trail runner – Determined to Tri AND Run

August 2, 2022

Dirt & vert vs. Flat & fast

I spent a few days last week up in the mountains of western North Carolina. Ahhh…so peaceful and scenic. It was hard to come home! But, I am extremely grateful for the time I got to spend up there running and hiking the mountains and trails.

Chasing a little vert at Moses Cone Park

Now that I’m back home in flat Florida, my typical training resumes. I have a sprint tri in a couple weeks, and several trail races lined up this fall. My “A” race is a north Georgia mountain 50k in early November. And, today is Track Tuesday!

Our cardiorespiratory system, the heart and lungs, can’t tell the difference between speed work and climbing at slower paces. All the heart and lungs know is effort. Now the legs, they know, but that is a different topic for a different day! I do plan to mix in both speed work and hill repeats into this training block, as well as continue at least twice per week lower body strength and conditioning. I just have to work with the terrain I’ve got here in Florida to properly train for the upcoming events.

Todays workout: 5x 800m repeats with 4 min recovery between each interval. Start with a 10-15 min warm up jog with dynamic drills (skipping, leg swings, high knees, butt kicks, carioca, etc.). Finish with another 8-10 min of easy pace running and a minute or 2 of walking.

Yes, you are allowed to walk!!! It really helps bring the heart rate down and prevent blood pooling in the legs after hard effort sessions. And, hiking workouts on the treadmill set to inclines 5% and higher can supplement trail race training too!

My pace is fast to some, slow to others, but it’s all relative. I controlled my paces today to stay sub-8 on each interval. This was not an uncomfortably hard effort, but rather felt like steady work.

I could’ve gone faster, but wanted to finish feeling like I could give one more, as I have a bike sesh on tap this evening. I feel grounded and ready for the work day ahead after a workout like this!

July 25, 2022

Skunk Ape 30k Night Run

Well this weekend delivered a big time adventure! The Skunk Ape 30k night run in the Green Swamp. The means 18-ishhhh miles of Florida trails – In. The. Dark. – with about a hundred other crazy humans!

As an experienced road runner, I was somewhat suckered into this by my local trail running group, the O-Town Blazers. A few of us psychopaths toed the line to take on this challenge at 7pm-ishhhh Saturday night. While I’ve run trails here and there, I was very underprepared for what this evening would bring!

But, the O-Town Blazers are truly amazing people, and thankfully our fearless leader Lovelyn stuck by us back of the packers to see us to the end. I truly don’t think I could’ve finished this race without her!

The scenery was pretty beautiful, at least until night fall. After that the most striking views were those of the sparkling spider eyes all along the trail 😂

Moderate water crossing – biggest one came at the end

Aid station #1 meet up with Lovelyn and Megan

Thank God for gummy worms and soda at the aid stations!

There were things that went thud in the dark, delirious sugar high conversations, grass and water up to our knees, hog ruts, and armadillos the size of Texas out there. All in all, terrifying, but a total blast!! Would I do it again? Absolutely!!!

Take aways: TRAIN for the distance. Get a MUCH brighter headlamp. Face your fears!

Stats- Finish time was 5:05:43 – 96th of 100 finishers. 108 signed up with 8 that either DNS or DNF. This leaves quite a bit of improvement for next time! 😄

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022

Pigtails and trails…

Well I’m still around, just focusing on many different things lately! It’s a case of runner/triathlete ADD. Local triathlon races (3 since my last post!), summer vacation, 3 times a week strength training, still base building the miles, and, once again, trail running.

3rd place AG at the Heartland Olympic Tri

4th place AG at the Sommer Sports sprint in June

4th place AG at the Sommer Sports sprint in July

Speaking of those trails – I had a great trail run this past weekend at a new to me venue, the Orlando Wetlands Park. I met up with a local trail running group and ran the outer 6 mile loop, then one of the inner 3 ish mile loops. Running with these peeps is always such a blast! Good people, good attitudes, with a “no man left behind mentality”!

In order to share all these unique outdoor adventures and spaces, I created a second Instagram page just for my trail runs. Check it out @pigtails_and_trails

Since I’m still Tri training, yesterday was a 1 hour swim and light strength training day using bands for hip and glute work. This morning I got in a solid 5 miles for #tracktuesday with 5x 400m + 2x 200m nailing those goal paces!

My total running miles for July will likely fall a tad short, but I’ve also been spending my Friday mornings stand up paddling instead of running which is a nice summer time treat! And then there was a vacation in the Florida Keys and new flooring in the house … July has been very productive and a whole lot of fun! Sadly, 3 weeks and counting until we’re back to the school year routine, so I’m trying to make the most of the summer days while I can! Still a couple more adventures to go!

May 11, 2022

May is for making mimosas and memories!

Time for a catch up post! It’s already almost mid-May. Where has the time gone?!? Since my last post we’ve celebrated Easter and Mother’s Day, 2 of springs biggest events. Through it all I’ve still been running the miles and making memories with runner friends!

Mother’s Day ‘Momosas’ with Moms Run This Town

Last month I was dealing with a pesky calf and hamstring strain, so my mileage did go down and my speed work had to go on hold. I put in some more time on the bike to give the legs some no impact training, as I’m prepping for 2 triathlons in June anyway. I’m happy to report the legs are feeling stronger now, and I was even able to complete an interval tempo run this morning!

This morning’s sunrise during my tempo run

Today’s workout was 3x 7 minutes at 8:45-9:30 pace with a 3 minute jog between each set. My legs definitely took longer to warm up, but I was able to stay between 9-9:30 for all 3 intervals. It’s funny how quickly the speed fades when one is not able to keep practicing the turnover, but I do know it will come back quick when my body is ready.

I had a less than stellar 5k last month, on April 9 to be exact. It was a small local race, so I did place 2nd in my age group with a meager 27 minute finish time. I attempted a 5k time trial last weekend, and while my legs were pain free my pace was still not where I wanted it to be. This time I blame the increasing Florida summer heat at 9 am, but I know the other part of the equation is the effect of detraining. So, back to work I will go!

I’ve also been running some trails with a local trail running group. That has been so much fun! One week we even did a run then paddle-boarded down the Wekiva River to Wekiva Island for lunch. I love this group and the opportunities they’ve given me to explore areas I would otherwise not be able to see as a solo female runner!

I am looking forward to the June triathlons and then more training for the Georgia Sky to Summit race in the fall. Big things ahead, and I’m super excited to blaze even more trails! Stay tuned and follow my journey 🤗

April 2, 2022

Colt Creek Half Marathon

There’s something feral about trail running that draws me in. The freedom, the connection with nature, the anticipation of the unknown! It’s a feeling like no other, and I’ve gotten to explore many places I didn’t even know existed once I stepped out of my comfort zone!

The roots, the rocks, the mud, all add to the adventure. I’d happily trade my Mon – Fri for this if I could earn a decent paycheck, but let’s be honest here too. It wouldn’t be any fun all alone! Part of the excitement is being surrounded by other trail runners, even complete strangers.

We’re all out here for a common purpose, and I’m pretty sure we thrive on both the adrenaline rush and our love of the great outdoors…Except maybe those first timers that didn’t know what they were in for. I’ve been there and done that too! 😆 But with faith over fear I kept putting one foot in front of the other, and here I am loving every minute! You should give it a try!

Colt Creek Half Marathon – 2:30:28