[Mandy]

I had been looking forward to this day for the last 13 weeks of training.  It was the 2nd of my longest scheduled runs of the season: my 2nd 20 miler.  Secretly I had intentions to run over 20 miles, and I was aiming for 22 depending on how the run progressed.  I was somewhat anxious about this run for a couple of reasons.  I was battling lower calf pain and had been cutting some of my weekly runs short or knocking one out altogether.  For some weird reason I hadn’t had an appetite all week long and had to force myself to eat (and for those of you who know me, this is extremely out of the ordinary for this girl!); even Friday while I was trying to take in extra carbs I was practically stuffing them down my throat.  I had been eating Advil and taking a heating pad to work to heat my leg while I sat at my desk.  The nagging feeling that this run might not go as well as planned had been plaguing me for the past couple of weeks.  Nevertheless, as important as it was I knew I just had to get out there and get started to see how it would turn out.  I’m too close to the end to quit now.

We set the alarm for 5:30 with the intention of being out at Sailboat Cove at Smithville Lake and running by 7:00 AM.  I really strive to have these 20+ mile runs as close to a race simulation as possible.  This allows me to figure out what I want to wear and take as far as supplements go as well as strategize how I will run the marathon.  I should have known we were doomed from the start when Christopher and I had a case of the giggles and sat in the car for 45 minutes laughing and carrying on.  7:30 came and went, and we were still preparing to get started.  Focus was definitely lost on me that morning.  I couldn’t stop laughing and being silly, and I was shivering in the cold morning air that I hadn’t grown accustomed to.  I absolutely love Fall, and the 49 degrees that it registered that morning is perfect for us runners.  I had yet to run in temperatures that cool, though, and my body just couldn’t quite get warmed up.

We were off and running (finally) closer to 8:00, and I was so happy that Christopher chose to run the first 6 miles with me.  He has been a complete running rock star lately, and I was amazed at how effortlessly he glided alongside me that first chunk of my run.  It was comforting and motivating to have him by my side, as usual.  Even after the first 6 miles, I was cold, and my hands were cramping.  I could feel my achy calves and knees, and I was doubting this 20 mile run was going to get knocked out at all.  I was tired, and I could tell that not eating like I usually do this past week was going to take its toll on me that day.  I couldn’t *not* do it, though, so I waited with Christopher while he grabbed his bike; I grabbed my Clif Turbo Shot Gel, and we took off towards the other end of the trails that would allow Christopher to get in some off-road mountain biking.  I ran the next 6 miles while he stayed with me most of the way and hopped onto the adjoining trails every now and then.  By the time we made it back to the vehicle to grab some water and Hammer Perpetuem to refuel, I was completely tapped of all energy, and he had a flat tire.  We realized we had a spare tube but no pump, and I was scheming a way to get out of the remaining 8 miles altogether.  Luckily there were some Boy Scouts having a mountain bike race that day, and they let Christopher borrow a pump to get his bike back in working order.  This gave me a good 15 minutes to stretch, refuel, and get my head “screwed on straight.”  I had to dig deep to get through the next portion of the run.  I knew I wanted to get in at least 20 miles that day, but deep down I really wanted 22.  I just didn’t know if my body was going to let me.  I had no energy, and my legs were screaming in pain.  The only thing that was going to get me through this was sheer determination and mental toughness.  And then Christopher had a genius idea.  He suggested we both run the mountain bike trails.  This was just the challenge and change of pace I needed.  It got me off the monotonous paved trails and would give me something else to focus on and “have fun” with.

The next 8 miles, while tough, were a blast!  I had to stay on guard the entire time, watching my footing and dodging tree roots, rocks, and snakes.  It was windy, narrow, and steep, and the sudden uphills and downhills had me grinning ear to ear!  We made our way through the miles of mountain bike trails and actually had a great time amidst the extreme tiredness and pain I was feeling simultaneously.  Christopher stayed close behind making sure I had everything I needed.  By the time we got to mile 19, I was exhausted; it was getting harder and harder to pick up my feet, and I kept tripping over rocks and roots and nearly face-planted a couple of times.  I stopped in the middle of the woods to grab a drink, and Christopher gave me a much needed pep talk. “Mandy, you’ve already run 19 miles.  You’re SUPPOSED to be tired.  I’m very proud of you.  You’ve got this!”  And after a sweaty, dirty hug and kiss, I had the spring back in my step.  I ran with him back to the car to drop off the bike, and he ran with me the remaining 3 miles.  We ran the next two miles on the mountain bike trails together and the last mile on the paved trails, rounding out Saturday’s run to 23 miles!  I couldn’t have done it without his help and motivation.  I can’t even begin to describe how impressed with him I am: he cranked out 9 miles of running and over 14 miles of biking while barely breaking a sweat or breathing hard.  He’s become quite the running protege’ over the last few months!  I was spent; I had dirt all over my shoes and legs, chafed skin from the constant rubbing, and two pretty, purple toe nails.  I was exhausted but so proud of myself for completing the run.  It may not have gone as planned and may not have been as fast as I would have liked, but such is life Tired after 6 miles I still cranked out another 17.  Three more miles and I would have done my own self-proposed marathon.

We stretched and climbed (or rather dragged ourselves) into the Jeep to head back home for a very much-needed ice bath.  We had to hit up Quiznos for a post-run feeding, and the ice bath coupled with an hour and a half nap just hit the spot!  I’m very happy to report that so far my legs are feeling much better than they have the week before!  The calf pain I was feeling is very minimal, and aside from a slight tightness in the legs, I’m feeling wonderful!  I’m planning on running Tuesday evening, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the legs will be feeling fresh and rested.  After this killer long run, I’m just now into my three week taper before the race.  My runs will get a little shorter and less intense in order to get them ready for the marathon.  The worst (but at the same time the best!) is behind me; I can start focusing on D-Day and doing what I can to make sure I’m well-fueled, hydrated, and ready to go on October 15th!

[Christopher]

First of all, I just want to say how impressed I am with Mandy’s run. 23 miles is a long way to put one foot in front of the other for over three hours. She can tell you how tough it is, but from my point of view, she makes it look effortless.

As for my run… there’s not a whole lot that I can say about it. Now that I am not training for anything, they are more for keeping Mandy company and keeping in shape. Mandy had asked me how I wanted to attack the run on this day and I had made the mistake of saying this phrase to her, “Well you tell me hun. I’m just running for fun.” I knew just as I said that, she was going to have a funny look on her face. Click here to see that face. It was priceless. Now, just to clarify: I still don’t think running is “fun” but since there is nothing that I am training for, it is more or less just for the heck of it. I will give her credit though, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be out there with her. For that, I am grateful. It definitely helps me to be more of a well rounded athlete, so to speak. The first 6 miles did seem rather easy considering that I usually stop a few times in between stretching. This time, the only time I stopped was to turn around at the 3 mile mark and head back. So I was pretty happy about that. I know like anything else, you have to practice to be good at it. Running is no exception. I never thought I would be able to run as much as I am now and I have no intention on letting up.

It was fun to finish up the last 3 miles on the trails. I liked it a lot when I ran them on the Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge. It definitely conditions you in a different way. You have to keep on your toes as Mandy mentioned. There were a couple of times she had to leap over a snake. In all, it was a beautiful day to spend outdoors running and biking. She completed her 23 miles on and off road, and I got in 9 miles of running and 14 miles of biking, on and off road. I love this stuff!

As always, watch this video. This sums up our day!

[Mandy] This was our last weekend of full, hard training before Christopher’s Wakarusa coming up this weekend.  He had planned a combination of a run and ride, and my training plan called for a 15 mile recovery run.  If I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m crazy about marathon training!  I love how it trains the mind and I start thinking of 15 miles as a recovery run.  I was looking forward to Saturday’s run to get back to running as I knew it; I felt lately I had been focused too much on pace and hitting a certain time instead of enjoying my run and remembering why I was doing it in the first place! My plan for my 15 miler was to start off extremely easy, settle into it, and just run for the hell of it.  It worked! I found my sweet spot…you know, the point where it feels effortless, liberating, like you’re gliding along the ground, and find yourself grinning for no apparent reason? It’s the way I usually run but had somehow lost it along the way.  The weather was gorgeous and cool, and we ran a portion of the trails that was a bit hillier, which I loved! I had my gels and sustained energy, which kept my energy levels up, and I love having Christopher run alongside me at the beginning and end.  It was a great recovery run before the big one next Saturday: 20 miles!  I’m very much looking forward to this weekend.  Christopher has his Wakarusa Challenge, and I have one my longest runs of my training season to complete.  I can’t wait for our fun-filled weekend!

[Christopher] Well just as Mandy said, this is the last week before my Wakarusa Off-road challenge. It all goes down on Saturday morning in Lawrence Kansas. Am I ready for it? As ready as I’m ever going to be I suppose. I could train harder or brainstorm more about how to prepare, but in reality, this is my first “official” race. I’m not really going to know until I have done it at least once or twice. I believe I have enough of the training to have the basics down, but I won’t really know what I need to do until I am in thrown in the fire. A special thanks to Mandy for helping me through this. Running is not my cup of tea, but with her help, I am able to kick out a few miles here and there. She makes a great training partner!

Saturday was another day great morning at Smithville Lake. I did my usual 2 mile run to start with Mandy and this time I was able to actually enjoy some of the off-road trails. I only got in a little over 9 miles of the trails. I figured that was good enough being that around the 7 mile mark, I wiped out. That’s the fun with mountain biking; you play hard, you are bound to fall once or twice. This time, I just ended up with a few scrapes and I figured I should quit while I’m ahead. I don’t want to miss the race because of a silly mistake. After the mountain bike ride, I finished up the last four mile run with Mandy. I finished it fairly solid, but I still felt a little spent by the end of the last mile. I need to figure out when to take my C4 Extreme and Sustained Energy at the right time so I don’t get gassed to soon. Other than that, I think I am ready to have fun! It will be fun and a learning experience all at the same time. Stay tuned for the results, photos and a video of the big day!

I only have a couple of weeks left until the Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge, put on by Bonk Hard Racing. On September 10th, 2011, I will be competing in my first organized race on my own. Mandy will still be there with me, but this time cheering from the sidelines! As long as I got my “PIC” with me, I’m good!

The course utilizes the Levee Trail and the River Trails out at Lawrence and below is what is consist of.

Leg 1: Trail Running (2.2 miles)
Racers will start with a 2.2 mile run. The first mile will be on the Levee Trail and the next 1.2 miles will be on the north side of the River Trails. Racers will return to the Race Start / Finish (the main Transition Area) and start mountain biking.
Leg 2: Mountain Biking (17.2 miles)
After the 2 mile trail run, racers will complete a 17 mile mountain biking section of the race. From Race HQ, racers will follow the Levee Trail for a little less than 4 miles to the Mud Creek boat ramp and parking lot. Once there, teams will enter the River Trails and bike the south side of the River Trails back to Race Headquarters. Once back to Race Headquarters, teams will do a complete loop – going clockwise – on the River Trails and return back to Race HQ.
Leg 3: Paddling (4.2 miles)
Racers will have the opportunity to give their legs a rest and test out their paddling skills on the Kansas River! Leg 4: Trail Running (4.1 miles)
The final leg of the Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge is a trail running (or walking!) leg back to the finish from the Mud Creek boat ramp. Racers will run the north side of the River Trails back to the Finish Line.

TOTAL MILES: 27.7 MILES (OF PURE OFF-ROAD FUN)!
Total Miles Running: 6.3
Total Miles Biking: 17.2
Total Miles Paddling: 4.2

Now, I’m definitely not trying to “win” the whole thing, but it would be nice to place somewhere in the middle. I have been doing some moderate training here and there. I don’t run as often as Mandy as my feet tend to be a bit sore for a few days after I do my longer runs. This weekend I am going to try a 2 mile run to start out, and then jump on my mountain bike for a 10 mile trail ride; then I’ll finish it up with a 6 mile run. I figure if I can run 6 miles towards the end, 4 might not seem so bad.

I still need to try and find a plan of attack for this race. Being that this is my first type of “triathlon”, I need to ask around and find out what would be best. If anybody has any tips or input for me, please let me know! Any help is welcome!

Cheers!

Christopher

Our weekend was off to a great start, considering the last few weekends were superseded by responsibilities such as house work. Saturday we were fortunate enough with time and great weather to be able to bike to the gym to get in a great arm workout and then bike back home. We were excited for Sunday because we knew the weather was going to be even nicer, and we had plans to check out a park we had never been to. Our earlier plans of hitting up the Smithville trails were thwarted due to deer hunting season. We were so glad they were, because Landahl Park turned out to be as awesome as we had heard it was. Joined by our friend Brent, we hit the trails around 11:30, and we commenced in pretty intense mountain biking. Bumps, bruises, cuts, dirt, and sweat, and we found ourselves an hour later pretty beat. We knew it was time to go when we realized we had lost Brent; he had cruised on ahead and made his way back to his vehicle…I guess he was ready to go! We packed up our gear and planned on our much-anticipated visit to the famous Dixon’s Chili. Everyone has been telling us how wonderful this place is, and our mouths were virtually watering with thoughts of chili and cornbread after working up quite an appetite on the trails. To our dismay, Dixon’s was closed. Lame! We settled for Gate’s BBQ instead; “Hi, may I help you?!” (For those of you who don’t know about Gates, this is their signature greeting they harass you with when you walk in the door.) Tired, full, and happy, we called it a day. Enjoy the video of us tearing through the trails!

Mandy & Christopher

Landahl Park from Christopher and Mandy Beltz on Vimeo.

Hey all, Mandy here!

Today our Sunday Funday took a different route, and we decided to hit up Smithville Lake to do some off-road mountain biking. Our friend Tom from The Wheel Cyclery met up with us to join in on the fun. It was a brisk 45 degrees when we got started, but we worked up quite a sweat on some of those technical trails. We had no idea that some of these trails could get pretty rough! There are parts of the trail that we looked over the ledge and saw a dramatic drop-off right into the lake. Being that Christopher and Tom had more experience on these types of trails, I decided to take it a little more cautiously to get a feel for the difference between off-road trails and paved roads. Even though I took it pretty easy, I’m proud to show off my scraped up leg from the spill I took! Christopher and Tom raced ahead and were able to get in some pretty nice jumps and practice maneuvering through the terrain and trails, barely squeezing through trees and rock hopping. Christopher got in a great workout, had a blast, and is newly motivated to practrice his skills on his mountain bike. I think I might see Cyclocross in his future. We got dirty, sweaty, and even a little bloody! After about two and half hours of our mountain bike adventure, we called it quits and headed to a bar for a Guinness…or two. On our way home, we made a pit stop at Lowe’s, and Christopher was kind enough to cart me around because I was wiped out!