this is how i would describe my weekend miles. pure joy! we started out on friday running at blue jay. i picked this run because it had a little of everything that i will encounter at Western States. for a ten mile run, this one is not easy. lots of climbing and some really technical stuff too. here is George making his way up Horsethief Canyon. this takes just under an hour and is very similar to Devils Thumb and El Dorodo which are just coming into half way at WS. it took us a very comfortable 3:02 hours.
for Saturdays running i picked Harding Truck Trail. one reason is because i knew that Hwa Ja would be running there and thought it would be fun to run into her. this starts out the Twin Peaks 50K and 50 miler and is a 9+ mile climb up to Main Divide. when we got to the top we stopped to have lunch and saw Hwa Ja coming down from Santiago Peak. of course i had my arms going as i yelled "Hwa Ja, Hwa Ja" she said that she knew it had to be either me or Michelle. so fun to see her on our run. we trailed her on the way down the hill. it was a good 20 mile day for me and i was feeling really strong after last weeks long weekend.
Sunday night took us back out to Blue Jay to run the same loop. we worked on our lights and decided what adjustments needed to be made. new lights are in store for both. we decided that head lamps were out. they pick up too much dust and leave far too much guess work as to what the ground is like directly in front of us. we did encounter one wild beast... a black widow spinning her web. i tried to get a picture but it did not turn out. we enjoyed pleasant temps and were almost too warm. the night was clear, the city lights were shining below and the moon was there to help light our way. 10 miles and less then 50 minutes slower then the same run on Friday. still feeling strong. that was the end to my 40 mile weekend and am now winding down.i am starting to feel a strange anticipation growing inside of me and a sense of confidence that i have not felt in a long while.
don't forget, all trails lead to Auburn!
8 comments:
I love your blog. I am running W.S. too. I hope I get a chance to meet you. I hope you have a great race there.
thanks kelly, i peeked in on your blog too. that sounded like one crazy running weekend. any States tips, pass them this way, pleeeeease!
LEIGH Said:the end to my 40 mile weekend and am now winding down.
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very nice Leigh, way to mix up the day & night trainings, great miles logged...
YES u should start to get that feeling, that means u are excited & passionate about your race...KEEP Visualizing those trails!
it's all in the affirmations, bob. here is a new one that i borrowed from Kelly, i changed it a bit to read like this...
you can count off the miles or you can make the miles count.
you can count off the miles or you can make the miles count.
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OH I Like that one!!!
I am sorry but I have to ask...Do you have a job????
yes anonymous, i do have a job. i am the very lucky mother of four. they are however almost all grown and two are out of the house. that gives me the luxury of running on awesome trails and fit them into my families schedule. i consider myself very lucky to have the support of my husband and boys. i hope that i have answered your question.
Leigh,
You look confident and formidable. I would not bet against you.
Following your training has felt like watching Astronauts prepare to fly to the moon.
You're going to the moon and back in less than 30 hours.
Blast off!!!
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