100th Marathon/Ultra Tacoma City Marathon 10 Year Maniac Reunion

5/5/13

I did it!  That was the first thought to cross my mind after crossing the finish line at my 100^th marathon or longer distance race.  I still cannot believe that I have run 100 of these races!  So let’s talk about how I got here!  

This was a Cinco de Mayo Sunday race which meant that Jash could go with me since he had school on Friday this week.  We ended up driving up to the race on Saturday in the beautiful sunshine in the NW.  It has been a very unseasonably warm spring and I am personally a huge fan!  People were getting a bit worried that the race was going to be too hot, but I will take the sunshine over rain and clouds any day!!  We made it to packet pick up and picked up all the maniac swag.  This was a 10 year celebration and I really loved seeing all the people out there excited and proud to be part of the group.  I also was here in 2010 for the reunion and wow what a difference 3 years makes in terms of people.  We had such a smaller group back then, now it is huge.  So we decided that we did not want to fight the crowd and wait around for the talk, so after some fun picts at the hotel you see below we headed off to our place. 

Our hotel was great with a kitchen where we were able to make our own pre-race meal and get everything set for the next day.  It was a perfect and delish home cooked dinner date for two.  We ate and headed out in time to watch the Winter hawks game since they are in the playoffs right now.  We found a place that looked totally questionable from the outside very close to our hotel and it was totally empty.  But the bar had a fantastic big screen TV that we had to ourselves with sound to watch the entire game.  It was fantastic and we ended up learning that this place turned into a bumping night club around 9pm, so we headed out at the end of the game, 9:30pm.  The music was blasting and the lights were off.  We just missed an episode of cops or something being filed outside as well…  Pretty happy about that miss and glad we got out of there when we did!  Maybe it was just a questionable as if first appeared! 

Jash woke up with me on race day and was so sweet to drive me to the start- which was totally needed because there was a bit of a potty issue there!  When we got there, about an hour before the start, there was a line stretching for what seemed like miles with not a lot of potties.  So Jash drove me back to the first aid station that we had passed and I was able to jump into a brand new, never used before honey bucket and ensure that I took care of all the biz I needed to before the race.  This was so totally helpful and made for a wonderful start to the day.  Once he dropped me back off at the starting line at the air filed I went around and checked it out a bit and saw some cool airplanes.

We started just about right on time at 7am and were off into the wind and sunshine.  It was a wonderful morning, but we knew it was going to get hot out there quickly.  I just made sure that I had been sipping water all morning and was carrying my pack to be sure that I had enough fluid for the entire race.  (it is really my new favorite thing to run it as it is just so convenient to have water available.   We started the race by crossing the Tacoma Narrows bridge at mile 3 and I was so lucky to get this awesome photo below that was also on the front page of the Tacoma Newspaper, with my name captioned as “leading the pack!”  I am still giddy about it!

The race was just wonderful and you can see from the pict above that it is already looking pretty warm out there.  I was thinking back to when I ran this very race in 2010 and it was cold and rainy and I wore a jacket the whole time.  Not in 2013~  But I am a sun baby and was really enjoying the sunshine and clear views.  It was really a lovely spring day to be running my 100^th marathon!  The people out on the  course were also just so friendly and great to chat with.  There were so many happy runners out there that it did not seem like there was ever a dull moment!  And lots of people along the course taking fun running pictures. 

As it started to heat up I was very grateful for the make shift sprinklers that residents that lived along the course had set up.  I was running through the mist of each thanking those that were so thoughtful to help us out!  There were also so many other runners out there that were in happy positive spirits that the race really just flew by.  We chatted and caught up and had such a great time running on a beautiful cinco de mayo Sunday!  By the time I got to mile 20 I was almost sad that it was only 10k till I was done with this awesome race and had reached my goal of 100.  Then I was also at that point really hot and we were running on an entire exposed part of the course in the sunshine so I tried to keep drinking, staying cool and having fun.  I love the last 6 miles.  No matter how bad it hurts you know you only have to go 6 more and that seem so incredibly do-able that you just go.  You are running this part of the race with your heart and it feels so right.  On this day if was incredibly right and I zoomed home!  Crossing the finish line of my 100^th marathon/ultra was just unreal.  I was greeted with a 100th marathon sign from Steve Walters and a custom made 100th marathon shirt that Jash made me that lists all the races that I have done to get to 100 on the back!  I am so thankful I have been able to come this far and cannot wait for 100 more to come!!  I am just getting started!

 

Eugene Marathon

4/28/13

This year running Eugene for the first time was such a treat!  I am so happy I have taken more time to run some local races- although this one I did not get to sleep in my own bed.  I drove down to the race Saturday after running some errands in the morning.  I refrained from running on Friday (usual day before the day before rest day) and Saturday because I was feeling a twinge in my left outer ankle and was worried that it could be something more serious than just a twinge.  I thought back to the stress fracture in my right ankle and carefully compared how it felt and hoped for the best.  Saturday I made it down to Eugene pretty quick and enjoyed a quick browse at the expo.  After checking out the course maps, putting on my black ribbon, signing the Boston banner, getting my shirt, filling up on water and sampling some nutrition bars, I was off to scope out some pre race parking.  It was a beautifully sunny Saturday and I was enjoying driving with the windows down and feeling the sun on my skin.  I drove through campus and looked at all the blocked parking spaces for tomorrow as well as where the starting line would be.  I came about a side street that seemed to only lead to residential apartments and found an interesting lot that was only marked as permit required Mon- Friday.  I was thrilled and planned to get there nice and early in the morning in case others scoped out the same lot and were following the awesome plan I just developed! 

My hotel was just outside of the main city and had everything that I needed- clean, working bathroom, nice bed, mini fridge, and a microwave.  I love packing my own food to races so that I am able to eat a wonderful pre race dinner that I know I can run great on the next day and to have my breakfast in room and ready including my coffee in a can.  Once I dropped everything off on the hotel there was still a ton of beautiful sunny day left so I sat outside, read, and wrote.  I thought about how happy I was to be running marathon number 99 the next day and how even after this many it still has not gotten old and I am still very excited to be healthy and running!  Beautiful view.  

The next day I was up early- 10 min before my 5am alarm went off.  I went through my pre race rituals and really used the foam roller on my back and legs.  By 5:30am I was off to the start line.  I drove to the parking lot in darkness and to my surprise there was no one else in this parking lot.  I was hit with a feeling of dread and started to wonder if everyone knew something that I didn’t know.  So I popped out of my car and made my way over to the start to ask some officers that were securing the area if I was parked in an illegal spot.  I noticed the increased police presence right away, which made locating an officer for my question very easy!  Assured that I would not get a ticket or towed I headed back to my car to enjoy time in my own warm little space so close to the finish line. 

I keep a snuggie (my sister bought it for me) and a pillow in the trunk of my car for just the occasion of chilling out in my car prerace.  I was totally comfortable wrapped up in the pink snuggie and totally relaxed knowing that I just had to pop over to the starting line, and that I was parked close to a row of unused porta potties which made a great pre race potty time. Seriously I went back twice just because I could and no one else was there… if you are a runner you know what a luxury this is!  

With 10 min to the start I made my way over and jumped in my corral.  I was very much aware of who was around me and if there were any people with bags anywhere in the vicinity.  I was also looking for bags left alone.  This was just an initial look, but when I did the scan and saw so many police I felt a ton better and was able to relax and totally let go of worry and get into the pre race mind set.  

We started out great, I realized in the first mile that there was no need at all for me to be wearing my arm sleeves and was determining what to do to store them without having to stop to take off my pack.  By mile 3 I had decided just to tie them to the chest strap, that seemed to do just fine, but I bet I get no pictures because they hung in front of my bib for most of the race.  I love how there is so much to look at and take in when you are running a big marathon.  There was a ton of people and beautiful scenery and I didn’t touch my iPod for the first 12 miles.  By mile 13 as we were getting a bit more spread out with the ½ marathoners off the course I was starting to feel a little bit tired but nothing terrible.  But I was then approached by Mary and a group of runners.  I sped up to match their pace and decided this is exactly what I need!  It was wonderful to catch up with Mary and meet new running friends.  The girls were so fun to meet and we ran together for the rest of the marathon.  I realize that it is so much easier for me to get out of my own head and encourage others around me.  That actually makes me feel better and I run better.  We shared stores and kept each other going.  It was a really great time out there with fantastic people! 

Vernonia Marathon

4/14/13

Marathon number 98 was a blast and right in my own back yard!  I have not run the Vernonia Marathon yet because I have usually been pacing the Race for the Roses half marathon but this year I was extremely excited to get out there and try out the course.  I heard great things about this race and it did not disappoint.  

The day started with a wake up and me thinking I would make it out there in time for the “regular” start at 9am.  This left lots of time to sleep in and take my time for breakfast, but as I arrived, I lucked out and found a parking spot right in front of the school where I zipped in and got my shirt and bib and was able to just on the bus that was just pulling out to take us to the start line.  I love point to point marathon coruses.  Something about knowing that you will not have to back track and you are always making progress to that finish line by seeing new sights is just such a wonderful way to cover 26.2 miles.  I realized on the ride up that I was going to be there in time to take the “early” start which was 8am.  So I hopped off the bus, dropped my gear and popped over to the starting line in perfect time to get going.  I loved that I was able to not have to sit around for an extra hour now that I was up there and just got out on the road and started running with a rather large crew that was also taking the 8am start option. 

The morning had started out with a bit of rain and a chill so I was prepared in pants and a few layers.  The weather had other things in mind and I was quickly ditching my rain jacket, gloves, arm warmers, and finding a way to pack them in my Nathan’s bag.  With all the gear stored though I was perfectly set temperature wise and settled into a beautiful course.  This course runs on a paved old rail way system.  Although it was all through the forest I found myself about half way wishing for some trail or dirt to run on and was shifting where I could to the side of the pavement so I could get some relief from the entire paved road.  I started thinking back and realized that I have not run a full road marathon since Dec. back in Hawaii and I was certainly feeling the pounding of the pavement now.  It was thankfully not too bad and it was lessened by many of the people along the route that I was able to chat with. 

Towards the end of the race some of the faster regular starters began to catch me, which added some needed interest and fun to the end of the marathon.  By the time I got back into town the sun was out but we did have some wind to contend with as well.  I was excited to be back at the school and enjoyed my victory lap around the HS track.   Steve was waiting at the finish and snapped the finisher pict below as you can see I am happy to be done with number 98! 

Post race I headed back to the school cafeteria where I was able to eat hot vegetarian vegetable soup, change into warm dry clothes, and enjoy chatting with other finishers.  I ended up waiting around for the finisher’s ceremony for the Marathon which was a great decision because I not only won second in my age group, but I also won a raffle prize!  All and all it was a great day and I look forward to running this one again in the future!  Hopefully with my sweet Husband to Be next year when he will be done with his MBA and have weekends back to come run and play!  

Chuckanut 50k

March 16, 2013

This was my first time running Chuckanut 50k, and race 97, so I was pretty excited to get out there and see what it was all about.  Based on the race reports and pictures from 2012 I was prepared for anything, as last year was wet and snowy on the trail.  This year it was a bit dryer before the event and definitely not as cold.  I was able to make it up on Friday before the race in enough time to pick up my bib (did not buy a shirt as I already have a closet full of race T’s that I eventually will have to start purging).  I checked into my hotel, a modest place just a few miles from the race start and even had time to go out and do some quick shopping around the town.  The night was great and I slept well and with an 8am start time it almost felt like I was sleeping in till 6am. 

 

Getting to the start was easy and I was there with plenty of time to debate what to wear.  It felt almost too warm for the outfit I was currently wearing, but I knew that I would be grateful for an extra layer or two when I climbed to the top of the mountain.  We were sent off right on time without a hitch and it was pretty dry for the first ½ of the race.  The trail was a bit crowded, but in true ultra style everyone was pretty laid back and it didn’t cause any issue- we had 31.5 miles to sort everything out.  I settled into a nice pace and just took in the beauty of the trails around us and felt happy to be out there enjoying a wonderful day.  I was very thankful to start out the day with dry shoes that lasted all the way up until about the midpoint.  We had started our first large climb and that went over pretty great.  I chatted with a guy from Canada about running, ice hockey, and life in general and it made for a fun time up the hill.  After the aid station we parted as I knew I would need more time and to take care on the single track ridge trail.  I was right, but it still did not prevent me from taking a pretty good spill rolling my right ankle and coming down hard about ½ a mile into the ridge trail.  It hurt pretty good, but nothing too serious that I couldn’t run through.  Coming off the single track the sky just opened up and we started to get poured on.  At this point I was extremely happy I opted to carry the jacket with.  The puddles were pretty bad at the top of the mountain so I went from trying to side step or jump over to trudging right through resigned to the knowledge that I would have wet feet for the rest of the race. 

 

Next came the down hills.  I was a bit tentative here due to the fall and the sore ankle and had to stop once to tie my shoes as they were becoming so water logged they were too slippery to give me a sense of sure footing while I was descending.  Nonetheless I made it down without another incident and was feeling pretty good.  The aid stations were very well stocked so I was fueled on shot blocks and gu’s and having no nutritional issues.  I also really liked my Nathan’s pack for this event as I only stopped to fill it once over the course of the entire race.  The last 6 miles or so are on the flat trail that led us out on the course earlier that am and are much tougher mentally.  When you first start the race you have tons of people around you so you are not able to look down these long flat stretches and see how far you have to really go, but on the way back you are so spread out that it is inevitable that you are out there with very few people around viewing the long stretch ahead.  I was feeling pretty good though with no major pain so it was an relatively easy if somewhat boring stretch.  The finish of the race was great with an announcer that called out your info as you came across the finish.  It felt great to be done and I was ready to get dry.  I was really not hungry at all when I got to the finish and could only muster one glass of electrolytes.  Looking over the finish food, nothing caught my eye so I hurried over to the car to get out of the wet dirty clothes and face the 4.5 hour drive home.  I did get one happy picture before departing and it was overall a very fun day out there!