Saturday, August 20, 2022

Camp Week is Here!

Disclaimer: As a member of Brooks Run Happy Team, I received a pair of Caldera 6s to trial and review. My opinions are all my own.

As you read this, I'm at Brooks' Camp Run Happy with Deborah! We're in Park City, Utah for a whirlwind weekend full of activity. I'm planning on posting a full recap soon, but in the meantime...you can check my Instagram for lots of photos. 


Weekly Rundown
Sunday: Ice Age Trail run 10 miles
Monday: Cross Fit
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: trail run 6 miles
Thursday: strength training
Friday: Camp Run Happy: run 1 mile
Saturday: Camp Run Happy: 5 mile trail run/hike

Running

It was the one year anniversary of my local Trail Sisters running group and there was a field trip planned on Sunday to a new-to-me segment of the Ice Age Trail! I was at the lake house, so I drove across the state to meet up with the group. You knew I wouldn't miss it, right? Most of the ladies had done their long runs the day before, so they planned a 5 mile hike. I needed a long run, so I took off on my own to explore the Scuppernong segment, located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Typical IAT terrain with lots of ups and downs and rocky trails, there was also lots of piney woods to run through. I ended up with 1000 ft of vert. This segment would have given me close to 12 miles, but I wanted to join the ladies for a potluck lunch, so I was content with 10. What a wonderful morning!


I woke up to a beautiful perfect-for-a-run morning on Wednesday. Where to go? After much internal debate, my new trail shoes and the trails won out. I stuck to the main trail for this one, a 6 mile loop around the preserve. It was a good choice. My legs were still tired from Sunday's hilly run on the IAT and with Camp Run Happy coming up at the end of the week, I didn't want to overdo it.


After a long day of travel, I arrived at our hotel in Park City. I was really tired but the Brooks Run Tour was set up outside. We were invited to try out a pair of the new Nitro-Infused Shoes. I already have the Cascadias (see below) and decided to give the Hyperions a try. I took them for a short one mile run and it was a sweet ride! After I returned from my run, Deborah arrived and we prepared for a fun meet and greet on the patio.



We woke up Saturday morning and prepared for a trail run up to the top of one of the mountains near our hotel. Deborah and I were both feeling the effects of the altitude (we are at 7000 ft) and with a rapid ascent at the start of the trail, we decided to take it easy. The views from the trail were epic! I was definitely in my happy place with this run/hike. I don't think I'll make a trail runner out of Deborah, but she was a trooper and took me out to breakfast when we finished.

CrossFit/Strength

Tuesday's WOD was all body weight. One hour after doing this workout, I was feeling it in my upper body. The strength/skill portion was kind of a prequel to the MetCon: it was a 12 minute EMOM of 30 second banded shoulder 'walks', 30 second bicycles alternating with one-legged v-ups, and 30 second superman flutter kicks. In between each of these was 30 second rest. Easy-peasy, right? The MetCon was a 16 minute AMRAP divided into 3 sections. Rounds 1-3 had 10 pull-ups (I did banded), 75 single unders/jump rope, 10 pistol squats per leg (I did bulgarian split squats), and 15 handstand push-ups (I did pike push-ups on the floor. Rounds 4-5 got tougher: 10 pull-ups (I did jumping off a box), 50 double under (100 singles), 10 pistols (Bulgarian split squats again), and 10 handstand pushups (I did pikes off a box). I won't even share rounds 6+ because I never made it past 4. 

This was a brutally hard WOD. I felt like a T-rex trying to do those pike pushups. I eventually got so fatigued that when I lowered my head to the ground, I couldn't push back up. I much prefer lifting weights to body weight workouts. Never underestimate the challenge of body weight work. Ooof.


Speaking of...on Thursday, SJ had more skill and small muscle work planned for me. She started me out on the parallel bars, where I had to hold myself up, legs at 90 degrees, for 20 seconds. It's way harder than it looks! I alternated 4 rounds of this with a banded hamstring exercise which she called a Paw Tap? But when I looked it up, all I could find was exercises for dogs, lol. Anyway, after that, she had me do 3 sets of 10 reverse dumbbell flys to work the deltoids alternating with bench curls. I finished up with my VMO work.

New Shoes!

Brooks has introduced Nitrogen-Infused midsoles in several of their shoe models. The goal was to improve the ride with more cushion and comfort. I received a pair of Nitro-Infused Caldera 6 trail shoes. I love Brooks Cascadias for trails, but so far, the Calderas do not disappoint. They are probably the most comfortable pair of running shoes I've ever worn. I'll share more in an upcoming review after a few more runs. Out of the box, they are definitely a winner!



How was your week? Have you been enjoying these last warm days of summer? Have you ever been to camp? What are your favorite shoes--road and/or trail?

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 



31 comments :

  1. Sounds like a fun time. The trails looked beautiful. And you can't beat FREE shoes.

    We have local trail running camp but I've never gone.

    As you know, I'm not a trail runner.

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  2. How great of Brooks to put on such a nice event. Glad you enjoyed it! I've said it a thousand times but I only wish Brooks shoes worked for me. Sigh. Isn't Park City lovely? Did you make it over to the Olympic training center?

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    1. We were so busy with Brooks events that there was little time for much else. We did see the the ski jump on the drive in tho!

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  3. I love the color palette on the Calderas. So glad you two are having so much fun and loving all the photos. I just finished Brendan Leonard's new one (that I think you recommended?) and it's fun to see his trail adventures.

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    1. I love the Calderas! Will you try some trail adventures?

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    2. Maybe when my knee is finally stable. Not sure I trust it on uneven terrain. It barely behaves on flat ground

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  4. Ooh! I can't wait to hear more details from camp!!! So, when you do these hilly, rocky trail runs, are you walking the treacherous parts? Because I was on some very challenging trails this week that had parts I didn't even attempt to run (I would have killed myself.) But I could see how it's a skill you could work at.
    I'm laughing at you feeling like a T-Rex while doing pike pushups. That really paints quite a picture!

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    1. I usually run down the treacherous parts, believe it or not. After a while, you get used to shuffling through the rocks and roots. But as you know, I've had a few tumbles.

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  5. Camp sounds so fun! I'm still loving my Adrenalines the most, but the Ravennas and Launches have been awesome alternatives.

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    1. I haven't met a Brooks shoe I haven't liked! Those Hyperions made me feel fast!

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  6. You all clearly looked like you were having a great time! So much FOMO :) Love the look of those Calderas.

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  7. Our time went by way too fast! So glad we made it together

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  8. What an awesome week! The camp sounds like a lot of fun. Great you could room with Deborah. Do you know the other ambassadors well? Do they change often?

    The Calderras look lovely, I like the colors.

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    1. I knew a handful of ambassadors 'well' from their social media and many years of following each other. It was fun to connect with everyone, though!

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  9. I am currently running in Calderas 5. They've been fine so far and I really liked the fact that's there velcro for my gaiters built into the shoe!

    I know you guys had a blast at camp! Park City is beautiful!

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  10. YAY! Wendy and Deborah are roomies on the Camp Run Happy! So nice to see you on the photo together.
    Your trail in Utah looks fabulous.

    But I also like your Ice Age trail - anything with a name like "Scuppernong" must be a great running trail.

    And now I need to try that 20 second hold with the legs at a 90° angle....

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  11. So glad you had such a fun time in Park City. It's funny to see "summer" photos from one of the places I've been skiing. LOL on Deborah not loving trail running -- I'm sure the altitude made it extra challenging.

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    1. I thought I had Covid by the time i got home, but nope, it was the altitude!

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  12. I hope you had a great time at camp! I love that Brooks puts on so many fun events - they are such a cool company.
    Those Caldera sneakers look very comfortable! I will need to go to my local running store to try those on.

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    1. You would probably like the Glycerines with nitro. That cushioning is amazing!

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  13. The National Forest Works Well For You - So Pleased You're Immersed In Its Beauty - Soak Up The Atmosphere And Keep Snapping Off Those Wonderful Photos - You Rock

    Cheers

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  14. It sounds like you had a fabulous trip! I can't wait to read all about it in your recap!

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  15. So fun for you! I've been to camp, but nothing quite like this! I bet you had a blast!

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    1. A few years ago, I went to Sweat Pink camp with Marcia and other bloggers. That was another really fun experience!

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