Running Safety

Was out running on a trail today and had a women who was with a man I assume was her husband stop me.  She then immediately start to suggest I wasn't being safe running on the trail by myself.  I immediately started running again before my natural instincts took over and I started saying not nice things or punched her in the face(kidding.)  Now I'm sure some people reading this will think how nice, she was concerned for your safety.  But I find it infuriating that someone would suggest that I don't consider my own safety just because I'm out running by myself.

While finding someone who wanted to run in the same limited time frame I have to run at a 7:30 - 8:30 pace would be great I don't think that is going to happen.  So I really don't have a choice in the by myself department and I don't need some women shoving it in my face that her husband apparently has nothing better to do than go with her on all her workouts.

I know bad things can happen but bad things happen in many other different situations everyday all the effing time.    

Tried to find stats on bad things that will happen to me while running but can't find any definitive facts.  But from what I've read and an episode of 20/20 I vaguely remember from a few years ago when female runners are murdered it's usually the husband, so safe there.   I am more likely to be hit by a car than raped but more likely to be raped than killed when hit by said car.

When this women approached me we were on a safe trail( as in I wasn't running the Trolly trail by Troost.)   It was mid morning, I don't run in the dark by myself.  I do pay attention to my surroundings and was offended that she thought I wasn't. I always have my phone on me.   I have and still consider carrying mace but that has more to do with reading about stray unfriendly dogs on some trails than humans.   Now even though I run on a safe trail you never know.  Except for this women I have never been bothered on the trail.  The same can't be said when I run on the streets.  She thought I wasn't being safe because no there is not a ton of people on the trail but on the road there is lots of people.  I have to constantly look out for drivers texting and not paying attention.  At least once every other run I either get honked at or some guy lets me know what a " nice ass" I have.   Once I had a guy jump out of his car and come after me.  Once I was running with another girl and a guy drove by shot and hit her with a paint ball.  

Point is bad things happen but you can't live your life worrying about everything that could go wrong.  I'm guessing this women isn't going up to people eating donuts warning them about how diabetes kills.

Bubble Bubble

So this week did not go as planned.   My days of dog ownership are over for good.  We got a new pet I think we can handle and if not who cares, it's a fish.  His name is Bubble.

Miles ran:  31.5 missed my 15 mile run.  Really didn't have a choice.

Time spent running:  4:15

Time spent lifting: 1:15 Also missed my 2nd weight workout

One cycle class: 0:50

My diet was defiantly not better and possibly worse than last week.  Don't care at this point.

Only plan for this week:  Run as many miles as I can without injuring myself.

I am more excited than one should be about this new Quick Trip about to open right by the trail I like to run.  Icy cold drinks after running, yes!  Maybe using their bathroom instead of the port o potty, definitely yes!

Thanks for the note, family I waited on.  I like nice notes.

Week in Review and 50 mile Training

Miles Ran:  41.5
Time Spent Running: 6:10

Time Spent Lifting: 1:30
One Cycle Class: :50

Took the day off from workouts after a solid 7 days on.  Only 3 more weeks of heavy high mileage workouts before it's just better to taper off for the race.  It's a super short training time for the race but if I do it all right probably better than extra weeks of doing it all wrong.

Plans for this week:

46 miles including a long run of at least 15 miles followed by a 10 mile day
3 hours of lifting
Nightly foam rolling
Improve the diet

While as long as I am running 40+ miles a week I can literally eat whatever and not gain weight.  I would probably run a lot better though if I tried meeting my bodies nutritional needs.  For over the past week I've managed to cook 0 times.  Living off of protein bars, beer and whatever free food is available at work for the day.  On the plus side I have no dirty dishes however my body may not be loving it.

Breakfast of Champions.*

* This is a joke.  I'm not drinking beer for breakfast.

1000 Miles and Stuff

Randomly decided to add up all my miles this morning.  Apparently I hit the 1000 mile mark yesterday on the treadmill when I was warming up for weights at the gym.    If I was getting excited about things I think this would be something I would get excited about.   Puts me on track for exceeding last years miles of 1328 but I little behind for hitting over 2000 for the year.  Though 2000 is still completely doable especially since my schedule is now a lot better for fitting in running time than it was the first 5 months of the year.  No more 2 hours on the gym treadmill while Gretchen is in child watch.  Hard to do because it's boring and Gretchen isn't always into child watch.  

I need some 1000 mile cake.

Recently I've been thinking about all my silly running and whats the point.  I mean it costs money,  I have to pay for the race and take the day or in some cases two days off work.  If it's a longer race trying to carry trays of food up stairs the next day could be a scary situation.  I have to have someone watch my daughter.  That someone usually being my mom who already watches her many weekends so I can work.

I'm pretty good at it, not great or anything but pretty good.  I think I can be even better if I kicked up my training a notch.  I always feel like I undertrained for races.  But whats the point.  No one really cares if I can place at races or what my time was.  It's not going to make any money get me a good job or a date.  

  

The only point is that I like it.  I guess that's enough and of course I did just sign up for another race.  Since that is what I really wanted to do and looking at the current list of entrants I think I could win.   Could also DNF, I mean its 50 miles you never know.

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.