One Mom's descent into trail running

Hoka One One more time

2011-09-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

"Run uphill as though wings are carrying you, fly down and still want to keep on going and going, all in one smooth, instictive action..."

After months of sitting on the fence and watching my peers become infatuated with Hoka One One shoes, I finally gave in and bought myself a pair. Admittedly the $80 deal on Mafates through The Clymb had a lot to do with it but I was eager to try them out. Finally, they showed up and onto my feet they went.

"What the hell have you got on your feet?" and "Mom, what is that squeaking noise?" were the startled comments from hubby and boys. Okay, okay - I'll admit that they look like something Michael Jackson may have worn doing the moonwalk and they squeak like crazy walking around on tiled floors but boy are they are squishy! Sort of like sinking into a memory foam mattress.

Problem is, they might be wonderfully soft and squishy but they really don't fit my rigid, narrow, high arch feet. My feet simply flounder around in them and no amount of experimentation with lacing techniques seems to snug them sufficiently mid-foot without cutting off circulation. My heel pulls out of the collar with every step and the rigid material of the tongue cuts into my foot. I even sized down a half-size because I felt that the volume of the shoe might be a problem. Hmmm.

I took them out on the trails and I totally agree that they are not cumbersome and clumsy as they may appear. They are beautifully light and I simply didn't feel rocks under my mid-forefoot. But my feet got very warm in them (perhaps because they are the water proof version), my heel pulling out of them was annoying and my knees and hips ached like crazy. 10 miles felt like 20.

Yesterday, I took them out on the trails again. This time I ran a 6 mile loop in my Brooks Cascadias and then switched to the Mafates. In the Cascadias, I felt every rock; I did not feel them in the Mafates. Admittedly the Cascadias have way too many miles on them and are pretty much done. But I had the same experience with the Mafates that I had the weekend before - unpleasantly warm feet, rubbing from my heel pulling out of them (thank goodness for Hydropel) and I was strangely tired with aching knees. I switched back to the Cascadias for loop 3 and immediately noticed the difference in cushioning but they fit my feet like gloves and the knee pain went away.

Thinking about it, running in the super soft Mafates is like running on a Bosu ball. HAve you ever tried one legged squats or hops on a Bosu? You wobble like crazy and it's not pretty to watch. That's how I feel running in the Mafates. My foot is never stable in the shoe so I'm constantly engaging stabilizer muscles in the lower body to maintain balance. I think that's why I feel so darn worn out after just a few miles. The Cascadias fit me so well that I barely notice them on my feet, while I'm constantly aware of the Mafates.

Am I discounting the Mafates? No, I'm eager to try them late in a long race, perhaps at Javelina Jundred in November when my feet are swollen and tired. Perhaps then I'll really appreciate the cushioning but for now, I'm ordering more Cascadias.

Life is GOOD!

2011-09-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

What a roller coaster it's been these last couple of months! Lots of work, lots of family time, very little training. I stumbled upon a wonderful job opportunity with a start-up company in the boutique investment banking/real estate advisor business. It's a blast but as is typical of working with a start-up, long hours are needed to make the business successful. I work with a great group of guys and it's fun, yet challenging. I'm back in school working on State Securities Agent license and Direct Participation Program license.

This has meant that training has had to take a back seat, especially with the chaos that is the start of the school year. Figuring out who has to be where when and how it fits with my schedule is challenging. But I'm loving it. I am so much happier in this job than working at the karate studio, where I nothing I did was good enough and I was constantly belittled. I could write a book on my impression of guys in the martial arts industry and their attitude towards women....

Life is GOOD!

120 deg Insanity

2011-07-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Just saying.... Badwater Ultramarathon.... 135 miles of fun!

Itchy Scratchy

2011-06-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Varicella-zoster virus

3 weeks before Badwater and 6 weeks before Burning River 100 (my summer 2011 goal race) I have... shingles. Itchy, scratchy red blisters that are driving me CRAZY! Clothing rubbing against it is painful so running is out for a couple of weeks until the anti-viral meds and steroid prescribed by my PCP take effect.

Great! Badwater will be O.K. BR100 will either be the best race of my life or pure hell. I'll let you know how it goes in August.

SaltStick in the Sauna

2011-06-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Badwater heat training time. I'm honored to be invited back (I obviously didn't kick his butt hard enough last year!) as part of Dan Marinsik's crew as he attempts his record breaking 9th consecutive finish!

As I sit in 180 deg heat, I've got lots of time to reflect on what's been going on this last couple of months.

Running-wise, since C2M I've

manned the Holy Jim aid station at Old Goat's 50
had a semi-decent run at Sycamore Canyon 50K
ran with Beiyi and Dan and friends up Lookout Mountain, CO to their wedding and then back down again in long bridesmaid dress (boy did that get strange looks from motorists, cyclists and hikers!)

bailed on going to Miwok 100K (Mother's Day weekend = not a wise decision to be away from kids and hubby)
paced Kristen at PCT 50
volunteered and ran 50K at Nanny Goat 12/24/100 (planned 50 mile night run but took a nap and didn't wake up!)
crewed and paced Larry Goddard and Devon Kiernan at SD100. Larry dropped at Pioneer Mail due to severe dehydration, Devon finished in 28:50-ish despite crippling pain in both feet.

Family-wise, wow! What a roller coaster!

CJ decided he just had to have a hamster to replace his hermit crab. Of course, hamsters tend to bite so Secret Agent 007 a.k.a. Hammy is now Mom's responsibility.
Dennis found a frog at the dojo so my little Dr Doolittle decided we had to keep him. Two weeks and dozens of crickets later, we agreed he really was miserable in his tank and let him go in the canyon behind our house.
The very next day, we pulled into the driveway to see a flash of yellow and green. A parakeet was being chased by a bird, it escaped the bird only to be stalked by our cat. CJ freaked out so I had to crawl under the dumpster parked next door to rescue it. I yelled for CJ to bring me a net and he came back with.... a rope. I think he thought I could lasso the bird? This was a true AFV moment, pity no one had a video camera handy!
I managed to scoop it into the tank previously occupied by the frog and get it into the house. It was scared and missing a few tail feathers but otherwise O.K. While Mike and CJ went canvassing the neighbors to see who was missing a parakeet (no-one), I found an old decorative bird cage and got him into it.
Two days later, Bird had an unfortunate accident. The cat, obviously feeling cheated out of dinner the first time, knocked the cage off the counter and Bird broke his leg in the fall. That decided it. Bird had to go. Several calls to local animal shelters and bird rescue centers were futile. They say they'll take in strays but in reality it's a different story. Mike finally packed Bird and the cage in the car and drove to San Clemente Animal Shelter. After many questions and lots of forms and signatures, Bird found a new home with the collection of various unwanted creatures living at the shelter.

So, now we're back to 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 hamster, 1 hermit crab and 2 fish. The boys are presently campaigning for a snake and a lizard.....

Gotta run

2011-03-27T17:24:00.001-07:00

”Let’s call this what it is – a mental disorder. These people need therapy, not press coverage. This is not healthy.”

Yes, I need therapy. Why else would I be out howling at the moon with the lunatics at C2M? Running IS therapy. Just ask anyone who has ever ran 100 miles on lonely trails in the mountains.
No, I don't need press coverage. Unless it pays my races, equipment and travel expenses.
Yes, it's healthy. That's why I'm not a contestant on the Biggest Loser.

Gotta run.

The Dark Side of the (Coyote Two) Moon

2011-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Mention a weekend away in Ojai and everyone thinks "spa". Not my friend Jody "Turtleblitz" Van Zanten and I. Our idea of a fun weekend away is hours spent out on remote trails, away from the hustle and bustle of life as Mom/Wife/Housekeeper/Accountant/Minion. Although the driving rain/hail/snow certainly exfoliated my skin beautifully and everyone knows the benefits of a good mud bath!

Coyote Two Moon is not a race, it's an experience lasting several days and one not to be missed or forgotten! Bonus/Boner minutes, costumes, nicknames (e.g. Coaster Kadell, Turtleblitz Van Zanten), staggered start times designed to have everyone finish in time for Sunday brunch. If you are a serious "gotta place top 3" racer, this is probably not for you. But if you can relax, enjoy the festivities and accept that your actual finish time will probably never be known to anyone other than yourself, then it's just perfect. It had been on my bucket list for a while and after hearing that this was potentially the last year in its present format, I decided to join Jody in the Sprint (100K) event. 3 weeks after a 100-miler, I decided that 100K with 19,000 feet of climb was going to be a sufficiently challenging recovery run.

As the big day grew near, I watched weather reports of a storm front moving in and read RD Two Moon Buffoon's comments about code misty and being prepared. Being a Twin Peaks and Chimera survivor, I have no desire to be found on the trail frozen into a popsicle. I didn't have a Goretex jacket so I borrowed one from my good friend Speedy a.k.a. iMichelle Barton. Long sleeve shirts, half zips, tights, beanies, ski gloves - check. You name it, I packed it. I was ready for anything.

Wine tasting at Casa Barranca, Ojai

Bowling in Ventura

Friday picnic lunch

Wine tasting, bowling, picnic lunch, sing-a-long. Fun, fun, fun. What a great crowd! Big names/wannabee big names/unknowns, all enjoying the festive atmosphere and friendly competition, costumes optional, nicknames required. It was good to see old friends Badwater Dan, Carmela, Jennifer, Jack, Wilson, Tin, Donn and Jakob. Jody and I hung around to see the first group of 100-milers off at 6pm and then headed back to town for dinner. The weather looked ominous....

10am Sat start group

Our start was 10am Saturday, along with the Team Patagonia 100-mile celebs.The weather was good, trail conditions just perfect on the climb up to Ridge Road Junction A/S. This race is known for it's excellent aid stations and volunteers and that is certainly correct. A gourmet feast awaited us, prepared and served by a gaggle of characters. Jody and I exchanged the $1 scratch cards we'd carried up there for a playing card each (who knows for what purpose) and off we set.

It was windy up on the ridge. It was chilly. It was foggy. It started to snow. We laughed and commented that snow is always better than rain because you don't get so wet. Famous last words. By the time I left Rose Valley A/S, it was raining. On went the rain pants and beanie in addition to rain jacket. Jody's knee injury was bothering her on the climbs so I took off ahead. One A/S at a time I thought. Got to get to Howard Creek.

This course is either up or down on single track and road with brief sections on the rolling ridgeline fire road. I'm sure the views are spectacular on a clear day and I had been looking forward to seeing the Super Moon, but with hood up and head down, I really couldn't see anything. Crew Jean was waiting at Howard Creek A/S and I filled up on chili (new one for me!) and soy latte. Again, excellent disco-themed A/S and groovy volunteers. As I headed out, I met Lori and brother Craig. Looking at the worsening conditions, we made the decision that they would catch me at the ridge and the three of us would head back to the S/F area. Having almost frozen to death at Twin Peaks (1st 50-mile) and survived the wrath of the Chimera (3rd 100-mile) it was the best, most responsible decision. I have no desire to become a Search and Rescue statistic or be featured on "I Shouldn't Be Alive". Jody came by a few minutes later, said she'd drop at Howard Creek and would meet me back at the S/F.

What to do? Continue on or back to S/F?

With Lori on ridge

Up on the ridge the conditions were bad. Lori, Craig and I hiked back in driving snow and white-out conditions. It was super cold. It took so long to get back to Ridge Junction that we thought we'd missed a turn and gotten lost. Then we saw the glow of the campfire. What a welcome sight! Hot soup, extra layer of clothing, ski gloves - I was ready for the 5-mile descent back to the S/F.

Again, it took FOREVER. Slip slidin' in mud, tripping on rocks, hopping across streams (I swear there were only 2 crossings on the way up but 4 on the way back!). Back to the start and the shelter of Jody's car. Hot coffee, candy and a 3-hour drive back to So Cal and my nice warm bed. Only next morning did I find out the festivities were canceled around midnight. I made it 35 miles, some made it 81 miles, no-one finished.

Fun, fun, fun. This is why we ultra running nuts do this. If it were safe and easy, we'd be bored silly and probably wouldn't show up at the start line. Add appalling weather conditions to a grueling course and we're in seventh heaven!

Kudos to Two Moon Buffoon and his merry band of volunteers. Absolutely the right call to cancel. Safety of everyone, runners and volunteers alike, must come before personal pride and winner's bragging rights. I can never thank the volunteers enough for not deserting the sinking ship and leaving us to suffer whatever fate awaited us, perhaps that predicted by the deck of cards at each A/S?

"And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

I can't think of anything to say except...
I think it's marvelous! HaHaHa!"
Brain Damage (Waters)

It H.U.R.T.... a lot!

2011-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

H.U.R.T. 100, January 15/16, 2011

Course Map and Elevation Profile

All I can say is... it was beautiful, amazing and brutal! It kicked my butt. Kristen did a great job crewing and pacing but I was woefully unprepared for the tree roots, mud, rocks, tree roots, mud, rocks, tree roots.... you get the picture. My quads were shot from constantly stepping over roots and trying not to fall flat on my bum. During the night, I hallucinated bears (tree stumps) and a beautiful African-American girl with braids in her hair about to jump off a cliff. Imagine the surprise of the runner in front of me when I ran down the trail screaming "Don't do it. Don't jump". Ah, the joys of ultras.

I managed 100K in 31:14. Admittedly, once I realized no way I was going to finish 100 mile, I relaxed and slowed down to enjoy the scenery, not realizing there was still a cut off for the 100K. Kristen cam tearing up the trail in Crocs to get me into the aid station before 32 hours.

Will I go back? Absolutely. This race will not defeat me again. I will train harder, smarter, be better equipped and win the rematch.

Deep in the forest

A Puppy's Tale

2010-12-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

Zeumer and Tiller

After having made the decision not go to JJ100 in order to save $$, I talked hubby into getting me a puppy, a future trail companion. Meet Zeumer. He's a rescue, a stray found on the streets of Riverside. And of course, there's a tale....

Next door to the karate studio I work at is a Pet Spa. A high-end, really expensive Pet Spa frequented by the really rich folks across the street at Marbella Golf and Country Club. The Spa owner takes rescue dogs from over-crowded local shelters and finds homes for them. A brave and noble deed one would think.

One Friday morning I noticed a fresh car load of puppies being dropped off at the Pet Spa. Five black and white fluffy bundles of fun in particular caught my eye so I went in to meet them. I just had to have one. Mike had reservations but agreed so I picked out a middle-of-the-pack, not overly jumpy male that I thought my 9-year old son (who's deathly afraid of dogs) could learn to live with. We stopped at PetSmart on the way home with him as we had nothing prepared and took him to the vet for a check up. Slight respiratory infection, nothing that a course of antibiotics wouldn't clear up fast. The boys were amazed that we'd got a dog!

By Tuesday, Zeumer was really sick. Coughing badly. I took him back to the vets. Kennel cough that had developed into pneumonia. I had to decline x-rays as we couldn't afford them but several hundreds of $$s later and a suitcase full of meds, I had to go home to tell everyone that he might not make it. He was just too young to be this sick. The Pet Spa owner insisted he was fine when he left the Spa and that none of the other puppies were sick (although how on earth she can claim he got that sick during a 20-minute drive to PetSmart I'll never know). The shelter told me if I returned him they'd have to euthanize him (I'm a softie, so not an option)

6 weeks later, I'm happy to report he's doing well. Treating him pretty much blew my race budget for the foreseeable future but he's a welcome addition to our household. Typical pain-in-the-ass puppy; in to absolutely everything, chases Tiller Cat, chews anything... and loves being out on the trails with me!

Wow, what happened...

2010-09-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

to the last two weeks? Some success, some disappointment, lots of laughs with friends and family.

Team InknBurn

Rio del Lago 100 was a bust. I ran a great race (I mean GREAT) until I got lost in the dark on the way back to Cavitt School. Shelli had dropped behind early on in the race and had become so dehydrated that crew member Art eventually pulled her from the race at Cool Fire Station. That left me alone in the dark on an unfamiliar course which typically would not pose a problem except that someone(s) had sabotaged the course by pulling ribbons! Luckily I was a) with Carmela and b) I had grabbed my pack complete with survival gear so apart from getting mad at the time eaten up by my mistake, I was going to be OK (even if I had to hunker down for the night). Carmela and I had to push to get back to the school to make cut-off. She recovered and went on to finish, I did not. I thought I wasn't going to make cut-offs so dropped at Hazel Bluffs, deciding to save my legs for JJ100 on Oct 23.

The following weekend I volunteered at Chimera 100K/100 mile. I worked packet pick on Friday, helped pack supplies into storage tubs labelled for each aid station, hung out by the campfire at Blue Jay with friends Jody, Leonard, Janet and Sam then slept in my car. Race morning I was up at 4 a.m. to help with runner check in and load supplies for aid stations into transport vehicles. I swept the first 20 mile loop with Art and Shelli, then headed up Main Divide to captain the Trabuco Peak aid station. It was Shelli's birthday so we celebrated with laughs and birthday cake while she drove runners and pacers up and down Main Divide like a demon. Good times and a very successful race thanks to Jody's hard work.

However much I love to run in the wilderness, it is very cool and rewarding to volunteer at a race. To hang out with friends, make new friends, encourage and help other ultrarunners and sleep on a cot under a clear starry sky. Truely amazing! I am very blessed to have a husband and sons who may not always "get it" but understand sometimes Mom simply needs to be in the mountains.

"Have I gone mad?"

2010-09-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

"I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."

After a crazy busy summer with very little training since SD100 and just back from 3 weeks in UK with no training, I'm going to attempt to capture this beautiful buckle at RDL100 on Sep 11/12. Woohoo, bring it on!

Toodle Pip!

2010-08-08T19:18:00.001-07:00

Off to the land of Queen Elizabeth II, The Beatles, Cricket, Big Ben, Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash... all things properly English. It's time to take the boys "home" to visit the English side of the family and find out why Mom talks funny. It will be a whirlwind tour, only 3 weeks to visit Slough, Eastbourne, Mousehole, Stoke-on-Trent, Lincoln, Coventry and London. Lots to see, lots to do, lots of driving. I wonder if the boys will understand a word anyone says to them?

You might as well be walkin' on the sun

2010-08-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Badwater Basin - 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America.

Whitney Portal - 8,360 feet above seal level, the gateway to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states at 14,505 feet.

Who on earth would be crazy enough to run 135 miles across Death Valley to get from Badwater Basin to Whitney Portal? 80 ultra runners, that's who. 2010 was the 33rd year of the race! And I was lucky enough to get to witness first hand the crazy, surreal experience that is Chris Kostman's AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon.

I had met Dan Marinsik at various races last year, usually hanging out with my SD100 buddy, Jakob Hermann, so when I saw that he was going to attempt his 8th consecutive Badwater, I jumped in and offered to crew/pace for him. I was lucky that Dan was a crew member short (Jakob) and I got the crew spot.

On Saturday July 10, I met Dan and the rest of the crew (Clare Abram, Terry Ridgway and wife Kelly, Scott Corchero and Danielle Marinsik) at race finish HQ, the Dow Villa in Lone Pine. We drove in the two rented crew vehicles to race start HQ in Furnace Creek which gave me the chance to get to know Clare, Terry and Kelly. Who would have imagined that 3 British-expats (me, Clare, Terry), who all grew up within probably a 50-mile radius of each other, would meet at the 2010 Badwater Ultramarathon. More proof of my husband's theory "all Brits know each other".

Furnace Creek, an oasis in the middle of Death Valley. A beautiful resort but hot, hot, hot. I called my boys to tell them it was 118 degrees (is that really hot, Mom?). So hot that water coming out of the cold faucet is not appreciably cooler than water coming out of the hot faucet. Out on a team run at 6am on Sunday, it was already 106 degrees. What had I got myself into?

L to R: Clare, Terry, Rachael

I have to say I was somewhat in awe seeing big name ultrarunners, veteran Badwater runners and rookies all mingle at pre-race check in and briefing. What an amazingly talented group of people! My friend (and the person responsible for me ever thinking I could run 100 miles) Michelle Barton was there too, supported by her crew of Team INKnBURN runners all decked out in their colorful team shirts.

Race morning was an early start for all. Dan was on 6am start so we were all packed the night before and up and out the door by 5am. It was already toasty!

Badwater Basin

6am starters

Dan with the star of "Running on the Sun", 75-yr old Jack Denness

At 6am, they were off. Some running, some walking but all moving forward enthusiastically. Somewhat naively, I hadn't fully understood that although Dan was running unaccompanied for the 17.4 miles back to Furnace Creek, crewing duties would start a half mile up the road. I don't think we ever drove more than 0.7 miles up the road before stopping to wait for Dan. Out here, water in liquid and solid form is life. No water to drink, you're toast. No ice to keep yourself cool and food/drinks cold, you're in a whole heap of trouble.

Dan in his Solumbra sun protective suit

Dan was pretty much on pace at Furnace Creek but soon started to slow. The heat was taking its toll, the water he poured over himself continuously to cool down was seeping into his shoes causing blisters and causing chafing in unmentionable places. Plus he was tired very early on. As crew/pacer, my job was to wait on him continuously - anticipate his needs as much as possible, feed him GU every 20 minutes or so, give him SaltStick every 30 minutes and keep him moving at a decent pace.

Unlike most races, pacers stay behind the runner except to hand off bottles and shout words of encouragement.

There's a whole lotta nothin' out here!

Was I mean to him? If I was I didn't mean to be (no pun intended). He may have thought so, but I took my job seriously. To get him safely to the finish line, hopefully in under 48 hours.

Around 6pm, we reached Stove Pipe Wells (mile 42) and the night crew of Clare, Terry and Kelly took over. We switched roles, cars and the day crew headed back to Lone Pine to clean up, eat and sleep while the night crew got ready for the long climb up Townes Pass to Panamint Springs (mile 72).

It's a small world afterall - who should I meet in the pizza restaurant across the road from the Dow Villa but Lorraine "Croc Lady" Gersitz, Janet Waugh and Lori H-C, my San Diego 100 pacer - all friends and Headzettes. The day crew crashed but all to soon it was time to head back to find Dan and the night crew.

More climbing, more endless stretches of nothing, some running, lots of walking. Half mile by half mile, Dan moved closer to the finish line. SaltStick every 30 minutes, GU every 20 minutes, chunks of blueberry muffin, cold cheeseburger, cantaloupe, Gatorade, water. For runners, the focus is to simply keep moving. For crew members, the focus is on the runner - hydration, nutrition, preventing him overheating, taking care of blisters, keeping his spirits up, keeping him moving. It's an exhausting routine but tremendously rewarding too.

6pm came around again and we hadn't quite made Keeler. I calculated that if Dan could maintain 3.5 mi/hr pace, he could reach Lone Pine in 41 hours, giving him 7 hours to climb 12.7 miles and 4,671 feet up to the finish line at Whitney Portal. I was honored that Dan asked me to join Clare in helping him make the final climb. It meant not much sleep for the day crew but we'd intended being with him at the finish anyway.

Unfortunately, the pain from blistered feet took it's toll mentally and Dan didn't make the 48 hour cutoff to buckle. His requests for 10 minute breaks turned into frequent requests for 2 minute breaks. He was struggling, he was totally spent but Dan is not a quitter. He missed it by 8 minutes that's all. His 8th consecutive finish.

Team Marinsik at finish line

I came away with valuable information. This race is amazingly tough both on the runner and crew. Runners battle heat early on, then exhaustion towards the end, not to mention the blisters, chafing, GI issues etc. I saw first hand what Dan went through. I saw Michelle Barton in the worst condition I've ever seen her, both physically and mentally. But both runners pushed through it to finish strong. Amazing! Crewing takes a lot out of you too. You have to take care of yourself as well as your runner. No runner finishes this race on their own. A competent, positive crew is essential.

That said, nothing I saw or experienced out there has changed my mind. I will buckle at Badwater and who knows, one day I might just win it!

Dan Marinsik 48:08:04
Michelle "Badwater" Barton 45:54:20

180 degree musings

2010-07-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Who on earth shaves in the sauna?

Co-ed saunas are gross! Women-only saunas at least smell a little better.

Worst pick up line - "nice tat" (said by a 40-something shirtless guy with belly hanging out to a cute 20-something girl moments before her boyfriend walked in).

The oddest people frequent 24-Hour Fitness after 9 o'clock at night.

Dry saunas don't seem to get hotter than 180 degrees.

Most women glisten in a lady-like manner; I have beads of sweat within 2 minutes and I'm pouring with sweat within 10 minutes.

Glue doesn't hold together on magazines: Shape lasts just 8 minutes, Women's Health 10 minutes, Self 13 minutes (all June 2010 issues) and the surprising winner.... Women's Running (Jul/Aug 2010) at 16 minutes! Note: I haven't wanted to destroy my copies of Ultra Running and Trail Runner so I don't have data for them.

Ice melts within minutes, iced tea becomes hot tea within 25 minutes.

Pulling out a baggy of Saltstick capsules, some of which have leaked white powder, in the sauna is not advised; I had some serious explaining to do to staff members.

An iPod shuffle can survive an hour in the sauna.

Most people don't sit in the sauna for an hour at a time; I can do so quite comfortably.

After 4 weeks of sauna training, driving everywhere with the windows closed and heater on full blast and a trip to Palm Springs for heat training, I'm ready to crew/pace Dan Marinsik at Badwater next week. Bring it on!

Much more muchier

2010-06-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

"You were much more muchier (then)...You've lost your muchness" said the Mad Hatter to Alice. Some folks say it of me these days. But I think I proved them wrong at San Diego 100. Wow, what an experience!

The day started perfectly. I was nervous but not too nervous. My crew and pacers were all fired up ready to go. By the first aid station I was 20 min ahead of my "best case" plan, 40 min ahead by Pine Creek 2 at 36 miles into the race. I had it together mentally and physically. I was on track for 25 hour finish. Then...

As I came out of Pine Creek 2 and began the long, long trek up to Pioneer Mail I was attacked by bees. I was stung multiple times. They went for my arms, my face, into my shirt. Very aggressive. Never having been stung before I wasn't sure about allergic reaction but as I seemed to be OK, I just got really mad. Mad at the bees, the pain of the stings, the fact that the two guys with me took off and left me to it. I killed the bees, pulled out the stingers, picked up everything I had dropped while dancing the bee sting boogie and took off up the hill.

By Sunrise 1 at mile 51.3, I was still ahead by 15 min. Kristen got me out of the aid station fast and off we went. It got really spooky out there after dark. No moonlight, flashlight only, lots of stream crossings, lots of animal sounds. I was starting to slow down, starting to have problems with dizziness and wheezing on hill climbs.

Lori was patiently waiting for me at Sweetwater mile 72.3. I was now an hour behind. I ate, drank and off we went. By now I was struggling. Every time my heart rate went up, I got dizzy. Legs like jello. No energy. Wheezing. My crew figured I just wasn't getting enough calories (I'm notorious for my ability to run 50 miles on sports drink and potato chips). No way was I quitting now so I picked up Dorene at mile 87.5 and we hiked/shuffled to the finish line in 28:00:18. 3 hours slower than I expected but still almost 2 hours faster than last year.

As the finish line volunteers put the medal around my neck, down I went. I simply couldn't breathe. Everyone assumed I was having an asthma attack. Luckily Dorene had an inhaler and after a couple of puffs of it, I was OK. Scared the beejeezus out of RD Scott Mills and my crew.

Turns out, I'm allergic to bee stings. Especially multiple stings. Luckily for me, I had so much adrenaline coursing through my system (from racing, from the way-too-close encounter with a rattler around mile 30, from the bee attack) that I was able to metabolize the venom quickly and keep moving. It may have slowed me down but no way was I quitting. Live and learn. Survive to fight another day (or race course). See you out on the trails... with my epi pen of course!

Many, many thanks to pacers - Kristen, Lori and Dorene - and crew - Shelli, Randy, Sensei Paul and Kellie. Without you guys, I couldn't have done it! Thanks also to my race sponsor, Dr Michael Shalhoub of True2Life. Check out their products at http://www.true2life.com

Also, many thanks to Scott Mills, the Bad Rats and all volunteers - without you, no race is possible. This was an exceptionally well organized race from start to finish. And, although tougher, I do prefer the new course. See you next year!

http://www.sandiego100.com/

Memorial Day Memories....

2010-05-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day - a day of memory, recollection and prayer for all the U.S. soldiers who died in military service. Thanks and God bless you and your families for your sacrifice.

Gosh, Memorial Day already. Where did March, April and May go? Here's where...

After a great race Old Goat's 50-mile in March where I knocked 30 minutes off last year's finish time, my race plan became a series of "not quites".
* Labor of Love 50-mile, 4/10/10 - dragged the family all the way out to Las Vegas and promptly came down with flu. Too sick to run.
* Leona Divide 50-mile, 4/17/10 - at least I showed up for this one and gave it a try! I now realize that coughing and a fever were probably signs that I was still sick. Kudos to Keira on her first time as RD at Leona.
* PCT 50-mile, 5/8/10 - no running for 3 weeks took its toll and despite the beautiful course and well-organized race, I had a crappy day.
* Whoo's in El Moro 50K - aid station captain. Kudos to Molly for putting on this inaugural race.
* Nanny Goat 12/24/100 - volunteer and barista. What can I say, another great race put on by Steve and Annie Harvey, hosted by BFF Shelli and her folks at the Sexton Horse Ranch. Fun, fun, fun going around and around and around a 1-mile loop.

So, what's next? San Diego 100 on June 12. Again, a series of "not quites" has me on Plan E but I think this one is solid. Pacers and crew are ready and able. I just need to show up at the start line fit and mentally prepared. Bring it on!

Chasing Rainbows

2010-02-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

I'm back from Costa Rica and The Coastal Challenge Route of Fire. What a week! From lush rainforest to crossing chest-high raging rivers to cold, wet, windy mountains to dry, dusty plains to rock hopping on reefs and beaches. Highs and lows, happiness and sadness... but terrific fun, thanks largely to the friendship and support of the Team Tenacious girls (Jody, Shelli and Beiyi) and camaraderie of my fellow racers. I learned the hard way that a missed turn can cost you the race and I didn't get the result I hoped for but on the way, I made new friends and learned a lot about my existing ones. Here are some of my favorite memories....

Day 1 : La Fortuna - Rancho Margot

Day 2 : Rancho Margot - Tierras Morenas

Day 3 : Tierras Morenas - Cuipilapa

Day 4 : Cuilapa - Curubande

Day 5 : Cuajiniquil Bay - Junquillal Beach

Day 6 : Junquillal Beach - Bolanos Bay

As I watched the antics of some of my fellow racers, I couldn't help but think of the words to Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up The Sun"

I'm gonna soak up the sun

Gonna tell everyone

To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that)

I've got no one to blame

For every time I feel lame

I'm looking up

I'm gonna soak up the sun

Some folks just need to lighten up and enjoy the moment.... Pura Vida!

This was a great race, well-organized, tough at times, very varied terrain as we travelled from the mountains to the Pacific coast. Highly recommended - why not step out of your comfort zone and take The Coastal Challenge?

Huge thanks to Team Tenacious' sponsors:

Zensah

Dirty Girl Gaiters

Gotein

TheRunDown.net

Ink n Burn

Special thanks to Jody, Beiyi, Tim Holmstrom, Martin Nobbs and anyone else whose photos I used in this post.

TCC & Team Tenacious

2010-01-27T22:40:00.000-08:00

Do you think these girls (pictured here with their kids)....

fear this....?

No! Bring it on!

Team Tenacious - Tenacious in name, Tenacious in attitude.

Beiyi, Jody, Rachael & Shelli (not pictured)

A Year in Review

2010-01-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well, another year over and several firsts; first stage race (TCC Rainforest Run), first (trail) 50-mile (Old Goat's 50), first 100-mile (San Diego 100). I must really like the longer distances because I went back for a second and third 50-mile, then a second 100-mile (my fastest, Javelina Jundred). Unfortunately the Chimera won the battle and I didn't get my third 100-mile buckle. Revenge will be sweet in 2010.

Made new friends, lost touch with a couple of old ones. Good times and sad times. Ups and downs. I'm eternally thankful for the support of my husband, boys, family and friends. To sum up my life philosophy.

“All of life is a journey, which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there.”

A new year, a new decade - bring it on! Next challenge: TCC Route of Fire. Stay posted.

Chimera - Dec 12, 2009

2009-12-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

The Chimera is a beast from Greek mythology. According to Homer it is part goat, part lion, and part serpent. The question remains, which is the Chimera - the ultrarunner or the mountain?

When I first heard about this race from RD Steve Harvey, I was excited. I knew he'd put on a great race and that his meticulous planning would ensure the safety of runners and volunteers alike. So I signed up for the 100K having ran 100 miles at Javelina 6 weeks earlier and thinking that I wouldn't be recovered fully enough to attempt such a difficult 100-miler. Then at the beginning of the week, Steve announced that the weather forecast was bad and after Monday's rain, that the course may have to change. So I switched to the 100-mile. Afterall, if I had to run the Blue Jay-Candy Store loop 3 times, what was 2 more? My like-minded friend Jody also switched, figuring this was a great opportunity to attempt her first 100-mile (Shelli was already signed up for the 100-mile).

Friday afternoon I ventured up "the Ortega" to Hell's Kitchen to collect my race bib. It was raining and foggy but that didn't seem to dampen Keira, Steve or Pam's spirits. All reported that the race was going to be on the original course and that the trails were in good shape, albeit very muddy. Not being one to be deterred by having to run an additional 38 muddy miles (!) I reported the news to Jody and Shelli. We all had waterproof running gear, we'd be just fine - right?

Perhaps I should have heeded the omens; on Friday morning I lost a crown while munching yogurt and granola; on Friday afternoon I almost got my rental car stuck in mud on the side of the road on Ortega Highway having graciously pulled over to let some lunatic passed; on Friday night I worked late at Parents' Night Out at the dojo and didn't get done packing my drop bags and taping my feet until 11:30pm (that gave me less than 4 hours sleep); on Saturday morning it was thick, thick fog on the mountain and the race start was delayed 30 mins. But, I'm not one to let minor things like that get in my way so I was there at the start line with a hundred and something other "crazies", all dressed in our layers and waterproofs. It was so good to see so many Trail Headz and other folks that I meet at races.

The first 9 miles were damp and muddy at times but passed by uneventfully. Then came the climb up Main Divide and the Chimera reared her head and started to devour runners. Down came the rain, sheets and sheets of it. Gusts of wind so strong that they almost knocked your feet from under you. Rivers of muddy water flowing over our shoes. Rocks crashing down. Runners heading back down the mountain. We were soaked to the skin but were we demoralized? No, not Jody, Shelli and I. Up and up we went.

By the time we fought our way to the Trabuco Peak aid station, the tent was down, the volunteers were soaked to the skin. As I came into the aid station, one of the guys asked me how he could assist me. As he was struggling to hold the last remaining tent pole up, I thanked him and said given the circumstances I was happy to fill my own bottle. I waited for Shelli and Jody and then we headed up to Santiago Peak. That was probably the toughest 5 miles of my life. I barely made headway battling the wind. There was no shelter from the wind, driving rain or occasional hail storms.

I was now getting sleepy and cold as i trudged up the mountain. Survival instincts kicked in and all I thought about was getting to the aid station, warming up with hot soup and then heading down to Maple Springs to my drop bag and dry clothes. I had to get out of these soaked clothes/waterproofs, warm up and reassess the situation. Up at Santiago Peak came the announcement that the race was called off and we could either wait in the tent for rescue vehicles or head to Maple Springs to be picked up there. Jody, Shelli and I decided to wait, lured by the comfort of homemade tomato soup and delicious lumpy hot chocolate served by the Coury brothers.

A couple of hours and a scary drive down the mountain later, we were safe at the start/finish line and able to change into dry clothes. A hour or so after that, I was safely home and soaking in the tub.

Many, many thanks to:

* the volunteers who bravely stayed at their posts as the full fury of the storm hit and tents came crashing down.

* all the ham radio operators who relayed status of runners continuously to race central and ensured no-one was unaccounted for.

* Michael Muenzer and everyone who headed out in their vehicles to rescue the runners.

* Everyone who headed out to rescue Michael Muenzer's vehicle(!)

* Steve and Keira who remained calm under pressure and made the right decision to call the race.

* my friend Kristen who despite being under tremendous stress manning the radio at the top of Santiago Peak, still had a friendly smile and hug for me when I made it to the tent.

* Jody and Shelli for being crazy and like-minded enough to even think of attempting 100 miles with me in those appaling conditions.

This year, the Chimera won. Thankfully no-one was injured or suffered hypothermia. Next year, ultrarunners will rule the mountain. I, for one, have unfinished business with the Chimera!

Jalloween Fun!

2009-11-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2009 - Javelina Jundred 100-mile Endurance Run

Schools were closed for a long Halloween weekend so we decided to make this a family roadtrip. What a great weekend it was! My best 100-miler yet (okay, okay I've only ran 2!) with a finish time of 25:17:24. Fun for the entire family. Camping in the AZ desert with Shelli and her family. Hanging out with friends from So Cal Trail Headz. The crazy costumes. The fast runners. The slow runners. Running through the desert at night. Halloween crafts and trick-or-treating for the kids. The best Halloween party ever!

Javelina Jundred is six and a bit loops on the Pemberton Trail in McDowell Mountain Park, Fountain Hills, AZ. The neat thing about a loop course is that you are never really alone on the trail. The bad thing is that the fast guys pass you, then pass you again and again. It gets a little demoralizing at times... especially when you gain control of your over-heated brain sufficiently to figure out that Dave James is already 14 miles ahead of you and it's early days yet! The course is not as technical as some, nor does it have the elevation gain of most, but the unrelenting sun and no shade anywhere take their toll. Dehydration is a major issue, as is severe blistering caused by the gritty desert sand seeping through shoes, gaiters and socks to attack the feet.

I had a great race. I didn't really have a plan except that my pace needed to average between 15:00/mi (best case) and 17:30/mi (to meet cut-offs). Life, family and work had gotten in the way of my training and I simply hadn't gotten in the long training runs that I had going into SD100. I was relying on what I had in the bank and the shear guts and determination that my British heritage has bestowed on me. As I stood at the start line, I told Shelli that my plan was to be done in time for breakfast.

Shelli did not have a good race. The ankle injury she sustained in Costa Rica continues to plague her (because she simply will not take time off to let it heal) and it gave her problems right from the start. So nearing the end of lap 3 I made the tough decision to leave her and run my own race. I felt good the whole race, even on the last loop when a huge blister on the ball of my foot made it impossible to land on the ball of my foot. Eventually it burst and I suffered the usual red hot coal burning sensation. But at least I could run again! As Lorraine Gersitz once pointed out, you can only focus on one body part hurting at a time so I had no pain anywhere else.

Shelli paced me through the early hours on lap 5 and then again for my victory loop on lap 7 so she earned her 100K buckle.

I love this race. I didn't even mind running 101.4 miles in costume. It got hot, but not too hot; it got cold, but not too cold. The volunteers were terrific, the race organization outstanding. Fun for me, fun for the entire family.

And with two 100s under my belt, I can now enter Badwater 135....

Oh, the Angel wings - couldn't run with them, too much flapping. So if there's any costume designers reading this post, please bear that in mind. Yes, there is a whole subculture of crazy ultrarunners that like to run 100 miles in costume....

Many thanks to Will LaFollette and whoever else I stole pictures from....

Javelina Jundred

2009-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Collared Peccary (aka Javelina):
- native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of southwestern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
- the only native, wild pig-like animal found in the United States.
- called Javelina because of their razor-sharp tusks, Spanish for javelin or spear.
- you may smell a peccary before you see it.
- the prickly pear is ideal food for the Javelina due to its high water content.
- Javelina have poor eyesight and good hearing.

So what does the Javelina have in common with a girl wearing an angel costume?

- The Javelina Jundred 100-mile Endurance Run, October 31st, 2009.

Yup, that's my costume (minus the heels, of course). Just imagine running 100 miles in heels, LOL!

I'm not planning to carry a spear but after 100 miles you will definitely smell me before you see me, I may resort to eating prickly pears if I run out of water and my eyesight definitely deteriorates as I get tired.

I'm probably not going to be feeling very angelic either after 70 miles or so. More like the Devil I think (Shelli's costume). This will be a blast! The greatest Halloween costume event ever.

The Super that wasn't... or "Yay Us!"

2009-10-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

Some races go text book right, some go horribly wrong. In fact, even a tiny thing being just not quite right can upset a whole race. This was one of those races...

I was intringued by the idea of running the Super Triple, back-to-back marathons followed by a 72-mile ultra. Could I do it? I decided to give it a go. Afterall, the Triple last year wasn't so bad.

I should have known it was not meant to be when Jody and I showed up at Shelli's ranch in Riverside early Thursday morning to find that she wasn't going. Family committments. Change to Plan B - we'd still take her (big) car and JD as crew and head to Tahoe. I'd run the Super Triple, Jody and fellow TrailHeadz member Jean would run the Triple.

We met up with Jean and Gregg, checked in at the hotel and headed over to race registration. Jody and Jean decided they'd like to try the Super so switched the registration. Afterall, both races cost the same, you just get an additional 46 miles with the Super... more for your money, right?

So Day 1 I took it extra easy. No racing, just enjoying the sights and sounds of running along a busy 2-lane highway around Lake Tahoe. The sights are spectacular, the driving skills not so much. If you like the excitement of hopping over guard rails to avoid being hit by the side-view mirror of a RV or run over by a boat trailer, this is the race for you. LOL!

That evening after a birthday celebration at the Riva Grill (did I mention it was my birthday?), Jody decided she'd probably switch back to the Triple. So she called the RD to find out it was no big thing anyway because... the 72-mile race was canceled. No permit, no race.

Day 2 was not such a good day for me. I felt deflated, never really got into the spirit of the race. I just ran when I felt like it, walked when I didn't feel like running. The camaraderie of the Triplers is amazing, the folks crewing are wonderful. But still I just didn't really get into it. The highlight of the day was soaking in Lake Tahoe at the finish line. The water is unbelievably cold but Jody is quite the mermaid and decided to swim. Not me!

Day 3 is Tahoe Marathon day and is the only day that has aid stations and crowd support. I decided to hang with Jody and Jean and just have fun. "Yay Us!" was our motto and fun we had, even on the Hill from Hell. We caught up with fellow TrailHeadz Jakob Hermann who had run the unofficial "fun run" 72-mile. The 3 Amigas had fun, fun, fun all day and boy, was it a long day. Here we are at the finish line and afterwards on the beach with Jakob.

Would I do this race again? I don't know. I'd like to finish the Super but I don't know how much faith I have in a RD that "forgets" to add the 72-mile race to the official list of events and hence is denied a last-minute permit application. I just didn't drive all that way and take 4 days away from my family to run an unofficial 72-mile race with no published results. I can run 72-miles in the mountains of So Cal. Thankfully, the friendship and fun of just hanging with Jody and Jean (two of the most fun-loving, positive people I've ever met) made it a memorable trip. And I would like to take my family to Lake Tahoe on a camping trip because it is a spectacularly beautiful place.

Home safe

2009-09-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Ultrarunners are amazing people. They came from all over Southern CA to aid SAR in the search for Gina. Some who know Gina, some who don't. But all with a common goal. To find two of our own, Gina and Fidel, and return them safely to their loved ones. Charlie found Fidel's truck. Trail Headz, Bad Rats, OCTR and more were embedded with the SAR teams providing valuable knowledge of the rugged terrain.

The story has a happy ending; Fidel walked out on his own in amazingly good shape for having spent 3 days in the mountains; Gina was spotted by a helicopter 5 hours later, in bad shape but alive and anxious to get out on the trails again....

Welcome home Gina and Fidel! Rest, get better and tell your story so we can all learn from your experience.

Lost on Los Pinos....

2009-09-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Fellow ultrarunner Gina Natera and her brother-in-law Fidel Diaz went out Sunday for a 6-8 hour run, probably on the Los Pinos trail in the Cleveland National Forest, and never came back. Their cars have been found, they have not. This morning the search for them begins in earnest with dog teams, SAR personnel... and the local untrarunning community who know the trails better than anyone and have ideas as to where they may have been heading.
Gina and Fidel: my thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there. Help is on it's way.

Time flies....

2009-08-22T18:26:00.001-07:00

It's been a busy few weeks since my entry into the 100-miler Club with the San Diego 100. I've rested a lot, ran some, raced a little, spent time with hubby and kids and had the opportunity to test the Saucony ProGrid Xodus trail shoe. I've been a huge fan of the Brooks Cascadia 4 since I got them earlier this year but I'm also a fan of the Saucony Triumph 6 which I use as my road training shoe. Even so, I was a little wary of trying something new.

Straight out of the box, the Vibram sole seemed stiff. Indeed, my test run involved a 2-mile pavement section before hitting the dusty horsetrails around my place of work and my initial impression was not favorable = rough and clunky. But then I hit the trails and I got it... wow, the collaboration between Saucony and Vibram has resulted in an impressive shoe!

It's light, well cushioned in the mid and forefoot and the Arch-Lock really held my foot in place on fast downhills. I have a narrow foot and this shoe just hugged my foot - secure in the heel cup, no rotation in the midfoot and the not-so-roomy toebox means my feet don't slop around. No blisters!

The Xodus performed well on the trails, providing both stability (even though it's a neutral shoe) and flexibility. It's pretty light at 11-ish ounces and I hardly noticed it on my feet. The grip is excellent on all surfaces, the cushioning good. So where did I test it?

* Mt. Hood PCT50 - soft dirt, not-so-technical trails through the pine forests of Mt. Hood. Even on the cambered single track, these shoes gripped and felt stable. And no bothersome caking through the muddy sections.
* Mt. Disappointment 50-mile - asphalt (yuck!), rocky, technical single track, dirt fire roads, and hills. Boy, those climbs - on hellish fire road to Shortcut Aid Station and the final soul destroying climb on the Kenyon Devore trail to the summit of Mt. Wilson. The rock plate protected the forefoot, the cushioning felt good. There was no slip on the rocky downhills, even when try to slow my descent.
* Bulldog 50K - fire road, rocky single track, smooth rock faces. The Vibram outsole dealt with it all, unfortunately my left hamstring did not.

115 race miles and numerous training run miles and they're holding up well. No appreciable wear, no breakdown in cushioning or outsole. I'm impressed and would recommend the Xodus for technical trails and longer runs, when protection, grip and cushioning are crucial. The marriage of the Saucony fit and the Vibram grip is a solid one. Still love my Brooks Cascadia but I can't wait to try the Xodus on the muddy "trails" through the rain forests of Costa Rica. No slip-slidin' for me next year!

1st 100

2009-06-13T17:44:00.001-07:00

On April 12 2008 I ran my first trail 50K.
On March 28 2009 I ran my first trail 50-mile.
On June 6/7 2009 I ran my first 100-mile - the San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run.

I always set goals for the year and this was one of them; the other was to finish The Coastal Challenge Rainforest Run in the Expedition Category (which I did). The few weeks leading up to the race were not ideal for training with financial pressures, working a ton of hours, sick kids, injury etc. so I started the race with only one goal - to finish and do so in under 31 hours.

The SD100 course is two 50-mile loops that allow runners access to their cars at miles 20, 50 and 70 (the start/finish area). It is amazingly well-managed and supported.

Shelli and I spent the night in luxury in her motorhome, parked right at the start/finish area at Camp Cuyamaca. It was unseasonably cold and windy and when we saw fellow Trail Headz Kirk preparing to sleep in the bed of his pick-up truck, we invited him to come inside to join the party. Race morning was also cold and windy, not quite what we expect in So. Cal.

Off we set, deliberately keeping the pace slow, hoping to preserve strength for the second 50-mile loop. At the first aid station, Sunrise Hwy, the wind was so strong that I fought to keep upright. It was so cold. Same at aid station #2, Pedro Fages. I took a bad fall, catching my foot in the low brush lining the single track. Back to the relative warmth of Camp Cuyamaca where I rewrapped my toes and headed out again. Miles 20-30 were uneventful except for the long climb out of Big Bend during which I amused myself by picking a runner ahead of me and striving to catch him. We were right on schedule coming in to mile 50.

Shelli and I had not found a pacer for mile 50-70 so we were delighted to hear that Alexa's pacer, Wendy, had offered to pace us (Alexa dropped due to knee pain). This is us heading out....

All races have high and low points. The next 20 miles were my low point. As soon as we started climbing, the wind hit us again. It was cold and oh so dark. The coyotes were howling. It was spooky. Fighting the headwind sapped my strength and by mile 70, my legs hurt so badly I thought they were about to fall off.

My crew was great. Henry had hot soup ready. Kristen, Dennis and Kate were there to help rewrap feet. Lorraine fed me copious amounts of Vitamin I and told me that my legs were indeed supposed to hurt - it was, afterall, a 100-mile race! Hot soup, warm clothes and I was ready to hobble out with Maya leading, Kate bringing up the rear.

It took some time to get out of the daze that I had entered and when I reached the Paso Picacho aid station at mile 75.3, I had no idea who the two guys were that were waving a bottle of Coke in my face. I will never live this down - it was my boss Sensei Paul along with Sensei Marco from Zen Dojos, who had come out to crew and see just how bad a shape I was in during the later stages of the race! Luckily for me, Coke and No-Doze woke me up, I realized who everyone was and I was good to go. In fact, I got stronger from that point on. Once the sun came up, my spirits rose too.

Last aid station, L to R: husband Mike, pacer Maya, Sensei Paul, Sensei Marco, son Colton and me.

A change of pacers and Shelli and I now had Kristen leading with Dennis bringing up the rear. There was no running at this point, rather a determined march towards the finish.

And here we are, running in to be greeted by RD Scott Mills at the finish line. Official finish time 29:49:45

My first buckle. Bronze for sub-31 hour finish.

Many, many thanks to:

my pacers (Wendy, Maya, Kate, Kristen and Dennis) for keeping me on track for a sub-30 hour finish.
my crew (Henry, JD, Sensei Paul, Sensei Marco) for keeping my spirits up and providing to my every need.
RD Scott Mills and his army of volunteers for making this a great race in every way from trail marking to aid stations to ham radio support to medical support. They all worked extremely hard and most froze their butts off to make this a successful race.
all the Trail Headz who were out there to offer support and cheer me on.
my husband Mike who puts up with my crazy ideas and is always there to support me.
my boys Colton and CJ who were there at mile 92.4 and the finish to cheer Mom on and who just can't stop telling everyone they meet that Mom just ran 100 miles!

Thanks everyone! Now to get that silver buckle....

Krav Maga

2009-05-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

Krav Maga. The name in Hebrew means "hand-to-hand combat". It is not a martial art by traditional standards but has taken many techniques from martial arts.

Techniques generally focus on training combatants in conditions approximating real-life scenarios, situations where losing would be potentially fatal. Its attack and defense techniques aim to neutralize the threat and facilitate rapid and safe escape. These include a variety of fast and fluid crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts through various efficient and often brutal strikes.

Krav Maga is the official self defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces, and has been taught to US Special Ops, British Special Forces, hundreds of law enforcement agencies and thousands of civilians in the US.

Why am I blogging about Krav Maga? Because I take classes. I am a runner, I run a lot alone, often in the dark. I need to know how to deal with an attacker. Unfortunately there are bad guys out there. I'm a realist. I have a family. I want to survive an attack.

Plus it's a killer aerobic and anearobic workout. In a few short weeks my upper body and core strength has improved drastically. I'm fit, I run insanely long distances but I'm bad about cross-training and this is really helping me. It's fun. Where else do I get to beat the crap out of a guy twice my size? (Dr Laura would love that comment!).

So, check it out at Zen Dojos Martial Arts Studios in San Juan Capistrano. Sensei Paul is an amazing instructor. Zen Dojos is a great studio. Krav Maga and martial arts are a great way to get in shape. Don't worry you won't get hurt - we use pads and protective gear but the idea is to practice techniques at full strength and experience the impact you would feel when getting hit.

I work there too.... stop by, say "hi" and try out a class.

Baaaaah!!

2009-05-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Nanny Goat Mascot - a yodelling plush toy, an indication that this race was unlike any other 12/24 hour trail race in the country. My partner in crime, Shelli Sexton, a veteran Tevis Cup Rider, and her parents hosted the race over the Memorial Day weekend. The race took place on their twenty plus acre horse ranch in Riverside, CA.

The 1-mile dirt and grass course started and ended in one of the barns. Runners arriving early got their pick of the horse stalls and set up their chairs and tables. Breakfast of coffee, pancakes, donuts, fruit was provided before the 9:00 a.m. start.

The race followed the dirt road along the paddocks, then turned onto a grass path lined with pastures on one side and a rose bush hedge and palm trees on the other. The grass ended where the orange grove began and then onto an asphalt road for less than a quarter mile, and finally back to the dirt bridle path and through the barn where the Nanny Goat Café awaited customers.

Barista Kris served coffee-to-order. Ted and Jean cooked burgers and tri tip. Bottles were refilled. Annie, Shelli and Jeanette baked pizza and made numerous trips to the grocery store to restock supplies. EKP, Lori and RD Steve counted laps. All day and night.

Round and round and round I ran. Actually, I ran 42 laps as part of a 3-person relay team with Shelli and Beiyi (94 laps total - 1st place team). Chris Martinez won the men's 12-hour with 67 laps, "Croc Lady" Lorraine won the women's with 57 laps. Christian Burke won the men's 24-hour with 111 laps, Mary Ntefidou won the women's with 78 laps. My friend Kristen did awesome, completing 43 laps - her first time over 50K! LT ran 101 miles despite taking a "nap" for a few hours (then ran the LA Marathon the following day!) And lsdchris ran 68 miles - his first time over 36 miles! Way to go everyone!

Fun race, great venue. Many thanks to RDs Steve and Annie and the Sexton family for making it a fun weekend.

Now if my eldest son had only managed to not rip off his toenail in the Sexton's swimming pool and require a trip to Urgent Care during the race - I may have ran more laps (or eaten more tri tip, or drank more soy lattes). Oh well, next year....

http://www.oldgoatrunners.com/

Where's Sue?

2009-05-16T18:26:00.001-07:00

Having blown off PCT50, I decided to join fellow Trail Headz Lorraine, Marisa, Kristen and Sue on a run to the top of Mt Baldy. What an adventure it turned into!

L to R: Lorraine, Marisa, Rachael, Kristen, Sue

Rachael at peak

Lorraine & Marisa w/ Mt Baldy sign

Chapman Trail

The day started out uneventfully enough. We carpooled to Mt. Baldy Visitor Center, picked up a wilderness permit and trail maps and headed up Bear Canyon Trail to the top of Mt. Baldy. Wow, what a tough trail! Probably one of the toughest around. Sue and Kristen both suffered with altitude sickness so it took longer than expected to get to the peak. There was still snow on the trail too so we had to slip-slide across some sections. Fun, fun, fun!

I was greeted at the peak by someone shouting my name - there were two gals I haven't seen in years. Laura and Kat from my Moms' Club days, out on a hiking weekend. Pretty amazing really.

We took Devil's Backbone to Mt. Baldy Notch and the Ski Lodge. Lunch gave us time to regroup and plan the descent. Kristen, still not feeling too good, would take the chairlift and then run down the road back to the Visitor Center. Lorraine, Marisa and I would take 3 Ts trail (Thunder Mtn., Telegraph Peak, Timber Mtn.) to Ice House Saddle, Chapman Trail from Icehouse Saddle to Ice House Canyon Trailhead where Kristen would meet us with the car. Sue wanted to run up Thunder Mountain, back down to the Ski Lodge and then down the fire service road to the Visitor Center.

Good plan, bad execution. Kristen made it no problem. Lorraine, Marisa and I had fun with the climbs and downhills, losing the trail at times because of snow and rock falls but laughing all the way. We made it back to the car 45 minutes later than anticipated. But where was Sue? We drove up and down the mountain looking for her before heading back to the Vistor Center. Still no Sue. Lorraine called it in to SAR. The dispatcher called back to say we were all reported missing. Lorraine convinced the dispatcher only Sue was missing. The dispatcher found Sue waiting for us at a McDonald's on the I-15. Yes, she had made a wrong turn coming down from Thunder Mtn. and ran down the back side of the mountain. Luckily someone found her and took her to safety.

So, what went wrong? We broke one of the most important rules of trail running. We allowed one of the group to run alone. Luckily, this run had a happy ending.

Who called us in as missing? Bruce, Lorraine's husband. He didn't even know I was with the group as I hadn't signed up in advance but I had called my husband collect from the Ski Lodge to let him know we were running late. Didn't think to ask him to let Bruce know how we were doing.

Lessons learned. Never run alone. Always file a flight plan. Always carry SPOT.

Speed Bump....

2009-04-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Life was going great, training was going great, I was moving full speed ahead until... I hit one of life's speed bumps.

Hubby lost his job
I tripped at work at A Snail's Pace and badly gashed/bruised my shin
That, along with current household financial crisis, led to me not going to Leona Divide 50-mile - I didn't need the stress or expense plus my shin still hurt like hell.
Everyone got sick with colds
I tried to work 2 jobs and be a Mom/wife, got very run down and came down with the family cold
I quit A Snail's Pace to work more hours at Zen Dojos Martial Arts Studio (which I love!)
PCT50 suffered a last minute course change and was rerouted to the SD100 course. Shelli and my plans were derailed last minute and neither of us made it to the race.

But life goes on. I believe we have two choices in such situations - sink (wallow in self-pity) or swim (figure it out). I choose to swim...

Easy Recovery

2009-04-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

People I meet through working at A Snail's Pace often ask me how I can run 50 miles one day and not be sore the next. While I'm big on training smart and taking time off to recover, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet in general (chocolate excluded!) and post-run refuelling (carbs and protein within 30 mins of finishing), I also take a supplement from Wicked Fast Nutrition. Recover-Ease.

I was introduced to Recover-Ease by my good friend and ultra running fast chick Michelle Barton. I admit I was sceptical at first but soon became a fan. This stuff works. Totally minimizes muscle soreness and fatigue in general. In fact, I have even stopped taking it for periods of time to test the effect = dead legs, general fatigue, even a little depression, which all goes away when I take it again.

Can I say it'll turn you into 7-times Western States 100 winner Scott Jurek or my fellow TCC racer and winner of Umstead 100 David James (15:05 - way to go Dave!)? No. Only proper training and an intense desire to win will do that. But it does help. So why not give it a try?

Great day at OG50!

2009-04-02T10:39:00.001-07:00

The elevation profile for OG50 - using his very accurate hand-held GPS, LT recorded 13400' of climb over the 50.1 mile course.

This was one of those days where it (mostly) came together and I had a great run. After DNFing Twin Peaks in December, staggering through 25 times the 2-mile loop at Big Cat Challenge and then going through a tough recovery after TCC including DNFing at San Juan Trail 50K two weeks ago, I was not very confident about even finishing this one. But I did!

I heeded the advice of ultra-runner and fellow TCC participant Kelly Ridgway and fueled throughout the race. A few bites of Shot Bloks or JustFruit Bar or #9 Chocolate Agave gel (low glycemic index and oh so yummy!) plus SaltStick Caps every hour and lots of fluids really helped. Ensure seems to be my magic fuel. I ran in the dark with my R2R2R friend Robbi Woolard and although I was around 30 mins slower than I had hoped at the 20-mile mark, I picked it up and never stopped moving. I even got to run the last 8 miles or so with Bill Ramsey who has such a wealth of experience and knowledge to share that it makes the miles fly by.

This was one of those races that was meticulously planned and executed by RDs Steve and Annie Harvey. The aid stations were frequent and well-stocked, the course well marked and the volunteers - well, what can I say! The Forestry guys were out patrolling on dirtbikes to ensure no runners were taken out by over-zealous motorbikes and Hummers. SoCal Trail Headz were out in force and dressed for the part - from cowgirls to pocahontas to the angels at the top of Santiago Peak. Everyone went the extra mile to make it a hugely successful event. Shelli and JD packed in supplies on horseback, Jean Ho played her harp at the top of Santiago Peak (BTW guys, the "Stairway to Heaven" signs made me laugh on the long climb up - thanks!).

Me and Bill at the finish.

Springtime in So.Cal

2009-03-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

Sunshine, flowers and baby snakes....

On beautiful days like this, I often think just how lucky I am to live here, to be able to run these beautiful trails almost daily and to have family and friends who support what I love to do. I also think back to past experiences and figure out what I can learn from them. Take TCC for example. I met so many wonderful people, both runners, crew and race support staff. They taught me a lot, the race itself taught me a lot:

Trail runners always help other trail runners. Watching Project Athena Team leader Robin carry her team-mates on her back and literally pull them up steep slopes was just amazing.
My friends are always there for me, no matter how tired and sore they feel themselves.
My friends don't care if I smell like a wet dog because my clothes won't dry; they smell like one too.
My friends don't care if I cry; they give me space and wait until I can laugh again.
If you don't laugh, you'll go insane. There is something funny in every situation - find it.
You are stronger than you think you are. Dig deep and you will finish what you start.
You can never have enough pairs of dry socks.
Clothes simply don't dry in Costa Rica, even technical running gear.
Costa Rica runs on Tico time. It'll happen when it happens so don't stress about it.
Everywhere in Costa Rica is "only 3K" away. They have no sense of distance.
Elite runners like Scott Jurek are happy to hang out at the finish line and cheer you on, even though they were done hours ago.
Life is short, enjoy it to it's fullest.

There was one point in the race when we were running along jungle trails, mangrove swamps to our right, dense jungle to our left, canopy overhead, when the words to Brain Damage from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon got stuck in my head:
"The lunatic is on the grass.
The lunatic is on the grass.
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
Got to keep the loonies on the path."

Guess I was worried about running into a crocodile in the mangroves or snake in the undergrowth....

The Coastal Challenge Rain Forest Run 2009

2009-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

The Coastal Challenge Rain Forest Run
6 days
234 km (147 miles)
10,400 m (34,000 ft) elevation gain

Over the next few posts, I'm going to attempt to put into words my experience at a race that was by far the hardest but most wonderful thing I have ever attempted. It was a physical and emotional roller coaster to say the least.
Note: all photos courtesy of Tim Holstrom, Andre Vargas, Henry Kass, Shelli Sexton, Kristen Trujillo, Beiyi Zheng and myself.

PRE-RACE: Best Western Irazu, San Jose

We arrived a couple of days before the start of the race so had time to relax, get used to the climate and cuisine and to watch other runners arriving at the hotel. Some were obviously old friends meeting up again, some were veterans of this race, most were obviously experienced ultra marathoners and then there were the rest of us… with the “deer-in-headlights” expression. And to top it all, I had been assigned the coveted race #1, usually reserved for “elites”. Was I expected to run really fast and at least keep pace with Scott Jurek and GENr8-sponsored David James or was it because I signed up on the day registration opened? What had I gotten into?

DAY 1: Welcome to the Jungle!
Quepos Beach to Rafiki Lodge, Savegre Valley
33.5 km, 850 m total ascent
5:07:25

We were up at the crack of dawn to make sure our action packers actually got on to the truck and to get something to eat at Denny's. "Typical" Costa Rican breakfast is egg (usually fried, sometimes scrambled) with rice, beans and coffee. I got brave, decided I may not eat again for a week and choked it down. Then we climbed on to the bus for the 3-hour ride to the beach town of Quepos.

A couple of stops later and we were at the start line, pacing nervously, sizing up the competition and trying to smile for the cameras. As the sun came out so did the humidity. Then we were off, at first on paved roads that gave way to dirt/gravel roads under construction (Note: pedestrians do not have right of way in Costa Rica!), over a bridge that was barely more than steel bars with large gaps between and then into the plantations. The heat (100 deg) coupled with humidity (~100%) was unbearable until we got into the rain forest.

Our first encounter with indigenous wildlife came 1:31 into the stage when Shelli narrowly avoided being bitten by a long, skinny and mean green snake. Forest trail, more dirt road and then a pull cart “surprise” to cross a raging river. Oh, and it rained and rained and rained during the latter part of the stage, while we in camp trying to unpack our stuff and get ready for the next day and then on-and-off through the night. Welcome to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

DAY 2: Slip Slidin’ Away
Savegre Valley to Dominical Beach
39 km, 2250 m total ascent
8:21:01

We were up at 3:30 eager to eat breakfast, pack up the tent/action packers and head out into the rain forest. Now this is Costa Rica and everything runs on “tico time” so the 5:30 start was more like 6:00. Off we went down a scenic dirt trail and then straight up a muddy jungle trail, made muddier by yesterday’s rain. What a climb! The mud was so deep that it sucked our shoes straight off our feet, we had to use our hands to haul ourselves up and over obstacles and I got attacked by huge black wasps. Some of the trails were not really trails, more like muddy ditches that we would attempt to walk down the middle of. Up, up, up, fighting the mud all the way, then down before more up… would it never end? What goes up must come down and we certainly did. On the way, we narrowly avoided sinkholes, slid down muddy slopes, got stung, prickled and shredded by every sort of insect and plant imaginable before finding comfort in the fresh coconut juice served at PC #2. We made the time cutoff and finished the stage with a run on the beach that almost made up for the heat, humidity, mud and swamps of the second day.

DAY 3: River
Dominical Beach – Ventanas Beach
52.5 km, 2450 m total ascent
11:53:23

We were told to be ready on the beach at 5:15 for a 5:30 start. Up again at 3:30 (by now it’s becoming routine) but tico time meant a late start. Another long day ahead with a time cutoff to meet made me a little nervous. The first 10 km was in a riverbed. By now I should have realized that there was no way Rodrigo (race designer) was going to have us run in a dry riverbed. No, there were numerous crossings in the rapids, a section so deep we had to swim with our packs and a waterfall to navigate. We were told that to get out of the riverbed meant disqualification so on we battled. It was breathtakingly beautiful but having wet socks on my feet for a good portion of the day resulted in the start of bad blisters.

By the time we made PC #4 (time cutoff) and got out of the jungle trails, onto a beach and finally onto a paved road, the blister on my right foot popped. It was so excruciatingly painful and I screamed so loud that a motorist stopped to ask if I needed help! Shelli kept me moving and we limped along the road until we reached the “surprise” – an additional 2-3 km “no trail” through the jungle in rapidly failing light.

This was the day I decided that my revenge on Rodrigo for inflicting this amount of pain on me would be to bury him neck deep in sand, let the hot sun bake him so his skin turned black, let the sand fleas and crabs do their thing and crawl in/eat away at his eyes, ears and mouth, and finally let the incoming tide slowly drown him. Us Brits excel at torture – do not mess with us!

DAY 4: The Long and Winding Road
Coronado – Palmar Sur
37.5 km, 2950 m total ascent
10:54:42

By now, the atmosphere around camp is somewhat subdued as the effect of little sleep, scant food, arduous days, blistering heat/humidity and injuries begins to take its toll. I say scant food because by now I am starving; I am gluten intolerant and despite promises by the race staff that my dietary needs would be met, they are not. I am surviving on rice/beans, scrambled egg, chicken or fish, whatever energy products I can force down during the day and the occasional cold Coca-cola purchased from a village store.

We started the day with a bus ride over a condemned bridge to the start area and then we were off, climbing up, up, up – 3300 ft over 4 miles on rainforest trails before we hit miles of rolling dirt roads. The views were breathtaking – the Talamanca mountains on one side, the ocean far below us on the other. But, as before, what goes up must come down and we had to scramble down a grassy mountainside, moving from marker to marker lest we fell into a sinkhole. This wasn’t just knee-high soft green grass; this was machete grass so tall at times we could barely see the path and so sharp it was cutting us to ribbons. The race was becoming a test of survival – a need to meet the time cutoffs, the will to keep moving so as not to be out in the wilderness after dark but at the same time try to conserve enough energy to get through whatever the next day will bring. I was exhausted. Shelli had badly twisted her ankle and my blisters were so bad that I could no longer bear weight on the balls of my feet. Back to camp in time for Doc Duggie to bandage my feet, choke down some food and try to sleep.

DAY 5: Man Eater
Sierpe River – Drake Bay
47.5 km, 1450 m total ascent
10:15:30

Today’s surprise was a boat ride to the start on the banks of the Sierpe River. Tico time again meant a late start but it allowed us to see parrots in the trees lining the river bank and white-faced monkeys hanging by their tails eating fruit. Then the boat driver got excited and pointed out that what we thought were logs floating beside the boat were in fact crocodiles. And the logs on the bank where we got off the boat were also in fact crocodiles!

We headed into the Oso Peninsula, one of the most desolate and dangerous places in the world. In fact, while I was training for TCC, I watched an episode of “Survivorman” where survival expert Les Stroud gets totally freaked out by the sounds and sights of the rainforest and is stalked by a panther as he heads to safety in a nearby village. Where exactly was that village again?

We started with a climb then a descent to pass by farms that must be entirely self-sufficient. Poverty here is heartbreaking. Schools are boarded up, books left on the shelves. We passed families riding on horseback with the father leading the way and more often than not, the mother holding a sleeping child and a sack of rice or grain. We ran along the banks of the mangroves, always wary of logs that might be crocodile and snakes that fall from the branches above. We crossed streams, so many in fact that I ran out of dry socks and threw my water bottle in frustration at not being able to keep my feet reasonably dry. I cannot describe how painful every step had become. Shelli was wonderful and stuck with me, encouraging me to go on when I thought I couldn’t move another step and quickly spraying me with Deet when I stepped on an anthill and was swarmed by fire ants. I finished the day, too tired to walk another step, too tired to eat and sleep. As one of my fellow competitors, Tim Meyer, described it “If it is hot enough and if you are tired enough, you can be in the most beautiful place on Earth and all you can possibly see is the mud 3 feet in front of your wet, soggy, stinky, shoes and all you can even comprehend is just finding the finishing line, some food and your tent”.

DAY 6: The Final Countdown
Corcovado Loop
23.7 km, 450 m total ascent
06:37:21

This was the shortest and probably the most scenic day but I simply could not run. Every step was so unbearably painful that even copious amounts of painkillers could not mask the pain. My feet were shot, my mind too. I simply no longer cared what was around me, I just wanted to finish and was willing to crawl if I had to.

Of course, the day started with a climb and then descent to a riverbed. We scrambled across and up a massive waterfall so slippery and dangerous that I was sure I would break an ankle. We climbed a fixed metal ladder with medic looking on and made our way to the roads and trails along the border of the Corcovado National Park. Beautiful. Lots of wildlife: hermit crabs, spiders, butterflies, monkeys, lizards. Navigating jungle trails and running along the beach. Over one last bridge where I stopped and insisted I could go no farther. But I did it. Shelli made me go on and I finished, albeit exhausted physically and mentally, limping in pain and crying.

What an amazing experience. What a test of physical and mental toughness. It was a true emotional and physical rollercoaster. There were good times, there were great times and there were times where I was so deep in despair that I no longer cared what happened to me. There were times I stopped to take photos and marvel at the beauty surrounding me and there were times I screamed at Shelli to get the camera out of my face. There were times I fell down, got up only to fall again. I ran, I hiked, I shuffled, I crawled. There were times I missed my boys so badly my heart almost broke and other times I was thankful they weren’t there to see the agony and exhaustion I was battling.

Would I do this race again? You betcha! We’re going to win next year; 3rd place Expedition Team simply won’t cut it. Pura Vida!

Individual result: 28th place Expedition category

Team result: 3rd place Expedition category

1st place Most Creative Method of Torturing Rodrigo

Back to Reality....

2009-02-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

Was this....?

Worth this....?

I think so! But I'll be posting my race report over the next few days so read it and let me know.

The Final Count Down....

2009-01-27T15:37:00.001-08:00

Team Coastal Cuties (minus 1 - Shelli overslept!)

Team Coastal Cuties with Trail Headz girls out on the horse trails of Fullerton 2/25/09

The website says 3 days to go. I leave for Costa Rica tomorrow. I'm finally packed; anything I've forgotten, I'll have to do without. I can't believe after all these months of training that the race is finally here. This will be the toughest, most challenging race of my brief running career. I'm totally freaked out but looking forward to whatever the race throws at me.

You can follow The Coastal Cuties' progress at www.tccadventures.com. There is also a message board you can access with the following link:

http://www.tccadventures.com/index.php?option=com_user&task=register

Wish me luck!

14 days to go....

2009-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Meet "The Action Packer". Everything I can possibly need for this race has to fit in this lockable 24-gal tote. Shoes, clothes, sleeping bag, towels, nutritional products, sports drinks, medical supplies... EVERYTHING must fit.

This week has been a whirlwind. A typical day: run, get boys up/dressed/fed and off to school, run or bike, go to work, pick boys up from school and help with homework, make dinner, cajole boys into eating dinner (why is it they will happily eat McDonalds' every day but won't even look at grilled salmon and veggies?), head to cub scouts/karate/rugby, deliver them home to Dad for baths and bedtime stories and run again - all interspersed with making lists, checking lists and panicking that I don't yet have everything on lists. Paying bills and cleaning house is not taking top priority right now!

Got my mojo back!

2009-01-12T16:26:00.001-08:00

Last week was tough. I just wasn't into running. Every run was a struggle. But today I got my mojo back, especially after I ran into this guy out on the Patriot Trail in San Juan Capistrano. Someone went to a great deal of trouble hauling stuff up there to dress this guy!

I am back. I am ready for The Coastal Challenge.

21 days to go....

2009-01-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

A year in review

2008-12-31T21:46:00.000-08:00

Wow, what an amazing year. The highlights:

5 marathons including my first triple marathon (plus 1 DNF)
5 50K trail races
1 50 mi race (plus 1 DNF at 40 miles)
Double crossing of the Grand Canyon, AZ
2282 miles - now that's a lot of shoes!

Thanks to my husband, boys, family and friends, 2008 was an amazing year for me. I am blessed to have their support which has helped me grow both as a runner and person. Now I'm ready for bigger and better challenges in 2009, starting with The Coastal Challenge in just 4 short weeks!

1st 50-miler!

2008-12-29T12:16:00.001-08:00

The Big Cat 12-Hr Challenge 2008.... 25 times around a 2-mile loop in Huntington Beach Central Park with several of my Trail Headz friends. 50 miles somewhat leisurely finished in 9:36 but still, I finished! Not the most exciting of courses with a mix of grass, dirt and asphalt. Excitement at this race comes in the form of dodging the frisbee golfers and ducks that wander across the path. But well supported and well organized. RD Bob English and members of The Big Cat Race Team put on a fun race and their smiling faces and words of encouragement made the loops seem to fly by (well, kinda....). Maya, Shelli, Beiyi and I all ran our first 50-miler, Kristen ran 50K. Good day for The Coastal Cuties.

Shelli leads the pack.

Alexa, Rachael, Troy, Shelli, LT

Fun in the snow!

2008-12-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Beiyi and I just had to check out the snow from this week's storms so we headed to Holy Jim. Our plan was to run up Holy Jim to Main Divide, up to Santiago Peak and back. The streams were flowing fast and furious so crossing them was challenging and wet. Even more challenging were the numerous fallen trees along the trail, much different than last week at Twin Peaks but great training for The Coastal Challenge. Under, over, around - we found a way to navigate every obstacle.

As we climbed higher, the snow got deeper and the obstacles more challenging but it was so much FUN! Along the way we met hikers and crazy, crazy mountain bikers (just imagine having to carry your bike under, over and around the obstacles), all having fun too - snow at 1500ft is not something we see every winter in So. Cal.!

DNF

2008-12-14T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sad to report that I DNF'd my first attempt at 50 miles. Not beaten by the distance, instead by Mother Nature.

The Coastal Cuties had planned this race to be our last long one before The Coastal Challenge. Maya signed up for the 50K; Kristen, Beiyi, Shelli and I signed up for the 50 miler. Kristen decided to drop due to a recurring heel injury and volunteered to be my finish line support. Shelli and I were assigned a start time one hour later than Beiyi so we were hoping to catch her at some point. However, Shelli started the race not feeling good and decided to drop to 50K. I decided to catch Beiyi as I didn't want to run alone in the dark on the way back down to the finish line.

The course: Up Indian Truck Trail. Main Divide, down West Horsethief. Up Holy Jim to Main Divide and up to Santiago Peak. Down Upper Holy Jim to Holy Jim, up West Horsethief to Main Divide and climb to Santiago Peak. Down Upper Holy Jim to Indian Truck Trail to the finish.

Right from the get go we were wet; low clouds and fog made it cold and slippery in places. I felt great despite being so wet and had pretty much dried out by the time I reached Holy Jim the first time. The climb to Santiago Peak was tough but bearable, spooky in the fog. I caught up with a small group and followed them back to Holy Jim for the second time. My buddy Troy was crewing for me at Holy Jim and made sure I downed an Ensure and had something to eat before setting out again. I still felt great. I caught Beiyi on the way up to Trabuco Peak but it was clear she was feeling the cold too. I was determined to get to the top of Santiago Peak. Then the storm hit. Gusts of wind that almost knocked me to the ground, driving icy rain, poor visibility. I just put one foot in front of the other and kept moving.

By the time I got to Santiago Peak, I was soaked to the skin. Shorts, shirt, half-zip, windbreaker and emergency poncho just weren't doing it. It was dark, foggy, sleeting and windy. 30 deg plus wind chill. Corrinne and hubby Bob were waiting at the top and I made the decision to drop. Not because I was tired or in pain (I had lots of energy, was moving quickly and was pain free), just personal safety. I had allowed myself to get too cold. Disappointing but the smart thing to do.

Corrinne and Bob drove me to the finish line where Kristen fired up her camping stove and made hot chocolate to thaw me out and Shelli showed up with gluten-free risotto so I had something warm to eat. Bless them! And bless everyone who volunteered in those atrocious conditions. Without them, the race would have been a disaster for more runners.

Make Room for Santa

2008-12-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

My sons (ages 7 and 5) are signed up for the Make Room for Santa Kids 1K Run on Sunday. It's only their 2nd kids' race. I was explaining to my little one what is going to happen. He told me he is worried about the race because he hasn't trained. Bless him! And note to self - write training plan because this kid has an interest in running!

1 week to go.....

2008-12-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Just one week to go until my first 50-miler. Now I'm getting nervous. Looking at the course profile I'm thinking "why on earth did I sign up for a race with 12500 ft of climb as my first 50-mile race?". Crazy.

Notoriety

2008-12-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, I'm parked at a trail head, standing at the back of my car putting on my gaiters. A few spaces down, I notice two Moms getting little ones into their jogging strollers, getting ready for a walk. They're ready before me and as they pass my car I hear one Mom say "That's the Crazy Lady!". "What Crazy Lady?" asks the other Mom. "You know, the one that thinks it's fun to run across the Grand Canyon and back in one day" is the answer. Makes me smile....

After my run, I stop at the Post Office to mail packages to my family in England. A voice behind me asks "What are those things over your shoes?". I explain they're gaiters and why I wear them. She says "I recognize them from the newspaper article. I thought they were just so that people could see you on the trails".

My gaiters are recognizable, I am not. Hmmm.....

Mountain Runners....

2008-11-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

That's the comment made by a hiker as Beiyi ran by on the trail today. Makes us sound like some kind of fierce, mountain-dwelling types! Beiyi, Maya, Kristen and I joined Lorraine Gersitz and Marisa Willment on a fun run in the San Gabriel Mountains.

We started at Chantry Flat (mile 75 of AC100) and climbed to Mt. Wilson via Upper Winter Creek Trail and Manzanita Trail.

Here I am on the trail, climbing up, up, up...

At the top of Mt. Wilson

Gorgeous views from the trail. See the snow on Mt. Baldy!

Then descend to Sturtevant Camp via Rim Trail (gnarly!) and Gabrielino Trail. Brief stop to fill water bottles and then down to Big Santa Anita Canyon via Gabrielino Trail. Finally a short hike up the paved road back to Chantry Flat. 17.5 miles of fun! What a great way to spend a Saturday!

Santa Monica Mountains Trail 50K

2008-11-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Coastal Cuties had planned a fun weekend running; an easy 18-20 mile run on the sand at Huntington Beach, a relaxing afternoon by the pool at our hotel in Oxnard and then the Santa Monica Mountains Trail 50K on Sunday. Sometimes even the best made plans go awry; Maya (for once!) heeded Doctor's advice and decided not to chance further injuring her ankle by running on uneven terrain and Shelli was sick. So Kristen, Beiyi and I ran the Back Bay loop and then drove up to Oxnard where we spent the afternoon eating, shopping and then met up with Lorraine for dinner.

I'm fairly new to trail running but this was the best organized race I've entered: trails clearly marked, color of ribbons depended on distance, well-stocked and staffed aid stations, hot food and drink at the finish. Maybe it was because there were only 2 aid stations due to the "loop" course or maybe it was because the RD's are just good at this. Orange loop (La Jolla Canyon), pink loop (Sycamore Canyon), orange again, yellow loop (Ray Miller Trail) with downhill finish for total elevation gain of 5490 ft.

The only part of the course I really hated was a flat section on narrow single track through tall grass. I became convinced a mountain lion was going to jump me. Crazy really but I just couldn't get my legs to move. The only part of the race I hated was seeing the winner finish in 4:10 when I had another 3 hours to go!

Here I am still smiling as I head back up Ray Miller Trail (Backbone) for the final 5.3 miles. Finish time 7:19:41

Devastation

2008-11-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

Chino Hills State Park. No words needed.

Fame and Fortune....

2008-11-18T20:47:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, 4 of the Coastal Cuties (as we now seem to be known), got together for a run in the hills of San Clemente and pre-run interview and photo shoot by Fred Swegles and Paul Bersebach of the OC Register. I had originally contacted Fred with the idea of him writing an article about the girls training for TCC, an advance story to get much needed publicity for the race. As we chatted via email over the course of several weeks, he became intrigued by how we were training for the race, in particular the Tahoe Triple Marathon and Grand Canyon R2R2R. Lorraine was kind enough to allow him to see the photographs she took of the Grand Canyon adventure and Fred was hooked. Unfortunately Shelli couldn't be with us but you can read the article at
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kadell-says-rim-2231886-run-canyon

Nicely written and certainly lighter reading than the horrific tales of neighborhoods ravaged by fire in So. Cal over the weekend. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this latest round of destruction and devastation.

Next up, the 5 of us will attempt the Santa Monica Mountains Trail 50K on 11/23.

"California's Toughest Marathon"

2008-11-13T10:29:00.001-08:00

After 8 days of no running due to a bad case of flu followed by a sinus infection (!), I decided "what the hell" and ran the Saddleback Marathon. OC Register columnist David Whiting wrote about his experience in 2007 http://www.ocregister.com/sports/race-mile-trail-1922664-few-marathon. Here's my take.

The race starts at Blue Jay campgrounds and includes some of my favorite local trails in the Cleveland National Forest. This was the first race that all 5 team members of "Coastal Cuties" (the name coined by the Trail Headz) have been present at. Race Director Baz was in fine form, throwing insults to everyone and anyone as he explained what was to come. We were off, first on pavement, then on trails. Now these are not the easiest of trails and there's always rocks and roots waiting to catch you unawares and trip you. That's what makes it fun! Uphill start, down Trabuco, then up, up, up Holy Jim. Winding along on Main Divide and finally a welcome downhill finish. Maya screamed ahead as usual (she is so fast these days!), Shelli and I stuck together and Beiyi and Kristen were right with us. I found I could run the downhills reasonably comfortably but coughed all the way up. About 10 miles I began to think I maybe, just maybe, should have volunteered at an aid station rather than run. But, I don't believe in quitting unless you really can't go another step so I finished the race. Shelli (bless her) stuck with me the whole way, Beiyi finished ahead of us a full 2 hours faster than last year! And Croc Lady Lorraine had an amazing race too. Note the "Coastal Cuties" post-race shoe of choice....

Post-race analysis of GPS data by iDad Doug, and subsequent animated discussion by group techno geeks, showed recorded elevation readings for ascent and descent totals to be wildly inaccurate, with a spread of several thousand feet. I'm going to leave it to the Trail Headz mathematicians to figure out whether or not Baz's claim of 5100 ft of elevation gain is accurate or not. Until next year....

Picture this!

2008-10-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, I dragged my butt out of bed at 4:15 a.m. to join Trail Headz at El Moro for a pre-dawn run. This is something that doesn't usually happen on weekdays as hubby leaves for work too early but the planets were aligned and he was planning to leave later than usual. I jumped at the chance to run with the group. So at 5:30 a.m. we were all gathered at Ridge Park entrance, flashlights in hand, headlamps on. It was a beautiful morning for a 10-mile run and I got to see the sunrise. Feeling good, I decided to stop off on my way home to get blood drawn for my impending annual physical. There I am sitting in the waiting room when I realize that other people are entering, taking one look at me and moving as far away as possible. My legs are dirty from being out on the trails and I'm a little stinky but I can't imagine what the problem is. Then I reach up to scratch my head and bingo! I still have my headlamp on!

So, anyone out there reading this that saw me and moved away - yes, I'm the lady sitting in the Quest Diagnostics waiting room in broad daylight with the headlamp on but no, I'm not crazy.... merely a trail runner.

"DO NOT attempt to hike from the canyon rim to the river and back in one day"

2008-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

No, we RAN from the canyon rim to the river to the other rim and back again... in LESS than ONE day!

The adventure was organized by fellow Trail Headz Lorraine Gersitz. Here's the gang:
* Double crossers: Shelli, me, Trail Headz Marisa Willment, John Rosmus, Eric Clifton (sporting his colorful JesterWear), Marty, Nils and Steve from Georgia.
* Lorraine, Trail Headz Robbi Woolard and son Nick, Janice Anderson from Georgia, and Old Goats Steve and Annie Harvey all ran routes up to 30 miles.

Headlamps on, flashlights in hand we set off just after 6:00 a.m. from the South Kaibab trailhead near Yaki Point (7260 ft).

About 5 minutes into the descent, off came the first of the layers. As the sun started to rise above the canyon, it started to get warm.

Here we are at Skeleton Point just after daybreak, still smiling.

Then came the steps. I never realized just how many steps there were leading down, down, down....

and across the Colorado River suspension bridge into Phantom Ranch (2546 ft).

Shelli and me taking a well-deserved break at Phantom Ranch before heading up North Kaibab (Roaring Springs) Trail towards Cottonwood (4065 ft).

At Cottonwood campground with Lorraine.

From Cottonwood we climbed up to Roaring Springs Junction (5200 ft), Redwall Bridge (6062 ft), Supai Tunnel (6840 ft) and up to the North Rim at the North Kaibab trailhead (8255 ft). Spectacular views all the way. Creek crossings, waterfalls, desert plants, lush green foliage, wide flat trails, steps, steep dropoffs - you name, it's there to experience.

And finally, we made the North Rim just before 2:00 p.m....

where we bummed water from the rangers working at the trailhead (did I mention there's no water from Roaring Springs to the North Rim in October), changed our shirts, ate a little, rested a little and headed back down the trail.

Unfortunately, we got back to Phantom Ranch after our cutoff of 5:00 p.m. By this time, Shelli and I would both have killed for some of the delicious smelling vegetarian chili the campers were eating but none was forthcoming. We had to make do with yet another meal of trail mix, gu and energy drinks, eaten in the dark by the light of our headlamps.

Tired, hungry and sick from all the sugary energy products we'd consumed all day, we had to make the call whether to spend the night at Phantom Ranch and hike back out the next day or just go for it. After a phone call to my (very worried) hubby and boys, I decided I wanted out of the canyon. Off we set on Bright Angel Trail in the pitch black, stumbling along looking for signposts.

The trail parallels the Colorado River for about 2 miles and then starts the steep ascent to the rim. Again, those darn steps. They rise like Mt Everest out of the dark and require enormous amounts of energy to climb (or maybe I was just exhausted by this point?). Up the steps, over streams, through Indian Gardens (which I'm sure is pretty in the daylight) to the 3 mile Rest House.

Shelli lay down on the bench in the shelter for a well-deserved nap while I paced nervously imagining every kind of beastie lurking in the shadows. Shelli would happily have spent the night there wrapped in her emergency blanket; I saw the marks on the bear box and decided we WERE getting out of the canyon THAT night. So off we set again, one step at a time.

It took 5 hours for us to make that 9.5 mile hike from Phantom Ranch. I saw the lights of the buildings at the rim, then a signpost and I jumped up and down like a child. I was SO happy to have made it. A quick call to hubby (to avoid the cost of a Search and Resue operation), a note left for Lorraine (so she wouldn't worry) and Shelli and I crashed for a couple of hours in the back of Shelli's truck. Too exhausted to move, too sore to sleep but at least we weren't climbing those darn steps anymore. Back to the hotel to get cleaned up and breakfast!

What an amazing experience! A weekend of experiences: a night sleeping in the back of Shelli's truck at a Flying J, my longest run ever both in terms of distance (45 miles) and time (18 hours), sharing the adventure with ultrarunning legends, making new friends, sore legs, blistered feet, total exhaustion, incredulous comments of "you did WHAT!". Would I do it again? Probably.... but no time soon!

See more photos at http://grandcanyonr2r2roct08.snapfish.com/snapfish

Recovery

2008-10-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Back from Lake Tahoe and life goes on. Back to my world of homework, karate/soccer practice, volunteering in the classroom, housework, cooking, working part-time at Fleet Feet Sports Laguna Niguel..... and squeezing in runs whenever possible. Non-runners often ask me how I'm training for TCC and my answer is that whenever I have an hour to spare, I go for a run: I ride my bike on the bike trainer while the boys do homework or play: I squeeze in a few laps in the community pool. Long runs happen at the weekend. Yes, it frustrates me sometimes that I can't train as hard as I'd like (or think I ought to) but hey, I quit Corporate America to be a wife and raise my boys and this is how it is. Family first. Good job I am blessed with an understanding husband....

Next up - Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim.

Maniac #1103

2008-10-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

"At last you have found refuge, a place you can call home, where the Insane can feel Sane again and once again be treated like a normal human being".

It's official - I am now a member of the Marathon Maniacs! That's the reward for running 3 marathons in 3 days. Cool!! Look for our bright yellow singlets at races or check us out at http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/

Run when you can....

2008-09-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

As Dean Karnazes puts it " run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up....". What great advice and boy, was it true of the Tahoe Triple Marathon!

Kristen, Maya, Henry (Maya's husband and our crew for the weekend) and I flew out to Reno on Thursday morning. We stopped off to buy supplies in Reno before hitting the road to South Lake Tahoe. On the way, we drove through Carson City, NV state capital, a town I spent much time in during my former life in Corporate America. Not much has changed, life seems to go on.

The pre-race meeting and carbo-load dinner was at Horizon Casino Resort on Thursday evening. The guest speaker was running legend Dick Beardsley whose amusing tales had everyone nice and relaxed. Feeling good so early to bed, early to rise.

Day 1 Emerald Bay to Spooner Lake

I woke Friday morning with a pounding headache and stomach cramps. Nerves I thought as I headed for the shuttle to the start line at Emerald Bay. Boy, was it cold at Inspiration Point (for a So CA girl that is)! Magnificent views of the lake though.

time for a couple of group photos and the gun went off with a bang. A VERY LOUD bang.... it was a shotgun! Scared me half to death.

Downhill for 3 miles, flat(ish) for 19 miles, then a long, long hill climb to the finish area near Spooner Lake. Miserable. Hot. Pavement pounding, braving oncoming traffic. How I hated that hill. How I hated the race. Thoughts that crossed my mind: "Why can't the semis just pull over a little so I don't get blown into the guardrail?" "Whose bright idea was it to enter anyway?" Did I say miserable?

I should add that my headache grew and grew through the race so that every step was like a hammer pounding away and the minor gastric discomfort I had been experiencing the previous day became a major deal. The problem with running a race with "limited aid" is that there are no porta-potties or aid stations every couple of miles, you have to carry everything you might need or hope that your crew is at the agreed-upon place at the time you manage to crawl there. Hats off to Henry for the awesome job he did supporting 3 runners. Hats off to the other "triplers" for their camaraderie and support. Whether we finished strong or crawled across the line, we were made to feel like we had just won the race.

Day 2 Spooner Lake to Commons Beach

Same drill, up early and onto the shuttle bus to the start line (yesterday's finish area). Not so cold today, no pounding headache, and surprisingly, no aches and pains. My strategy today was to fuel better; drink more often and try to get (and keep) calories in. Henry had his instructions and again did a splendid job of crewing (how he remembered what all 3 of us wanted when is beyond me!). We had been warned that today's course was the easiest physically but toughest mentally. True enough. Gentle 13-mile downhill to Incline Village with plenty of opportunity to view the magnificent lakefront properties, then rolling 13-miles with one big hill and slight downhill into the finish area by Commons Beach, Tahoe City. A fleeting glimpse of a bear crossing the road ahead of me. Day 2 was also bike race day so at times it was a little unerving to see a flock of brightly-colored riders swooping down the hill towards me. How come they got to ride down the hill when I had to run up it? Had the race organizers never heard of mechanical advantage? You know you're tired when even your favorite playlist on your iPod irritates you.

Day 3 Commons Beach to Pope Beach (Lake Tahoe Marathon)

By now we had the "up early, off to shuttle bus" drill perfected. Didn't even have to think about it. Get there just in time to get in line for the potties, drop our bags and bang went the starting gun. Today we joined the regular Marathoners. You know, the folks who run one marathon in a weekend, not the crazies who think running three is fun.

Mostly flat first half with a couple of moderate hill climbs and beautiful lake views. The Half Marathoners, 72-mile Ultramarathoners and Super Triplers joined us for the "Hill from Hell" at mile 15. Roughly 500' elevation change over 1.6 miles, not steep compared to what we face in ultras but boy, did it feel like climbing Mt. Everest! The race organizers tried to make the experience more enjoyable with signs like "Purgatory ahead", "Heaven 100ft" and it worked. I got a chuckle out of the signs. The volunteers were amazing. There was even a bagpiper towards the top of the hill, urging everyone on! Downhill for a while then flat to the finish.

Great crowd support, enthusiastic aid station volunteers, breath-taking views. All in all, a great marathon course. Problem was that I was just a little tired from the previous 2 days so I finished a little slower than I had planned. Still, great experience all around.

So to summarize: not an easy race, but tons of fun. Great group of runners, terrific camaraderie. I learned so much from talking to other ultramarathoners and made so many new friends. I even learned that a 15-lb dog is capable of running 3 back-to-back marathons at a 10 min/mi pace. Who'd have thought it?

I not only survived the Tahoe Triple, I had a blast! It just goes to show that my friend Kirk is right - I AM a better runner than I think I am.

A very special thanks to Henry for making this experience happen.... and to Kristen and Maya for sharing the fun! Super Triple anyone?

Taper time!

2008-09-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

During yesterday's run, Kristen pointed out that we only have 4 days until we head out of town for the Lake Tahoe Triple Marathon. That's right - 3 marathons in 3 days! I mean, what were we thinking?

Marathon #1 - Sep 26. Emerald Bay to Spooner Lake
Marathon #2 - Sep 27. Spooner Lake to Commons Beach, Tahoe City
Marathon #3 - Sep 28. Commons Beach, Tahoe City to Pope Beach, South Lake Tahoe

Is this how I really need to celebrate my 43rd birthday? Most Moms would stay home with their kids and do family stuff. Me, I have to attempt to run 78.6 miles over 3 days, at altitude even. Crazy! Boy, am I glad I resisted the temptation to sign for the Super Triple!

Better get on that taper thing. Oh, and as for the Super Triple.... maybe next year!

And then there were 5....

2008-09-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks, we've added 2 new members to the TCC team. Welcome Shelli and Beiyi! Today was an exciting day - the first time all 5 girls of Team xxx (we still need a name - ideas?) got together for a training run. Yes, we're all members of So Cal Trail Headz, and I've ran with all of them at some point over the last few months, but this was the first time we've all been out on a training run. Chino Hills State Park. I now know where the "hills" part comes from! Good run; out on the trails while it was still dark, 18 miles of rollling hills, home by lunch. We met up with our good friend Lorraine Gersitz for part of the run. I even got to meet the amazingly flamboyant Chrissy Weiss of Dirty Girl Gaiters out on the trails! And a very cute tarantula who I named "Boris" (and his very dead friend who remains nameless).

A Momentary Lapse of Reason....

2008-09-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Back in Jan/Feb of this year, I followed Greg Hardesty's adventures in Costa Rica as he competed in The Coastal Challenge Route of Fire 6-day adventure race. I was totally in awe. So when my good friends Kristen and Maya asked if I was interested in the 2009 race, I jumped at the chance (actually, I first ran it past my hubby and when he didn't immediately say "no", I signed up that evening).

2009 event: The Coastal Challenge, Rain Forest Expedition Run taking place Feb 1-6, 6 days, 225-250K.

Location: the course is set along Costa Rica's tropical Pacific coastline but weaves at times into the Talamancas, a coastal mountain range in the Southwest corner of the country. It finishes near the border of Panama in a serene fishing village that until recently was only accessible by boat.

Terrain: jungle and rainforest trails, mountain trail and single track across ridgelines, highlands and coastal ranges; beaches, rocky outcroppings and reefs, river and estuary crossings, and ends in Corcovado National Park, one of the premier rainforest experiences in the world as well as a Unesco World Heritage site.

What DID I sign up for? I mean.... I'm a Mom, I have responsibilities; a part-time job, soccer-practice, homework, family life. How am I ever going to be ready for an event of this magnitude?

How it all started....

2008-09-17T08:36:00.001-07:00

In spring '05 I decided enough is enough and vowed to lose those last 5lbs of pregnancy weight. So I joined a Running 101 program and the weight came off but.... now I wanted a bigger challenge. So in August '05 I joined LLS Team in Training to train for PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Jan '06 (5K to marathon is kind of a leap but life's short and I believe in seizing the moment). Coach Jeri so inspired me that I signed on for a second season, this time as a mentor (San Diego Rock 'n' Roll June '06). Out of friendships formed during our TNT days came a running group, Friends Run OC . Now I was hooked on the runner's high, the pain of long distance running, call it what you will. Pretty amazing when you consider that I would do anything to get out of cross country or track in High School!

5 marathons and 5 ultras (50K) later I'm training hard for The Coastal Challenge, a 6-day adventure race set in the rainforests of Costa Rica. This is my training blog for TCC and beyond.... enjoy!