Fun Training Weekend!

I had an awesome training run last weekend, one of the final prep weekends before the Bighorn 100.  Saturday was a 39 mile run around Capitol Forest in Olympia - climbing everything and anything that went up.  The run had about 7,500 feet of gain - so nothing too horrible but definitely a good training run in the forest.  Josh joined me and we had fun running both Capitol Peak and Larch Mountain several times.  I felt awesome and easily could have run plenty more.  A good sign for Bighorn! 

The training weekend continued with leading a pace team for the Capital City Marathon in Olympia.  I helped organize the pace teams and led the 4:45 group for the entire race.  I felt very strong and the legs weren't tired from the long run.  Another good sign! 

Capitol Peak 50 - A sweet victory!

The 2012 racing season is officially underway!  This weekend I had the pleasure of racing the Capitol Peak 50.  My legs and my mind were strong and I took first place in the women’s race with a time of 8:55. 

                        Josh, Jenny and yours truly the morning of the race!

The race is held in the Capitol Forest outside of Olympia, Washington. https://capitolpeakultras.com/Race_Info.html  Lucky for me this is my training ground and I am intimately familiar with the course – I even helped mark 16 miles of the course the weekend prior to the race!  John Pearch is a fabulous race director for the event and receives ample support from the OlyTrailRunners group that I train with regularly.  I train at the forest just about every weekend and there is one climb in particular I love running in the forest.  So much so that I’ve acquired a bit of a “reputation” on this climb that no one can actually stay with me.  I laugh at comments made by my training partners, but as you will see – this climb became the race for me last weekend.

My first main goal race for the year is the Bighorn 100 on June 15^th.   This 50 was a stepping stone of sorts, I wanted to run strong and gauge my fitness for the 100 but I didn’t have any time goals per se.  The weekend approached with my attention focused elsewhere.  I hosted 5 runners at my house for race weekend so I spent the week of “rest” cleaning my house and preparing to feed hungry runners!  I wasn’t sure which would be more exciting – all the friends under one roof or the race itself!  In hindsight it was probably a blessing to have something else to focus on during the week and keep my thoughts away from the race.  It kept my mind fresh and engaged the day of the race.

 

The morning of the race felt like a big reunion.  I saw so many people I knew and spent so much time chatting with people that I didn’t have time to even think about the race.  I got to the starting line about 3 minutes before “go” time.  As we all headed off, I started moving up the pack as I knew we had about 400 yards before we hit the singletrack.  I settled into a rhythm pretty quickly and was well-absorbed in each moment without much thought about where we were going.  Since I train in this forest I know this course very well.  I didn’t even think about the course – I know it better than I know anything else.  Looking back, I see how much stress that removed from my mind.  I didn’t have to think about where we were going or what was coming up.  I know virtually every undulation in this course and never gave it a second thought on race day. 

The race started easily and without incident.  I was in my groove and feeling strong.  I got tripped up by a stick about 4 miles into the race and almost went down on my face.  I had my wits about me, though, and was able to catch myself.  Several guys behind me remarked that it would have been a spectacular fall.  Good thing I avoided it!  I breezed through the first aid station and saw a few people I knew – shedding my gloves as I’d gotten pretty warm.  My average speed was about 9:57 up to this point.  I was looking forward to the climb to the peak and left the aid station quickly.  The next 5 miles are almost entirely uphill.  I love going up hills and powered up the climb easily.  My pace slowed a bit but I felt strong and passed several people on the climb.  The first time through the Peak I saw several of the local trail runners who gave me great encouragement.  The course then does a 5 mile loop and comes back through this same point and I again took off quickly to tackle this section.  The loop section begins with a downhill and a rolling part, which passed quickly.  I ran into a friend I met last year at Capitol Peak and he is great company.  He proved to be a great encouragement throughout this race and I’m glad to have run into him again.  The section ends with a hellacious climb up what is affectionately known as “The Grunt”.  It is steep and about a half mile long.  The trail is riddled with large rock boulders which make the footing difficult.  I hiked this section, and for the most part that was the only time I walked during the entire race. 

At the peak for the second time, I learned I was In 2^nd place.  The competitive fire had been lit.  I didn’t know how far ahead of me she was, but I set off in earnest.  At the Wedekind aid station 5 miles later (mile 24), I saw the leader as she was leaving the aid station.  I swapped hydration packs at this aid station – switching to another that was pre-filled with food and drink.  I set off on the out and back section a minute or two after the leader.  This out and back section was my low point.  My stomach wasn’t handling the gels or waffles too well and it seemed worst during this section.  I knew I needed to get more calories and originally planned to eat a sandwich here but I just couldn’t stomach it.  I began taking in more electrolyte tablets in an effort to balance my lack of food and hoped the feeling would pass quickly. 

At the turnaround point (mile 29) and Club Oly aid station I picked up my friend, Bill, who was going to run with me back to Wedekind.  This was a great distraction for those 6 miles and he did a great job encouraging me.  He definitely caught me at the worst and I wasn’t very talkative.  I saw the leader at the turnaround and I knew I wasn’t gaining on her but I wasn’t losing ground either.  At every sighting my desire to win grew stronger.  Bill kept telling me to just let it go and enjoy the race whatever the outcome.  Great advice and very positive – but it just made me realize how much I wanted the win.  I got back to Wedekind (mile 35) and knew the next section was all downhill.  I took some chews with me and hoped I could get them down before the final climb.  I gained some ground on the leader on this downhill and at this point I decided to wait to try and catch her until the last climb.  I ate my chews and rolled into the Falls Creek aid station (mile 43) feeling confident.  The FOCF volunteers told me she was just a “few minutes” ahead of me.  I knew the climb ahead and was ready to make my attack.  After all, this is “my” climb – the one I’d earned a reputation for climbing well! 

I caught the leader about half way up the 3-mile climb.  After the pass, I put my head down and ran my heart out.  I knew there was a possibility she’d catch me again but I vowed to just run as hard as I could and hope for the best.  I never looked back until I was about a half mile from the finish and I knew I had it.  I came up to the finish with a huge grin on my face and shared the finish with all my friends who were there to watch.  Even my husband was there, which was a complete surprise.  It was a glorious moment to win in front of so many people I knew. 

Last year the Capitol Peak 50 was my first ultramarathon and my second trail run.  I finished in 10:08 last year.  I’ve certainly come a long way.  Now I know these trails and I PR’d by almost 75 minutes.  My 8:55 is the 9^th fastest time by a woman on that course in the history of the race.  I’m very excited about not only the year ahead but beyond!  After all, going after it is the only way to get it!  

Special thanks go out to John Pearch for putting on a top-notch race.  Also to all my peeps in the OlyTrailRunning group - especially Herb, Dave, Melissa and Dave, you really helped me along the course!  To the Club Oly runners at the C2000 aid station - Andy, Cherry and Bill... you made me smile.  To Bill for running with me when times were tough.  To Jason and Jenn at Wedekind (and for the weekend), you two rock!  And to Tasha, the woman I passed on the hill - thanks for pushing me to run faster.  

Forest 30 mile training run

Today I did a great run with two local trail running gurus to help scout out downed trees and clear debris on the Capitol Peak 50 race course. It was a fabulous day - the SUN was shining and the trails were in great shape! Herb and I left from Falls Creek at 7am and met up with Dave at Wedekind around 9am. Along the way we did about 4,000 feet of climbing, post-holed through snow at least a foot deep, and cleared debris. Oh, and "maybe" we enjoyed the sunshine too. :)

Rainier was stunning today - you can see several shots. One was taken about 7:45am and the other around Noon. A day on the trails is always a good day! I hope Herb and Dave take me along again soon!

Trail Tales

I started writing a quarterly newsletter article for my local running club, called Trail Tales. Here is my first article. I would love feedback and suggestions for future articles!
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I’ve been a runner for over 22 years. You could say it defines me. I’ve raced everything from the 100 yard dash to the marathon to the 100 mile mountain ultra-marathon, but I’m still learning. I’m still discovering new ways to enjoy the sport that I love.

I started trail running less than a year ago after moving from Ohio, in order to experience the awesome natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and give my legs a break from the roads. What I found on the trails awakened something within me that has made me a better runner and a happier person. My legs got a break from the roads by running on a softer surface but quickly became stronger from improvement of my stabilizing muscles. My core strength improved. I learned to be a more efficient hill runner and reaped the rewards of amazing views upon reaching the summit.

Every trail run begins by closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. As I fill my lungs with the clean air, I take in the smell of the trees and the damp earth. I am thankful for the opportunity to experience this and escape from the urban jungle that is dominated by cars and ruled by traffic lights. I know I will be slower than on the roads, but I take pride in what my strong body is able to accomplish. Knowing that I will encounter the unknown on the trail invigorates me. I seek an encounter where I am one with the trail and once again feel like a kid running through the woods.

The new friends I’ve made on the trail are an invaluable part of the experience. Trail runners are laid-back, flexible, passionate and giving by nature, yet have a heightened resolve that drives them to the finish line. They are more accepting of newcomers than any group I’ve ever met, and share tips and advice whenever prompted. I’m always struck by the desire which everyone shows in being there, living the moment and forgetting their cares for a while. We are ourselves here and it’s a glorious thing.

Trail running showed me what I’m really made of. Although humbling at times, the feeling you get from pushing your pre-conceived limits is empowering. The joy and freedom I feel on the trail bestows an invigorating energy that carries me through life. I feel more alive than ever before and I know the best is yet to come. Trail running has made me a better person, a happier person, a more alive person. Try it. It will do the same for you. And if you already love trails, count your blessings.

Lord Hill 50k

This weekend I ran a 50k to “clear out the cobwebs” and kick off the season. I ran it more as a training run than a race – without a taper or even much rest to speak of. I haven’t done a run this long since November and I wanted to see how my legs would do on the trail again. (I’ve been off the trails much of the winter because of weather and time constraints)

The race consisted of a 10 mile loop that we completed 3 times. And at the end we did a 1.1 mile loop to finish up the 50k. By my watch, the course was 31.98 miles. The course layout and the mud were not kind. Mentally it was tough to come through the finish line (and see my car) 3 times before I actually finished. The mud was also keen on trying to steal my shoes, which is a battle I thankfully won. I’m not kidding, the mud was ankle deep in many spots and where it wasn’t deep it was slippery and made me wish for colder temperatures so the mud would freeze. (Because we all know it’s not going to stop raining in the PNW)

Whining aside, the race was a success for me. I ran a steady pace, keeping an even tempo and not fading much as the race went on. That was my main objective – to run strong and build my base for the season ahead. I got compliments from a lot of people I ran by, so I think I looked strong to others. The course set up allowed for many opportunities to see other runners, and I found that one benefit to the many-loop course. Although I was running alone the whole race, I still got to dish out and receive encouragement from other runners. Bonus!

One area that needed more attention was my nutrition. I completely underestimated how much food I would need for a 5+ hour effort. I took in 4 GU’s, 1 pack of energy chews, 24 ounces of Nuun and about 1.5 liters of water during the first 30 miles. Not enough. On the last 1 mile loop I got very lightheaded and had to reach into the depths of my hydration pack for a waffle. It took about 8 minutes for the waffle to kick in and I was good to go again. I haven’t made a mistake like that before and I won’t again. That is one good thing races like this do – teach you about your nutrition needs.

In the end, I finished in 5:56. 2nd woman. Not bad for the end of a 101 mile week. It was a great experience and I feel more than ready to tackle 2012!

2012 - A Look Ahead

2011 was a year of firsts for me. I ran my first real trail run, I ran my first ultra and I completed my first 100 mile race. I met a lot of new friends and feel truly lucky to have had the experiences I have. Trail running brings out the fun side of running all over again and I’m in love. And my passion is squarely directed at 100 mile races. I adore them. I never felt more alive and more myself than I did during Cascade Crest. The impression 2011 leaves on me propels me into 2012 and beyond into the fun and welcoming world of ultrarunning. And I couldn’t be more excited!

On tap for 2012:

• Capitol Peak 50 – April
• Bighorn 100 – June
• White River 50 – July
• Cascade Crest 100 or Waldo 100k – August (I am on the waitlist for Cascade Crest and keeping my fingers crossed)
• Pinhoti 100 – November

My 2012 plan is ambitious. But that’s the kind of person I am. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now that I know I can cover the 100 mile distance and have fun doing it – the challenge will be to have even MORE fun and cover the distance faster as I fine tune my nutrition and gear needs.

Somehow I’ve convinced a few sponsors to stand behind my efforts in 2012. Many thanks to GU and Nuun for their support! I believe in and use all of their products already – and it’s so nice to have them on my team!

Capitol Forest Training Run

I do a lot of my long trail runs at the Capitol State Forest near Olympia. Today I did a 5 hour run up in the forest, climbing several of the peaks - including Capitol Peak (the high point which has cell towers on top). I had a great time, as always, and decided to take my camera along for the run. What follows is a pictorial narrative of my run in the order I saw them. I'll let nature and the pictures speak for themselves. It was a GREAT day!

Cascade Crest 100

What follows is a recap of my first 100 mile race. It is wordy and rambles on... I know this. This is a weekend I will remember forever and I want to remember all the details. Read on, at your own risk...

August 27, 2011 was a day I'd anticipated for months. To be exact, I signed up for Cascade Crest on February 12, 2011 and it had been on my mind ever since. I've been a runner for over 22 years... and dreamed of someday running a 100 miler. When I moved to the Pacific Northwest I told my boss that I wanted to run Cascade Crest ONE DAY since it was the premier event in the area. He said to me "what are you waiting for?" I rambled on about how I'd never run an ultra, was new to trails... that maybe 2012 would be a good year to run it after I get some experience under my belt. He looked at me again and said "what are you waiting for?" The seed was planted. I signed up on February 12th knowing I'd give it all I had this year to be ready for it. For those of you who know me a little less than others, I am someone who does things 120% or not at all. Once I make up my mind it's a done deal. I'm in.

Maybe as an omen I was assigned number 42. I didn't have any aversion to this number so I felt it was a good one. My husband noted immediately the reference to the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy and how 42 is the answer to all questions in the universe. For me this race would certainly reveal a lot about my soul and tolerance for pain... so bring it on! I also looked back and I'd worn number 24 in my first ultra ever, the Capitol Peak 50 in 2011.

I felt confident as the race approached that I could cover the distance. My body handled high miles well (I typically run high miles even in the off season, but this was more than I'd done before) and I never felt burnt out this whole summer. In fact, I had trouble sleeping on Friday nights because I knew I was hitting the trails on Saturday for a long run. Yup, I was that excited. I was worried about the elevation gains in Cascade Crest. 20,500 up and 20,500 down is nothing to take lightly. But as the race approached I worked on my frame of mind... got ready to do it my way. I felt confident. A little scared. But READY. And EXCITED!

As I started packing my gear, I was amazed at how much "stuff" seems to be required to run 100 miles. I have run several 50's and I never used a drop bag and got by with my hydration pack and aid stations the whole run. The 100 left me feeling like I was packing for an expedition. Planning for the unknown was hard. Who knows what I'd want to eat at mile 80? I covered all my bases and brought plenty of everything. I was amused by the volume of gear, so I snapped a photo.

(Is this much gear really needed? Not really, I would learn)

I live a little more than 2 hours from the start of the race in Easton, WA. I decided this was too far to drive the morning of the race and opted to stay in a hotel in Cle Elum the night before. This worked well and my amazing crewmaster Paul met me at the hotel. We looked over the gear, packed and repacked stuff. And I was left to my own thoughts for about 12 hours before we needed to leave for the race. I watched some pathetic TV show with brides fussing over their dresses and this was enough to put me to sleep. I was amazed, but I actually slept the night before the race. (this is unusual for me)

Race morning went off without a hitch. I got lots of text messages and emails from friends far and wide wishing me good luck. I think every one of them made me cry. I really felt like all those people were there with me. When faced with a daunting and unknown task ahead I often get emotional and feel so blessed to have great friends support me in any form. Thanks to my smartphone I was connected to everyone and it felt awesome!

Just a little word about my crew and my pacer. My crewmaster is Paul. To say that he is a friend doesn't do this man justice. I work with him and he's taken a very special interest in my ultra running adventures. He works tirelessly to plan what to give me and when, how long it will take me to get to different aid stations, what I might want as a contingency plan, etc. He is so good he should be a professional crew. He isn't a runner and although I know he is amused by how "crazy" we all are, he does his part with such pride and flawlessness I don't know how crazy runners could carry him through. I call him my angel. I don't know what possesses him to want to help me like he does... but there are things in life you don't question. You just hope you don't do anything to screw it up and lose the good graces. That's how I feel about Paul.

My pacer was my best friend, Keri Wheeler. An accomplished ultra runner herself (she holds the course record at Grand Teton 50) and also my best friend. We met on our first day of college at Kenyon and have been best friends ever since. She lives in Jackson, WY now but we share a bond that distance cannot break. She offered to come help pace me even though she was running TransRockies the week before. Yes, you read that right. Keri finished TransRockies on Friday the 26th in Colorado. And not just finished... she and her husband took 7th place in the mixed/open division, which had some pretty steep competition. They finished alongside professional runners. She's that good. She flew to Seattle on Saturday morning and arrived at the course mid-afternoon. Words cannot describe my gratitude for what she gave me. Having her with me and having her company meant more to me than words can ever describe. She ran close to 170 miles that week and laid it on the line for me. Friends like that come around once in a lifetime. And I know how lucky I am.

With a crew like Paul and a pacer like Keri... one thing was for sure - I was going to have FUN!

(me with my awesome crew master Paul before the race)

I met a guy named Josh earlier in the year who was also doing Cascade Crest as his first 100. We scouted the course together a few weeks before and have had a lot of fun talking shop about running in general. Here we are before the race... and yes, we both look nervous as anything!

(me and Josh feeling as ready as we'll ever be for the challenge ahead)

I spent some time before the race sitting in the car, staying off my feet. When I was finally ready for the race, Paul took a few pictures of me near the start. Apparently there is good luck if you put your foot on the wooden foot at the start. I decided two feet were better than one, I needed all the luck I could get. :)

(me under the awesome start banner a few minutes before the start)

(two feet on the foot for good luck!)

At long last, the race was underway. I'd read a lot about the course and the first climb up to Goat Peak. Since the race weekend was going to be so hot (temps approaching 90 both Saturday and Sunday), I knew taking it easy on these early climbs was going to be key to saving my energy for later on. I started the race with Herb Reeves, a fellow Olympia area ultra runner who has run CCC before. I know rookie 100 mile runners always go out too fast and I wanted to avoid making this mistake. Herb was great company and kept me under a good reign so I didn't expend too much energy early on.

(We're off! The road was dusty and we all got to eat a lot of dirt in the early miles)

The climb up to Goat Peak was hot and dusty with a lot of trail dirt being kicked around with so many runners bunched close together. I kept it steady on the climb with Herb and kept a nice tempo hiking it. I was frustrated several times by another runner who had trekking poles. I got jabbed in the head and face at least twice on this climb. Not a good way to start a long day on the trails! We cruised into the Cole Butte aid station at mile 10.8, grabbed a refill on my pack and a boiled potato and was on my way. I was doing a good job with maintaining a steady stream of calories and electrolytes and was happy how that was going.

On the dirt road section after Cole Butte I encountered my first and only stomach discomfort of the whole race. And I wouldn't even call it my stomach, exactly. It was a side stitch. It was pretty painful and acute but in my experience those types of stitches tend to pass quickly and this held true to form. I was running with Herb and another guy who were "discussing" whether we were on 26 hour pace or 28 hour pace. I fell back a bit on the downhill to allow my stitch to subside but caught up by the end and was on my way. By the Blowout aid station, mile 15.2, I was back to climbing well and feeling strong. I was excited to get to the PCT so I moved through this aid station fairly quickly. It was also exposed to the sun and quite hot and knew the PCT meant some much-needed shade.

The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) was glorious. I enjoyed this section tremendously and even had thoughts during the race of how I should run the entire PCT someday. The crowd of runners had thinned and I was getting into a nice groove along the PCT. I honestly got goosebumps when I saw a PCT sign for the first time. I couldn't believe I was actually doing the race I'd waited so long for!

Rolling into Tacoma pass, 23.3 miles, gave me my first chance to see my crew Paul. He had a chair set up and all the fixings laid out for me to choose between. I grabbed a PB&J, some chips and chugged a bottle of Banana Nuun (my favorite!) while he filled my pack. It was so awesome to see a friendly face and I don't even want to know how long he was waiting there for me to arrive.
(Tacoma Pass aid station, meeting Paul for the first time)

I hiked out of Tacoma Pass aid station, as became my habit. I would leave with a few handfuls of food and eat along the trail as I continued on. I think just about every aid station in CCC is followed by an uphill climb immediately after. This gives good opportunity to eat and to digest a little as you hike. The strategy seemed to work pretty well for me throughout the race. The next aid station came at 29 miles, Snowshoe Butte. This was the aid station manned by cross country runners who'd hiked all the water and food uphill. Kudos to them, I imagined as I was running along how hard it must be to hike up a hillside with a 5 or 10 gallon water jug fastened to you. They were very helpful and got me on my way with a full bladder of water in the heat of the day.

The section from Snowshoe to Stampede Pass, 34.5, passed very quickly for me. I was feeling great and just flying along this section. I met up with a few other runners and 4 of us ran together along here. There was something in the race packet about how you'll pass under a series of power lines and the last one has a sharp turn in the field and you know that's the last clearing before the aid station. The guys I was running with knew how far we had, but honestly I felt so good I was just ready to cruise. Stampede Pass was another aid station where Paul was waiting for me, so I broke my rhythm to get a refill on my pack and some food. I also had to pick up my headlamp here for nighttime running. Paul scolded me for not drinking very much and sent me on my way with more PB&J. I got a mile or so up the trail and realized I had been drinking water, just that Paul didn't know I'd gotten a full refill from the cross country runners at Snowshoe Butte. It was still a good lesson... drink more.

(fastening my pack at Stampede Pass - this task become more difficult as the race progressed!)

Now that I've had a chance to look back at the mileage between aid stations I still cannot see why the run between Stampede Pass and Meadow Mountain seemed to take forever. It was 7.5 miles but it seemed to last for 17.5. I was feeling great and really cruising through the wooded sections, but it seemed to just take forever to get there. Maybe it was the darkness beginning to fall or maybe it was just my anticipation of meeting my pacer in a few hours - but I really felt like this section took a long time. I was in good spirits and met up with a guy who ran behind me most of the way. He wouldn't go by me and insisted that I was setting a great pace so he was happy to be behind. As I came down the hill into the Meadow Mountain aid station I got the surprise of the day. My best friend and pacer was waiting for me! Paul picked her up and they had time to come to this aid station. I didn't expect to see them until Olallie, so this was quite the surprise. The photo before was taken of me just before I realized who was standing there waiting for me!

(coming into Meadow Mountain - Mile 42)

The next section into Olallie went by pretty quickly. I played a little game with myself to see how far I could make it before I needed to switch on my headlamp. I ended up making it to Mirror Lake before needing to switch it on and I think that was mainly because of the entry into a heavily wooded area made the darkness disappear. I did feel bad for a camper right at the Lake. His campsite was directly in front of where we all came up to the Lake and made a right hand turn. So I imagine he didn't have a very nice night with headlamps from runners shining right into his tent all night long.

Olallie was a fun aid station. I got some perogies from Scott (and OMG they were the BEST. THING. EVER.) I loved them so much I wanted to turn around and head back to the aid station for more. (remember, I was eating on the trail as I hiked away from aid stations) I got my arm bands on for warmth and headed out to get the last solo section done before I picked up Keri for the rest of the race. The section between Olallie and Hyak for me was easy and tough. The sections that were easy were easy and I just rolled right through. The downhills with rocks and roots and the ropes section was tough for me. Running in the dark on technical trails is not my forte (yet, anyway). I struggled to maintain my rhythm on the steep downhill that led to the ropes section. And the ropes section... well, I have never seen anything so steep. And I guess I never really saw this either since I did it in the dark. About half way down I heard a guy yell "watch out - ROCK!" and I ducked to one side. Thankfully I picked the right way to go - this huge rock came sailing down the hill right at head level. I would have been seriously hurt had that rock hit me. I was very happy to leave the ropes behind and head into the tunnel. People say it's spooky but I thought it was fun. I passed 2 or 3 people in the tunnel and a few more coming into Hyak. I was feeling good. The Hyak aid station (mile 53) has a Christmas theme and I was stoked to be picking up my friend Keri.

(it's always Christmas at Hyak - and we leave with gifts... pacers and food!)

I was so excited to see Keri and start running together that I left Hyak without my flashlight. I still had my headlamp but I liked having 2 sources of light. Keri had a flashlight and convinced me it would be OK until we saw Paul again at Kachess Lake. We headed off down the dirt road and got so busy talking and catching up that I realized we hadn't seen a marker for a while. I got us both pretty worried... but alas, we found the markers and were going the right way. It was a long climb out of Hyak on a gravel road - but the footing was easy and we had so much fun catching up the time passed in a flash. We reached Keechelus Ridge (60.5) in no time and I enjoyed grabbing a snickers, filling my pack and loading up on some other food. I couldn't believe how frozen the snickers tasted... but we looked around to see frost on all the plants and shrubs. It must have been cold, although I didn't feel it. The stars were just INCREDIBLE along this ridge. We turned off our lights for a look several times and it was amazing!

I was able to run most of the downhill into Kachess Lake, which was fun. We kept seeing little rodents cross the road - voles and mice. I'm happy to say those were the only wildlife I ever saw during CCC. The rodents were kind of cool - almost like they were playing tricks on our eyes at night.

We rolled into Kachess Lake (67.9) right around 2:45am. Paul was waiting with a smile and my extra light! I was greeted by an awesome volunteer making grilled cheese. I had some, and then some more and then some more. I kept asking her for so much she eventually gave me a whole sandwich! I drank some Coke and ate more candy and we were on our way. The Evil Forest awaits.

This is a picture of the "Evil Forest" in daylight. It's not fun. It's dangerous, actually. There are downed trees, dropoffs, holes, rocks, roots and technical trail. I ran this section in a training run and it was not easy but it was manageable. At 3am on tired legs it's another story. One tree we encountered was so big you had to literally climb on and hug the tree. Hence the "HUG ME" that was carved into the side of the tree. It was also at such an angle that you felt like you were going to slide down into the abyss. There were so many trees down we lost count - and we tried to keep our spirits up although this section took forever. It says it's 5 miles, but it had to have been more like 7. And just when we thought we were almost there we came to a sign saying "Heaven 2 Miles." It was demoralizing. Then you go for a while longer and see "Heaven 1.5 Miles" It was awful. I felt like we got passed by a lot of people even though we were hiking it as fast as we could. Even Keri admitted it was the toughest section of trail she's ever seen.

But as all good things come to an end, so do bad things. We crossed a creek and into Mineral Creek, 73.9, right after 5:30am. I grabbed some food and we started the climb up to No Name. We expected to see Paul along this section but opted to fill our packs with water at the aid station just to save time when we saw him. It was a good decision because Paul wasn't there as we'd thought and figured he'd gone ahead since the last section took so much time. We were able to switch the headlamps off as we got going on the climb and that felt good. Really good. I was tired of the tunnel vision.

By No Name we were feeling the countdown to the end begin. No Name is a great aid station with a few people I knew, so my spirits were lifted by this awesome group. I had a great chocolate pancake and ditched my jacket since the heat of the day was already on us. Onto the NEEDLES!

I knew the climbs to come from my training run and I tried to attack them with a positive attitude and as much strength as I had left. I think I did a good job powering through and Keri liked my climbing. I just kept focusing on what I was doing and trying not to think about what we had left. That became harder as I went on - but the miles ticked by. Thorpe (85.5) offered the most amazing views of the race. I had to do an extra climb to the top to pick up a piece of paper and bring it back down to prove I'd gone to the top. Keri stayed at the base of the climb and filled our packs so we could take off as soon as I got back.


(the extra climb up Thorpe - amazing views!)

From this point on I just had to try and keep the negatives out and keep moving. I was feeling tired, and my quads were sore. But I tried to keep running whenever possible and walk when I had to. My downhill skills aren't so good and I was demoralized when I got passed by a few people going down after French Cabin (88.7). Keri did an amazing job keeping me on track and ready to go. I kept having to revise my anticipated finish time and this wasn't an easy thing to do for someone as competitive as me.

I told Keri I was just going to run through the Silver Creek aid station at mile 95.2. I told her I didn't want to use my time at an aid station and I wanted to get this thing done. She totally understood and said she'd stop and pick up a handheld bottle and we could ditch our packs. Ditching my pack felt great - and I literally just tossed it at Paul as I ran through the aid station.
(coming into Silver Creek)
Keri caught up to me and said there were 3.7 miles to go. If I kept running I could definitely make it under 28 hours! I was stoked... and poured my heart out at the end. It was SOOO hot once we hit the roads in Easton and my mouth never felt so dry. But I forced myself to keep going and Keri was an awesome coach keeping me going too. As we rounded the bend by the railroad tracks and the finish was in close sight I realized that I was there. I had done it. I actually started to cry. Then I saw my husband and my two boys. I didn't expect them to come to the finish at all and it meant so much to me to see them there.

(coming to the finish line)
In the end, I finished in 27:51:15. I was the 7th woman. Under hot conditions I think I ran a good race. I did a good job with fueling myself and climbing and keeping a positive attitude. There are things I will change and do differently, but for my first 100 I am happy. I certainly couldn't have asked for better friends and better support.

(getting my belt buckle from RD Charlie)

(yes, I think I just kissed my buckle)

(hugs all around - sorry that I was so sweaty and smelly everyone!)

This picture pretty much sums up my experience. A great achievement but an even better time shared by the best of friends.

There are moments in life that you feel more alive than ever. This was one of those moments. I realized my accomplishment and appreciated the people who helped me get there. Sure, I did a lot of running... but so many people supported me and loved me that it wouldn't have been possible without them. My husband, who gives me moral support as well as help with the boys so I can run my heart out, is a huge inspiration. My boys are my pride and joy and I carry them in my heart always. I hope someday they will be proud of their mommy. To Keri and Paul - they made the weekend real and made it happen for me. I couldn't have done it without them. My training buddies and my friends who sent me good luck wishes, you were with me the whole way in spirit. Thanks to all of you. And thanks to Charlie and all the volunteers for a Class Act Race. I'll be back.

(Below you can see me seated at last. I didn't sit down the entire race and that strategy worked well. By the time I got home and showered I'd been awake for 41 hours and hadn't sat down for 28 hours straight. My sleep that night was more like a coma. )