I smell TRI

Last weekend I went to Princeton, NJ to cheer my friends doing their first Triathlon.  It was also my first time watching a complete Triathlon and since I was following 3 persons who started in different waves I feel I really watched 3 TRI!! We were calculating times and running from one side to the other to be able to see all of them in each part of the TRI.  It was a very interesting experience starting from the fact that I was not participating and  I think I  have gotten used to be part of the competition....it is weird to be in the other side and I think  I might not be a good observer because I was dying for jumping into the course and run with them!! or bike...I can totally skip the swimming part though :). 

I was feeling all the time that I belonged to the other side of the defense! I could feel their pain and also the happiness in their faces when they were approaching the finish line...it was like reviving my own happiness looking at their faces during those last yards.  When you know how it is being in the other side you can noticed details and see things that may be other people can't. I loved to see how everyone's face changed   approaching the finish line. Gabriela sprinted to the end and I was feeling so happy for her that I felt s crossing  it with her!!! She seemed to enjoy every single part, she was smiling and jumping all the time!! So much energy!!

I am really impress by all  of them,  it lasted just for a couple of hours but they have invested months training for this, it is already tough to train for just one sport and I can't imagine how much time and sacrifices it might require to train for 3 different disciplines.   Congratulations to all of them!!

I specially want to mention my friend John who  is not very  happy with his result but I disagree with him.

When he started his training he didn't know how to swim very well and like me,  he was a little afraid of it too. He  learned how to swim during his training and also Saturday was his first time swimming in a lake! It is not easy to just swim there for first time and more when you have just learned how to swim. He completed the TRI and that is a great accomplishment.   I think it is very impressive that he didn't quit despite of his fears and the extreme hot weather we had on Saturday. Kudos to you John, you have not only challenged your body but also your mind!

You guys are the hero of the week!

Training Report # 2

As promised here is my second training update!!

On Tuesday I went for a fast 4 miles loop at Central Park. It was supposed to be my first time running in the pavement in a long long time.  I was going to run a race on Saturday so I thought I needed to practice and test how “slow” I got for not doing any speed work in months…I started at a 8 minute pace (what it is fast for me) and I was feeling really good…I kept it for 2 miles and my breathing and hip were feeling great.

I was really happy since I haven't run that fast in a long time but suddenly I felt a sharp and strong pain in my lower leg around the Achilles tendon and in the same place I thought I had a cramp last weekend. The pain was so strong that I needed to slow down my pace to almost 11 minutes for the last 2 miles...finally I limped back home…God I was so pissed off!! I was scared about having a new injury now that my hip was starting to feel normal again.

The next 2 days  the pain was horrible and I was limping. I rest and  started a research about the pain I was feeling…yes..I am not going to the doctor anymore…they know NOTHING about running injuries!! I never liked to go to doctors and I rarely went in my life so no reason to change now….after some research and homemade tests I arrived to the conclusion that I didn’t break my Achilles tendon ….Thanks GOD!! and that I just might have some inflammation of it.

I started to take Aleve, rest, massage with a pain reliever cream and ice every 2 hours!! I bought a nice ice path I was wearing around the office all day…I think my co-workers are getting used to see me limping, icing, wearing flats because I have blisters, etc….LOL...I even have the feeling  that they like to stop by and speak about my injuries!! LOL.

The origin of the pain is still a mystery but by Saturday the pain was almost gone and today it feels almost normal again….I have to admit I was really scared of having another injury right now.

On Saturday I ran 4 miles before the race then I ran the 4 miles race and after that I kept running for another 7 miles. Even though my time was slower than my last year PR (8:13 mpm) in the same race, I am very happy with the result since I didn't really push it that much (last year I pushed so hard that I couldn't even breath at the end)  and I was still able to do 8:50 mpm what it is not that bad considering the circumstances and  it was better that  what I expected.

Sunday I went for a 10 miles run but ended up doing just 9 miles. I am pretty good running in the heat and I think  heat  shouldn't be an excuse....a good runner must be able to run in any weather but I must confess something that happened to me on Saturday....

I got chaffed for first time in my life!! it was so hot  that I chaffed really bad and in several places as my stomach and my...mmm... should I say it or no? well...my chest!! I was all red as having sunburn all over my boobs ...it was really painful ...so Sunday when I was running I was feeling that I was chaffing again so I stopped...LOL...You can see in the picture my stomach...I can't show the other "parts" but let me tell you they look even worst!! ....time to use more anti chafe cream !!

My legs are feeling great and I am very excited about running the ultra...if I just were able to wake up early and go running in the morning!! I have really tried but it is soooo difficult for me to do it....I will try again this week because I do need to have my evenings free :)

Keep running, I will do the same!!!!

Marathon vs Ultramarathon

As promised here some differences between a marathon and an ultramarathon and  some photos of my ultramarathon idol Scott Jurek of course!

Distance - This, of course, is the most obvious difference between the two. Marathons are 26.2 miles and  ultramarathons any distance that is greater than 26.2. For example, 31 miles, 50 miles or 100 miles. There are other distances, but those are the most popular. There are also timed events: 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and even multi day-races. Some are run on roads, some on trails, and some (mainly timed events) on a track.

Elevation - The elevation gain is the kicker when it comes to most ultramarathons since most ultramarathons are trail runs. This results in significatnt elevation gain. This plays games on your legs as well as with your head as you have to be ready to conquer the hills. How, you might ask? Well you conquer them by walking. If you are planning on winning the race, of course, then you probably are not walking the ascents, but for the average ultramarathoner you are walking virtually every ascent and running every descent.

Training - Ultramarathon training slows the pace, and extends the mileage and time on your feet. You're not going to spend most of your waking hours running. That's because prepping for a 50-miler is much like marathon training, but with fewer and slower intervals, and somewhat longer (and slower) long runs spiced with walking breaks.  The core element is the long run "sandwich": back-to-back long, slowish runs on successive days (likely Saturday and Sunday) bookended by two days of total rest. Some speed work is still needed or you might get too slow with all those slow runs.

Time - Because of the elevation gain and the forced walking in order to conserve your energy your average pace slows drastically. This results in a finish time much longer than the marathon.  A huge difference, and a lot of time spent with yourself and only yourself.

Hydration/Nutrition - In the marathon there are aid stations spread  around 1 or 2 miles, which gives the runner plenty of opportunity to make sure that there are plenty of fluids being drank. In an ultramarathon it is you and the trail with aid stations few and far between, may be 6 miles away sometimes. This leaves you with at least one 20oz. water bottle and very possibly two, either handheld or on a hip pack. Because of the length of time you are out there and the energy exerted you drink a ton more fluids than you would during a marathon. Additionally, you need to consume quite a bit more during the race. In a marathon you can get by with a few Gu's if you want or even subsisting only on sports drinks and water. Not so with the ultramarathons, which entails packing some energy bars and other forms to consume a large quantity of calories.

Aid Stations - As mentioned above, the aid stations are few and far in between. Additionally, when you get to the aid stations you have a whole array of food (such as M&Ms, chips, potatoes and salt, pretzels and so on) that you can eat while some volunteers fill your water bottle. With the marathon there is no food and oftentimes the sports drink is watered down to make it spread further (which doesn't absorb as well) and maybe, if you are lucky, you'll get some Gu packets or something. The water is handed to you in little cups.

Runners - Marathons, of course, draw a much larger crowd. This makes for your 26.2 miles to be ran almost entirely with someone either around you, in front of you or behind you in sight.  The ultramarathon is usually no more than 100 runners, oftentimes maxing out at 50. Since the race is so long the runners tend to spread out and you can go for hours without coming in contact with another runner, although you can usually see them way off in the distance in front of you or behind you.

Course - Marathons are oftentimes run on street with volunteers spread out throughout the whole race guiding you. Ultramarathons are usually trail runs which means you have to keep a vigilant eye out for the  fluttering ribbons warning you of a turn coming up. It is easy to get lost and lose an hour or two and log in some extra bonus miles.

This is pretty much all....wanna run one?

Training report #1

Last week I finally started my utlramarathon training and I was able to do the 38 miles scheduled for the week. This weekly millage will start increasing averaging in general 50/55 miles per week with peaks of 60 miles and a couple of recovery weeks with just 45 miles.

During the weekend I did my first back to back long runs training, or what I call…mini long runs since they really weren’t that long for an ultramarathon. I did 14 miles on Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday. Even though these distances are not new to me, the back to back long run concept is.
Back to back long runs is the key difference between marathon and ultramarathon training. I will explain in another post these differences.

The weather wasn’t perfect but I could handle the heat and humidity well. I think that after running a marathon with almost 90F I can handle any long run in the heat!! I am pretty good running in the heat, I can’t sprint but at a slow pace I can just keep going and going as the Duracell rabbit! LOL…I carried plenty of Gatorade, electrolytes pills and I stopped at the water fountains and threw water on my head.

Even though I need to do many loops to get my long runs done I have to admit that I do like running in the Bridal Path. There is water, the dirt is gently on my joints, I meet many people I know and I am starting to meet new people that run at the same time I do. The only cont I see in running there is that I get too dirty LOL…see the picture!! I just got those shoes 4 days ago and they look so dirty already…not to mention my legs!! My friend thought it was hair…. NOOOOOO it is dirt!!! I don’t have hair on my legs!! LOL

My hip did well this weekend, just a little discomfort on Saturday but nothing too bad. On Sunday my hip felt pretty well, no pain at all but I got a cramp on my calf around mile 5 and it never went away…I stopped and massaged it but the pain didn’t want to leave so I did what every runner does…just keep running! It was painful but I need to learn how to run with pain as so many things can happen in 50 miles!

I am really happy about this weekend, I felt very well, I was not sore at all and I felt full of energy during my runs and I was also able to have a pretty good social life without being extremly tired!! LOL... I think I am doing a good job with my nutrition too. No, I am not dieting to lose weight; I am just trying to eat the right food, calories and proportions for runners.

I took 2 ice bath but I think my body is so used to them that the water doesn’t feel that cold anymore…LOL….I might need to add more ice!!

My hip feels perfect today, I am so happy about it!! Nevertheless my calf still hurts. I have the day off so hopefully will get better for tomorrow night.

Total miles for this week 42…..lets run!!!

Why an Ultra?

When I tell people I want to run an ultramarathon the unavoidable question I always heard is “Why?” following by a “you are nuts” or “ is that even safe?”

Trying to explain this to a non runner is tough and sometimes it is also difficult for other runners to understand this. How to explain why I want to run 50 miles for about 12 consecutive hours? I haven’t even told my mother I am doing this as she could be so worry that she would take a plane and be here tomorrow to stop me!!!

So why to try an ultra? Because Celia convinced me that it could be fund to do it together….guess what? Now she has postponed her ultra plans….but I am stuck with it…LOL...or because I saw how happy my friend Deanna was when she completed her first ultra some months ago? Or because I am madly in love with Scott Jurek an ultramarathon runner ?? Well, may be a little of all this has something to do with the decision but here are the real reasons:

The name of my blog is challenging the body but running an ultra seems to be more than that. It is a mental challenge in any aspect you can think about. It is not only to be able to run 50 miles on race day but to be able to commit to train for that.

Long back to back runs need to be done for many weeks and if running a marathon it is considered tough imagine running one for several weekends following by another long run the next day!! Yes, I can understand why some people think this is crazy. I have only run 2 marathons and I still remember how tired I was the following day and the idea of running 10 or 15 miles just the next morning scared me a little but I still believe that it can be perversely fun.

I love challenges and 26.2 no longer represented one since I can easily count more than 100 people I know who have already run one or more marathons. Yes, it is believed that less than 1% of the world population will run a marathon but I know I can run a marathon already so what else could motivate me?

I need motivation all the time, I need a goal…. to get a new PR may be?….but to be honest I don’t like that, I don’t like running fast as I can’t really enjoy and appreciate the surrounded when I am trying to spring. May be because I am not a natural sprinter so to try to go faster requires much more concentration for me and I am unable to perceive sounds, smells, and people. I feel that when I go very fast I am unable to enjoy running.

I love running because I feel peace when I am out there, I can connect with my body and the environment, I don’t think about anything else than the road and since I don’t use an iPod (not even in my lonely long runs) I can perceive things that otherwise I could have never noticed.

I'm motivated by the idea of expanding my physical and mental limits. The idea of completing a 50-mile ultra seems a new frontier for me. I love the idea to do something very few people can do or better said take the risk to do it because anyone can do it, with proper training, but having the determination and persistence needed to do an ultra is something you can’t get with training. It is inside you or it is not and I want to explore how much determination I have.

I don’t know whether I will success or no, I don’t even know if I will be able to follow the demanding training but I know I will try because when I decide to do something I don’t quit easily!! I think this is the real challenge…going through the training and survive it to enjoy a last nice long run with other nuts runners.

I am very excited about this and the only thing that would make me change my mind is my hip which has started to hurt me again this week.

I thought I was getting better but during my last two runs I had pain. It is a little frustrating since I am already 4 weeks behind my original schedule and now I only have 3 months to get back in shape before the ultra. I have been going to PT 2 times per week and I am being a good girl and doing my exercises every morning and every night to strength my hip but I can’t wait more to start the long back to back runs so this weekend I will test my hip with a long 14 miles run on Saturday and a long 10 miles run on Sunday….I guess I will need an ice bath afterwards!!

Let’s hope my hip behave, I will try to be kind to her and just run in the path….holly cow…that will be a very long bored run but since I have refused to get her a cortisone shot that is the minimum I can do in exchange for her services.

Lets the fun starts and wish me luck this weekend!!