This week of training started with a 25 mile run on Tuesday followed by a 100 mile bike with a 20 minute brick run on Wednesday.

The first dilemma I had was where the heck I should do a 25 mile run in the Mt Shasta area. I called some runners I had gotten the numbers of…(weird but in a small town people give you other people’s numbers straight away…) and soon was directed to run this “flat” portion of the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT). I also recruited a new friend to run for a few hours with me!

Tuesday morning came and I was out the door around 9:00 after getting Dad ready for the day. A quick stop at the local mt shop for some iodine tablets and I was on my way to 8000 ft and the trailhead.

I began the run around 10:00 and met up with Carrie 2 miles into the run at another parking lot…and then we were off!

The terrain was gorgeous! Right at or above tree line the whole way! We took off up the trail headed for Dead Falls Lake approximately 12 miles from where my car was.

As we began running I kept thinking to myself “ok-this is suppose to be a flat trail, maybe around that bend it will be.” And so it went for 10 miles until I got to Toad Lake! How do you say “sand-bag”?

Around mile 5 Carrie decided to pick up the pace and take herself and her pup to a lake that was 100 meters off the trail. I was suppose to meet her there and there would be a big carin to watch for. Never found the carin and never saw Carrie again.

I had a fabulous run by myself. The temps were in the 90’s and the day was clear with sweeping vistas. I loved every minute of it- seriously!

When I made it back to the car at mile 25.3 I hopped in the car and headed to Lake Siskiyou for a quick ice bath on the legs. My feet were very happy with me after that.

Next day saw me getting on my bike out in Shasta Valley for a 100 mile bike followed by a 20 minute run. “Betty” (my lovely Orbea Ordu bike) was tuned up and ready to rock and roll! The temps were already hovering around 80 degrees by 10:00 in the morning. I knew this was going to be a hot one today plus I was a bit tired from not sleeping well…ok and maybe the 25 mile run the day before.

I started the ride in Mt Shasta with my friend Shanhong. She was going to ride the first 25 miles with me. By the time we got down to the valley the temps were in the 90’s with a 100 in sight. Needless to say, I’m here to tell you it’s possible to get a hotflash while riding your bike on black pavement in 100 degree heat! But what great training for Cozumel- or at least that’s what I told myself…

I finished riding in the valley and made my way back up to Mt Shasta and cooler temps. I was tired and didn’t feel like finishing the last 15 miles- and wouldn’t you know it… Right when I had those thoughts a woman cyclist pulls up next to me and we start chatting and I decided to ride with her for her 20 mile loop! I love it when that stuff happens!

I made it back to my car with 2 miles extra and finished of my day with a 20 minute run! How cool is that! One year ago if you had told me I would be able to pull off two days like this I would have said you’re “f”in crazy…So maybe I’m the crazy one because I’ve gotten in shape to the point where I can do this stuff!

What I keep learning through this is if I just do the work…things will happen and change will come…and I may even surprise myself!

This entry was posted on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am and is filed under 25 Mile Run, Biking, Century Ride, Distance, Running, Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.