My half-arsed training plan for this 100 mile run coming up was to back off a bit on the mileage the last few weeks and work on power and speed a bit to cap off the endurance base and speed up the slow legs with a little faster running. Given that, I wasn't planning a big mileage run today, but wanted to run a moderate distance a little faster than normal. With the funk I've had all week, I wasn't sure either was a possibilty going into the run.
The plan Friday night was to run Ben Lomond, just out and back to the peak, from the pass and try to PR the route. I haven't really run that trail hard all year as usually I'm combining it with a longer run, or have felt crappy and tired going into it. Like I said, the funk (cold or allergies) has left me feeling low energy and crummy all week, it was still hanging around on Saturday morning so I had no idea what to expect.
Starting the watch at the trailhead, I decided not to look at it until the place I ususally to a split check, at the first switchback overlooking Ogden Valley. The plan was to run a what felt like a moderate to hardish pace to there and check my split to see where I was at. Sometimes when I feel crummy what feels like a fast pace is actually slow so I was happy to see I was 3 minutes up on what is my normal moderate pace at the check. Just before the overlook, I could see a guy run/powerhiking a half mile or so in front of me, and decided to use him to push me over the top of the switchback section by being determined to pass him before he topped out. I actually caught and passed him much more quickly than I expected and topped out the switch back section another 1:30 ahead. My next split is the last switchback befroe the trail crosses to the West side of the ridge. 50 minutes is ususally a good time for me to here, today it was under 46 minutes. Funny, I passed two guys hiking here, and one of them asked if I was going for a 2:30 round trip? Kinda funny 'cause that's exactly the number I had in mind. I said I hoped so.
I hit the saddle before the last climb at 1:05, passing another couple of hikers here. Started up the last climb and the wheels started coming off. The last switchbacks turned into a staggering red-lined combo of run/shuffle/hike/run/shuffle/hike/try-not-to pass-out suffer fest. I couldn't breathe at all, I felt like I was at 12-13,000 feet not 10,000. The congestion in my chest was still lingeing just enough that I couldn't catch my breath. I was seeing stars as I appraoched the last couple hundred feet of climbing, but my watch was ticking close to 1:30 and I really wanted to get there at or under 1:30. I staggered and weezed up the last little grunt to the peak, passing a couple of, now frightened at the sight a of guy who looks like he might die, kids in the process. I grabbed the summit register box to keep from falling over, looked at my watch, 1:30:15, close enough and a huge PR. I open the register, stuck my head inside for few seconds (probably looked like I threw up in there to those poor kids) no reigister book still (note: take one up next time) . Caught a couple of breaths, turned and headed down, passing the startled parents of the startled kids on the way down.
I left the peak at 1:32, I tried to calculate in my foggy head if 2:30 was possible, couldn't do it, tried to remeber if I had run the down in under an hour, couldn't do it. I leaned downhill, let gravity pull me and tried to keep my feet under me. Looking at my mile splits after the run, its funny how they go straight down in time from 8:35 in the first to 7:10 on the last, each mile getting faster on the way down. The descent went by fast. It was fun to re-passs all those I ran by going up. Power hike/run guy was shocked that I had been to the peak and back already, 2:30 time guy, gave me a good cheer and some encouraging words.
I hit the end of the trail in 2:31. Ahhhrrr! so close. I'll take it though, a huge PR for me. I felt really solid coming down and felt pretty strong the whole run except the last climb. That's 2 huge PR's this week. I'm really happy with where I am at overall. A little more speed work next week, combined with one or two longish runs and it'll be a slow coast to the Bear 100 start line.
Run stat's 15.65 miles, 3485 vert. 2:31
PR: for Malan's up and round trip and Ben Lomond this week! About 38 miles, 7500 vert or so. | 