Wednesday 080509

• Bib numbers have been posted (PPM, PPA).
• Very cool article on women on Pikes. Running history often notes Roberta Gibb and Kathrine Switzer as among the first American women to run a marathon. However, seven years before Gibb hid in the bushes and snuck into the Boston Marathon in 1966 and eight years before Switzer ran Boston as K.V. Switzer in 1967, Arlene Pieper had finished the Pikes Peak Marathon in 1959. Pieper not only completed one of America’s most challenging marathons but became the first official female finisher of a marathon in the United States.
• Ran Pikes moderate - easy today - all in listening the "bio-feedback."  Ascended in 3:04.
  • Met up with DP at Memorial Park at 8AM at Memorial Park.  Stretched a bit, shot the breeze with Daryn and then got to the task at hand. 
  • Manitou Ave, Ruxton, and Ws.  I pretty quickly knew that I had gotten out a touch too fast (no real warm up) so I started to back off.   Daryn broke away from me at the turn onto Ruxton (to be expected).  We hit that turn at 3:15, and accidently – instead of hitting my watch to split, I hit stop.  I realized the mistake at about the Cog, and so I restarted it at Hydro.  Based on alternate GPS data, this was a lost split of seven minutes.  Passed through the top of the Ws in 34 flat.  This was a   good reminder for me about the Ws … I think the Ws are really where I can blow this race by going too fast.  Come race day, I will be conservative in these early stretches.   This Ws reminder, the heat (significant), and how I felt – I decided today to keep the pace –effort throughout the run at moderate-easy.   Mentally this was pretty easy for me to come to terms with – it was not race day.   AHR through here was 170.
  • No Name - Particularly on the “shallow” stretches I did not pick up the pace (much) and just stayed relaxed, and looked to do a little course re-familiarization.  51:15.  These sections (and actually those just after it to 7.8 sign) are mix of steep (and hence slower) sections and many very run-able sections.  Good reminder that is this, if not waxed from earlier running, this is a good place to get rolling.  Took a gel at No Name.  Just before No Name I was enjoying the scenery and took a digger (ripped open a few knuckles).  Typically I’d have my gloves on but it was pretty hot and I did not think I’d fall on the way up … yes I am a klutz.  AHR through here was 171.
  • 7.8 sign  I usually miss this split.  In fact I was looking for the sign on the right side when it is actually on the left.  70 minutes.  Was able to, with the shallower stretches get back to a “moderate” HR, averaging 168 in this leg.
  • Barr Camp I contemplated breaking at Barr Camp to refill my Camelbak – which still had fluid but I suspected was a bit lighter then I wanted for halfway.  90:27.  But instead, I pushed on.  AHR – 169 (these are for the section, not cum).   Took a gel here …
  • Bottomless Pit  1:45.20  It was pretty clear to me that I was running moderate, and the pace was not going to be zippy – and with an hour and a half split at Barr, I doubted a sub three hour effort but I was able to let that go and reconcile – this was not race day, and this was just a moderate long run.  I felt pretty good on this stretch to Bottomless Pit.  AHR = 166.
  • A frame – if I struggled at all today it was on the stretch to A frame.  I recalled the long switchback to it but forgot about the bunch before you actually got to it.  I kept expecting the A Frame to be around the next switchback and felt a bit of frustration when it was not there.  AHR =166. 2:12:41
  • 2 to go.  And above tree line I went.  The weather was phenomenal but it was still pretty warm.  I was shirtless all day, and even above treeline I was dripping with sweat.  Despite it being a moderate easy run, I definitely was feeling the dull ache of 2 hours of running and 5000 feet of climbing.  Had a nice recall of the “beach” (the loose gravel of these upper trail sections).  The upper miles were loaded with runners … it was a track meet up there with various Incline Club members doing 3-2-1s, or some other variation – or other hikers, bikers, runners, etc.   Just before the two to go sign I looked up and saw a guy taking my picture.  It was McDuff, so I had to stop for a minute to do an introduction (we had only previously conversed in the blogosphere).  Got going again, with a new motivation of catching folks ahead and finishing up.  2:29:45  AHR = 167.  Took a gel here and emptied the Camelbak at this point.
  • 1 to go.  2:45:00 AHR - 168
  • Finish:  3:04:44.  Nothing glorious – no push to the finish with concern about catching anyone or being caught or looking horrible.  Just moved forward to the finish.  Decided not to sprint after the 15 year old who saw me in the final stretches of the Golden Stairs and took off so he would not be caught. AHR =167
  • Afterwards, BS’d with DP at length – enjoying an amazing day and great conversation on the top of the mountain – watching runners and tourists come and go.  Hitched a ride with McDuff back down (THANK YOU!!!)

Pix from the day
Coming into Manitou

About the last I saw of Daryn until the top…

Looking back down from the Ws
 
A view of Pikes from just past the top of the Ws.  When I first saw this at the BTMR in 06 I got really scared for what I had signed up for with the PPA 06.  At this point you have busted some serious ass already and the peak is still REALLY far away and REALLY high above you (more than a mile above you!)

The Rock Arch.  You go under this.
 
Various other trail shots
 

I took these next shots while running because this is the place where folks typically make the classic wrong turn.  Just past this sign you will bear to the right.  You will go about 30 yards and then need to bear to the left.  The trail ALMOST appears to keep going (and it sort of does as I understand from trail lore) – but don’t go this way.  Just past this will actually be the “3 to go” sign. 

Shots from above treeline. 

McDuff – hope that knee gets better man.
 
The beach

Looking back across the beach …
 
The sign you are almost there …
 
Views from the top …