Thanks Kid

So sometimes you have a shitty week, and then some kid, probably 19 or 20 but I'm technically old enough to be his mom so kid, comes up to you and treats you like a rock star.  

 After having a particularly shitty week I completely skipped 2 days of workouts then finally forced myself to the trail Sunday after work.  As I was sitting in my car with the door open messing with my phone a young guy came over was all I'm so sorry to bother you but I saw the 50m and 50k stickers on your car.  Then proceeded to ask a bunch of questions about distance running and told me how cool it was that I ran those races.  We talked maybe 5-10 minutes but made me feel cool and helpful.  

I then ran 4 miles at a 7:30 pace that didn't feel hard and decided to go ahead and sign up for that 50 mile race in September  I've been mulling over.  

I'll be running the Hawk Hundred on September 13th.  I'll be doing the 50 mile version, not quite ready for 100 yet.  It's trail so should be a bit more of a challenge than the flat 50 miles I ran back in March.  

Signing up tonight gives me the optimal 6 weeks of training time one usually likes for 50 mile races.  I'm sure it will be fine,  I'm kinda on a roll for races this year so shouldn't stop now.  

Picture from trail so this post would have a picture.  Hi cat face.

Happy Psycho Psummer

Saturday for the 3rd year in a row I ran Psycho Psummer 50k.  It falls right around my birthday every year so it's my own kinda birthday party.   I mean what's more fun than running all day?  Not much. 

I got up at 6:00 after not a lot of sleep but I never sleep that much the night before a race.  I had sat everything I needed out the day before so I pretty much just threw my clothes on grabbed everything and was out the door.  I stopped at Quick Trip for a coffee to drink along with a cup of Nunn water on the 30 minute drive over.  I ate a Honey Stinger chocolate waffle earlier in the morning and then 1/2 a banana about 30 minutes before the race start. 

I picked up fellow racer Jeremiah on the way over.  It was his first 50k and I know he was pumped about it.   This picture is clearly Pre race.  It didn't seem like we were there long before the race started.  Just long enough to get everything situated and use the bathroom a couple of times.

At an aid station stop shortly after I fell on the trail during the 2nd loop.  That's why I've got dirt all over.  I kinda fell and slid a little.  The guy running behind me asked If I was ok.  I said "do I look ok? "  Since I hit my lip I wasn't sure.  He said I looked fine so I said I was fine walked for like a minute before running again.  

For fuel during the race I drank a ton of water,  drank heed at the aid stations on the first 2 loops then coke on the third loop.  I ate at least 12 salt pills, had pb&j roll ups, pickles, pringles, fig netons, watermelon and one package of honey stinger chews.

Finishing the 2nd loop, about to go back for one more. The race is 3 loops around a lake each 10.3 miles.  The first loop you pretty much have people around you the whole time.  Different people since everyone is moving around each other to settle into a pace but still people around the whole time.  2nd loop there is people here and there but you're by yourself a good bit.  3rd loop you are pretty much running by yourself. I really felt good this entire race.  Except for falling down twice I never was really like ugh get this over with, my legs while tired never felt that bad.  At least when I'm comparing them to how they have felt in previous races. 

During the third loop at about mile 22 I'm guessing just before the first aid station I ran up on a guy walking who didn't look like he was doing to good.  So I asked and he didn't respond.  I turned around and he just starts barfing and dry heaving.  I told him I'd get the aid station to come out and he  said he'd be ok till then.  The aid station was only about 1/4 mile away, and they went out after him.   I've been there before, dehydration sucks.  But seeing that really got me jazzed up about my running, really made that first half of the last lap fly by.  

My Garmin quit on me 3 miles before the finish.  I figured it would but hopping it wouldn't because  for some reason looking at it made the miles seem like they were going by fast that day.  I don't know why since all the miles were slower and harder than what I usually run.  

KRISTEN WEIGAND

Bib# 2696

• Age: 34
• City: INDEPENDENCE
• State: MO

TOTAL TIME

6:01:19

OVERALL PLACE

15

Results

• 10 Mile Time: 1:50:25
• 20 Mile Time: 1:59:06
• 50K Time: 2:11:47
• Total Pace: 11:38/M

Standings

• 10 Mile Rank: 19
• 20 Mile Rank: 16
• 50K Rank: 15
• Age Group: Overall Female
• Age Group: Overall Female
• Gen Place: 3

I had no idea that I had a shot at placing at this race.  So when I finished and the race director came over and handed me the award for 3rd place female I was surprised.  I also didn't know there was prize money involved.  Getting a $100 check for placing in a race is fun too.  I finished 3/19 female finishers and 18/61 total finishers.

   

Psycho Psummer is a quality race experience with the fantastic aid stations, free race photos, shirt, beer mug, medal.  

Race Week

This week I'm gearing up for the Psycho Psummer 50k trail race.  By gearing up I mean trying to hydrate like a boss and not much else.  I'm running a whopping 10 miles total this week before the race so hopefully my legs will be super rested.  This will be my 3rd year running the race and as usual I feel under prepared.  Overall I think I'm in better shape than I was the previous 2 years but I never get the number or distance of long runs in that I would like.   I might be overly confident but I think I be fine.  The course is three 10.3mile laps around a lake.  Really just have to run the first 2 laps, 3rd lap is all mind over matter, no biggie.

Today I did a 5 mile run testing out my race day outfit and gear.  Didn't really have time to go to an actual trail to run so just ran down the street.  I ran pavement in trail shoes, so ridiculous but I had yet to run in the shoes so it had to happen.  Just need to buy some good socks.

I run by this sign all the time.  It looks like a mile marker sign in a race but it says donuts, so confusing.  I like to pretend I'm in a race every time I see it.

Race day outfit and gear minus the watch and socks.  I coordinated my bra and hydration pack with my shoes.  So pleased with myself for this.  Obviously today on my test run I added a tank top, my neighborhood is too sketchy to be running in just a sports bra.

What's Been Up

Scout Strong Half Marathon  May 11th

1:41:36 Half Marathon PR

Overall 34/347, Female 6/161, Age 30-34 2/35

No Picture

Ran Hospital Hill Half Marathon

1:46:04

Overall 621/4285, Female 124/2307, Division 30-34 female 33/443

Went to Colorado and rode a bike down a mountain.  I was SCARED to ride the ski lift up the mountain and ride a bike down but I took the beginner class and the instructor was super helpful, informative and patient.  I rode down twice, no injuries.

Back home I did some trail running in preparation for a 50k.

Family fun with a 4th of July 5k in Warrensburg, MO.

We picked up some medals.

Ran the 5k in 22:25 PR

Placed 2nd female, 1st in my 18+ age group female

Spent the 4th on the farm.  There was a skid steer rodeo competition

and a tire flipping competition.  My sister Beth has a hold on the farm competitions.

The next weekend I ran a 50k on my birthday.  I gave myself the gift of fitness.

I got a huge cramp all the way down both my hamstrings and calfs around mile 23.  I remember it feeling super painful and thought I couldn't run anymore, but after refueling at an aid station and slowly walking about a mile the pain went away and I was able to pick up the running again.  I'm guessing the cramping was all salt/ hydration related.

Finished in 6:28:47 PR

Overall 30/67, Female 8/20, Age Group 30-39 3/9

Medals

The Next week I went and took the ACE personal trainer exam.  I passed and I'm now a certified personal trainer.  My actual certificate should be here in 2-4 weeks.  Hire me if you would like to get in shape.  I'll probably make you run.  

Psycho Psummer Trail Run 50k

Overall Place	First Name	Last Name	Bib	Gender	Age	City	State	Class	Class Pos	Gender Place	1st 10 Mile Rank	1st 10 Mile lap	2nd 10 Mile Rank	2nd 10 Mile Time	3rd 10 Mile Rank	3rd 10 Mile Time	Total Pace	Total Time
31	KRISTEN	DAVOLT	2027	F	33	INDEPENDENCE	MO	F 30-39	3	10	47	2:15:43	31	2:18:18	31	2:31:45	13:44/M	7:05:48

Saturday I competed my first 50k trail run. The Psycho Psummer Trail Run at Wyandotte county park lake, Kansas.  I didn't feel like I had done near enough training for it.  Most of my miles recently have been logged on the treadmill and I can't seem to do more than 7 miles at a time on the treadmill on account of it being boring.  That along with my last longish race fail at the Hospital Hill half marathon I wasn't expecting to finish well.  I went to packet pickup the day before asking to be downgraded to the 20 mile run.  She put me on the list but talked about how prefect the trail was this year because of lack of rain and said I could change my mind up till the race started.  

I woke up Saturday morning at 6:15  still on the 20 mile get this over with track thinking I was going to be a mess by the end of it.  I got up dressed and grabbed my stuff trying to sneak out of the house without waking up Gretchen.  I made a stop at the Quick Trip for a special k protein bar so I would have something in my stomach to start.  After a 30 minute drive over to Wyandotte County Lake Park I parked.  It was about 30 minutes till race time and seeing all the other cars I got a little nervous.  I really didn't know how many were there for the 10 mile, 20 mile or 50k.  I stopped in the bathroom line I headed over to packet pickup to take myself off the 20 mile race and back on the 50k.  I decided  I would rather fail at the 50k than just finish the 20 miler.  I didn't realize till the race was about to start and the race director told us that we were free to drop to the 10 or 20 miler during the race.  You still get your metal and you still get counted, cool most races you have to know your distance before you start.

Something went off and the race started it was kind of a run walk up a small grassy hill to the actual trial part being my first trail race I was following everyone else's lead at the start of the race.  We hit the trail and it was single file.  I just let the runners in front of me determine my pace for about the first 5 miles which I think was best as I usually start out to fast at races.  After that the line thinned out a bit and I felt comfortable passing when I wanted to go ahead.  Everyone is super friendly about passing each other and if they are not it is because they have ear buds in.  You just can't see them. 

 There were four manned aid stations along the trail along with the one at the start/finish and unmanned water stations in between.  All of the volunteers at the aid stations were super great and helpful.  I especially appreciated the help with untwisting the top off of my camelbak and refilling it for me.  My hands were too sweaty for untwisting caps off of things.  The aid stations were a real buffet off snacks.  A run down of what I ate and drank on the run(the way I remember it anyway): a ton of water,  gallons of succeed(a Gatorade like drink),  one can of coke, a containers worth of Pringles, 1/4 of a watermelon, 1/2 a orange, 1 banana, 2 gels, 5 pickles, pack of gummy fruit and 6 s-caps.   

The race was divided into 3 laps.  I finished the first lap feeling great.  I dropped off my shirt because I felt like it was weighing me down, had my camelback refilled, grabbed some snacks and went off for lap 2.  I felt like there were about half as many runners around me for lap 2, felt like I was running my own pace, mostly running but walking all the ridiculous uphills.  The race was super well marked.  I was really happy about this as I always fear getting lost durning a race.  It happened once during a half marathon road race but with all the pink flags and straight ahead signs I never even thought I might be going down the wrong path.  Nearing the end of lap 2 I spied my daughter, mom and aunt hanging on the side of the trail.  Seeing Gretchen was a great pick me up but I still wasn't sure if I was stopping at 20 or going again for round 3.  Well I got back to the start and was still feeling good so I figured I'd regret not going for it and out I went.

I defiantly did more walking on the 3rd loop but only because they added all those extra hills on the 3rd loop that I didn't remember from the first 2 loops.  The 3rd loop was I running alone for most of it, where did everyone go?  Really though I felt decent the whole way through.  My legs were sore for sure but apparently I did an excellent job of hydrating because my stomach felt terrific during and after the race.  I finished the race in 7 hours and 5 minutes so thrilled about it since I started the day thinking I was going to barely finish the 20 miler.  I placed 10th out of 24 women and 31st out of 82 overall.  

On the first loop of course in the back wearing lime green shirt.

I believe i'm still munching down on some Pringles in this picture.

By the time I finished the first loop of the course I was feeling bogged down by the sweat filled shirt and had to lose it.  I only recently decided that bra only running was acceptable for myself for a few reasons.  1.  I think I've reached an acceptable level of fitness to go shirtless and I don't want to hear from you if you disagree with me.  2.  I'm running out on the trail where I'll only see other trail people.  I wouldn't try this running on the mean streets of Independence.  3. It's like 100+˚ outside.

Another great plus of this race is the free pictures.  I may need to work on my run face for the picture taking next time.