Sincerely,
Beth, who thought this was funny!
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Sailfest 5K - Recap
I'm really not sure what possessed me to agree to running this race. Mostly I knew I needed 10 miles this weekend and well on my own that definitely wasn't about to happen and a 5K would at least get me 3 and over my 25 miles per week goal. So I agreed. Yeah, I alternated beer / water on my post ride hydration, someone caught me at a weak moment? Or maybe I just like hanging out with the SNERRO (Southern New England Road Race Officials)? Anyhow, I was told the race started at 9:30 I would be up and moving early as Dave was going to be up and moving early, I might as well.
Dave suggested I don't understand the concept of recovery as he left for his Sunday ride.
Huh...
Results here.
Me!
Bib 105
30:13 (9:45 Pace)
Overall: 143 / 235
Age: 9/18
Race actually started at 9:15 I made it in the nick of time to get a bib and run! Whoops, a warm up may have been nice, ah, why waste what little energy I did have!
Saw a few folks I knew before the race, nice to see Matthew smile and then get mad because I saw him smile. Great race to both Matthew and Jeff!
It is 3.1 miles and what can you say, I started out with Bob B and his kids and his daughter zipped off and he and his son hung back for a while and as Bob passed he asked how my legs were feeling. Bob, not so good, they are pretty mad (we weren't even through mile 1 yet). He snickered, thanks Bob. I sucked it up and ran.
A trio of chatty people were behind me. And as they passed one of the women was pregnant. That is about as bad as getting passed by the mom and the stroller. Ok maybe it is worse. We hit the first rise and this trio walks, till the point I'm passing them and now it's time to run, really? Whatever, I go forth up this rise and think about the hills from yesterday's ride and realize that I can do this, right foot left foot right foot left foot. After reading so many race recaps from the top 10 guys in races, I think this is pretty much what they do also, except they are also gritting through the pain of running that fast. I don't know if I'll ever be able to embrace that pain for more than 1/3 of a mile then take a walk break for a few yards and then run again....
Huh...
After that little rise it is down hill for nearly a mile? I passed the chatty trio and never really saw them again, even with the final rise before the final decent to the finish line.
I did happen to drastically slow down after I crossed the finish line. That chute post finish line was more than adequate for two people across, so I was rather surprised to hear the gal who finished behind me loudly suggested I get out of her way.
Huh...
So there you have it, nothing spectacular. I'd of like to be under 30, but I did stop and drink a cup of water at the water stop, that's probably where that 14 seconds came from. I'm happy with this as speed work is going to be tough as I am in NY all week. So I'll call this speed work a few days ahead of time?
Had a couple beers and couple slices of pizza with the SNERRO crew and ventured my way on home to clean the house and pack for NY for a week.
Sincerely,
Beth, yeah, I'm feeling a wee bit sarcastic, and actually glad I ran the race!
Dave suggested I don't understand the concept of recovery as he left for his Sunday ride.
Huh...
Results here.
Me!
Bib 105
30:13 (9:45 Pace)
Overall: 143 / 235
Age: 9/18
Race actually started at 9:15 I made it in the nick of time to get a bib and run! Whoops, a warm up may have been nice, ah, why waste what little energy I did have!
Saw a few folks I knew before the race, nice to see Matthew smile and then get mad because I saw him smile. Great race to both Matthew and Jeff!
It is 3.1 miles and what can you say, I started out with Bob B and his kids and his daughter zipped off and he and his son hung back for a while and as Bob passed he asked how my legs were feeling. Bob, not so good, they are pretty mad (we weren't even through mile 1 yet). He snickered, thanks Bob. I sucked it up and ran.
A trio of chatty people were behind me. And as they passed one of the women was pregnant. That is about as bad as getting passed by the mom and the stroller. Ok maybe it is worse. We hit the first rise and this trio walks, till the point I'm passing them and now it's time to run, really? Whatever, I go forth up this rise and think about the hills from yesterday's ride and realize that I can do this, right foot left foot right foot left foot. After reading so many race recaps from the top 10 guys in races, I think this is pretty much what they do also, except they are also gritting through the pain of running that fast. I don't know if I'll ever be able to embrace that pain for more than 1/3 of a mile then take a walk break for a few yards and then run again....
Huh...
After that little rise it is down hill for nearly a mile? I passed the chatty trio and never really saw them again, even with the final rise before the final decent to the finish line.
I did happen to drastically slow down after I crossed the finish line. That chute post finish line was more than adequate for two people across, so I was rather surprised to hear the gal who finished behind me loudly suggested I get out of her way.
Huh...
So there you have it, nothing spectacular. I'd of like to be under 30, but I did stop and drink a cup of water at the water stop, that's probably where that 14 seconds came from. I'm happy with this as speed work is going to be tough as I am in NY all week. So I'll call this speed work a few days ahead of time?
Had a couple beers and couple slices of pizza with the SNERRO crew and ventured my way on home to clean the house and pack for NY for a week.
Sincerely,
Beth, yeah, I'm feeling a wee bit sarcastic, and actually glad I ran the race!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Western Hills Ride - Recap
Ok, yes, it's not totally normal to recap a ride. However... It's my blog and I can do what I want to...
A week out from the Mt. Washington Century, and I've been sweating it, 100 miles and 4,875 elevation gain. I've looked over other rides I've done and for half + the distance I've been gaining good elevation. Still, I'm one to continually self doubt, so that's what I did.
Perusing through the Narraganset Bay Wheelmen rides I was looking for something between 85 - 90 for a long ride for this weekend, away from the shore, but close to home. I landed on #43 - Western Hills. Described as follows:
Scenic Notes: A rolling, hilly tour of Southwestern RI through the villages of Slocum, Exeter, West Greenwich, Green, Foster, Clayville, and Coventry. The long loop makes a swing through CT before skirting the Scituate Reservoir. Note: There are few food stops on this rural ride, so carry food and water.
Ok sure, sounds like fun.
I downloaded the GPX, glanced at the elevation profile and thought, oh, that's a lot of hills, your either going up one or down one, the description says rolling. And I promptly forgot about it. Never did look to the lower RH corner to see the elevation gain of 5,169, probably a good thing? I did note that this was rural and there weren't a lot of places to stop for water.
Made plans to meet up with Sara at mile 30. I average 14/15 MPH so I said 10 a.m. Not even 10 miles in, it became clear 10 was not going to happen and I figured 10:15. I texted Sara with the new time, 10:15ish. She was there on time, 20 minutes later, mizz thing here shows up... shit... It was relentless hills for the first 30 miles. Sara looked a bit dubious and a little ticked, who wouldn't be. I should have texted again. I hate being late, and I was HATING this ride.
Focusing on dampening my inner Julie Urbanski hiking the PCT and the AT and concentrating on the Julie who hiked the CDT, and focused on the journey not the destination and singing some stupid pop song over and over in my head.
I saw the store, mile 34, when you make the right on to Gibson Hill road (was there NOT a road on this whole route with the word HILL in it???) I knew I was going to need water. Yet, I didn't stop. Really, was it going to be that bad? Yes, yes it was. Nothing for another 30 miles. IF you do this ride, stop and get water, seriously.
I sucked it up, as Sara and I had just started, and skipped the store, yes I was 30 miles into this and she was 15 (17 I think is the actual number but that whole math thing may be important later so I'll stick with 15) and technically I should be through on bottle of water. So noted.
The hills were just as relentless and actually taller than the first 30 miles. I'm arm chair quarterbacking this reflecting on the elevation chart I so nonchalantly tossed aside. Mile 50 I had to take a break. I sucked down the last of my water, stupid... and ate a bar. Sara was dropping at mile 60 and she assured me there would be stuff there, we would be back in civilization. We gave directions to a lost motorcyclist and ventured on our way. Neither of us are very chatty and have a hard time hearing and biking so conversation was limited to when we could ride double, not often and when we stopped. Running is far more a buddy activity with jibber jabber.
Mile 60 hit and Sara ventured off only a few miles from home. Later I found out not even a mile from home she fell over on her bike and bent her handle bar. YIKES!! I went on in search of hydration. I found a place. Damn if it didn't look familiar. Eventually I recognized it as the place Jennifer and I run past when we run the bike path. Cool. They had all sorts of hydration $6 and two bottles of water a bottle of sweet tea (I don't usually drink this, too sweet) and some lemon Zero power water thingy, the lemon attracted me, I could give a crap less about calories at this point, but should have checked for what chemicals were in the stuff. Barely getting out of the store I slugged down half a bottle of water. Then that sweet tea and never tasted the sugar. Half the lemon stuff was depleted and I poured the other half into my electrolyte bottle and filled the regular water bottle and what was left dumped in the electrolyte bottle. I was no where close to any sort of true dehydration, however this is one of those things that scares me. Biking is so much cooler than running. The sweat gets wisked away by the wind and cools me down...
I texted Jennifer while hydrating and she talked me off the ledge. I talk her off the ledge she talks me off the ledge, this is how it works. She assured me there was no way in hell she was getting on her bike and biking for a mile to accompany me. Smart woman. For the last 25 miles of the ride, I sucked it up and pedaled. This seems to be how most of my distance activities end. Suck it up and right foot left foot. I did take the time to enjoy the scenery and the unfreakingspectacular weather we were having. It was a good journey. I am glad it is over. I was so very happy to see Vinnie there waiting for me all boiling hot in the sun!!
So there you have it...
Sincerely,
Beth, learning that yeah, stuff sucks, and the journey is always worth it, and she really really hates the bike shorts she thought she loved so she bought two more pair of them.... damn it.
A week out from the Mt. Washington Century, and I've been sweating it, 100 miles and 4,875 elevation gain. I've looked over other rides I've done and for half + the distance I've been gaining good elevation. Still, I'm one to continually self doubt, so that's what I did.
Perusing through the Narraganset Bay Wheelmen rides I was looking for something between 85 - 90 for a long ride for this weekend, away from the shore, but close to home. I landed on #43 - Western Hills. Described as follows:
Scenic Notes: A rolling, hilly tour of Southwestern RI through the villages of Slocum, Exeter, West Greenwich, Green, Foster, Clayville, and Coventry. The long loop makes a swing through CT before skirting the Scituate Reservoir. Note: There are few food stops on this rural ride, so carry food and water.
Ok sure, sounds like fun.
I downloaded the GPX, glanced at the elevation profile and thought, oh, that's a lot of hills, your either going up one or down one, the description says rolling. And I promptly forgot about it. Never did look to the lower RH corner to see the elevation gain of 5,169, probably a good thing? I did note that this was rural and there weren't a lot of places to stop for water.
Made plans to meet up with Sara at mile 30. I average 14/15 MPH so I said 10 a.m. Not even 10 miles in, it became clear 10 was not going to happen and I figured 10:15. I texted Sara with the new time, 10:15ish. She was there on time, 20 minutes later, mizz thing here shows up... shit... It was relentless hills for the first 30 miles. Sara looked a bit dubious and a little ticked, who wouldn't be. I should have texted again. I hate being late, and I was HATING this ride.
Focusing on dampening my inner Julie Urbanski hiking the PCT and the AT and concentrating on the Julie who hiked the CDT, and focused on the journey not the destination and singing some stupid pop song over and over in my head.
I saw the store, mile 34, when you make the right on to Gibson Hill road (was there NOT a road on this whole route with the word HILL in it???) I knew I was going to need water. Yet, I didn't stop. Really, was it going to be that bad? Yes, yes it was. Nothing for another 30 miles. IF you do this ride, stop and get water, seriously.
I sucked it up, as Sara and I had just started, and skipped the store, yes I was 30 miles into this and she was 15 (17 I think is the actual number but that whole math thing may be important later so I'll stick with 15) and technically I should be through on bottle of water. So noted.
The hills were just as relentless and actually taller than the first 30 miles. I'm arm chair quarterbacking this reflecting on the elevation chart I so nonchalantly tossed aside. Mile 50 I had to take a break. I sucked down the last of my water, stupid... and ate a bar. Sara was dropping at mile 60 and she assured me there would be stuff there, we would be back in civilization. We gave directions to a lost motorcyclist and ventured on our way. Neither of us are very chatty and have a hard time hearing and biking so conversation was limited to when we could ride double, not often and when we stopped. Running is far more a buddy activity with jibber jabber.
 |
| The yellow starts and ends where Sara joined me. Clearly the first 30 were not that bad, And take a peek back at that first elevation, that doesn't look so bad. This? This really was what it felt like. |
I texted Jennifer while hydrating and she talked me off the ledge. I talk her off the ledge she talks me off the ledge, this is how it works. She assured me there was no way in hell she was getting on her bike and biking for a mile to accompany me. Smart woman. For the last 25 miles of the ride, I sucked it up and pedaled. This seems to be how most of my distance activities end. Suck it up and right foot left foot. I did take the time to enjoy the scenery and the unfreakingspectacular weather we were having. It was a good journey. I am glad it is over. I was so very happy to see Vinnie there waiting for me all boiling hot in the sun!!
So there you have it...
Sincerely,
Beth, learning that yeah, stuff sucks, and the journey is always worth it, and she really really hates the bike shorts she thought she loved so she bought two more pair of them.... damn it.
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