Xterra Richmond 21K Trail Race - FUN!

Last weekend it was North Face, this weekend it was XTERRA. I signed up for the XTERRA Richmond 21K trail race this past Monday, got us a room and decided to bring the family down to Richmond for a weekend getaway. I did not realize what a great weekend it was going to be.


It all began when we checked into the hotel Friday night and they told me they no longer had the room I booked, so they put us in the executive suite. This room was great and had a spectacular view of the James river, bridges, trains, etc... all things my 2-year son thoroughly enjoyed!


I had no idea what to expect with this race as the website was not very descriptive. I brought both my trail and road shoes to the start and started asking people what is was like who did it in prior years and in no time, I immediately strapped on the trail shoes. Also, I heard last year they cut 4 miles out of the race because of the heat. Really??? If you are running in Richmond in June shouldn't you expect it to be hot??


Well HOT is was, and HUMID and HILLY. This course was tough and it was a blast! I started off a little too quick and backed off after the first couple of miles because I could just feel this was going to be a tough one. About two miles in we climbed "Mayan steps" which were these steep steps about 2' high each and were made of railroad ties. My quads just burned after that. Moving along, we hit this park that was up and down the entire way, it was loop 1 of 2 and that first loop felt it took forever. I was downing fluids like crazy. I was pretty much walking up the hills to save any energy I had left. Thank goodness the 2nd loop wasn't as bad. I just kept telling myself to stick to my nutrition and I'll get through it.


As we got through the 2nd loop, we were running along on some flats and than had to run across this huge river bed of rocks. It was gorgeous and once we got to the other side, we had to climb a small ladder that still zapped more energy out of me. Back into more trails for a while than for some more fun, had to take the ramps up to a high bridge to cross over the rest of the river, down the ramps and than to the finish.


So for 12.5 miles (almost a 21k) it took 2:27 (11:47 pace). Although I was 27 out of 31 in my age group, this race was more survival than anything. I drank over 1/2 gallon of fluids, had 3 gu's and 5 endurlytes. No cramping, just a steady effort.


After the race, we lined Thomas up for his first kids race. That was fun. Although he didn't run as much as the bigger kids, he did cross the finish line on his own.


The rest of the weekend was spend exploring Richmond and enjoying it with the family. This one goes on the calendar for next year!

North Face Endurance Half Marathon - Race Report

Today I did the North Face Endurance Half Marathon located at Algonkian Regional Park in Virginia along the Potomac. The course was mostly trails with some paved sections and gravel roads on an out and back course. Overall, it was fun, but with 600 runners, it was crowded for several miles on the trails and when it finally started to thin out, you had runners coming at you when they hit the turnaround first. For the most part, the course was flat except one steep hill and one stream crossing, which was fun, that you hit twice.


After the 1st aid station at mile 1.7, the course turned into single track and I mean single track. There was no room for passing and the trails were covered with serious roots. Other sections we were running through fields with grass 6-7' tall on both sides of you. Between the roots and runners flying at you, you had to stay focused. It was great!

I had no watch as my Garmin locked up right before the race so I ran stickily by feel. For the most part, I kept a pretty steady pace and finished the race at 2:21 (10:49 pace). I was pleased with that and actually enjoyed not wearing a watch. I timed my nutrition based on the aid stations since there were about 3-3.5 miles apart. This worked out pretty well.

The highlight of the day is that I got to talk to Michael Waridian who finished 1st today, he finished 3rd yesterday in the 50-miler, and wished him good luck in Badwater 135 next month. Than I got to meet Dean Karnazes, got my picture with him and congratulated him on completing his run across America. The guy's amazing.

little dusting needed now...

Let me dust the cobwebs off this blog now and start updating it. Since my 50k, I've been in hiatus trying to figure out what I want to do for my next event. Thinking, planning, trying to figure out but felt like I was going in circles. I felt like a lost boy trying to find my way. For endurance athletes, this is what happens, if no events are planned, than there is no direction. Week after week, I was struggling to get my runs in especially on the weekends.

Every Saturday rolled around and I struggled, because I didn't want to run when Thomas was awake, typically 6:30 am - 11:30am (goes down for his nap), and running during his nap time got tougher and tougher because of the heat. But I need the runs and need to start early so I joined Arlington Road Runners which starts at 6am - perfect! I can get my run in and be home by 9ish, spend a couple of hours with the little guy and than after his nap - have fun with him the rest of the day. And on Sundays I run with Thomas for 4 miles, than let him run for 30 minutes.

Next, I had to find some events to train for. After going back and forth for so long, I've come up with the following fall line up! I cannot wait!!

Sept 25th - National Capital 20-miler
Oct 2nd - Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
Oct 15th - Medoc Trail Marathon in Hollister NC
Oct 22nd - Tough Mudder in WV
Nov 13th - Potomac Heritage Trail Run (50k) - need to make sure I get in when registration opens.

The Medoc Marathon in October is going to be great. All trails! Turns out the race filled up on May 20th and I emailed the race director to put me on the waiting list and he opened up a slot for me right away. That was nice!

So - the events are planned, now it's time to get out there and have some fun!