June 08

June 08
A lot happened in June and it had its ups and its downs.

The Dirty Half is a beautiful trail 1/2 marathon in Bend on Phil's Trail system. Known more for its Mtn. Biking Phil's network of trails are awesome and all the snow melted just in time for the race to be clear and not too muddy. Race day was clear and sunny with it being a little cold at the beginning but that was a good cold. I wasn't sure what I would be able to due but Coach Andy had me shooting for a 1:37 per my training runs. Lets just say that Coach Andy missed my finish because I blew away his predicted time. Another PR at 1:34 and a very happy coach. The race was capped off with family and friends enjoying the post race food and beverages!!! Yummy.

Later in June I tackled the wonderful Pacific Crest 1/2 ironman in Sunriver. I was a bit nervous knowing that I was not a great swimmer, did not get good swim workouts in and this would be the farthest I had swam. I went into it with a positive attitude know that I would not drown and that once it was over I would be on the bike which I am comfortable on and then running, my best event. The swim went as I thought. Not too fast but not the slowest, although close. The bike, I didn't know what to expect. I knew that I hadn't gotten in as many long rides as I liked and I have never been strong at hills so given the route I knew it would be a challenge. The bike course is 58 miles from Wickiup around/up Bachelor and back to Sunriver. Lets just say the 3 hills/mt passes we had to go over were too much for me. Throw in the 90 degree weather and after 3 hrs 15 mins on the bike I was spent. At the transition to the run I was happy to be off the bike but wasn't sure how I would do on the run the way I was feeling. A mile into the run none of my muscles were loosing up and I started to feel a little light headed and had some blurriness going on. I tried to walk and rest by sitting down but over the next 2 miles things just progressed for the worse. I knew that friends and family were going to be watching for me around mile 3-4. Also, our friends house was right around mile 3 and its a good thing. It got to the point were I could not focus on the path 5 ft in front of me. I was basically blind. I walked off the course and back to my friends house where I had remembered the lock box code so I could get a key to unlock the house. I was about 4 hrs 45 mins into the race when this occurred. I rehydrated myself and got some rest and food. From when I started the race at 9:30 until 11 pm at night I did not go to the bathroom, can you say DEHYDRATED! I went to the finishing area to turn in my chip and the race director was so kind to say that she would comp' me for next years race, they just had to tempt me. Race result was a DNF but I learned a lot. Like, Make sure you use Sunscreen!!!!

Logged approx 58 miles (and some biking and swimming)