MUD ENERGY Fuel review ~ Long Run Envy

Eighteen weeks is a long time to be training for anything.

At least it is for me.

Looking at the workout schedule for the 50k ultramarathon I plan to do in September, it was obvious something was missing for the next 4 weeks: 

the long runs. 

So, without over-thinking anything, when friends invited me to run about 18 miles with them on a new section of trail (the day before my schedule started) I said yes! 

This gave me a reason to test out a new brand of running fuel I came across via Twitter

Christmas : Part 1, Training Updates, and Other Scattered Thoughts.

It's not like we couldn't just walk out the front door and cut one down in our yard. We live in the "timber Capitol of the USA" after all. But one from our yard would have been thinner, too tall for our ceiling, and just too easy.

So...off for another family tradition!

The adventure begins with a short drive to a semi-local tree farm.

Then we look at a few trees, find a nice one, and walk around in the near-frozen acreage (with happy thoughts that it isn't 40 below with whipping wind) for two more hours. (This is excellent cross training, by the way).I suggest a few trees, and Nathan sticks out his tongue. Hubby says they are all too tall, or too fat, or too (Fill in the blank) for the corner we will stick it in. I know he's right....I just have a problem :  it HAS to be tall.

After looking at every tree on the site, making fun of all the ugly ones, arguing about the perfect one, we select the VERY first one we looked at. (I see a way to save some time here).

Then we spin around on the giant swing 3 or 4 times, acting silly, until we finally get cold enough to go pay for our tree.

  We get some warm beverages while the extra junk gets shaken out of the fir, then throw it in the rig.

Wing-Nut had a little meltdown over his hat, but was fine after he got a candy cane. :)

 

We had "fun" and it is surely one to remember. So glad Christmas is NOT about the tree though :)

***

Faith stuff:

I came a cross these verses in reading this week, and have been keeping them close to my heart:

^{2 Corinthians 5: 17} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

^{2corinthians 5:20-21} Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
***
Training stuff:

I took a big leap this week. It's not a mileage jump I would recommend to anyone, but since it is NOT totally new mileage to me, I felt comfortable doing it. My legs are happy!

I feel it is important to note that almost all of my running has been easy: a little threshold pace, a few strides, but lots and lots of easy and recovery running...and recovering from easy running with running easy. A few of those runs were on the treadmill, which I am glad to say is still working. Can't beat free! Although, Amanda's treadmill and youtube combo sounds pretty good! At the end of my long run today, I felt like I could have gone a few more miles. My plan for tomorrow doesn't involve any running, just a big nap.

Have a great Sunday!

Recent Events (in pictures).

Slow Weekend Run (with Photos)

Been slowing down lately- It's nice to take it all in sometimes. 

Searching for ways to relax myself enough to run some slower paces, I chose a road I haven't ran on for over 10 years. 

Back then it kicked me in the butt; after a mile I threw in the towel and walked/jogged home. I didn't have much endurance then and the hills took the wind right out of me. I didn't know the meaning of long slow distance yet.

This run would keep me from blasting out of the gates too fast. These days, it's just what I need. I am trying to slow down my easy paces and long runs (more on that in another post, hopefully).








 The first mile from the car, I remembered why I love this road so much- what drew me to want to run it. It's a great road to drive too :) . Hill after hill, but nothing over 1/4 mile long.

The road follows the Umpqua river, which is between the tree line and the mountains behind.

I ran upriver first...But I couldn't say that it was uphill or downhill. It was both, which was perfect for this Saturday.

For some reason, I thought it was about 14 miles round trip. When I got to the campground I had gone a bit over 8 miles- a nice point for a drink. So, I made it my turnaround.

On the way back, I drank in the sights, the smells, the sounds of a beautiful spring morning in southwest, Oregon- thanking the Lord for an opportunity to be out experiencing his good pleasure on this day. 

What an awesome Creator we have.

Stopping for photos helps keep me in the right training pace as well. Sometimes I turned off my watch and sometimes I kept it running. I really tried to just forget I had it on- which I was pretty successful at this time :)

It's almost time to mow hay here...a few more weeks!

This was an interesting green house/garden combo made from recycled glass doors. 

Looks kind of funny, but beats the socks off of my non-existent greenhouse and unfenced garden!

Around mile 14, you can see the near-naked landscape where the hillside was logged (and replanted) in the last few years. Full-grown timber still stands at the top of the ridge. 

The *beautiful* yellow bushes are Scotch Broom in bloom, the aggressive weed that can't be eliminated through burning.

Mile 16 and almost back to the car. Feeling pretty good! Ready to hit a few more hills first, though...

I ended with 17+ miles, tired, but happy. 

Lessons learned (or maybe I should say "lessons reviewed") : 

take your time, smell the roses, enjoy this run as a gift- not to be rushed.

Do you have a rave run that you enjoy just for the sights/sounds/smells?

How do you like your hills? 

I usually run fairly flat ground, but there is one monster that is on many of my routes. Today's run was fun because there were many small hills. I can't wait to go back!