TrailToes

Pinhoti 100 2014 – My Race Nemesis

“Pinhoti 100 is a Point to Point endurance run starting at Pine Glen Campground in Choccolocco Mgt Area just northeast of Heflin AL.  100.59 miles in length with just over 14,000 ft of climb and descent with a total of 28,000 ft of elevation change. The Pinhoti Trail is some of the most beautiful trail that navigates over rocks, through creeks and over Cheaha Mountain, (2408ft) the highest point in Alabama while traversing the Talladega National Forest. Although not a first timer course many 100 mile virgins come to complete each year. Some succeed and some fail. The course is very doable for the properly trained runner. We and all the awesome volunteers are here to help you reach your goal to the finish line!”
– Pinhoti Trail Series –

258054_4086821083283_1967570356_o

I did this race last year, but I did not finish due to my ankle injury on the mile 68. It broke my heart. And this year I came back with a determination to finish this race, despite my pelvis and hamstring injury on my right, but I convinced myself to get a revenge.
Before Pinhoti, I had assured myself that I would be ready. I had done a few races that much harder than Pinhoti trail. Those races that had harsher weather like TDS in the Alps, or crazy technical course like in TNF Bear Mountain and Manitou. I had done more technical trail and hill repeat training. I did many solo run multiple times. Those training gave me confident, but probably over confident.
Also this time I had Dan to crew me, that was really made my mind in peace since Dan was an experienced runner and had done plenty ultra marathon.

Continue Reading →

Last Run, Engine and Gear Check: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 11:31:20

My original plan was to hit a trail to test my gears and my vest setup for the Pinhoti 100 race next week. But I decided to run in the city, I had so many things to do that I could not afford any traveling. So I went out and did a loop Astoria – Randall Island – Upper East Side – Astoria. I put all the gears and fuel that I would keep in the vest the whole race and tried to run it with my comfortable pace for the race. All worked swell, except when I was on the Queensbridge, I started to chase bikes on the ascent. I did not know what I was thinking. So I still needed to work on my patience.
Overall, I believe I was ready, despite I did not train as much as I wanted to. I had been struggling with my injuries since I got back from France, and was afraid to make it worse. I missed one of my long run and an overnight run in my training logs.

Screen Shot 2014-10-26 at 3.02.48 PM

BEAR MOUNTAIN LOVE AND HATE #10: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 10:09:53

Back to my lovely hills at the Silvermine Lake. This time not only training for my uphill and downhill pace for my Pinhoti 100 – 2014, which is coming up in a couple of weeks, but also I was also testing my new running gears from Orange Mud. They were the HydraQuiver Double Barrel and their ingenious Transition & Seat Wrap towel.
This time I learned my lesson. I brought my new monkey phone, map, one bottle of water and one bottle of tailwind. As my ritual, I did a short loop as a warm up, and this time I checked my map on the junction. And then I did 4 reps of hill repeat. I wished I could stay longer, but I had 3 different parties to attend that day. Thank you to Orange Mud towel, I could change my clothes at the parking lot, and became more presentable. At the end, it was a good day, and love my new trail toys.

 

DSC_0622
DSC_0621
DSC_0620
DSC_0623

Continue Reading →

Cat’s Tail 2014 Race Trial

After I did the Manitou Revenge, I kept in touch with its Race Director, Charlie Gadol. He was a very knowledgeable person when it came to running or hiking in Catskill and up-state NY area. Then, few months after the Manitou Revenge race, he emailed me if I would be interested to participate in his running event. The run was point to point from Fox Hollow over Panther, Giant Ledge, then Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg, finishing in Woodland Valley. It would be timed and there would be an aid station on the half way point. He also wanted to make this as a real race in the future.

cats fatass map

Continue Reading →

Blues Cruise 50K 2014 – Let Me Cruising

Distance : 50K
Finish : 4:56:49
Rank : #32 (overall)

This was my second year of doing this race. Blue Cruise 50K was a really good race, not too crazy or too technical, but still not easy by any means. The course had enough hill that you would curse your legs 2/3 of the race, especially if you did not pace yourself. This race also one of my favorites, the RD was awesome, the aid stations were stocked (they had bacon at the last aid station), the volunteer was very nice and always lifted up our spirit, and the best one was the swag; the best swag ever.

coursemap

Continue Reading →