The Breakthrough - Silver State 50M

Sums up my race

Its been 3 days since my ego was dragged through mud vomit in Reno The Biggest Little City in the World. Long enough for me to put on my big girl panties and reflect how great the day actually was (because I'm starting to forget, just like Tan said I would, that awful feeling I had in my stomach that day). 

Truth is, I needed a run like that. I may have said that to Tan when we were hiking at some point in the day. Unless you are ever at rock bottom you can't properly enjoy when things are going well. And my year has gone really well so far - my self-esteem was probably getting a little too big for my small frame and my inner Buddha reminded me that I needed to suffer. 

Not a bad place to suffer

Memorable moments are ones like this above. At one point hiking up towards the peak I asked Tan if I could sit down a minute - it was actually really enjoyable just to sit and look at the view with a friend. And the mint infused lemonade at mile 36 where we discussed again whether or not to DNF. That lemonade made me feel like a million bucks again where I ran a solid mile without stopping! Then mile 39 AS had salsa/meringue music playing and I was feeling so good I was dancing around like a crazy person asking the volunteers to salsa dance with me. 

Amazing these guys were still there! Thank you Pamakids!
And LOOK! 12:29 I came in!! Not sure why my results say 12:33!!!

This was by far the hardest run I've ever done. It wasn't the course itself, although that too was tough, but mentally going through the motions of whether or not to quit something because I didn't feel well and therefore not going to perform as well as I know I could (by a long shot) took a huge toll on me. And I can't say that I would have wanted it any other way. Now that its over. 

A lot of people in this ultra-sport give others a bad time for DNF'ing (did not finish). I've heard on the course of ultras before other people complaining of things hurting and their race not going well but saying "DEATH BEFORE DNF". Whatever.  I'm of the opinion that we can only judge ourselves for the decisions we make and we shouldn't judge someone else's DNF as cowardly or justified. Making that decision sucks and I hope we can all have some decency to let someone else have their experience without calling them names for not "toughing it out".

Tan telling me he's gonna B!tch Slap me if I make him stay out there 5.5 hours.
Eclipse Pizza packet pick-up

And I don't want to end on a dismal note so I'm going to post this rad picture that was posted on FB - I think it was from the Auburn triathlon.. 

I don't know who this guy is but I want to be his friend.

Thanks Tanford! I hope I can return the favor tenfold in San Diego in 2.5 weeks! 

Photos courtesy of Patrick McKenna and Tanford Tahoe.

Pacing, Lake Sonoma 50, Diablo 50K

It's been a busy month. Everything has been going along quite nicely until recently but let's keep this upbeat for the moment. 

Month started with pacing HK at the American River 50 mile run for the last 18 miles. He did very well for it being his first 50 mile run. HK wouldn't let me look at my watch to see what time it was so I had no idea if we were on pace or not to break 10 hours. I was pretty sure we were as he was moving much better than I was the year previous and I came in 10:08. I was really hoping he'd beat my time and he did. Running nearly 80% of the last 3 miles which are all uphill he brought it in for a strong 9:42. 

I was actually feeling quite tired after pacing for 18 miles and got the thought stirring about what lay one week ahead at Lake Sonoma. This was going to be my 2nd 50 mile race. The first being AR50 mentioned above where I came in at 10:08 and the last 8 miles saw my regurgitated gel packs along the course. It wasn't my greatest day. 

Lake Sonoma ended up being a complete success as compared to AR50 last year. I was happy and having fun the entire day. I stopped and ate at every aid station and had previously laid out when I would go from using 1 bottle to a full pack knowing I would be moving more slowly for the last 10-20 miles and overall it was just a beautiful day. I even beat my AR50 time. With about 7,000 feet more of climbing I'd call that a great jump in overall fitness!

I had a lot of energy still after Sonoma 50 so I didn't take the proper time to recover (note to self note to self note to self note to self). I probably should have cycled instead of putting so many miles on my legs in the days after Sonoma. I had a weird nagging thing in my arch the last half of Sonoma on descents. I was able to finish and it never became anything beyond annoying but something constantly there, nagging, is never a good sign. I'm starting to see why ultra runners are subject of crazy, long term injuries. Not only are you pounding the legs with long runs but the elated feeling one gets from running and adrenaline that runs through the veins its easy to run with something "nagging" and then find yourself in a boot for 8 weeks because that little annoying thing you had turned into a fracture or a badly torn muscle/ligament. 

So even though this foot thing had made an appearance still on the Thursday while in spin class, I still opted for Brazen Racing's Diablo 50K on Saturday. It was my friend's first 50K and a few of us were carpooling down together (at 4am!!!). Despite my ankle being in pretty ugly shape the last half of this run it was a fantastic course and great to see my friend complete his first 50K in the top 50% of those in his age group! 

A couple of frightening messages from a PT friend had me icing, elevating, Traumeel applying and supplementing with Turmeric all day Sunday (also, note to self: don't take large quantity of Turmeric - it causes heart palpitations). 

I'm supposed to caravan down to Grand Canyon this Thursday with a group to do Rim2Rim2Rim. Possibly the most difficult and beautiful run I would ever do. 47 miles and about 15K of climbing - next to the Western States 100 this was the most difficult run my friend said he has experienced. So - this and bum foot gives a forecast of turmoil. My foot is better but not healed and I'm stuck deciding if I will go and run if my foot is up to it (but likely not for 47 miles), go and hike or forego this trip altogether and wait for next year. 

I don't want to end on a sappy, poor me note so here are some fun photos from the last few weekends:

Hosted these fine fellows and they must have slept well because they had an amazing race!!! 

Coming up on Last Gasp - I allowed him to walk a small portion

Looking good for 50 miles! American River 50 Mile Finisher!

This must have been around mile 20 or so - I still have decent form. I like chicking dudes. 

Great having mom at the finish! Best crew ever! 

YK (his first 50K!) and Mitch
If you're a runner, or  not, you can probably guess which one is the veteran and which one is not by 1. attire 2. fluid carrier -
This is probably one of the more difficult 50Ks in Northern California at present

Amazing views and people 

Derrick coming in for a strong finish!

Canyon Meadow 50K

I realized sometime last week, after receiving emails from Pamakids captain, that I had a 50K on Sunday. I thought it was this Saturday (I was a week off). Thankfully this was always meant to be a training run so there was no last minute tapering I had to do. I ran 12 miles on Saturday and with this 50K at 30+ miles I finished my week with around 65 miles in the books. This will probably be my longest mileage until Sonoma, April 13th. 

I decided this run was going to be a test of slowing myself down and eating at all aid stations. I walked hills (mostly) and managed to consume something at every aid station. I'm really bad at consuming calories while running. I've been doing 30 mile runs with about 300 calories for fuel. I know this won't cut it for Sonoma 50 miler so this run was a test of my tummy strength. 

The race started with a 900 foot climb and we re-visted this 3 times on the loop course. The climb slowed most of us down and this was nice because I had a chance to chat with some people and ran into some friends in the first couple miles. I met a few new people and one person I ran with chatting for about 10 miles. Nothing makes a run go by faster than good conversation. Its these talks that make me feel that friends I've known and been running with only a year have been my friends forever. 

I look like such a shrimp... We ran a mile or 2 together before she finished the half marathon

The next couple weekends I'll be tapering with some shorter, easier 20 mile runs . I'm looking forward to an eventful April (May and June too for that matter!) I hope my limbs stay strong for all of it! First up in the events is pacing and watching some good friends complete the American River 50 miler. I'll be up at the crack of dawn with those running and following them throughout. It will be a long and fun day! 

Mom, Look! I'm a real runner!

I decided this morning while brushing my teeth that I should finally paint my toenails since its sandal season now. So I got out the red sparkles and started painting (still while brushing my teeth - this whole story happened within 2 minutes). Before I slathered paint on the black one - this is the 2nd toe of my left foot - I noticed it was starting to lift a bit more from the last time I paid any sort of attention to it. So I gently lifted it and was shocked that I felt no pain as it started to come off of my toe skin completely. 

Um. I've seen people do this on tv before. Usually its some ultra-runner with a sheepish smile on his face because he knows he's torturing the viewers. I have to say though I never thought it would be me, smiling by myself in my bathroom with toothpaste coming out of my face, laughing like Butthead. 

Cupcakes tomorrow! Oh, and 30 miles..

The best thing about Way Too Cool tomorrow is the frog cupcakes that await. I just have to run 30 miles first!

Rivvit

I'll also have my ego handed back to me after receiving 2nd place in both Steep Ravine and Jed Smith 50K last month. I'll be lucky if I'm in top 40 women... But I'm focused on a PR, not a medal. Last year this race was my very first 50K. I clocked in a 5:28:00 on the new course. Conditions were dry and perfect for fast running. I took it easy since it was my first one and I didn't know how to race a course more than 26.2 and, frankly, I was terrified. I'd like to be in the 5 hour range tomorrow. The top finishing female will likely be under or around 4 hours (!!!!!) That's a 7:45 min/mile people! On 6K+ of gain! 

I received my 15° F bag yesterday! I'm all set for Grand Canyon. I'm gonna take her for a test sleep at Sonoma next weekend. Camping and running! 

Snug as a bug

In other news my cat is losing weight and my chihuahua is getting fat. Apparently that quarter mile run I took her on last week has her feeling like I do. Starving all the time. So hungry. Don't know when the last time was I only had one lunch. 

Ouch.

So this is going on lately... I'm still running but this dull pain turns into an ache that ends up down the side of my leg not past my knee. I tend to self - diagnose and I'm pretty sure, as usual, I'm right on the money (or booty in this case). It's been going on for about 3 weeks now and last week I took 4 days off (in a row!) to let it rest. 7 miles felt good on Friday and then by mile 13 of my 23 on Saturday it was talking quite a bit. So after watching youtube videos I have some good stretches I can do to keep it bearable. I hope it goes away completely though by the end of the month. I have Steep Ravine 50K this Sunday.. I'm not "racing" this event but I am a little nervous about putting 32 miles on my legs given the piriformis (say it, its fun).

The good thing to come of this is me getting back on my bike! I went for 45 miles yesterday on the American River Bike Trail and it felt amazing to be back. Legs were comfortable and I didn't start feeling fatigue from the unfamiliar pedal strokes until about mile 40 or so. 

11 weeks to Sonoma 50! Which makes 13 weeks to Grand Canyon! I've decided to sign up and plan on attending James Barstad's annual Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim challenge this April. Will be the most difficult run I perhaps ever do. I'll elaborate more as it gets closer but here is a little peak at the elevation:

Its about 47 miles total and about 12K total in climbing and over 7,000 feet at elevation at 3 points. It will be a challenge to say the least and I hope I can complete it in one piece. Sonoma will be a good indicator of my ability, both mental and physical. 

Happy Running!
xoxo

My Cat's Turds

I don't normally have the pleasure of posting anything about my cat. I feel the need, today, after coming home this morning to one of his tremendous turds, to give Norm a shout out here. This blog was started in my quest to break a 4 hour marathon and has since been about different running journeys.. So it may be odd to some that my cat weighs 30 lbs and is what some might call "obese" when I might be what others call "obsessed" with running/working out.

What Norm does best
Photo courtesy of FB friend: Nathan Stewart

Compared with a child
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Thorne

I adopted this hunk of love 2 years ago when I heard he was going to the pound. He was 10 years old and a dog lover, I was told. I brought my dogs over to introduce them and he ran up to them and started sniffing their butts right away. Love at first sniff. 

He has since become a neighborhood  downtown phenom. There are 2 annual parties thrown in his honor and they've brought together neighbors in a peaceful, animal-loving way. I'm currently working on Norm Pub Crawl to benefit one of the local non-profit animal shelters. He will attend in my dog's stroller (yes, I own a doggie stroller). 

Gracie's always preferred the finer things

So the initial point of this post was to mention Norm's turds. He has man-turds. I should have taken a photo of the one I came home to this morning but usually I'm just so preoccupied with getting that thing down the toilet as quickly as possible. I then had to light a candle to help with the buttscent that was left lingering. No wonder Norm ran, okay maybe it was more of a waddle, out the door when I got home. He can't even stand the smell. 

This is his buddy, Six. He initially came around about 1 year ago looking for food. I think he was abandoned because he's not too skittish and will even come inside once in a while. He is a regal looking cat but has gained a bit of weight... With all the visitors coming around I think they get their fair share of treats. 

Six
Photo courtesy of FB friend: Stephen Orihuela

If you're not already his friend check him out here: Norm Lopez 

Not his best angle