May | 2017 | VT Runner Mom

“Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running.”

~Kara Goucher

The clock is ticking…….Is it me, or does Spring seem to be flying by??!? I love spending Memorial Day weekend with family and friends at the Pinelands Trail Festival, so pumped that this weekend is right around the corner! It’s such a great race, endless distances from a 1k kids race to a 50 miler. The vibe in Maine is relaxed and it’s always a treat for this Vermont girl to see the ocean on the way up on our drive. This race will be a great warm up for VT100 coming up in July. It’ll be a family affair, the boys are running the 25k and hubs and I will both be running the 50…….I’m sure we’ll see the boys out on trail…..They’ll do one lap, and we’ll do three, so chances are they will pass us! Can’t wait to meet some new peeps and hang out with my precious dear friends…..Happy Tapering everyone!!! Can’t wait to see you all!!!

The past three weeks have been HUGE for me in the mileage department. I’ve logged 122.4 miles with an elevation gain of 19,402 feet thus far in the month of May!!! Including two Mt. Ascutney climbs (getting myself ready for those relentless long hills of VT, remember the ones with scary names?!?!!) I’ve been adamant about having my training elevation mimic that of the VT100. Granted, most of my training loops are crazy hilly, so it’s not that difficult to achieve that. Last week it was in the upper 80’s, low 90’s and my 19 miler kicked my bootie!!! I’m focusing on eating smaller portions more frequently during longer runs. I really have to get more heat training runs in, I’m waiting on Mother Nature tho. This weekend actually looks picure perfect, 62 and partly cloudy, let’s hope the rain holds off…..

6 miles into our 19 miler….it was hot! Love this shot of hubs running down one of our favorite back Vermont roads….

Loving my Last Horse Runners hat….check them out

I hope your May training is going well……..I’ve had a few rest days. Trying to preserve my legs and be careful of injuries……My shins were definitely sore after my last hike up and down Ascutney……feels good to rest the bones……..lots of hot baths filled with epsom salts and lavender….I kinda like tapering…….

Soon, packing will begin…….

Fun happy clothes….InkNburn of course! Now which outfit….hmmmmm
Hydration Tailwind Check!
Bars Simple Squares….. I will have extra if anyone at Pinelands would like to try some!! Come see me!!
Socks Only Injinji…..knock on wood no blisters…however the compression didn’t end up working for me. My calves locked up in the first mile of a 22 miler I did….Luckily hubs came to the rescue and brought me my shorter socks…….not sure why my legs disagreed with compression. As soon as I switched, all was right in leg land…
My running supply drawers I made for races…….holds everything from Lube, tampons, bobby pins, rolaids, tums, pens, bandaids…..you name it, it’s in there. Also works great at home, I always know where things are……

Sweet drawers!

fuel for one of my long runs…..

And please, please, please turn on the Charity Miles app…..I’ve logged 429.28 miles in 2017, which is $107.32 for the charities of my choosing……..Every Mile Matters……..

When you love a book so much, you read it again…. “Running with Raven”

I’ll let you know how the 50 goes! It’ll be a great test to iron out any kinks before VT……I’m a little nervous. My only other two 50’s were at the VT50….home turf… Of course, it’s a kick ass hilly one, so I’m hoping this one will be a tad easier…..but who am I kidding, 50 miles is 50 miles!!!!!!! Thanks for following my running journey………..

Happy Trails, & see ya at Pinelands!

Krista 🙂

xoxooxoxoxo

“If the hill has its own name, then it’s probably a pretty tough hill.”

~Marty Stern

Heartbreak & Agony are just a few of the tough hills I will be running (who am I kidding…..power walking, climbing, shuffling or crawling….) up soon at the VT100. If they have a name like Stern’s quote says, then they must be toughies, right?? Yup, they are.

It’s hard to believe that the VT100 is a mere sixty-nine days away. Holy Shit….. Training is really ramping up these past weeks. This week I put down 52.2 miles with an elevation change of 6,598ft in three runs. My highest weekly mileage to date. Ankle is holding up well, I’m being very adamant about rest days……. I know how important they are in this whole process. I’m being proactive with stretching and seeing my chiropractor on a regular basis. I already have an appointment lined up for the week before the 100.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Probably because I haven’t run farther than fifty miles at a time….. I have days where I stop suddenly in my tracks and say “I’d still be running!” or before bed while brushing my teeth, “yup, still running” or in the morning the next day as I’m getting the kids off to school……”ahh, still running!!!!!!!!!!” Of course I HOPE I’m still running, because that’s the goal…to FINISH!…..I’m feeling like I will be using most of the 30 hours to get this done, so visualizing myself doing this and crossing the finish line is key. I’m still working on my stomach. I’m taking an acid reducer the night and morning before long runs, I’m honing in on eating during these longs runs, which is getting easier with the aid of Tailwind and the pure act of making myself EAT. Lulu and Joe also mentioned trying to eat a small bite of food every 20 minutes, rather than waiting until you feel hungry….gonna try this as well. I’ve noticed improvement, but if there is one concern for this race, it’s my stomach. I have a fear of throwing up, which is not the best one to have as an ultra runner. I despise, loathe, and hate vomiting. I cry like a baby, I pretty much am a baby when I’m or anyone around me is doing this God awful thing…….thank goodness I never had morning sickness, I would have been a complete mess. So I’m working hard on keeping my stomach in check. Do anyone of you out there suffer with stomach issues during your ultras? I would love to hear what helps you.

Pinelands 50 is fast approaching….3 weeks from today. I love having another race to use as practice for the big dance. I’m going to use it as a stepping stone race, no need for PR’s or pushing myself too much. Just nice and steady, using my time wisely at the aid stations and getting around the course feeling good. Soon I’ll be checking the weather to see what conditions will be. Except for my run with Raven in Miami, I’ve yet to train in any sorta of heat or humidity. I can’t wait for it to warm up in VT and run in some HOT and HUMID temps. I’m excited that so many friends are heading to Maine for this race, and my whole family is running it. Hubs is in the 50 miler and our two boys are doing the 25k, I think they are secretly going just for the Swedish Fish at the aid stations, ha-ha….. There are also a few new friends that I’d like to meet there as well. Should be a fun weekend for us all……

Yesterday I finished up my weekly training with a 21 miler with new friends and my lovely hubs. Lulu and Joe drove up from NYC in the pouring rain Friday and stayed the night with us. It was fun to finally meet her in person after corresponding on Instagram @ lulu.mnyc . She too will be running the VT100 , with Joe as her trusty crew and pacer. We enjoyed a great day on the trails with slight humidity, rain, sunshine, wind, muddiness, lots of chit-chat and of course taking fun pics. We loved having them, Alba did too!! Can’t wait to see you Lulu in less than 2 months!!! Keep up with your great training!!! We’re gonna Kill the hills girl!!!

Lulu and I jumping for joy on the trails….

I’m staying positive, motivated, grateful and happy about the upcoming 100. When I told my good friend, Laura Farrell (who is the founder of the VT100, thank you Laura for all you do) that I’m very NERVOUS and excited, she gave me this wisdom….. “Please remember that at the 100 mile, you get to spend a whole day doing something you love.” This has really stuck with me, I hear her words in my head while training and in life. I’m looking at this as an adventure…..one step at a time. I’m going into it with a BIG SMILE on my face. It won’t be easy, it won’t be all fun and games…..but running is something I love doing and I’m so thrilled that I get a chance to take a shot at one of my biggest goals……

Happy training and remember to always have fun!!!!!!

See you on the trails……thanks for following me…….

Krista 🙂 xoxoxoxoxoxoxo