Saturday: 9 miles, 1700 feet elevation gain. The Jay Peak Running Festival 5K Hat Trick! This was an interesting race that reminded me just how darn slow I can be in short distances. 5K is a sprint distance, so I paced myself very differently than if I were running a 15K all at once. The first 5K was the hardest, the “Black Diamond,” with 700 feet of climbing and a section of tight technical single track. There were a slew of fast girls in my age group — more girls than men, actually, a rarity in trail races, and I finished mid-pack.
The first 5K
The second 5K, the “Blue Circle,” started an hour later; it was easier, but my inability to sustain a sprint landed me a bit better than mid-pack (though I beat this guy).
The second 5K
Meanwhile…
The third 5K, the “Green Square,” started an hour after that. This one, Mr. P was doing with Little Boy (and the friends we came with were doing it with their 6 year old and 10 year old). The third 5K was supposed to be the easiest but I didn’t find it easier than the second one at all; both had roughly 500 feet of climbing. I finished in about the same time (32 minutes). Little Boy did excellent, finishing in about 42 minutes! Overall, among the hat trick runners, I finished 8th out of 24 women. It was a good reminder to get some speed work in.
Sunday: 9 miles, treadmill. My quads were complaining bitterly after all of yesterday’s downhill running. In the morning we watched Mr. P finish the 25K race (4500+ feet elevation gain, which is insane).
25K Home Stretch (4000+ elevation gain)
He got third in his age group!
Third in his age group!
The weather was iffy all day. I needed to get in another run but knew it had to be flat and slow, so I opted for the treadmill in the fitness center, where I couldn’t even feel my quads. Same distance as yesterday, yet a totally different experience; not all miles are the same.
Monday: 4 miles hiking, 800+ elevation gain. Our last morning at Jay Peak, I hit the trails for some uphill hiking. Since I went straight up and straight down, I’m surprised it wasn’t more than 800 feet but that’s what the watch said.
Tuesday: 7.5 miles road running, 600 feet elevation gain. We’ve been terribly spoiled this summer by cool mornings with zero humidity, so I really shouldn’t complain about the hot sticky mess that has been September. Every part of my body oozed sweat.
Wednesday: 8.5 miles road running, 600 feet elevation. A slow, steady effort the whole way. The humidity was down a bit.
Thursday: 8 miles road running. 700 feet elevation.
Friday: 60 minutes swimming.
More pics from last Friday’s peak bag of Mt. Pemigawassette, aka the “Indian Head.”
The Apple of my Eye
"Daddy" by Little Boy
The View from the Indian Head
