HOME!! I put the pedal to the metal in the car after getting off the race course down in California at 11am on Sunday morning. This was my 2nd 24hr adventure race in 2 weeks and surprisingly enough, my body feels amazing. I rested well after the first one (see race report previous from Big Blue AR) and then had a good taper going into Gold Rush. It was great to be back out there this past weekend with my DART team mates. Despite really suffering at altitude during this race, I really enjoyed the course. Tough, challenging and not more than 2 minutes on flat ground at any given time. It was a true mountain race. Check out our
team page for the full race report.
As for my achilles? I don't even feel it! It gave me a little bit of grief during some of the ultra steep climbs in the race (thanks Sean and Slater for taking my pack) but it felt great other than that. The true test though was that I had zero stiffness Sunday and Monday. In fact, I even got out for a 2hr run this morning here in Squamish - Elfin Lakes!! I think I'm back and I can't be more excited. I'm really looking forward to Sept 8th when I head to Italy to take part in the Tour des Geants. I've decided to continue training hard this week as next week I will begin my taper (starting with a 5 day SUP trip back up in the Great Bear Rainforest - sweeeeeet!!) So, it was Elfin today, Rubble Creek - Black Tusk tomorrow and then Singing Pass on Thursday! 3 days of all my favorites.
I'm attributing how well I am feeling to a few things:
1) I wore my Salomon compression socks (the exo calves) almost through the entire race. Compression works and I love it!! Hardly any foot swelling (YES - what a change from the days of the "cankles."
2) I immediately started pumping my
Udo's Oil post race. In fact, they have just released a paper on the latest study done on UO and its super interesting. I will post soon and/or be sure to check out www.oilthemachine.com as well.
3) I had packed my magic bullet blender with me for the road trip and as I drove, I stopped at the rest areas on I5 to make my smoothies. Lots of fruit, greens, Udo's and Vega protein powder mixed in there. Hydration and recovery all in one - worked perfectly (although I did get some strange looks from the other vehicles - oh well - lets see what they would do to recover from a 24hr race :)
4) I've been taking Flora's CoQ10 since I got off the race course as well - gotta get those antioxidants in asap!
5) for post race and daily summer shoes I've been living in my
SOLE flip flops! It's critical with an injury to stay away from those paper thin $5 flip-flops. Being that SOLE specializes in foot beds, I think they know what they are talking about it comes to these flip-flops. My crew ran Badwater in them 1/2 the time, they rock!
6) the aggressive IMS treatment from Colin with the needles and the ongoing massage/soft tissue release from Laura. I'm so happy that both these professionals call Squamish home, hence allowing me access to their specialties.
Lots to catch up and lots of coaching to get back too. My athletes too have been busy. Runner Stacey Shand took 2nd at the Yellowknife marathon last weekend and 3 of my mountain bikers are tackling "Just Another Bike Race" this weekend. Congrats and goodlucks to all......
