Energy Gel Comparison

In my quest to find the best gel options for long trail runs, I did a comparison of the things I have liked and have been using. My preferred gel used to be Accel Gel and 2nd Surge, but since becoming vegan, I have been looking for something to replace them. Both gels, made by Pacific Health Labs, contain milk, and consequently, protein.

I have always liked to use one or two caffeinated gels on long training runs, and three during 50Ks. However, most gels don't contain protein, and without it, I found that I didn't tolerate the caffeine as well. I would remain dizzy and light-headed for the rest of the day. Using some protein after the caffeinated gel seemed to be the trick for me. I have finally taken the time to compare the calorie, carb, and protein content of the various options I have been using.

Today, I tried a combination of Clif Shot Double Expresso and Perpetuem, alternating between the two. It was a 3:40 run, so I used two Clif Shots and two servings of Expresso every 40 minutes, respectively, with the last 20 minutes going without. I am a little light-headed but not too bad. I probably should have only used one Clif Shot with caffeine. For some reason, I thought 2nd Surge had 200 mg of caffeine, which is why I used two Clif Shots with caffeine. Oops. Next time, I will only have one with caffeine and see if I get better results.

~LTR

Training Runs on the PCT

I want to spend as much time as possible practicing the terrain and elevation I'll be fastpacking. OK, as much as is reasonable, especially when many of these training runs on various sections of the PCT will require a shuttle.

Taking into account both distance and highest point of elevation, I tried to plan training runs on the PCT starting the last weekend of May. It's possible I will encounter snow for some of them. Five of the training runs will be overnighters. In the middle of all this is our 19th wedding anniversary, and I haven't planned that one yet. I am hoping we can go somewhere special to us (a good memory from hiking with our dogs maybe) and can camp out together.

So much will depend on how much snow we get this week. We've had a return of winter with lots of snow in the mountains. We may even get some snow in the lowlands. At any rate, it's been consistently cold enough to kill off the pests (mosquitos, mice, slugs).

I am only showing the late May through August portion of the training since I won't likely be able to get on the PCT until then due to snow.

***I removed my running schedule from the internet for safety reasons. If you'd like an idea of mileage, send me an email.***

It looks a little daunting to me right now, but hopefully by the time June rolls around, I'll be ready! In the meantime, I'll have to plan out campsites for each of the overnighters.

~LTR

When Ounces Matter, So Do Pounds

I've spent time and money getting my pack to be as light as possible, and now it's time to consider my own body weight.

Let's face it. I'd like to lose five pounds, and when I am trying to make my pack as light as possible, it only makes sense. My husband pointed this out to me last night. As much as I'd like to say that I have to eat plenty when training, I also know that I have formed some pretty bad eating habits in the last couple of years. Namely, I eat between meals and after dinner and often go to bed feeling stuffed. Those are simply calories I don't need. Now I know some people do better when they snack throughout the day; I am not one of those people.

While almonds are a healthy snack, it doesn't make sense to eat them at 8:00 at night!

So today was day one of not munching between meals when I am not hungry. I hadn't realized what a habit it had become until today when I became mindful of it. Each time I thought about having a piece or two of vegan jerkey, a dollop of almond butter, or a bite of left-over dinner, I realized that it was simply out of habit and not hunger. I suppose that's why it's called mindful eating. If I can have the discipline to train, running in the rain and wind before dawn on a Saturday, then I can also have the discipline to eat mindfully. It's part of my training, too.

~LTR

Revised Fastpacking Training Schedule

As I've be running on the trails again and realizing how much I need to toughen up my ankles and quads, I've given some thought to following a 50-mile training plan instead of a 50K training plan. Since I will be running 50 miles the first day of my fastpack, and then 20 the second day, I think it's a good idea. The main difference is that instead of alternating an easy week with a hard week, I'll have two hard weeks in a row, followed by an easy week. This idea comes from the UltraLadies 50-mile Training Plan.

I am currently running on trails on Wednesday and Saturdays. I intend to run on trails on Sundays when I can, but by June, I want to be running trails consistently on Sundays, too. Also in June, I hope to start running parts of the PCT for my weekend runs, whether easy or hard. The more of the terrain and elevation I can get, the better. Of course, in June snow may be in issue in the higher elevations, but as soon as I can start training at 5,000 feet plus the better!

Here's the plan:

~LTR

To GPS or not to GPS?

After getting feedback from my friend, and after discussing logistics with my husband, I decided that a new GPS would be a good idea. There are some areas where the right trail seems like the wrong one apparently. My friend recommended map and compass if not GPS. The only problem is that our GPS is really old...like 15 years old. While it does work, it is big and, more importantly, heavy. And that just won't work. Here I am going to crazy lengths and expense to have my pack weigh seven pounds without water and then I throw in a pound or more of GPS!

A little research drew me to a GPS watch: the Garmin Fenix 5X. It's a new breed of wearable GPS that comes with pre-loaded maps. Not only that, but I can get specific Pacific Crest Trail Maps (that's a tonge-twister!) for it. I read lots of reviews while my husband watched some reviews on YouTube and priced it out. While I really only need a watch that gives me distance, time, and mile pace, being able to wear a watch and have a GPS at the same time really appeals to me. The watch does far more than I need a running watch to do, but what the heck! I went head and ordered it on Sunday from Amazon, where it was $50 cheaper, and also got the running pod with it that will tell me vertical oscillation, ground contact time and other hyper-specific running form details. I also bought some little silicone plugs for the charging port so it doesn't get dust inside.

The watch arrived the next day! I have small wrists, and my left wrist is especially thin due to Kienbock's Disease. The watch is big, handsome, and heavy. Perhaps I'll build up my wrist just by wearing it! I was planning to wait a while before using it because I wanted to preserve the battery for a while. The batteries in watches (and cell phones, for that matter), seem to hold less of a charge after repeated use. Since I am going to need the battery to last for over 20 hours of use, I wanted to get the most out of it. Apparently, the watch will run over 12 hours with continual, full-on use, but it has an Ultratrac mode where you can program it to shut itself off and "fill in" the gaps for a set amount of time, thereby increasing the battery usage to 35 hours!

Another feature I like is live tracking. While I will have a Spot Messenger, and I will have the live track feature on for it as well, it's nice to have another mode of communicating. It will kill the battery to have the notification feature on, but it apparently will get text and email as well. It would be fun to check, but it's not much use if I can't message back. I'll have to play with that.

I think curiosity is going to get the better of me, so I'll likely be charging it up and using it this weekend. I'll provide more information on ease of use in my next post.

I am sure I will appreciate the large size of the face when I am trying to follow a GPS track on the PCT!

Fast forward: It's been two weeks since I purchased the watch, and I finally gave in and charged it earlier this week. I've run twice with it, once behind the high school and today in Grand Ridge. It was pretty inaccurate today, likely due to being its first time in Grand Ridge, the tremendous tree cover there, and some pretty terrible weather (cloud cover). That being said, I like the watch. I spent some time post-run configuring the watch the way I like it, showing lap average pace on top, time large and in the middle, and distance on the bottom. I turned off all the features I don't need (like being reminded to move, my number of steps, my VO2 max, and all sorts of other things). Then I customized my settings for specific activities. For trail running, I turned on both GPS and Glonass, but for running, I just have it on GPS. I like that I can set up each activity differently. Next, I'll have to learn to do some GPS tracks.

I've been trying to remember to wear my watch when I am not running to get used to the feel and weight of it. I'd love to get the fancy titanium band for wear with clothes for work and use the band it came with for workouts. But it's really expensive. It can wait.

~LTR

Meal in a Bag

In my inbox tonight was an email from Backpacking Light which contained a review of the "best backpacking meal ever." Curious, I read on and saw that it was a mushroom risotto, and not just any mushroom risotto, but the Good To-Go Herbed Mushroom Risotto that I purchased for my fastpack. They have several meals that are vegan. I purchased Mexican Quinoa Bowl and Smoked Three Bean Chili as well, and plan to order their Classic Marinara with Penne.

Reading the review was helpful--I learned that the meal is best when enhanced with a protein source (he used smoked salmon; I'll use a smoked vegan jerky) and also that Good To-Go meals never quite hydrate in the 20 minutes it's supposed to take. Most people just put them into the pot they are boiling water in and cook the meal in the pot. I won't have a pot that big, as I am just taking a titanium cup to boil water in. I guess that means I can expect my risotto to be extra el dente! I also learned that they aren't kidding when they say "two servings." I'll split the bag up into to small bags and place them back inside the pouch. The good thing about that is not only is it economical, but it also means that I don't have to take along as many meals in a bag as I thought. I was contemplating three, but now I know I can just take one and a half and only bring one pouch to cook in.

~LTR

Hitting the Trails

February is going to be the month of getting my body acclimated to trails. I didn't realize it until this morning that I haven't been running on trails for two years. I've been working in one trail run a week over the month of January mostly in Redmond Ridge and Watershed or Moss Lake. Both of these locations are non technical with moderate hills. On a scale of 1-10, I rate them a 0 for technicality, a 0 for elevation, and a 2 for elevation gain.

Wednesday, I decided to try something a little more challenging and ran seven miles up the High School Trail and on the Lake Tradition plateau (at the base of Tiger Mountain). It was a rude awakening! I got bounced all over the trail and my feet and ankles were really tired. I rate this a 5 for technicality, a 0 for elevation, and a 3 for elevation gain.

I've reached the top of the High School Trail, a one-mile, rocky jaunt the climbs to the Lake Tradition Plateau from behind Issaquah High School.

In my training I alternate between easy and hard weeks. Last Saturday was a hard week and I ran 16 miles in Redmond Ridge and Watershed. It was easy and I had a great six-mile run on Sunday through the neighborhood, averaging under 10-minute miles, which was good for me on a route with hills.

The Redmond Watershed delights with a beautiful forest and spongy trails!

Bolstered by last weekend, I decided to do my "easier weekend" long run in Grand Ridge; it was an even ruder awakening! I set a goal of running 12 miles in two and a half hours. I took the Grand Ridge Trail up and continued over the road to what I call the New Trail on the Duthie side. I had to go a little farther down after that to get to six miles for a turn around point. The climb wasn't too bad and I took it slow. What was shocking was any small hill after that felt so hard. It felt like I was running at elevation. At six miles I decided to use a Clif gel. What a difference. The climb back up felt fine. Going back down the Grand Ridge Trail I felt a little lighter but my pelvic floor was weary and my feet were tired. I clocked in at 2:24:42. For technicality, I give this a 5, for elevation a 0, and elevation gain a 5.

I'm to the last part of the Grand Ridge Trail's climb--yeah!

It's going to take a while before 12 miles in Grand Ridge feels easy liked it did a couple of years ago. Hopefully, that time will come on March, when I officially start my training with 20-mile Saturdays and building from there.

-LTR