The course is a simple 7.75-mile paved loop around Pullman. Four loops equals 50k. The course is extremely flat minus the double-pointed hill.
Sadie ran the 50k with me. She's seems to be fully recovered from last month's leg issues. She's done great on a couple 20+ mile runs the last couple weeks, so I thought she'd be ready for the 50k. And she did great -- a little tired on the fourth lap, but so was I! I ran about what I was expecting too. I probably could have gone a bit harder to beat my best 50k time (I missed it by about 5 minutes), but the goal wasn't to gas it on this run. (results)
I'm actually feeling in very good shape right now. I think the break from racing as much as I was has allowed me to put in some better quality weekend runs. I think I can break 4hrs on this course if I really wanted to (and if the weather is not like we had at the first event last year.) But it would probably hurt a lot...so I'm not sure how bad I want to. My main incentive right now is to not injure myself. Last winter I think I overtrained a bit with the growing excitement for my Atacama Crossing attempt and I ended up straining my achilles a couple weeks before that race. My excitement for Scotland is growing a little each day, and the more excited I get about running, the more I want to run, even on "rest" days.
In other news, I'm heading to Texas for the holidays, and I'll be running a marathon with my sister on New Year's Eve near Dallas. Should be fun.
And I received exciting news that in 2012 I'll be a part of the Brooks ID team for a fourth consecutive year.
Keep running!
Scott
Sadie ran the 50k with me. She's seems to be fully recovered from last month's leg issues. She's done great on a couple 20+ mile runs the last couple weeks, so I thought she'd be ready for the 50k. And she did great -- a little tired on the fourth lap, but so was I! I ran about what I was expecting too. I probably could have gone a bit harder to beat my best 50k time (I missed it by about 5 minutes), but the goal wasn't to gas it on this run. (results)
I'm actually feeling in very good shape right now. I think the break from racing as much as I was has allowed me to put in some better quality weekend runs. I think I can break 4hrs on this course if I really wanted to (and if the weather is not like we had at the first event last year.) But it would probably hurt a lot...so I'm not sure how bad I want to. My main incentive right now is to not injure myself. Last winter I think I overtrained a bit with the growing excitement for my Atacama Crossing attempt and I ended up straining my achilles a couple weeks before that race. My excitement for Scotland is growing a little each day, and the more excited I get about running, the more I want to run, even on "rest" days.
 |
| Sadie with one mile to go. |
In other news, I'm heading to Texas for the holidays, and I'll be running a marathon with my sister on New Year's Eve near Dallas. Should be fun.
And I received exciting news that in 2012 I'll be a part of the Brooks ID team for a fourth consecutive year.
Keep running!
Scott
Scott... Thanks for hosting this race. It was fun running with you and Sadie. Good luck at the marathon in Texas!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic race!
ReplyDeleteHave a very festive holiday and all the best in 2012
Fun!!! I think it's cool that you do this.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, as usual! I'm sure you will have no problem smashing your goal time soon!
ReplyDeleteI love Sadie. She's such a sweetheart. Merry Christmas, and safe travels to Texas! Practice up on your Scottish while you are there ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat race. Also glad Sadie is doing better. Have a great time in Texas!!
ReplyDeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeleteI've been running for over 30 years almost every day with probably over 50,000 miles behind me :-)
Have you done the Comrades? My friend Tatiana Titova told me about running that one!
Dr. J -- I did Comrades in 2009 and LOVED it!
ReplyDeleteHi Scott,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from RunnersWorld. I have a Border Collie I have been running with for almost a year now. I want to run a marathon with her and I want to make sure I don't 'kill' her along the way. Any advice on nutrition or training for a dog? I worry about her not being able to tell me if she is tired/thirsty/hungry, etc.
I am sure she would tell me that I am the one holding her back though!
@"Unknown"-
ReplyDeleteAs far as training Sadie for a marathon -- I just run her with me on all my training runs. I don't think there's a trick other than making sure she puts in the training miles too. She started training with me when I was training for my first marathon, so she built up mileage slowly just as I did.
I think as long as your dog can hang with you on your weekly long runs then she'll be fine when you finally do the marathon. And she'll love it I'm sure. :)
I don't do anything fancy for nutrition. I'll give her extra food after our long runs, but no special diet or anything.
When we do our long runs I try to make sure there are creeks or rivers that she can dip into when she needs water. She runs off-leash in the mountains, so she'll get water on her own as we pass creeks. If there aren't water sources on a particular route, then I'll carry extra water for her and a collapsable bowl. My general rule is: If I'm getting thirsty, then she's probably at least a little bit thirsty too.
I'll bring treats for her too on the long runs, so while I'm downing a GU she'll get a snack.
Hope this helps!
Scott