I’m not sure why I continue to have conversations with myself trying to talk myself out of a daily run. I know when I’m done, I feel great and anything that was holding me hostage during the day has let go and I’m free again. Today I had one of those conversations, but luckily I listened to my friend Deb (who also has these conversations) and I got out there. She said, ..........I have a feeling that tonight will be one of those amazing runs for you — you’ll begrudgingly go, be a little chilly at first, but then your legs will warm up, your body will get moving and you’ll feel incredible. You’ll get wet and muddy and feel totally hard core. Can’t wait to hear all about it! This gave me just enough encouragement to at least end the conversation in my head.
I ran on the Ridgeline trail, no dogs, just me. I felt a little selfish leaving the furry guys home, but the thought of muddy, stinky dog was a little too overwhelming. So I parked at the Blanton Rd. trailhead and headed off. I knew I’d be racing the sun at some point. The shorter days, made running after work a little more challenging in that there was no room for dawdling: out of work, drop off dogs, change clothes and back in car to trailhead. The weather was a little unpredictable today: sun, downpours, wind, but I thought because I’d be under tree cover it wouldn’t be that bad. So I got on the trail and had the first 3 miles to myself. I challenged myself to run all the uphills and I did. It’s nice to be so familiar with a trail that you know that even though your quads are screaming, you know when the uphill will level out and you have a downhill to recover. So I went for it. Turned out I ran negative splits. When I reached the turn-around, I didn’t want to stop, but looking up I noticed the sun was losing her brightness. Most of the trail is under tree cover, so I also knew even if the sun was up, it didn’t mean I would be running in the light. So I took off, afraid of getting caught in the dark without a headlamp and challenging myself to run faster than usual. I ran a little reckless, not completely being able to see the trail at times, but I tried to trust the moment and stay relaxed. When I broke through the trees, it was a lot brighter than in the tree covered trail. I had beat the sun!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Rosarie Lakes
Sunday afternoon after dropping off the boys, Tim and I headed to Willamette Pass to run to Rosarie Lakes. We had been having a great time on the drive, laughing and giving each other a hard time about anything we could think of. Got to the trailhead and changed into our running clothes. We made the mistake of letting Buddy out of his crate before we did this and as long as it took us to change, pee and ready ourselves, our spaztic dog howled, pranced and ran circles around the truck.
Off we went on a 3 mile climb to the lakes. I haven't been putting in a lot of miles since the 50m for whatever reason - sore, tired, just not a lot of energy in general. But, today I was excited to get out in the mountains and charge up a hill. This is one of the trails in the Where's Waldo 100k which I plan to run next year, so I was also excited to run on it again and get a sense of at least a (very small) part of the race.
We made great time up to the lakes and then scouted out the possible camp sites for a backpack trip with the boys or an overnight snow camp. There were many ducks in the lakes. Last time Tim was on this trail, he and Buddy saw a bear - but not today.
After checking out the camps, we headed down the mountain. It got a little cold up there although the weather was beautiful. On the downhill, even though I tried to keep my turnover as fast as I could Tim easily passed me and true to form, later jumped from in back of a tree scaring me into a scream. It being so close to Halloween made him do it, he said.
Back at the car, we changed into warm clothes and headed back to Eugene for a soak in the hot tub and din din: curry chicken, wild rice with cranberries & almonds with acorn squash on the side - yum!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Blessed
Today I was startled by a yellow tree that glowed with such an intensity from the sun peaking through the cloud cover. The air was damp and cool. The tree looked like it gave off it's own sunlight. I felt blessed for taking the time to notice.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
PT visit
I went to a physical therapist this week in an attempt to be a little bit proactive...I think. It might have been a little reactive too in that I have this persistent lower back pain that I wanted to get help with. But my initial thought was I wanted to get an expert's opinion on how I should be stretching and some core strengthening ideas for my next phase of training. Hopefully this would help the back.
What I found out was 1) my hips are a couple inches out of alignment (one higher than the other by a couple of inches), 2) she was surprised I hadn't been injured after my confession of little/no stretching, and 3) although she thought I had good flexibility for a non-stretcher, Ishe thought I should start doing something now so it wouldn't catch up to me and my 43 yo body.
So now I have 4 new stretches to concentrate on. Each provides just enough challenge and discomfort, but hopefully I'm moving in the right direction. She hoped with a stretching routine and then adding core strength exercises, my back pain would go way. The stretches only take 16mins/day!
Morning Run
First run after DCF. 8 miles on Ridgeline with Buddy & Lilly. Woke up before the sun and headed out hoping to beat the morning hikers. The trail looked so different after not running on it for 2 weeks. Multi-colored fall leaves littered the trail - I wish I would have seen them on the trees! As usual the dogs were full of life and happy spirit. It was obvious I was still recovering - little pains in my quads on the down hills and just not having the spark this morning. But, boy did it feel good to be out there. There is nothing like a morning fall run.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dick Collins Firetrails Race Report
It feels good to be writing my first race report. It’s probably going to be long because my first fifty was more like a 72 hour adventure than just the 50 mile race. It was a weekend to remember. So here’s a snapshot and the before, during and after.
SNAPSHOT: If you don’t want to read the whole report:
Dick Collins is a hilly run, mostly on firetrails, but some beautiful single track through gorgeous eucalyptus groves. There were a few short lived flats, but most of the time I felt like I was either going up or coming down. I felt strong for most of the way except for the expected tiredness and some minor nausea. I’m realizing I like hilly courses and found myself passing people on hills only to have them pass me on the downhill and flats. This was the best race of my life. I know, a big statement, but none of my concerns about nutrition, hydration, blisters, blown quads and possibly not finishing under 12 hours ever came close to reality. I ate mostly real food and alternated with nuun and water. S!caps every hour on the hour.
It has been very interesting becoming a distance trail runner because I used to think running was a solitary sport. However, the longer the distance, the more dependent I am on my friends and family for support. Running with my husband as my pacer and one person crew turned out to be a very intimate experience. He saw me at very vulnerable places but also supported me to find my strength again. I know I could have done it on my own, but I’m so grateful we shared this experience together.
After I entered the race I read a negative report on a blog about how the trails were mostly hard-pack dirt firetrails instead of soft pine needle single track. Yes, this was true, however, I found the trails challenging and diverse enough so that when I needed a little more mental focus, the trail changed and I could switch my concentration. It looked like a lot of runners were wearing road shoes, and I think the extra cushion might have been helpful. I wore my Montrail Streaks, which are my favorite shoe right now– no blisters, hotspots and although I don’t wear gaiters, had no problem with anything getting in my shoes. Like I said, it was a great race.
Turns out there were a little over 200 runners, 93% finish rate.
BEFORE:
Tim and I left to start the drive to California on Thursday night thinking it would be a good idea to have a down day to relax, scout the course to find the crew stations for Tim and just see where I’d be running the next day – the entire next day! I chose Dick Collins Firetrails as my first 50miler for a couple of reasons. 1) it was close to my sister’s house and I thought having family close would be a good thing 2) the timing was good, about a month after my last 50k, and 3)Ann Trason was race director. I don’t know her personally, but I know “of her” and thought she must put on a good race. Also DCF has a pretty high finish percentage, so I signed up. I actually signed up after my first 50k of the year (in July) with the optimistic newbie energy that’s needed before the reality sinks in, “Oh shit, I’m going to run 50 miles!” (this wasn’t my first ever 50k. I ran the Oregon Trail Series in 2001 but then took the next 8 years off for some reason)
So off we went, Tim and I, for our big adventure. We arrived in Oakland at 11:00pm, 3 hours past our usual bedtime and very tired. I was experiencing the usual taper ailments of stiffness, and odd pains in hips etc, but I felt amazingly calm. A couple of days prior to leaving, my friend Deb had checked in because the previous week was a high anxiety sick-in-bed week . When she asked, “How are the butterflies?” I honestly said, “They’re flying in the same direction”. “I feel great.”
After a fantastic nights sleep, we woke up Friday morning and went to breakfast with my sister Diane at the Brown Sugar Kitchen in West Oakland: Cornmeal waffles w/ brown sugar syrup, apple sausage and 2 eggs. My sister and I are now proud owners of their BSK waffle t-shirts. It’s great southern cooking with breakfasts including grits and fried chicken. After breakfast we split ways, Tim and I headed to San Leandro and Diane back home. Driving in the big city (compared to Eugene) is quite an experience, but Tim and I continued the theme of our big adventure keeping the laughter going through the maze of freeways, one way streets and winding roads. Continuous forward motion, right? Over breakfast we had pieced together all of the maps Diane had given us of the trail system and read out loud the race directions so we could highlight the trails on the maps. I think I’m more of a visual person because signing up for a 50 mile race and reading the race notes didn’t really make it sink in that 50 miles was a long way. It wasn’t until I saw the map with the pink highlighted trail going through the topo map that I realized how far I was about to run. I remember looking at Tim and saying, “I’m running to Berkeley?” “That’s really far” – duh! But even with this realization, the butterflies still flew in the same direction. I was excited!
Driving the course was one of the best things we could have done. It gave Tim a chance to get lost without worrying he had a runner on the trail and it gave me a chance to get on the trail and see where I’d be going. The course is beautiful. I hadn’t been in Eucalyptus groves for a while and throughout the race, I found myself lost in the smell and looking up at tall majestic trees. I vowed when I got home I’d buy some Dr. Brauner’s Eucalyptus soap.
Driving the trail took longer than expected. We had missed lunch and after checking into the hotel I was famished. We had never been to San Leandro and had no idea what we’d have for dinner. I don’t have a pre-race ritual except to eat food I like that is balanced with carbs & protein, plus lots of water. The hotel staff said there were restaurants down the street, so off we went…another adventure. For some reason, I can always find the sushi, and tonight was no different. Tim doesn’t really like sushi, but knew that it was my favorite so he was in. Luckily, after talking to some of the regulars, we found out it was a pretty popular place. The sushi was fantastic. The waiter seemed a little surprised at how much I could eat, but I didn’t tell him I hadn’t eaten lunch or that I was going to run 50 miles the next day!
When we got back to the hotel after a quick stop at the store for some breakfast food, I packed my Nathan vest for “just in case” and made sure my during bag had everything in it. I ended up packing a Before, During and After bag which seemed to work well for organization.
DURING:
That night I got little to no sleep and was very thankful when the 2 alarms went off and I could finally get out of bed. I planned on starting early because I wasn’t sure how long it would take me and I didn’t want to get caught in a cut-off. At this point, I knew I would finish; I just didn’t want to be told I couldn’t. So after eating my usual PB & J and an Odwalla protein drink, we headed off. It was dark, but pretty warm and I was worried this meant I should expect hot temps later in the day. (this did not happen). The weather ranged between 45 in the morning to about 75 in the afternoon. So I showed up at check in and there was Ann Trason already in full gear. She said she wanted to talk with all the early starts – about 10 of us. She said she wanted to make sure we really needed the early start because it was better to start with the bigger group, fewer safety issues, more fun, less darkness etc. So the next thing I know she’s staring at me and asking-more like demanding- why I think I need to start early. She said she didn’t want anyone starting early so they could “go shopping at Nordstrom’s before it closes”. So I told her it was my first 50 and that I didn’t know what my finish time would be. She asked for my best 50k time (6:17) and in unison, the whole group told me to start later while Ann said “get out of here”. I’m learning.
False start: Tim and I went to Starbuck’s to get coffee and wait another 45mins for the regular check in. Starting at the regular starting time turned out to be wonderful. The first mile of the race although it is run in the dark or close to it, is on flat pavement so I didn’t need a headlamp. Some of the other runners used them and I just made sure to keep close until the sun came up. I was so thankful for the “heart to heart” chat with Ann. Having the other runners around me with their excitement and knowing that (hopefully) they knew the way made a huge difference in the beginning. The tone would have been completely different had I started into the dark with just my headlamp and a few other early starters.
During the first 8 miles I had to pee. This was a little surprising to me because I never have to pee in 50k races, but it seemed a good sign that I was hydrated. Unfortunately, I picked a berry patch and as I was getting up I got a thorn in my bum, but heck what’s a thorn when I had 42 miles to go! In this section there is a steep hill, approx. 600 ft. which doesn’t sound very steep, but on the map it was a vertical line. When I met Tim at Bort Meadows he said I was ahead of schedule. I hadn’t been drinking very much, but I did pee so I didn’t worry that my water bottle was only ½ empty. I tried to eat a little, even though I was still pretty full from breakfast, because the voices of the experts rang in my ears: eat & drink early, eat & drink when not hungry. A big kiss from Tim and I was off. One of the other runners told us to “get a room” so I laughed and reminded him to think about his first time.
When I ran the SOB 50k I met someone who had taped the race profile and miles to aid-station notes to his water bottle. I thought this was brilliant and did this for this race. It proved to be a great reminder of how close I was getting, what was coming up, and how far I had been throughout the day.
After Bort Meadows the course continues to gain elevation while maintaining the rolling ups & downs. I didn’t have much of a race plan except to finish and because I felt great and was ahead of schedule, I took cues from the other runners about when to walk, when to drink water, if/when to eat between aid stations. One of my biggest pitfalls is that I get distracted by my surroundings and sometimes slow down because I’m looking around and enjoying the experience more than concentrating on keeping pace. So for the next 12 miles I tried to finish my water bottle between aid stations, charge up the hills and just plain enjoy myself.
Skyline Gate: cool ocean fog - add vest, another PBJ, salt, water
Sibley Park: Fueled up for the next big climb, another PBJ, nuun
Steam Trains: I made it to the top!!! Woo Hop! Down, down, down I go!
Lone Oak (mile 26) was the turn around and the start for the Golden Hills Trail Marathon. The LO aid station comes at the bottom of a long down hill, which is somewhat brutal on the quads and feet. When I was going down, fresh looking runners were starting on their first big climb for the marathon. Sharing the trail was a little tricky because some of it was single track, but everyone was very supportive. On this section I ran into a couple who were staying at our hotel. They were doing the marathon for the 1st time. We wished each other good luck and continued in opposite directions – it would turn out later, Tim and I passed them again about mile 44. On the Lone Oak downhill I tried to tell myself to relax and lean forward, but I feared tumbling forward on some of the loose gravel. But even with my cautious running, I ended up at the aid station about an hour before my calculated time and missed Tim - big bummer! I was really counting on seeing him because I wanted to drop the fleece vest I added at Skyline, but also didn’t want to wait around because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up the “hour ahead of schedule” pace. I didn’t feel like I was pushing it at all and thinking back, I probably could have tried to push a little harder, but I had no idea what it’d be like to run the next 24 miles and I was playing it conservative.
So after eating some potatoes and watermelon, I unzipped my vest, turned around, and headed back up to Steam Trains. Half way up the hill, I saw another guy coming out of the bushes and was thinking to myself how envious I was of men during races. All they had to do was get off the road and whip it out (and sometimes they didn’t even get off the trail). This would have been nice at mile 45 when I went to the bushes and tried to bend down tri-pod style, holding my skirt, the ground and anything that would keep me from peeing on myself or falling over because of my sore quads. Anyway, the guy turned out to be Tim! He felt bad about missing me that he had run in from the other side to check in. He said there had been an accident on the road involving bicyclists and traffic was backed up. I gave him my vest, another big hug and off I went up the hill only another (1250ft). I was supposed to meet my sister at the Steam Train aid station, but again I was too early and we missed each other. Up to this point I was alternating between nuun and water at each aid station and a S!cap each hour. I was eating regular food - PBJ, potatoes, oranges, bananas, watermelon, canteloupe. A friend had told me to eat “real” food as long as I could and I think this plan worked. Solid food was good as long as I took a little more time for it to go down and it tasted so much better than a gu - yuck.
The aid station volunteers were great - very helpful refilling bottles, checking in and then shooing away. They made it very clear (in a nice way) aid stations were not for hanging out. I volunteered at Where’s Waldo this year and I know what it’s like to be in one place all day. Very exciting because all you want to do is help and make it as easy as possible for the runners coming through and yet it can be cold, hot and tiring too.
Diane (sis) caught up with me at the top of Sibley Park (33.6m), She had come down the trail a little way and was in top cheerleader form. Kicking up her feet, waving her arms and taking pictures. I found it hard to run up the hill, laugh, cry and breathe at the same time. It was great to see her. As soon as I came into the AS she helped with the water, made me eat – no time to chat. She told me I was doing great and then she told all the other runners they were doing great too never stopping her cha-cha cheering. We hugged again and I whispered “this is the farthest I’ve ever run” and was back on my way. Diane’s kookiness stayed with me and I know I had a smile on my face for at least the next mile thinking about her energy.
The next ten miles were probably my best. I felt strong and I felt a new energy for having gone farther than I ever had. I was focused on finishing and meeting any challenge that came – like more hills. If I wasn’t going uphill, I was going down. There were very few flats which I liked. I don’t run flats very well and actually prefer uphill more than anything. Between mile 33- 41 the terrain seems the most varied: single track through Eucalyptus trees, rocky technical single track (downhill) and hard-caked firetrails. These sections went by quickly because I had to concentrate a little more on the changes in terrain.
I felt myself getting excited about the next AS (Skyline Gate 37m) because that’s where Tim would start pacing me. I had run most of the race by myself except for some leap frogging. When I run my long training runs, I’m usually on my own for the most part or have my dog, Buddy with me. He’s a tireless Australian Sheppard and always good for a nice dose of energy. But knowing I’d have someone to run with felt good. True to Tim’s spirit he was waiting for me with the other pacers leaning against a stone wall with a huge smile on his face. When we run together he knows when to push and when to back off. We often compete with each other and make each other work our hardest. He had been so encouraging during the day that I knew the next 13 miles was going to fly by.
About mile 42? our continuous forward motion was interrupted by sirens and flashing lights. The emergency vehicles passed by in a dust cloud. A man from the Marathon had had a heart attack. By the time we got to him, the EMT’s were doing their best. Even though Tim and I are 1st responders, we passed by knowing we wouldn’t be able to give any more help than he was getting. We said a prayer for him and continued on. At the finish, no one seemed to know for sure if he survived after he was airlifted, but knowing he might have died doing something he loved made the event a little less tragic.
The lowest part of the race for me was heading to Big Bear Gate. At this point I think I had neglected my nutrition because the last thing I wanted to do was eat. Tim was feeding me pretzels and I ended up sucking on them while I ran, but I started feeling bonky. Climbing the hill to BBG was the first time I let “oh shit” enter my thoughts. It seemed so steep and my head was whirly. When we got to the top we took a little more time at the aid station. I ate some oranges and potatoes w/salt and then walked a little bit after we left. At this point, it didn’t seem to matter whether I walked or ran, it all hurt. It hurt more to walk the downhills than to run them. However, even as I say this, I realize the pain was more of a stiffness than anything else. I had no blisters, my quads weren’t blown; it had just been a very long day and I was ready for it to be over. The last couple of miles (mostly flat) were hard. I knew I wasn’t going very fast, but I was determined not to walk.
When we came to Bass Cove AS, I didn’t want to stop, it takes to much energy to stop and then start again. It’s sort of like driving a stick shift for the first time. Stop to first gear is bumpy and sometimes you stall out, but once you shift to second and then third, you’re on your way. I had to stay in second gear or I’d stall out. We had enough water for the last 3 miles and Tim reminded me I could walk the rest of the way and still make my goal of under 12 hours. But we kept running. The end of this race follows a little different route than the beginning, but when I saw the marina I knew I had made it. This was the first time I got a little choked up. I was really going to do it. We kept up the 50 mile shuffle around the lake, passed a few runners who we had leaped frogged and just kept going. The finish chute came up and all of a sudden I was running on grass – aaah – through the flagged chute. I saw my sister and the clock and then faintly heard people cheering. Tim had fallen back and didn’t go through the chute. I fell into Diane’s arms at the finish line. Both of us were crying. Tim came around and gave me a giant hug and I was done.
AFTER:
There were so many volunteers offering to help when I finally sat down. I usually have no appetite immediately after the race but a beer sounded good. When the volunteer found out I wanted a beer but the keg was empty, she went to her personal stash and gave me a Sam Adams – yum! It was great to see some of the other runners that I had seen on during the day cross the finish line. We had been out there together and I knew where they had been.
The next 24hrs seemed to be a sleep & eat fest. I had burned over 7000 calories during the race and it started to take effect about 8 hours after the finish when I woke up at 1:00am to indulge in a pint of Cherry Garcia. At 7:30am I enjoyed a full breakfast of sweet potato hash. At noon, a double-double cheese burger with fries from In and Out Burger. Finally after arriving home 9 hours later a couple of glasses of wine, BBQ chicken salad and some good bread dipped in olive oil.
Two days after the race and I feel great. I’m still sore but able to walk up and down stairs and squat if I need to. I’m done with ultras this year, but already I’m planning my schedule for 2010 to include 100k and hopefully a 100m. I imagine the feeling after an ultra is similar to the one women have after they give birth. Soon after the pain of labor is over and they look at their new baby, they forget the pain and look forward to having another.
I’m ready for another ultra baby!
SNAPSHOT: If you don’t want to read the whole report:
Dick Collins is a hilly run, mostly on firetrails, but some beautiful single track through gorgeous eucalyptus groves. There were a few short lived flats, but most of the time I felt like I was either going up or coming down. I felt strong for most of the way except for the expected tiredness and some minor nausea. I’m realizing I like hilly courses and found myself passing people on hills only to have them pass me on the downhill and flats. This was the best race of my life. I know, a big statement, but none of my concerns about nutrition, hydration, blisters, blown quads and possibly not finishing under 12 hours ever came close to reality. I ate mostly real food and alternated with nuun and water. S!caps every hour on the hour.
It has been very interesting becoming a distance trail runner because I used to think running was a solitary sport. However, the longer the distance, the more dependent I am on my friends and family for support. Running with my husband as my pacer and one person crew turned out to be a very intimate experience. He saw me at very vulnerable places but also supported me to find my strength again. I know I could have done it on my own, but I’m so grateful we shared this experience together.
After I entered the race I read a negative report on a blog about how the trails were mostly hard-pack dirt firetrails instead of soft pine needle single track. Yes, this was true, however, I found the trails challenging and diverse enough so that when I needed a little more mental focus, the trail changed and I could switch my concentration. It looked like a lot of runners were wearing road shoes, and I think the extra cushion might have been helpful. I wore my Montrail Streaks, which are my favorite shoe right now– no blisters, hotspots and although I don’t wear gaiters, had no problem with anything getting in my shoes. Like I said, it was a great race.
Turns out there were a little over 200 runners, 93% finish rate.
BEFORE:
Tim and I left to start the drive to California on Thursday night thinking it would be a good idea to have a down day to relax, scout the course to find the crew stations for Tim and just see where I’d be running the next day – the entire next day! I chose Dick Collins Firetrails as my first 50miler for a couple of reasons. 1) it was close to my sister’s house and I thought having family close would be a good thing 2) the timing was good, about a month after my last 50k, and 3)Ann Trason was race director. I don’t know her personally, but I know “of her” and thought she must put on a good race. Also DCF has a pretty high finish percentage, so I signed up. I actually signed up after my first 50k of the year (in July) with the optimistic newbie energy that’s needed before the reality sinks in, “Oh shit, I’m going to run 50 miles!” (this wasn’t my first ever 50k. I ran the Oregon Trail Series in 2001 but then took the next 8 years off for some reason)
So off we went, Tim and I, for our big adventure. We arrived in Oakland at 11:00pm, 3 hours past our usual bedtime and very tired. I was experiencing the usual taper ailments of stiffness, and odd pains in hips etc, but I felt amazingly calm. A couple of days prior to leaving, my friend Deb had checked in because the previous week was a high anxiety sick-in-bed week . When she asked, “How are the butterflies?” I honestly said, “They’re flying in the same direction”. “I feel great.”
After a fantastic nights sleep, we woke up Friday morning and went to breakfast with my sister Diane at the Brown Sugar Kitchen in West Oakland: Cornmeal waffles w/ brown sugar syrup, apple sausage and 2 eggs. My sister and I are now proud owners of their BSK waffle t-shirts. It’s great southern cooking with breakfasts including grits and fried chicken. After breakfast we split ways, Tim and I headed to San Leandro and Diane back home. Driving in the big city (compared to Eugene) is quite an experience, but Tim and I continued the theme of our big adventure keeping the laughter going through the maze of freeways, one way streets and winding roads. Continuous forward motion, right? Over breakfast we had pieced together all of the maps Diane had given us of the trail system and read out loud the race directions so we could highlight the trails on the maps. I think I’m more of a visual person because signing up for a 50 mile race and reading the race notes didn’t really make it sink in that 50 miles was a long way. It wasn’t until I saw the map with the pink highlighted trail going through the topo map that I realized how far I was about to run. I remember looking at Tim and saying, “I’m running to Berkeley?” “That’s really far” – duh! But even with this realization, the butterflies still flew in the same direction. I was excited!
Driving the course was one of the best things we could have done. It gave Tim a chance to get lost without worrying he had a runner on the trail and it gave me a chance to get on the trail and see where I’d be going. The course is beautiful. I hadn’t been in Eucalyptus groves for a while and throughout the race, I found myself lost in the smell and looking up at tall majestic trees. I vowed when I got home I’d buy some Dr. Brauner’s Eucalyptus soap.
Driving the trail took longer than expected. We had missed lunch and after checking into the hotel I was famished. We had never been to San Leandro and had no idea what we’d have for dinner. I don’t have a pre-race ritual except to eat food I like that is balanced with carbs & protein, plus lots of water. The hotel staff said there were restaurants down the street, so off we went…another adventure. For some reason, I can always find the sushi, and tonight was no different. Tim doesn’t really like sushi, but knew that it was my favorite so he was in. Luckily, after talking to some of the regulars, we found out it was a pretty popular place. The sushi was fantastic. The waiter seemed a little surprised at how much I could eat, but I didn’t tell him I hadn’t eaten lunch or that I was going to run 50 miles the next day!
When we got back to the hotel after a quick stop at the store for some breakfast food, I packed my Nathan vest for “just in case” and made sure my during bag had everything in it. I ended up packing a Before, During and After bag which seemed to work well for organization.
DURING:
That night I got little to no sleep and was very thankful when the 2 alarms went off and I could finally get out of bed. I planned on starting early because I wasn’t sure how long it would take me and I didn’t want to get caught in a cut-off. At this point, I knew I would finish; I just didn’t want to be told I couldn’t. So after eating my usual PB & J and an Odwalla protein drink, we headed off. It was dark, but pretty warm and I was worried this meant I should expect hot temps later in the day. (this did not happen). The weather ranged between 45 in the morning to about 75 in the afternoon. So I showed up at check in and there was Ann Trason already in full gear. She said she wanted to talk with all the early starts – about 10 of us. She said she wanted to make sure we really needed the early start because it was better to start with the bigger group, fewer safety issues, more fun, less darkness etc. So the next thing I know she’s staring at me and asking-more like demanding- why I think I need to start early. She said she didn’t want anyone starting early so they could “go shopping at Nordstrom’s before it closes”. So I told her it was my first 50 and that I didn’t know what my finish time would be. She asked for my best 50k time (6:17) and in unison, the whole group told me to start later while Ann said “get out of here”. I’m learning.
False start: Tim and I went to Starbuck’s to get coffee and wait another 45mins for the regular check in. Starting at the regular starting time turned out to be wonderful. The first mile of the race although it is run in the dark or close to it, is on flat pavement so I didn’t need a headlamp. Some of the other runners used them and I just made sure to keep close until the sun came up. I was so thankful for the “heart to heart” chat with Ann. Having the other runners around me with their excitement and knowing that (hopefully) they knew the way made a huge difference in the beginning. The tone would have been completely different had I started into the dark with just my headlamp and a few other early starters.
During the first 8 miles I had to pee. This was a little surprising to me because I never have to pee in 50k races, but it seemed a good sign that I was hydrated. Unfortunately, I picked a berry patch and as I was getting up I got a thorn in my bum, but heck what’s a thorn when I had 42 miles to go! In this section there is a steep hill, approx. 600 ft. which doesn’t sound very steep, but on the map it was a vertical line. When I met Tim at Bort Meadows he said I was ahead of schedule. I hadn’t been drinking very much, but I did pee so I didn’t worry that my water bottle was only ½ empty. I tried to eat a little, even though I was still pretty full from breakfast, because the voices of the experts rang in my ears: eat & drink early, eat & drink when not hungry. A big kiss from Tim and I was off. One of the other runners told us to “get a room” so I laughed and reminded him to think about his first time.
When I ran the SOB 50k I met someone who had taped the race profile and miles to aid-station notes to his water bottle. I thought this was brilliant and did this for this race. It proved to be a great reminder of how close I was getting, what was coming up, and how far I had been throughout the day.After Bort Meadows the course continues to gain elevation while maintaining the rolling ups & downs. I didn’t have much of a race plan except to finish and because I felt great and was ahead of schedule, I took cues from the other runners about when to walk, when to drink water, if/when to eat between aid stations. One of my biggest pitfalls is that I get distracted by my surroundings and sometimes slow down because I’m looking around and enjoying the experience more than concentrating on keeping pace. So for the next 12 miles I tried to finish my water bottle between aid stations, charge up the hills and just plain enjoy myself.
Skyline Gate: cool ocean fog - add vest, another PBJ, salt, water
Sibley Park: Fueled up for the next big climb, another PBJ, nuun
Steam Trains: I made it to the top!!! Woo Hop! Down, down, down I go!
Lone Oak (mile 26) was the turn around and the start for the Golden Hills Trail Marathon. The LO aid station comes at the bottom of a long down hill, which is somewhat brutal on the quads and feet. When I was going down, fresh looking runners were starting on their first big climb for the marathon. Sharing the trail was a little tricky because some of it was single track, but everyone was very supportive. On this section I ran into a couple who were staying at our hotel. They were doing the marathon for the 1st time. We wished each other good luck and continued in opposite directions – it would turn out later, Tim and I passed them again about mile 44. On the Lone Oak downhill I tried to tell myself to relax and lean forward, but I feared tumbling forward on some of the loose gravel. But even with my cautious running, I ended up at the aid station about an hour before my calculated time and missed Tim - big bummer! I was really counting on seeing him because I wanted to drop the fleece vest I added at Skyline, but also didn’t want to wait around because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up the “hour ahead of schedule” pace. I didn’t feel like I was pushing it at all and thinking back, I probably could have tried to push a little harder, but I had no idea what it’d be like to run the next 24 miles and I was playing it conservative.
So after eating some potatoes and watermelon, I unzipped my vest, turned around, and headed back up to Steam Trains. Half way up the hill, I saw another guy coming out of the bushes and was thinking to myself how envious I was of men during races. All they had to do was get off the road and whip it out (and sometimes they didn’t even get off the trail). This would have been nice at mile 45 when I went to the bushes and tried to bend down tri-pod style, holding my skirt, the ground and anything that would keep me from peeing on myself or falling over because of my sore quads. Anyway, the guy turned out to be Tim! He felt bad about missing me that he had run in from the other side to check in. He said there had been an accident on the road involving bicyclists and traffic was backed up. I gave him my vest, another big hug and off I went up the hill only another (1250ft). I was supposed to meet my sister at the Steam Train aid station, but again I was too early and we missed each other. Up to this point I was alternating between nuun and water at each aid station and a S!cap each hour. I was eating regular food - PBJ, potatoes, oranges, bananas, watermelon, canteloupe. A friend had told me to eat “real” food as long as I could and I think this plan worked. Solid food was good as long as I took a little more time for it to go down and it tasted so much better than a gu - yuck.
The aid station volunteers were great - very helpful refilling bottles, checking in and then shooing away. They made it very clear (in a nice way) aid stations were not for hanging out. I volunteered at Where’s Waldo this year and I know what it’s like to be in one place all day. Very exciting because all you want to do is help and make it as easy as possible for the runners coming through and yet it can be cold, hot and tiring too.
Diane (sis) caught up with me at the top of Sibley Park (33.6m), She had come down the trail a little way and was in top cheerleader form. Kicking up her feet, waving her arms and taking pictures. I found it hard to run up the hill, laugh, cry and breathe at the same time. It was great to see her. As soon as I came into the AS she helped with the water, made me eat – no time to chat. She told me I was doing great and then she told all the other runners they were doing great too never stopping her cha-cha cheering. We hugged again and I whispered “this is the farthest I’ve ever run” and was back on my way. Diane’s kookiness stayed with me and I know I had a smile on my face for at least the next mile thinking about her energy.
The next ten miles were probably my best. I felt strong and I felt a new energy for having gone farther than I ever had. I was focused on finishing and meeting any challenge that came – like more hills. If I wasn’t going uphill, I was going down. There were very few flats which I liked. I don’t run flats very well and actually prefer uphill more than anything. Between mile 33- 41 the terrain seems the most varied: single track through Eucalyptus trees, rocky technical single track (downhill) and hard-caked firetrails. These sections went by quickly because I had to concentrate a little more on the changes in terrain.
I felt myself getting excited about the next AS (Skyline Gate 37m) because that’s where Tim would start pacing me. I had run most of the race by myself except for some leap frogging. When I run my long training runs, I’m usually on my own for the most part or have my dog, Buddy with me. He’s a tireless Australian Sheppard and always good for a nice dose of energy. But knowing I’d have someone to run with felt good. True to Tim’s spirit he was waiting for me with the other pacers leaning against a stone wall with a huge smile on his face. When we run together he knows when to push and when to back off. We often compete with each other and make each other work our hardest. He had been so encouraging during the day that I knew the next 13 miles was going to fly by.
About mile 42? our continuous forward motion was interrupted by sirens and flashing lights. The emergency vehicles passed by in a dust cloud. A man from the Marathon had had a heart attack. By the time we got to him, the EMT’s were doing their best. Even though Tim and I are 1st responders, we passed by knowing we wouldn’t be able to give any more help than he was getting. We said a prayer for him and continued on. At the finish, no one seemed to know for sure if he survived after he was airlifted, but knowing he might have died doing something he loved made the event a little less tragic.
The lowest part of the race for me was heading to Big Bear Gate. At this point I think I had neglected my nutrition because the last thing I wanted to do was eat. Tim was feeding me pretzels and I ended up sucking on them while I ran, but I started feeling bonky. Climbing the hill to BBG was the first time I let “oh shit” enter my thoughts. It seemed so steep and my head was whirly. When we got to the top we took a little more time at the aid station. I ate some oranges and potatoes w/salt and then walked a little bit after we left. At this point, it didn’t seem to matter whether I walked or ran, it all hurt. It hurt more to walk the downhills than to run them. However, even as I say this, I realize the pain was more of a stiffness than anything else. I had no blisters, my quads weren’t blown; it had just been a very long day and I was ready for it to be over. The last couple of miles (mostly flat) were hard. I knew I wasn’t going very fast, but I was determined not to walk.
When we came to Bass Cove AS, I didn’t want to stop, it takes to much energy to stop and then start again. It’s sort of like driving a stick shift for the first time. Stop to first gear is bumpy and sometimes you stall out, but once you shift to second and then third, you’re on your way. I had to stay in second gear or I’d stall out. We had enough water for the last 3 miles and Tim reminded me I could walk the rest of the way and still make my goal of under 12 hours. But we kept running. The end of this race follows a little different route than the beginning, but when I saw the marina I knew I had made it. This was the first time I got a little choked up. I was really going to do it. We kept up the 50 mile shuffle around the lake, passed a few runners who we had leaped frogged and just kept going. The finish chute came up and all of a sudden I was running on grass – aaah – through the flagged chute. I saw my sister and the clock and then faintly heard people cheering. Tim had fallen back and didn’t go through the chute. I fell into Diane’s arms at the finish line. Both of us were crying. Tim came around and gave me a giant hug and I was done.
AFTER:
There were so many volunteers offering to help when I finally sat down. I usually have no appetite immediately after the race but a beer sounded good. When the volunteer found out I wanted a beer but the keg was empty, she went to her personal stash and gave me a Sam Adams – yum! It was great to see some of the other runners that I had seen on during the day cross the finish line. We had been out there together and I knew where they had been.
The next 24hrs seemed to be a sleep & eat fest. I had burned over 7000 calories during the race and it started to take effect about 8 hours after the finish when I woke up at 1:00am to indulge in a pint of Cherry Garcia. At 7:30am I enjoyed a full breakfast of sweet potato hash. At noon, a double-double cheese burger with fries from In and Out Burger. Finally after arriving home 9 hours later a couple of glasses of wine, BBQ chicken salad and some good bread dipped in olive oil.
Two days after the race and I feel great. I’m still sore but able to walk up and down stairs and squat if I need to. I’m done with ultras this year, but already I’m planning my schedule for 2010 to include 100k and hopefully a 100m. I imagine the feeling after an ultra is similar to the one women have after they give birth. Soon after the pain of labor is over and they look at their new baby, they forget the pain and look forward to having another.
I’m ready for another ultra baby!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Saturday Morning Run
Tim and I got a late start this morning. It felt good to sleep in to 7 :30 after a week of 3:30 - 4:30 wake ups. Big decision to leave Lilly at home. Left her in the backyard after deciding 9 miles would be too much for her. Buddy was so excited we almost had to put him outside too but we decided instead to put him in his box in the back of the truck so we could put our shoes on. Ran Ridgeline again and ran to the top of Spencer Butte. After 4 miles, Tim challenged me by saying "you need work on hills", boy did that get me going. I charged up Spencer Butte until the turn around and then didn't stop until we got back to the car. My plan was to leave Tim in the dust after his last comment and it worked. Buddy had more energy than both of us this morning. Perhaps without Lilly to torment, he chooses to take it out on us instead.
This is my last long run before my race. I feel strong and ready to get this thing over with. There is so much effort put into training both physically and mentally. It will be nice to take a break before the cycle starts again. My plan is to take the rest of October "off". Cross-training but little running except maybe to exercise the dogs. Next year the plan is to introduce more weight lifting sessions and some speed training to see how that changes my racing times.
Lately, I've been reading my friend Leah's pacer experience from when she paced her husband in Hundred in da Hood. It's been great to hear the other side of the story and I feel I have a better idea of what Tim will go through next weekend and what my friends and family will experience in my first 100m next year.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Ridgeline Trail w/ Tim and the dogs
Last night Tim and I took the dogs for 6 miles on the Ridgeline Trail for a "taper" run. It took a little effort after a full day at work to get there but we were proud to finally pull into the parking lot and let the dogs get out of their kennels. The lot was full, but we didn't see very many people on the trail, so I'm not sure where they were hiding. I felt really strong, running all the uphills and sprinting down. Buddy stopped to put his paws in the mud and Lilly kept close behind me. Unfortunately, because of our late start, we were still on the trail when it got dark, so the last 3/4 mile was a slow jog in the dark. However, we got to experience the full moon shining through the trees and the gorgeous orange sunset.
During the run I kept thinking about my upcoming 50m race. One foot in front of the other, walk the ups, think positive, continuous foward motion. I feel strong today both emotionally and physically and welcome this next adventure. Dick Collins Firetrails here I come!
Last night was probably Lillys last 6 miler. We'll take the old woman down to 4 miles. She came home with a limp in her step and tired eyes. She is such a sport and her happy spirit continues to shine.
During the run I kept thinking about my upcoming 50m race. One foot in front of the other, walk the ups, think positive, continuous foward motion. I feel strong today both emotionally and physically and welcome this next adventure. Dick Collins Firetrails here I come!
Last night was probably Lillys last 6 miler. We'll take the old woman down to 4 miles. She came home with a limp in her step and tired eyes. She is such a sport and her happy spirit continues to shine.
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