Red Top Roaster 2013--9.9 mile trail run

 This summer I have been focusing on trail running since something crazy possessed me to sign up for a 6 hr trail run in September.  At the time (Late Spring) I was thinking:  I like running and I LOVE nature and hiking, so a trail run sounds fabulous! That was before I had really run any legit trails with a goal time in mind.  Fast forward to my first long distance trail run in June, and I was seriously doubting my abilities.  Turns out I chose a trail area that was more technical than I was prepared for, and I also kept choosing the trails less traveled (for good reason it turned out) and ended up with a face full of spider webs (including the spiders) and rolling an ankle here and there on rocks and roots.

I stuck it out and did 11 miles that day, and it took me FOREVER.  I was sore in places I had never been sore before...but I also LOVED the feeling of accomplishment that came with it!  I went home and started researching how to get faster on the trails and techniques for downhill running.  Every weekend after that I went to a different trail system, getting lost, finding my way, overcoming obstacles, and getting stronger and more confident.  

The Red Top Roaster seemed like a perfect race for my first official trail race.  I new it was a hilly course and would be hot...but I had been training in those conditions, so I was ready!

Location:  Red Top Mountain State Park
Date: August 3rd 2013
Weather: Hot and HUMID
Start time: 8:00 AM
Porta Potty Line: LONG

After doing triathlons, it always seems weird to go to a race in only running attire.  No wetsuit, no bike--I'm just here to run!  It was a beautiful morning and beautiful sunrise. 







I arrived with plenty of time to check in, say hi to my friend Liz (a.k.a. Mountain Goat) who was working the check-in table and also running the 9.9 mile course. 

I wandered around and stretched a little, checked out the competition.  There were definitely some runners with their eyes set on the prize, and I did not want to get in their way!  When they lined up at the front (Mountain Goat was up near the front too!), I placed myself near the back.  The last thing I needed was to get trampled! Besides, I was treating this as a training run, right?  Hahaha, that's such a funny and naive thing to think :)  If you have an ounce of competitiveness in your bones, then when the race starts something inside you wants to push as hard as you can.  Of course I started out faster than planned.  I knew what was coming though, so I made myself slow down to some degree to conserve some energy for some big hills coming up.

This course was TOUGH.  It was not very technical, but it was hilly...and hot and humid.  I had my camelback with me and was so glad.  The first water stop wasn't until we had gone about 3.5 miles!  I would have died without my water!  From there on out I was pouring the cool water at the aid stations all over my head and chest to attempt to cool down.  It wasn't called the Red Top ROASTER for nothin! 

One thing I like about trail racing is that it is OKAY to walk up the hills...even during a race!  There isn't much time for your heart rate to come down on courses like this unless you walk the hills.  Even running downhill is exhausting on  your muscles (But fun!) :) 

I definitely pushed myself during this race and around mile 7 I was wondering when it would be over.  I was sweating buckets and continuing to push myself so that I could reach my goal of finishing in sub-2 hours. 

And....

I did it in 1:57!!!

Near the end of the course, you emerge from the woods and run onto the asphalt parking lot.  People were directing us to a little paved path, which led to the finish line.  I honestly wasn't sure what mile I was at since GPS gets a little behind when running on trails (see photo to the left.  It was officially 9.9 miles, but GPS said 9.46).  The volunteers were yelling "You're almost there, keept it up!  Follow the path to the finish!"

Well, let me tell you...that "path to the finish" wound around for what seemed like an eternity until FINALLY I crossed the finish line!  Mountain Goat had finished way before me and snagged the 2nd overall female podium spot!  She was there cheering me on as I crossed the line and almost vomited all over.  Luckily I just felt like vomiting and did not actually follow through :) 

 We stood around talking for a bit as I dripped puddles of sweat and tried not to pass out :P 

I am definitely addicted to trail running.  It's tough, but totally worth it!  It is so nice to get out of the city and away from running around busy roads. 

Trail runners are a great group of people too, and I want to be part of the group! 

Jazz hands!

Mountain Goat and her medal!  

Race Report: Richard B. Russell Olympic Tri 2013

I'm sitting inside on my day of rest after an exhausting weekend, listening to the daily thunderstorm roll in, and decided it's time to catch up on some blog posts.  If you live in the Atlanta area, then you know what a weird summer we have had weather-wise.  Cooler temps than a usual Georgia summer, BUT it has rained almost every day for what seems like MONTHS, which means the humidity has been ridiculous.  I have gotten lots of cool cloud photos though :)

 I naturally sweat a lot when I exercise, so when you add 99% humidity to the mix, it ain't pretty.  This past Saturday was my last triathlon of the season.  It was humid at the start and hot and sunny by the end.  My training buddy and I have done this race for the past 3 years and use it to gauge our progress in the sport.  It's part of the Tri the Parks race series, and takes place in a nice state park in Elberton, Georgia--about 2 hours from Atlanta.  The first year, we spent the night in a pretty low-end motel.  Last year we decided to drive up race morning thinking it was better to 1) save money 2) get a good night's sleep in our own beds and 3) not catch bed bugs or anything else.  It meant waking up by 2:30 a.m., but it worked out well, so that's what we did this year. 

They had cute shirts this year--I might have to break my "no pink" policy!

We left a little later than planned, and had a little GPS hiccup, but made it there an hour before transition closed and had plenty of time to set up our transition area, use the bathroom, meet new people, and do a little warmup swim.  What we didn't do was take any photos pre-race! 

This summer my training has actually not been triathlon focused.  And by that I mean I haven't really been swimming very much.  I knew I was being stupid about it and knew that this would not bode well for my swim time in the race, but I was fairly confident that my bike and run would be stronger than last year. In the beginning of the summer I was focused on completing my first century ride (which was GREAT!) and then began training for a 6 hour trail run that is happening in September (eek!).  SO it should be no surprise that my swim time for the 1500 meter course was 3 minutes slower than last year, and I take all the blame for that!

SWIM

The swim course was a 2 loop course. In years past we would get out of the lake and run on the beach around a cone before hopping back in for lap 2.  This year, however, the water level was so high, there wasn't much of a beach to run onto, so we stayed in the water and swam around a buoy to continue onto loop 2.

The swim was in a lake and the water was about 85 degrees.  For some reason the water seemed to be choppy, and I just felt like I was struggling through some of it.  I had a pretty good idea I was slow when I realized I was amidst the group of people who would stop to breast stroke and kick me unexpectedly.  That is never a pleasant experience, but it comes with the territory!

I was so glad to get out of the water!  I was a little disoriented, but once I snapped out of it I started running to transition, and I really picked up some speed running barefoot on that asphalt.  I think it was because I looked at my watch and thought "Oh Shiiiit! I have some catching up to do!". 

In transition after the race

BIKE

The bike is a nice 22 mile course that has a few good-sized hills, but mostly fast. Within the first few miles of the bike I was in race mode and passed 2 women, then I saw a police car on the side of the road and a fellow triathlete in a ditch along with her bike.  She seemed to be alert and talking, but we heard later that she broke something (an elbow I think).  I said a quick prayer and sent her some positive thoughts, and then my mind went back into race mode.  I DID have some catching up to do after all!

At about mile 3 of this course we hit the toughest climb.  It is especially tough because you are still getting your bearings after being horizontal in the swim with water in your ears and getting your leg muscles going.  I've been training on a lot of hills and knew the course, so it wasn't a problem.  I passed a few more women and some men on that climb, and a few more on the descent (turns out I'm a speed demon in the car AND the bike!).  The roads flattened out a bit and I got into my aerobars where I stayed for most of the ride.  I was really pushing it on the bike and ended up completing it in 1:13 at an 18.6 mph average--3 minutes faster than last year!

So I made up the 3 mins from my swim time on the bike and needed to speed up my run in order to better my overall time.

I tried to smile as much as possible during the race too!

RUN

The 6.2 mile run is a 2 loop course, which I like because then I get to see my friends who are faster than me and give a holler!  Most of the course is in direct sun, and it was a hot day!  People were stopping to stretch because of heat-induced cramping issues and there was quite a bit of walking.  I tried to run as much as possible, but I pushed so hard on the bike, I was already overheating by the time I started running.  My right calf and hamstring was tight and on the verge of cramping up, so I made sure to drink plenty of water and pop a few salt tabs. 

There was so much sweating going on, I looked like I had just gotten out of the lake.  Beads of sweat on my arms, even hands! It was pretty challenging, but I kept it going and crossed the line in 3 hours and 2 minutes.  One of my goals is to complete this course in under 3 hours, and I missed it by 2 minutes, BUT there is always next year.  This year I ran 4 minutes faster finishing the run in 1:04 and finishing the entire race 4 minutes faster than last year, so I am happy :) 

I have to send out a huge congratulations to my friend and training buddy, Kimberly, who finished 3rd in her age group (which is also my age group :P)! Way to go, girl! You earned it!  

We look pretty good for an AFTER photo, don't we? :)

As usual, Tri the Parks put on another great race with great volunteers, and I am thankful for everyone who helped make it a success!

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Side Notes/lessons learned:

1) PLEASE stay to the right when on the bike unless you are passing or there is a hazard in the road.  It is NOT ok to take up the entire lane.  For example, on one of the fastest descents a man was swerving to the left and could not hear me yelling as I approached, so I had to cross the yellow line to pass. 

2) I made the mistake of wearing a new Tri top for the first time during the race and discovered the bottom of it rolled up and it was too loose on top so it felt like a parachute with the wind on the bike.  It is so difficult to find a comfortable figure flattering tri outfit for my body type--always too loose in one place and too tight in another :(  The lesson here is: Never try anything new on race day!