Week one (plus 2 days): Boston to Bar Harbor 750 Mile Challenge

This particular challenge challenged my brain for a moment, as it began on a Friday. As we runners know, the week is Monday-Sunday NOT Friday-Thursday. I'm not going to ever complicate this. I'm going to report as always, as though the week ran as normal. 

I'm feeling a bit off track currently. We had a big hiking/camping weekend, and I was not shocked to feel some twinges in my shin (the other one from last year) upon completion. I decided to take a few days off to sort things out. 

After that.... We motored up Mt Jefferson for a *low key* 5 miler..... (done in like, 3:30)

And then I blasted around the Baldface Loop yesterday to smash all Queen of the Mountain records, and ran in in 2:36:01. 

I took a terrible, and bizarre fall but will save this story for the post it deserves. 

Because of all this shit- I'm low on mileage and kind of high on pain. (not painkillers....) 

One week until the window opens for *virtual boston completion* which seems like it's going to be a bit silly. Oh well!!

OK for now:

Miles run last week: 15.? 

Miles hiked: 5

Place in the Challenge on Sunday night: 140/418 (If I can actually get some miles in, that would be nice)

Hottest day: Not hot at the moment! 

Week 10 B2B2B 624K Challenge: DONE!!!!!

With (out) much ado, I completed the Baxter to Baxter to Baxter challenge on Saturday. As expected, I was the 12th person to finish, holding off the 13th place finisher by less than one workout. 

Having this challenge was a GREAT way to hang on to some running motivation during a less than motivational time. I will be the first to admit, I would NOT have run much this summer had it not been to hold my place on the leaderboard. (shame is my number one motivation!) 

While I was supposed to have two marathons this fall (Boston/Chicago) my heart wasn't really broken not to have to train hard. Just getting in 30 miles a week was challenge enough. Add speed work, hill work, and long runs to that, and I would have been a grouch. I should probably file that info away for the next time I want to race in the fall... (but I will "forget"... I always do!) 

That being said, I do have "Virtual Boston" between the 7th and 14th of September. I am not sure how people motivate themselves to actually train hard for a virtual race! My only goal is to complete the miles in one go, and even that seems like a real stretch at the present moment. 

I never have any trouble womaning up to train for In-Real-Life Boston, but EFF me if I'm going to thrash out 20 milers in 90 degree weather for a virtual event. 

I do appreciate that it is a one of a kind, historic event. I'm thankful to be able to participate. I'm not going to go out and run a crap ton of mile reps to show my appreciation though....

And HEY I'm going to put this out there right now (and become unpopular, but realistic.)

It is hard to imagine that Boston 2021 is actually going to be able to happen. I predict a full cancellation again, or a small field of elites only. I just don't feel like this whole pandemic crisis is going to be even CLOSE to under control in less than 8 months. Pretty sure the past 6 months have proved that point. 

So. How to stay motivated in a time of no races?

Luckily, I found another challenge. Phew. *tired*

The Boston To Bar Harbor Challenge takes an incredibly indirect 750 mile route, and has a 6 month timeline to complete. There are a good number of people registered for the run/walk portion (250 I believe- I'll check.) It began on Friday the 21st, and is currently being led by a person who seems to enjoy daily 12 mile walks. I don't have time for that! I'll check back in at the end of the week with my stats and thoughts. Technically, this "race" "runs" through a few cities I have marathoned in, which makes it interesting for me. 

OK. So that's a wrap on the B2B2B. I'm proud of completing before the deadline, and to have met my goal of a 30 mile running week the majority (all but 3 weeks) of the time. 

Miles run: 30

Miles Hiked: 20 and change

B2B2B standing on Sunday night: 12 AND DONE
Hottest day: Not hot enough to even remember. Maybe 80?   
Longest run: 10.1

Week 9 B2B2B 624 MILLION K Challenge

I managed to get back on track pretty damn well this past week, despite some of the hottest weather of the year. It was positively stifling, and really just miserable!!! But.... one must make the best of such things. 

I managed to (I think....) crank out the highest mileage of the summer. We did a short, but fun hike, and I ended the week with a bit of self-inflicted illness that happens to me when I over indulge in beautiful summer tomatoes (which continued for a couple days, and was zero percent fun.)

Despite the DARK mornings I made it out for 3 early runs. Like, SO dark. As in: I run for an hour before dawn.

I'm miles and miles from home

I finally managed a double digit run. GOOO ME. 

Apparently I am going to "run" the virtual Boston Marathon some time between September 7-14 on whatever this "training" has been this summer. 

I have built an AWESOME fitness base. I'm honestly pleased about this. 

I am in NO way in shape to run a marathon. WHOOPS. DEATH. 

The top 9 places in the Challenge had been claimed as of Sunday evening, with 10th and 11th looking to make a strong early week finish. There were a few high mileage runners this past week. Basically I'm going to get 12th or 13th. The 11th place woman is 30 miles ahead of me (and, no shit, we met her while hiking last weekend. RANDOM.) And the 14th place person is about 25 miles behind me. 

So. Pretty much all wrapped up at this point (ish. I have about 33ish miles to go) But unless I literally quit moving I should be good to meet my top 15 goal. 

And yes. I do have a follow up challenge after this one. Stay tuned. 

Miles run: 35.6 YAY!!!

Miles Hiked: 7.6

B2B2B standing on Sunday night: 12/43. And only in 12th by 0.1
Hottest day: 93 on Tuesday, after an 89 degree Monday, followed by a 90 degree Wednesday. DYING.  
Longest run: 10 I am SO FIT!!! (at 4:20 AM WOOF)

Week 8: B2B2B 624K challenge

Good Lord. Week 8 was more or less a total flop (again: things I predicted 8 weeks ago)

20 stupid miles. 9 miles of hiking. Lame lame laaaaaaaaaame. 

Also, it's dark AF at 4:30AM now, which drastically reduces the chances of me getting in a morning run. And then, it's 93 degrees all day which reduces the chances of an evening run. 

Oh! One not lame thing was the AMAZING sunrise before a big storm last week. It was nice.

Red sun......

I hope to get back to it with authority this week. My top 15 placement doesn't seem tooooo much at risk, but I'll be pissed if I drop the ball. 

Also, my hip weirdly hurt every now and then. Gross. 

Anyway. Stupid stupid crap crap the end. 

Miles run: 20.6 Crap Dumb Ugh

Miles Hiked: 9

B2B2B standing on Sunday night: 12/43. Losing ground 
Hottest day: 90 on Monday and the most humidity of the year, which is pretty damn awful  
Longest run: 7.2

Whiteface and Passaconaway, Saturday August 1st 2020

We checked off another 2 4K footers this past Saturday with Whiteface, and Passaconaway. 

I had been curious about these two mountains for a while. It seemed like it would be a hike we would enjoy, with a great mix of beautiful woods, fun/challenging scrambles, and a good amount of mileage. 

They didn't disappoint. 

We began the day nice and early, and successfully found parking (it is limited) at the Fernwood Road parking area. 

A lovely morning

From there, it's about 0.3 miles to the Blueberry Ledge trailhead, which you will find on the left side of the road, across a bridge. This trailhead is essentially in the backyards of several people, so it would be advised not to behave like an asshole.

Love cute signs

We loved Blueberry Ledge Trail. 

It basically had everything.

Woods, fun rock trail, stupid stone stairs, and scrambles. EXCELLENT.

(And for more on this, the video will be up on our YouTube in a couple weeks.)

The "rock trail" portion

Ummm. The Rock Stairs Portion....

A blueberry ledge

And pretty quick, some views!

The ledge/scramble portion, in my opinion, if very manageable in good weather. 

Also, do not be fooled by a VERY convincing false summit. 

The *actual* summit is about .2 miles farther, and is an unassuming rock cairn in the woods. LAME.

This was lovely, and is NOT the summit, despite the sneaky piton 

From there, it was about 2.4 miles on the Rollins Trail to the base of the Passaconaway summit trail. 

In most places, we enjoyed this trail, although it's a bit alarming how much elevation you lose. 

When you reach the base of Passaconaway don't get confused. Head left on Dicey's Mills, and then just bear left (unless you have plans of ascending a different way. duh.)

While it's a bit steep in places up the final 0.75 homestretch, it's not a nightmare. Plus, there is a little water source if you need to filter some water (we did. it was hot.)

As expected, the summit was stunning.

We love the low key 

A view!

If you walk past the little summit trail, there is a path to the left that takes you to the "view" (about 0.2 miles, evidently). However, a hiker we met said we would also see a satisfying view simply by continuing past that trail, and traveling straight for a couple hundred feet. We agreed that the views quite nice, and we didn't mind skipping some mileage. 

From there, we took the long walk back to the car following Dicey's Mill trail.  Once you are off the summit trail, it is 3.8 miles to get you back to where you came from- it had become pretty hot and we stopped to filter some water before committing to the long haul to the car. 

This trail is pretty easy to descend, although a bit steep here and there. Definitely a good way to get to Passaconaway, if that is your sole destination, 

We finished up by basically walking through someone's back yard (which is, indeed, the trail) and looked back upon this excellent scenery. 

We tip toed through here

From there, about 0.4 miles back to the car, and we were done for the day.

And it was hot.

Hot pup

We took a short drive down the road, and cooled our feet in the little river. Definitely refreshing after a long and warm hiking day!

So, long story short. This hike really has a little of everything and was very interesting. We were NOT in a hurry, and easily had an hour of stopped time on this particular day (don't need to race them all....) All of us enjoyed this hike, and can see a variety of different routes to the top/s that would be interesting to explore on another day. 

So, the stats:

Stats:

-11.9 Miles

-3969 ft elevation gain

-7:10 min total time (yep. this includes the mega stopped time)

-Difficulty: Blueberry Ledge should be considered difficult. Everything else, moderate. 

Week 7: B2B2B 624K Challenge

Well I called it from day one. 

This was not the week to get anything done in the running department. 

Between having some of the WORST (and I mean, WORST) heat and humidity that I can remember, to having a BRUTAL work week, AND a sneak hay delivery (of course) I was shit at running. 

Yet another Maine morning

Even though I expected it from June 15th, it was still frustrating to miss my 30 mile running goal by so much this week. I did manage to get in the minimum mileage after a decent hiking day... But, BOOO. 

In retrospect, it may not have been a great week of running even if the stars had aligned for ultimate perfection. I was legit tired. Dragging ass. Maybe after backing off the *intense* mileage for a week, I will have lost my zombie expression.

We did have a glorious family hike yesterday. Whiteface and Passaconaway presented a good challenge on a hot day. It was nice to (sort of) unplug for a bit, and get out in nature. 

Outdoor fun day

And now, onto another busy hot/humid/hurricane??? kind of week.

And let's see. In the Challenge the silver and bronze medals have been awarded. Looks like 4th place will finish up tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that the top 5-10 placements will definitely be determined by who is willing to kill themselves in the heat. Maybe me. Like, for 10th. 

Miles run: 18.7. I am legit not amused by this. 

Miles Hiked: 11.9

B2B2B standing on Sunday night: 11/43 Gotta step it up
Hottest day: A brutal 93 degree/absurd humidity Monday. GROSS. Tuesday also sucky. The rest of the week pretty fucking hot. 
Longest run: 6.3