The Journey of a Thousand Miles
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Monday, August 6, 2018
Volcanic 50: Racing Around Mt. St. Helens
“There is no way I am racing this in two weeks!” I scream
ahead in frustration to Tad as I am crawling like a baby monkey over a vast
boulder field. Fast forward two weeks, and I have crossed the finish line of Go Beyond Racing’s Volcanic 50km with a swollen butt cheek from a hornet (my
signature sting location), black and blue palms, a busted hip, and the most
incredible feeling that I did something that was so far out of my comfort zone
despite the voices of anxiety trying to talk me out of it.
Here is how I got there:
Two weeks before the Volcanic 50, a “rugged, remote and
challenging 50K+ course” circumnavigating Mt St Helens with 7,400 ft of
elevation gain and loss, Tad and I drove to Cougar to run the course as a
preview knowing this race could trigger all manner of anxiety for me (boulder
fields, drop offs, scree fields, being alone, getting lost in some remote canyon,
etc.) The weather man was warning us of severe temperatures topping off in the
mid-90’s and cautioned people to stay indoors. Not what you want to hear when
you know you are going to be completely exposed with little water for hours. To
make a (very) long day short, we got lost in the first three miles, stopped a
total of 5 times at every water source to filter water for half an hour and
still ran out, cooked like wienies, and barely made it back to the car in 12.5
hours.
I couldn’t imagine doing this all over again in two weeks. But
something kept nagging at me despite the anxiety and doubt. It would be a
completely different experience having a marked course, support from aid
stations and the company of 250+ other racers. I really wanted to run this race
to prove to myself that I could. How many times in your life do you get to run
around an active volcano, over lava and pumice fields, cross rivers, and run
through a blast zone? Not many. So, I decide to attempt it.
We left Bellingham Friday morning around 10:00am and arrived
at the Cougar RV campground around 5:00pm after hellish traffic. Immediately after
pulling into the campground, I had a bad feeling. I just did not get a good
vibe from this place and felt a sense of unease. We met the owners and they
were very nice people. They showed us to our campsite and it was right beside
the RV owners who reside there. They had nice private tent spots in the back,
but the owner said there were hornets’ nests and I might not want that before
my race.
Let’s just say it was like staying on set of a Twin Peaks
episode. Very unique characters walking around and doing tasks like searching
for something (no idea what) in the bushes or tinkering with their RV. While we
were eating dinner, this extremely malnourished cat with a pink collar crawled
over to us by using only it’s front two legs. His back legs drug on the ground
it a splits formation. It was one of the most upsetting things I have ever
seen. Tad had to give me a pep-talk before I was convinced to use the bathroom
which gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. At least it’s quiet,
I said aloud. Then, almost on cue, a caravan of Latinos pulled in around
10:00pm and continued to scream, shout, and laugh until 4:00am, when our alarms
went off. Did I mention there was no wi-fi?
We survived the night and got out of there as quickly as
possible to head to the race start at Marble Mountain Sno-Park. The volunteers of
this race were nothing short of spectacular. The check-in process had three
lines: one for a mandatory gear check, one to get a ticket stub with race number,
and one to receive your bib.
Before sending us off, Todd and Renee reminded us of bees,
gave us courtesy instructions for the rope climbs and assured us that we were
going to experience the best water of our lives at The Spring aid station
around mile 20.
Start to Butte Camp (6 miles)
The first couple miles climb gradually on an access trail to
the Loowit trail. Once we popped out on the Loowit trail we were smacked in the
face with gorgeous views. I could hear a lot of “oohs” as “aahs” as we started
up the first climb through the forest. Around mile 3, we were in a conga line
of sorts and up ahead somebody yells, “BEES!!!” Suddenly, panic ensues. I
stopped for a second and asked the guy behind me what we should do. *Cue all
the Forrest Gump references* He responded, “Run!” and I said “Okay!” and off we
went when something jumped up and bit me directly in the buttocks. It hurt, but
I figured if I was going to get stung, the ass was a good place to get it. Plus,
I have a running history of getting stung in the butt. The poor guy in front of
me had bees stuck in the liner of his shorts and got stung multiple times in
the groin.
Once we recovered from that trauma, we hit the lava fields. This
was the section we were on when I told Tad I wasn’t running this race. I knew
that my timid approach from boulder to boulder would get me passed by many
fearless technical runners. I climbed as aggressively as I could considering
that we were only at mile 4 of 32, but I still got passed by many men and 4 women.
Once the ground became runnable again, I surged to catch up to the group being
led by my good friend Jeff Fisher. Before the race I was hoping that we could run
together, but I knew that he is more skilled then me on all the boulders. It worked
out that I got out ahead of him early so that I could get a head start on the
lava field knowing that he would catch me there.
Butte Camp to Toutle River (6 miles)
I ran in the back of a small pack of people wearing La
Sportiva’s as calmly as I could, but I still felt like we were running way too
aggressive for this early on. “What did I get myself into?” I started thinking.
I felt like I was in way over my head. I chatted as much as I could to try to
get out of my own head. Jeff, eventual women’s winner Cassi Knight and I stayed
together all the way around the edges of the steep canyons and down the 1,600-foot
drop through dense forest to the Toutle River crossing. I am pretty quick through
the aid station, so I thought I would get a head start on the rope climb down
and back up again.
Cautiously crossing the scree field. |
Toutle River to the Spring (8 miles)
We were only allowed on the rope one at a time, so once you
got to the top, you had to yell down “FREE!” so the person at the bottom could
start. It was stressful having people wait on me to get up the rope, so I went
as fast as I could. Let me remind you that this is mile 13 of 32. I needed to
calm the F down. Once I got to the top of the rope, Cassi was just gone, and I
was alone which was bad news for me because the next section was the part I was
most afraid of – the scree field switch-back. I made it to the opening of the field
and hesitated. I knew Tad was up top to take pictures, but I still froze there
and waited until the next man came up behind me to cross. He was going slower
than I would have liked and eventually stopped half-way through the field to
take in the views! How dare he when he’s supposed to be helping me across this
thing! Then Tad starts screaming at me to keep moving so I eventually make it
across and up over this thing. By this time the lead women have minutes on me,
but the trail flattens out and I can finally run. The only problem is we must run
right on the edge of another cliff. It’s a very short section, but again, enough
to make me stop and wait on the person behind me. At this point I am racing the
demons in my head and want to just make this a fun experience. Luckily that’s
just what happened.
Jeff caught up shortly and then we weaved in and out of
canyons and rolled through the expanse of the blast zone enjoying the views,
smelling the musk scent of elk, and telling stories, namely how the impact of
the blast moved Spirit Lake to the location it is now.
As I was running, I went to drink from my full water bottle
and suddenly, I feel this splash of water in my face. I don’t know how it
happened, but my bottle burst just like a water balloon. I lost all the water I
had, plus my bottle, but luckily the aid station was 3 miles away and I had a
spare bottle in my pack.
Todd and Renee were not joking when they said how good the
water was going to be at the Spring. Safe to drink directly from the source, it
was the most satisfying liquid that ever touched my lips. Not to mention the
aid station volunteers were dressed up like astronauts (because it looked like
we were on the moon) and just the sweetest people ever.
Focus, focus, focus! |
The Spring to Ape Canyon (4 miles)
Between the Spring and Ape Canyon is the highest point on
the course, Windy Pass, which sits at 4,950 feet. I caught up to 3 men hiking
the climb and then we all carefully made our way down the other side which was
the craziest part of the course because there was literally no trail. Just
extremely loose, unstable sand and rock. Everyone was just sliding down in plumes
of dust. I slipped on my butt and used my hands to slide across instead of down.
We plopped out on the bottom, dusted ourselves off, took rocks out of shoes and
then were off again.
All the way to Ape Canyon the trail was flat, compact, and
runnable. In Brian’s words, “just what the doctor ordered!” I cruised with
Brian Eckerling all the way to Ape Canyon aid station. We were so excited to
finally be running, I tripped on a pebble and went down hard on my left knee
and right hip. It stunned me for a second as it was pretty painful, but there
was no blood that I could see so we kept going. It took about a mile before my
knee loosened up. Two days later I am just bruised, luckily no serious injury
occurred.
Last mile! |
Ape Canyon to Finish (8 miles)
At the aid station, I heard several of the runners saying
how it was all downhill from here. I knew better and they figured out pretty
quickly how wrong they were. The course profile is deceiving as we go in and
out of countless canyons that really test your patience and resolve. I felt the
strongest through this section and wasn’t bothered this time by the forever
canyons. Jeff ate a couple berries on the side of the trail and took off like
superman. I should have eaten some berries.
I ran the last 4 miles mostly alone. I knew we had one more
climb and boulder field to cross before getting back on Trail 244 to the finish
so I put my map up on my watch just in case as I am terrible at following the
orange cones. Tad appeared just before getting to the June Lake Trail and told
me Jeff was just ahead. I caught up to Jeff only because he was cramping and as
soon as we hit the lava field, he was gone again. When I finally got off the
boulders I had a hard time getting back on the connector trail. I got off
course twice but got myself back on track using my watch and footsteps in the
sand. I was so happy to be on the final 2 miles I ran as fast as I could. My
last full mile was 6:48.
Full results here.
Cassi, Elizabeth and me with our awesome Mountain Shop prizes. |
I crossed the finish line so happy and so proud of myself. I
didn’t care that I didn’t win or that I was so far behind. I had just run the
longest race of my life around this freaking volcano on some of the toughest
terrain. Sure, I wanted to win. Sure, I wanted to come close to the record. And
the more I am removed from the race the more the immediate post-race satisfaction
dissipates, and the criticism and self-judgement set in. I am so proud of
myself that I started and finished this race, but disappointed how much my
anxiety gets in the way of performing to my full potential. I am faced with a decision
of whether I should only run races that suit me, or should I run races that
challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone where I may not come out on
top? I am deciding on the latter because, in my mind, I did come out on top. I
won in so many ways on Saturday, how can I be disappointed? It isn’t an easy
decision given the demands of sponsorship, the pressure to perform competitively,
social media, etc. All of which I know is in my head as my sponsors are the
best people and there is never the hint of pressure and my social media
followers are a wonderful, supportive group. However, just like my anxiety,
knowing it is all in my head doesn’t make it one bit less real so I must continually
remind myself of the positives despite the occasional whisper in my head that I
lost by half an hour.
Mt St Helens may not have seen the last of me!
If you made it this far in my report, thank you. I am
learning that the longer the race is, the more stories and lessons there are to
tell.
Congratulations to new course record holder, Cassi Knight and
runner-up Elizabeth Helland on two spectacular performances.
Thank you to race directors Todd and Renee for creating this
event and bringing some of the best humans together to share this incredible landscape.
The volunteers and medical team were the most hands-on crew I have experienced;
I am grateful for their time and expertise in helping me get around that
mountain. Big thanks to the Mountain Shop for the awesome water filter!
Thank you to Jenni Hulburt of Wild Wellness and doTERRA
oils. I was so stressed that night of camping, I’m glad I had a lavender-scented
pillow to stick my face in and calm down.
Thank you, as always, to the usual crew who make my life possible:
La Sportiva, Trail Butter, Native Eyewear, Prime Massage, Align Chiropractic,
Terrain Gym, and Lily Trotters.
Thank you to YOU for reading and to everyone who has left a
comment or encouraging word – you fill my heart.
Cheers to you from Jeff and me. |
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Marathon du Mont Blanc: Take Two
After a peaceful week staying at our dear friends’ home in
Les Crosets, Switerzerland, we arrived in Chamonix during the hustle and bustle
of a Friday night. The apartment we rented, while in an ideal location, was
situated on a major thoroughfare and very noisy until the wee hours of the night.
There was a youth hostel right down the road and so we would hear parades of
young people returning from partying between 1 and 4 in the morning.
Our temporary backyard in Les Crosets, Switzerland. |
This year, the marathon is part of Salomon’s Golden TrailSeries, so there was a lot of media hype around the race. My original goal
coming off last year was a top-10 finish, but after seeing all the incredible
athletes who were signed up, we knew that was going to be nearly impossible. The
main goal was to try to prevent what went wrong last year from happening again
this year.
The temperatures were very mild for our entire trip to Europe - upper 60’s to low 70’s - until the day of the race, where temperatures soared to around 86. I knew that running in the heat was going to be a challenge for me because I never run in those temperatures in the PNW, let alone at altitude, which seems to make the sun hotter and more draining.
We don’t know what caused me to crash so hard at mile 20
last year, but we tried our best to come up with reasons and address each of
them this year. Here is a list of some changes:
More cheese and bread, please! |
1. When I returned from Europe last year, I noticed
that I lost a bit of weight. I think it was a combination of eating less just because
we didn’t have as much food in the apartment as we do at home and dehydration. So,
this year I made sure to eat just as much as I typically do and did not
hesitate to put salt on everything while drinking plenty. If anything, I was
going to be well-fueled for this race! One thing I love about Chamonix is the
accessibility to a variety of foods and cuisines at an affordable price. We ate
everything from curries to sushi, only cooking a couple of nights, which was a
nice vacation from doing the dishes.
2. Last year we did a big 20 miler two weeks out
from the race (and soon after arriving from the tiring, jet lag trip over); we cut
it to 14 miles this year.
3. All I had with me during the race last year was
GU and it was not going down well. I think it was because I was too dehydrated.
In my pack this year, I had variety: GU, single-serve Trail Butter, shot blocks
and Skratch labs in one of my bottles.
4. I did a true taper – not just a week before. My
mileage was significantly lower 2 weeks before the race.
Checking out the course two weeks before the race. |
5. After seeing that the weather was going to be
very warm, I went out and bought a white hat and an extra handheld to use during
the part of the race where I ran out last year.
6. I took off my necklace before I raced this year,
because last year it got wrapped around the top of my water bottle preventing me
from using it properly.
7. Last year I was running in 5th early
in the race and felt comfortable, though that means one thing running a race
like the Chuckanut 50k and something completely different with this beast of a
course. Because of this, we decided to go out much slower than last year. (That
was the plan anyway, though I did not execute this one properly.)
It was already warm outside at 6:15 in the morning when I
stepped out to do a short warm up. As soon as I opened our door, I see fellow
American Pat Smyth warming up. When I approached the start line, I scanned to
find a familiar face amongst the jumble of languages being spoken and the loud
music blasting over the speakers. I soon found Magda Boulet, Alex Varner and
Sage Canaday. I love seeing my USA teammates. I don’t know what they feel, but
I feel such a bond with them even though I am only friends with some via social
media. There is something about being so far from home that brings us together
in solidarity.
After the announcer made us all do the wave, the backwards
countdown from 10 in French began and, with the sound of Hell’s Bells, we were
off. I mentioned that I wanted to start out slower this year and what felt like
slower ended up being 15-20 seconds a mile faster for the first 4 miles.
I was in 15th early during this section and Anne
Marie Madden passed me after a very controlled start as she worked her way up
into the top 10.
Making my way to the top of Possette. |
Tad spent all week mapping out his spectating spots so I
knew I would see him at several places to get insight on where I stood among
the field and receive reassurance and encouragement.
Magda came into sight and I finally caught up to her at the
Vallorcine aid station (mile 11ish). I started the climb up to Possette with
her. As I started to pull away I focused on Emma Clayton of Great Britian who
was in front of me, but because I stopped at the water station, she got away
from me on the ridge. Going over the ridge I was in 12th place and thinking
maybe a top ten was possible as surely some of the leaders would fade on the toughest
part of the race yet to come. (As it turns out, I was wrong, these are some
tough women!) There had been a significant amount of snow on Col des Possette
two week prior, and come race day, all of it had melted; I couldn’t believe it.
The Marathon du Mont Blanc is a very special race. Not just
because of the stunning scenery or the competition, but also because the
spectators and volunteers are kind, encouraging and passionate. Our first names
and country flags were on the race bibs, so I had a thousand fans on course
screaming, "'allez, allez, Maria!" A moment that sticks out to me is
when I was up on Aiguillette de Possette and Tad was running behind me with the
camera, I started to doubt myself and asked him - thinking no one was around –
to tell me I could do this. As soon as I popped up over a rock, a man and women
were perched above, and the man said in a heavy French accent, "of course
you can do this, Maria!" The cool thing is Tad got it on camera.
To hear
the encounter and see some snippets of the race, part one and two are on my IGTVchannel (@mariadalzot).
Teamwork makes the dream work. |
Coming off the ridge and dropping 2500 ft down the technical
descent into Le Tour, I was passed by a young woman from Nepal who flew over
this technical section and then by ultrarunner Jo Meek of Great Britain. With
the drop in elevation, I soon got uncomfortably hot. I started running off
trail to fountains in people’s backyards to cool off. I know this caused me a
lot of time, but I just held the memory of last year’s breakdown in my head, so
I stopped at every water stop because I was so afraid of running out of water
or getting dehydrated. One thing I need to work on is my aid station protocol.
I would make the Western States crews cringe.
Tad came into the aid station tent at Le Tour while I was
trying to fill up my water bottles but got yelled at and told to leave. So, I
had to fill up my bottles on my own and then go out of the tent where he was
able to give me my extra bottle and pour water on my head.
I felt really refreshed afterwards and approached the part
of the course where I lost my marbles last year, the overpass. Once crossing
the road, we start a 1,000-foot technical climb immediately followed by a 1,000-foot
technical descent. There were photographer and videographers all over this section
which helped me keep my power hiking honest.
Once I made it to the Flegere aid station, only 5km separated
me from the finish, but this is a very exposed and rocky section with a steady
incline all the way to the finish. It is hard to describe just how hard this
section is, but suffice it to say that if Megan Kimmel describes it as tough,
that’s saying something. It really seemed to take forever. My watch was running
long, and I was already at 26.5, but not yet at the finish. After crossing
three snow fields, finally the finish shoot came into view! I mustered the
energy to get a couple of high-fives coming in and then crossed the line so relieved
to be done. They immediately checked our packs to make sure we had the required
gear before letting us exit the finish area.
We got dressed for our last night in magical Chamonix. |
I met Tad, but he wasn’t sure where exactly I finished. He thought
I had faded considerably and counted me in 20th place, but he didn’t
know that some women on the course were part of the Duo race that started the
previous night. On the way back to the house, I looked up results to see that I
was 15th woman. Yes! We were stoked.
Anne Marie finished ahead of me in 12th and Magda
behind me in 16th (closing 5 minutes or so on me the last 5k!). Full results here.
I felt incredibly nauseas the rest of the day and it continued
the following morning. My appetite finally came back, just in time for our
final meal in Chamonix before heading back to Paris en route home.
I don’t know yet if I will return to Mont Blanc for the
marathon next year. Third time is the charm, right? We know so much about the
course now and learn so much each time, it’s hard to not give it another try.
But, damn, is it hard!
Touristing. |
We drove to Paris two days after the race to be tourists for
24 hours. In an 8-mile run, we saw Jardins du Tracadero, Eiffel Tower, Arc de
Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Jardins des Champs-Elysees, Place de Concorde,
Lourve, Cathedrale Notre-Dame, Musee d'Orsay, Seine, Esplanade des
Invalides, and Palais Bourbon. Basically, a whiplash of all of Paris in 90
minutes.
The same day, we drove to Versailles and toured the palace and
gardens which was extremely cool. Crowded and hot, but cool. According to the museum site, Versailles is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century
art. Since the French Revolution forced Louis XVI to leave Versailles for Paris
in 1789, it would never again be a royal residence. Instead, it became the
Museum of the History of France in 1837. The rooms of the Palace were then
devoted to housing new collections of paintings and sculptures representing
great figures and important events that had marked the History of France.
Trying not to get hit by traffic at the Arc de Triomphe. |
Unsurprisingly, I felt run-down and woke up the next morning
with a sore throat and head cold which made traveling home even more uncomfortable.
But I can’t complain too much because this is my first cold in two years and
what do you expect after a hard effort and surrounded by crowds of people.
Thank you for La Sportiva, PRiME Bellingham, Align
Chiropractic, Terrain Gyn, Trail Butter, Ona Treats, Lily Trotter’s Compression, and Native
Eyewear for all your support, expertise, nutrition, recovery, and injury
prevention leading up to the race. I am beyond grateful for having a running
career that has had such longevity and such incredible support along the way.
Thank you to everyone who sent me a message of encouragement
before the race and a congratulations after the race – your love was truly
felt.
A lap around the Lourve. |
Thank you to Colleen and Erwin Martens for graciously giving
us their home to live in for a week prior to going to Chamonix. We are overwhelmed
with your hospitality!
Thank you to iRunFar for the shout out in This Week in Running.
To see more of Tad’s pictures and video footage, you can
check out my Instagram feed and IG TV @mariadalzot.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Fragrance Lake Half Marathon: Summer Edition
The Destination Trail Fragrance Lake Half Marathon traditionally
takes place mid-February in the throes of winter. However, due to an incredibly
tragic plane accident that occurred on course days before the race, the race
was cancelled and rescheduled for June 9th.
Fragrance Lake typically has the potential to be chilly,
muddy, icy, and/or snowy with many downed trees to navigate around, over or under.
With this May being the driest month on record in Bellingham, the trails were
in prime condition for a course PR despite the day’s previous rain showers.
Damn roots. |
However, because the Marathon du Mont Blanc is three weeks
away, we made the decision to train through the race which meant running on
fatigued legs. The race fell at the end of a hard three weeks of training, and
my body could tell. The previous Saturday, I did a 4 ½ hour run with a lot of
climbing that totally wiped me out. The next day we were trying to take a photo
before starting my run and I tripped and almost fell on my face… three times… while
walking. We took that as a pretty clear sign to take the day off. Regardless of
the results of Fragrance, I hoped that my efforts over the past month will serve
me well at Mont Blanc. (To read about my experience last year, read here.)
Looking for the men ahead. |
The Fragrance Lake ½ course went the long way around the lake this year like in 2016. Otherwise, everything remained the same: still the same 3,300 feet of climbing in the first 7 miles, then a trip across the Ridge, concluding with spiraling down Fragrance Lake Trail.
Without David Laney present to take the start out screaming
fast, the first mile was relatively calm, and I kept the lead men in site
before catching up on the first climb to Two Dollar. I shared a couple of miles
with Paul Sage from Club Northwest, but once he pulled off to take the finish
for the simultaneous 10km, I was on my own. At one point on Lost Lake trail, I
saw a glimpse of the leader, Matthew Logan, but my climbing legs were screaming
“not today!” so I trudged on with only my past splits to use as a reference. I
knew two miles in it was going to be near impossible to run my best time today,
but that didn’t stop me from pushing my hardest.
Some video footage from the top of the big climb and the start of the Ridge.
Coming off the Ridge and on to Cleator Road for the final
bump up, Tad said that a woman was only about a minute behind me as I entered
the Ridge and I better push it from here to the end. Aw man! Not the news I
wanted to hear today. My legs were burning so bad on any slight incline. I gritted
my teeth and ran down Fragrance Lake Trail like a crazy person. Luckily, my
loud breathing warned hikers far in advance and they kindly stepped to the side,
and my downhill legs were surprisingly awesome.
When I bottomed out at Fragrance Lake Trail, Tad was there
and asked me if I passed the lead guy. I knew that I hadn’t, so I wasn’t sure
what he was talking about. I sprinted to the finish and embarrassingly missed
the finish shoot so I was spinning my wheels in the gravel trying to quickly make
the turn and cross the finish line. Eighteen seconds later, Matt came through.
He missed reading a course sign and unfortunately took a wrong turn. Had he not,
he would have gotten me by a couple minutes. It was Stacey Cleveland from BC
who was hot on my heels, finishing just 3 minutes back; she ran so strong!
I got lucky today, that's for sure! |
Full results here.
This is my fourth year in a row running the race and my
slowest time yet. Of course, that doesn’t sit well, but I know that had I
backed off on mileage and rested the results would have reflected that.
Girl Power |
Thank you to the whole Destination Trail Team who orchestrated
a flawless event, despite having to fight with course vandalizers the previous
day. The weather man called for rain and cloudy skies, but he couldn’t have
been more wrong. We were treated with perfect running weather: mid-50’s and
sunny. Also perfect for hanging out, eating, and drinking beer while we cheered
on our fellow friends and racers.
We leave for Europe this week, but before we take off, a
quick thank you to some of the people who have helped me prepare, kept me
healthy, motivated, inspired and who enrich my life on a daily basis:
Tad Davis
Kerry Gustafson
Chris Lockwood
Tonia Boze
Quinn Carrasco
Bellingham Distance Project ladies and gents
Jenn Love
Jeff Fisher
Jeff Boggess
Casey Szesze
Au revoir et à bientôt!
Bracing myself for the final push. |
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Smith Rock Ascent 50k
The last 6 miles of the Chuckanut 50k I told myself I never had
to run again if I didn’t want to. My left leg was so tight I had to stop
countless times to stretch throughout the race (starting at mile 5!) and every
mile from the start of the race felt like a struggle. Two years in a row, running
that far was not a fun experience and so I thought maybe the 50k distance was
not for me.
But as time goes on, we runners tend to forget these things;
the pain, the suffering, the soreness. Instead, we remember the camaraderie,
the adventure, overcoming adversity and this fuels our fire. So just two months
later, there I was contemplating running the Smith Rock Ascent 50km, hosted by
Go Beyond Racing.
These are a few of my favorite things. PC: Jeff Fisher |
Tad and I were on the fence about traveling all the way to
Terre Bonne, OR (the town closest to Smith Rock), but when I got a coincidental
message from Jenn Love from the Mountain Shop in Portland asking if I would
like to come down and lead a La Sportiva demo run sometime, synergy was in play
and our minds were made up.
Trail friends. PC: Jeff Fisher |
My training since Chuckanut has been about consistency
rather than intensity and even though my workouts are not as rigid or
aggressive as they used to be, I feel myself getting in shape. Everyday runs
are a little bit snappier, I am recovering well, and I have no – knock on wood –
pain or tightness in my butt (an ongoing problem). I felt strong three weeks
ago at the Yakima Skyline Rim 25k and came within 40 seconds of my course record
so that was a good sign as well.
The 50k distance is still so unknown to me. Unlike the
sub-ultra distance, I never make goals of trying to win or place because I lack
the confidence. It’s more a battle between me and my anxiety, and the longer I
am out there, the more opportunity for the voices in my head to talk. The goal
is always not to listen.
Crusin' through Forest Park. PC: Jeff Fisher |
I have never been to Smith Rock, so I didn’t know the course
other than studying the map and elevation profile. Another factor coming in to
play is central Oregon can get toasty this time of year, so I was concerned
about the heat. If it hits 70 in Bellingham it’s a big deal. But we put the
course map into my watch and there’s nothing we can do about the weather except
run smart and keep up on hydration.
We left for Portland on Thursday morning to meet up with the
folks at Mountain Shop to share some miles with the local trail running
community and demo the La Sportiva Akasha’s. It was my first time running in
Forest Park and I was so impressed. Beautiful buttery green and lush trails
that you could really fly on if you wanted to.
We drove to Smith Rock State Park the next morning and got
there at about noon. So did a gazillion gnats. Swarms of them. There were no
warning signs just tiny pellets hitting you in the face and mouth like a summer
rain. My shake-out jog was basically me flailing my arms and complaining with
my mouth covered. My goal became to finish the race before the bugs came out.
Trying to out-run the bugs. |
I knew from Ultra Signup that the competition would be stiff
with fellow Washingtonian and friend, Paige Patillo, on the starting line, as
well as Tori Tyler, who I raced at the 2014 Trail Half Marathon Championships.
Because I get so nervous I was hoping to work together with these ladies and
enjoy their company for as long as possible.
As we started the five mile loop around the park, Paige and
I calmly navigated our way along the undulating path until the start of the
first climb where I began to pull ahead. Paige is a boss at downhill running as
I experienced firsthand from our first meeting where she used her natural speed
to run me down in the final mile descent, so I knew she would be back with me
soon. After the first climb came some flat miles and then a significant
downhill where Paige caught back up, just as I had hoped. We came through the
first aid station (7ish miles) together, but then started climbing again and I
latched on to the man in front of me. We rolled along until he had to stop to
pee at the bottom of a sandy hill. I kept going and turned to see if anyone was
coming with me, but the chase pack all started to power-hike the hill. I really
didn’t feel as though I needed to hike, but then I was thinking they knew
something I didn’t. I decided to just keep my pace, nice and controlled.
Riley and I working together. |
At the second aid station (13ish miles) I started running with Maks, but had to let him go as he was not pushing as hard on the climbs. Again, I hesitated, but not too far up ahead was Riley. Riley was a pleasure to run with. We chatted about how these trails remind us of Helena, Montana where he is from and how the Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run was going on at the same time.
Mile 12 seemed to be taking forever and finally, after 20
minutes, I realized that I accidentally stopped my watch and had never restarted
it. Riley was kind enough to announce every mile until I pulled away with about
10 miles to go. We were clicking off the sub 7 minute miles so easily I really
couldn’t believe it. I kept waiting for my legs to fatigue or my energy level
to dip or for the anxiety to rear its ugly head. But nothing ever happened.
This was his first ultra and he crushed.
After I crossed the road at mile 24 and prepared for the
final ascent, I caught up to Levi who was being challenged by some inner
demons. I gave him an unsolicited pep talk and then we worked together to push
it up to the final aid station where Yassine and his Wy’east Wolfpack crew were
there rocking and ready for us to run through the “tunnel of love.”
Feeling effortless. |
I kicked it into another gear and started catching up to the
15 milers finishing. I enjoyed the momentum of passing the runners and cheering
them along, but I got stuck behind a guy who had two ear buds in. I was
screaming “excuse me!” and “pardon me!” and “SIR!!!” I contemplated hurling
myself in the brush and going around that way, but then he finally heard me and
moved to the side. Why didn’t I tap him? Because I am scarred for life from the
time I did just that to a lady on the trail in the middle of a race. You can read
about that craziness here.
Jazz hands! |
I knew that about 3 miles to the finish we came screaming
down a service road so when I looked to my right and saw a road below while the
trail I was on was going left I questioned if I was going the right direction
and somehow got turned around. I ran backwards until I could ask the next 15-mile
runner if we were heading to the road and once he confirmed I took off again. The
last 200 meters is up a very steep paved side walk before making the turn into
the finish chute.
I felt strong and smooth and loved every mile. I know this
is going to sound annoying, but I think I could have done 10 more on that day
or I could have run much faster. I am feeling proud of my first ultra win and 8th
place overall in the second fastest course time.
Full results here.
With RD's Todd and Renee. |
After Chuckanut I told you that even my hair hurt. After
Smith Rock, I have one toe that looks like it has been through the blender and
that’s it. Even though I feel good, Tad is still making me take an easy week
(40ish miles) to make sure I am good to go for one final push before we leave
for the Marathon du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. I can’t believe we will be
leaving next month; time is going by so quickly!
Thank you to Todd and Renee from Go Beyond Racing. This win was very special to me and I am so grateful for the awesome print, rock, and pint glasses to always remember it
Thank you to Aid Stations 1&4, 2 and 3 for being so efficient
and bringing so much joy, energy, and entertainment to each runner.
Get in my belly! |
Can we just talk about Longboard Louie’s burritos for a
minute? SO good and satisfying. Thank you for this fabulous treat and perfect
recovery fuel.
Thank you to Maks, Riley and Levi for your company and
encouragement. You made the race so fun.
Thank you to iRunFar for the shout-out in TWIR.
An extra-special congratulation for TEAM USA Women and Men
who made us all proud representing the U.S. at the Trail World Championship in
Spain this weekend. What a show of teamwork, grit, determination, and passion. Read
more about their amazing performances here.
A continued thank you to my team of constant love and support: Tad, La Sportiva, Trail Butter, Terrain Gym, Prime Massage, Align Chiropractic and Lily Trotters Compression.
Until next time, Smith Rock, |
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Yakima Skyline Rim: Take Three
By now I think everyone knows how
much I love Rainshadow Running’s Yakima Skyline Rim 25km. Every April, I look
forward to heading over Snoqualmie pass where it is 38 degrees and snowing and descending
the other side into sun and 60 degrees. It is quite magical, really. Plus, the
drastic change in scenery – the lack of trees, massive rolling hills and clouds
of dirt and dust – is a welcome change after feeling so soggy after a
particularly wet and rainy PNW winter.
The 25km is on Sunday so we left
Bellingham early Saturday morning in the hope of catching the finish of the
50km. We made it to the finish line two minutes before Mike Wolfe came in with
nobody in sight. We took our lunch and hiked up the trail a bit to cheer and
take pictures. We got to see the veterans, my Trail Butter teammate Yassine Diboun
and Seven Hill’s Phil Kochick, as well as my La Sportiva teammate Kaytlyn
Gerbin who ran with focus and determination to crush the course record. All the
50k-ers deserve a hearty “Well done!” after navigating 10,500 feet of climbing
in extremely windy conditions.
La Sportiva 25km & 50km sweep with Kaytlyn! |
After the race we headed to the AirBnB,
which our friends so graciously invited us to share with them. We usually stay
at the Ellensburg KOA, but I am so thankful to have had a warm bed to sleep in
before the race as the morning low was in the low 30’s.
When I woke up in the morning and
went to the bathroom, I looked down at my foot to see a gnarly looking bruise
over the top of my 5th metatarsal. “What the hell?” I thought. I had
no idea what I had done. I don’t remember dropping anything on my foot or any
kind of trauma that would leave such a mark. I was just hoping that it wouldn’t
hurt during the race or be so bad afterwards that it is something serious.
We arrived at the Umtanum
Recreation Area an hour before the start to have enough time to do all the
pre-race things. The day’s weather had the promise of perfection – light wind,
sun and mid-50’s at the finish. I’m sorry 50k-ers!
Leading the conga line in the first mile. |
I didn’t really have a pre-race
strategy going into the race. We have been focusing on consistency and steady workouts
rather than really hard efforts that have left me drained and injured in the
past. The first year of the Yakima 25k, I went out too fast and about died
coming in. The second year I went out much slower and felt a lot better on the
return but was over a minute slower. Super-stud Ladia Albertson-Junkans was
signed up to race the 25km but decided to withdraw as she is preparing to throw
the hammer down at the inaugural Silo District Marathon in two weeks to get an
OTQ. With Ladia out of the race, my goal was just to try to win, without really
focusing on a time goal.
After James gave the pre-race briefing
and reminding us all not to die, we were off and awkwardly running across the
Umtanum suspension bridge as is went up and down from so many legs crossing it.
I actually felt kind of dizzy when we got off, you know that feeling after you
get out of an elevator or off a plane?
Anyways, the top guys took off and
I looked up and saw the bright green of friend Josh Vander Wiele’s shirt in the
distance. I was on the back of the chase pack train for the initial climb and
then towards the top I took the lead. When we crested the top at 3 miles, the
guy beside me said, “you’re in fifth place,” and I responded with, “so are you!”
We worked together on the undulating service road until making the left turn at
Doug McKeever’s (favorite) aid station on to technical single-track. The decent
down to Rosa Creek aid station is a doozy. Even though I lubed up my feet based
on past experience, I still felt the burn of friction from sliding on the loose
ground.
Finish line feelings. |
The out and back nature of the
course allows us to meet and greet all the runners at the turn-around. This is
one of the reasons I love this race so much. Trail races are often so lonely,
but on this course, at least for a couple miles, you get to experience the camaraderie
and enthusiasm of the race. I felt stronger than I ever have on the net-uphill return
to the finish and was able to really push the final technical decent back to
the suspension bridge where Tad was waiting to run behind me across it because
#anxiety.
I made the loop around the perimeter of the parking lot and made sure
to slow before crossing the finish line for my revered James Varner high-five.
Last year, I nearly pulled his arm out of the socket as I dragged him with me
almost to the buffet line. For an embarrassing documentation of this, look back
at last year’s report.
I ended up first woman and 5th
overall with a time of 2:28:50, 40 seconds shy of my 2016 CR. Full results here.
After running the 25km three years
in a row, I think next year, body-willing, it will be time to step it up to the
50km. Oh boy. Double the fun, right?
James, me & the awesome print. |
As always, I want to thank James
and the entire Rainshadow Running team and all the volunteers for making every
race such a special experience. From the food, to the beer to the music – the atmosphere
is unbeatable, and I am so grateful to live in the PNW and to have the
opportunity to take part in these events.
Tad and I were not ready to leave
the sunny-side of the mountains quite yet, so we decided to camp out the
following night. We usually sleep in the car, but the Orange Tiger wouldn’t
start before the trip, so we had to take the Prius which meant sleeping in a tent.
I froze my ass off. We woke up to 32 degrees with ice on the tent. We got up before
5am and booked it to Starbucks for warmth and caffeine.
The temperatures rose quickly, and
it was a comfortable 60 degrees for our hike/jog. My foot was significantly worse
and was causing a lot of pain for the first time. (Luckily, now a couple of
days later, the coloring is better and no longer causing pain.) What a freaky
thing!
You know it was a good weekend when
you step in the shower and a plume of campfire smoke smell is released and you let
out a little scream from all the cuts and scrapes you acquired. I think I
finally got all the dirt out of my nose… three days later.
Trying to hide how sore I am the day after. |
Up next for me is the Smith RockAscent 50km in three weeks which I am so pumped about. I have yet to experience
the gorgeous trails of Smith Rock or a Go Beyond Racing event, so I am really
looking forward to it. I am still trying to kindle a love for the 50km distance
so maybe this race will be enough to light my fire.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Chuckanut 50k: Take Two
What a beautiful day we had for Chuckanut this year - a
stark contrast to last year's downpour. The depth of the women's field gets
deeper every year with this year being no exception. A solid race for me could
mean barely breaking the top 10. This was my second ultra, the first being the
2017 Chuckanut 50k where I placed 5th female.
Warm-up snuggles with Nikki. |
I had a really good training block early this winter and was
feeling strong and fit. My first race of the year was the Orcas Island 25k in
January in less than ideal conditions. Running aggressively through snow and
slush left a lingering twinge in my knee that put a kink into my training leading
up to Chuckanut. I took several days off and skipped a couple of weeks of
workouts to try to tame the pain and tightness.
With that, my confidence wasn’t high, and I really didn’t know
what to expected on race day. About three miles into the race, my left leg
started tightening up (a chronic issue of mine that flares up when I run on
flats) and forced me to stop and stretch several times on the Urb before
heading up the single track into the Chuckanuts. I was running in about 7th or
8th place early on with Sarah Bard who would pull away every time I
stretched so I’d put in a minor surge to catch back up each time.
Unfortunately, the tightness never let up, so the race ended up being an
uncomfortable grind the whole way. Since I know the course so well, it was hard
not to feel 100% because I knew every little challenge that was ahead of me and
I began to dread each section. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss!
Taking a much-needed GU on Chinscraper. |
Because the women's field was so deep, I was constantly
trading places with some of the top women, especially Kathryn (Kat) Drew (6th
and just over a minute behind me last year), who I leap-frogged with multiple
times. She really allowed me to get out of my own head and start racing, which made
the experience much more fun.
At the start of the final long 3-mile descent to Lost Lake
aid station, somebody yelled out, "Great job, Ellie!" My first
thought was, "Wow, somebody has mistaken me for one of my trail heroes and
the queen of the Chuckanut 50k, Ellie Greenwood!" My second thought was,
"Wow, this is what it feels like to be hunted down by Ellie," as I
felt the wind of Ellie screaming by me in classic Ellie fashion. I never had so
much fun getting passed by somebody in a race.
When I got to the final aid station, I traded in my
hydration vest for a hand-held and braced myself for what every Chuckanut 50k
racer dreads the most: the final 10km on the Interurban Trail. I stopped 1-2
times each mile to loosen up my left leg. Unfortunately, this meant watching Kat
get further and further ahead (and little did I know Sarah Bard getting closer
and closer behind me). She had such a strong race and it has been very impressive
to watch her bring her Chuckanut times down significantly every year.
Finish line. Oh, sweet relief! |
Given the way I felt on the day, I am extremely satisfied
with my 6th place finish. But even more so, I am so grateful for the love and
support of my Bellingham community. So much love waited for me at the finish
line. Gosh, I love you trail people! I woke up the next morning unable to move
most of my body, but with a very full heart.
Congratulations to everyone who raced, from Keely’s super
impressive first Chuckanut win and second fastest time ever, to Anne-Marie’s Chuckanut
PB, to Ellie’s non-comeback comeback, and so many more standout moments to
mention. During the final 10km I told myself that I would never have to race –
or run! – ever again after this. Now that it has been a couple of days, I think
I might reconsider. This event is far too special to pass up.
Hopefully saying something witty to Anne-Marie and Kaytlyn. Hard to tell. |
Thank you to Krissy Moehl and her team of race directors,
and to all the volunteers and aid station crews who help make this such a
special and memorable experience for everyone every single year.
A massive thank you to the team of people who have helped me
for 4+ years: Kerry Gustafson, Chris Lockwood, Tonia Boze, Jeff Boggess, Jenn
Love, Jeff Fisher, my La Sportiva family, my Bellingham family, and my real
family. And of course, it goes without saying, to my husband, Tad.
With the champ, Keely. |
I wasn’t sure if I should keep doing these blog reports
because the message always ends up being the same after all these years, but it
is an opportunity to really reflect and remind myself about what is most
important in life and the many good people that I am so blessed to have as role
models, friends and family.
This was my last race in my 20’s. What a decade it has been!
I am so grateful for the experiences I have had the last 10 years and will
continue to work hard to learn, grow and open opportunities for the next 10
years.
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