You can't come down unless you go up first

Screenshot of the Newport to Mt. Adams
run including elevation.
From mapmyrun.com

You guessed it on Saturday we took on "the hill". Not just any hill but the big climb on the Flying Pig route that takes you up into Mt Adams and Eden Park.  From Newport this is a climb in elevation from a little over 450 feet to about 780 feet over a stretch of about 1 mile.  It's not mountainous but it is impressive, especially when you are on your feet.  I have previously stated that I don't like hills.  I don't have to like them but I do have to get over them.  So I take them one step at a time and try not to think of them as obstacles but rather as part of the journey.  Since I can't get rid of them I simply deal with them.  One step at a time - just keeping moving.  And once you get to the top it's all downhill after that; and downhill is fun.

The training group provided two water/Gatorade stops at about the half way mark on the hill.  I usually carry a small water bottle - called FuelBelt, a 10oz palm-held plastic bottle that has a small pocket convenient for keeping the clicker to the car! - but at the stop I took in the Gatorade.  I was grateful for the fuel.  I set my alarm incorrectly that morning so was late getting up.  As a result I hadn't had a decent breakfast - only about a cup of Cheerios and milk - not enough to fuel me through 7.26 miles of running.  But I really didn't want to have any more in my stomach otherwise I'd have been dealing with cramping during the run.  The Gatorade made up the difference and fueled me through the run.  I might try Gatorade in my water bottle on my next longer run just to see how that changes the run for me.

The weather was pretty much perfect.  On the cold side starting out, a little below 30 but by the time you get through the first mile you're plenty warmed up.  By the end of mile two I was cursing having to carry my gloves.  I'm never willing to leave the gloves behind when the start of the run is below 30 degrees.  Over the past few weeks I've figured out what to wear - which believe it or not has been a big challenge.  Being over-dressed is kind of the kiss of death.  And I've had a hard time accepting that I actually would warm up and wouldn't need so many layers.  Now I've got it down.  If anything is falling from the sky (rain, snow, sleet) I have a pair of waterproof pants (they are actually my husband's from his backpacking through Europe days).  With these I've discovered that I need a shorter legging underneath.  My usual long legging (what I wear when there's nothing falling from the sky - typical workout pants) was causing too much friction and dragging on my legs.  So shorter, above the knee workout pants are better under the foul weather gear.  On top I invested in a water-resistant jacket in neon yellow (I want to be seen at night) and a couple of long-sleeved moisture-wicking "technical" shirts.  One of these plus the jacket is good for 30-50, 20-30 I add a tank top on top of the technical shirt; below 20 calls for a "warm layer" which for me is a polyester jacket between the technical and the water-resistant jacket.  Gloves for below 35 and either ear-warmers or a hat.  As I've been told by my coaches - always polyester or other synthetic materials, "cotton is rotten" for running because it keeps the moisture too close to your body.  You want the moisture to move away from the skin.

I also always have my iPod to "mapmyrun" and listen to music.  I guess the hard-core runners don't listen to music but I kind of need the distraction.  And like to mentally dance along the way.  And it keeps me moving forward - one step at a time.  I think I'll download the theme song to "The Jeffersons" for my next hill... "took a whole lot of tryin' just to get up that hill."

But I did it.