Western States 100 Miler 2017

First, read this. It's last year's story. Especially read it if you haven't read any of my other race entries. Also, I'm going to refer to it in this year's story. Go ahead. I'll wait...

Back? Here we go!

As is our tradition, Slugger stayed with Cousin Earl and Tuck stayed with the food lady while Dad and I drove and drove to Auburn. Okay, Dad drove. I rode. It's our norm ;) We did  get to stay in Auburn this year which just meant less driving on Saturday, and we got to sleep a little later without worrying about getting to where we were going.

This year we were at a new aid station. Not because we changed - the actual location of our station changed! As I've talked about, the road into Brown's Bar aid station was atrocious. Well, between those driving it complaining, and some pretty bad storms last winter that made it even worse, there is no longer an aid station at the curve in the trail. Last year, if you recall, I walked down the hill to a dirt road, in search of the missing runner. Well, that dirt road is where the new aid station is! It is called Quarry Road so our station name was, can you guess? Quarry Road!! Except now we were closer to the actual Brown's Bar (like bar in a river?)

Since we weren't really sure what to expect in terms of getting there or what we'd find there, Dad and I did our Auburn business (breakfast, Rally's, Net Control) and headed on over. First, we had to persuade the nice state park girl that we were not parking in her parking lot but just driving through and she didn't need to charge us. We won. I think our knowing the combo for the gate helped convince her :) We drove past the gate and several miles up and down a decent dirt road (compared to the old road especially). We got to where the horses stop on their version of the race (google Tevis Cup) and kept going. The American River was flowing heartily to our left. We finally went around a curve and saw a turnout of sorts with a bunch of plastic tubs of stuff. Yup, we were here! And the aid station folks had been there. No one was around at the moment. We were WAY early!!

Now, besides wanting to make sure we got there and to get the lay of the land, we needed to be there because, just like last year, Jim Walmsley was hustling down the course toward us. Supposedly his goal was to finish by 6:30 (I heard 4:30 too but that's just stupid - less than 12 hours?! not on this course!! - the record is 14:45 ish). But we were WAY early, so we got out the chairs and sat in the shade for an hour or so.

Short story about that hour. I needed to tinkle. There was no outhouse (yet?). We'd always had one at the station before. I was VERY hopeful that the aid folks would be dragging one in. But until then, it was good old-fashioned bush time. I decided to walk up the trail instead of the road. Seemed more private - we'd already seen several folks out for a hike/run on the road. Now, I knew from the previous year that the trail went straight up and stayed straight up for a good ways. I didn't remember that the sides of the trail were straight down to the stream and straight up to whatever is up there. I walked about 200 yards and found no where to go off the trail. So I finally gave up and stepped just off trail and did my thing. As I was walking back down, here comes a very nice lady who was putting up trail markings for the race (more on those later). Luckily, she was far enough behind me!! But this 1200 step activity left me HOT!! SO hot!! So hot that I almost dipped in the stream. Except that it was in the sun and I didn't want that! So instead I dipped my hat and t-shirt in the stream :) In the shade, wet, it wasn't too bad!!

Have I mentioned that CA (and the rest of the world?) are in a massive, horrible, record-setting heatwave?! No? Oh, well, it's HOT here. H.O.T!!!

Anyway, about 3:30, maybe almost 4, the aid station folks finally showed up. We'd given up and gone ahead and laid claim to a spot (we totally moved some of their bins to claim it!) for our table and easy-up and radio. We used to track runners as they came in but this time we were set up on their way out. We only record an in-time so it really doesn't matter. The aid folks took up all the rest of the space with their water jugs, food stuffs, cooking apparati, etc. It was nice for them because they were able to have more than one vehicle there.

It was about this time that we asked the Net Control folks if they could tell us about where Jim (#35 this year) was so we'd know how long we had to get completely ready. They said maybe 1-1.5 hours in that he was almost to Green Gate (2 stations before us, but the last one we get radio info from). Okay!! I went to monitoring the radio and the station folks hurriedly did their thing (seriously, if you didn't read last year's blog, go do it now - you might start getting confused cuz I'm not repeating a lot of the details). By about 5:30 we were ready!

I don't remember how the next information came in and in what order, but here's what happened... Runner #46 got to Green Gate aid station just before 5:30. They called it in. And we all went, "HUH?!!??!". Where'd Jim go?! Did anyone know?? Was anyone concerned? Someone else radioed that question to Net Control. There wasn't really an answer, like they didn't know or didn't understand that maybe someone should find out! Jim had lead ALL day. By at least 30 minutes!! Now, all of a sudden (at least to us who'd been in the boonies for a while) he wasn't?? Before #46 (Ryan Sandes) got to us, or maybe right after, we got an answer of sorts. Jim had dropped at the river - the aid station right before Green Gate. I learned the next morning that he'd been violently ill, unable to stop throwing up and finally gave up trying to make it any further (yes, he'd been ill since at least one station prior!).

From the time we saw Ryan, we saw runners for the next 14 hours or so. We never had more than 20-30 minutes down time and only a couple times did we have that. It was like every time one of us thought we had time to grab a bite or go visit the outhouse (oh yeah, the aid folks DID bring one!! YAY!!), we had to hustle cuz there was already another runner coming down the hill!! Fortunately for us, a lot of them went pretty slow down that hill - it was STEEP!.

We saw a total of 254 runners, with 252 going out on their merry way down the road toward the finish. We had two drop. One was runner #116 who had hurt himself - looked like a ham pull or something. He could barely stand on it. Now, remember, there are cars here this time but they're all about to be full of stuff and people after we close up. We never have room to take out runners! Not to mention the fact that the runner wanting a ride will have to wait for all of us to be done, cleaned up, etc. But this guy had no business continuing on. So one of the aid guys unfurled his truck from the piles of stuff and drove him and his pacer to the gate. The crew then picked them up apparently.

While the truck was gone, we had a radio call that perhaps there was a runner down (lying across the road?) out of our station. Runners report these things when they get to the next station so that something can be done to help. Well, I was about to head down the road with a radio to check it out, but the radio was almost dead. And oddly, Dad hadn't brought another back-up. But we all surmised that the truck would HAVE to see said runner and would be able to do something. About the time the truck returned, we got radio that the runner in question had walked in to the next station. Never did find out what had been wrong with him. And the truck never saw him but agreed that he WOULD have!

If for some weird reason you still haven't read last year's report, go at least read the part in the middle about getting to meet the baseball player. I'll wait... no, really, go.

Sometime in the middle of the night, - no, it might have been almost light - I noticed our resident celebrity, Hal (okay, now you might want to go read the 2015 story), talking to a pacer about baseball and running and stuff. I looked at him and he did look familiar. I looked at his runner. Sure enough! The runner was "not Lance" and the pacer was Eric Byrnes!!!  I didn't say hello, but mostly because they were gone before I was completely sure I wasn't just seeing things.

I had been waiting for another runner all night. A celebrity in my book though no one else seemed impressed by him. John F. (can't pronounce it, can't spell it) #398 is a Barkley Marathon finisher. The Barkleys are an insane "race" in Tennessee where in some years, NO ONE finishes! Usually just one or two do. There is a documentary on Netflix about the 2012 race when THREE people finished. John was #3! He was also the last (or second to last?) person who got off the wait list to run Western States this year. He didn't know until THURSDAY that he'd actually be running! Luckily, he knew he'd be next if a spot opened and had already flown out (he lives in VT) and was at the ready. He got in because the legend who started the race in 1974 gave up his spot for him. So, anyway, I was anxious to see this guy!! He happened to sit down in a chair across from me, so I quickly stepped away from the radio and told him what an inspiration his Barkley run was, and all that other fan-girling stuff :) I later read that he'd decided to go slow and enjoy every mile since one never knows when/if they'll get another chance to run WS.

Another runner we were ALL waiting for was #337. Craig is the race director of this race. It is RARE for an RD to run his own race. I never read why he decided to do it. But he did!! He wasn't fast but he looked like he was having fun :) He, of course, knew EVERYONE.

Oh, another memorable runner was #26. She wasn't really memorable while she was with us. But 3 hours later, we got a radio call that she had apparently turned around and was coming back toward us and we should go get her. I tried to get across that this was an absolutely silly idea and perhaps Net Control could find someone somewhere else to head toward where she might be who could actually HELP her and get her somewhere safe. We didn't have medical and couldn't get her out until late morning (it was about 3am while this was all happening). Finally, the next aid station - Pointed Rocks, often referred to on radio as PointY Rocks, got some more info from somewhere that she was being picked up on the road by her crew, taken to another station to get her armband cut off (the official designation that a runner has dropped out) and then taken home. I tried SEVERAL times through the rest of our time to get this confirmed because technically she was OUR runner and we'd have to stay until she was sorted out!! To make a long, frustrating end less annoying to you, my awesome reader... her situation actually made Pointy Rocks' #s off but they sorted it out and I eventually, in person at Net Control, got confirmation that it all happened like it was supposed to and she was safe and with her crew.

Our last runner expected was #236. She came in on horseback with the sweep team. She wasn't doing well. The heat had knocked down SO many people!! Somehow, the aid folks made room for her and her pacer (I think two of the aid ladies walked out), the horses continued on and the aid station folks left. Dad and I had to stay until Pointed Rocks had reconciled and the horses had reached their "point of no return" or halfway in between. It seemed like forever because at this point we were sitting in the car ready to go and I had visions of getting to see Slugger in 8-10 hours! FINALLY, they said good bye. Which is always funny cuz we leave the aid station and go back to see them in person to deliver our lists of runners. We did, gave them some thoughts on the event, and brushed our teeth at their bathrooms. I changed my clothes too. Cuz it'd been a LONG 26 hours since I'd put them on!!  I know TMI. You love me.

Dad, as always, did an EXCELLENT job getting us to Kresse's where he stayed, and I left to go get Slugger. I encountered ZERO traffic and was at Dave's in just about 2 hours. Slugger was VERY happy to see me, as I was him. We came home, I showered and changed, and went to bed.

And now we're all sitting on the front porch enjoying the beautiful BB weather.  Blue sky, some wind, bright sun. Heaven :)

PS I took no pictures. I was busy.

PPS On MANY of these race recaps, I have finished by remarking that I would never be one of those running. However, now that I'm calling myself a runner, it doesn't seem so impossible. I told Dad this weekend (in the middle of the hot afternoon) that if I ever did WS, I'd need to run SO fast in the morning and night that I could just sleep during the hot part of the afternoon. We eventually decided that it made no logistical sense unfortunately due to station cut-off times. So I just have to get in on a cold year :) In like 10 years...

Farewell to Texas

On June 9, Dad and I loaded a U-Haul truck (with help from awesome teenagers Kerry and Carlton) and headed off for California. It was a long trip, made longer by UHaul, but that's not what this post is about. I want to say a proper goodbye to the state I called home for almost 12 years.

Here are some of the highs and lows:

* I drove to Houston and got to see "my boys" play in a playoff game at home - one of the most incredible experiences of my baseball loving life!

This is actually from the following trip to celebrate NLCS champs!

* Bought, and sold, a house - checked off the "I'm an adult" list, don't feel the need to do it again

* I found a career that I LOVE and seem to be made for - teaching high school math is the best thing ever!!

       


* I survived the hottest summer ever. Anywhere. Really, hottest summer on record anywhere ever. It was HOT for a LONG time.

* My sweet baby George knew Texas as her last mortal home. She lives on in my heart and in a pretty box which is currently on my "dresser". She LOVED going out into our backyard and rolling around in the grass or dirt. She'd look for insects, I guess, and do her adorable little pounce move. Her last summer was the hottest one from above. She spent most of her time looking out the front window from her little perch.

on her perch

* I brought home my gigantic lapdog, Slugger! We assume Slugger was born in Texas but he seems to like CA okay. We visited every summer and he was also reluctant to go home. Okay, not really. He'll go anywhere I go!!

* I made some amazing friends!!!!

teaching buddies!

teaching buddies!

prayer sisters!

girlfriends! (from church)

Megan (left) got me through 2nd grade; Mere (right) got me through TWU

The group who helped me celebrate turning 40!! 

church, game night, transplant holidays, oh so many adventures! 

Sheila - all around awesome!

There are so many more friends to add here but these are the ones with which I had fun pics that I could find!! Thank goodness for social media and texting to stay in touch!!!

After twelve years, the heat got me. And the flatness. Texas is gorgeous in its own way, but I need my mountains. Even if I won't be living on one (yet), I can see them!! It was time to come home. For good. When I told a friend here in CA last summer, that I was thinking about making this move, I was  asked what I'd miss. All I could come up with was the people. Texas is a friendly place. That's what drew me to it way back in 2001 when I first started talking about making the move from DC. Texas is friendly and laid-back. And huge. And hot. I will always hold the entire state, but especially particular places and people, close to my heart.

I did eventually come up with a few things I'd miss...
*the rain - but not the storms!
*the jets flying over (not the airplanes, the F16s and such!)
*AHS - not perfect but I learned a LOT about myself and being a teacher
*ice days - not the ice but the days off :)
*Whataburger (for my non-vegan cravings)

SO SO SO many memories of my time in Texas that I will cherish forever. Thank you to everyone who was a part of "when I was a Texan"!!

Stockyards Easter 10k

Oh my. My first organized 10k event. Glad that's done! I really need to figure out how to not get so hot!! Moving to Big Bear will help :)

I'm really not a fan of organized races. I hate having to get there but then just stand around. And this one had the porta potties too far from the start. They were actually at the finish. But anyway.

The race started under the iconic Stockyards sign, went down the brick road and then made it's way to the Trinity Trails. I was tired. My calves were tight. That was new. Not sure if it was from standing around or what. They loosened up eventually but by then everything was tired. And hot.

This was an out and back race. There was a 5k as well. Just before I got to mile 2, I saw the first 5k turn around guy. No maybe it was mile 1. I don't remember now. But it seemed way too early. He was going very fast and made me feel slow. But, I also didn't resemble his physique in any way. So I just kept running :)

I got here:

And kept going!! I was between mile 2 and 3 when I saw the first 10k turn around guy. Again, I do not look like him and therefore did not let myself get beat up about it. He was tall, young and had 0% body fat.

I got to the 10k turn around and doused my head with cold water. Felt good! Didn't last long. Most of the run was in the sun with intermittent shade. Every once in a while the sun went behind a cloud but never for long. It was maybe 70 out but I felt like it was 100 at least. It looked pretty though.

The biggest excitement of the day happened at about 5.9 miles.

I should've taken another picture once I got up to it. That's a train. Stopped across the road. The road I was supposed to go run down to get to the finish line. Once I got there I realized that it was stopped at it's own flashing red light to allow another train (that I never did see) cross in front of it. There were about 10 of us eventually standing around waiting, wondering what to do. I'd been there about 7 minutes when several folks went around the front of the train (it was maybe .1 out of their way). Once they got in front of the train, another lady and I went under the train. I realize this was stupid. However, I knew it'd take me about 5 seconds. And I knew that train wasn't going anywhere cuz the arm thing was still down for him. Sure enough! For all I know that train is still there. This lady and I then ran all the way to the finish together! We agreed that if we'd been alone we never would've run that far without walking. So maybe there is something to be said for having a running partner!

The clock said 1:31 when we crossed. I was SURE it was much longer than that!! I had paused my watch at the train so technically my actual time was 1:23. A PR though nothing says that cuz of the stupid train incident. Oh well. I know!!

Here are the before and after pics.

Next on the bucket list is a half-marathon!! Aiming for the Big Bear Half in September. Big brother is race director, dad does communications. It'll be a family affair :)

Writing while Running

Especially on my "long" runs, I tend to write blog posts in my head while running. Finding the right words to describe this or that little story seems to keep me going. Then I get home, stretch, drink my protein shake, shower, let the dog out, sit down to ice and turn on CSI:NY (my current bingewatch) and bam, it's 4 or 6 or 8 hours later and I forgot to blog. And have completely forgotten what seemed so bloggable while running. Ha. TODAY I said, NO, I AM going to write! So here we are :)

Last week I "only" went 3 miles because I was having some gut issues and REALLY needed to get home to the bathroom, if you know what I mean. I actually practically sprinted up my street. More on "sprinting" later perhaps.

Today I didn't really have a goal in mind. I just wanted to run and see what happened. I haven't been running during the week very much (maybe once...) so I'm not sure if upping my long run mileage is a good idea. And I really just wanted to have a GOOD run, ya know?! I set out on my normal route - the beginning is generally one of two paths, through a neighborhood or not - through neighborhood one to get to neighborhood two. Last week I skipped the second and basically just went home.  Today I decided to go all the way through two and see how I felt to decide how to get home. I love having options!

I got almost through when I met Jax and Bailey - brother and sister Lab/Dobermans (my guess). They seemed VERY excited to be running about on their own. Jax stayed with me around a corner and down a hill. I have learned that if I tell a dog to "go home" they usually do! Jax did not. So I turned around to take him back to where I'd first seen him. On the way, we saw his dad over the fence who was very glad I had found them! We met at the corner. Bailey had hung back and was getting some love from neighbors. At this point, I changed up how I was going to get home since I'd just backtracked at least .25 UP a hill... in the end, I think it actually meant I went a little farther.

The rest of today's run was fairly uneventful. I ran more and walked about normal. Meaning I actually ran for 4-6 minutes most stretches and still walked 1-1.5 minutes. I felt VERY good!! It was what I've decided is pretty ideal running weather. About 40 degrees, light wind and sunny. I started in gloves and earmuffs but they came off about 2 miles in. By the end I was even tempted to shed my long sleeves! I've said it before - I get HOT when I run!!

I LOVE my new watch!! I don't even use all the fancy things that it probably can do!! Today I paid a little more attention to what it told me my pace was. I don't know how it determines pace, but it seems to be accurate. That's not the right word. It does change pretty quickly when I switch from running to walking. (I totally had a better way to say that when I was writing this in my head at mile 4 but I don't remember what it was!) Eventually, I'd like to play with pace but right now I'm happy just running! They say it's good to do "sprint" intervals. I say "sprint" in quotes cuz I'm pretty sure my "sprint" would be slower than Usain Bolt crawling through mud. I can also set the pace I want to go and the watch will yell at me (beep?) when I deviate. Interesting. So not ready for that yet!

Couple weeks ago one of the things I wanted to write about was the excitement in that I'm running more. Had another occurrence today of the same situation... I generally use landmarks to decide when to run/walk. I keep an eye on time but landmarks (hydrant, street sign, mailbox) help me gauge running up or down hills, etc. More times that not lately, I'll get to the landmark and decide to go a little further to try to push myself. Several times now, I'll think "okay I'll run to there" and then all of a sudden, I'm running right past it not realizing I was supposed to have stopped. This sure does do good things to the mental game!!

Okay, Slugger wants to go sit in the sun some more. Sound like an excellent idea to me :)

See ya 2016!

I meant to write this yesterday, but well, I didn't.

The year 2016 is now over. It will go down in history as the year all the famous people died, and Trump won the presidency. With any luck, 2017 will be the year no one dies, and Trump gets impeached. Or something.

For Slugger and I, 2016 saw a few excitements. We went backpacking again. I made my 3rd prom happen. We bought a new A/C unit because Slugger peed on the old one. I ran a 5K. We spent about 7 weeks in California over the summer. That included backpacking, hiking, and hanging with Grandpa and Tuck. Always a fun time. And fabulous visits with my buds. I didn't go see Grandma which was a bummer, but the A/C wasn't cheap!

The most excitement came this fall. In September, Slugger started limping after chasing a frog. The two things may have been unrelated but I will always blame the frog! After several weeks became a couple months of trying to get him to rest, I finally took him back to the vet who sent us to a surgeon. Yup, Slugger had his first surgery (and hopefully last!). He tore his ACL. The very nice surgeon  performed a TPLO the day before Thanksgiving. He had to spend the night but we survived the separation. We've been living in the bedroom ever since.

About the same time that Slugger wasn't improving, I had some weird hip thing and took a few weeks off of running too. But, oddly, I missed running! I think this new hobby is a keeper :)

We have spent the entire 2 weeks of Winter Break hanging out in the bedroom watching movies and TV. Except for my almost daily runs and a couple meals with friends. I feel like Slugger and I have bonded even more through this ordeal. I REALLY don't want to go back to work on Tuesday! But, in just 6 more weeks, we get to leave the bedroom!!

What do we want in 2017? Lots! New adventures are definitely on our horizon. I'm planning a 10k and half marathon; a trip to an Astros game; lots and lots of time with family and friends. Hopefully, Slugger and I will get several backpacking trips. Maybe even multi-night!! But, of course, all we really want is love and happiness for all, and world peace :)

I finally get it!

For years, I've sat, in the middle of the night, wearing five layers, wrapped in a sleeping bag, shivering, wondering how on earth runners come in wearing practically nothing and not dying of hypothermia! Seriously, men in just shorts, women in tanks and shorts, looking fresh as morning dew and not at all cold! I get it. I totally get it. 

Today is a PERFECT gorgeous 70 degree day in Texas. It's 73 now, 3.5 hours after I got home from a 6.4 mile run. So it was probably between 65-70 while I was out. I sweated like a pig!! I was hot. Part of that is because I got to enjoy Texas blue clear skies that songs are written about. It meant the sun was beating down on me, even with the nice cool breeze. 

Anyway, I can totally see why after running miles and miles and miles, one would still be hot even when it's much cooler outside! I no longer think they're crazy!!!

Other interesting things occurred this morning on my run... 

I've been trying to do more interval like training on my shorter midweek runs, 3 minute run and 1 minute walk. And an actual run, not a loping jog :) But on my longer weekend runs I run when I want and walk when I feel the need, though I do keep track. For example, last week's first 6+ mile run, I did lots of 2:1 in the last couple miles. Today, I tried to push myself to run longer the whole way. I also ended up walking longer in between. Runs were 3-5 minutes, walks 1-2. I really felt stronger though! I knocked a few minutes off my 10k time too! 

I learned it's hard to read a map on the phone while moving. I knew where I wanted to go but hadn't really committed roads and turns to memory. Took a couple wrong turns but got it sorted out! And I met this guy:

I was so excited that it was totally worth the struggle to get my phone (camera) out of its pocket and stop for pics!!! 

It's so beautiful outside that Slugger and I sat outside while I iced. We then went back outside after I ate lunch. In fact I'm only inside so I can write this!! 

One last note... I came home from CA almost back where I was, weight-wise, when I started losing as a new thing. I've started running more and further. I've stopped eating quite so much junk. I haven't lost hardly any pounds, but I feel fitter and my clothes fit better which is really what matters most! In fact, last night, I wore the belt and buckle that my dad gave me this summer. I could get it cinched then but it was way uncomfortable so I didn't actually wear it anywhere even though I was so proud to have it! Now I can wear it!!!

This was the end of the evening and I'd given up on my hair! The buckle is from the Old Pueblo 50 miler that he ran on my 12th birthday. We both have vivid memories but not the same ones!!

That's all. Have a nice day! 

 

Running Lessons #217 (+/-)

My goal for today was 6 miles. I "only" went 5.5. My route was that long and now I know! Here are some of today's (and last week's lessons/observations).

- Running in the rain is fun. And not so fun. I don't like wet, soggy shoes. The rest of me didn't mind being wet. I even had a lady offer me a ride! I was only a mile or so in. If she'd asked a few miles later, I might've thought about it!

- A long run the day after my first gym workout in 3 years was probably not the best idea. The legs felt today more than they have in the past. But I suppose that's actually a good thing.

- There are a LOT of hills in my neighborhood!! I sort of got myself lost today and ended with a nice long one. I knew where I was but the street names weren't what I thought they should be, ya know!? Next time, I'm thinking I'll go backwards and START with the large hills :) There were hills at the other end but a little more gradual. Fitbit says I did 59 floors today!!

- I like my new watch!! I can set intervals - I started with 3/1 minutes to run/walk - and it just keeps cycling through. I did this to start and ended up pushing myself a bit harder than I might have otherwise. My plan is to, for now, use this on my shorter runs, and then use the lap memory on the longer runs, so I don't push as hard the whole time (I gave up in the intervals after about a mile) and can see how I'm doing on my own. The lap timer part of the watch basically lets me track my splits so after the run I can analyze. Today, I was all over the place on my splits of run/walk :) We'll see what happens!

- From last week - I really don't like out and back runs. It's too easy to turn around when I get tired!! But it was nice being on the bike path for most of it and seeing so many other people out there.

That's it. I think. I am REALLY enjoying running!! Who'd have ever thought??!?!?!?