The Western States 100 is upon us

There is a definite buzz in my head in anticipation of the upcoming weekend. I must have learned of the Western States 100 not more than a year ago. I probably didn't think much of it at the time (other than "wow, humans can run 100 miles?")  and yet, here I will experience a good portion of it this Saturday thanks to Kevin and newly made ultra-runner friend, Dave from Florida. 


Our Saturday will start around 2am when my mom (good sport as she is) drives me and Kevin up to Squaw Valley for the 5am start of the 30 hour race. Kevin's dentist runs the safety patrol for this race and graciously Kevin and I offered (mine was more of a beg) our leg's services. Glenn was more than happy knowing that Kevin was now an Ironman and capable of the duties necessary for the task. 


We will run about 30 miles in the mid-back pack of runners to ensure safety (imagine that!) Thankfully Glenn didn't require references as to the quality of my nursing skills... This will be my first time running at this altitude and my first time on this part of the course. I will most definitely stop for photo ops and I'm giddy at the thought of watching these crazy bastards (I can say that because I wish I was one of them). 


After 8 or so hours I hope for food and ice. Because 20 more miles will ensue around 10pm or so when Florida Dave gets to Green Gate. I met Florida Dave on day 2 of the WS training runs Memorial weekend. I fell into my groove early on..and Dave ended up behind me. We got to chatting, as you do, and I learned that Dave flew out from Florida for the 3 day trainers before the debauchery that was to take place this weekend. Well, apparently I was good at faking it because Dave thinks I'm strong enough to pull off 50 miles within a 24 hour period without the same muck that took place at AR50.... I hope Dave doesn't have the sappy story of "I had to drop my pacer back there because she's crying and vomiting on herself". Dave, if you do, I apologize up front. Because if this does happen, I'll probably be cursing you at the time. 

DNF club

As was said on Sunday by a fellow runner: "Well everyone has to have 1 DNF, you just got yours out of the way!" I hope this is true because I never want to experience that walk of shame again. Everything was going great. The trail was sufficiently tough but I was getting through it. Even the extra loop the 50K'ers had to do was an enjoyable slog. I was running up the hills, slowly, and cruising the descents. I felt my ITB start to flare up a bit around mile 12 or so. I ignored it. In the past I've experienced this before and sometimes it does go away as with most aches and pains that come with distance running. For example, the beginning of the race the lateral of my right foot was talking a bit. This is something I've had come and go since spraining my ankle over a year ago. But it warmed up and a couple miles later I didn't feel a thing. This was not the case for the ITB. It spoke and then it yelled. And then I talked myself into pushing just till the aid. Got there, filled my water and as soon as I walked on my knee did the buckle it does when there is the stabbing pain of the ITB. A new friend, Joe, I had been playing leap frog with noticed this immediately and asked if I was OK... "um.. the ITB is talking". He used it as an excuse to walk for a bit. He took off and I followed suit lagging behind. It was a climb and typically the ITB doesn't scream when climbing.. It had gone into a light manageable whisper. I climbed for maybe mile and then the 6 mile descent began. As soon as I tipped forward the knee had that ice pick jabbing sensation on the side and I yelled a 4 letter word through the trees. I kept going hoping it would go away but it didn't subside. I stepped on a root sticking out of the ground and rolled my left ankle (thankfully trail running has acclimated my ankles to such stress) and there went another 4 letter word down the mountainside... By this time my state was succumbing to the pain and I started questioning whether or not I wanted to hobble the next 6 miles to the next aid station or walk back 2 miles from the aid from where I just came. 


I stopped and took out my phone, turned it on and not surprisingly there was no signal. I started thinking about Kevin waiting for me and my sub-5 attempt. At that point a sub-5 was already not manageable but had my ITB been OK perhaps sub-5:30 would have been do-able. I started playing a risk vs. reward scenario in my head. I have another 50K planned this Saturday, that I never intended on "racing" and the following Saturday is the much anticipated safety patrol for Western States. Safety patrol is priority for me at this point. 


I walked a bit more down the hill but it was screaming and so I made the decision to turn around and start walking back the 2 mile walk of shame to aid. I've been playing a game in my head ever since. If I would have just walked it out for 10 minutes, would it have enabled me to keep pushing with a walk/jog to the finish. The answer is, of course, yes I could have done that. It would have been painful but I would have finished what I started. I guess I find solace in that being that its Tuesday and I'm still walking funny and have symptoms of ITBS, perhaps DNF'ing stopped me from doing further damage. I see the Healer, Dr. Chu, today to get the deep tissue work over I need and hopefully a motivating pep talk on how to proceed. If I must, I'll drop the 50K to a 25K this weekend and make it a slow enjoyable run. 

The good in all of this is that the next time I blast a 50K it will be all that more fulfilling. 

I'm back!

What I've been up to: 

Last weekend consisted of hiking Mt. Tallac in Tahoe. I'm thankful to Kevin for introducing me to hiking, something I had never done before (why hike when I can run?) I thought hiking would be a light workout, something pale in intensity on the workout scale when compared with running. That is, until, I lost the hiking trail on my way up Tallac and found myself bouldering up the side of a mountain! The three of us that broke off the group included Jacob, a 12 year old, myself & a man named Brian, who had hiked Tallac a number of times but was his first time in about a year. 


On the way up Tallac Jacob had mentioned he had hiked Half Dome before. He is definitely tougher and stronger than the average 12 year old. Knowing Jeffrey, his dad and person responsible for the trip to Tallac, it must be good genes! As soon as we started with the bouldering Jacob took off up the mountain. I kept turning around and asking Brian if we were going the right direction, "is this the correct trail??" while grasping with all muscles of my fingers clenched around the protruding rock. "I can't tell from this angle" he responded a few times before I figured as long as we were going up we would eventually summit. 


About 4.5 miles and 2.5 hours later Jacob and I were enjoying views from the tippy top of 9700+ feet Mt. Tallac. Jacob expressed he had never bouldered anything like that before. He has an adventurous future ahead of him. 


The following day I was cycling around the massive Lake Tahoe that I, even at 9700 feet, could not completely wrap my eyes around. It seemed a bit more daunting from that angle. My mom and I successfully completed the ride in around 5 hours (riding time) and could not have asked for more gorgeous weather. Previous years were not so lucky.


Tomorrow brings about the long awaited Skyline to Sea 50K which I hope to break 5 hours. I have not been on a training regimen since CIM last year. I'm enjoying the break from being on a dedicated plan and I find that I enjoy running enough that I don't necessarily require a plan to complete the races I sign up for. However, not being on a specific plan does leave me nervous about finishing a race with a time goal in mind. I didn't even look at the pace that would be necessary to break 5 hours until this morning. While not impossible, an average 9:30 pace will be difficult..but then again, that's the point, isn't it? The Western States 100 training runs (day 1, namely) had enough descending to amp up my quads to take a licking tomorrow. And a recently discovered hill in Folsom, thanks to a new runner-old friend of mine, has me slogging up hills, not fast but with ample speed to keep an overall descent pace. 


I figured this morning with an 18 week training plan, thanks to the one in the back of Dean Karnazas' 50/50, my journey for a Boston Qualifying CIM will begin end of July. There will be lots of tweaks to this plan. The first "long" run starts out with 7 miles, which I've been gladly doing and then some a couple times during the week. Most importantly will probably be doing the 2x/week speed work. 1 interval workout and 1 tempo workout. Fellow runner and friend, Derrick, recently joined Buffalo Chips and speaks highly of the speed workouts he's been doing with the group. I think I will follow his footsteps there and join sometimes in August.


Until the more intense speed workouts begin, I will fancy myself doing races/rides with nothing more than finding peace and pleasure within them. This race is calling my name and although I haven't signed up yet... I have a feeling these 50 miles will see me: 


http://www.insidetrail.com/ai1ec_event/trail-endurance-challenge/?instance_id= 


10,000 feet of climbing sounds like a good sufferfest! I hope the next couple weeks will lead me to a wise decision on this. 

Running funk(y)?

Recovering from AR50 has been pretty breezy physically but mentally has been a bit more of a challenge. It may be because of the stomach issue or it could be that I don't really have a "schedule" in front of me... So I signed up for the Skyline to Sea 50K to give me a goal... I'd like to break 5:00 and I think I can given that its mostly downhill and the climbing is about half that of Way too Cool. 


I like that I'm starting to get to a point in my running life that says I don't need a schedule to get out there and run. It makes running a bit more casual and fun. And I know that even though I don't have a race i'm training for I can still get out there and do speed work and long runs because of the pure joy of it. (That and I've gained 2 pounds since AR50 and I'd really like to lose those...)


I'd like to start encouraging people who like to run but don't really have a goal in site to get out there and maybe if they have someone with them it will help. I'd like to see my friend Eli do his first half marathon and perhaps Kevin do his first marathon. And if I can assist in training or running it with them I would be honored. I like to see people make breakthroughs in their current physical condition. Its huge. We're so much more capable than we think. As long as one trains smart (and not too hard, too much, too fast) there really is no limit. The limit comes first mentally than it does physically, in my opinion. These mental breakthroughs allow us to learn more about ourselves and that might be one of the reasons why were are here on planet earth...right? 


Ending on the philosophical note, I'd like to add this:

American River 50 Miler - check.

AR50 Race Report: 


Here I am ready to go!

Miles 1-3: Feeling great, light and easy pace. Enjoying the company of other runners.
Mile 3: Realize I forgot my electrolyte bottle. Remain calm about it knowing I have s-caps and Roctanes and aid stations. Kevin will have my electrolyte at 31 when I pick him up.
Mile 5: Runner punches cyclist that is screaming at everyone to "get off the f### road!" (!!!) Entertainment at its finest! 
Mile 8.something: First aid, see Brit and Joe! Familiar, cheering faces make me smile and excited to be out there.
Mile 15: Bathroom stop right past Sunrise at the park bathrooms. Both locked. I wait. And wait. And wait. Getting a little frustrated and then someone finally comes out of the bathroom. He looks like a backpacker/camper. I'm a little aggravated but get over it quickly (waiting is better than the other option after all) . I'm now with a different group of runners and I keep telling myself to relax and not try and catch up with those I had lost while waiting at the potty. 
Mile 23-25: Chat with a few people on the climb up to Beal's. Most people it was their 3rd time doing it.
Mile 26.2: Make marathon point around 4:40 which is about what I had expected.
Mile 31.something and pick up pacer point: Get here at 5:30 which was my WTC time and I'm still feeling really good. Mom was there with the puppies and Glen and Tes with Quercus. I'm grateful for their appearance and encouragement. Mom takes a photo of Kevin and I before heading off and I make a bad decision to not change into my trail shoes. Never wise to "change" plans when you have 31 miles behind you. Someone wasn't thinking clearly. 
Up to mile 38ish: Felt great, making good time on the technical portion and passing people here and there. We had a good train going for a while... about 10 or so people just following suit and it was not that difficult as I remember it. 
Mile 39: Starting to feel sick in my stomach. Energy starting to drop a bit.. Starting to think about getting through it. 
Mile 41: Aid station. This was a pretty packed aid station and seeing our friend Paul and other familiar faces gave me a boost. I don't think I grabbed anything at this aid station as I was still feeling sick. 
Mile 42: Grab a gel. Not because I wanted it but because I think its been a while since I've had anything and my energy is fading fast. As soon as I put this in my mouth it comes right back up with whatever I've consumed the last hour or two. Its ALL liquid and its neon green. Gotta love those Island Nectar Roctanes!
Mile 47: Start the Last Gasp climb. I'm grateful we're here because I know the end is near. At this point many people that I had passed or had been running with are passing me. Kevin asks "Is it bugging you that all these people you passed are passing you?" I reply with "No" or something resembling a no... It probably sounded more like a dying sea otter. That's pretty much what I felt like. I remember saying somewhere around the last mile marker that I didn't care if I walked it in. Here I am at bottom of last gasp, perfect shot for how I felt:

Mile 49.5 or so: I'm encouraged by Kevin to start running (or what resembles closely to running) to the finish. I have my eyes on the road just ahead of me and I'm trying to look up and smile at people but really just don't have the energy. I wanted to cry for joy/pain at being done but couldn't. Final stretch mom and Emily scream "TYLER!!!" and I look up last minute and kind of do a wave to the best of my ability and just lead on to the finish. 10:08 it read. Good enough for me. For now.


Finishing: 

After I finished it wasn't until I threw up again (about 20 minutes later) that I felt well enough to eat/drink and felt fabulous after that. A cheeseburger was consumed right after that last purge! 


The last 3 miles all I remember is wanting so badly to feel good and run that Last Gasp. But I just didn't have it in me. Every time I tried running, my stomach started feeling really bad. I felt full and sick and nausea.  My legs, and i'm really pleased about this, felt pretty great despite the mileage of the day. It was my stomach that did me in and the last miles my thoughts were mostly consumed with wondering what I could have done wrong. And its still consuming me to some extent. I'm grateful to Kevin for pacing me and giving me encouragement and splashing me with water and getting me ice and keeping me cool when I was hot. 


Thinking back on this (and this goes for life in general) the race experience can be whatever you want it to be. If I only remember the last 10 miles of this then I wouldn't be too satisfied. But the whole day was great. I spent 10 hours doing what I love with others. I made new friends and watched friends have successful fulfilling races (GO TAN!). 


I'm learning that my attitude about an experience (whether it be a race, relationship, work) indicates how I will approach it in the future. Whether I allow myself to learn from it and know what necessary changes to make or look back on it with bitterness and disappointment. I'm grateful I can laugh at how crappy I felt. I mean really, puking neon green substance and then continuing to run another 9 miles seems almost impossible when I think about it now. I will find ultimate satisfaction when I can run this race again without the stomach issues. The race journey continues....

Donut Dash Re-cap

This 4 mile jaunt turned into a 10 mile easy, breezy, stop and go run. Good thing too since Kevin decided to eat all 4 donuts. And why shouldn't I be running all morning with pants on like this:

And a face like this?

Awards were given to the top 3... Too bad, I think Kevin was probably 5th. As I get closer to the AR50 **countdown 4 days** I am trying to divert my sugar tooth to more healthy carbs. How's that working out, you ask? Not too well... But then again, I'm attempting to run 50 miles this Saturday...I probably shouldn't worry about it too much. 

Time to Dash for Donuts!

What is better than eating donuts?? Running to eat them competitively! Four of them to be exact! I've somehow convinced 3 mommy friends to join me! "Mention the word "donut" & we come running" says Veronica... 
Not sure yet if I will make this a competitive event for myself... Winners MUST finish all 4 donuts before finishing the 2 miles to the finish. Now.. I love donuts and I'm tempted to do this just to keep up my reputation but I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about how my GI will handle this... Who knows... maybe I'll find my new fuel source for AR50! 
Event photos to follow!