Catch Me If You Can Trail 10 miler ~ Race Report

This was the gorgeous setting of the second annual Catch Me If You Can Trail run held in Rocky Gap State Park on Saturday.  Knowing I had this view to look forward to made getting up on time easy.  After the normal race morning routine, I went over last minute instructions with Army Son who would be in charge of making sure that S'ghetti girl and LBM got to the soccer field on time.  With no doubt that he would handle everything I headed out the door for my drive to the state park.

Unlike last year's event (2010 Catch Me If You Can (CMIYC))I made it there with plenty of time to spare.  The morning was cool but I knew with a 9 a.m. start time the day would quickly warm up.  I wore my brand new One More Mile "I may not pass you but I will outlast you" shirt that I won from http://www.superfoodsuperfood.wordpress.com/ and my black running skirt.  I almost changed after picking up my race packet because this year's skirt was a two-tone yellow running skirt.  It would have went nicely with my shirt but I didn't want to risk a skirt malfunction during the race.

Photos from 2010 CMIYC no photos this year

The course was your choice of one (5 miler) or two laps (10 miler) around Lake Habeeb to benefit the Allegany County Habitat for Humanity.  With all the recent rain there was several areas of mud to deal with but that only added to the fun of the race. 

The ladies lined up and started 4 minutes before the men.  During my first lap I had trouble getting into a groove and finding an effort level that felt right.  In hindsight I feel I ran this first lap much too conservatively for only a 10 mile race.  Another runner, orange skirt girl, fell into running behind me, she chatted some.  She would pass me when I slowed to grab water at an aid station.  Since I knew she was only running the 5 miler I used her to help encourage me to push a bit harder throughout the last part of the first lap. 

The second lap I felt much better.  Those miles concreted for me that I am an endurance runner.  I no longer love running fast.  I would rather run all day long then run at puke pace for a 5k.  I did check my watch during the first lap but simply ran the second lap off of my effort only being aware of staying ahead of the female runners who might challenge me.  While I saw a male runner fall during each lap (at the same spot) the course was very runnable even with the roots, rocks and mud.

As I came up the final grade toward the finish line I could see the finish clock and saw my 1:30 wasn't going to be but I continued my sprint across the line knowing that I had run a strong race and feeling very confident that many of my goals had been meet.


CMIYC Trail 10 miler ~ 1:32

I successfully defended my Master's title again this year and came in as the fifth female setting a new distance and course PR by 2 minutes.  As always a successful day of racing can not be without the work of many wonderful people.  My thanks go to our RD, many volunteers, Kevin Spradlin for the awesome video, DNR, and all my fellow racers, everyone played a part in creating another wonderful racing experience.

 

Race Goals ~ Catch Me If You Can Trail 10 miler

Day # 352 ~ Monday's unexpected p.m. run ~ 6.5 sweaty miles

3.5 a.m miles also sweaty

I have another race this coming Saturday.

I will be defending my Master's title at the Catch Me If You Can trail 10 miler.  Last year this race was difficult to fit in with a soccer game scheduled later in the morning and again this year it will be a logistics nightmare.  Thankfully Army Son will be home to make sure the kiddos get to the game on time but I will have to run fast to make it there myself!

In setting my goals for this race I'd love to say that I am going to play it safe BUT I'd rather have attempted to reach my goals and fallen short than to used excuses to not have tried.  So I will set aside the fact that my legs are almost 2900 miles tired.  And I'll over look that my hamstrings are still remembering those wonderfully challenging trails during that 50 miler.  And I'll also pretend that I haven't gained about 10 pounds that I was looking for. 

I will instead set it all out there and go for a repeat win!

My I FINISHED goal: To arrive on time. To start. To finish.

aka: Finish Feeling Fine having Fun

This race is close enough that I can drive there the morning of so this goals should be in the bag!

My I CAN goal: Finish in 1:34 ~ last year's time.

 

My I LOVE IT goal: To finish and retain my Master's Winner Title.

regardless of finishing time.

My I DREAM IT goal: Under 1:30.

So there they are.  Goals.  Things to reach for but not to be defined by.  I am the total of all my experiences not just the latest experience.  So "win" or "lose" I will have another opportunity to enjoy the trails and the challenge they bring.  I look forward to seeing what I am capable of doing on day # 356. 

Will 356 days of running have made me stronger? 

No matter the time on that clock, 356 days will have made me stronger.  Stronger in my physical attempts to challenge myself and stronger emotionally to handle when my attempts fall short.

On any given day you just don't know what you are capable of until you amaze yourself doing it.

It was a wonderful morning after Mother's Day in our house.

My daughter, inspired by Tonia @ Racing with Babes (socks) and Jill @ Run with Jill (loving pink) rocked a super cute outfit this morning.  I know she always has a better when she feels pretty so I love it when she really digs her outfit!

I got out for the last of my jogger-less runs this morning.  3.5 miles (26:57)  Having Hubbs home to help out was GREAT!  My neck and back soreness (that I think stemmed from overuse pushing the jogger on my hilly runs) is much improved after several days of non-jogger runs.  Tonight I return to being a jogging stroller mama with Hubbs working at the new house for a few days.  I will let you know how the neck and back hold up.

I will leave you with a few shots from the Catch Me If You Can trail 10 miler.  These are from the second lap around the lake.  I was not surprised to see I was still smiling!   I love trail running.

3 Changes Challenges

May 6th through 9th - Thursday through Sunday

1. h2o/non-caffeinated - ++64 oz. each day - Success

2. Destress - Praying is back to being a priority where it should be.  Setting aside that time really helps me focus on other things that help me realize my stresses are really not as big as I let them appear. - Success

3. Xtrain - This remains a challenge that I have not committed to.  I can get myself to stretch after runs and do my sits and push ups sometimes but I have not made cross training a priority.  I know I will not see changes in my conditioning if I don't do this!  - Needs Improvement (I stink at cross training!)

The Weekend Review - Race Recap

Friday

Of course I went for the second half of my run Friday evening.  I wasn't going to allow a silly little thing like a 10 mile trail race the next morning stop me from attempting to hit my 50 miles this week.

But seriously, I am still trying to get as many trail runs in as I can before my next trail 50k in July and the easiest way for me to do that is to run a trail race. 

For those wonderful readers who may not know, these are not the kind of trails you can push a jogging stroller on.  They are "technical" trails.  Trails that are not groomed.  Trails that require technical ability to traverse safely.  Thus the need to do them when I can have hubbs or family support with the kiddos.

So Friday evening found LBM and I out finishing our run enjoying the setting sun on Friday.

Saturday

At 7:30 my cell phone rings.  It's hubbs. 

"Oh great to hear from you!," I say " How close are you?"

Hubbs was coming home from working night shift and had volunteered to be home in time to watch the kids while I went and ran my race.

"You are not going to believe this but...I am just leaving work."

That's 2+ hours away

"Oh well.  I will figure something out."  I say being all cool and easy going.

"Call me back so I know what is going on."

"No problem." I agree.

AGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

Insert frantic calls to the rest of the family to recruit support for the kids until Hubbs can get them picked up.  I finally work it out with no time to spare and I am cruising to the race.

Thus this very rushed picture is all you get!

You miss out on all the beautiful scenery of the trail.  I didn't carry the camera. 

And this is your after race shot.  I AM flying down the road to attempt to make it back in time for my daughter's soccer game.

We were a little late.

The race was amazing.  As all trail races are!  The course was challenging and beautiful.  The organizers did a great job!  It was their first race.  Support was spot on during the race which consisted of two 5 mile loops around a beautiful lake.  (luckily that supplied a little relief from the intense heat of the day!)

I am still struggling with knowing what pace I can produce in a trail event.  Due to that I went into the race simply as putting forth my best effort at a challenging but steady pace.

I finished in 1:34. 

Which is 4 minutes beyond my secret goal pace. 

But I was 14th overall, 6th female and winner of the Master's Division.

So not to bad!

I didn't stay for awards (I'll show you those after I get them) because I had to rush back home for my daughter's soccer game.

Then it was off the the new house.  I drove our truck and trailer to give Hubbs a break.  We moved some things in.  Luckily beating the rain that come Sunday!

The house is now offically ours.  We put up our door knocker.  We have had it since we got married but never used it. 

LBM loved running  around the deck sans diaper, it was HOT!

We enjoyed our Sunday of cleaning and mowing but then it was back on the road with the much lighter trailer.  We made better time getting home but it was still a lot of driving for one weekend.

This morning found me outside running my wake up run (3.5 miles /28:34).  I needed to stretch my legs and having Hubbs home to watch LBM was great!

 

It was a fantastic blur!  Thanks for stopping by and getting caught up with me.

What great things did you accomplish this past weekend?

3 Changes Challenge

April 30th through May 2nd  - Friday, Saturday & Sunday

 

1. h2o/non-caffeinated - +64 oz. each day - Success (easy to drink while you are traveling and at a 80+ degree race!)

2. Destress - I've been praying every day!  Oh and I ran an amazing TRAIL race that put me on a high that lasted through all the driving.  - Success

3. Xtrain - Friday; sit ups & pushups.  Saturday; moving.  Sunday; cleaning (this counts a little) & traveling - Needs Improvement (I stink at cross training!)

A 4 Minute Head Start

Last night we had soccer practice.  Can you tell?  S'ghetti is wearing a skirt.  Even my daughter has a "running skirt" I need one too!  Not only do I need a running skirt to keep up with my daughter, I also need one because I am registered to run a Catch Me If You Can 10 miler May 1st in Maryland.  If I wear a running skirt I get a 4 minute head start! 

Money is tight so I may have to start accepting donations.

3 Changes Challenge

April 20th - Tuesday




1. h2o/non-caffeinated - 64oz- Success


2. Destress - I didn't try and run errands during soccer practice, I enjoyed just talking with the other parents (not complaining about things just chatting); I prayed today which is becoming a much needed daily habit! - Success


3. Xtrain - Aside from walking at soccer practice while I talked with one of the moms, zero cross training today but I am aiming for 2 days a week so there is still hope - Needs improvement

Jamie @ Running Diva Mom is having a WOOHA giveaway!