Happy Trails To You

The cross country 5k was this weekend.  It was fun but in a way kind of a let down.  The organizers were great.  The Mighty Bluebirds organization were great hosts.  I tried not to have preconceieved ideas but still had certain expectations.  We ran around a cowpasture.  It was well maintained and well marked.  I don't know what I was expecting but that wasn't it.

I was disappointed in myself.  Whether it was the heat, humidity or use of new muscles I was disappointed mostly in myself.  I'm used to running in roads or the occasional soccer field so I found the extra stability needed to run in a pockmarked field wore my calves out quickly.  Really quickly.

Regardless of my poor performance I still got an award!

I didn't deserve it.  I was beat my a 9 year old girl and a 67 year old woman.  Granted, I think the 9 year old was a juicing.  She had that roid rage look in her eyes and she was muscled like midget body builder.  The old lady was a marathon veteran.  She had her compression gear on, a Garmin GPS and a "Toenails are for sissies" shirt.  I was kidding about the 9 year old I'm dead serious about the old broad.  She was hard core.  A machine.  So maybe I did deserve it.  After the overall winners got their awards my time such as it was earned the award.  I'll take it.  Why not.

After the 5k I went over to Pinnacle Mountain Park and ran on the Jackfork Mountain Biking Trail.  I've really been interested in trail running lately.  It worked out well because my lovely wife would be in class for a couple more hours.  I could go the few miles to the park run for an hour or so and then go pick her up and head home.

After a search to actually find the trail head, I'm off armed with my windows phone, my Garmin GPS watch and my camelbak full of col sweet H2O.

The trail starts off easy enough and I'm just behind a maountain biker.  The trail gradually becomes more difficult but is still fun.  Before the first ile is over I pass the mountain biker whiole he's stopped on the side of the trail.  I never see him again.

One mile in the trail splits and I see this.

I've already run a 5k (3.1 miles) and now I'm 1 mile into my first trail run.  I take hard.  They were not exaggerating I manage to walk/run another mile of twists, turns, hills, valleys, rock and roots before deciding that it was time to turn around.  I was doing more walking than running so I knew I was done.  So I walked /ran the 2 miles back out for a total of 7.24 miles on the day.

The timing was near perfect.  As I emerged from the trailto the parking lot I get word from my lovely wife that class is done early.  So I pick her her up and we go help Krysta move.

Always time for lubrication

Life is full of nevers.  I'll never run unless chased by something I can't beat down.  Then, okay I'll run but I'll never run a distance where I have to carry water that's crazy.  Lubrication while running?  I'll never need that!  I could go on.  Once you become a parent dignity goes right our the window.

Why does this come up?

As I get older (another day closer to 40) I find more and more things are no longer black and white.  If I hadn't already given in on the frst one I wouldn't be writing this.  If you've read the other posts where I review my Camelbak you'll know I gave up on that one when I started running 10 + miles at a time.  So now we're onto lubrication.  It's not something I hear talked about much on podcasts or in magazines.  Although I will give a shout out to Running with Pack podcast.  Alan and Stevie had a guest on who threw out more info than I think even they were expecting on the subject.

Lubrication huh! What is it good for?

I haven't really run longer than 8 miles at a time sine the Little Rock Half Marathon March 6th.  I've had a hard time with my longer runs because I'm bored with my route.  I found a way to add 4.4 miles of new territory and am excited about Saturday's long run.  That brings me around to the lubricant.  An 8-10 mile run like I'm planning will require lubricant or I'll experience chafing.  This is something you learn from experience.  Harsh, harsh experience.

The office pointed out that bloody nipples are an actual problem for men but there's also the chafing issue.  Even when you were comfy clothes, compression shorts or whatever there are still places that rub.

   Do you need lubrication for a 5k probably not.  10k doubt it.  Half marathon or more I would say almost defininitely.  As Orlando Jones pointed out in the movie Evolution, there's always time for lubrication. It is the endurance athlete's dirty secret.  That thing that's just done and not talked about.  If you are experiencing issues chafing don't get discouraged.

Here are some alternatives to using a lubricant.  Your moment of Zen?

Yes, the first dude is wearing manpasties.

So the next never is I'll never wear tights to run...
                              

Camelbak test

I tested out my Camelbak Mini Mule Sunday.  The intention was to run 9 mile on my 39th. It didn't happen.

I ran the 5k Saturday and for whatever reason my calves got that tired muscle burn almost immediately.  It never went away and I struggled through the whole thing.

When the Sunday run rolled around 1/2 mile in I was in the same position.  Calves were on fire.  Here lately runs haven't felt good until around mile 4 anyway so I thought if I could hold on maybe it would even out.  It didn't.

I carried my Camelbak Dave and Jess got me for my Bday.

I liked it pretty well.  It was overkill for a 3 mile run it's really more for a 9 mile + run but i think it was for the best I did a shorter run to test. 

There were a couple things I learned before we step up to a longer run.

1. Bleed the air. Hold it upside down and suck the air out so it won't slosh.
2. Run the hose to the left side.  It faces to the right and was inconvenient to grab flip and sip.  A simple switch to the left side fixes it no problem.

Update 1 week later:

Saturday rolled around again and I made the changes and went out for a comfortable 7 mile run around town.  Again, the the capacity is a bit much for even 7 miles but it's fine when you consider the room you have for a cell phone, keys and wallet.

I was concerned about chafing which is another reason for slow increases in mileage.  Even after an hour and a half comfort was great.  After bleeding the reservoir there was no sloshing and it rode comfortably on my back loaded with wallet, phone and house key.

It's crazy now I think about the start of my running and how getting through the first 3 miles sucked so hard and I was wiped at the end now the first 3 suck but it is fun after that.  It's as if my legs just quit bitching and decide to go with it.  They're like f*ck it!  I ended my run at 7 only because I had stuff to do not because my body said stop.

On Sunday I broke out the Vibrams again and did a short 3 miles.  My calves are a little sore/tight but no big deal Monday off should help quite a bit.  I really like the Vibrams I'm just not the most patient when it comes to slowly adding miles.