Western States 100 - Race Report

Western States 100- June 25, 2011

Time: 28:15

Elevation gain: 18, 040 ft.

Elevation loss: 21, 970 ft.

Highest Point: 8,720 ft

Unbelievable! Incredible! Awesome! Fantastic!

These are words that you use to describe completing the Western States 100 run- especially when you do the race report a week later.  I am so happy that I completed the run, did not have any significant injuries or issues, and am already looking up other 100 milers on the web. :-)

The race started in Squaw Valley on Saturday morning at 5:00 am.  I did not have a lot of pre-race jitters- surprisingly. I think that was mostly due to my level of confidence in my preparation for this event (Thank you coach, Tim Neckar); or, (more likely) it was due to my ignorance of how difficult this race would be to complete.  That said, I was much better prepared for this 100 than I had ever been for any other race.  Either way, I set out blissfully calm to hike up the 4.5 miles to the first aid stop.  I remember that I got there much faster than I had expected, so things were going pretty well.  Then- SNOW.  I was not worried about the snow because I had run in snow all winter.  My buddies from Virginia had prepared me for the snow sections- so I thought.  What I was not prepared for was the snow fields with 1 foot deep snow and no real "trail" to follow.  I remembered back to the pre-race briefing when the RD said, "count how many times you fall in the snow- it will amuse you."  I arrogantly thought I would not be falling- I know how to do this!  I must have fallen more than 10 times in the first 10 miles-- at least it was a soft landing.   I could not believe it- the snow was deep and powdery in some places and steep.  I "skied" down many slopes with my running shoes as skis.  It was an interesting start.  Unfortunately, I was more tired at 15 miles than I should have been.  But, this is Western States- it is not supposed to be easy.

Team J.E.T.T. at the Escarpment - Thursday June 23, 2011

The next sections were the new course sections that were pretty easy to run.  I made it to the 31 mile (50k) mark at just over 7 hours.  I was beginning to think that this was not going to be so bad after all....until the canyons.  I had been warned about the difficulty of the canyons and dealing with the heat.  The heat was not an issue (it was much cooler than previous years) but the climbing, my God, the climbing!  I was really starting to suspect that this was an all uphill course.  Devil's Thumb was the most incredibly hard climb that I have ever experienced.  It just seems to go on forever, it is so steep in places and it seems like it will never end.  It is only 1.7 miles- but it is a difficult climb.  I was not feeling well at DT- my quads had cramped up on the climb up and I felt I had a blister forming on my left pinkie toe.  I had the medical professional check it out.  He said no blister- just an "angry" toe.  I ate a Popsicle and headed out.  I wanted to get to Michigan Bluff ASAP, since this was the first place that I was going to be able to see my crew (mile 55.7).  Oh yeah, and the climb to Michigan Bluff is the second hardest climb in the course.  At this point, I was far behind the time that I (and my crew) were expecting- but it was definitely the best I could do at the time. I came into Michigan Bluff- got a chance to see Denise and Bruce.  What a pick-me-up!  I got some food, and rehydrated and headed down the trail.  I wanted to head out as soon as possible, because they told me that Allen was waiting at mile 60 for me.  I could not wait to have a buddy on the trail!

I came into Bath Road (mile 60) and Allen (aka PigPen and the GQ Runner) was waiting for me- with a cheering section.  He and I started the climb up to Foresthill- and within the first 100 feet- there was Bruce!  He had ridden the bus back and then hiked down the road to meet us.  The three of us hiked, chatted and caught up on all of my adventures that day.   Foresthill was the 62 mile mark and one of the biggest aid stops.  I knew I was going to change clothes and take a long time at this stop.  I tried to minimize my stops at aid stations, as I know that you can waste a lot of time at aid stations.  Becky and Denise were waiting for us with dry clothes and plenty of food.  I changed, got my gear all packed and headed out with Allen.  We only had 18 miles to go and we knew that this was a pretty "easy"section.  Later in the night, we could not understand where all of this uphill came from. We had run this section in the training run and it seemed like it was downhill and easy- now in the dark- it was uphill and difficult.  This was the beginning of one of my "low" points in the race.  I lost energy and was having a difficult time getting back on track.  Allen did a wonderful job reminding me to eat and drink.  I wanted to strangle him then- I am so grateful now.  :-)  We chatted, stopped for a lot of potty breaks, took lots of walk breaks and made it to Rucky Chucky for the river crossing.  The river was too high for a foot crossing, so we got a ride over in a boat.  Those guys were amazing- they got us across the river so fast!  When we got to the other side, Bruce was there waiting for us! He had hiked down the 1.8 miles from Green Gate to "run" (Ha- NO running this section) with me and Allen to Green Gate (mile 80).  It was another grueling uphill section.  This was a section that I really had a hard time. I was so tired, it was the middle of the night and I was having some balance issues.  I had run out of plain GU and they did not have any plain at the aid stations.  Of course, now that I need it- suddenly plain is popular!  We made it to Green Gate and got to see Becky and Denise.  I got some nutrition and headed down the trail.  Next stop Auburn Lakes Trails- 5.5 miles.

I cannot express how far 5.5 miles can seem like when you have been running for 23 hours.  I was trying to run the downhill sections, but my feet were really hurting.  The outside of both of my feet felt raw- not the mention the "angry" pinkie toe.  I knew that my foot issues were likely due to the fact that my feet were wet all day.  I had changed my socks and shoes at some aid stations, but the course had so many water crossings, that when you left an aid station, within 1/2 mile there would be a water crossing and you would get your feet wet again.  We actually made good time getting to the aid station, but then I asked the medical personnel to look at my feet.  You know that you have world class blisters when the medical personnel are calling each other over and saying, "WOW, incredible- best color we have seen all day!"  I had a couple of giant blisters on the outsides of my heels and some really cool bloody ones between my toes.  It took 2 medial persons 20 minutes to work on my feet.  In this time I watched a lot of people come and go at this aid station. This motivated my competitive spirit and we headed out of there on a mission--reclaim my former position (I am happy to report that we were successful).  I was so mad that it took so long to take care of my blisters, but I would not have been able to finish as strong if I had not stopped to have this issue corrected. Thank you medical team!

By this time it is 5 am and I have been running for 24 hours.  I know that there is only 15 miles to the finish, but I also know that I am tired, there is still a lot of climbing and - well, 15 miles is still a long way. Bruce was great - he stayed there with me and gave me encouragement along the way.  I tried to be pleasant, but I know that I was really crabby at times.  We just powered up the hills and ran all of the downhill sections that I could.  Unbelievably, I got another surge of energy.  This lasted all the way until mile 98.  At that point, I knew that the rest was uphill and that my crew was waiting at Robie Point (last aid station, 1.5 miles to the finish).  I told Bruce that I was "done" and going to walk the rest in, he was understanding and did not push.  He knew that I was tired. When we saw everyone at Robie Point, I told them that I was walking the rest, no one argued.  Then, I started running again-- not fast -by any stretch, but more than a walk.  Bruce stayed with me all the way around the track (until be had to peel off) and I was never so happy to see a finish line.  28 Hours and 15 minutes after I started, I had finished Western States.

Bruce and me in the final stretch before the track.

As a flat-lander I learned that there are some things that I cannot adequately train for- but you can go out there and do your best and be happy with what you have accomplished.  The breath-taking beauty of the trail is worth every minute of the pain.  You have an opportunity to get to know yourself and experience nature in a way that many others are never able to do.   It was a very well- run race, with a LOT of cool swag.  Tim Twietmeyer was encouraging as I went along- I saw him at mile 25, 27, 62 and 98 (I don't think that man sleeps).  He is an inspriation to runners like me- thanks Mr. T!

Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to my crew and pacers.  You guys stayed up all night, hiked in the woods, and did not get any of the glory.  I could not have done it without you! Great news- my completion of WS 100 is a qualifier for next year!! See you in Squaw Valley! :-)

That is me at the end- in the green.....

Jen's status

We are Foresthill aid station where we take the shuttle bus to Michigan Bluff aid station where we will Jen for the first time today. It is 3:53pm PST and Jen has run 43.8 miles and will soon complete 47.8 miles. By all accounts she is keeping a steady pace. As always Jen had a plan and it seems she is sticking with it.

Bruce and Denise have caught the shuttle bus to meet Jen at Michigan Bluff. And Allen and Becky await Jen at Foresthill. Actually Allen will pick Jen up at Bath aid station approx 1 mile down the road. Allen will stay with Jen through Green Gate aid station where Bruce will take over and run her to the finish line.

The weather is warm here in Foresthill but not nearly as warm as last year, so we are told. By the time Jen gets her she will be hot and tired. But after a fresh change of clothes and some encouraging words from Team JETT, we will send her off with Allen.

We will try to post another update later this evening/night but we will have much to do tonight to make sure we arrive at each aid station before Jen does. You can track her on the live webcast and of course Bruce, Allen and Becky will post updates on Facebook.

On behalf of Jen thanks for all the encouraging emails, calls and text messages. We will pass on all the good wishes and hugs to her as soon as we see her.

Team JETT

Count Down to Race Day!!

We have just returned to the hotel after the mandatory medical check, runner check-in and trail briefing. It was quite exciting to get checked-in and receive the infamous wrist band.

I have a few hours to relax, before having a very early dinner- then a couple of hours rest before tomorrow morning. Check in is between 4 and 4:50 AM. Tomorrow morning we have one more medical check and then we are off and running at 5:00 AM! I have a couple of photos to add, but my apple devices and blogger are not working well together. More to follow.....

The crew/pacing team is already proving to be invaluable. :) Lucky me.

Team J.E.T.T. Crew Meeting 06/11/11

From Left to Right: Marilyn, Denise, Me, Bruce, Allen and Becky

Team J.E.T.T. (Jennifer Evans' Trail Team) met at Empire Cafe' to discuss logistics for the upcoming WS run.  We discussed all that we could think of for the race, assigned specific duties to crew members; made lists and generally got excited about our upcoming trip.  We also discussed some of the specific things that I would like the crew to do for me during the race (there is more than you would think- I am going to be pretty demanding).

Crew: Becky, Denise and Marilyn
Pacers: Allen (Foresthill to Green Gate- approx. miles 60-80) and Bruce (Green Gate to Finish Line approx. miles 80-100)

I am so fortunate to have a group of dedicated friends willing to fly to California, stay up all night, drive around on small mountain roads, tend to a cranky runner, coordinate tons of gear, corral a couple of great pacers, and make sure I get to the finish line.  I can never say thank you enough.

As for my two pacers- the mere fact that you guys are willing to run 20 miles on this difficult trail (some of it in the dark) to make sure I am safe and on pace to finish....well, I can never express my gratitude adequately. You are wonderful people and I am lucky to have you in my life.  Allen, this will be the second time that you are pacing me to finish a 100 miles- you are terrific.  I am amazed that you are willing to do it again- I was pretty cranky the first time.  Bruce- you have been incredible.  You have organized meetings, made travel arrangements, ordered t-shirts and helped me try to remember everything.  Thank you so much- I love you lots.

Ok, enough sappy stuff.  Let's get this show on the road and DO THIS THING.  Hopefully under 27 hours, but definitely under 30! 

Last Training Run 06/11/11 !!!!

Where: Huntsville State Park
When: 5:00 am
Start temperature: 74 degrees, 92% humidity

End time: 2:15 pm
End Temperature: 96 degrees, 32% humidity (Devil's Thumb here I come!!)

Total run time: 8 hours 10 minutes
End Mileage: 39 miles!!!

Bruce and I decided to go to Huntsville State Park to run since it was my last long run before WS 100.  I was advised by my coach, Tim Neckar (and others) that one more push would ensure that I am ready.  Allen made the drive and joined us to start at 5:00 am.  Bruce and Allen were running 20 miles, and I was going to run the remainder on my own when they were done.  I also figured that the heat of the day would allow some additional heat acclimation before WS.

We started in the dark, the sun did not rear it's head until about 6 am.  That was also beneficial to have some of that good night-time running.  I remembered that I really do not like running in the dark, but we made it through.  The dark slowed us down for that first hour, and the humidity was stifling.  Not to mention the spiderwebs!! There must be thousands of hungry spiders out there, as we knocked down web after web.  The guys were done at about 10:30 and I had 19 or so more miles to do.  We were doing 10-11 mile loops and coming back to the car for replenishment of water/food.  With the high humidity and heat, this was about right.  I knew that I was going to be out there for a long time, so when we came in for refreshments, I really took my time and relaxed before I headed out for the next loop. 

I was surprised that I was not as negatively affected by the heat as I had thought I would be.  It helped a lot that the humidity dropped as the temperature rose.  I could tell that it was really hot on the last loop, but I stayed in the shade most of the time and just continued to push. I felt pretty good at the end, amazingly with no aches or pains.  My legs were not even sore- I felt like I had just run a easy 20.  I think that I really did the right thing and did not push my pace. 

Lessons Learned: 

1. Pacing is important - especially in the beginning of a long run.  SLOW down and take it easy. 

Allen

2. Espresso Gel all over your pacer's face is a hilarious way to forget how hot/tired you are.
3. Taking in a LOT more nutrition has had a serious POSITIVE effect.  (gel every 40 minutes- and real food at aid stations)
4. If you start feeling tired- it is likely time to eat more GU
5. Pringles and Coke are hands down the BEST aid station food in the world
6. Brooks Cascadia Trail Shoes and Wright Socks are the right combination for me (not one blister/ issue)
7. Huntsville State Park really is flat.....who knew?

Western States Training Run - Day 3

So this is where the determination to finish overrides your body's desire to stop. When we got up this morning, Bruce and I could tell that we had run two hard days in a row. My calves were killing me with each step. Allen was sore too- but to a lesser degree and Denise seemed to be fine at breakfast. Today we were running the last 20 miles of the course from Green Gate to the finish at Placer High School. This will be Bruce's section to run with me on race day. We both really wanted to see this section, but we were both still pretty sore.

We learned why the downhills stop being a welcome sight and become something that you dread. My calves were screaming as we started down the first 2 miles (all that powering uphill had come back to haunt me!!!).   I decided to run with Bruce and Allen for this run. We had a new video camera and they had been using it the other days. I wanted to run with them to take some video, be in some of it, and to try to take it easy on the last day. Also, I did not know if I was capable if running much faster than the pace that we were keeping. This is a pretty tough section of the trail. It was also some of the most beautiful sections of trail. After a few miles, all of us started to loosen up and feel a little bettter. It was the warmest day that we had so far and it was taking it's toll. We kept going and tried to cheer each other by picking on each other - but even that was no good sometimes.

No Hands Bridge was a welcomed sight for all of us. We trotted across like it was the finish line. We got some refreshment at the aid station and headed in to the finish. Another cruel WS joke, the last 3.5 miles from No Hands Bridge is uphill!! WTF? We all made it in between 5:30 and 5:45. Not bad for 22 miles of difficult terrain after 2 consecutive days of running. No fanfare, no bands playing- just a few volunteers sitting there saying "good job." :)

Denise came in with the sweepers and another friend she had made in the trail. We all had such a good time but it was some of the hardest running that we had ever done. BEST TRAINING RUN EVER!






Mistakes: Powering uphill to aggressively the first 2 days (poor calves)
Not washing poison ivy off right away!!!! Can't stress this enough!

Terrain/course: technical, some pavement at end. Hilly, mountainous

Hydration/ nutrition: experimented with taking in more gel- good results. Every 40-45 mins

Issues: 2 small blisters on heels after 2 day. No pain, monitor in future.

Western States Training Run - Day 2

After the great day of running that we had on Saturday, we were all looking forward to Sunday. We were running the section that Allen will pace me in WS. We got a chance to see this section in the daylight, as next time we run it will be in the dark. This time we were running it in the correct direction- which essentially meant that it was a downhill day. Downhill was a welcome change after the first day of climbs. Denise decided to do this run- so we all set off on Sunday morning.

I was not feeling too bad from the previous days run. Although I did notice that my calves were pretty tight. Later I realized that this was from powering up the uphill sections so aggressively. Of course I discovered that much much too late to actually do anything about it.

This time we started at Foresthill elementary and we were going to be bused back to the start at the end of the run. I wisely left a drop bag of dry clothes at the finish- the weather was still pretty cool most of the day. It warmed up to the 70s but when you finished you would get really cold if you were standing around in wet clothes. Also, due to the mountainous terrain, the weather fluctuated- it would be cold one minute and hot the next and go back to cold without any real warning. Not to mention that Saturday and Sunday it rained in the afternoon (unexpectedly) and the temps dropped like a rock.

This was certainly a downhill section. I tried to run it well, without overdoing it. I tried to concentrate on leaning forward and really attacking the downhills. My plan was to try to save my quads- as this was so runnable. I managed to keep a pretty steady pace for most of the run. The scenery was simply gorgeous. I am so sorry that I will not get to enjoy it as much next time- but at least I had it this time. I met and talked to a lot of runners along the way some of them were running WS but a fair number of locals were just out enjoying the course. I finished the 19 miles in just under 4 hours. Not bad at all- considering I was going to catch the first shuttle bus of the day. Oh yeah- there was also a very steep 3 miles uphill to the finish. So you are having this great day of running downhill, only to have a 3 miles section up at the end. Tough!!!

I went to get the car and followed the bus back- just in time to grab Bruce and Allen who had finished. They were looking great and had already chowed down on the hot dogs at the finish line. We sat in the car and waited for Denise. We did not know if she was going to be happy after that 3 miles uphill- but as usual she came in with a huge smile and a bunch of new trail friends. Denise is an angel on the trails to runners who are feeling down- she cheers and coaxes them to the end. I am counting on her to do the same for me at WS.

Just as we were pulling out to leave, the RD (Greg) asked if we could give a runner a ride to the school- so he would not have to wait for the bus. We told him we were going the opposite direction and we started to leave-- thought about it and told the runner to jump in. Turns out that he is running WS this year, his name is Carson. He is.... let's say a senior runner....70+ years old- trying to finish again. He was a wealth of information. Mainly he helped bolster my argument that Bruce and Allen were not taking in enough nutrition. I had been telling them that they were not taking enough gel and Carson agreed. We dropped him off and headed back to the hotel.

My legs were pretty tired, but the thought of an ice bath was more than I could handle. Bruce took an ice bath after the first two days of running. I took a warm soak with epsom salt. I was really cold at the end of these runs and it took forever for my body temperature to regulate. I was also starting to feel the beginnings of poison ivy/oak starting to irritate my skin. More on that later.....

Western states training runs - Memorial weekend Day 1

So, last week we headed to California to run the Western States training runs. By "we" I mean Bruce, Allen, Denise, and me. We were running 30 miles on Saturday, 20 miles on Sunday and another 20 on Monday. We were doing all of this on the actual race course for Western States. This run gives runners an idea of what to expect on race day. Also, you get to run the portions of the trail that you will be doing in the dark on race day.

Bruce and I arrived at about 8:30 pm and met Denise and Allen at the car rental counter. We then made a quick stop at the grocery for running supplies. We finally got to the hotel and ready for bed at about 11 pm. The buses for the next day's run left at 7:30 - so we still got a fair amount of rest.

First morning! Excitement in the air. It was a chilly 48 degrees. We were informed that due to the large quantities of snow in the high country, we would have to run an alternate route that did not include "Devil's Thumb." Devil's thumb is the hardest climb and the place where most people drop out of the race. It is a psychological advantage to do it in training. I will not have that luxury.

Me, Tim, Bruce and Allen (in back)

We are all standing around and we see Tim Twietmeyer standing at the start. Bruce is his FB friend and Tim knew we were coming. We got some photos, training tips, and we were off on the buses. Denise opted to volunteer that day (which would turn out to be a fabulous choice- she was a mover and shaker and made lots of important contacts. Not to mention all the training, crewing and running tips.) When we got off of the bus, it was just go whenever you want. Bruce, Allen, and I take off. Next thing I know, we are running with Tim Twietmeyer!! I know that I am a trail running geek- but it was really fun to run next to one of the best for the first two miles. Bruce and Allen decided to run together and I headed off on my own. I met a lot of great people on the trail- everyone has a tip or two about running "States."

We ran from Green gate to Foresthill, then up to Michigan Bluff, turned around and came back to Foresthill. Essentially, we ran part of the course In the reverse direction and then came back. At least we got a lot of climbing! Allen claims that it was 80/20 climbing to downhill (of course for the rest of the weekend everything was 80/20 or 20/80 according to Allen). I don't know about all that- but it was a LOT of climbing. I came in at 6:33, 30.5 tough miles; I even finished in front of Tim! (Of course he stopped for over an hour at aid stations....but still). :).

We all spotted Gordy Ainsliegh (founder of the race) on the trails going in the opposite direction.  Bruce and Allen stopped to chat and pose for photos on the trail (see photo on right).  Bruce finished in 8:30- Allen decided to stop at 18 (which may not have been such a bad idea when considering it as only the first day.) In all- an excellent run.

Course: Mountainous/ very hilly
Terrain: Moderate to very technical
Mistakes: Not washing off poison ivy right away (this will bite later- literally)
Lessons: My running coach's hill workouts do pay off. I passed tons of people on the uphills. Thanks Tim Neckar!!

Bel Monte 50 Mile 03/26/11

This race report could be filed under the heading, "What the hell was I thinking?"  This 50 mile race boasted over 11,000 feet of elevation change in the 50 mile and just over 7,000 feet for the 50K.  I thought this would be a good way to get some mountain miles in while not dealing with the altitude issues. I was certainly right about that.

Since I was complaining about my last race at Seneca Creek being a 'flat' course-- I had nothing to complain about in this race.  I did the 50 mile race and Bruce did the 50K.  The time limit for the 50 mile was 13 hours (changed the week of the race to 13.5) and the 50K had a 9 hour cut off.  This alone should have been a clue.

The course was the same for 50K and 50 mile people for about 17 miles, but Bruce and I were doing our own thing on race day, so after a quick kiss at the start we were on our way. I started the race with my buddy Casey, but I knew that he would be leaving me soon. (Casey chose this as his 50 mile debut-- what a freaking animal.)  We started out on the top of the dam. We headed out into the woods and I knew from reading the elevation chart that .78 miles in we would hit the first significant climb.  It was definitely significant. I determined that although I had done some other "difficult" races, I would be in for a new experience with this one.

There were times that the hills lasted over 4+ miles.  That is right, 4+ miles of walking straight uphill!  Some of the grades were as much as 7%!  Yikes, this was one tough race.  But the views, my God the views were iincredible-- so worth the effort.  This time, instead of wishing for more walking, I could not wait to get some good downhills going and get a break from walking.  I was amazed after so many miles of trudging up a mountain, that I could start running again and even run at a decent pace!   There were actually times in the later stages of the race that I was keeping a sub 10 minute mile.  I would have been able to keep a better pace if the trail was not so technical. Of all of the trail races that I have completed, I would have to say that this was definitely the most technical.  There were areas where you should have been able to run, but it was not runnable, there were so many rocks.  I learned to tackle some of these technical downhills - I was passing a lot of people on the downhills.  I could not believe it- I am a flat-lander!

The weather was another issue to overcome.  It was very cold in the morning (30s) and it warmed up quite a bit during the day.  I wore tights, a L/S tech shirt and S/S tech shirt, gloves, and a BB hat.  I felt perfectly dressed until much later in the afternoon/evening.  One of the last aid stations was at the top of a mountain.  I had placed a light jacket in my drop bag.  I picked it up on my way to the finish line (7 miles away).  What a great move- it got so cold, then it started sleeting, then it started snowing! Snowing....I decided it was time to kick it in gear and get off of this mountain, so I took off for the finish.

This was my slowest 50 mile finish at 12:19- but I was well within the 13.5 cut off and the 5th female overall. I was happy with my performance- plus this was a training run and I treated it as such.  I was also very happy to see that Bruce was waiting for me at the finish line (with his finisher medal around his neck!).  He finished the 50K in 8:30, which is incredible for the difficulty of the course.  Casey finished strong at 11:45- quite a feat for your first 50.  It was a great day, beautiful course, well-marked course, well-stocked aid stations and well organized. We enjoyed it so much, we are thinking of returning for the 100K in September!

Course: Mountainous, hilly, technical
Weather: Very cold at start, mild in afternoon, very cold in evening
Nutrition: No issues- but did not take in a lot of calories considering the length of the race
Hydration: No issues- but probably dehydrated due to minimal intake of fluid
Aches/Pains/Injuries: none 

Sencea Creek Trail 50K 03/05/11

So, when you are training for the biggest 100 miler of your life, running two 50Ks on back-to-back weekends does not sound like a bad idea.  In fact, it sounds like a pretty darn good idea--- at the time. We headed out for another local race, this time in Damascus, MD.  This is the same trail that I ran the Stone Mill 50 on back in November 2010.  I remember that when I ran Stone Mill people were commenting that the course was flat.  I thought that it was anything but flat.  What a difference a few months make!

I ran the race with Bob the whole time.  All I kept thinking is "WHY is this so flat? Where are the hills? Are we ever going to get to walk?"  This course was killing me.  I think it really is a flat course and there are not a lot of opportunities for walking.  The first time that I did this course, I used a run/walk plan and I do not do that anymore, so it seemed like we were never getting a chance to walk.  Bob and I ran along grumbling as we would switch off leading and following.  We finished in a respectable 6:23.  We were not trying to "race" just going along and chatting.  Casey finished in 5:20; Rob in 6:00 and Sara 6:14.  We stayed around for some after race snacks and headed back to Virginia.

Certainly a different experience than the first time I ran this race, but an enjoyable "training run" none-the-less. No injuries, no hydration or nutrition issues.

Hashawha Hills 50 km Trail Run- 02/25/11

A large contingency of runners- nicknamed "Team Gaylord" left from northern Virginia for the Hashawha Hills 50K in Westminster, MD, in the wee hours of the morning of February 25, 2011.  We had so many runners, that we needed two cars for the car pool to the race.  Rob, Sara, Jen and I met up in Arlington, and Toni, Bob, Denise and Casey met in Burke. We arrived at the race site, parked and headed into the heated Nature Center for the trail briefing. It was a good thing that we attended the briefing, as we learned important aspects of the race. For instance, there was one section that was "out and back"- on the first loop you had to pick up a thick rubber band, on the second loop you needed to get a skinny rubber band.  This ensured that you did the entire course and did not cut off any sections.  Good to know. 

The plan was for me to run with Bob and keep my pace under control.  As soon as we started, I found myself with Denise (we told Casey to go ahead-- and Rob was already gone) a little in front of the others.  Denise and I kept the pace, chatted, laughed, and generally had a good time.  Slowly we pulled ahead of the other group.  I decided that this was an easy pace and it would not negatively alter my race plan.  When we would see Bob, Toni and Sara- we would shout and yell our hellos then get going again.  Denise is a runner much like me in that she runs extremely consistently- we just loped along just living it up.  We did the first loop in 3:15- and headed out for the second. We ran the second at about the same pace as the first.  We finished in 6:40. We headed inside and found Casey and Rob hanging out.  We changed our clothes, ate some chili (even vegetarian for me!) and waited for the others to come in. Bob, Sara and Toni came in and we all sat around sipping cocktails and eating.  Nice run in a different location.

Course:  The course was runnable for the most part, small rolling hills and a couple of very steep ones thrown in.  There was one water crossing (we balanced on a log the first loop and went through it on the second....water was COLD).  There was a lot of ice and snow on some sections. Some sections were boggy and muddy - even more so on the second loop. You ran through the woods, in open fields, through bogs and along a creek. 

PS- I have been strong-armed into signing up for another 50K next Saturday. It is in Damascus, MD- some of the trails that I ran in the Stone Mill 50.  I will be curious to see how "hilly" I perceive it to be this time.

Mountain Run 02/20/11

We headed out to the mountains to run this weekend.  Bob was traveling on Saturday, so we ran on Sunday.   We met at the Rec center at 06:00 AM to drive out to the mountains (about 1 1/2 hours away).  Casey, Toni, Denise and I were treated to a chauffeured drive by Bob- so no driving, just relaxing and giving Bob a hard time.  Skyline drive was closed due to fire danger, so we had to go to an area a little north to start.  Once we hit the trails we went over Knob mountain, ran along the Appalachian Trail and came back over Neighbor mountain.  It was so cold at the start- but what a beautiful day!  The highs were in the 50s and it stayed cool and clear all day.  We had a great run with all of the usual jabs, jest, and smart comments. You have to be tough and witty to make it in this crowd!

The first mountain that we climbed had about 2.5 miles uphill at the very beginning, and we all complained like a bunch of pansies.  It was a tough hike, of course we were treated to an awesome downhill on the other side. We saw a group of hikers when we got to the AT, and they told us that a park ranger had advised them not to enter the park, but they explained that they already had a camp at the park and were allowed to enter.  We also asked about bear sightings, as the running group pointed out that they had spotted 2 bears on the trails last time they were out here.  The hikers said that they did not see any, but heard that someone else did.  We figured it is still too early for them to be out and about (hopefully).   We did not see any bears, but we did get to climb another mountain.  The views were incredible.....made the effort worthwhile.  We treated ourselves to some Spelunker's grub and headed back to the city. 

We noticed in the distance, along Skyline drive, there were (2) forest fires burning.  Later on the news, we learned that the fires had destroyed about 2,000 acres and one home.  Luckily, we were not near where the fires were burning. We ended up with about 21.25 mile for the day- not bad.  In all, a fantastic day in the mountains with friends.   

Back on the Trails in Virginia

Finally!  I am back with my running group in Virginia.  We met for a 20 mile run on Saturday along the Bull Run trail.  It was so great to be back with the gang again and to hear about their running adventures.  Considering that I had a lousy week at work- it was just what the doctor ordered.  Bob, Rob, Stan, Casey, and I started out together.  Stan is returning from an injury, so he fell back and did about 10-12.  On our way back from a 6 mile out and back, we saw Denise and she joined us for the remainder of the run. She has been gone for a while too (but she was skiing).  It was  a great day and the temperatures were warming- Spring is coming!  There were still some areas of the trails that were very icy and treacherous.

We decided to meet up again on Sunday for another 10 miles. I was so happy- I really need to start increasing my mileage, so this works out great for me. The only negative, I was not able to sleep in on the weekend.  No worries, I spent the rest of Sunday hanging out, getting a manicure/pedicure and going to the movies.  Was a great weekend.  I am excited because we have decided to run in the mountains next Sunday (we will skip Saturday run- Bob is out of town). 

Rocky Raccoon - Volunteering and Pacing

I arrived in Houston on Thursday, due to the pending arrival of a freak snowstorm in Houston (which never actually came); on one of the last flights of the evening since Houston Intercontinental Airport was closing until sometime on Friday.  I managed to move my Friday flight to Thursday evening. I spent the night at my parent's house and Bruce picked me up around lunch time to head to Huntsville.

While there was no actual snowstorm, there was an incredible amount of ice on the overpasses (and for some reason the Houston transit folks refuse to use salt to melt it) and it made travel a nightmare.  We arrived in Huntsville early afternoon, and met Becky, Denise and Allen at our rented shelter.  Allen explained to us that there was a problem with the shelter, as the park told him this shelter (#4) and there was a "Trail Nerd" sign out front.  He went back to the park headquarters and verified that #4 was ours and told them about the sign.  They said that there were no more shelters to give us and that was ours.  Allen moved the sign to #5 and told Henry and Joe about the issue.  Needless to say, this was not the end of that saga. We headed out to our hotel.  Only to find that they did not have any power.  The hotel employees explained that someone had been involved in an accident with a light pole and the power company was working on the issue.  We decided to go to packet pickup and dinner location.  Becky and I volunteered for a few hours at the packet pick up.  We got to meet some other volunteers and racers for the next day.  We enjoyed our nice pasta dinner and headed back to the hotel.  The power had been restored and we all retired to our rooms to make our race day preparations.  About 10 mins later Allen is in the hall- informing us that the electricity in his room went out again.  They got the power up again and we all tried to relax and get some sleep.

The next morning, as we arrived at the shelter- there were some angry Trail Nerds headed our way.  They were upset that we has moved their sign- Allen and Bruce explained the issue and that the park headquarters had directed us to take this shelter.  They said that they paid for (2) shelters and only had one.  We offered the use of our shelter for anything that they needed.  We agreed to share and everyone was fine with the solution.  We certainly hope that they were refunded the money for the shelter that they did not get to use. There were no hard feelings, and we even shared the same area around the start/finish area. 

Allen took off first, and Denise and Bruce got to wait around for a while.  They used this time to use the restroom and make their last minute preparations.  Becky and I saw them off and we started our duties at the start/finish area with organizing drop bags.  I do not think that the other volunteers were quite ready for our "level" of organization, but we soon had everyone on board. We had a great time with the other volunteers.  I had so much fun that I did not want to leave.  I finally left to get some rest before assuming my pacing duties.  I was not able to sleep, but I laid around for a while.  I got back in time to see Bruce finish.  He looked great at the end- all of that extra mileage paid off. Marilyn and I got him back to the hotel and delivered some McDonalds for him and headed back to the park.  We were all sitting around talking, and we did not expect Denise for another 30 minutes.  We are all bundled up, sitting in our chairs, when Denise casually walks up and announces that she finished.  We all jumped up and congratulated her.  We were so embarrassed that we were not there when she came across the line. She finished her first 50 miler and made it look easy.  She looked great- she did not look like she had run 50 miles.   She told us that she wanted to wait for Allen.  A little while later, Allen came across and announced that he was "done." We tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted that he knew it was time to throw in the towel. Sometimes you have to be smart and listen to your body- if it is not your day, it is just not your day.  We all headed to Ihop for the traditional after-Rocky meal and then got some sleep.

Since I was not able to run Saturday, I went to the park early to run 20 miles before my flight on Sunday.  I volunteered to take down course markings for a portion of the course and then continued my run.  I also was an unofficial sweeper for the course.  After leaving the last aid stop, I started seeing a lot of 100 milers struggling to finish.  I stopped and talked to each asking if they needed anything, but most said that they were fine.  I ran across Misty (From Minnesota) about 3 miles from the finish, she was finishing her first 100 miler and she was struggling.  I offered to help her to make it in before the cut off.  We walked and I talked and tried to cheer her up when I could.  We then picked up Joshua (From Tennessee) who had been with Misty all night.  I pushed, cajoled and tried to motivate these two to keep up their walking pace and make it to the end.  They both made it to the finish in 29:47.  I am so happy for them both and all of the RR finishers this year.  I had a wonderful time and look forward to other volunteering duties....

Vacation + Alcohol = Very Little Training

I went home to Houston to go on a cruise vacation. We left Galveston on Sunday, January 23, 2011.  It was my Mom's 60th birthday and we treated her and my Dad to a cruise.  We had a wonderful time in the Caribbean and Mexico.  Unfortunately, there was not a lot of training on the cruise- at least not for me. There was a lot of eating and drinking, but not much running.  (Bruce did better than I did- he did 10 miles on Saturday, I just did not want to run 10 miles on the treadmill.)

I managed to run 20 miles (on the street--uggghhhh) on the Sunday before we left.  I ran 5-6 miles here and there, but did not log significant mileage. I was planning to run long again on Sunday, January 30, 2011- the day we returned.  Between unpacking, repacking (to head back to Virginia), spending some time with my doggies, and doing laundry, I was exhausted.  Ok, so no long run this week- no big deal.  I will be back on track in no time.

I am pacing Allen the last 40 miles of the Rocky Raccoon 100 this weekend.  Bruce and Denise are running the 50 miler- so I get to see them too.  I am volunteering for the race in the first 8 or so hours, then catching a little rest and pacing Allen for 40.  We are going to have so much fun!  It is going to be a blast- I have to think of some clever things to say to keep Allen interested in conversation. Other friends are planning to come out and help with crewing- it is going to be a reunion!

Weymouth Woods 100K - Race Report

Friday after work, I headed down to Southern Pines, North Carolina to participate in the Weymouth Woods 100K.  I was pretty excited, because I have never done a 100K before and I was able to get in this one at the last minute. The only negative (other than a 6 hour drive to get there) was that the course was a 4.47 mile loop that you had to do 14 times-- Yikes! I decided that small loops has its advantages too. You would not need a crew (which was good, because my crew chief is in Texas) and you would not have to carry a lot of gear.  :-)

As I arrived at the park, I went inside the heated Visitor Center for packet pick up and trail briefing (a plus- as it was 24 degrees at start time.)  I met the race director, got my gym bag, Patagonia tech shirt, and timing chip.  At 8:00 am, we headed off into the woods.  I ran the first lap with a lady named Lynn from Tennessee.  We chatted about races that we have done in the past and generally just got a feel for the trail. Lynn decided that we ran the first loop faster than she needed to do, so we parted ways.  Along the way I met a lot of runners from all over the country.  Of course I became known as the "Texas runner"- I wore my Sunmart hat - just so no one forgot.  I wore a tech shirt that has "Don't worry, I am not in your age group" on the back.  That shirt definitely got a lot of laughs and comments on the trail.  What a great choice.

This course was almost a carbon copy of Hunstville State Park trails. It was unbelievable- the roots, the elevation, the wooden bridges and even sandy areas.  Needless to say, I felt right at home. :-)  My plan was to run the flats and downhills and walk significant hills.  This plan worked very well- I even managed to run up a few of the steep hills - thanks to great running songs on my ipod. The trail was pretty varied, from very rooty and hilly, to very runnable flat sections.  There was still a bit of snow on the trail at the start; but throughout the day the snow melted (it got up to almost 50 degrees.)  Large chunks of ice were also falling from the trees all day.  It was not unusual to have ice drop on your head as you pass by- talk about incentive to go faster.

I kept a pretty consistent pace throughout the race. I kept checking the results board on each loop and noticed that I was inching up with every loop.   I managed to do about 10.75 loops in the daylight- but the night loops were pretty hard.  It is really hard to judge those roots and I was pretty tired at this point. Just before dark I checked the board and I was 4th place female.  I kept plugging along the best I could- trying to avoid being passed (at least by women).  I managed to finish in 13:14- which was good enough for 3rd place female and first place masters women.  I was so happy- what a great surprise.  I got to choose from several beautiful homemade platters for my award.  What a great end to a wonderful race.

A few words about the race.  This was one of the best organized events that I have ever attended.  The RD (Marie Lewis) was incredible and she was there to greet every runner as he/she finished.  The food was awesome- pizza, grilled cheese, hamburgers, quesadillas- you name it.  The volunteers were also amazing.  I could not believe how helpful and friendly they were.  My biggest problem is that I wanted to linger and chat with them instead of getting back on the trail.  I would definitely recommend this race to others, you will have a hard time finding a race where you are treated better. 

Bonehead mistakes:  As in the Stone Mill 50, late in the race I was going up a hill and I felt my right calf  "pull and seize up" - I thought I tore something.  It was unbelievably painful- I was limping and could barely make it up hills.  I made it to the aid station, looked at it and on the advice on the volunteers, planned to go on, but at a slower rate. I was extremely worried that my training season was over- not to mention that WS would be in jeopardy.  About 1/4 mile from the aid station it dawned on me that I had not taken salt in a while.  I popped (2) Endurolites and within 1/2 mile I could run without limping.  I was just dehydrated!  I took another with my next GU and I was back in business.  You should have seen the surprised looks on the faces of the guys at the aid station when I ran in on the next loop- until I told them about my stupid lapse.  I have learned that I need more GU than I used to take ( I try to take at least 1 per hour) and I have started taking Enduralites.  I am not sure if my body has changes, or if I am pushing harder.  I never needed salt supplements before, but I definitely do now.

18 Miles - Jan 8, 2011

This weekend there were 4 of us running the trails.  Everyone else either decided that they had something better to do, or were taking some recovery time.  We met at Overlook Dam at 0715 on Saturday.  Bob, Toni, Meg and I were starting out together, then we were going to drop Meg off at the car at 12 miles and head back out.  Bob needed to catch a flight later in the day, so he needed to be done at noon.  We decided that whatever mileage we were at by noon would be enough.

I had never run with Meg before; although I had heard a lot about her.  She is a very talented  fast runner, who generally runs road races and primarily runs marathons or less.  She is super sweet - but a little naieve, not to worry; Toni and I took care of that!   Between our discussions of what Plain Gu and Flan have in common and preferred underwear choices- it was an interesting run.

The four of us are getting ready at the car and it starts to snow.  I told Bob that according to the Weather Channel it was supposed to snow 90% all morning long.  He did not exactly believe me.  As we headed down the trail it REALLY started snowing.  Snowing to the point it is sticking to your eyelashes and you can't see clearly.  We stopped at .75 miles to discuss our options.  We decided if the snow did not stop or lessen soon, we would head back.  Almost immediately, the snow shower lessened and it was bearable again.  The woods had a nice dusting and it was so beautiful. Seeing the unspoiled beauty like that really makes you appreciate trail running.

We dropped Meg off and headed back out for the rest of our run.  There were a surprising number of people on the trails.  There was a Viszla (gorgeous-dog breed) club out with their dogs.  We stopped for a few minutes to be smothered in attention.  I have to admit- this is the first medium size dog that I have really taken to- they are supposed to be one of the best breeds for trail running too.  There were also several groups of people who appeared to be with some sort of search and rescue group out practicing.  At least I hope that they were only practicing- because they were less than hurried in their manner.  They always had a smile and a friendly encouraging word.  We meandered through the woods talking about everything including upcoming races.  Toni is attempting to get me to run Holiday Lake 50K- as she and her friend Heather are doing it.  She is very persuasive..... we will see.

I will be away from the group for the next few weeks- what a bummer.  I have a 100K in NC that I managed to sneak into.  I have never done a 100K, so we will see how that goes.  I figured I could use the extra mileage, as the next two weekends are going to be tough to keep any reasonable mileage.  I have a lot of travel- and a cruise- coming up.  :)  I signed up for a 50K on February 26 in Maryland- so expect some updates!

New Year- New Trails 1-2-11

I flew back into DC on Saturday, January 1, 2011- so I missed a great 50K race that was held in Prince William Forest. Most of the people that I met on the trails were running that race.  Luckily for me, Bob is an animal and will run back to back; Casey is a party animal and needed to rest Saturday morning, and Jenny (Casey's sister-in-law) needed a long run on Sunday (17 miles), so I had some company on the trails.

Bob arranged for us to meet at Fountainhead Regional park and we ended up with a little over 17 miles. We ran on some trails that I had run before and a new one.  To be honest, it all looked new to me.  Bob told us that he was not going to do the whole run, as he had run 22 miles the day before- but we managed to convince him to stay with us.  Thankfully he did- I do not know those trails at all- I would have wondered around lost for hours.  We had a really great run. The weather was warmer than it has been (in the 50s at the start) but it lightly sprinkled on our run and got a little colder as the day went on.  Still, a very nice run- the trails were clear of snow this time and we ran along chatting about lots of stuff.

Jenny talked with Bob about "army stuff"- Casey and I talked food / restaurants, as usual.  Jenny and Bob determined that Casey and I watch entirely too much TV.    Bob told some stories of previous ultras sprinkled with his colorful commentary. Typical trail run- you learn a lot about people on a trail. Not to generalize, but "you people" know what I am talking about.

Ok, so Jenny is this 23 year old Army 1st Lieutenant who is training for her first marathon in February.
1. She did not even break a sweat on this run.  - I don't know that she was even breathing hard at any point.  2. She would not have eaten anything if Bob had not insisted that she eat at mile 11.5.
3. She wants to do a 4:30 marathon- I do not think that will not be a problem at all.
Ahhhhhh to be 23......  Youth is wasted on the young!   LOL     :-)
    

Holiday Derail

Like everyone else, I got a little derailed in my training program over the holidays. I went home to Houston and it was pretty warm most of the time and raining quite a bit (typical Houston December).  On the Thursday before Christmas, I went to my old stomping grounds to do an "old standby" run, incorporating Memorial park and Allen Parkway. I decided that I would also use my "Virginia technique" of only walking the uphills and running continuously on the flats and downhills.

Remember a while back when I was saying that "hilly" was a relative term and that people here talk about courses being "relatively" flat and I think "did we run the same route??? That was hilly as hell!"  I learned that maybe they are converting me.  I used to love Allen Parkway because it was so "hilly."  I was looking and looking and looking for the hills.  I walked a few seconds here and there but would feel a little embarrassed because the hills were so small.  However, I had a wonderful run.  I ended up with 14.5 and I was happy with that.

Christmas was a fun filled family affair with no running (as expected)- Bruce and I headed to Austin for a few days.  I felt like I had not been there in forever.  We arrived on Sunday and went out to Barton Creek to hike for a few miles.  That turned into 4 miles, but at least we did something.   We decided to run on Monday (late morning) and treat ourselves to a couple of Matt's margaritas on Sunday.  Monday we headed to Barton Creek to run the trail.  We started (and ended) at the "hill of life."  This is one tough hill.  We ran 10 miles on the trail and did 2 miles of constant up and down the hill of life.  It was a tough run- we both took a tumble, but kept going.  It was a really good workout and we felt good at the end.  We headed back to Houston on Tuesday, so the rest of our runs were just weekly mileage in the neighborhood. 

Bruce got me 2 Western States videos for Christmas.  We watched them with fascinated stares.  We are hooked- excited and terrified.  I decided that I need to get to work! See you on the trails!