a steep hike. It is a ridiculous run. But at least it was over fairly quickly. Then I figured it would take half the time to get back down, but no. It took the same amount of time for me to get down as it did to get up. I was trying to run, but it turned out to be this odd shuffle. Did I mention that it's really steep?
Anyway, so here it is Sunday and I'm supposed to be doing my long run today, but I'm still sore from Friday. Jim, on the other hand, worked a full day yesterday, then ran for over 4 hours, slept, got up and is gone again on another two or so hour run, showing no signs of being tired or sore. He left while I was still in bed, trying to get myself up. Maybe he's right, taking care of the kids is WAY more exhausting than work or running.
I had a great week last week, in terms of running. On Sunday I went out and did 9 miles, the longest since the 1/2 marathon in February, and felt so good that I did it again on Wednesday. On Friday, I decided to try out the "M" Trail in Missoula, since that is where the race starts. In the immortal words of Lance Armstrong after completing his first marathon: "ouch." The trail to the M is less than a mile long, but so super steep that by the third switchback, I was walking every other one. It is a steep hike. It is a ridiculous run. But at least it was over fairly quickly. Then I figured it would take half the time to get back down, but no. It took the same amount of time for me to get down as it did to get up. I was trying to run, but it turned out to be this odd shuffle. Did I mention that it's really steep?
Anyway, so here it is Sunday and I'm supposed to be doing my long run today, but I'm still sore from Friday. Jim, on the other hand, worked a full day yesterday, then ran for over 4 hours, slept, got up and is gone again on another two or so hour run, showing no signs of being tired or sore. He left while I was still in bed, trying to get myself up. Maybe he's right, taking care of the kids is WAY more exhausting than work or running.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
The Bright Side
The other day I was feeling sad about Wesley, and Tom said to me, "Well, look on the bright side. It is a sunny day." Good old Tom. Always looking on the bright side. So, I've been trying.
Now that one of my dogs has passed away, I only have half the dog hair to clean up around the house. That is actually a big deal. We only have to buy half the amount of dog food. We no longer have to worry about leaving food out on the table. If we take a vacation, it will be easier to take just one dog with us, or to get someone to watch her. I no longer have to worry about what kind of trouble Wesley is getting into. Of course, none of that makes up for the loss of my best friend and running partner.
So when I was out running in the woods the other day without Wesley, I tried to look at the bright side. Well, I get to see more wildlife this way. I get much closer to deer and birds and the little critters than I would have with my dog sniffing around, scaring them away. Then again, I also, in theory, will get closer to the big critters than I would have. And that is what really bothers me. Of course I still have my can of bear spray, although Jim has pointed out that if a bear got close enough to spray, you'd have teeth marks. I have started carrying my cell phone with me in my running pack, in case I get into some kind of trouble. It is not as reassuring as having a friend with big sharp scary teeth at my side, but it's something.
The cell phone has already been really convenient to have around. I've been able to take care of household business while out on my morning run. It gives me an excuse to stop and walk a little bit, and makes things more efficient. But please don't call me just to chat while I am out on my morning run. I just won't do it.
I am really not that concerned about wild animals where I run, regardless of Jim's experience running into the bear and two cubs a couple of years ago, and the dead mountain lion me and the boys found last year, and the reports of wolf packs in the 9 Mile and Evaro areas (to the West and East of us, respectively). I think that after three years of running back there, they are fairly used to having us around. But I do miss Wesley.
Maybe having him around gave me a false sense of security, but it was comforting nonetheless. Even when Wesley was still alive, there were numerous times that I went for long runs back there without him. Like the time he broke a toenail on the ice and refused to go under certain weather conditions. Or the time that we ran into a man with two dogs out there and Wesley turned tail and ran all the way home. Yeah, there were plenty of times when he was just too tired or too interested in the chickens' compost scraps to be bothered with a long run.
The logging road that I most enjoy running along is on public land, but it runs along the perimeter of private properties. I have met some of our nicest neighbors back there. Well, sort of neighbors. Wesley never fought with any of the dogs that we ran into out there, and people even complimented me on what a sweet dog he was, so well-behaved. Well, that was Wesley for sure. He could be super-sweet, and he could also be a total punk.
So we're going to pick up Wesley's ashes today, then we're going to the International Wildlife Film Festival's "Wild Fest" in Missoula.
Now that one of my dogs has passed away, I only have half the dog hair to clean up around the house. That is actually a big deal. We only have to buy half the amount of dog food. We no longer have to worry about leaving food out on the table. If we take a vacation, it will be easier to take just one dog with us, or to get someone to watch her. I no longer have to worry about what kind of trouble Wesley is getting into. Of course, none of that makes up for the loss of my best friend and running partner.
So when I was out running in the woods the other day without Wesley, I tried to look at the bright side. Well, I get to see more wildlife this way. I get much closer to deer and birds and the little critters than I would have with my dog sniffing around, scaring them away. Then again, I also, in theory, will get closer to the big critters than I would have. And that is what really bothers me. Of course I still have my can of bear spray, although Jim has pointed out that if a bear got close enough to spray, you'd have teeth marks. I have started carrying my cell phone with me in my running pack, in case I get into some kind of trouble. It is not as reassuring as having a friend with big sharp scary teeth at my side, but it's something.
The cell phone has already been really convenient to have around. I've been able to take care of household business while out on my morning run. It gives me an excuse to stop and walk a little bit, and makes things more efficient. But please don't call me just to chat while I am out on my morning run. I just won't do it.
I am really not that concerned about wild animals where I run, regardless of Jim's experience running into the bear and two cubs a couple of years ago, and the dead mountain lion me and the boys found last year, and the reports of wolf packs in the 9 Mile and Evaro areas (to the West and East of us, respectively). I think that after three years of running back there, they are fairly used to having us around. But I do miss Wesley.
Maybe having him around gave me a false sense of security, but it was comforting nonetheless. Even when Wesley was still alive, there were numerous times that I went for long runs back there without him. Like the time he broke a toenail on the ice and refused to go under certain weather conditions. Or the time that we ran into a man with two dogs out there and Wesley turned tail and ran all the way home. Yeah, there were plenty of times when he was just too tired or too interested in the chickens' compost scraps to be bothered with a long run.
The logging road that I most enjoy running along is on public land, but it runs along the perimeter of private properties. I have met some of our nicest neighbors back there. Well, sort of neighbors. Wesley never fought with any of the dogs that we ran into out there, and people even complimented me on what a sweet dog he was, so well-behaved. Well, that was Wesley for sure. He could be super-sweet, and he could also be a total punk.
So we're going to pick up Wesley's ashes today, then we're going to the International Wildlife Film Festival's "Wild Fest" in Missoula.
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