Its 4 days now since I finished the race. We got home late last night and it felt good to be home again.
I've really struggled with that calf since the race and have been feeling pretty low about it. I planned on taking 3weeks off running after this race except for the odd run on the weekends so that actully helped as I'm no pressure to get back into it too early.
At first when I finished the race and up until Monday I was thinking I'd had a pretty crap run. I was thinking how I had blown up and I should've been at least 1hr quicker finishing, but the more I've thought about it the more I've thought it was actully a pretty good result. I was running comfortable for the first 20k and felt like I could've ran all day then a twinge out of nowhere in my left calf forced me to drop back the pace and with 30km or 40km of tree roots to run through my calf just got worse and worse. I was on the verge of doing a dnf at 60km but somehow I could not do it.
I'm not too sure what happened but my calf came good in stages after that. Managed to work my way up through the field again. So to go from running with the top end of the field to dropping back to around 30th then to work my way back to 7th I'm now thinking "that's pretty darn good!"
One of the great things I found with this race was all the people involved and all the runners that I was running with from the top group to the mid pack who passed me before I passed them again who came and congratulated me when I finished.
I guess the thing with ultra running not everything goes as planned and you need to be ready for some misfortunes. I can think about how I could've gone that 1hr quicker if that calf behaved and how I could've done this and I could've done that but I did the best I could under the circumstances I was in and I've got to be happy with that.
I was lucky I didn't have to dnf as alot of runners did. I was lucky to get a top 10 placing against some of the worlds best trail ultra runners, I was lucky to encounter some of the best trails to run on with an elite group of runners.
Yep I didn't have a crap race...I had an AWESOME race!
Next thing now is to get this calf good and get race fit for TNF100
About Me
- bear
- PB'S Six foot track - 4:09 March 08 3000m 9:50 - October 09 5000m 17:25 10k 36:03 - may 2009 1/2 marathon 79:56 marathon 2:54:56
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Lake Tarawera Ultra 100km
What an amazing technical race this is. It has it all. Nice forestry trails, nasty gravel trails, a little bit of road, lots and lots of technical tree roots trails, river crossings, running along cliff edges, some nice hills, some nasty hills, fallen trees, awesome aid stations, awesome volunteers, a great lead up to the race with a funrun and the Western States movie. Even the finishing medals were outstanding!
My race started off just as planned. I had 2 goals I wanted to reach. Sub 10hrs and a top 10 placing I got one of those goals.
We got to the start just before 6am and with the race stating at 7am we had just over an hour to go. I found it pretty cold waiting. After a quick pre race briefing we were lined up ready to go. I set myself about 5 rows back and just eased into it passing quite alot of runners. After about 30 or 40min I found myself up with the leading 100km runners. I was quite surprised at how easy the pace was. It was at one of the aid stations at about 19km I stopped to get the crap out of my shoe. Going through the river sections I got some stones etc in there. It was also at this stage I noticed my left calf feeling rather sore. I slowed down a bit to let it settle but as the run went on it just got worse. It wasn't long before I was on the tree roots and I reckon there was around 40km of tree root trails to run through which made it interesting. There was alot more hills than I expected.
Not long before the 60k someone told me I was 27th. yukk! I've gone from about 6th or 7th down to high 20. By the time I made it to 60k I was in about 20th place. It was also here the first female came charging by!
I decided I better get my butt into gear.
Leaving the 60k we were on a gravel road then we started a climb. The more I climed the hills the more my calf would spasm up. I found I could keep it at bay with salt tablets. Alto of the race is a bit of a blur after the 60k but I remember we started to make our way down hill and all of a sudden my calf came good. So while it felt good I ran a pretty good pace. I manged to catch up to alot of the other runners that passed me in the tree roots. Going up the hills now I had no problem running and passed alot as most were walking them.
The main hill is this 5km loop thats starts just befor 80km It was here my calf got really sore again and on that loop one other guy I passed and the chick caught back up to me. I found this hill quite good as it gave me a chance to break the run up with some walking. Back at the aid station my calf came good again so I took advantage of it and ran a nice steady pace dropping Nicola (the female runner) and the other guy. I got to 90km checpoint and only stopped for about 30sec. I made it there in 9hrs33min. There were 2 more drink stops between there and the finish. I only stopped at the last one. They tell me only 3km to go. That was a long 3km too. All this time I had no idea how close the girl and guy was behind me but knew if they can't see me they have no idea how far in front I was.
Finally I could see the finish line!
I finished in 10rs23min36sec and 7th place. Beating that guy by 2min and the girl by 3min.
Not the time I wanted but the placing was good :-)
My race started off just as planned. I had 2 goals I wanted to reach. Sub 10hrs and a top 10 placing I got one of those goals.
We got to the start just before 6am and with the race stating at 7am we had just over an hour to go. I found it pretty cold waiting. After a quick pre race briefing we were lined up ready to go. I set myself about 5 rows back and just eased into it passing quite alot of runners. After about 30 or 40min I found myself up with the leading 100km runners. I was quite surprised at how easy the pace was. It was at one of the aid stations at about 19km I stopped to get the crap out of my shoe. Going through the river sections I got some stones etc in there. It was also at this stage I noticed my left calf feeling rather sore. I slowed down a bit to let it settle but as the run went on it just got worse. It wasn't long before I was on the tree roots and I reckon there was around 40km of tree root trails to run through which made it interesting. There was alot more hills than I expected.
Not long before the 60k someone told me I was 27th. yukk! I've gone from about 6th or 7th down to high 20. By the time I made it to 60k I was in about 20th place. It was also here the first female came charging by!
I decided I better get my butt into gear.
Leaving the 60k we were on a gravel road then we started a climb. The more I climed the hills the more my calf would spasm up. I found I could keep it at bay with salt tablets. Alto of the race is a bit of a blur after the 60k but I remember we started to make our way down hill and all of a sudden my calf came good. So while it felt good I ran a pretty good pace. I manged to catch up to alot of the other runners that passed me in the tree roots. Going up the hills now I had no problem running and passed alot as most were walking them.
The main hill is this 5km loop thats starts just befor 80km It was here my calf got really sore again and on that loop one other guy I passed and the chick caught back up to me. I found this hill quite good as it gave me a chance to break the run up with some walking. Back at the aid station my calf came good again so I took advantage of it and ran a nice steady pace dropping Nicola (the female runner) and the other guy. I got to 90km checpoint and only stopped for about 30sec. I made it there in 9hrs33min. There were 2 more drink stops between there and the finish. I only stopped at the last one. They tell me only 3km to go. That was a long 3km too. All this time I had no idea how close the girl and guy was behind me but knew if they can't see me they have no idea how far in front I was.
Finally I could see the finish line!
I finished in 10rs23min36sec and 7th place. Beating that guy by 2min and the girl by 3min.
Not the time I wanted but the placing was good :-)
Friday, March 16, 2012
Lake Tarawera Ultra Eve
It's the day before the big race. I think I'm pretty ready. We flew into Auckland on Wed. Stayed out at Bucketty beach and got a nice 11.5k run in
Thurs morning got a easy 6k done in the morning then we made our way down to Rotorua. That evening we met up with a heap of other runners at the Redwood Forrest for a casual 7.5k run on some of the best trails I've ever run on. After the run they showed the Western States movie
Today being the eve of the race I just went for another easy 11k trail run through all these hot pools. Amazing running over here.
We went for a trip to the Pak and save supermarkets and WOW! what can't you buy at this place!
We also made it up the gondola and down the luge. A bit of pasta for lunch and getting my stuff together for tomorrow.
Sat in a running science seminar from Stuart Mills....(lesson - remain positive!)
Now all I have to do is try to get some sleep, wake up nice and early, relax and race 100k to the finish!
Thurs morning got a easy 6k done in the morning then we made our way down to Rotorua. That evening we met up with a heap of other runners at the Redwood Forrest for a casual 7.5k run on some of the best trails I've ever run on. After the run they showed the Western States movie
Today being the eve of the race I just went for another easy 11k trail run through all these hot pools. Amazing running over here.
We went for a trip to the Pak and save supermarkets and WOW! what can't you buy at this place!
We also made it up the gondola and down the luge. A bit of pasta for lunch and getting my stuff together for tomorrow.
Sat in a running science seminar from Stuart Mills....(lesson - remain positive!)
Now all I have to do is try to get some sleep, wake up nice and early, relax and race 100k to the finish!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Final week!
Starting to get fresh in the legs. We leave tomorrow morning and have to be on the train to Sydney at some stupid oçlock!
Since last blog I've only done a few runs.
Fri - rest
Sat - 16k around Lake Burley griffin in 1:15:08
Sun - 25K out and back on the bay to bay course in 1hr54min
Mon - Rest
Tues - 5k tempo run at 4min k pace witha 1k warmup and easy 6k to finish with in 53min46sec
Well so far so good. Had a massage today as well as some dry needling. Still having issues with my left hamstring but I'm sure it will work out on the day
Since last blog I've only done a few runs.
Fri - rest
Sat - 16k around Lake Burley griffin in 1:15:08
Sun - 25K out and back on the bay to bay course in 1hr54min
Mon - Rest
Tues - 5k tempo run at 4min k pace witha 1k warmup and easy 6k to finish with in 53min46sec
Well so far so good. Had a massage today as well as some dry needling. Still having issues with my left hamstring but I'm sure it will work out on the day
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Tues, Wed and Thurs and yes I'm tapering
Pretty relaxed week so far and backing the running right off. That weak hamstring that I felt was coming from my glute last week has backed off the hamstring but really tightened my left glute up! Not bothered about it as it's made me back off and just do some nice easy running. I'll stay off the hills and the speed until race day now.
Other than the glute I'm feeling quite fit and strong. Its come to my attention that I have just over 1 week until race day....yes ONE WEEK!!
So far this week
Mon - Rest
Tues am - easy 12k 59:12 Terrigal to Forries and back
pm - cycle class
Wed am - easy 11k 52:30 on the treadmill then a double cyle class
Thurs am - easy 12k 59:37 Booker Bay to Umina and back
Tomorrow I'm off to Canberra so I'll just chill out and work and see my girls but do no running
Other than the glute I'm feeling quite fit and strong. Its come to my attention that I have just over 1 week until race day....yes ONE WEEK!!
So far this week
Mon - Rest
Tues am - easy 12k 59:12 Terrigal to Forries and back
pm - cycle class
Wed am - easy 11k 52:30 on the treadmill then a double cyle class
Thurs am - easy 12k 59:37 Booker Bay to Umina and back
Tomorrow I'm off to Canberra so I'll just chill out and work and see my girls but do no running
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
It's taper time!
Well in the last week I've managed to keep getting some descent training in and it's come to the time of taper.
I don't normally taper too much for most events but since last Tuesday feb 28th my left hammy has been feeling weak and just "not right" Feels quite tight when I run but not in any one spot. I even think it may be coming from my left glute. Anyway like I said I've still managed some good training but have decided to back off and see if I can get the hamstring feeling fresh and strong again come race day.
Last week was
Tues am 10.6 intervals
Pm 10k run
Wed am - trail 14.8k
Thurs am - road 15.5k
Fri am - road 12k
pm - cycle class
Sat am - trotters erina bush run 12.4k
Sun am - Orchard run 31.3k
Total for the week around 106.5k
I don't normally taper too much for most events but since last Tuesday feb 28th my left hammy has been feeling weak and just "not right" Feels quite tight when I run but not in any one spot. I even think it may be coming from my left glute. Anyway like I said I've still managed some good training but have decided to back off and see if I can get the hamstring feeling fresh and strong again come race day.
Last week was
Tues am 10.6 intervals
Pm 10k run
Wed am - trail 14.8k
Thurs am - road 15.5k
Fri am - road 12k
pm - cycle class
Sat am - trotters erina bush run 12.4k
Sun am - Orchard run 31.3k
Total for the week around 106.5k
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