Idaho has more than Potatoes

 May 27, 2012

For our 3 day weekend we not only remembered those that have sacrificed we celebrated their life by getting out there and living ours to the fullest.   Although the start of our trip was a little anticlimactic that involved bungee cords and hooks and flat tires and damage to the car.  Apparently someone lost a bungee tie down and it lodged itself into the tire of our HIlighander and ripped up the inside of the wheel well as the other end shot around with another hook on it until it broke off.  It made horrible noises and as you can see did some damage.

So this provided a nice time to stop, eat lunch, get the tire changed, and then move on with our adventure.  We ended up eating dinner our first night in Post Falls at a wonderful place called the White House which served delish Italian food with a TON of garlic.  It was delish and thanks to our friends for the tip and directions on getting there! 

Saturday we ended up sleeping in just a bit which was wonderful and then headed out to packet pick up and breakfast.  Downtown Coeur d’Alene is a pretty small place so we hit the main strip and found some pretty good breakfast eats.  After getting all carbed up and playing with some locals… picture below… it was off to ride the Ironman course. 

Idaho apparently has potatoes and HILLS and those hills are on that bike and run course for Ironman!!!  So we tried to take it easy and do 1 loop of the course but with the hills, and wind, CDA has some wind, it made for a pretty good ride out there.  Jash did an amazing job doing the course on his mountain bike and as one of the other many riders out there told him- “he is an Ironman!”  Thinking about it now I should have taken some pictures of the bike course, but I have a feeling in a month it will be burned very deep into my memory forever! 

Post ride we went over to CDA lake and I got in to ice my legs.  I was not feeling up to sporting the entire wetsuit and getting all the way in for a swim so instead we enjoyed the sunset and watched some water craft planes take flight which was pretty cool! 

Sunday I was up bright and early at 5am for our 7am marathon start and it was harder than normal to head out for the race when Jash was at the hotel snuggled all warm in bed!  The race started exactly on time which is always appreciated and we were off.  About 2 miles into it I ran into Gary, fellow marathon maniac, and we caught up about races and life.  I also ran into Orange gloves or orange socks, and we chatted as well- I at this point had to get his name because we run into each other at races all over and I only referred to him as orange socks in my head.  Turns out orange socks is really Bill- if you are from the NW you probably know who I am talking to.  Super nice guy and I was impressed how throughout the race he continued to thank everyone for being out there and supporting the race. 

I was running pretty good until we hit our first big hill about 8 or 9 miles in.  That’s when I really felt the bike from the day before… like really felt it.  So I backed off and slowed the pace way down and got up and over it and kept on going, but at a slightly slower pace.  I was not feeling great at the turn around just past mile 16, but I had been worse.  So I carried on and tried to stay on top of water and gu but I felt bad like really off.  I realized that I probably did not build back up enough sodium as I began to cramp pretty bad.  I bent over to stretch at one point and every single muscle in my stomach just completely locked up in cramps to the point that I could not stand back up straight and just stood hunched over for a bit trying to see if they would ease up.  I had to walk for a bit before they subsided enough that I could start running again.  It was about this time that I realized that hey this was going to be a bad race- well it already was, but oh well I was going to finish it no doubt so just take it easy and enjoy what is around me.  So that’s what I did, I enjoyed the lake views, the homes when we ran through town, and trying to figure out why people either wanted or didn’t want us to decline to sign for the recall.  I thought about asking fellow marathon runners about it, but decided they may be on one side or the other of the issue and didn’t want to disturb them from their marathon running zen.   The also may tell me I probably should be running faster if I have time to ponder all of these things during the race.  So I waited till I got home then Googled it… Turns out they are fighting about plans for a park and having a say in the plans and that some govt officials are seen to have been granted exorbitant salaries for the project in some people’s minds.  Good to know- you learn something new every marathon! 

So finished the race with not my best time but not my worst but added marathon/ultra number 74 to the history books and lived to tell about it.  Overall it was a great weekend and I am so very happy that I was able to spend it with my Jash having a blast and living life to the fullest.  And we even got home in time to do a lot of gardening!

“Skyline” in the title- RUNNER BE WARNED

Saturday April 21, 2012 I was happy that I was going to be out there running the Yakima 50k in eastern Washington instead of the Zane Grey 50 miler going on in AZ.  You see I have run Zane once and that was more than enough to know that I would never do such a crazy race again in my life!  Well Yakima SKYLINE 50k is now also on that list as well and I am starting to wonder if any race on that third weekend in April is doomed to be rough? Nonetheless let me tell you why Yakima has made it to my one and done list.

Some would think that I would have started to wonder about this race when I signed up and realized there was going to be around 10k of climb and decent over a mere 31 miles.  So let’s just say that I don’t look at elevation when I sign up for races- if I want to do the race then I will do it and figure out everything else as I go.  This may be a policy I updated in the future!! So yes I did find out after signing up that Yakima was going to be a tough 50k event, but once you have done a few 100 milers I guess you just start to think that you can do anything.  Yakima bumped me right back down into place and was a humbling 31 mile adventure. 

I should have known something was up when everyone was emphasizing and discussion the 4.5 hour cut off of the turnaround point.  Thank goodness I talked with Steve Walters before the event and learned that yup there were a ton of rocks and therefore I should not only wear my trail shoes but that I should probably have at least 2 bottles of water not just 1 as originally planned.  Those 2 tips saved me as I would not have been able to finish this race if I was wearing my road shoes or if I only had 1 hand bottle. 

The race started at 8am Saturday morning, quite late for a trail race and I was wishing there would have been an early start that we could have taken advantage of so that I did not end up back in OR after the race at 11pm.  Nonetheless with no early start we were all off at once.  Another thing that I have learned after my last 2 50ks is Rainshadow Running has some issues with dealing with crow control before heading out onto these single track routes.  We started in the parking lot and did an extremely short out and back in the parking lot around a sign and across a very small bridge that everyone was backed up at and straight up the mountain where there was little to no room to pass anyone for the first 2 miles.  It wasn’t terrible but could be a lot better if there was staggered start times or at least a ½ mile or so of running on wide dirt paths before we hit the single track. 

Up and up we went for the first 2 miles.  It was ROUGH, I think there was over a billion feet of climbing.  The whole time I was looking periodically to take in the views and remember that this was what I have to run down to finish this beast of a race.  Not a happy thought.   By the time I got to the first 5.5 mile aid station I had drained both hand bottles and was ready for more fuel.  After this first aid onto mile 10.5 I was able to talk with many runners and enjoy the time on the trial.  It was not too hot yet and the downhill and uphill to the next aid station were much more gradual than the first climb, but still tough.  Again I drained 2 bottles and took in a couple Gu’s so I was on top of my nutrition and overall feeling ok.  From mile 10.5 to 15.5 that I started to wonder what on earth was wrong with me and why I thought that this race was a good idea.  The temps were rising and the rocks were everywhere at this point.  It was a very painful slow downhill climb to get to the turnaround point and I made it right at the stroke of 4 hours and 30 minutes.  There were so many of my friends there at the turn around point that had opted for the ride back that I was seriously considering it.  When asked how I was doing I just said “horrible have you been out there and see what they have us running???”  After sitting down for a second I popped back up declaring “I didn’t come all the way up here to quit!”  Then I took of back out on the course before I could change my mind or realize how stupid it was to go back out there. 

I was doing ok on the way back and happy to get past the big rocks as I really think this part it was easier to run up them than it was to run down them.  I got back to the 20.5 mile aid station at about 6 hours and 30 minutes and knew that I was going to be running it close if not over on the overall time allotment for the race.  The funny part about this was at the 20.5 mile aid station they were just like get back out there you can’t quit here there is no room in the trucks to take you back.  So not that I was considering it for reals at that point, but they really got me moving out of there.   I had been running with my new trail running friend Jeremiah for the past few miles and we were having fun leap frogging each other and sharing our thoughts of just how stupid an adventure we were on.  Going out of the 20.5 mile aid station I let him know that he could not drop out because he had to make sure that if I died he told people.  I am really happy that he was out there for many reasons, but especially thankful for the heads up when he found a rattle snake stretched out across the trail just in front of us.  I grew up in AZ and never ran into a rattler until now… while I live in the NW… go figure! 

We knew the sweeps were just behind us so we hustled to the last aid station at 25.5.  I made in in first with only a few people behind me and was not about to get swept and pulled off the course so I got refills of water a few more Gu’s and was off.  I instructed the aid station volunteers to tell Jeremiah to keep going and catch back up to me and to hold the sweeps there and tickle them for a while.  The next thing I find was that I forgot there was still more uphill, I think I purposely blocked that out so that I would just have to keep going once I got there.  I was about 3 miles from the finish and the aid station trucks came up from behind.  The first car didn’t have anyone that I knew in it and when they stopped to offer me more water and check on me I thanked them and waived them on letting them know I was doing fine and was ready to finish this race up!  The next truck that came up had Jeremiah in the back.  He yelled out some encouraging words and let me know the sweeps were far back and not to worry.  Finding out this news just made my heart drop.  I think being that tired and exhausted, at this point I was just about on the 9 hour mark only eating Gu’s and water for the whole day.  I felt like all my friends had left me and these bully “sweeps” were going to come get me.  I was sad.  I was upset that I was now for sure in last place.  I was also determined not to stop even if they threated to carry me off the course.  So this is the point that I am sure that I started to lose it.  I mean I knew I was going to finish.  I didn’t know what time that was going to be, but I knew that I would get credit for my efforts even if I was a little tardy.  What I was not prepared for was when the 2 male sweets came up to me I started crying.  Not balling or to the point that I needed to stop.  But tears were there and I was trying to hold it together.  I did not want to be running it in with the sweeps.  I wanted them to be miles behind me.   I have never been in this situation before and I was very upset about it. 

I am sure the guys were baffled.  Wondering was I hurt or something?  The guys were so incredibly sweet.  They ran ahead and I am sure had some kind of discussion on what the heck to do we do here.  When I caught back up to them they were discussing races in which they had cried.  LOL  I love these guys.  Although I am sure they could not tell as I was practically silent just trying to keep moving and running forward but that really meant a lot to me.  They wanted me to finish and keep going and I knew it from this gesture and it really touched my heart. 

With less than 2 miles to the finish line I was face with the quad ripping downhill that I so dreaded when I had to climb up it.  It was so painfully slow that I am sure I frustrated the guys, but I have been off the trails a bit with IronMan training and the words of Rose Bak in the back of my mind about writing a chapter about falling while running I was very careful.  The good news is I did not fall.  The bad news is it was  a pretty slow downhill to the finish.  Nonetheless in just over 10 hours I was officially the last finisher to cross the line for the Yakima Skyline Ultra.  I am proud to earn my first DFL at this race because it was not a DNF and its one-hell-of-a-course!!  I never thought that a DFL could feel soo goodJ

Waterfalls 50k

3/25/12

This is my second year running the waterfalls 50k, but this year I ran the race with my now fiancé Jasha!  The course was pretty different this year due to a trail closure and some snow and ice out there, although we still had some of this to run through- it could have been much worse!  The waterfalls were still beautiful and although we went quite a bit slower this year than when I ran it last year, I enjoyed it 100 times more.  Running with my best friend talking and supporting each other with some kisses under and in front of the beautiful waterfalls was just a perfect Sunday!!  This was Jash’s second 50k and although he is amazingly busy getting his MBA while working full time he made it out there for the event and did great. 

The event got off to a late start due to some tire issues the RD had with his trailer- but that was not a worry for us and actually allowed for a wonderful 20 min nap in the warm car!  The race kicked off with a bit of a wacky start across a small creek bridge that bottled up the group of over 200 a bit, but after a quick jaunt around the pond it was onto the single track leading up to some steep climbing, with amazing waterfall views.  Then on to the mud and ice- I was just so hoping that I did not slip and fall into it because it was a messy sticky goop that would not have washed off very easily!  Luckily Jash and I both stayed up right for the most part!  The single track was pretty nice, but I was being extra careful with the rocks as I have not been doing a lot of trail running lately and I knew my feel for it was a bit off and did not want to eat it!  We popped out of the forest and onto the road section and were moving pretty good until Jash was hit with some calf cramping.  So we took it easy and made sure to get him more S-caps and some food and drink.  The way back was ok, but I decided that I really really hate out and back courses.  Mentally it’s about 5 times harder on me because I know how far we came and going back over it just seems pointless to me.  More point to point and loop courses are in my future and noted after this one! 

I also learned that Jash is really so much of a nicer person that I ever will be.  Honestly!  On the way back whenever we were passed he was so positive and encouraging to other runners, where as I was hum, let’s just say I was not in the best of spirits.  Ok honestly I wanted to tell some people to shove it.  I mean really if I am walking a steep downhill do not run past and ask if my quads hurt- this apparently was their first rodeo.  Nonetheless I was so happy to be with Jash and seeing him so positive made me ensure that I kept my mouth shut- well except for once.  But it was totally justified.  Basically this lady runs up all fast and says on your left and then when she goes to pass me she exactly matches my pace as if expecting me to slow down and let her by.  HA!  Well this just is unacceptable to me so I said something like pass or don’t, but I am not hand writing you an invitation or something… then I passed her.   Ah yes there’s that mean streak againJ 

So we made it to the finish and crossed the line holding hands and it was just wonderful.  We ended up getting the last bowl of vegetarian soup that we shared with some bread and salad which was very good.  Although the beer had run out, yeah yeah run faster if you want beer, I was perfectly happy with a nice cold root beer.  The rain held off for most of the run and we had a grand time out there- doing what I love with whom I love… the best way to spend a weekend!!! 

Running the Dutch

February 19, 2012

Today I completed marathon/ultra number 71 and my 5^th running of the Lost Dutchman Marathon.  This is the only race that I have run every year since I have been running.  It was originally my second marathon ever in 2008.  I have run this race in a variety of times as my second year of running it I had also run my first 50k ever the day before the race.  Yes, first ultra and first double all in one weekend and that is what landed me in this crazy club we call the Maniacs!  I digress, let’s talk about today. 

The race start is always so awesome, with the helpful parking staff getting you all set and then the no waiting you are on a bus and driving up to the mountains.  I used my bus ride this year to rest and drink, I actually think I did fall asleep on the ride up there sprawled out with a bus seat to myself.  You know you are getting close when you see the glow of the camp fires and the rising smoke.  Then you are there among the beautiful camp fires under the moon with the Superstition Mountains as the most picturesque setting to a start of a marathon there is!  No potty lines first thing off the bus is also a special thing of beauty.  So we were able to also coral all of the marathon maniacs that were there for a starting line picture. 

The start went off perfectly and right on time.  I started out between the 8 and 9 min corals, not really picking a pace, but more just finding a spot with a ton of room for me to stretch out and conduct last minute adjustments.  I always look forward to the start of this race, usually I hate the start and it takes me 8 or 9 miles jus to start feeling good warmed up and really get into it, but not at the Dutch.  With the 6 miles of beautiful dirt trail, the sun raising over the amazing desert landscape it’s just breathtaking.  This year we witnessed a special treat of 3 huge long horn bulls that came right up to the trail to visit us.  Some were stopping to take pictures with these awesome creatures, but I was not sure about all of that so I admired from a distance as I ran by.  After the trail portion of the race is over you are onto pavement for a shot neighborhood section where you get to see the race supporters and spectators for the first time.  The cheering is a great energy booster and I personally feel thankful for each of the smiles shouts and words of encouragement.  This section of crowd support is short and then we pop out onto the US 60 highway where one full lane is close to traffic and reserved just for us.  At this point I never understood why people still stay over to the shoulder.  I pop out as far left as I can an enjoy the room to roam the clear view with no one in front of you blocking the straight away stretch.  After this section it’s back into another neighborhood section with some more crowd support, great aid stations, sweet volunteers and good views of the mountains.  These rolling neighborhood hills take you through basically the rest of the race.  The wall this year was around mile 24 and not on the big dirt hill which was actually nice.  Although it really seems like the course flew by today.  Even though I was out there for 3 hours and 54 minutes it just felt like the time flew by.  I finished strong feeling great to pick off people for the last 5 miles or so, I know not the sweetest thing of me to do, but highly motivating when you are that far into a marathon.  Overall I ended up finishing 103 out of the 530 total finishers and 58 out of 200 or so odd women finishers which I am happy with.  It was my second fastest time at this race, last year was my best time to date on this course (3:48), which is always a good to remember that this is just not an easy course, beautiful and scenic, but not easy. 

The finish always feels great and coming across that line for number 71 is no exception I am happy to report!  Also another finish line perk that I love at this race is the post-race rub downs!  They have a group out there every year that does massages for free.  These feel wonderful and there is never a long line, surprisingly, which makes the whole thing even sweeter.  As you can see I am happy!

Kicking off 2012! (and summarizing 2011)

Ok first it’s been almost a year since my last post so let’s summarize a few things: yes I have still been running and have still done at least 1 marathon or ultra a month if not more and the streak is still alive from 2008!  Yes I got engaged!  Well to be precise in 2011 I happened to fall in love with the most amazing man ever!  A few other notable things:  I started a new job…. Then another new job.  I moved- twice.  I traveled to China and India.  I received my one and only DNF (P2P 100 miler).  I attended my 10 year high school reunion.  I started playing ice hockey.  Only went to the ER once and didn’t break any major bones or have to take any prolonged time off.  I helped to put on a 3,000 person race.  Adopted a baby fish named Beta.  Was a brides maid in 2 of my greatest friends weddings.  Now let’s sum up the races you missed- with pictures of course:

Mel and Jash! 

March 2011 Colombia George Waterfalls 50k

Beautiful course with tons of waterfalls and tons of elevation to go with it!

April 2011 Lumberjack 100

OMG the mud out there was INSANE.  Note- this is the race that the new Boyfriend showed up to in the middle of the night to SURPRISE me and pace me a lap!  (this is when I knew that I was going to marry this one!)

May 2011 Big Sur Marathon

Went out to Carmel, CA with my AZ running girls for this beautiful beach side adventure!

June 2011 Vancouver Marathon

Toto and I paced the 4:10 pace group for this first time marathon and it was a BLAST!!

July 2011 Fire Cracker Triple

Running in the sunshine in OR 3 marathons in 3 days!  (this was also the weekend that I met the parents after finishing the 3 races!) (also the first time I barfed all over myself while driving after finishing a race)

August 2011 Summit Ridge

Humm no pictures from this race… Must have been that bad! (or Good)

September 2011 Lake Tahoe

Day after a wonderful bachelorette party and I am still keeping the streak alive!

October 2011 Portland Marathon (Jasha’s First!)

We are so tired before the start of the race coming from a wedding the night before!  Still had a great race and Jash did a wonderful job on his first marathon. 

Another October 2011 race just for fun!  Autumn Leaves 50

November 2011 Usary Pass 50k

Did this one the day before another wonderful friend’s wedding in AZ!

December 2011 Across the Years

Very nice to run in the sunshine and warmth in December with my sweets!!  (also our first x-mas and New Year’s together that went awesome!)

This past weekend I ran my first 50k of the year on a rolling hill, muddy, soft trail that ran around a “lake.”  Although I never saw said “lake” I am sure it was there behind the chain link fence… somewhere.  3 loops and a short out and back made up my 31 mile adventure with about 900 feet of gain and loss each loop and what felt like 8k on the out and back it was overall a pretty runnable course.  So of course I took advantage of this and was out of the gun like a shot and paid for it on lap 2… and 3… and the out and back.  Considering this was marathon/ultra #70 for me you would think that I would have learned by now, but what can I say, I’m a slow learner. 

It’s been a very fun ride thus far and 2012 is shaping up to be just as awesome with IronMel on the horizon for June! 

 

We’re on an Island!

2/6/11

I am sitting on the boat from Orcas Island back to the main land, jamming out to some Black and Yellow and Flo Rida, after running a fabulous 50k yesterday.  I had such a blast running with my friends and meeting new ones over the weekend.  As I look out over the water and take in the beautiful view I am extremely at peace and thankful.  Life is good! 

Karen and I started the 5 hour road trip from Portland to the island on Friday morning.  Life has been crazy busy for me the past couple of months and I have yet to catch up so unlike the usual me I was running late and brought a peace offering in the form of Starbucks Chi Latte.  Well it was pretty obvious that Karen was still really stressed so it was time to haul ass up north so that we made sure that we would get on an afternoon ferry out.  I had no doubt that we would make it in plenty of time, and tried to reassure her that I have been able to successfully make it to 55 other races on time before this, but I don’t think that really helped.  So we got rolling and made great time making it in plenty of time for the 4pm boat out with time to spare to take pictures. 

The ferry ride over was about an hour and we had time to running around and play and drink some Starbucks Pinot Noir! 

We arrived on the island around 6pm and headed straight to race check in and pot luck dinner where we had ton of fun digging through the many clothing options for official race gear.  The dinner was also very delish and we met up with some of the other Red Lizards.  It was a fun night trading battle stories about previous races.  It was also good for me to talk to some of the vets of the race and course to find out the scoop since I had yet to actually look at a course map and did not have a clue what we were doing for aid stations.  I found out that we did have about 9 miles between water in some spots and only bringing one hand bottle I started to get concerned.  “Oh well it’s not HURT!”  was my general motto for the race.  I knew it was a difficult 50k, but at least it was a 50k and I took solace in the fact that I would be able to sleep in a bed the night after the race. 

Race morning started at 6:30am with the ritual prerace breakfast and then it was off to the starting line.  We were thrilled to find that it was not raining and actually some pretty good running weather.  The 50k went off at 8:30am so I said goodbye to Karen who was running the 25k that went off 10 min after us and lined up at the starting line.  I saw many familiar ultra faces out there which made the start feel that much more like home.  I do love my ultra running family out there.  There are so many sweet, awesome, real people that just make the sport sooo totally enjoyable. 

The island was beautiful and the course was amazing.  Lots of climbing but what the booty worked for on the up hill the legs got punished for as I bombed it back down.  The downhills on this course are so runnable and fast that it made you almost forget all the pain that you just went through to get to the top… almost!  The black toe nails on every single toe remind me of all the fun I was having out there!  I also had the opportunity to meet many new running buddies while we were slogging along for 31 miles and we had a great time chatting it up on the course.  So most ultra runners are pretty awesome, but I do have to say that the duded that TRIED and yes I say tried to pass me in the last 1.5 miles or so saying “coming through” instead of the typical hi, or on your left to pass just pissed me off.  As he went by I just said “coming through REALLY???” right back at him.  At this point I could have cruised it in, but this dude did not realize what he started.  Te he competitive Mel came out and just hunted him down running right behind him for about a mile just to mess with his head and then passed him in the last few hundred yards up hill really because I could.  LOL normally I would not even go there, but come on who says “coming though” all bothered and annoyed like to me??  LOL maybe this guy won’t anymore! 

Post race food and chill was awesome and the time out there on the island was a blast.  We spent the night hanging out with the other red lizards after they came over and dragged me out of bed from a quick cat nap.  It was overall a great time and race and weekend and I loved it!! 

OH and the best part!!  I didn’t fall!!! 

It’s Called HURT for a reason!

1/13/11

In the air 37,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean the Thursday before I start my 100 mile adventure at HURT on Saturday morning and there are a million thoughts running through my head.  Today was a long day of travel starting with my awesome girl Karen coming out to Hillsboro to pick me up and drop me off at PDX to start this journey, which of course we had to capture, thanks girl!!

I met some awesome people in the security lines including a man who was bringing home a baby lab to his daughter in Texas for her birthday!  So cute!  I also had a great discussion with a new friend on various ear piercings and she is off to get one of the ones I have now!  Too much fun.  From PDX it was off to LAX and then a 3 hour layover- Seriously I am not sure what I was thinking when I booked the day of travel, but it turned out ok.  I got in and parked myself in a perfect spot by power and right at the windows bathed in beautiful sunshine.  I was also there to witness our CEO’s web cast on earnings and a record year- so that was great news to fly out on!!

So now here I am in flight to another great adventure with my pacer and host to pick me up when I touch down.  The RD’s give us 36 hours to do HURT, but, well some plans changed and I am booked to fly out of Hawaii Sunday at 3pm- which means I need to do this race in 30 hours 31 max in order to make my new flight time.  Some may question what I was thinking here on this travel plan, but well let’s just say that I need to get on a flight out to Phoenix and I need to be there for Sunday night!  Priorities, but I have a feeling that I can and will make it all work and that is going to be the best running weekend/AZ trip adventure to date.  I know that I can do this and I am going to stay positive.  I am very excited that I have the privilege to be out here with these amazing ultra runners trying to see what I am made of.  Game on to Saturday and HURT!!!  J 

1/16/11

Today is the 3 year anniversary to my very first marathon ever- PF Changs Rock N Roll back in AZ 2008 and I could never have fathomed that 3 years later I would be in beautiful sunny Hawaii running the HURT 100 miler and marathon/ultra number 55!  It’s been an amazing weekend to say the least!

I arrived in Hawaii Thursday night to a wonderful host and pacer, Rosie, greeting me with a super fun lie at Honolulu International in her totally hot blue jeep.  I knew from the second I saw her that we were going to have a blast together over the weekend. She brought me back to her very cute studio apartment where she had me all set up right down to the wonderful smelling plumera flowers on the linens, seriously she took care of me!  Friday Rosie was off to work for most of the day, so I did the vaca thing and enjoyed sleeping in, running on the beach, and of course playing on the beach! 

Rosie and I headed over to the HURT runner check in and prerace brief meeting, probably the last two to actually show up, but who knew when they said it started at 3:30pm that they actually were going to start then??  In the general Hawaiian tradition though not a problem at all and we even caught the last 5 minutes or so of the race briefing, LOL thinking about this now, it absolutely didn’t faze me, I mean what could I have missed?  Oh the course is hard and going to kick your booty?  Yup check- have known that for months going into this crazy adventure! But we did have time to take pictures!!

Next it was off to serious business- Fuel- or what some like to call dinner.  We decided on Kona Brewing Company and had a delightful dinner getting to know each other better and discussing official racer/pacer game plan for the next day.  Rosie was volunteering in the morning at the Paradise aid station and then we planned to have her join me running around 8 or 9pm.  We were both very excited and it was great to spend time with such a super awesome runner chick.  I am very much looking forward to pacing Rosie when she does her first 100 miler as well!

After dinner it was back to the house to get all of our gear prepped and ready for the big race.  I had 3 drop bags to prepare- and a final outfit drop- as I would be making a tight turnaround from the time I had to finish the race to a 3pm flight I had booked for my next adventure.  So we overtook the apartment with piles of running gear, food, clothing, and had a blast putting everything together and finalizing any last minute details.  I felt like I was in wonderful hands with Rosie and did not have a doubt in my mind that she was going to be awesome out there, not only for me, but for all the runners she worked with. 

4am came very early and it was up up and away.  I ate my regular pre race breakfast of a banana, English muffin, and peanut butter and then it was off to the starting line.  I checked in just after 5am and then took some time to sit around and visit with the other runners as well as lay down for a very long time!

 

The race started at exactly 6am with the sounding of the conch shell after we joined hands and enjoyed a traditional Hawaiian blessing, lol but I think it did end with something like “kick some ass!”  It was still dark for our start and everyone was lit up with head lamps making it overall a very mystical starting line as we stood on top of the bridge getting ready to embark on this crazy journey.  The day was starting perfect with the rain of the past few days finally stopping but leaving the mud on the course and ready for us to enjoy.  We had 7.3 miles to the first aid station where I would say hi to Rosie and I decided to start this first loop wearing my regular road running shoes because well I generally wear these for every race.  This turned out to be a HUGE mistake which I found out very quickly as I was slip and sliding all over the place on the mud and roots.  They are bad enough in trail shoes- road shoes was a disaster and I took no less than 20 falls in that first loop to pay for this miscalculation.  Even though this was not ideal I was trying to make the best of it for the first 20 miles knowing that I had my cascadias waiting for me in my drop bag.  It was very easy to be distracted by the beautiful scenery, but the trail is so technical for the entire race that you risk a face plant anytime you take your eyes off every foot fall.  I debated on bringing my camera out there to capture the moments, but did not want to break it or get it covered in mud like I was after just the first leg.  I came into the first aid station to Rosie and the first thing out of my mouth was “I’m f*cked!”  The early miles of any race are usually hard for me, but add the technical muddy steep up and down hills wearing shoes that felt as slippery as running on ice and I was having a fabulous start!  But I was still smiling and determined to have fun- even with my rookie mistake. 

The rest of the first loop went really well all things considered and I had fun talking with many other runners out there and just taking it all in.  I totally felt a different kind of flow than I have ever felt at any other race on this course.  I try to remember where all the time went and it was like I was just there in the zone not worrying about a single thing besides what I was doing right at that time.  It was a great feeling to be out there and I looked around and just said thank you to no one in particular because I realize that there are so many things that had to fall into place to allow all of it to happen. 

I finished my first loop in under 6 hours but I knew that there was no way that I would be able to hold that pace through the night and therefore hit my 30 hour time goal so that I could catch my flight.  So I came around that first loop deciding that I wanted to do the 100k.  I did not realize what the night had in store for me.  The second loop with the trail shoes went much better and I had a blast out there.  I was able to run some of this with follow MM Gary and that was a great treat to have someone to chat without on the course.  He knows the trails as well so he was watching out for me and totally saved me on loop 3 in the dark making sure I did not go down the wrong trail!  I talked with Rosie and we had a plan that she would meet me at Paradise for my third and final loop ending the 100k back at this aid station for our quick getaway to the airport post race.  I am not sure Rosie knew what she was getting herself into!! 

Rosie and I headed out to run the final 20 miles.  Sounds simple enough, but I was 47 miles in and HURTing pretty bad.  I have never had stomach issues in a race before but this night at HURT that all changed.  Rosie noticed that I started getting low on intake and the next thing I knew I was trying to eat a gu and could not hold it down.  This happened again later in the night when I was just trying to get in some calories and a 5 hour energy.  When you are throwing up your fuel and your caffeine shot it makes for a very tired sluggish sick night.  I was running on empty and falling apart through a lot of the night.  You really start to learn what you are made of at 3 or 4am when you are crawling around in the mud throwing up!  They decided to hold me at the Jackass aid station- boy did I feel like one, because I apparently was looking about as good as I felt.  I told Rosie not to mention it to anyone that I had been barfing all over the trail, but like a awesome friend and pacer she made sure that they knew what was going on with me so that I was looked after.  I was not happy about it at the time, but realize that she did the right thing and was only concerned about my health.  After some miso soup, Japanese healing, feet up, and just about everyone in the aid station gathering around- lol apparently I created some fun for the middle of the night, we were back off on our way. 

This 7.3 miles from Jackass to the nature center were probably the hardest miles that I have had to cover in my life.  I was sick, hurting, tired, demoralized, and scared to death of getting my first DNF.  I had to crawl up many of the steep sections, literally on my hands and knees, because my legs and body did not have enough energy to make the climb like a normal human being.  And there were several times that I just laid down on the trial and closed my eyes.  Poor Rosie had a handful to deal with as I was losing it and I was losing it fast.  She did awesome though and never made me feel worse about the situation.  She would let me get a little rest in and then gently prod me along to keep moving.  There were also various other runners that passed and tried to help me out as well, and although I was probably to out of it to show how thankful I was at the time, their concern did help.  About 3 miles out, I was getting to the lowest dark spot of the night after making terribly slow progress I thought a DNF was inevatible and then tripped and fell on hands and knees into deep mucky mud that just covered me and I lost it.  I started to cry and just lose it saying- “I don’t want to be a quitter, I don’t want a DNF, I didn’t come here to fail!” and other such nonsense until I just got angry.  The race was not over and I was acting like it was.  So that was the bottom and I just decided, nope this is not how it ends.  Got up, and started moving.  My new mantra was “I will do this” and other such thing and I just kept moving with Rosie right next to me.

I came into the start/finish area just before 8am and realized wow I had been out there for 26 hours already and only covered 60 miles!  This course was insane and killer, but I knew I had to get the 7.3 more so I would be an official finisher.  So I did a very quick aid stop just to force some food down and gulp some water that I hoped all wouldn’t come back up as soon as I started running again.  We covered the last part of the course in 2.5 hours which felt great!  I was just determined not to think about anything but finishing strong and focusing on running and staying up right and not barfing.  That was a lot to do, but we did it and I came into the Paradise aid station with tears in my eyes knowing that I was done.  I gave Rosie a huge hug and hit the pavement to get off my aching feet and just sat there saying “wow did that really just happen?” Over 28 hours of the rain forest and the HURT course and I am a changed person today from the amazing experience.  Thank you Rosie for being there with me for the hardest 20 miles of my life, I can’t wait to return the favor to you when you do your first 100 miler!!