Sunset Run with a slice of humble pie

pre-race

Sat night Luke and I ran the Sabino Canyon Sunset Trail Run - 7.4 miles out and back, 548 elevation gain between mi 1.6-3.7 , then all downhill on the way back. About a week ago we did a trial run (5.5 total out and back). We totally turned abound before the big elevation push and didn't realize that until Sat. This. Run. Kick. My. Ass. Cardiovascularly, running at a 3.5% grade for 2 miles is exhausting. Then turning around and running down a 3.5% grade is physically demanding in a way I hadn't expected. My legs freaked out at the change from uphill to downhill, and my cramping (always on the right and excruciating) kicked in in full force. By the fifth mile, I turned to Luke and said "I really, really hate this", and we slowed down a bit. We were able to power up the last hill and finish at 1:13:45, making the average time about 10 min miles. Considering it was 86 degrees and much more of a hill than I anticipated, not bad. Hell, I'm glad I finished, I didn't puke, I didn't cry, and I didn't get stomach cramps afterwards.

turkey sock-powered

For time/distance comparisons: on my daily 4.5 mi run: in cool weather  on a flat course I average between 9:20 and 9 min miles. Recently, in the high 70s to low 80s on a flat course I've been pulling between 9:30 and 9:15 minute miles. My longer runs, 6-6.5 miles, I've been between 9:40-9:20 depending on the heat more than anything else. So my race time was overall slower, and it was definitely the hill and then the transition to downhill. Once I was cramped I couldn't make up any time with downhill grade.

post-race

L was an amazing running partner though the whole race. He was really encouraging and attentive through the whole course. One day I want to be able to run as easily (ok, near-as-easily) as he does. He just loped through the whole run like a freakin' gazelle - I'm more like the little-engine-that-could. 

All in all it was hard but a lot of fun. Now I'm trying to see if I can talk him into the Cinco de Mayo 10K....