There as been a lot of chatter on our running forum about Good Friday. Many seem to be blessed with a day off and it looks like the early morning run will have a good turn out. However, the down side is the start time; it’s been pushed back to 7 am! For those of us who still have to trudge to the office, the regular run at 6 o’clock might be one of those billy-no-mates occasions when no-one else turns up and you’re all alone. Its not that I mind running solo, you get used to that in long races, in fact it is essential (I believe) to it in your training. Assuming that the runner in front knows where their going can be a mistake (when you run with Guthrie, it’s called Rule #2), or if you suddenly find yourself at the front of a pack having to maintain pace AND navigate trail markers, it is easy to get lost.
But there can be some risks to running alone. The obvious one is in the event of injury, you may have a struggle to find help and in remote locations you can’t always rely on good cell phone coverage. Then there are the things you might bump into. I’m not concerned about wildlife but during hunting season coming across hunters can be disconcerting. A hunter focused on potential prey, dressed in thick layers to protect him/her from the elements may not hear a solo runner approaching. Last winter I came across one and before I could shout out (when I realized he hadn’t seen me), he turned with his shot gun level to face me. We both jumped! I had been on a blazed public trail, in broad daylight, wearing bright clothing and shortly afterwards (while still shaking) I came across a family hiking with small children and a dog. During the hunting season, it certainly pays to be cautious.
On the subject of hunting, I heard last week that in my home state of Connecticut a motion is soon to be presented before the Legislative regarding proposals to reduce the spread of Lyme Disease. Deer ticks are considered to be the prime carrier of this problem and the motion calls for changes to deer hunting laws because the population has been rapidly growing in recent years. However, there is a possibility that through this legislation an opening might be created to allow hunting on Sundays. It is current not permissible to hunt on a Sunday and if it were allowed there might be great risk of situations where hunters and recreational woodland users come into close proximity.
Trail running is tough enough without the prospect of buck shot or arrows being added to the list!
As I watched the rain fall today I recalled reading another running blog earlier in the week that commented on trail races and the damage they can cause. The argument was on the lines that factors such as seasonal weather (particularly rain) should be taken into account when sanctioning these events. It was also challenged whether race directors who claimed they limited registrations with environmental conditions as the reason were really being sincere. The article came across as more as a negative perspective on the sport rather than an unbiased reasoned point of view.
Of course you might expect me to cry foul, but I agree, trail races probably do leave their mark on the environment. But then, so does hiking, cycling (where it is allowed), horse riding and lets not forget the weather its self. The reality is that the environment is constantly changing, maybe we can manage the pace of change but to suggest that it shouldn’t be used as an argument for preservation could almost be as dangerous as overuse. Open spaces need to be preserved and by maintaining their presence in the public consciousness is the best way to protect them. Land that sits fallow below the public radar is more likely to become victim to development or a much drastic use.
A significant number of ultra trail races now require that entrants undertake 8 hours of voluntary work maintaining trails as part of their pre-race qualification, and many events return their proceeds to conservation projects. Plus it is more likely that race entry restrictions are motivated by safety concerns or logistical reasons than any thing else.
Over the past couple of years, trail racing has grown in popularity. The number of events has risen dramatically and many of the popular ones fill their entry quotas very quickly, some use lottery ballots to select entrants. In reality I suspect that trail races actually put back more into their sport and the environment it depends on than the vast number of road races do.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.
The Plank Walk provides a 12 inch wide causeway through a section of marshy woodland, yet the dogs much prefer to wade through the murky water on either side. I’ve never known a Retriever that didn’t like water and this morning Buddy was true to his breed. Before we had even arrived at the start of the walk way, he had checked it out and returned looking like he was wearing socks.
When you consider the pounding your feet take during a long run, wearing good socks are important. I read an article last weekend that suggested the average ultra runner lands on each foot about 5,000 times per hour. This figure is much higher than the normal runner (if there is such a thing) because of the slower pace ultrarunners tend to maintain. Happy feet will make a happy runner!
I used to work in a running store and on complete each shoe sale I’d ask what socks the person used. It was surprising how many people had never given their socks much thought, ‘cheap and cheerful’ was often the sort of description used together with the word cotton. When that happened, those new shoes often left the store in the company of a spanking new pair to Coolmax fiber socks!
I’ve experimented with a range of different styles of sock, thick and thin fiber; long and short styles; dark and light colors. For trail running I much prefer a thicker sock and these days I lean towards Darn Tough and Smartwool, although in road shoes I prefer the Ascis Kayano. Depending on the season I’ll switch between long and short styles and for long races I’ll always wear a new pair straight out the packet. I know this goes against all the guide books, but there is something great about the feel of fresh new socks! If the terrain of an event is likely to be hilly, I’ll also wear compeed pads on my heels for a bit of added protection. Compeed, if you’re not familiar with it, is a form of ’second skin’ type dressing. It needs to be warmed to body temperature before being applied and your foot must be dry, it is no use trying to add these dressings part way into a race. My strategy is preventative rather than cure and together with the pads and an application of lubrication between the toes, I’m usually good to go the distance.
Next week Buddy is coming to stay while his owners sun themselves in Mexico. Normally we’re happy for visitors to wander around the house in their stocking feet. In Buddy’s case though, we’ll be making sure he leaves his socks at the back door!
I’ve been joking that one advantage of the Slam is that I’m only going to need to train for 1 race, everything in between will be tapering! The reality should be an interesting experience that may turn out to be nothing like I expected. Obviously there will be a need to rest, recharge nutritionally and allow soft tissue damage to repair. But at the moment I have an open mind about the amount of physical exercise I’ll be doing between each race. It isn’t uncommon to experience an emotional low after a long race; after all the buildup, travel and highs of the actual event, coming back down to reality can leave you in the doldrums for a few days. I tend to find though, that this often doesn’t kick in until a couple of days afterwards, I guess that is once the euphoria of the finish has subsided. Generally, at least psychologically, I feel the need to take a break from running only to then find I get a little impatient within a just a couple of days because I image I’m putting on weight and stiffening up. This is when I miss not having a dog. When I had two labs a few years ago there was always a need to keep active, the dogs went out at least twice a day without fail. For long walks we would often head out on to the beautiful chalk downland nearby. Depending on the weather, the views could be spectacular and in spring sky larks would hover overhead emitting their distinctive call. Being mainly grazing land, the going would allow a brisk walk pace which combined with the many ‘gentle undulations’ provided a low impact workout that felt good for body and soul. Alternatively we would drive several hours to the moors of Devon and wander the open space there for the day. I remember once breaking down on the drive home and needed a tow truck to bring us home. The ride in the back of the cab was noisy and drafty. My dog tired companions must have hated that ride as it felt like they were clinging to my feet the entire way while they lay on the rattling metal floor!
So while I will keep running between races, it will be pretty relaxed. In the mean time, I’ll keep training before I taper for that 1 race; the question though, is should that be the first or last one in the series!
It has been a weekend of contrast with my runs. Yesterday was a solo 50k while today Guth and I joined the regular group Sunday dog run.
The long run went well. I’m using a route that I’ve been doing regularly for a couple of months now so I’ve become familiar with the trail and can concentrate on just running it. The weather forecast was for rain passing through in the early morning before becoming drier. When I initially awoke and heard rain I decided to have a good breakfast and while waiting to digest see if it eased. It was all clear by 9 when I finally headed out. I expect I’ll get some flack for admitting that as I’m always kidding friends about running when the weather isn’t ‘perfect’, but I figured a decent breakfast would provide a better start to my day.
Out on the trail the going was good. It was at times a little soft under foot but not so much that you needed to work hard to stop slipping. I expected to get wet feet early on but even the surface water seemed to have drained quickly. The route has a little of everything. It starts with a fairly technical section that gives way to a wide forest track before reverting back to a single trail. After about a mile it makes a steep climb and undulates along a ridge before dropping back down to cross a highway. Still on single trails, the going is initially rocky but eventually becomes a little easier as it joins more forest roads. This doesn’t last for long though and soon you’re back on single track for 2 or 3 miles before joining up with the wide forest road that was used on the out-bound leg. You then follow this back to the start. I done the route in a variety of conditions, frozen ground, snow, ice, flooded and now (comparatively) dry. With just a couple of road crossings, it is entirely off road and very peaceful. You rarely meet anyone but there is always some wildlife to spot.
In total contrast for the dog run, we had a group of probably 15 or more runners with 6 (I think) dogs dashing around our feet. The group pretty much stayed together, so there occasional stops to allow the back markers to catch up, but the constant banter more than made up for that. At one section of the route, the trail passes close to a private field. A few years ago, we started an initition tradition where new members to the group have to run across the meadow dancing and singing ‘The Sound of Music’. We caught 4 newbies with that trick this morning!
The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears
My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds
that rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
from a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over
stones on its way
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray
I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I’ve heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I’ll sing once more
Afterwards over coffee, the talk was of up coming races; Leatherman’s Loop, Masanutten 100, The Bash and Soapstone, all interspersed with constant banter and jokes; days like this are a welcome break from ‘endless’ miles running alone.
Running provides so many opportunities for camaraderie and shared experience - I can never understand people when they say it is a dull sport.
Traditional British dished such as toad in the hole and spotted dick are said to be on the verge of disappearing as British households turn to foreign cuisine according to recent research. I hate to sound personal, but if you’ve never had a spotted dick, now could be your chance. To help save this ailing fare a recipe is printed below. Of course, eating it may do nothing for your running other than perhaps a brief spell of comfort and feel good factor after a long and exhausting run, and it certainly isn’t recommended as part of your pre-race preparations!
I’m always amazed at the number of times ultra races provide donuts or danish pastries before races, I certainly couldn’t digest something like that so soon before running. Eating on the go though is something you do have to practice. I’ve been enjoying Mojo bars recently, because the combination of salty sweetness it has is a nice change from just sweet flavors most other bars seem to offer. Unfortunately, they do seem to be a little more expensive the competition.
Spotted Dick
2 oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice (or Allspice)
pinch of salt
2 oz shredded suet
1 oz white or brown sugar
4 oz currants
2 oz fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
4-5 tbsp milk
Butter a 1.5 pint pudding basin. Sift the flour, baking powder, spice and salt into a mixing bowl and mix in the suet, sugar, fruit and bread- crumbs. Stir in the egg and sufficient milk to produce a soft consistency that drops off the spoon in 5 seconds.
Turn the mixture into the pudding basin, which should be two-thirds full. Cover with greased foil or a snap-on lid. Steam for 2 to 2.5 hours. When cooked, remove the cover and allow the pudding to shrink slightly, then cover the basin with a hot serving plate, hold it firmly and invert. Lift off the basin to leave the pudding on the plate.
Whisk the yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Heat the milk in a saucepan until it is nearly boiling.
Whisk the hot milk gradually into the egg mixture. Put the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir the mixture over the indirect heat until it is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. (Direct heat will make the custard curdle.)
Stir in the vanilla essence and more sugar, according to taste. Strain and serve hot.
It’s Friday, and yes we did run early by the light of headlamps and the oatmeal afterwards hit the spot! Today’s route is known as Jelly Legs after the steep bank that has to be negotiated very quickly into the run that leaves your legs feeling just like the name suggests! Running with a lamp for the first time was Brad, perhaps this particular trail was a bit of unkind baptism, but he was still there at the finish!
We also had three dogs tag along. It is normal to have at least one, so you get used to a furry blur dashing past or seeing eyes reflected up ahead. For some reason today the three seemed to keep close together most of the way and on top of that they want to keep pace just in front of one or another of us, providing an extra obstacle to overcome. But ‘it is what it is’, one more thing to deal with and having them around is good.
As I munched on breakfast afterwards I watched squirrels feast on sunflower seeds intended for the birds. They are such persistent creatures at overcoming hurdles in order to achieve an objective. I usually fill the bird feeders then scatter seed on the ground in the hope that the squirrels will go for the easier option and leave something for the birds. Once everything has been cleared at ground level though, you can see one or two of them start to weigh up their options for a little extra. No matter what difficulties you try and create they will persevere to get the food, it is fascinating to watch. Years ago there was a TV commercial in the UK for a beer that filmed a squirrel overcome an obstacle course to get a hazelnut. If you’ve never seen it before, it can be found on Youtube (of course!).
During long runs if I start to feel the going begin to strain, I think of a comment I once read that said, quiting is a mental thing, the body rarely fails. It is amazing how quickly the tide of emotion can turn to a feeling of reward if you stick at it.
Some guys they just give up living, others start dying little by little piece by piece, some guys come home from work and wash up, and go racing in the streets.
Posted by mrbimble
Posted by mrbimble
Posted by mrbimble
