2014 Pinhoti 100

You know those days when absolutely nothing goes as planned?  When you wonder why you do this to yourself?  That was my 2014 Pinhoti 100.  But as all bad days go, I learned a lot and walked away tougher from the experience.  

The 2013 edition of this race was my return to 100 mile running post-injury.  http://ultrarunnerjen.blogspot.com/2013/11/pinhoti-100.html

I had a pretty good day last year and returned this year with the hopes of bettering my time and my place at the finish.  I loved this course last year and looked forward to running it again.  Training leading up to the race was not ideal - but I've learned that race lead-up is rarely ideal and felt ready to tackle the beast again.  

Gene Meade crewed/paced me last year and I felt so lucky when he offered to come back and help again.  He knows how to take care of a runner and he knows me very well so I knew I was in good hands.  Plus, he's just funny as can be - and laughing and having fun can never be understated when it comes to racing 100s!  

The race festivities began with weather warnings.  For cold temperatures and high winds.  Normally these types of warnings are welcomed, I thrive under adverse conditions and cold weather is much better for me than warm when it comes to race day.  But for this race, the cold and the wind compounded with a bunch of other factors to create a perfect storm.  

With Anji at packet pick-up

The start time was moved out by an hour this year, to 7am.  I'm guessing this was done to allow us to start without headlamps - but it sort of threw my game off from the beginning.  I had an idea where I was the year prior and found myself feeling discouraged because I seemed slower this year when in reality we'd started an hour later.  

I hitched a ride to the start with Rich White, the Cascade Crest RD.  It's nice to carpool to the start and I also prefer to let my crew/pacer catch a little more sleep for the long night ahead.  It was fun to see a few Washingtonians (Chris Schultheiss made us a trio) and it was fun to chat with Rich on the way to the start.  Another Ink N Burn Elite, Anji, was also racing and in the car as well - we were all upbeat and ready for the challenge.  I saw my friend Jason Green at the start and he graciously wrapped me in his down jacket for some extra warmth while we waited for the race start.  I gave my new friend Cecilia Santos a hug as we lined up for the start. In short, it was a reunion party!!

Suited up and ready to go!

Last year I made an error in going out too fast on this very runnable course.  The conga lines can be bad and I started quickly last year in an effort to avoid running too slow.  I did a much better job this year keeping the reigns on and felt very comfortable but not overreaching at the start.

The miles and aid stations ticked off pretty easily early on.  I was surprised to see my friend Anji at the 3rd aid station helping Gene.  She'd dropped and was now helping me along with Gene.  I was psyched for the extra help (I don't usually even have one crew let alone two!).  For the first few aid stations I was doing well at sticking to my hydration/fuel plan and all seemed good.  Despite the cool morning temps, I seemed to be warming up well and spirits were high.

I can't really put my finger on it but at some point the plan just flew out the window.  I noticed my urine was darker in color from the beginning and I had a feeling the pink/red drink I was using was making that worse.  I started to ween off my planned fuel drink and started carrying a bottle of water. If I had to pinpoint when things started to go wrong for me it was probably this moment.  In general, my fuel plan is made in lucid moments when I think rationally about what I need to eat.  When I decide on the fly to deviate from the plan it's not usually a good decision.  The cooler temperatures and the wind had me more focused on staying warm and less focused on calorie intake.

I kept chugging along but the wheels continued to come off.  I started to get pretty cold by the late afternoon as the sun began to set.  I rolled into the aid station at mile 47 and the look on my face says it all.  I knew the wheels were coming off.

But in true ultra runner fashion, I plodded on.  The next aid station and crew access was miles away and I needed to get there before dark.  My pace had slowed considerably and I was trying everything my brain could think of to pull it back together.  I started to have some difficulty breathing - basically a wheezing in my throat and tightness in my lungs.  It made my heart rate spike and I felt my effort level was too high for the pace I was moving.

I only barely made it to the 55 mile aid station by dark.  It was really dark in the wooded areas coming into the aid station and I was moving very slowly because of it.  I got to a rocky section leading up to the aid station and was saved by a guy with a headlamp.  I think I would have tripped along this rocky section had he not helped me there.  (thank you Mr. Headlamp whoever you were!)  I was desperately cold when I reunited with my crew at this aid station and bundled up for the cold night ahead.  Gene walked away from this aid station with me and up the road incline and I felt myself truly discouraged.  I was freezing cold and the night was only beginning.  I knew my day was not going as well as I hoped and the thought of 45 miles to go was a bit daunting.  Gene did his best to raise my spirits but his job was not an easy one.

I have few memories from the night.  I was consumed by a bone-chilling cold the entire time.  I couldn't feel my hands for most of the night and I was abysmal at fueling myself.  My hands were so cold I couldn't concentrate on anything else.  I drank a small cup of coke at each aid station but drank nothing in between.  I grabbed a piece of food at each aid station but ate nothing in between.  I could make up excuses about how my hands were so cold I couldn't grip my bottles and drink properly and that I couldn't open any food I was carrying.  The truth is that I was just foolish.  I crawled into the pain cave whining and feeling sorry for myself about being so cold.  Sure it was cold.  Sure I was tired.  But the fact is I messed up and stopped thinking.  I didn't drink.  I didn't drink anywhere near enough to fuel myself.  I got severely dehydrated and that perpetuated the foolish thinking and made the cold impact me more severely.  In hindsight this all seems crystal clear.

At the time I was worried about the wheezing, which got progressively worse as the night wore on.  I was unable to breathe when I would try to run and ended up hiking the last 30 miles of the course.  I would run and be unable to breathe and then walk and be unable to feel my limbs.  It was a long and painful night.

In the end I finished.  It wasn't pretty but I got it done.  To think that I was able to keep going in such a depleted and hypothermic state is pretty remarkable.  I might be dumb but I'm tough.  :)  Next time - stick to the plan, Jen.  Stick to the plan.

24:48 - 5th place female

Keep smiling.  :)


Gear I used:
Skirt, shirt, tech tube and cami from Ink N Burn http://www.inknburn.com
Hydration Pack - Orange Mud Vest Pack http://www.orangemud.com/collections/orange-mud-gear/products/hydraquiver-vestpack-hydration-pack?variant=788382337
CEP Compression socks

Fat Dog 120

Over a year ago I heard about this race, Fat Dog 120, in Canada.  Tough, rugged, remote... and it immediately caught my eye.  This is exactly the kind of race that gets me going and Fat Dog 120 made the short list of ultras to run immediately.  When I set my schedule for 2014 I really wanted FD to be part of it.  With a slight pause to consider what it'll be like running over 100 miles - I signed up.

I didn't change a lot about my training to prepare for the extra distance.  I did try to add more vertical in my runs and added slightly more volume for a few weeks - but nothing drastic.  Unfortunately, I developed some tendonitis in my anterior tibialis about 2 weeks before FD.  I ran on it once in some pain and hoped it was nothing.  It returned the following day in earnest and I knew I needed to take action.  I started icing it and had my PT take a look at it.  The words were cease and desist.  Stop all activity.  Now.  So for 6 long days I sat and did nothing.  I didn't run, I didn't bike, I didn't hike.  I tried to stay off it, iced it, rested.  And stressed about whether I could still run FD.  I'd all but given up on FD when my PT said things had calmed down enough that I could try to run again.  I ran one day and then the next.  And the A/T seemed no worse for the wear.  PT gave green light to race.  I'd never done a taper quite like this before a big race but I still wanted to race.  (nothing like losing the hope of doing something to make you realize how much you wanted it)  I rushed to put my gear together and set off for Canada!

I hadn't done a lot of prep for the race.  I knew the race elevation profile and sort of understood where the aid stations were.  I knew several were far apart and that was the reason for the extra gear they require of us.  I also knew the climbing was nothing short of remarkable and that I was headed into the unknown beyond 120 miles.  That basically is all I knew.  Not much.  As it turned out, I think the ignorance served me well at several points in the race.

Driving into Hope to get to the pre-race meeting on Thursday

Nick (my friend and pacer) and I drove up from Olympia on Thursday.  We headed to packet pickup and the pre-race meeting straight away and managed to make it there with only 5 minutes to spare.  Border patrol takes ages!  I started listening to the meeting but then walked off - those things make me so nervous!  It was a great place to meet some old and new friends - most importantly Grant Maughan, who we were rooming with before and after the race.

Thursday night we headed to Princeton where Grant had booked a room.  The night passed with some fun and a little conversation, but a lot of legs resting and introspective thoughts by us all.  I picked Grant's brain for a few thoughts - most notably he told me that the last climb has a bunch of false summits.  Grant is an amazing athlete (just took 2nd at Badwater this year and 3rd in a stage race across eastern Canada the week before FD!) and his excitement to run the course had me pretty pumped for what was coming.

We all tried to stay calm before the race and other racers were friendly and social to ease the mind.  We had some fun waiting to follow the bus to the start.  Grant called me a Japanese pop star with my mini-pigtails and I got the gangster thing going on with my hat as well.  Laughs are good before big events and I loved being in the company of some fun guys before the start.

Once we got to the start, we all lined up for a last check-in right before the race.  We then lined up on a precarious little bridge and waited for the start straight up the first climb.

My race plan was pretty simple.  This was going to be a LONG race and I needed to go very slow and EAT from the beginning.  No deficits and no effort should be felt for a while.  The first climb went quickly and I enjoyed chatting with other racers as we hiked.  Right from the get-go I felt like this race was in a league of it's own.  Not only was the course going to be challenging but the people this race draws are just top notch groupies of the ultra community.  We are all the tough ones who thrive under huge challenges.  And we treat everyone else as if we'd known them for decades.  Even though I was racing with people I'd never met, I felt like I was surrounded by family.  Maybe it's because we bond in our pain and challenge - or maybe it's just because we are all good people who love our sport.  I think it's a bit of both.

It was evident to me from the start that my anterior tibialis was going to be an issue for the race.  It felt tight and overworked on the first climb and I had a spot on the front of my shin that was painful.  I think I started compensating to make my left leg work harder right from the beginning and likely started striking differently with my right foot.  The level of pain wasn't terrible but it was bothersome that I had pain from the start of the race.

The race follows a pattern for the first 40 miles of the race.  We climbed a long gradual climb - then descended back to basically the elevation where we started.  There was usually a minimal aid station along the way, but the major aid station was at the bottom of each descent.  The weather was overcast and cool - with some passing light showers now and then.  I think in prior years this section can be very hot as the aid stations are far apart and there isn't much protection from the sun.

By the 2nd climb I was starting to really feel pain in my shin.  The uphills seemed to be easier on it but as soon as I turned downhill I started to trip over things with my right leg and when I'd catch my foot on a rock and my ankle would bend forward it was causing excruciating pain in my shin.  And with a technical and rocky course you can imagine this happened a lot!  The 2nd climb took us through a burned out section that I really loved.  Something about the green growth on the ground mixed with the dead sticks of trees above made it very beautiful.  I met up with a runner who is doing HURT this January along this section and had a fun time talking about that race coming up.

The descent off the first climb brought you down to the big river crossing.  I reached this point just after 7:30pm.  It was good to cross this in the daylight.  My shin complained horribly in the water - it did not like the rocks and precarious footing in the river. The current moved pretty quickly and I found myself almost falling down several times.  The fixed rope saved me!  The water was pretty deep - it reached the bottom of my skirt at the deepest section.  I climbed out of the water and fed myself at the aid station before doing the road section up to Bonnevier - the 41 mile mark of the race.

At Bonnevier I saw Nick, my pacer, who would start with me at mile 78.  He gave me some good cheer and help through the aid station - getting some more clothes on and putting my headlamp on for the night section ahead.  He sent me on my way and yep, you guessed it, the course started to climb.  This first part of the climb was on a gravel road that made it easy to see with the waning daylight.  I was a little paranoid I'd miss a course marking along here because it was getting dark and the flags weren't as easy to see - but I had enough people around me that I figured we wouldn't all miss them.  The course eventually turns back to trail and at this point it was time for lights.  My anterior tib continued to hurt very badly and I had to consider what to do through the night.

I tried to channel my PT's voice into my head.  Figure out what he would tell me to do.  Reality was that the pain had worsened during the first 45 miles of the race.  But it wasn't getting worse at the moment.  I decided that I'd continue cautiously and if it felt much worse then I'd have to make a call about whether to stop.  Because of the pain in my shin I didn't run much at all during the night.  I hiked and tried to eat.  The course spent much of the night along a ridge which was quite cold and windy.  There was also fog and clouds obstructing our view and ability to see.  Headlamps only seemed to reflect the light back at you.  At several points it was difficult to find out where to go and I was grateful to have a veteran along the course with me at that point who steered me along.  Once he pressed forward I had another buddy who at least helped me look for markers and yelled to me about turns to make.  These are the gems in ultras that really make a difference.  :)

At the end of the dark hours is when I reached my low point.  The aid station was much much further than I anticipated, so I was out of water and out of food for miles before I came to the station.  My A/T was in pain from the descent and I feared my race was about to become a death march and hike to the finish.  (I tried not to think about the fact that there were 55 miles to go)  Several people passed me and asked if I needed anything.  I turned down the first two but then when a guy named John came by he held out some Shot Blocks - and the sight of them was just too hard to resist.  I wolfed them down and continued on my way.  The transformation was immediate.  I started to feel better, more positive and more energetic.  I was able to start running again and felt my energy levels rise. It was still several more miles to the aid station and I am still grateful to John for offering those blocks!

I came into the aid station at Cayeuse Flats and was told I was the 2nd woman to reach that point.  I was stunned, I'd been hiking all night long!  This gave me some extra motivation to continue and to get to my pacer who was about 5 miles up the trail.  At this point it was morning - and I think I reached Nick at about 9am.  Nick had energy to spare and was a great pick me up at this point.  I'd been trying to calculate times that I could finish in and I was grateful for a distraction and some conversation after the long night.  Nick is what every great pacer should be - a good liar.  Told me I looked great, I was moving well, and encouraged me to run the flatter sections after the aid station.  He also kept prodding me to eat and drink.  I can be kind of grouchy about doing this late in a race and he handled it with finesse.  Acted like I was telling him exactly what he wanted to hear.

We motored along for the morning and tried to run as much as I could.  We then encountered what I call "mosquito hell."  It started with a few here and there.  And it turned into what can only be described as swarms of them.  Nick joked that we had just entered The Hunger Games and the mosquitoes were a challenge thrown at us.  It was annoying and ridiculous how many bites we got through here.  Through clothes and through bug spray.  Mosquitoes didn't care.  I probably got over 100 bites during the 3-4 hours we traversed this section.

Nick was taking pictures - so I have several from the section late in the race.  These are all indicative of the views we had during the whole race.  Spectacular!

Eventually we reached the Skyline aid station at mile 99.  This is where the real fun begins on this course.  I knew we'd be climbing for the good portion of the time remaining until the finish and I was anxious to get going.  I tried not to think about how I'd never run more than 100 miles before and here I was about to go up one of the most beastly climbs on tired legs.  This is where the ignorance of the course paid off somewhat.  I didn't know how LONG this climb was.  I honestly thought we were going to climb for about 8 miles and then gradually descend for 12.  As it turned out, Grant's advice about the false summits was absolutely correct... except it wasn't false summits - they were ACTUAL summits you had to traverse before reaching the final summit.  As Nick and I ran this ridge where we summited EVERY summit in the ridge we started to laugh.  If you could see a peak in front of you it was only a matter of time before you saw the trail going straight up the side of it.

These peaks took a while to traverse and time was running out for me if I hoped to make it under 36 hours.  When we traversed the first summit I thought it was a shoo in - but when we kept summiting for hours and hours I knew it was going to be close.  Nick continued to take some great photos of the views - I continued to focus on what had to be done.

Amazingly, the shin did not hurt on this final ascent.  I don't know how or why, but I was happy to not feel it.  It let me focus and actually climb like I love to.  :)

The sun set and it started to get pretty dark by the time we summited the final summit.  When we started the technical descent off the top it was time to turn on the headlamp for the 2nd time for the race.  I knew time was going to be short to get to the finish in under 36 hours - so I really tried to push down this descent.  The top was difficult and started to aggravate my shin again.  But then the trail seemed to open up and the running became easier and more fluid.  I got very thirsty along this section but didn't want to slow down even for a drink for fear that I was just going to miss the 36 hour mark.

Eventually we got down to the glow sticks and the lake... which felt like an oasis.  I saw a sign for 1.5 km to go and I knew I was going to make it barring disaster.  I felt like I was running fast along this section, but any "fast" is relative after 120 miles!

I finished in 35:49, for 2nd place female.  I sat down for the first time at the finish (I never sit during ultras) and it felt amazing.  My shin started to complain immediately but I savored the moment of a race well-run.  And a lot of fun and smiles along the way.

We met back up with Grant, who had finished in 5th place (30:30) and happy with his run as well.  Lots of smiles and fun was had on a difficult course!

And who knows, I won an entry into next year's race - so there may be room for some improvement.  :)

Keep smiling.

Grant and Jen post-race at the awards ceremony

Cruel Jewel 50 & River of No Return 100k

I broke all my rules - I raced without posting about the previous race!

Truth be told, I've been enjoying the summer in the PNW and having fun racing.  Blogging is important but Mr. Trails always wins in my books.  :)

In May, I ran the Cruel Jewel 50 in Georgia.  I went into this race hoping for a top finish and had almost everything fall apart before and during the race.  On the plane to Atlanta I developed a rash - which proceeded to give me swollen joints and swelling for days.  My son had Fifth's Disease a few weeks before the race and I caught it.  I think the virus impacted my stomach and ability to properly fuel myself early on in the race and I ended up with severe gastrointestinal issues the whole race.  It was a beautiful course and tough like I like them to be, but I just couldn't get into my racing groove and suffered the 56 mile trek.  In the end, I finished 4th.

In June, I ran the inaugural River of No Return 100k in Challis, Idaho.  This was a fun trip to Idaho - I got to camp with my friend Tony and his family and enjoy the amazing scenery Idaho has to offer!  The race was my first use of liquid fuel for calories and I also had to deal with some altitude (no easy feat for a sea level dweller).  The race went well - I felt like I nailed the nutrition and my stomach was in a happy place the whole race.  This was a big boost after the race in Georgia where my stomach had been south the whole race.  The altitude definitely slowed me down - efforts began to feel too much even though I wasn't moving very fast.  I enjoyed the run and met new friends along the course - and that's always the sign of a great race with a great community.  The race was stacked with fast women and my best efforts on the course landed me 5th.  Altitude hurts sometimes!  :)  It was a really fun trip and the race was done right - a definite course to return to someday!

Umstead 100

Looking back, the Umstead 100 seems like a dream.  An excellent dream, but a dream nonetheless.

Smiling is easy when you're having fun!

I went into this race with a lot of unknowns.  I'd not run a 100 on a loop course and my lead up to the race was not as I'd planned.  Five weeks before the race I had minor abdominal surgery to remove a cyst.  The cyst caused discomfort for about two weeks and the surgery and a ill-timed stomach bug had me miss an entire week of running.  I almost pulled the plug on the race.  Thanks to the best surgeon EVER (thanks Katie!) and my PT for talking sense into me, I decided to race.

As I prepared for the race, I reached out to several friends for course information and advice - and one friend even biked the course with a video camera! Thanks Gene! The repetition and challenge to remain focused were my main focus leading up to the race.  I looked forward to challenging myself on a new type of terrain and seeing how fast I could run on a course that has much less climbing and technical trail than I've run for 100's before.

Packet pick-up on Friday

I stayed with friends in Cary for the weekend and found myself incredibly distracted on Friday.  I couldn't seem to focus on anything. I got many texts from friends wishing me good luck - those always mean the world to me.  I anxiously awaited the arrival of my pacer, an incredible friend who was coming a long way to help me. He gave me advice about Pinhoti in November last year but we hadn't yet met.  He arrived about 13 hours before the start and I immediately knew I was in the best of hands.  Being an awesome runner himself, he needed no explanation about what I needed during the race.  Perfect.

Race morning went off without a hitch, I arrived in plenty of time and had some - but not too much - time to ready myself.  Willy was already taking care of everything I needed - including saying the right thing to keep my thoughts where they needed to be pre-race.  My race plan was pretty simple - I wanted to go out slow and keep the pace as long as possible. I hoped for a sub-18 day if I played my cards right. 

The race started at 6:00am and the temperature had me wondering if I needed arm warmers and how long I'd actually need my headlamp.  I set my iPod to "slow and low" by the Beastie Boys to remind me to keep the brakes on.  I used my Ambit2 and watched the average pace like a hawk.  It was tough to chill out and let everyone pass me.  I focused on just me, and going slow.  Reverting to my road racing days of watching the watch.  The first lap was easy - I learned the course - and finished the lap in 2:02.

At the start of each lap, Willy and I arranged to switch my packs out.  I used the Orange Mud single barrel pack and it worked great.  Switching the packs out gave me a few gels/chews and some water so I could avoid needing to stop at the aid stations.  I wanted to get into a rhythm on this course and not feel tempted to whittle away time at the aid stations.  At the end of lap 1 I began to see how helpful Willy was going to truly be.  He switched my pack, handed me some Nuun to drink, offered me food and did it all hiking beside me. 

I settled into my rhythm on Lap 2.  I ran with a few different people who made me want to speed up but I stuck to my pace.  The temperature started to inch up and I realized this could be a big factor for me who isn't used to the heat or humidity.  I finished Lap 2 in 2:00.  Another pit stop with Willy, where I shed my Buddha tech shirt to try and cool off, and I was off again.

The heat began to creep up on me during Lap 3.  The temperatures climbed to about 70 with a moderate level of humidity.  That might not seem like much but I was still wearing gloves and jackets training in Washington!  I made an effort to start drinking more liquid and used one of the self-serve aid stations to refill my bottle along this lap.  During this lap I also started to come up on some other runners still on Lap 2.  This proved to be one of the best aspects of this race - the fact that you keep seeing other runners and can exchange everything from smiles and high fives to glances and grunts.  Lap time: 2:01.  

I made a conscious decision to try and slow down on Lap 4.  The heat was really starting to be a factor for me and I didn't want to use too much energy the first half of the race.  Mentally the loop course was starting to rear its ugly head.  I already wished for fewer laps to go and being in the heat of the day didn't help my mental fortitude.  I muscled and smiled my way through Lap 4 in 2:11.  I was sweating a lot and trying to replace fluids as much as possible.

Around mile 45

After Lap 4 I started to dread more laps.  Mentally I was slipping and fought hard to stay positive.  I can't say that I won this battle - I was weaker mentally than I would like to admit.  I started whining and complained about the heat.  I do not like to be this kind of runner.  I asked Willy if he was going to run with me.  I knew he was going to at some point and I needed something to look forward to.  Being the champ that he is, he asked when I'd like him to even though I'm sure he knew the answer.  My response was something like "Now".  Maybe he knew there was no reasoning with me or maybe he is just that nice - but he told me he'd meet me along the airport out-and-back stretch at the beginning of the loop.  He also told me the clouds were rolling in and it would start to cool down now.  Two happy things for this lap!

The airport out-and-back is about 1.5 miles total and is done at the start of each lap.  Then there is a 10.5 mile "lollipop" for each lap.  The remainder of the distance is on the out-and-back to the start/finish line.  Willy used this airport out-and-back a few times to really help me during the race.  He would get me things I needed and bring them to me along this stretch so I didn't waste any time waiting around.  This was a stroke of genius to me while I raced and not only did it save me time, it gave me something to focus on these first few miles of each lap instead of the long loop ahead.

Lap 5 passed pretty quickly for me.  I think it's because I had Willy with me and it was our first time running together.  I really enjoyed it.  I told him right off that I run the tangents of the corners and he spent this lap dancing around to give me the right-of-way.  He didn't make me feel like I had to talk, which I loved.  Looking back, he seemed like a stronger version of myself beside me.  I drew strength from that.  Lap 5 time: 2:13.

Willy helping me at the start of a Lap

I ran Lap 6 alone.  I knew I needed Willy's strength for the last 2 laps and I thought I could power through the last full daylight lap.  I started to really suffer on this lap and found myself walking a lot of the rolling climbs.  I hadn't peed in several laps and I knew I needed to fuel up.  Problem was that food sounded horrible.  I focused on the other runners on the course and using them as distractions as we exchanged pleasantries.  There's something about suffering together that makes everyone the best of friends.  I had a lot of friends at Umstead.  I finished Lap 6 in 2:20 and felt relief knowing I'd have Willy the rest of the way.

My spirits were higher on Lap 7 than they'd been in a while.  Maybe it was the cooler temperatures near sundown, maybe it was Willy's company, maybe it was the pull of the finish approaching.  My body struggled and my mind struggled even more.  I was capable of running but chose to walk almost all the inclines.  I wish my mind had been stronger and pulled my body.  I had the pleasure of being lapped by Liza Howard, the woman's champion.  One tough and fast lady!  I finished Lap 7 in 2:30.

It's no surprise that Lap 8 was the toughest of the whole race.  Mentally I was cooked from the repetition of laps and my body was screaming to stop.  I told myself it was just one more lap.  I tried to push the pace but the mind seemed to have less gas than the body.  Willy reassured me that I could make it under 18 hours if I just kept my current pace.  My first watch died around mile 85 so I was relying on him for pacing.  About 4 miles into the lap I passed the 3rd place woman.  This gave me a good boost and I began to really feel the pull of the finish line.  I pushed the last few miles and tried to leave it all on the course.  I finished the 8th lap in 2:30. 

I finished in 17:47, 3rd place female and 9th overall.  I basically collapsed on Blake (the RD) at the finish line and tried to pass it off as a hug.  He presented me with my buckle and a smile and I've not been this happy to finish a race in a long time!  My friend Gene saw me staggering and helped me inside to a warm cot by the fire where he proceeded to get me any food or drink I wanted.  Talk about service!

My legs were pretty trashed after the race.  And they did not appreciate getting on a flight back to Seattle on Sunday.  But like all ultrarunners, my memory is short-term and I don't even remember it now.

This race brought out several themes to me.  One is Wisdom.  I went into this race with a lot of unknowns.  But I had confidence in my training and my fitness.  I knew how to fuel myself and how to listen to my body.  Running is what we ultrarunners do.  Have faith in the wisdom you've accumulated.  Two is compassion.  Mentally this course was tough on me.  I kept trying to power through and push in a war against myself.  A better bet is to give yourself a break.  Have compassion for yourself and the task at hand.  Have fun.  Smile.  We do this because we love this.  I lost sight of that for a few laps at Umstead.  Third is humility.  I knew this course would challenge me, would push me to a different kind of pain than I've experienced in races before.  What I didn't expect was the level of humility that came along with it.  I am always learning.  I am always open to new lessons.  Is it a coincidence I was wearing the Buddha shirt from Ink N Burn for this race?  Definitely not. 

Heartfelt thanks to all those who helped me before, during and after the race.  To all those who followed me during the race - I knew you'd be watching.  To friends and family who supported me - I lean on you more than you know.  To my PT and my surgeon - Your role is a big one.  To my hosts in Raleigh - I had a blast and can't wait to do it again.  To Gene - You are the best and I'm lucky to have you as a friend. 

Last but not least, this race wouldn't have been what it was without Willy.  His role cannot be understated and I feel grateful beyond words that he is in my life.  Everything he did for me for the race was perfect.  Having someone who is just like you who gives you what you need when you need it - with a smile - while never breaking stride is an amazing thing.  He is a jewel and I've never met anyone quite like him.  And I'm sure I never will again.

Thanks for all of your support - keep smiling.  

Raw Energy Bites

Here's a recipe for my Raw Energy Dough Bites.  These pack a great punch and are awesome for stashing in your pack for a trail run.  Sweet and healthy!

1 C raw walnuts
1 C of raw cashews, sunflower seeds, pecans - mix it up, just make one cup total so you have 2 cups of nuts

Blend in a food processor until grainy.

Add 2 C of pitted dates (I use medjool)
1/2 cup of raw rolled oats
1 C of organic raisins or dried cranberries - may need more to get the right texture
1-2 tsp of quality vanilla extract (depends how much you like vanilla)
1 tsp good cinnamon (more if you like cinnamon)
pinch of sea salt

Process until the dough comes together and all the fruit is mixed and begins to stick together.  Remove from the food processor and add about a cup of raisins to the dough and mix. 

Dough will be sticky but able to be formed into balls.  I usually eat it with a spoon!

Store any uneaten dough in the refrigerator.  :)