Xterra trail run at San Tan Mountain Regional Park Race Report

I was actually able to get a good nights sleep, the night before. In my head I just kept my thoughts calm and acted like I was just going into another long training run in the morning. 

I arrived early, as I still needed to pick up my packet/number/shirt etc. 

It was cold outside for me, so I dressed in a long sleeved shirt and warm up pants. I also had a coat on while walking around and stretching. 

While walking around I started drinking my pre-workout supplement about a half-hour before the start. 

I knew the weather was suppose to stay cooler, but I wanted to make sure I didn't over dress. So I opted for just my Arctic Cool shirt and my running shorts. I stashed two energy bars and two gels in my Orange Mud hydra-quiver along with a water bottle with some electrolytes in it. 

I planned on using what I was carrying for emergency purposes, and using the water and other nutrition from the four aid stations they were going to have on the course. 

The race started on time. It took me about two miles to warm up and get in a groove. There was one incline during the portion of the trail, and I kept running a pretty good pace up it. 

The next part I would encounter on the trail, was the part I got lost on during a training run, two weeks prior. The course was marked really well with ground markers on stakes and tied in the branches of trees. This portion of the trail is mainly in a desert wash. This made for tough running, like in sand along a beach. There was a four mile stretch of this, at times, thick sand. 

Climbing up out of the wash, I knew the trail was going to be more single track and hard packed trail. 

I was feeling good and was monitoring my heart rate, to not go out to fast and blow up. 

My upper legs were feeling tired from the motion of having to pick them up so high from the sandy wash area. 

The rest of the trail after coming out of the wash, I knew what to expect elevation-wise. When to rest up and walk if needed and when the down hill run could help me gain some time. On the backside of Dynamite trail, I know is a good 1.5 mile downhill before heading up the Goldmine trail. The saddle at Goldmine trail hits at about mile 12.5 and a good downhill from there to the finish line. 

I ended up fast walking up Goldmine trail. I was happy after getting to the top, knowing I was within two miles from the finish. 

I beat my person goal by almost 20 minutes to finish the 14 mile trail run. 

I plan on taking some time off, but know where I need to begin to get faster and improve myself overall for my cycling, mountain biking and running in 2019. 

Seven minutes !

I am pretty excited. This past weekend during my training trail run, I was able to shave off seven minutes from the previous weeks run. The same distance and all. I really focused this week hard to try and speed up my running on the course. I tried not to walk as much and really conserved my energy on the steep inclines. I am really satisfied with the shoe/sock/footbed insole I have been running in. My legs don’t feel beat up like they were in my older broken down zero drop running shoes. They weren’t trail running shoes to begin with so that had a little to do how I felt running. I glanced down at my Suunto Spartan every so often to check my heart rate. The majority of the 8.5 mile run, I was in my Zone 4. I didn’t feel my breathing was labored at all. 

The last three weeks I have followed up my training trail runs with a good “leg day” workout. The leg resistance bands are paying off to.  

This next weekend I plan on getting some good mountain bike trail miles in, as the mountain bike race I am doing is a week before my trail running race. 

Feeling strong out on the trail. I need to also in the next few weeks, before taking two weeks off for a family vacation, bump up my longest distance to 10 miles. 

Week and weekend recap

Eight mile trail run to start off Labor Day! 

This past weekend, a three-day, Labor Day holiday weekend, I moved my long run to Monday. 

Saturday I joined a group bike ride, for 33 miles. I did the same route a week ago with the same group. This time the heat was back in the desert. I still had a great time and focused on my heart rate staying high in the long mountain climb.  I was surprised for not having the amount of food (fuel) I had before hand I felt really good. Kept up on the hydration. 

Took Sunday off to recover and slept in a little, which is rare. 

Monday, I set out on an early morning start trail run. I planned on at least six miles and was able to get a total of eight in before heading back to the vehicle. A little cloud cover and rain the night before had the air temperature down and felt good. 

Training update from over the weekend

This weekend’s training sessions went very well. I can start to tell I am getting more comfortable getting my heart rate up in my Zones 3 and 4. 

I was going to do my long run on Saturday and follow it up with a road ride to help the legs recover. I did it the opposite though.  I rode with a group ride Saturday morning. Under an odd cloud cover and some sprinkles. The out and back round trip 33 mile course I had ridden numerous times before.  It has a good climb in it. I rode it harder than I have before, feeling very strong and able to keep up with more riders than in the past. Set some new PR’s on Strava segments. Nutrition and hydration were spot on. Felt energized the entire time. 

Sunrise at the top of Goldmine! 

Followed it up Sunday with a 6.5 mile trail run. The miles taking place on the course I am running on in November. Once again the cooler morning temperatures helped. I set some PR’s on a few segments here too, but also did a fair amount of walking getting used to the terrain. There is one steep hill, a good 500 foot climb, I was able to get in twice before I was finished for the day.  Hydration was good, but I could have eaten a little more to keep my pace up I believe. 

Not sure what the next three-day Labor Day weekend will have in store. 

I would like to get a good eight or nine mile run under my belt, and I think I am up for it. 

Training is going well and as expected, but I still need to work on getting more training in. 

Training about to kick into high gear

Training is about to kick into high gear. Two races are coming up this fall.  They will be signed up and then make them totally accountable for in the next few weeks. 

The first is the team of four, mountain bike race. The team with the most laps in the eight hour period wins.  Each rider takes on the 10 mile course lap, one member out on the course at a time. 

The second race, is the next weekend from the mountain bike race, but this time it is a trail running race. The distance is 14 miles, so its just over the half-marathon mark. 

Focusing on running.....well kind of

I have begun to really focus on my running. I have a trail run on my calendar for November.  So the past few weeks I have begun focusing more on my running. The training runs have moved to early morning to avoid the heat of the summer here in Arizona. I am feeling stronger and getting faster already. I am not out to set any record breaking times or anything but just finish it. Tried a few new pairs of shoes and am really leaning towards the HOKA ONE ONE Speed Goat trail running shoe.  The two pairs of my own shoes, I am using right now are breaking down. I will need to get a new pair of shoes before too long. The race is 14 miles long, so just over the half-marathon mark. My training so far has been on streets and sidewalks. I will need to get out on the trail soon and get used to the uneven trails with rocks every so often. 

Focused on some running while bike is needing repairs

The last week I have started up getting back in to running. I need to start getting a good base under my belt, as I am looking at a trail running race in the fall. 

Not to mention I am waiting on a few parts to get both my road and mountain bike tuned up and ready for a good year of riding. 

Friday afternoon, I came home and started to prep my road bike for a group ride on Saturday. Both tires were flat. I swapped out the bad tubes for new ones. I inflated them and prepped the bike on the car rack for Saturday’s ride. This would be the last weekend for later start group rides, with the summer heat arriving early. 

Saturday morning, I woke up got dressed and grabbed my gear. I happened to check the tires before leaving and both were flat again. The tubes were good as well as the tires, but I’m thinking it was the rim strips, even though I checked them before.  With the great weather outside, I loaded up a water bottle in my Orange Mud Hydra Quiver, put my running shoes on and got out the door.  I went for a six mile run, not really focused on speed, but just the long steady distance. 

I felt great the entire time. Slowing down and walking a few times. Watched my heart rate so I didn’t get it too high and explode myself out there. 

I will continue running and have some repairs/tune ups to do on my bikes went the parts get shipped.