April 2008

April 08
The weather is turning and the snow is fading away and we are seeing some warmer weather. However, this is Central Oregon and the weather can change fast. One week it was 32 degrees F and snowing for a race and the next week it was 70 degrees F and sunny.

I also hired a coach this month to help me reach my goals for 2008. Andy Martin who I met back in Feburary at our Church is a Marathon Runner and ex-Ironman Triathlete, both of which is has/is competing professionally, and is a certified trainer as well. Having a coach with his experience is great for developing my work outs and holding me accountable. I have never had a coach before and I must say they really do help.

First race of the month was Horse Butte 10 miler. 32 degrees F and snowing at the start. And as the title of the race states this is a run up a Butte. Not many races in Central Oregon are flat and this was not. I wouldn't say we climbed a Mountain but for a city slicker like myself it was a difficult climb and add to it that it was on a narrow trail with rocks and branches to run over and/or around. I went out a little fast from the adrenaline and then the hill hit and kicked me in the backside. Once we were up on the ridge it was a long "slight" hill that to me felt like it was a 7 percent incline. Once we hit the down hill I was tired and didn't have much and therefore struggled to pick up my feet which in turn caused me to fall and the nice gal that passed me even asked if I was ok. I was fine except my ego was bruised a little. :) I was happy with my time but knew I had some work to do to meet my goals.

A week later I had this crazy idea to do another race, Peterson Ridge Rumble. Of course this is another trail run but this time it was up a Ridge not a Butte. Usually not a big deal but my longest run to date was the 10 mile Horse Butte and this weekends race was a 30k ( 18.6 mi). This time the weather was better but probably too good. Us avid runners don't like to run in the heat and race tempratures reached 70 degrees F that day. I was still learning what my body was capable of doing as well as how to hydrate and eat before and during races. I had one of the worse experiences ever. My body didn't like that I was going from 10 miles to 19 miles in one week and it told me so. At mile 13 I started to fade and by mile 15 my body was shutting down. The last 4.5 miles, the race ended up being longer, was very slow and I had to stop often as I was gasping for air. I could not get my HR higher than 155 without feeling like I couldn't breathe. I finished, which is good. On the ride home, I wasn't driving, my vision began to blur and I could not focus on anything. It lasted for about 20 minutes and then faded away. Once I got home, I was a zombie and had cold chills even though it was 70 degrees F out. I layed on the couch and watched Golf, not a bad thing but my body was not happy with me.

Logged appox 86 miles