Training Log Archive: riley

Rolling & stretching, feeling okay today.

Stretching, rolling, lax ball.

I think I have some rhabdo from the run last night. I couldn't eat any food all night and I have this weird pain in my legs, unlike normal soreness. Thought it was just hyponatremia until my urine turned tea-colored...
Pretty mild though, no kidney failure so I'm not too worried.

Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon. Stopped a lot to alternately take photos and writhe in pain.

Woke up late. Ended up getting to the trailhead at 5pm and started running right away. The typical summer Sierra clouds were impressive, lots of light & shadow. First 2mi were totally flat, but I was already feeling it with the altitude and a ~30lb pack (camera gear and stuff).

My plan for the run was to be super preventative and avoid any drama. I tried to pace myself evenly and even taped a blister before it started hurting (totally unlike me, I’m usually not a responsible adult). However, it was 95° out and I started getting pretty hyponatremic without realizing it. By mile 10 I had a headache and couldn’t figure out why I was going so slow. The salt crystallizing on my hat should have been a tip-off… No hallucinations yet, but we’ll get to that later.

I figured out what was going on around mile 12 and stopped to switch from water to vitalyte. By that time though it was too late and I just kept feeling worse. After refueling, my impatience kicked in and I started trying to power up the hills (including like ~4000 ft of just stairs… wtf…) I felt like I was pushing the pace, but really I was still going slow. Of course the altitude wasn’t helping; I had a pretty wicked headache and was starting to lose coordination. By the time I got to the high point at 12000ft my legs were demolished and I was stumbling around like I’d drank a fifth of everclear and then been beaten in the head with the empty bottle.

Sunset while climbing up to the pass

Enter the downhill. So much pain. I can’t even describe my quads right now. This was literally the worst I’ve ever felt while running, and the hardest 24mi in the universe. This was supposed to be the scenic part of the run, but I was more distracted by the intensifying visual hallucinations and the pain. After a torturous talus descent from the pass my altitude headache had started to abate, but now I felt like puking every 5 minutes.

At mile ~22 I rolled my ankle and my headlamp started tweaking out and I just wanted to leave. Seriously, I don’t need to see the rest of the trail, just give me a pillow and some percocet. After that I tried playing music from my phone for motivation, along with periodically laying down and screaming. These things were marginally helpful.

Going down-valley at 1AM below Rae Lakes

By mile 30 I was just done. The trail was descending a river valley with continuous steep stairs, and it looked to do so for the next 10mi. I usually like downhill, but I’ve never felt so beat up from continuous stairs. Seriously brutal. I sat down to change socks and decided I would take a nap on the next flat rock I saw. A few miles later a glorious pristine slab of granite overlooking the river appeared, and I collapsed onto it. Perfect napping spot.

I tried to sleep. I tried really hard. But my legs hurt so much, I just got back up and kept running/stumbling down the fucking stairs of death. By mile 35 I was basically walking the whole time. As I got closer to the end I kept seeing the ranger hut that signified the end of the trail, but it just kept moving farther away (I need to work on having some fun hallucinations next time.) Eventually I got to the parking lot, but instead of feeling stoked I was just ready to go home.

I think I might have confused fun with insanity on this one. Too hot, too much weight, bad nutrition, and insufficient fitness. I definitely want to come back and repeat this loop, but under much different conditions.

C • whawha 2

Drake's Bay - Mud Hollow to Estero trail loop

Stoked to finally have a day off work.

Pushups
Doorframe pullups to failure (10,8,9,9,8) limited by finger strength


(This late night workout brought to you by scotch whisky and feelings of inadequacy due to Zach's training volume.)

C • volume 1

Yoga, roller, lax ball. Mostly IT band and calves.

Butterfield to 680 to Sun Valley.
Got stoked talking to R about running today, decided to bust out some miles after work. Forgot how much I love night running...

Also, trying to restructure my work schedule for more free time to climb/run. Hopefully going to send some backcountry walls deeeeeep in King's Canyon next week. Stoke is high.

Cypress to Ocean View to Dipsea

Hiking around on trails at mendocino rally

abs, arms

Sun valley

Sun valley. Slow.

Abs arms

Sun Valley

Abs, pushups

Good sleep last night. Quick run before going to the clinic.

Yoga & stretching.
A little sore after yesterday... Ha

Lifting today at work, realized the stress fractures in my arms are totally gone. Stoked. Time to start climbing again.

Test day to get some baseline numbers since I'm crazy out of shape. All exercises are AMRAP.
60sec pullups: 23
60sec pushups: 66
60sec situps: 35
60sec dips: 37
60sec box jumps: 34
Full pad open hand hang: 45sec

Dips are fine (still got those swimmer's triceps), marginally satisfied with pushups, everything else is way bad. In terms of climbing: feeling like I could onsight 10+ physically, only about .9 mentally; solo more like .6 WI3 M4.

Gotta get back into it slowly, but it's time to turn on the heat.

C • Siq 2

Checking out some new trails. Pretty hot, walked slow.

Pt. Reyes. Mostly flat, chill pace.