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Dunn Forest 52K "fat-ass"

December 31, 2016 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: cool (mid-30s), but foggy-sunny and dry

Comments:
Fat-ass 50+K run in the Corvallis-area this morning. I've made some fun connections with the Corvallis trail runners this year (a much tighter and more cohesive group, overall, compared to Eugene). So I committed to this run, to spend time with these folks, and get in a crucial long-outing for SOB.

Up EARLY - after another coughing-night by Callie Alice, which disrupted sleep - and out the door by 0515. Roads were frosted and a bit icy, but I made it. Cold, but nice, in that it wasn't raining or windy!

Good-sized group for this free fat-ass run, including some fairly fast folks:

Andrew Miller
Ashley Nordell (+1)
Darla Askew (+1)
Emily Kalenius

This group, plus Cary Stephens (a Corvallis runner older than me, but still pretty quick) went pretty easy out front.

TOUGH run, for a few reasons: big vertical, lots of bushwacking to connect trails (courtesy of Cary and Spencer Newell's planning), and...I'm sick or something. Felt like really SORE early on -- like muscle aches everywhere and crazy-sore hamstrings and glutes! Some of it was residual from the VO2 test, but...just felt off.

This group sort of slinky'd around, and I'd spend time running with some of the ladies, including Emily, then some of the fellas.

I brought a single 16oz bottle and no calories, whic were both mistakes, in retrospect. Moreover, I didn't eat breakfast -- just didn't feel well, or feel like eating. But by the time we got to the half-way aid station, I was really low. Thank goodness that, in addition to water, they had some cookies, so I pounded a big one and guzzled water, then we set out for the second half.

I committed to going super-easy, and did - but it just got wayyy more fatiguing. Interestingly, Andrew hung back with me...and we ran the entire second half together! Even though I was struggling, we had some really fantastic convos about a lot of things, including commmunity, friendships, family, and well as a lot of running related things. He's a REALLY solid guy. He shared that he's struggling a little bit with college culture (being social; connecting with others) as well as some self-imposed pressures to "be The Man" in ultrarunning - which he's dealt with well, by...simply not racing!

I'm glad he talked a TON, because I just struggled, like legitimate end-of-ultra struggle: I got low on water, and felt slightly better after guzzling from a high stream, but I just felt exhausted. The worst was when we had to straight up-climb a clear-cut, bushwacking, to the top of this ridge. Yeesh, that was brutal, but once we got up there, it was a gentle road down, then two reasonable up-and-downs to the finish.

TOUGH run. Emily and Co (? only saw her, Cary, and this Nick guy) finished ahead of us. I ate some calories (cookies and chili) by the fire before saying goodbyes and heading back to Yachats.

Fun and cool run - really great training area! - but I'm definitely feeling off and need to take some down-time.

Rest of the day:
- got back to Yachats and went straight to the Brewery to meet everyone else
- got wood-fired pizzas from downstairs delivered to our rental
- drank and played games with Julie and OD, and Tommy and Carrie
- drove to Perpetua lookout (highest point on the Oregon Coast) with champagne to ring in the new year!

Like a lot of 2016: tough times but overall really good!