Well, it's been an interesting few months.
Some...news...in early December triggered dormant (dormant?) PTSD and I was off work for about 6 or 7 weeks. I had a lot of healing in that time, but struggled to leave the house, and had panic attacks a lot, so running was not - ideal.
Sara, my amazing coach, was super understanding, and extremely flexible in adjusting training, but even still, some weeks it felt like nothing was happening. But I started to be able to get out more and more, even if it were just for walks with the dogs (I still miss Thursday morning walks with April and Bailey!).
I went back to work on February 1st and by February 4th was on vacation for 10 days (we'd paid for it) - a cabin near Algonquin Provincial Park for 9 days and then some family medical stuff one day. We snowshoed while up there but it was not the crazy workout schedule I would've hoped - a few runs, in addition to snowshoes, some in white outs (compare to Toronto which had no snow).
We got back on the 12th. On the 19th, we went out to north of Port Hope (northeast of Toronto) for the Dion Ganaraska 8km snowshoe race. It was hot - unseasonably - I think it got up to 15C. I was hanging out before the race and ran in a tshirt.
The race was easy and quick to get to from Toronto. The parking lot was a sheet of ice but we could see lots of snow in the woods, despite it being soft from the heat. I picked up my race kit and chatted with a man who was getting into triathlons who was running his first snowshoe race. I said 'Just pace yourself - snowshoe running is more difficult than trail running which is more difficult than road running.' Actually, that's not an exact quote, but I told him to pace himself.
Went outside to hang with Toby and the dogs and to put my race bib on my tshirt, which was the Dirty Girls tshirt, and ended up speaking to a racer who'd run it as well, and we said what a shame it was that it wasn't happening anymore. He was a really nice guy, but I didn't get his name. We talked with him after the race as well (before I cooled down).
Did pre-race toilet stuff, hung out, did a warm up snowshoe (the roads being icy, though I used microspikes and cooled down on the road) then got back to the race start with 10-15 minutes before race time. Ran the warm up a bit hard, I have trouble gauging pace snowshoe running, plus it takes me awhile to warm up, so I figured - ran hard and warm up faster! Maybe not!
My legs were fine, but quickly into the race my heart rate spiked back up, not all because of the hard warm up but I think in part because of it. I think I seeded myself okay. Passed people on the first 'hill', then didn't really get passed until 1-1.5k in by some people that had clearly not seeded themselves well.
One lady passed me, and I was torn between being like 'Dammit' and 'Well, she's thin'. I kept her within sight though, of varying distances, but didn't want her getting away entirely.
The race course is a lollipop, with a 2km out, 4km loop, 2km back, and one big hill, somewhere between 3-4k if my memory serves. Before the big hill me and thin lady had passed a struggling woman who must've gone out too hard, and the rest of the race I was haunted by the thought that she was coming from behind.
Sara had said to push the flats and downhills and recover on the uphills - did so-so at this. There was one decently long flat section and I realized 'Holy you're running slow'. But that helped me refocus. Got to the top of the big hill and pushed pace, kept with thin girl (not too close) and enjoyed myself, though the race course folded a bit and I was like 'I hear voices! Oh god how close are they!!!!!' I knew all the up going out though, we'd get to go back down, and on the back half of the course I was closing on thin girl (oddly I'd close the gap on the uphills...go figure, the fat chick being fast on the ups) when she fell. I caught her, checked in with her, she was okay, so we ran together for awhile but it was pushing pace for me so I slowed and walked some. Before that though we did see an awesome paramedic directing traffic at one of the trail intersections!
One other woman caught us - I ran with her for a bit, but was gassing some - I was still running, for the most part, just tired. She went ahead.
Up the final hill (I may have walked) and then across the field to the finish! I ran across the field and like a jerk caught thin girl and passed her in what passes for the finisher's chute in a 44 person race. #jerk I'm pretty sure she was there with a triathlon club though so she should be used to jerks (I kid! I'm married to a triathlete! Seriously great people).
I finished the 8k in 1:14:36, 21/44 racers, and 11/31 women. Which is MOP for the field, kind of FOP for women - not bad for 20lbs above normal BMI!!!!!!!!! And for having PTSD screw with training!
The racers I met that day were all such lovely people, I really enjoyed myself, and race directors Erin and Joe did an amazing job marking the course - there was no question where you were going - just a solid race all round. Good swag, great race series, so much fun. Everyone was saying this is the hardest race in the series, though I've only done Frontenac and Frozen Ass (may it RIP) before, but yeah - it was harder than both of those.
High recommended!!!! Thanks again to Sara at Health and Adventure for being such a great coach and for prepping me so well in spite of myself! Used my Dion snowshoes which I've had for...4 years now? And am as in love with now as the first day I had them.
Showing posts with label Snowshoe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowshoe. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Dion Frontenac Snowshoe Race
It was a lovely weekend in Kingston and Frontenac Provincial Park north of the city.
I've been struggling to regain my fitness after Road2Hope...who knew a few weeks off would mean a huge drop off in pace and a big spike in HR. I'm still struggling to understand this. Just running a lot slower...sigh. Got to get the weight back down too. I like food way too much.
We left for Kingston on Saturday and returned Sunday, so there was no need for a housesitter for the cats and Eco. The dogs came with us. The race was Sunday morning.
That said, this isn't an 'A' race, so there was no interruption in training. We got up early Saturday morning and ran 22k which at the pace we ran it at was 85% of MHR for me (!!!!!!) so it was actually a 22k tempo run.
Which is weird, because our actual tempo runs are faster with lower HRs (yes, I need to run them faster, but I'm huffing and puffing on those...not on Saturday, I could talk). I traditionally have a higher HR in the morning, possibly because I'm dehydrated, but STILL.
Anyways, it was a good 22k run, and worked my legs.
We then drove to Frontenac Provincial Park, stopping once (legs were stiffening, just what I need for a race the next morning). We got there and bumped into Derrick and Sara, who were dropping off supplies and heading out to mark the course. We managed to get Derrick his box o' beer (I owed him one...fun to gather, though getting the Junction Stationmaster Stout in bottles was difficult as the brewery was always out and it's not available in the LCBO, but eventually, I prevailed).
We then did a short snowshoe hike on trails I've never done in Frontenac because they're so short - Doe Lake and Arab Lake Gorge. Both were nice trails, though Arab Lake Gorge was a little boardwalk-y at the start for my taste. We met a couple using snowshoes for the first time on Doe Lake and told them about the race...you never know, maybe next year they'll come out and run it!
Then we headed off to the motel, checked in, got the dogs set up in their comfy crates (you're not supposed to leave dogs unattended) and then headed to downtown Kingston to pick up Kelly and go meet our friend Rob who is doing his masters at Queens. We went to a nice pub with great food specializing in craft beer, recommended by Keith (and seconded by a guy at Junction Brewery who used to work there). Nice evening.
Sunday morning we woke up, took the dogs out, then went out to pack the car and discovered that some fucktard who must've parked drunk decided to start a third row behind our car and blocked us in. GREAT. The race is in an hour and a half and it's at least a 30 minute drive to the park.
We go in. License plate not registered. Must be a friend of a guest. We ask them to get it towed - meanwhile, I'm freaking out - how long will THAT take? OMG I'm going to miss the race. Then I said 'What about the car properly parked in front of us?' so the office called that guest, who came down and moved their car (THANK YOU!!!!!!).
I've never been tempted to key someone's car before. But I was. I didn't, but I was.
We got to the park about 9:20...ran in to check in, pee, and then I decided that maybe just maybe I had time to do a short warm up with Neb - just under 10 minutes. The only thing that did was remind me that my legs were sore and not happy with me....greeeeeat.
Oh well.
The race started, and I ran with Kelly for just over the first 3.5k. It was nice to run with her, but she was stronger that day and eventually left me behind. I passed one girl who would run faster than me, but then walk, and eventually stopped seeing her. At about 4k my legs stopped hurting and I settled into a nice, albeit slow, rhythm, and just enjoyed the day on the Corridor Trail. That was my favourite part of the race, for sure. It was just nice to be running by myself feeling good. There was nobody around me so I decided I wasn't going to race to catch people who knows how far ahead and I wasn't going to race to stave off an attack from the rear. I was just going to enjoy running by myself.
Too soon, the race was over. I wish the whole race was like the last 2.5k! Oh well. Maybe a longer warm up next time, heh. And no 22k tempo runs the day before.
I finished 38/61. Definitely not my best showing, but for my level of fitness and fat I'll take it. BOMOP, but not BOP (barely hahahaha) so hey. Dion Brighton will hopefully be a better race for me.
Then Toby and I took the dogs for a snowshoe hike along West Arkon, running into Sara who was heading out to run to de-mark the course - and I will pause to note this - the course was amazingly marked. Not only do Derrick (and Sara!) put on a great race, but they did an amazing job of marking everything. Totally well done - thanks guys!
We enjoyed the hike but SOMEONE cut a pad so when we stopped at the 4k mark for some water we realized the snow looked like a bloodbath. No limping, but rather than doing the 11k loop we did an out and back. We also weren't sure how Luc's arthritis would take 11k (he limped for a day and a half after a hilly 14k hike at the start of the month, though we've taken steps to better manage his arthritis now). Anyways, no arthritis flare ups with 8k, so that was a positive thing. Goooo Luc!
We were a bit late getting back to Toronto but it was worth it to have a hike after the race. A great weekend all around.
I've been struggling to regain my fitness after Road2Hope...who knew a few weeks off would mean a huge drop off in pace and a big spike in HR. I'm still struggling to understand this. Just running a lot slower...sigh. Got to get the weight back down too. I like food way too much.
We left for Kingston on Saturday and returned Sunday, so there was no need for a housesitter for the cats and Eco. The dogs came with us. The race was Sunday morning.
That said, this isn't an 'A' race, so there was no interruption in training. We got up early Saturday morning and ran 22k which at the pace we ran it at was 85% of MHR for me (!!!!!!) so it was actually a 22k tempo run.
Which is weird, because our actual tempo runs are faster with lower HRs (yes, I need to run them faster, but I'm huffing and puffing on those...not on Saturday, I could talk). I traditionally have a higher HR in the morning, possibly because I'm dehydrated, but STILL.
Anyways, it was a good 22k run, and worked my legs.
We then drove to Frontenac Provincial Park, stopping once (legs were stiffening, just what I need for a race the next morning). We got there and bumped into Derrick and Sara, who were dropping off supplies and heading out to mark the course. We managed to get Derrick his box o' beer (I owed him one...fun to gather, though getting the Junction Stationmaster Stout in bottles was difficult as the brewery was always out and it's not available in the LCBO, but eventually, I prevailed).
We then did a short snowshoe hike on trails I've never done in Frontenac because they're so short - Doe Lake and Arab Lake Gorge. Both were nice trails, though Arab Lake Gorge was a little boardwalk-y at the start for my taste. We met a couple using snowshoes for the first time on Doe Lake and told them about the race...you never know, maybe next year they'll come out and run it!
Then we headed off to the motel, checked in, got the dogs set up in their comfy crates (you're not supposed to leave dogs unattended) and then headed to downtown Kingston to pick up Kelly and go meet our friend Rob who is doing his masters at Queens. We went to a nice pub with great food specializing in craft beer, recommended by Keith (and seconded by a guy at Junction Brewery who used to work there). Nice evening.
Sunday morning we woke up, took the dogs out, then went out to pack the car and discovered that some fucktard who must've parked drunk decided to start a third row behind our car and blocked us in. GREAT. The race is in an hour and a half and it's at least a 30 minute drive to the park.
We go in. License plate not registered. Must be a friend of a guest. We ask them to get it towed - meanwhile, I'm freaking out - how long will THAT take? OMG I'm going to miss the race. Then I said 'What about the car properly parked in front of us?' so the office called that guest, who came down and moved their car (THANK YOU!!!!!!).
I've never been tempted to key someone's car before. But I was. I didn't, but I was.
We got to the park about 9:20...ran in to check in, pee, and then I decided that maybe just maybe I had time to do a short warm up with Neb - just under 10 minutes. The only thing that did was remind me that my legs were sore and not happy with me....greeeeeat.
Oh well.
The race started, and I ran with Kelly for just over the first 3.5k. It was nice to run with her, but she was stronger that day and eventually left me behind. I passed one girl who would run faster than me, but then walk, and eventually stopped seeing her. At about 4k my legs stopped hurting and I settled into a nice, albeit slow, rhythm, and just enjoyed the day on the Corridor Trail. That was my favourite part of the race, for sure. It was just nice to be running by myself feeling good. There was nobody around me so I decided I wasn't going to race to catch people who knows how far ahead and I wasn't going to race to stave off an attack from the rear. I was just going to enjoy running by myself.
Too soon, the race was over. I wish the whole race was like the last 2.5k! Oh well. Maybe a longer warm up next time, heh. And no 22k tempo runs the day before.
I finished 38/61. Definitely not my best showing, but for my level of fitness and fat I'll take it. BOMOP, but not BOP (barely hahahaha) so hey. Dion Brighton will hopefully be a better race for me.
Then Toby and I took the dogs for a snowshoe hike along West Arkon, running into Sara who was heading out to run to de-mark the course - and I will pause to note this - the course was amazingly marked. Not only do Derrick (and Sara!) put on a great race, but they did an amazing job of marking everything. Totally well done - thanks guys!
We enjoyed the hike but SOMEONE cut a pad so when we stopped at the 4k mark for some water we realized the snow looked like a bloodbath. No limping, but rather than doing the 11k loop we did an out and back. We also weren't sure how Luc's arthritis would take 11k (he limped for a day and a half after a hilly 14k hike at the start of the month, though we've taken steps to better manage his arthritis now). Anyways, no arthritis flare ups with 8k, so that was a positive thing. Goooo Luc!
We were a bit late getting back to Toronto but it was worth it to have a hike after the race. A great weekend all around.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
2013 Dion Frozen Ass Snowshoe Race Report
It was a fun day. Not a fast day, not a day that went as planned, but a fun day.
As my shins were bothering me, I had the best snowshoe sherpa EVER (Toby!) work on my legs before the race, so everything was feeling in tip-top shape race day.
We woke up about 6 am Sunday morning for the race, I got dressed, got the dogs out the door, and then made up some travel oatmeal and yogourt to eat while we drove. The drive went pretty smoothly - one stop for coffee (Toby can't function without it, yech on my part) and then we got to Trenton and found our way to the Batawa Ski Hill. It had snowed in Toronto, and I wanted to make sure we'd get there in good time, but it hadn't snowed east of the city and we got out there in great time. I think we were the first ones there!
Toby brought out his fancy pants camera and helped me set up the Go Pro which I wore on the chest harness to make a video which if I can work it I will link to here.
Since the race is part of the Dion Eastern Ontario Snowshoe Race series, we got a Dion beer glass with the race entry (which is awesome, now I have two) as well as some Clif products, who are another sponsor of the series.
The race started down the road near the power lines. After some race instructions, which I did not hear over the crunching of people walking on snowshoes towards the race director (more on this later), we got started. There was a 4k race and an 8k race. I was doing the 8k.
I know the race was likely to be short, as Coach Derrick's wife Sara who was running and had done the race previously told me it felt short. The race started on the hydro lines before entering snowmobile trails. Fairly soon we hit the 4k turnaround - I had passed the one guy I was pacing off of, and traded places with another runner who had passed me again and was running not too far ahead.
Then we got to a spot on the trail where there was a small tree down across the trail and the red marking tape on it.
Apparently the race director had said 'turn left at the tree'. This was probably said while everyone was crunching, because I didn't hear it. And it was a hard left, leaving the snowmobile trail and going onto smaller less defined trail. The girl ahead of me went straight, and even though I felt some disquiet - why was the tree taped? Were we supposed to turn? Or was it taped so that people would see it? - I followed her.
I then spent a fair bit of time wondering if we were on the right trail, and when we would start seeing the leaders coming back. I wondered if the girl in front was looking to see if she could see snowshoe tracks on the trail.
Eventually I passed her, and couldn't really see any. As I was deciding that in fact there were none, we came to a spot where there was an intersection and no flagging tape. There had been flagging tape, old compared to the course flagging tape, but still flagging tape. So the girl and I consulted and decided to go back. At this point I was certain the tree was flagged so that you didn't go straight. Sure enough we got back to the tree and saw the front-runners coming down the big hill. I have to admit, I walked up the hill - I figured I had added at least a kilometre onto the course, and wasn't racing anyone other than the other girl who went off course, and she was now behind me. I saw Sara on her way down, and started running again once I got to the top. Heading towards the turn around I saw the guy I'd passed ages ago and he said I was almost at the turnaround (which I got to and realized that the course was definitely short). I headed back up another good-sized hill and saw the other girl heading towards the turnaround.
I was ahead of her, but I wanted to beat her - totally MY fault I went off course, my responsibility to know the course, and my dumb for following another racer - but I still wanted to beat her. So when I got to the start of the hill I tried to run at a good pace and heading down the big hill I figured I had an advantage with my Dion snowshoes and good cleats (she was wearing the Northern Lite running snowshoes, and I have Northern Lites for backpacking and the cleats suck on the descents, one reason why I went with the Dions).
At the Dion Frontenac Snowshoe Race, I got passed in the last 50 metres or so, and wanted to avoid this happening, so when I got to the flatter section (some slight rolling hills, I suppose, but mostly going down) I tried to stay consistent and speed up a bit. I crossed the road and headed back into the powerlines and knew I was almost done. In the end, I put quite a bit of distance on the girl and came in ahead very comfortably.
My Garmin showed 8.28k. I played the track in Garmin Connect and going off course for the additional out and back added on 1.2k. I finished in 1:02, so not fast, but I'm still good with it.
I realized I need to learn how to pace a snowshoe race. Obviously I need to do more snowshoe running. I can run a lot faster not on snowshoes (duh) but since snowshoe running is so much harder I think I pace myself easier than I need to. That said, my legs were tired biking the next day, but not terribly so. I just hadn't expected them to be at all.
One positive - when I ran the Frontenac race, which was shorter, my core was tired at the end (cardio and legs fine). This time, my core was fine - I've been doing some easy core work 3X/week and it looks like it is paying off.
Coming in at the finish:
Despite going off course, I had a great time. I got to see Derrick and Sara, which was nice, and picked up some new UltrAspire product from Derrick as well as borrowing a Joe Strummer book, which is a good read so far.
As my shins were bothering me, I had the best snowshoe sherpa EVER (Toby!) work on my legs before the race, so everything was feeling in tip-top shape race day.
We woke up about 6 am Sunday morning for the race, I got dressed, got the dogs out the door, and then made up some travel oatmeal and yogourt to eat while we drove. The drive went pretty smoothly - one stop for coffee (Toby can't function without it, yech on my part) and then we got to Trenton and found our way to the Batawa Ski Hill. It had snowed in Toronto, and I wanted to make sure we'd get there in good time, but it hadn't snowed east of the city and we got out there in great time. I think we were the first ones there!
Toby brought out his fancy pants camera and helped me set up the Go Pro which I wore on the chest harness to make a video which if I can work it I will link to here.
Since the race is part of the Dion Eastern Ontario Snowshoe Race series, we got a Dion beer glass with the race entry (which is awesome, now I have two) as well as some Clif products, who are another sponsor of the series.
The race started down the road near the power lines. After some race instructions, which I did not hear over the crunching of people walking on snowshoes towards the race director (more on this later), we got started. There was a 4k race and an 8k race. I was doing the 8k.
I know the race was likely to be short, as Coach Derrick's wife Sara who was running and had done the race previously told me it felt short. The race started on the hydro lines before entering snowmobile trails. Fairly soon we hit the 4k turnaround - I had passed the one guy I was pacing off of, and traded places with another runner who had passed me again and was running not too far ahead.
Then we got to a spot on the trail where there was a small tree down across the trail and the red marking tape on it.
Apparently the race director had said 'turn left at the tree'. This was probably said while everyone was crunching, because I didn't hear it. And it was a hard left, leaving the snowmobile trail and going onto smaller less defined trail. The girl ahead of me went straight, and even though I felt some disquiet - why was the tree taped? Were we supposed to turn? Or was it taped so that people would see it? - I followed her.
I then spent a fair bit of time wondering if we were on the right trail, and when we would start seeing the leaders coming back. I wondered if the girl in front was looking to see if she could see snowshoe tracks on the trail.
Eventually I passed her, and couldn't really see any. As I was deciding that in fact there were none, we came to a spot where there was an intersection and no flagging tape. There had been flagging tape, old compared to the course flagging tape, but still flagging tape. So the girl and I consulted and decided to go back. At this point I was certain the tree was flagged so that you didn't go straight. Sure enough we got back to the tree and saw the front-runners coming down the big hill. I have to admit, I walked up the hill - I figured I had added at least a kilometre onto the course, and wasn't racing anyone other than the other girl who went off course, and she was now behind me. I saw Sara on her way down, and started running again once I got to the top. Heading towards the turn around I saw the guy I'd passed ages ago and he said I was almost at the turnaround (which I got to and realized that the course was definitely short). I headed back up another good-sized hill and saw the other girl heading towards the turnaround.
I was ahead of her, but I wanted to beat her - totally MY fault I went off course, my responsibility to know the course, and my dumb for following another racer - but I still wanted to beat her. So when I got to the start of the hill I tried to run at a good pace and heading down the big hill I figured I had an advantage with my Dion snowshoes and good cleats (she was wearing the Northern Lite running snowshoes, and I have Northern Lites for backpacking and the cleats suck on the descents, one reason why I went with the Dions).
At the Dion Frontenac Snowshoe Race, I got passed in the last 50 metres or so, and wanted to avoid this happening, so when I got to the flatter section (some slight rolling hills, I suppose, but mostly going down) I tried to stay consistent and speed up a bit. I crossed the road and headed back into the powerlines and knew I was almost done. In the end, I put quite a bit of distance on the girl and came in ahead very comfortably.
My Garmin showed 8.28k. I played the track in Garmin Connect and going off course for the additional out and back added on 1.2k. I finished in 1:02, so not fast, but I'm still good with it.
I realized I need to learn how to pace a snowshoe race. Obviously I need to do more snowshoe running. I can run a lot faster not on snowshoes (duh) but since snowshoe running is so much harder I think I pace myself easier than I need to. That said, my legs were tired biking the next day, but not terribly so. I just hadn't expected them to be at all.
One positive - when I ran the Frontenac race, which was shorter, my core was tired at the end (cardio and legs fine). This time, my core was fine - I've been doing some easy core work 3X/week and it looks like it is paying off.
Coming in at the finish:
Despite going off course, I had a great time. I got to see Derrick and Sara, which was nice, and picked up some new UltrAspire product from Derrick as well as borrowing a Joe Strummer book, which is a good read so far.
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