Thursday, May 20, 2010

Jemez and some other bits and pieces

Just a few thoughts as I get ready for a huge day in the mountains on Saturday. And I do mean huge.

I knew when I signed up for Jemez that it was the kind of course I might enjoy: a ton of climbing (12,000'+ to be (almost) exact), wilderness, views, cross-country fun, and a highly competent race committee. I hear the food is good too.

After taking the time this week to explore the details a little further, I have actually come away a little intimidated by it all. Not only is a lot of the running taking place above 9,000', but there are also three trips above 10,000', which is an altitude I haven't run at since last year. While running at (relative) altitude is not really an issue for me, it is my first run of the year at sustained altitude, so you never know. More of a factor, however, will be the descents.

The Jemez course is known for its big climbs and crazy-steep descents. I welcome both, but am a little fearful, I guess, of getting carried away on the descents. That said, the course offers the perfect opportunity to assess how my downhill legs are progressing with regards to sustaining a solid effort late in the game at Western States. At Jemez, the last nine-mile section of the course is essentially a 3,000' drop, and this comes in addition to what have been described to me as insane descents earlier in the race where one essentially jumps off mountains on to scree slopes and hopes for the best.

Sustained and prolonged downhill running (and heat) still remain something of an x-factor for me in my preparations for States, so hopefully this weekend will offer up some clues as to what, if anything, I need to tweak in the five weeks before June 26. We're currently looking at a high of 78 for Los Alamos on Saturday, which means I get hills and heat ... perfect.

So, yes, Jemez is most certainly a training run. I've said all along that the singular goal for the first half of the running year is Western States, which has meant compromising other races that I might otherwise have tapered for. With that said, however, I have been feeling fairly rested this week and think that I might be able to put forth a competitive effort on Saturday. There is some good - and evenly matched - competition which will keep the effort honest, and while Senor Karl has suggested that Kyle Skaggs' course record (8:08) is not in jeopardy, I think it is fair to assume that Karl's ranking as the second fastest dude over the course (8:58) is in danger. Kyle's course record is so much faster than times posted by others that I have to assume that it would take a highly motivated run from a very talented mountain runner to beat it. However, I am betting that the winning time will be somewhere in the mid-eights (versus 9:14 last year).

What else? I took my running streak into triple digits on Monday. That's right, 100 days and 150 runs without missing a day. I plan to end the streak with my run in California next month, as I have learned that while good for motivation and getting out the door, running streaks are - on balance - poor training tools. They coerce you into running when you know you should be resting and that's a dangerous game, especially when nursing aches, pains and injuries.

Umm, if you fancy a crack at a Towers PR, or just a run up Towers, and read this in time, then we'll be at the Soderberg trailhead at 6:00 tonight. Hope to see you there. Oh, and happy birthday to me - I just got even older.

19 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday, Nick! (shoulda hung out just a couple more days in that oven. you missed Gemini by 2 days! Mine's next week)

    and best of luck at Jemez!

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  2. Happy birthday.

    Get through Jemez (enjoy it) and then let's get to real biz ... the next throw down. Denver Metro 1, Fort Collins 0 (Boulder -1).

    Smart words on the streak.

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  3. Thanks, Mike! I married a Gemini, so I'm hoping that makes up for my early entry into the world. Happy B'day ahead of time.

    GZ, -2 for Boulder. Negative one for the complete no show, and then an extra loss of points for a no-show on home turf. Got to give Brownie props for at least representing CRUD, even if he was unfathomably late.

    I'm thinking next weekend might be a good time for the FoCo throw down - at least as far as my schedule is concerned - although that doesn't give people a whole lot of time to plan.

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  4. What about Sun. or Mon. over Memorial Day weekend?

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  5. Good luck Sparky! You guys up front will push the pace to 8.45 - somewhere round there. Have fun and when it starts to hurt, speed up cause Burch is coming!

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  6. Good luck Nick, and Happy Birthday as well. Thanks for the rest reminder, it has allowed me some sanity and fitness...

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  7. Happy birthday. Look forward to the FoCo showdown.

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  8. Looks like a good tough race - good luck!

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  9. Thanks all!

    Rick, are you going to be in Colorado Memorial Day weekend? If so, we should hook up for a run, TT or otherwise.

    Justin, I'll be interested to see how the Horsetooth race plays out. We're both fit, but your 2:29 in London makes me think you have the edge, despite the fact that it's on trail and in my backyard.

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  10. Feliz cumpleanos, and can't wait to see how Jemez turns out!

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  11. Happy birthday, little brother. Run like the wind this weekend.

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  12. Thanks, big brother. You do the same in Canterbury.

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  13. Twitter rumors have it that Nick won - true or
    false?

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  14. Try this link

    http://www.examiner.com/x-48861-Trail-Running-Examiner~y2010m5d23-Jemez-Mountain-Trail-Runs-results-and-La-Sportiva-Moutain-Cup-update

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  15. Great time Sparky! Very impressive! Can't wait to hear how it unfolded.

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  16. Great run Nick! Looks like it was another close one between you and Ryan - look forward to the report.

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  17. It's official. Sir Nick is not sneaking up on anyone anymore (not even at WS). Great job and how about that showing from Fort Collins! We'll claim Burch if he still wants to register as a FoCo. I threw down the Crosier triple this weekend. Thanks for the idea. You know there is a 4th trailhead (Crosier quad anyone?).

    Brother Pine (proud FoCo trail runner)
    BH100 minus 3.5 weeks

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  18. Wait, a fourth trailhead? Is that the Ranch spur off the Glenn Haven route?

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