(Actual Post Date: Mar. 30th 2011)

 


The ARR South Mountain Classic 20k is the most technically challenging course Achilles Scottsdale has run to date. In recent weeks, our Wednesday-night workouts, (planned and led by volunteer Greg Trone) have included repeats and hill technique. The 20k’s hilly course necessitated careful attention to form and management of effort. It provided a great opportunity to road-test some of what we’ve been working on.
The course winds its way through South Mountain Park, a beautiful, quiet desert preserve. With the road closed the traffic and the field of participants relatively small, it was a low-key, friendly event. Runners smiled and waved and called encouragement to one another. Volunteers from Central High School manned aid stations and cheered the runners on.

Brooke Voss, who is visually impaired, ran with guides Mike Caruso and Greg Trone. The two provided essential information about the course and reminders to make adjustments to form and effort in order to manage the hills. “Coming up on a long hill; shorten your stride, manage your effort. It doesn’t pay to go all-out here” said Greg as the trio ran the last mile or so before the turnaround. After the turnaround, as they ran the series of rolling hills that led up to the long downhill near the course’s end, they provided information about how many rolling hills were left, and whether there might be a little bit of downhill in the foreseeable future.

After completing the course with a time of 2:04, Voss, Caruso and Trone picked up snacks in the post-race area and cheered as Achilles volunteer Jerry Stinchfield came tearing through the finish. Volunteer Torsten Voss and chapter president Angie Caruso were on hand to take photos and lend moral support.




“This course was really challenging and therefore completely awesome. It was the most physically taxing course I’ve run so far. I have a tendency to go on auto-pilot and be inconsistent in my pacing. This course, and the workouts we did to prepare for it, taught me to have better control. Hills are the Brussels sprouts of running: they’re an acquired taste, but they make you stronger. I’ll definitely be running out here again. Thanks so much to Greg and Mike for guiding me, (and providing moral support on some of those crazy hills!). You guys are fantastic!” – Brooke Voss




Upcoming Races: Pat's Run-April 16
If you haven't signed up already, you may want to do so soon as I believe they are limiting the amount of entrants this year. So far, we have a pretty good team representing Achilles this year: Angela, Jenn, JP, Dan, Brooke, Torsten, Mike, Jerry...just to name a few! Let me know if you'd like to run with Achilles!

This week's workouts:
Wednesday: Coach Greg will have something planned for those who would like to do some speed-work. Angie will be there with my bike, ready to ride or do a nice walk around the lake a few times.
Saturday: Depending on who comes, it can be a nice longer run or again, Angie and Karen will be there pushing kids on the green belt and around the lakes. For the finale, bagels!

One last thing: Let Angie know if you would like to help represent Achilles at the Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 9 or at the Arizona Council for the Blind convention being held on Friday, April 15. We would really appreciate it!

Hope to see you this week! Go Achilles!!!