Battle in the Bighorns 2012

It is difficult to know where to start to best capture my experience at the Bighorn 100.  The race itself was tougher than I expected and the altitude took such a toll on me I can’t help but feel disappointed at my finish.  That said, there are many positives to say about the race, lessons learned and thankfulness for the people who helped me reach the finish line.  

Signing up for the Bighorn 100 meant an opportunity to visit my best friend in Jackson Hole.  She’s lived there for almost 7 years and I (cringe) had yet to visit her.  So we scheduled our family vacation around the race and planned to visit Jackson Hole for close to a week before I needed to leave for the race.  I figured this would let me acclimate for a few days at 6000 feet, and hoped this would help me during the race.  Ten days before the race, I caught a cold and sinus infection.  I resisted all drugs and opted to take a more drastic taper than usual. 

The family road trip was pretty uneventful, aside from one thing that stands out in my mind.  Somewhere in Montana I was driving along gazing at a beautiful snow-covered mountain range to the south.  I wondered how high the peaks were and looked in the atlas to find out.  They were just a shade over 10,000 feet high.  It hit me pretty hard at that moment that I was going to RUN that high in a few short days.  I was quiet for a while after that.  

The drive to Jackson was beautiful and I really enjoyed the wide open feel of the landscape.  But when we arrived in Jackson it felt like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  What an amazing town!  The Tetons took my breath away the moment I saw them and I spent any chance I had while there staring at them in awe.  I saw a sign in town that said “The Mountains are Calling.  And I Must Go.”  It’s my new motto, I love the mountains and feel a constant pull towards them.  

 

Wednesday marked the end of denial and the reality of the race really hit me.  I started packing my drop bags and preparing to leave for Sheridan the following day.  I was excited for my pacer, Josh, to arrive and to get the show on the trail!  But things start to feel awfully real when your pacer arrives.  The time was near.  I felt ready and excited, although a little scared and nervous of what lied ahead.  Josh calmed my fears and his energy helped me focus on the fun we would have and put the unknown out of mind.  

Josh and I left Thursday morning to make the 7 hour drive to Sheridan.  Josh drove most of the way and still managed to play me some excellent songs to get psyched up.  We enjoyed the scenery and stopped often, sometimes because of road construction and needing to navigate through roads that had been torn up!  We arrived in Sheridan about 3:30pm and headed straight to check-in.  I was there about 2 minutes and they’d weighed me, gotten my medical history and checked my blood pressure.  I activated my “chip” for timing and we picked up Josh’s Pacer bib.  Everything went quickly, until I was lured into browsing extra clothing from prior years they had on sale.  I escaped without buying anything, but it wasn’t easy.  

After check-in, we drove around the block to where drop bags were being collected.  I had 3 drop bags (Dry Fork, Footbridge and Porcupine) and after a final gear check and some items for Josh added in, I turned them in to the race officials.  We spent some time meeting new friends and stopping at Safeway for some sandwich supplies.  Then we went on to the hotel.  

The evening at the hotel was happily uneventful.  I kept my feet up, drank lots of water and ate a ton of food.  I’m not kidding – I ate 3 loaded peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  I got messages from a lot of people wishing me luck and talked to a few people on the phone.  It made me feel very lucky to know so many people who were thinking about me.  I got a call from a friend who happened to be driving across the country and within striking distance from Sheridan.  He graciously offered to pick up Josh from the start and drive him to the turnaround, where he would pace me the last 50 miles.  I never saw John, but his help was an unbelievable form of trail magic and I can’t wait to thank him in person for his help.  

With a race start of 11am, the morning was not rushed and we arrived in plenty of time for the pre-race meeting at 9am.  I met up with Gwen before the meeting and got some last minute comfort and advice.  The meeting was useful, but I got very nervous when they started going mile-by-mile through the course.  I tasked Josh to listen, with a special ear to where I would encounter substantial unavoidable water, and I slinked away to the car.  I hitched a ride with Gwen to the start line 5 miles away, and tried to stay calm before the start. 

We started promptly at 11, and the sun was already high and hot in the sky.  We snaked through the canyon and began the long climb to the ridge.  In approximately 5 miles, the course climbs about 3,000 feet.  This climb is long and steep in sections.  Further, it’s entirely exposed to the sun and feels very hot.  I am a strong climber and I made a continuous effort to take it easy here.  I felt like I was way behind the leaders and I was surprised how quickly many people climbed this section.  One of the thorns of this course revealed itself in this section – the fact that you can see for MILES, both ahead and behind you.  I also began to see some of the poison ivy they warned about. 

Once we finished the ascent, the course follows a rolling ridge for many miles.  The ridge is also exposed and rarely flat.  The course in general isn’t flat, you are climbing or descending all the time.  Along this ridge, at mile 13, I came to the first major aid station, Dry Fork.  It is also the first drop bag location.  I arrived at approximately 2pm and was in and out of the aid station quickly.  I restocked my gels from my drop bag and grabbed a PB&J wrap before heading out.  

Coming out of Dry Fork, the course follows a jeep road for several miles.  In theory this sounds like an easier surface, but I found it a somewhat difficult surface on which to find consistent footing.  Many 4x4’s went by along this stretch, which kicked up a lot of dust as they went by.  Along this section, the skies clouded up and it began to look like rain was coming.

 Before I came into the Cow Camp Aid Station, it started to rain lightly.  It was a nice rain, light and cooling.  I had a brief side stitch but generally felt good along this section.  I saw one of the race directors before descending into Footbridge and was uplifted by her complimenting my bright pink outfit.  The descent into Footbridge proved once again that I need to work on my descending skills.  I got passed by at least 2 women on this section.  I was content with my overall pace and I knew I would catch them again on the climb to Porcupine. 

I arrived at Footbridge (mile 30) around 6pm.  I gathered up my lights and night clothing and switched hydration packs.  I was frustrated because all my gear wouldn’t fit easily into my pack and I was still too warm to wear any extra clothes.  I eventually got most of it into my pack and reluctantly put on the arm warmers that wouldn’t fit.  I knew the climb to Porcupine would get cold and I didn’t want to leave warm clothes behind.  

The climb to Porcupine is a long gradual climb.  In a normal training run, this climb is completely runnable.  I started out well on the climb but felt myself losing some steam as the climb progressed.  I took it easy because I knew the climb was long and I didn’t want to reach the turnaround having used too much of my energy.  My legs felt strong and my nutrition was spot-on, so I power hiked a lot of the climb knowing I’d save my legs that way.  The temperature dropped continuously along this climb and by the time I fished my lights out of my bag I’d donned all the extra clothing I’d brought along.  Lights were needed around 9:30pm.  I enjoyed seeing the leaders coming down the climb – I saw a few of the lead men before I even had to turn on my light – and I cheered for everyone who was coming the other way.  The last few miles of the climb got really messy.  The trail turned to more of a marsh and at times it seemed like we were striking across a field instead of following an actual trail.  Small pockets of snow were still under foot, requiring a climb-over in many spots.  I post-holed through several of them, which plunged my foot into a nice ice bath waiting below the snow.  

The trail dumps onto a small dirt road just shy of a mile from the aid station.  I saw a cheerful Gwen along this section, which gave me great encouragement that I wasn’t as slow as I’d feared up this climb.  I wished her well and told her I’d see her at the finish.  I arrived at Porcupine at 11:30am.  The aid station was crowded and warm.  The medical staff had difficulty getting my pulse oxygen level because my hands were so cold.  I also had trouble finding Josh and my drop bag.  Eventually I found everything and found Josh and left the aid station with a quesadilla and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at 11:40am.  

Coming out of this building and back into the cold night was tough.  I started shivering uncontrollably and almost dropped my food on the ground.  It took about 10 minutes of movement and Josh trying to help warm me up before I could function again.  We started hiking back down the climb as I ate my food and continued to warm up.  There was a steady stream of runners coming the other way and we exchanged encouragement with each one.  At one point in this section, we came to a small stream crossing and to the right side of the trail was a runner standing without his lights on.  He spoke to us as we approached and it scared me to death.  It was one of those spooks where you feel like you were in a movie.  Josh was just as startled, so I know it wasn’t just me. 

Spirits were high as we motored down from Porcupine.  I was happy to have company and Josh was happy to be moving instead of waiting around!  I lost the trail several times down this climb – there are many times the trail splits and I took the wrong one on more times than I can remember.  Josh had a keen eye for the glow sticks and if we got off course we’d either backtrack or strike off across the grass to find the right trail again.  Another great bonus of a fresh and awake pacer – they notice the glow sticks aren’t getting closer but further away!  

Along this descent I began to realize that my pace was dropping off.  And I was feeling less energetic than before.  In hindsight I’m not sure if it was the fatigue of the race, the darkness or the beginnings of the problems I was about to experience.  I hoped to make it to Footbridge (mile 66) in the dark but by the time we arrived it had just gotten light enough to turn off our headlamps (it was 5am when lights could be turned off).  Being able to kill the lights was a small blessing at this point because I had a drop bag ready and waiting and it was easy to leave most warm clothes and lights in my drop bag. 

The climb out of Footbridge was a turning point for me, and unfortunately in the wrong direction.  I started to feel as though I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs on this climb.  My climbing power seemed to be lost and I struggled to put one foot in front of the other.  Mentally I was struggling as well, knowing there were over 50k to go until the finish.  I hoped things would turn around because I’d never experienced this lack of power before on a climb. 

From this point on in the race, things got tough.  Real tough.  My physical state deteriorated constantly for the rest of the race – I began wheezing on any incline whatsoever and I struggled to get more than a few minutes of running in before I had to stop and walk again.  It truly became a race of survival.  I wasn’t about to quit, but I had to let all competitive goals go in order to just finish the race.  It was demoralizing and I kept thinking about all the people rooting me on – not the least of which was Josh – who I was progressively letting down every minute.  I started coughing as well as wheezing and that’s when I really started to wonder if I was going to make it.  Josh later told me he was watching for me to cough up blood.  It was that bad.  I could do little more than walk, and anytime the trail turned upward I struggled to just put one foot in front of the other.  

Eventually the trail turned downward – down the long climb we ascended at the beginning.  This was a long and hot section and people racing the 50k kept blowing by me along with many 100 mile runners.  I knew I could make it to the finish but I had a really hard time not being able to run.  (In the picture below you can see the flatland way down below - that's how far down the descent goes)

The race ends with a 5 mile section along a winding dirt road.  This seemed like the longest 5 miles of my life.  Josh was very patient with me and supportive even though running this section would have helped us get out of the hot sun sooner.  I just couldn’t run and breathe.  

Scott Park and the finish line eventually came into sight.  I used everything I had left to run the few hundred yards to the finish – so many people were cheering I got tears in my eyes.  There were times along the trail I really wondered if I would see the finish line.  I was very happy to have made it and I crossed the line in 29:46.  

Running a 100 is a soul-revealing and soul-changing event.  Both of my 100’s so far have uncovered reserves and an ability to withstand incredible amounts of pain.  Cascade Crest seemed to be my limit at the time, but Bighorn showed me I have a capacity for far more than I knew.  I am disappointed in my finish time at Bighorn mainly because the breathing problems I encountered weren’t something I could just “run through” like most else.  The harder I pushed, the worse it got.  I had to let all time goals go just to hang on to the ability to finish.  That was very tough for me.  In hindsight I'm pretty sure the virus I was fighting allowed the altitude to have a large impact on me.  The exertion and lack of oxygen sent my lungs into spasms and constricted my airway.

I am very fortunate to have a dedicated group of friends and family who like to follow my races.  Each of these people reached out to me before the race and it made a huge difference along the course when times got tough.  I heard my co-workers were wearing hot pink in my honor on the day of the start and it made me realize how lucky I am to have people who support me in my passions.  

I don’t even know where to begin in recognizing Josh for his help.  I’ve known Josh for about a year and he’s always been a favorite running buddy because of his boundless energy.  I was thrilled when he agreed to come pace me at Bighorn.  Josh flew into Jackson Hole to help me make the 7 hour drive to Sheridan and I felt bad he’d subjected himself to so much extra travel.  As soon as he arrived, I felt more at ease.  I knew he would help see me through this race and it calmed my pre-race fears.  Josh was so much more than a Pacer to me during this whole weekend.  Words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am to him for putting up with my gripes and seeing me at my worst – all the while with a smile on his face.  It takes a special person to do that, and I know how special he is.  Sometimes people in your life step up to help you in a time of need.  You realize how much they mean to you and how your life is better because they are in it.  I never doubted Josh was a good friend but after our battle in the Bighorns I count my blessings that he is in my life.  I couldn’t be more excited to help him one step at a time at the Wasatch 100 this year. 

 (Josh took a self portrait so I surmise that is an invitation to include it in my race report!)

Will I return to Bighorn?  YOU BET.  I’m already planning my redemption.  Until then, onwards and upwards to my two remaining 100’s in 2012. 

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!