Pacific NW Cross Country Championships

Today was the USATF Pacific NW Cross Country Championships in Lower Woodland Park, Seattle. After yesterday’s downpours and unruly winds, today we were treated with the perfect fall day: 50 degrees and sunny. The course was 3 times 2Km loops for a total distance of 6Km. I met my GBRC teammates and we warmed up on the course while Tad’s race was underway. Deciding what kind of shoes to wear for this course was tricky because there were multiple road crossings, but yesterday’s rain made the packed dirt slick, especially around the turns. I decided to go with spikeless spikes, but in hindsight should have opted for small spikes because I was experiencing slippage on some parts of the course.  

The downhill start.

The start was at the top of a hill so everyone went out pretty quickly. The start of cross country races always makes me recall the intensity of the starts of college NCAA Division 1 meets, and the many good times I had with my WVU teammates. (The Mountaineers just placed second in the Big 12 Conference meet this weekend!) Luckily, I love all of my new team members and I know there are many fun times ahead.

Me and Courtney working our way through the field.

I was consistent with my mile splits (5:58,6:00,6:01…), but constantly moved through the pack. The course was challenging, either a gradual uphill or fast downhill.  I worked my way up to an overall 8^th place finish. Our team placed second to Club Northwest, but we will definitely be giving them a race come the National Championships in December. We received $50 for our efforts and rather than getting  $7 each, we are putting the profits into some special celebrating that will take place after Nationals in Bend, Oregon.

 Full results can be found at http://www.pntf.org/ and all of Tad's pictures can be found here. 

Post-race smiles.

Close, But No Cigar

I lost the Lake Padden Trail Half-Marathon today by 15 seconds. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a blow. I was ready for this race, having time-trialed every section of the course and knowing it like the back of my hand. I was confident.  I am not upset with my final time of 1:33:56, just disappointed in the way that I felt.

Loosening up tight hamstrings.

Ever since the 6Km cross country race last weekend, my legs haven’t felt as good as they were prior to. I did everything I could to rest up this week, including getting 2 massages, and I barely ran on Thursday and Friday. Still, on my warm-up this morning I was still feeling ‘off.’ I ran the race pretty much solo. I never had a constant running buddy, only a brief passing by-or being passed by- a couple men. I was caught by the eventual winner at 11.5 miles after leading the whole race. I could get moving on the down-hills, but my ability to power up the hills was absent today and I could not hang in the last mile.

*Photo courtesy of Andy Bronson

Ugh.

No immediate race photos today because Tad was running the race (and did very well - 2^nd in his age group, 10^th overall). Luckily the talented and famed Glenn Tachiyama was there to capture all of the action. Thanks Glenn! I will post some pictures when they become available.

Al Coyle, race director, did an amazing job this weekend bringing together great people for a great cause. If only every community could have an Al. Great job to all of my friends who raced- you guys are awesome! A special shout out to our guest who came up from Bend, OR- Mario Mendoza. Mario and I were on the 2011 US Mountain Running Team together that competed in Mexico. Mario just won the US National 10Km Trail Championships and is preparing to take home the 50Km title on November 9^th in Boulder City, Nevada. Best of luck to you! He is doing a 20+ mile long run tomorrow morning in the Chuckanuts…sorry, Mario; I will not be joining you! I am looking forward to celebrating everyone’s hard work tonight at the post-race party at Poppe’s 360.

Ah, well. You know what they say: “First if the worst, second is the BEST…”

* For more pictures from ANDY BRONSON from the THE BELLINGHAM HERALD of the Lake Padden Trail Half-Marathon, visit the Bellingham Herald Photo Gallery.

Cross Country Kick-Off

Today was the debut race performance of the “GBRC Elite,” a cross country team comprised of local female all-stars in the sport of running. Members include: Sierra Brisky, Lydia Carrick, Kristen Carter, Bronwyn Crossman, Amber Morrison, Courtney Olsen and myself. We are successful marathoners (Lydia, Kristen, Amber, Courtney), college cross country studs (Sierra, Bronwyn) and trail enthusiasts (Maria).

GBRC Logo on the back of our singlet

Our team is sponsored by the Greater Bellingham Running Club(GBRC). The goal of the GBRC is to “promote health and fitness through participation in running on road, track and cross-country” in the greater Bellingham area. We are very thankful to the GBRC for their support financially and their enthusiasm to help us achieve our athletic goals. Brooks Running Company kindly supplied our team with jerseys, arm-warmers and sweet pink jackets that cannot go unnoticed.

The cross country season kicked off today at the Western (Washington University) Invitational Cross Country Classic at East Lake Padden Park here in Bellingham. The 6 Km course is a mix of grassy fields, a loop around Lake Padden and just a touch of horse trails. Being the first race of the season, this was a chance to wake up our cross country legs and, for me, it was a good tune-up race for the Padden Trail Half Marathon next weekend.

We all had uncertainties about how we could perform because some are marathon training, some are dealing with injury and others (me) have been focused on trail specific training. Despite our collective lack of cross country confidence, we were able to pull off the win, placing 4 in the top 16. Needless to say, we were thrilled! It was a great opener to our season and an even better boost for the team morale. There is 8 weeks until Club Nationals- plenty of time to get fitter, faster and stronger.

Not bad for a couple of (good lookin') local gals.

The remainder of GBRC Elite’s schedule:

November 3: PNTF Championships - Seattle, WA

November 23: NW Regionals- Fairview, WA (I will be in WV)

December 14: Club Cross Country Nationals - Bend, OR

Running with Olympians (Sort of)

Going into the Xterra Trail RunNational Championships this weekend in Ogden, Utah, I felt the fittest I have felt so far this season. My workout around Lake Padden on Wednesday showed promise that my strength and speed is starting to come around. I gained a lot of experience from my previous races in California and Park City in regards to racing longer distances and at altitude, respectively, so I knew there would be no surprises for the course that waited at the Snowbasin Ski Resort. With all of those factors under my belt, I was excited to race.

We arrived at Snowbasin Friday at lunchtime with the intention of running the second half of the course. My knee was feeling a bit cranky so I made a smart decision to take the day off. Luckily I have Tad to act as my eyes and legs, and so while I waited in the car and ate all of the snacks I brought for the weekend, he ran the last 9 miles of the course. Saturday we were able to run the first 4 miles together and so I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into before I lined up this morning.

Me and my buddy, Brad.

Lindsey Anderson, defending champion and course record holder, was returning to the race this year. As a local runner she has the advantage of living and training at altitude. There is also the little fact that she competed for the USA in the steeplechase at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Liz Stephen from Vermont was the runner-up in 2011 and also returning this year. There is also the little fact that she competed for the USA in cross country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I knew they were going to be hard to run with.

The race was off to the sound of a gun that sounded more like a canon. Before heading up the trail, they had us run a "victory" lap around the parking lot to spread out the field. People took off like it was the 5^th Avenue Mile. As soon as I started the climb at a half mile, I knew I was at 6,000 feet and I accepted that I would be sucking air for the next 13 miles.

Liz took it out very hard and Lindsey just hung on. By the mile, they were out of site. I passed Tad just after the mile and he informed me that there was no woman in site behind me and, "Good job".  Because he wasn't screaming in my ear to catch the leaders like he usually does, I knew that Liz and Lindsey were long gone and never to be seen again. Today I will be running for third place.

A Hurtin' Pup

I settled into running with the men and just ran my own race. I knew there was $400 on the line so I wanted to be sure to keep my spot. I felt as though I kept pushing and never let up for the entire race. I know this because I was breathing too hard to open a GU. Fortunately, I didn't need it today.

Lindsey ended up defending her title with Liz close behind. They both crushed the previous course record. My finishing time of 1:39:59 was solid based on last year's results.

Liz, Lindsey, Maria

Thank you to the Xterra race directors- you all had a huge weekend of events to pull off and you did so superbly. I look forward to returning to Snowbasin next year. Thank you to Inov-8 for my Roclite 268's- they are my go-to shoe, ready for any terrain and distance. Thank you to the kind spectator at 3.5 miles who told me that my running was beautiful- you made my day.

Top 3 Men & Women

After the race, it was fun to have a chance to hang out and catch up with fellow Washingtonian, Joe Gray as we waited for the awards. Rest up, Joe- you've had a great year!

Me and my Camera Man

Review: Inov-8 Base Elite™ 130 LS

Yesterday I got a surprise in the mail from Inov-8: the Base Elite™ 130LS, the Base Elite™ 140 LSZ and the Race Elite™ 160 3QTR.

I tried out the Base Elite™ 130 LS during my warm-up this morning. The fit was so comfortable that I wanted to workout in it, but the day's warming temperatures forced me to save it for another day. It will be perfect for winter racing which will be here before you know it. 

Though I spend 90% of my training time on the trails, the reflective detailing provides more visibility for road crossings, especially now that it is getting dark much earlier. The main body of the shirt has UPF 50+ protection and the mesh parts under the arms have UPF 20+ protection which will be great for training runs on mountain ridges above treeline when I am unprotected from the sun.  

In my opinion, the best part about all three of these pieces is that they are all made specifically for women. I would feel good wearing them whether I am warming up, working out, running errands or traveling. 

Base Elite™ 140 LSZ & Race Elite™ 160 3QTR.

(I will review after some quality time in them.)

Pretty sharp lookin'!

All three items are already packed up in my suit case ready for the Xterra Trail Running National Championship this weekend in Ogden, Utah. And at only 5.5 ounces or less, that leaves a lot of room for the 6 pair of shoes that I am taking. 

Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon

The morning of Saturday, October 19^th will be the 3^rd running of the Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon in Bellingham, Washington. The course is a delightful mix of single-track horse trails that are steep, technical and challenging -to say the least - and the wide, fast, rolling trail that circumnavigates the lake.

The Lake Padden Trail Half Marathon epitomizes what the community of Bellingham is about: Good people coming together to do something good for themselves all while helping the wellbeing of others. All of the race proceeds will go to benefit Rebound of Whatcom County, a local charity that brings hope and healing to kids and families whose childhoods have been tainted by abuse, poverty and neglect.

Packet pick-up will be held at the Book Fare Café in Village Books in the heart of downtown Fairhaven on Friday evening. I will be there at 5:30pm to give a presentation on my two greatest passions: running and nutrition. So come on over after work, get your race number, mingle with your fellow competitors and join me on what it means to live a wholesome life through diet and lifestyle.

Saturday evening after you clean up and get a nap, join us for the post-race party at Poppe’s 360 Pub. They will be offering an extended Happy Hour with food and drink specials from 4:00-8:00pm on their heated deck.  If that is not enticing enough, live music will be played by the bluegrass band, The Pine Hearts- hailing from Olympia, WA- until 8:00pm.

Hurry! Registration closes on Wednesday, October 16^th at 11:59pm and there is NO day of race registration. If you are a sponsored runner interested in competing, complimentary lodging will be offered to you at the Lakeway Inn. Please contact me or race director Al Coyle at albert.coyle@yahoo.com.

For more information and to register or volunteer, visit the Lake Padden Trail Half Web site or the Facebook page.

See you on the starting line!

Train Low, Race High

After having a solid race at Table Rock, I was 9th in the La Sportiva Mountain Cup series and thought I had a shot at placing for prize money (top 5) if I went to Utah for the final race in the series, the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase in Park City, Utah. We made a last minute decision to go for it and booked the last flight available. A would-be 2 hour direct flight into Salt Lake City turned into a 2.5 hour flight to Denver and then another hour up to Salt Lake City and in my bed at 2 a.m. Thursday night.

My biggest concern for this race was being at altitude. The start was at 7,000 feet and climbed to over 10,000 feet at the top of Jupiter Peak. The typical formula is train high and race low. Unfortunately, my house in Bellingham, Washington sits at a modest 20 feet. Hmm...this was going to be a challenge.

Friday morning while Tad was out running the course, I tested out a 4 mile jog. Within 45 seconds, my heart was trying to escape the confines of my chest. Hmm...this was going to be a challenge. I walked the climbs and ran back down. Tad finished up a couple hours later and filled me on the infamous scramble. I was nervous about the height and any possible drop-offs. He assured me that it "wasn't so bad." Our plan, then, was for me to lead up the mountain from the start to the top of the second peak and then hopefully open up enough of a gap to be able to finish well.

Emma, Susan and me at the start.

The gun went off around 8:15am and the climb began immediately at the base of the Payday chair lift. I had a couple exchanges with Emma Garrard who had the early lead and then at 2.5 miles I took the lead and opened a gap. The course was very well marked by the crew and volunteers of Mountain Trails Foundation. I held the lead as we started up the scramble to the top of Jupiter Peak. As it turns out, my fear of the height was a non-issue. Instead, the issue was that my legs suddenly started shaking and decided they were done climbing. My arms tried to pick up the slack as I struggled to get to the top on all fours. Soon, Susan Minneci passed me. Usually if I am passed on a climb, I focus on the person's back and try to maintain contact. Because it was so steep, I was staring at the heel counter of her Hoka's. That was short-lived. I was elated to reach the flag pole marking the top of Jupiter Peak, but my oxygen-depleted heart sunk when I saw Tri-County Peak looming ahead.

The Scramble

The race uses the name "steeplechase' to signify the "hurdle" of peaks as if they were two barriers on the track. Susan had a 30 second lead at this point, but my biggest goal was just to get to the top of the second summit. When I finally crested the top, I was so happy. I could have finished there and been thrilled with my performance. Instead, the actual finish was another 8 miles away.

Whee! No more climbing!

The first mile of the descent I was just glad to be going downhill, but then 2 miles later, I didn't want anything to do with a hill - be it uphill or downhill. Somewhere in there (things were getting fuzzy), Emma passed me. With 3 miles to go, I latched on to one of the La Sportiva crew. Thank God he was there. I think he was as ready to be done as I was. The two of us almost took out an inconsiderate mountain biker as we bombed down the hill. I followed him all the way to the finish where we hugged and high-fived jubilantly, celebrating that we could stop running and sit down in the shade. I ended up 3rd female (3:48 behind the leader, Susan) and 4th overall in the La Sportiva Mountain Cup Series. Overall, it was a satisfying day. I met many great people, gained a lot of racing experience and won $1,500.

Thank you, again, to the race directors, volunteers and the Mountain Trails Foundation for a well-organized, unique and challenging event. I'm ready to do it again... I just need 364 days to recover. Thank you to La Sportiva for sponsoring some of the greatest trail races in the country through the La Sportiva Mountain Cup Series and for supporting mountain racing. Thank you to Inov-8. My Roclite 268's came through again. They are amazingly versatile, from the rainforest of the Pacific Northwest to the coast of California to the mountain peaks of Utah.

Emma, Maria, Susan

I was right about one thing: it was a challenge!

 *Tad Davis photos