The Second Gauntlet!!!
Wildwood Trail Marathon: This one's in Portland, and it will be the flattest trail run I've ever done, and the flattest I'll do all year. I think it'll be exciting just to run somewhere else, probably see a lot of new faces (you start seeing a lot of the same people at all the bay area races), and I think it's entirely possible that I'll break three hours in a trail marathon. I've said that before, and it didn't work out, though I came somewhat close. But this marathon has only about two-thirds of the climbing Big Basin had, so I think there's still a chance.
San Francisco 50-Mile Endurance Run: This is, by far, the most ridiculous entry on this list. The farthest I've ever run in a race is a 50k, managed less than a month before this race will take place. I've "run" 60 miles in one sitting before, but I should point out that I was walking a third of the time and the whole thing was at night, with ideal temperatures, and on a flat track (and it took 12 hours). This will be on a course that is no less difficult than any of the trail runs I've been doing. I have no idea what my strategy should be. I'm not even sure what to wear; the race will go on well into the afternoon, so my signature all-black look may not be the best idea.
If you were to ask me, "Physically, what is the hardest thing you've ever done?" I would be strained to come up with a good answer. The most exhausted I've ever been was generally on events that aren't as hard as what I do now; the difference is now I'm in better shape. So it's hard to say a particular marathon is the hardest thing I've ever done, when I now do them regularly, and harder courses at that. I could say the half-Ironman I did, but I actually felt better after that than I have after several marathons. Or maybe it was one particularly tough day on a bike tour. I don't know. But ask me again in a couple weeks, and this race just might be the hands-down answer.
But you get a belt buckle for finishing. How cool is that?
Crystal Springs Trail 50K: What makes me excited about this one is simply that it's one of the closest races to home that I'll do all year. The race takes place outside of Woodside, a town I frequently bike through. The area is gorgeous, lots of redwood trees (and hills, of course). And I feel like I have to defend my stomping grounds. Kind of the same sentiment I had about Horseshoe Lake.
Cinderella Trail 50K: This is the course where I got lost - twice - earlier this year, then got passed less than a mile before the finish line. I'm looking for some serious vengeance on this course.
Hood-to-Coast Relay: Probably the most unique race I'll do all year. Hood-to-Coast is a 200-mile relay race, run in teams of 12, where each team member is responsible for three legs of about 5-6 miles each. Which means I "only" have to run about 17 miles, with a lot of time to rest in between.
Apparently word got around Google that I'm a strong marathon runner (mostly because a Googler named Larry saw me finish at San Francisco). Google has a few running groups, including an official team with some very strong runners. They've done this race before, and typically average a pace of < 6:00/mile! That's about as fast as I go when I do speed training! Then again, I barely go any slower in a full marathon (if it's flat). I may be one of the weaker members of the team.
But the idea that I get a free trip to Oregon (Google pays for all accommodations), and all I have to do is go for a run? Yeah, I could get into that.
So Gauntlet #2 goes: marathon, 50-miler, 50k, 50k, long relay. Five races in five weekends, three of which are ultramarathons. Whew!
San Francisco 50-Mile Endurance Run: This is, by far, the most ridiculous entry on this list. The farthest I've ever run in a race is a 50k, managed less than a month before this race will take place. I've "run" 60 miles in one sitting before, but I should point out that I was walking a third of the time and the whole thing was at night, with ideal temperatures, and on a flat track (and it took 12 hours). This will be on a course that is no less difficult than any of the trail runs I've been doing. I have no idea what my strategy should be. I'm not even sure what to wear; the race will go on well into the afternoon, so my signature all-black look may not be the best idea.
If you were to ask me, "Physically, what is the hardest thing you've ever done?" I would be strained to come up with a good answer. The most exhausted I've ever been was generally on events that aren't as hard as what I do now; the difference is now I'm in better shape. So it's hard to say a particular marathon is the hardest thing I've ever done, when I now do them regularly, and harder courses at that. I could say the half-Ironman I did, but I actually felt better after that than I have after several marathons. Or maybe it was one particularly tough day on a bike tour. I don't know. But ask me again in a couple weeks, and this race just might be the hands-down answer.
But you get a belt buckle for finishing. How cool is that?
Crystal Springs Trail 50K: What makes me excited about this one is simply that it's one of the closest races to home that I'll do all year. The race takes place outside of Woodside, a town I frequently bike through. The area is gorgeous, lots of redwood trees (and hills, of course). And I feel like I have to defend my stomping grounds. Kind of the same sentiment I had about Horseshoe Lake.
Cinderella Trail 50K: This is the course where I got lost - twice - earlier this year, then got passed less than a mile before the finish line. I'm looking for some serious vengeance on this course.
Hood-to-Coast Relay: Probably the most unique race I'll do all year. Hood-to-Coast is a 200-mile relay race, run in teams of 12, where each team member is responsible for three legs of about 5-6 miles each. Which means I "only" have to run about 17 miles, with a lot of time to rest in between.
Apparently word got around Google that I'm a strong marathon runner (mostly because a Googler named Larry saw me finish at San Francisco). Google has a few running groups, including an official team with some very strong runners. They've done this race before, and typically average a pace of < 6:00/mile! That's about as fast as I go when I do speed training! Then again, I barely go any slower in a full marathon (if it's flat). I may be one of the weaker members of the team.
But the idea that I get a free trip to Oregon (Google pays for all accommodations), and all I have to do is go for a run? Yeah, I could get into that.
So Gauntlet #2 goes: marathon, 50-miler, 50k, 50k, long relay. Five races in five weekends, three of which are ultramarathons. Whew!
...Bring it on.
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