trail run

I ran; I sewed; I read

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I ran.  

This morning was my fave annual 10k trail run.  There were muddy creek crossings. STD creek crossing 2 2018

STD muddy hand

STD muddy legs

There was a dam to scale.  It was ‘dam’ high and steep.  STD dam wide shotSTD dam

And then came the descent.  STD dam top view

I stayed on my feet for the descent, but in my mind I was one misstep away from doing a spectacular tumble a la Gloucestershire Cheese Roll-style.

At the race finish, a little mud wasn’t going to stop me from savoring a delicious juicy orange.  STD orange

I sewed.  

When getting dressed for the race this morning, I noticed my HRM (heart rate monitor) was way too loose.  I cinched it down to its smallest, but it was still too loose.  The several-years-old elastic was giving out.  So, I quickly threaded the sewing machine with black, and cut a big 9-inch section of elastic out of the band.

Garmin strap repair 1

Then I sewed the shortened band pieces back together.  Garmin strap repair 2

I put the shortened HRM back on, and it was still too big, so I took it off, cut out another 6 inches.  And sewed it together again.  Then it fit, and I was off to the races…literally.  Garmin strap repair 3

I read.

Back home after the race, I plopped myself onto the couch and re-dedicated myself to reading A Confederacy of Dunces.  I’d started it long ago, and liked it, but then set it aside, forgotten.  Now it is one of the books in the Great American Read list, and it is my choice for the Read.

A Confederacy of Dunces

 

Recovery

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Once again I underestimated how grueling that 10k is.  I did improve my finish time over last year, and I’m determined to try again next year for the half marathon.  But, I did the right thing to downgrade yesterday, no question.  The trip straight up the dam is beyond difficult.  It zaps every ounce of energy remaining after two previous steep hill climbs.  Then, the run along that flat, long stretch of dam is roughly a mile, which should allow one to make up some lost time.  But it is hot up there, and too much energy at that stretch is spent recovering from scaling the dam.  When I reached the top, I wanted to cry and throw up, both.  But that misery eventually passed, and it then was back down the dam at the other end, and back into the trees.  It is still one of the funnest events ever.  The trails through the trees are immensely enjoyable.

The awesome trails

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The top of the dam

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That’s the finish line down there.  So close, yet so far away.

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Descending back down the dam. 

(Thanks to the race photographers for sharing these!)

Storm the Dam3a Storm the Dam2a

Back into the trees.

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The river crossing.

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Eventually, I did reach the finish, and enjoyed some delicious race food.

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That night, in the rain, I stood just a couple of people back from the stage

and watched this group that I loved way back when.

Downgrade

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I signed up for this half marathon trail run tomorrow morning, but I didn’t get enough training miles in, so I’ve downgraded my registration to the 10k.  I’m disappointed in having to downgrade, but it is much more difficult than a regular half or 10k on paved roads.  It will be a challenge, and very fun.  I’ve looked forward to it ever since I did this event for the first time last year.  So, tonight it was a high-carb sandwich for dinner, and then a mile walk to stay loose.  Good night!