Virtual Valley Trail Races 10K

Since all marathons and races are canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many virtual races available to keep us motivated.  I've been having a very hard time being motivated.  I've been significantly more motivated to simply work in my yard as the weather warms up.

AKtive Soles, a shoe store in Palmer is sponsoring trail races each month.  I was running out of time to complete the 10K for May, so forced myself to get out there and do the No Siesta, Lets Fiesta along the beautiful but very hilly and sometimes confusing route along the Matanuska Lake Trail system.  I missed one turn and ended up doing a little extra 1 mile out and back on the Long Lake Connection Trail.  I did as much walking as running.  Some of those hills are pretty steep.  But it was a nice day and only rained a few drops.

Virtual Full Marathon

Wow that was tough!  I ran 26.2 miles all by myself.  I was really combining two events into one.  The Happy Malamute Running Virtual Treadmill Hero 2020 that was scheduled for today, and the 42.2 km in 42 hours that people all over the world are doing this weekend.  I didn't use a treadmill because first of all, I don't have one, and also because it was a beautiful day.  It was really cold at 5:15 am when I left the house, only 28 degrees Fahrenheit. I ran to the far end of Wolverine Road and back for my first 11 miles.  I stopped by my house to remove one layer of warm clothes because by then it was up to 37 degrees.  It stayed cool the rest of the way but was in the low 50's by the time I was back home.  After I left the house the second time, I ran down to Palmer, stopped at the Shell Station for a drink and snack, then ran on some of the side streets before tackling the long steep road back up to my house.  It was a pretty exhausting workout and I was very slow.  I ended up walking up a lot of the hills.  Obviously not quite in the shape I need to be.  But I was happy to at least beat 8 hours, though only by less than 2 minutes.