Training Log Archive: JonD

Event: QOC Patapsco McKeldin
 

Green - Splits

Phunt 50k www.traildawgs.org

Phunt 50k - They offered the option of doing only one loop for 25k - and I decided to take that about 2 weeks ago due to the lack of progress in my training (which i should call "retraining" after the marathon). This was put on by the "traildawgs" trail running club in northern MD. It was not so much a race as a sort of fun trail run, w/ no bibs or timing provided. Hence I marked it above as "hills" rather than "race". It was in the Fair Hill area where we've done some O meets. Took about 1.5 hours to get there and the run started at 9am.

The day was cold - 30 deg w/ patches of snow on the ground. But it was sunny and the sun was nice when it hit you. The trails were mostly rolling twisty single track over rocky/muddy/rooty ground, but the mud was mostly frozen. saw several MTB'ers using the trails. didn't encounter any ice which was good. The woods were nice open oak/beech/maple forest w/ a couple of shallow stream crossings. The trail crossed open grassy farm fields in several spots. A few spots had gravel double track and even some short bushwacks. Although the event was totally free, it had nice support and amenities at about mile 5, which you hit twice in the loop, and at the start/finish. E.g. cookies, pretzels water gatorade at the mile 5 station and assorted goodies, a warm camp fire, hot soup at the start/finish. (only 1 port-o though - which was not really enough)

The course was marked moderately well w/ pink streamers. The one thing I would have preferred was better marking for all the turns. although some had signs written on little paper plates, many were just indicated by a double streamer, and another few further down the correct trail. It was easy to continue straight down the wrong trail if you were not looking for these double streamers - which I did twice.

I chose to wear a hat, gloves, two long sleeve shirts and long pants for the race, which was about right. if i had leg warmers i would have done those w/ shorts. I was pretty much enjoying myself almost all of the time, but I also felt sort of stiff and out of shape and could not really shake that feeling. My pace was just "ok," for the first 13 miles at least based on the fact that i was pretty consistently passing other runners (but who knows which ones were doing the full 2 loops, hence not comparable to me). I had already started picking it up by mile 12 to bring it in, but I missed a turn and ended up adding about 1.5 miles to the course. Several people followed me so were in the same boat. I carried my water bottle, which I had only half consumed by mile 5 and i didn't refill till mile 10 - choosing watery gatorade. Later at about mile 15 I suddenly felt exhausted and had to walk for about 100 meters, which probably meant a combination of dehydration and not being in very good shape. As usual, I didn't drink enough because the temperature was so cool i was rarely thirsty. total climb was 3609 ft (or 1100 meters) per the GPS

Overall I think this was a well orchestrated event and I had a great time -- also, when you consider it was free, I would give it an "A". I would do this again.

again w/ the stiffness. +9 to 7:30 and back down

started at a walk but ramped up from 9:20/mi to 8:00 then back down. I think i have discovered the problems w/ too many days off - everything gets sore and stiff - so its takes some harder running to break the ice.

so stiff and clunky this was all i could do to even move today. this is a "3" b/c i sped up and slowed down in between stiff jogging. tomorrow I get back on track.