2016 Racing Season In Full Swing

I thought I was nuts doing 12 races last year, and yet, I find myself registered for 20 so far in 2016 and I couldn’t be more excited! The thing about OCR is that it doesn’t get dull, at least not yet. The training is varied, interesting, often fun, and the sport is always changing, so there are always new skills to master. Last year was great, and a definitive improvement upon my 2014 season. 2016 is going to be even better.

My off-season began in November 2 weeks after OCR World Championships. I gave myself a small break to just maintain and recover those 2 weeks because I knew my off-season was going to be busy. I wasn’t disappointed. I am so lucky to train at Skill of Strength and have programs adjusted for my ever changing needs.

• 5 weeks, 3 days a week high volume strength training increasing weights 5-10lbs each week until plateaus
• 5 weeks, 3 days a week slightly less volume, heavier weights
• 5 weeks, 3 days a week less volume, hitting new weight and rep PRs
• All 15 weeks, filling off days building my aerobic base on the elliptical.
• The next three 5 week phases started to slowly introduce conditioning and move my strength focus to more maintenance.

This year, really hammering leg work, especially single leg, and sled push/pulls better prepared me for hill running this spring. I HATE running in crappy weather, so I really didn’t do more than 2 weeks of outdoor hill prep before my first race in April. I was surprised that my legs did great and were not in total shock in the first mile like last year.

My upper body strength has come so far. Consistent work on pullup ladders alternating neutral and overhand grip gave me my first pullup gains in years. I had never gotten more than 4 OH grip pullups in a set, and I found myself getting 7 one day in March.

It’s a little early to say, but I think my overall speed and endurance is a bit better. I’m able to push through and continue running after a taxing strength task on the course, and my body adjusts better. This time last year, I was doing my first 1/4 mile repeats on the Trueform at the gym and fighting myself mentally every interval more than I did while birthing my child. I had never wanted to quit something so bad before. I headed out to the track this past Monday to do my first 1/4 mile repeats, and I shaved 16 seconds off my best 1/4 mile time from last year and I didn’t feel like death afterwards.

F.I.T. Challenge in Cumberland, RI was my first OCR of the year (I’m not counting Blizzard Blast since I ran it in a Disney onesie in 60 degree weather) and so many hills! Great obstacles including some revolving walls that you needed to work with others on to stabilize, the nasty Destroyer from OCRWC, and beautiful trail runs. I ended up 11th in my age group and 12th female overall in the open. So funny that 10 of the 11 before me were all in my age group. 30-39 is the new 20. I signed up for the fall version of this and I will run elite next time.

My first 15+ miler of the year was amazing. This was my first race last year, and I remember my body was not too happy with me scrambling up ski hills in the snow and slicing up my knuckles on barbed wire. I ran open to be sure I’d end up top 30 in age so I could fulfill my qualification for OCR World Championships in October. I almost missed the start of my heat and ended up being the very last person to fit in the starting corral. In the open heats on a hill course, bottlenecks can waste so much time, so I spent the first mile trying to pass everyone even if it meant climbing rocky terrain or feeling my legs burning as I was trying to out climb those around me. It paid off and I finally lost a huge group of people after the first set of logs and walls. I was excited for the multirig this year since I’d been practicing my rings, so when it came up fairly early in the race and I was still fresh, I was psyched. It was bar to rings to ropes. I made it across the bar and realize the first ring was so high up and far away that there was no way in hell I was reaching it. I swung my body side to side and made a grab for it, but ended up just hanging by one arm off the bar until I dropped off. First 30 burpees of the day.

The terrain was super technical this year as opposed to last year’s beast. Last year had most of the downhill portions on the ski trails so there was wide open space, not a lot to trip or slip on, and you would see what you were doing and not get stuck behind people. This year, much of the course was in the woods. I saw many people twist ankles, or fall and catch themselves from sliding down hills. Caution was the theme of the day, but I had to make up time where I could. Any open spaces meant running even if my glutes were burning.

I earned another 30 burpees at the spear throw. With all my practice at home, my throw is dead on straight now, but I can’t seem to master adjusting my height. My spear went right through the middle of the target just under the hay. You can waste a lot of time doing burpees. They suck and I always want to rest a lot. I pushed through this set to get them done. Great decision on my part because I ended up getting 2nd in age, and the next girl was only 11 seconds slower than me.

In the end, this was one of my best races to date. Rankings were strong across the board and a 50% improvement from my best race last year showing me that my training has paid off. If I continue to commit to the work, this will be my best season yet.