Quick update in case anyone checks in...
#1 I just put my Hilly Hundred Report up...its way late
#2 I signed up for the IU Mini Marathon (a half) on March 31st 2012!
#3 I have not ran enough since the race (shall I say since my feet healed) to be worth anything
Let's talk about each of these:
#1 Read the post if you are interested :)
#2 I do not think I will run the half in January that I had previously considered. It is a night trail race. For me, that spells potential danger. My husband Alex is just recovering from an accident (2 broken wrists [that's both], 4 cracked ribs, and a tear in his kidney) and we are just now receiving the hospital, doctor, ER, and ambulance bills for that, sooooooooo yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaa - I am not going to run a trail run in January at night! Instead I will be running a hopefully much safer race around IU's gorgeous campus on March 31st. I am so excited! I have big plans for my training and hope for a major PR. I think some of my close friends will be running this race as well, so that will be awesome.
#3 All that being said, so far, my training sucks. I have ran 5-6 times since the race on November 5th...terrible. I am running twice a week with my work friend. We just did 5 miles today. That is the longest distance I have ran since the race. It really felt ok, but my lungs were cold and I didn't feel as relaxed as I did before the race. I am going to get back to it. It is just so hard when I have to work all day and it gets dark at 5 and we have to take Kenda to the park so she can run around...winter is difficult. Upside: Christmas is almost here which means a week off work! :)
That's my quick update. Right now Kenda is sleeping right beside me (I am sitting on the floor). She is so cuddly after 9:30 :)
Goodnight!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Stepping back in time...2011 Hilly Hundred Non-race Report
Between the Hilly Hundred and the Monumental Half, my sister got married. So yea, I was pretty busy. I still wanted to get a recap on my blog though (for memory purposes).
Honestly, I have waited too long to type this up (the Hilly Hundred was in the middle of October)...I do have a few fleeting memories though:
Day 1 of the Hilly Hundred is misleading. It is actually about 58 miles. Last year, I only completed day 1 and I completely bonked at about mile 40 - leaving me 18 miles of agonizing riding. It wasn't so bad this year and I count my better physical shape as the reason why. It was pretty tough, don't get me wrong, but I was making it the entire time. We stopped a good 4 times probably. At about mile 45 I just had to pull over and stand up straight for a bit. There was a good amount of climbing, but I made it up each and every hill.
Day 2 was rougher. Although day 2 of the Hilly Hundred is only 49 miles, my rear end hurt from so much time on the saddle the day before. I was absolutely miserable the first 4 miles. I didn't want to put my full weight on my butt so I was over compensating with my legs. This led to some slight cramping and I knew I would never make it all day like that. I eased into the saddle and every time I let a little more weight go, I winced. Seriously, why am I doing this to myself? I asked Alex if I could turn around, he said sure, but I would have to wait for him at the car...about 3-4 hours or so. I decided I could forge ahead. After 5 miles or so, the pain started to subside and once we were at the first rest stop (about 9 miles in) it was tolerable. We stopped, stretched, hydrated, and tinkled. Then it was back to it...and back to the terrible pain! Ughhh! It hurt all over again for 3-4 miles. My quads are forever going to be stronger because of this ride. I was holding so much weight with them while cycling, just trying not to put much weight on my saddle. Once we hit some hills, I was scared about what that would feel like, but I think my concentration on not falling and continuing to pedal won out and the pain was at the back of my mind, making it manageable. The ride went on like this. After each rest stop, which felt so good, the saddle hurt like whoa for 3-4 miles. With about 10 miles left, I was so ready to be done. It wasn't enjoyable, it was grueling. I made a promise to myself to ride more before the Hilly next year to "callus" my sit bones...if I don't, I don't think I will complete it again.
Best part of the Hilly Hundred: the scenery. I am convinced that Indiana residents probably don't understand just how beautiful this state is. The fall scenery that you are exposed to during these 2 days is breath taking. It is picturesque and even surreal at times. The sheer beauty makes me proud to be a Hoosier :)
When we crossed the finish line, I immediately took my bike to the side of the road, got off, and started walking, which had never felt more amazing. Alex asked if we could ride to our car (about 0.2 miles). I said, absolutely not - you can, but I am not riding again until next spring. It may take that long for the bruises to heal...He walked with me :)
Honestly, I have waited too long to type this up (the Hilly Hundred was in the middle of October)...I do have a few fleeting memories though:
Day 1 of the Hilly Hundred is misleading. It is actually about 58 miles. Last year, I only completed day 1 and I completely bonked at about mile 40 - leaving me 18 miles of agonizing riding. It wasn't so bad this year and I count my better physical shape as the reason why. It was pretty tough, don't get me wrong, but I was making it the entire time. We stopped a good 4 times probably. At about mile 45 I just had to pull over and stand up straight for a bit. There was a good amount of climbing, but I made it up each and every hill.
Day 2 was rougher. Although day 2 of the Hilly Hundred is only 49 miles, my rear end hurt from so much time on the saddle the day before. I was absolutely miserable the first 4 miles. I didn't want to put my full weight on my butt so I was over compensating with my legs. This led to some slight cramping and I knew I would never make it all day like that. I eased into the saddle and every time I let a little more weight go, I winced. Seriously, why am I doing this to myself? I asked Alex if I could turn around, he said sure, but I would have to wait for him at the car...about 3-4 hours or so. I decided I could forge ahead. After 5 miles or so, the pain started to subside and once we were at the first rest stop (about 9 miles in) it was tolerable. We stopped, stretched, hydrated, and tinkled. Then it was back to it...and back to the terrible pain! Ughhh! It hurt all over again for 3-4 miles. My quads are forever going to be stronger because of this ride. I was holding so much weight with them while cycling, just trying not to put much weight on my saddle. Once we hit some hills, I was scared about what that would feel like, but I think my concentration on not falling and continuing to pedal won out and the pain was at the back of my mind, making it manageable. The ride went on like this. After each rest stop, which felt so good, the saddle hurt like whoa for 3-4 miles. With about 10 miles left, I was so ready to be done. It wasn't enjoyable, it was grueling. I made a promise to myself to ride more before the Hilly next year to "callus" my sit bones...if I don't, I don't think I will complete it again.
Best part of the Hilly Hundred: the scenery. I am convinced that Indiana residents probably don't understand just how beautiful this state is. The fall scenery that you are exposed to during these 2 days is breath taking. It is picturesque and even surreal at times. The sheer beauty makes me proud to be a Hoosier :)
When we crossed the finish line, I immediately took my bike to the side of the road, got off, and started walking, which had never felt more amazing. Alex asked if we could ride to our car (about 0.2 miles). I said, absolutely not - you can, but I am not riding again until next spring. It may take that long for the bruises to heal...He walked with me :)
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