Training Log Archive: FunderstorminIn the 7 days ending Feb 25, 2017:
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Saturday Feb 25, 2017 #
8 AM
Running race 4:52:00 [3]
Race day...finally! Between my cough and feeling over excited for the race, I didn't sleep a week and was relieved when it was finally time to get out of bed and do this thing!
My race involved catching a 6:00 a.m. bus to the town of Tunte where the run would start. We arrived about 7 and I got to partake in a new to me pre-race experience by having an espresso in a little cafe to both warm up and hopefully kick me into gear. Met some nice people standing in the line for the toilet, one of whom was from Colorado Springs.
Started toward the back and got a kick out of the music and confetti that accompanied the race start. We started climbing immediately as we left Tunte and worked our way toward the first climb. I had my poles ready from the start and they came in handy quickly.
I enjoyed the first climb, which I knew was the steeper of the two. The sun was rising and you could see the line of racers making their way up to the top. I was excited to see what the first descent was going to be like. It started on a dirt road and I thought to myself, "well this isn't so bad!" but we turned quickly off of that onto a loonnnggg, rocky singletrack trail that lasted for many kilometres. I learned that technical downhill running is definitely not my strength and I got passed A LOT during this section. I felt nervous when people were behind me so often just stopped to let them pass by and used the opportunity to take some pictures. This was my favourite section of the race and I'd love to have run it without anyone else around!
Happy to finish the first descent we made our way into Ayugares, the first aid station. I was fascinated to see meat, cheese and bread there, along with the usual fruit, etc. Tried to make it in and out quickly and made my way across the bridge to start the second climb, which felt longer but was much more gradual. The second descent was shorter and easier for me as even though my quads were already kinda shot, there was less people around me now.
Mrs. Tiny had mentally prepared me for the last 10km which involved many kms of travel along a riverbed full of rocks, but it wasn't quite as bad as I expected and I found myself passing people here (who had crushed me on the downhills!) and running any of the runnable sections. Eventually the riverbed ended and we came to the last few km which were dirt road, drainage ditch and then some pavement into the finish. There was an aid station 3.5km or so from the finish where I was offered a variety of hot meats, which I thought was pretty entertaining since the race was almost over.
Legs were jello by now but my brain felt strong and I was able to push a bit into the finish. Happy to see Mrs. Tiny and 'Bent there waiting for me! 'Bent gave me a Canadian flag to carry with me down the chute and across the finish line, which was a fun experience I've not ever had before! They also had a cold beer waiting for me which was my one post-race wish!
We hung around the finish line for a bit before going home to clean up and they go back to Tunte to explore and hopefully see Bash come through.
Overall, I felt pretty good about how this went. I verbalized that I'd like to finish under 5 hours, which I did, and was happy that I felt strong into the finish. Having never run technical downhills quite like this before, my big takeaway was that this hurts way, way more than any amount of climbing ever does in the days after the race!
My race involved catching a 6:00 a.m. bus to the town of Tunte where the run would start. We arrived about 7 and I got to partake in a new to me pre-race experience by having an espresso in a little cafe to both warm up and hopefully kick me into gear. Met some nice people standing in the line for the toilet, one of whom was from Colorado Springs.
Started toward the back and got a kick out of the music and confetti that accompanied the race start. We started climbing immediately as we left Tunte and worked our way toward the first climb. I had my poles ready from the start and they came in handy quickly.
I enjoyed the first climb, which I knew was the steeper of the two. The sun was rising and you could see the line of racers making their way up to the top. I was excited to see what the first descent was going to be like. It started on a dirt road and I thought to myself, "well this isn't so bad!" but we turned quickly off of that onto a loonnnggg, rocky singletrack trail that lasted for many kilometres. I learned that technical downhill running is definitely not my strength and I got passed A LOT during this section. I felt nervous when people were behind me so often just stopped to let them pass by and used the opportunity to take some pictures. This was my favourite section of the race and I'd love to have run it without anyone else around!
Happy to finish the first descent we made our way into Ayugares, the first aid station. I was fascinated to see meat, cheese and bread there, along with the usual fruit, etc. Tried to make it in and out quickly and made my way across the bridge to start the second climb, which felt longer but was much more gradual. The second descent was shorter and easier for me as even though my quads were already kinda shot, there was less people around me now.
Mrs. Tiny had mentally prepared me for the last 10km which involved many kms of travel along a riverbed full of rocks, but it wasn't quite as bad as I expected and I found myself passing people here (who had crushed me on the downhills!) and running any of the runnable sections. Eventually the riverbed ended and we came to the last few km which were dirt road, drainage ditch and then some pavement into the finish. There was an aid station 3.5km or so from the finish where I was offered a variety of hot meats, which I thought was pretty entertaining since the race was almost over.
Legs were jello by now but my brain felt strong and I was able to push a bit into the finish. Happy to see Mrs. Tiny and 'Bent there waiting for me! 'Bent gave me a Canadian flag to carry with me down the chute and across the finish line, which was a fun experience I've not ever had before! They also had a cold beer waiting for me which was my one post-race wish!
We hung around the finish line for a bit before going home to clean up and they go back to Tunte to explore and hopefully see Bash come through.
Overall, I felt pretty good about how this went. I verbalized that I'd like to finish under 5 hours, which I did, and was happy that I felt strong into the finish. Having never run technical downhills quite like this before, my big takeaway was that this hurts way, way more than any amount of climbing ever does in the days after the race!
Friday Feb 24, 2017 #
10 AM
Trekking/Hiking 50:00 [2]
Exploring the hills around our villa and worrying about how awful my lungs felt on the climbs!
Wednesday Feb 22, 2017 #
Trekking/Hiking 1:00:00 [2]
Trekking around Roque Nublo, which was sadly very nublado while we were there. Beautiful spot though!
Tuesday Feb 21, 2017 #
Trekking/Hiking 1:30:00 [2]
Trekking on the Maspalomas sand dunes trying to act natural around all the naked people. The dunes were super cool but we were all thankful we weren't staying in Maspalomas.
10 AM
Running 30:00 [3]
Morning run with Bash and Mrs. Tiny from our villa to stretch our legs and explore.
Sunday Feb 19, 2017 #
Yoga (hot) 1:00:00 [1]
9 AM
Running 50:00 [3]
At the Hydrocut before things got too slushy. It was so beautiful that my heart was pitter-pattering with happiness the whole time, instead of from the running. Some parts were icy but most were really runnable. Spikecross for the win again!
This was one of those magical, perfect runs that you don't want to end, but has to because you promised yourself you'd also go to hot yoga.
This was one of those magical, perfect runs that you don't want to end, but has to because you promised yourself you'd also go to hot yoga.