Fuego y Agua 25k race report

The first time I had heard about Fuego y Agua was over a year ago. I was at my favorite coffee shop, City on a Hill, in Leadville, CO, where I had seen a poster for Fuego y Agua  it had caught my attention because last year the date was on my birthday. I thought to myself how cool is that a trail race in Nicaragua on my birthday and the race stuck in the back of my head as something fun to look into, I knew I wouldn't go that year since I was already heading out to the Copper Canyons for Caballo Blanco Ultramarathon. It was then a couple months later at Caballo Blanco, that I heard more bits and pieces about the race. There had been several runners that first did Fuego y Agua in Nicaragua and then traveled up to Mexico to Caballo Blanco a couple weeks later. I remember talking to one individual who had describe it as one of the most challenging 50ks he had done, stating the climb up the volcano was challenging then battling the heat when running around the island was brutal. Ironically enough or maybe not, Josue the new race director of Caballo Blanco in 2013, turns out is also the race director of Fuego y Agua. 

So when I decided to take my trip to Costa Rica this year I planned it so the end of my trip would coincide with the race in Nicaragua. When I registered in December I didn't feel I would have enough training miles to comfortably and enjoyably complete the 50k so I opted for the more comfortable option of the new 25k, knowing I could always change my mind and switch races. Prior to my trip I was well trained for a 25k but well undertrained for a 50k, as my longest run in the last month was probably 14 miles. Even at packet pickup I considered switching to the 50k knowing I could complete it, it was just a question of how long and how much I wanted to suffer. I decided I was more interested in enjoying my last days of traveling and stayed with my 25k choice. 

Fuego y Agua's race in on Isla de Ometepe an island in Lake Nicaragua composed of 2 volcanos, Concepcion and Maderas. Concepcion is still active (hence fuego), and Maderas is dormant with a large lagoon formed in it's crater (y agua). Maderas rises to 1394 meters and hosts terrian of a true rainforest. 

The 25k course is an out and back that runs along the beach for 1.5 miles, then climbs up Maderas, and then decends into the crater and then turns around. I knew nothing of the course except a brief description on the website: 
         "The terrian includes dirt trail, sandy beach, paved road, technical single track trail and the           infamous  "jungle gym" section where racers will navigate a chaotic web of Ometepe                   trees, disappearing trail and deep mud." 


And this all intimidating elevation profile: 

I arrived on the island 2 days prior to the race, leading up the the race, I relaxed, enjoyed the laid back quiet atmosphere of the island, and visited with other runners from all over the world. The day before the race I ran the beach part of the course as a little warm-up for my legs, leaving all climbing for race day. 

Going into the race I had 2 strategies: 

#1 and most important have fun and enjoy the experience, and 
#2 go out fast and run until the climbing started (not a typical race strategy one would advise, but I knew from looking at the elevation profile that there could be a good chance that climbing up the Maderas could look more like a hike then a run. So I wanted to take advantage of the running part)

On race morning I got up and walked down the beach to watch the 50k and 100k runner take off at 5:00am, then made it back to my room to finish getting ready for my 6:00am start.

Little did I know what the adventure I was in for. I took off running and ran the 1st 2.5 mile hard until the climbing started. The next mile or so there were still some runnable sections that weren't too steep, then the real stuff, there were no switchbacks in this climb it was basically straight up and straight down. I couldn't even take nutrition without stopping to breath. Plus I needed my hands to help me climb. 

As we rose in elevation the terrian, went from dry to damp, to wet, to pure mud. We were deep in a canopy rainforest and you couldn't see much except the trees around you. One of the coolest things was hearing the howler monkeys, screeching in the background. My favorite thing about climbing is I always manage to pass people and I rarely get passed and this was no exception. I don't think one person caught me on the climb. As I passed one man from Germany he asked how much climbing I thought we had left to go. I looked at my Garmin and assured him we weren't even halfway yet. He mentioned that there weren't too many people in front of us maybe 20 or so and much more behind us. Really? I had no clue. I just kept trekking up, at times huge rain drops dripping down. The higher we got the slippier and deeper the mud got. I was in mud puddles halfway to my knees. All of sudden I got this wonderful burst of energy/runner's high/sheer enjoyment. I was having so much fun laughing and smiling the whole way. I felt like tarzan in his playground. At one point I basically slid out and found myself laying in a mudbath covered from head to toe. Once we ascended up the volcano then we decended down into the crater, climbing over and under trees, hanging onto branches as not to lose footing.

As I neared the turn around I realized there had been a dozen or so men that I passed coming back but no women yet. Then there was one woman, and it wasn't until the right before the turn around 2 more women came by. There was a group right in front of me, we had bottlenecked at some of the technical tree obstacles, in which 2 or 3 women were right in front of me. At the turn around the terrian cleared onto a lagoon in the middle of the crater, there was an aid station that I choose to fly right by. I wanted to get ahead of the group that I was bottlenecked behind and took off running with new found energy, I realized I had just put myself into the 4th female spot, I was estactic, was it possible I could catch at least one woman in front of me to pull off 3rd? Who knew what they were battling in front of me, so I was going to give it my all, to close the gap between us. And I held my own until about halfway down. And then I was passed by 2 women and then a 3rd, my descent was not as strong as their's and staying injury free and being safe was more important. 

By the time I got to the last 2 miles, the mud in my shoes had dried and created dried mudcakes in my shoes making my shoes to small and running painful. Once I hit the beach I beelined for the water and ran in the water to soften up the mud and try to rinse some mud out as I was running, I was determined not to stop until I was finished. 

In the end I finished 7th female overall of 35 women. And 26th of 90 total runners. My time: 5hrs and 11mins for a 25k, goes to show the difficulty of the terrian/course. There was only 8 minutes difference between my time and the 2nd place woman. In hindsight, had I known, that was time I could have easily made up in the 1st half of the run. As I had stopped several times and took my time taking in nutrition.

I crossed the finish line and gave one of the event organizers, Zac, a huge high five, "By far the hardest and most awesome race I've ever competed in, it was SOOOO much fun!" I told him and I meant it. I was already in for next year, 50k for 2015, hand down.

Words really cannot describe the experience I had during this race. It was a once in a lifetime adventure, an experience I will never forget. How cool is it to say I ran in a race in Nicaragua, in the rainforest, up a volcano, with monkeys screeching, trudging through calf deep mud, climbing over and under trees, and running with people from all over the world.

In days to follow my upper body was more sore, then my legs, a true full body workout trail run!!!

I'm really much dirtier then these pictures portray, 1 lake bath and 2 showers later I still had mud caked in my pores.

I love this picture, looks like I'm leading all the guys out to the volcano!

Descending into the crater

. 

Leadville Trail 100 Update

I just wanted to write a quick note to any of my followers who may be wondering how it went. A more detailed race report to follow.

First of all I want to say it was an amazing experience and I had a blast. I was all smiles and enjoyed (most) every minute of it.

I was ready and eager to see how the day was going to progress. Unfortunately, I made it to 51miles just shy of the cutoff of 14hr15min. Coming down Hope's Pass I tried to push it, but I did hold back a little, there we some technical rocky sections and didn't want to injure myself. Turning onto the new trail off of Hope's Pass, I knew I had somewhere around 3 miles to Winfield and 30 minutes to make it. I tried and knew it would be close, as I progressed towards Winfield and the trail started climbing, I knew my chances were getting smaller, but I pushed until the clock hit 14hr and 15min, with about a mile to go.

I had it in me but just couldn't beat the cutoff, had the cutoff times been more generous, I would have kept going...but the cutoff was what it was and I accept that. My support crew and pacers were extremely supportive and helped me tremendously.

If one thing life has taught me things happen for a reason, I may not know why but it is what it is. I'm not upset, I'm not sad, and maybe not even disappointed. I'm happy with how I did and how I felt which only gives me more confidence to continue my journey to 100miles. 2 days out I'm only a little sore, I plan to rest for the rest of my vacation, get back into yoga next week, and running the following week.

I can definitely say 2 things with confidence: 1. the year is not over and I'm not done running and 2. I will come back again. I love Leadville, the runners, the course, and the scenery and everything else about it.

Leadville Silver Rush 50 Trail Run Report

I've been putting off writing this and I'm not sure why. Maybe because it was just another day on the trails and I really don't have much to report. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately I don't have any funny stories or anything too exciting to share. Don't get me wrong finishing a 50mile trail run is a huge accomplishment and I did it successfully. I guess when you have your mind on a 100, 50 miles seems to be just another step in getting to finish the 100.

I've shared with others that the during the 50 was there no time I didn't think I was going to finish or that I thought this is too hard! I guess that is where the training pays off. I did finish much slower than I had hoped but I had nothing to gauge how my body would do with 50 miles since this is the furthest I have run ever. Yes I did get tired and the elevation/climbs really took it out of me...good thing I'm off to CO in a few days, lots of hikes at high elevation and climbing planned.

About a week before the run, I was pleased to hear I would have a travel companion. It turned out that Liam was also planning on running the Silver Rush 50 so we coordinated our travel plans so we could head out there together. We flew out to Colorado early Saturday morning and made it to Leadville about midday, picked up our race bibs, stopped at the local grocery store and decided to camp despite the intermittent rain. Luckily, the rain was tolerable and we were able to stay dry.

At 6am Sunday morning the gun went off and we were on our way along with close to 500 other runners. If running 50 miles wasn't enough it started at the base of a steep hill that we had to run up or if you were me walk up. I settled into a conservative pace knowing that I had a long way to go. The race was an out and back with the 1st half of the race having more climbing then the 2nd. Also we were to climb up to over 12,000 ft on 6 occasions. I hit the turn around at 6hr 16min 39sec. On the second half I became extremely fatigued. I thought I would be able to make up time on the last 10 miles which were downhill, but I just couldn't get my legs to run. So I alternated between running and walking hoping that my running legs would come back but they never did. As I mentioned before I never had the thought that I wasn't going to finish the race, but during the second half I was slowly getting closer to the cut off times at the aid stations on the way back, 1st I was an hour ahead of cut off, then 45min, etc. At the last aid station at mile 42 I made the cutoff within minutes. I got emotional at this point because I knew for sure I was going to finish and was about to accomplish something I never had before. It was the last big challenge before the 100. So I did the calculations in my head and figured if I averaged 16 min miles I would come in right before the 14hr cutoff.With about a mile left I realized it was going to be close. With about 1/3 of mile left I saw Liam who was waiting for me to finish. He told me I better hurry because I was within minutes of the cutoff. I asked him if I was going straight down the hill or going around like the finish of the 50 mile bike. He said I had to go around I laughed and said "no way will I make it" so I didn't push it, I just didn't have it in me. So either my calculation was a little off or I was just a bit slower the 16min miles. I was the 1st finisher after the 14hr cutoff with a time of 14:02:56. Was I disappointed? No, I really wasn't, I finished, I got a medal and my time was listed on the results so I was happy I had accomplished something I never had. According to the results 89% of the runners that started finished, that means 1 in every 10 runners did not, and I was not that 1 in 10!

My only concern about my time was for the 100 miles, I do not want to be that close to the cutoff! So that was a little scary for me, but I've thought about it and knowing the 100 mile course, I know where I'm going to need to push it a little to stay ahead of the cutoffs.

Leadville Silver Rush 50 Run

Well, I'm heading back out to Colorado early tomorrow morning to run Leadville Silver Rush 50 on Sunday, which is going to be my longest run ever and the longest training run leading up to the 100. So I'm going into uncharted territory, little nervous, but I hope to have fun. I haven't seen the course but this is what the course elevation looks like:



At least we get the 10 miles of continuous climbing over with right away. And looks like we hit 12,000ft 4 times, yikes, hope my lungs are ready for this one.

You can track my run live at:

http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/page/show/312299-silver-rush-50-mile-trail-run-race

14 hr cutoff, I hope for a good day and to be well ahead of that in order to give me confidence for the time cutoffs in the 100.

Leadville Training Camp Recap

So here's what I wrote on Friday before the camp....

 What I hope to take out of this weekend:
-meeting new ultra friends
-at least one badass story to blog about
-lots of fun
-serenity in the rockies
-experience running at altitude to be able to make a realistic race plan for Leadville 50
-face any struggle on the trails head on


Here's what actually happened:

Meet new ultra friends...yes there were 23 states represented and 2 Canadians, I hope to see some of them at the 50 and some at the 100, as well as next year (right Daniel?)

One badass story to blog about...well, nothing too off the wall, but you can read my daily posts from camp

Lots of fun...yes I had lots of fun...being on the trails and running is always fun!!!

Serenity in the rockies...every day but Day 2, which was not so serene

Experience running at altitude to make a realistic race plan for Leadville 50...not so much a race plan, but I did decide when to arrive prior to the 50, since I can't acclimate, as far as plan, I'm just going to  out and do it, no plan, but for the 100 I have some good information now and know what to expect in certains parts of the course

Face any struggle on the trails head on...did you read the post from Day 2 yet?


So in summary, I loved it, it was an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Leadville Training Camp Day 3 (6/25/12)

Day 3 Hagerman's Pass to the Town of Leadville, miles 84-100 of the course.

So we had all day Monday to do whatever, until meeting for the night run. I tentatively planned on going to the hot springs near Buena Vista for a nice recovery soak. However, even that seemed like an effort. Plan B, rest and nap. And I did just that I didn't leave my room all day. I felt a little guilty about it but an hour into the run I was glad I did because I was getting tired.

We met at race headquarters around 8pm. Daniel mentioned, "I heard a rumor that there is an option to add 3 miles to the run tonight. A more technical part descending Hagerman's pass." I laughed, "Who after yesterday would want to run anymore then 13." Yes, I said that out loud, but apparently that was just a fleeting thought. On the drive out to May Queen, I thought to myself, "when else will you have the opportunity to run more of the course. You are training for 100 miles, of course you are going to do the extra miles, is it even an option, really?"



Feeling much better after 24hrs of rest. And ready to run again!
And in the dark none the less.

So of the 60 runners that stayed for Monday's run, there was about 20 runners that seemed to think the same thing I did. Glad to know I wasn't alone. The difference, however, was that everyone else, except the sweepers were much faster runners then I. At first I thought, "what did i just get myself into," but then I chilled out. Before we started running I just came to the realization that I would be running in the back and I wasn't being left alone in the dark, in the mountians, in the middle of no where, there were 3 sweepers behind me to assure I wouldn't be left.

The overachievers, of course we want to run 3 more miles.
Walking to the trailhead.

Waiting for dark. Just because 3 more miles wasn't enough,
we wanted to make sure it was dark to descend the technical part of the course as well.

And it was fun! I was quickly left in the back, but far enough ahead from the sweepers that I felt like I was alone in the middle of no where. Yet with the safety net of knowing I truly wasn't alone. Running in the dark on an unfamiliar trail is like a fun game of "where do you go next? find the next glow stick and then you'll know." So keep straight on track until you see a glow stick then head toward the glow and continue.

Running around Turquoise Lake and coming to a clearing where all you can see is the moon, stars, and the moons reflection on a crystal clear lake was amazing and breathtaking. This world gives us beautiful gifts and being able to experience this was one of them. Not very many people get to do what I was doing in that moment and appreicating the true beauty of nature. I am truly humbled and have extreme gratitude for what I was able to experience that night.

This picture does no justice.
The moon reflecting on Turquoise Lake.
A beautiful moment.

And if that wasn't cool enough. Coming into Leadville running (ok I was walking at this point) down Main Street at 1am and having a few runners and the training crew standing out in the middle of the street waiting for you to finish and cheering you on. And congratulating you for finishing an awesome week of training. That was cool!

Summary:

16miles

4hrs

15min/miles

I didn't keep good track of my calories and don't remember what the elevation gain (elevation was minimal)

 

Leadville Training Camp (Day 2 6/24/12)

WARNING: There may be some profanity in this post. Stop now if you will be offened.



Gathered again for another day in the mountains.

Day 2 Twin Lakes – Winfield – Twin Lakes miles 40-60 of leadville 100 course

 If I would have wrote this Sunday night after I completed this, I’m sure I would have been much more graphic, but I was so tired and out of it, I couldn’t even muster the energy.

 After yesterday’s run I set what I thought was realistic expectations for this part of the course 20min/mile average, 7hrs total.



Day 2 -Hope's Pass

We started the course at the bridge just past Twin Lakes (this part was altered due to us not doing the river crossing) We had about 1 mile of rolling hills and then 4.25 miles of climbing up to 12,600. The climbing and elevation was so extreme I couldn’t drink or consume calories without stopping to catch my breath. Coming out of the treeline from twin lakes was absolutely beautiful. I was so dyspnic I didn’t stop to enjoy it because I just wanted it to be over, but I did snap a few quick pics.



On the way up.



View from 12,600ft



Made it, can I get down from here now so I can breathe!

Once I got to the top I was so thrilled to start descending so I could breathe again. Unfortunately my descending skills combined with the lack of oxygen meant for a slower than desired descend. I stopped at the aid station at the bottom of the trail and gulped a warm can of coke with hopes it would perk me up.

I then continued on to Winfield, on the way out I saw Daniel who was about a mile ahead of me, with some other runners scattered throughout to the turnaround. Luis who was about ½ mile of me who was really struggling, I shouted out to him, “Go get that bitch.” He tried to muster a smile, but it was meek. Turning into the Winfield aid station I was relieved to see a port-a-potty and a clean one at that. Coming back out of Winfield is fun because it’s mainly downhill and you can gain back some of the time you lose climbing. I stopped again at the aid station filled up on water and downed another warm coke for still hopes of more energy. Almost instantly onto the trailhead you start a very steep incline for 2.5miles. This is the worst because immediately when you start climbing you are already out of breath. I tried to play a game with myself to see if I could get a ½ mile done in 15mins, nope, a mile in 30min, nope. I can’t remember exactly without going back to my Garmin but I think the miles were 44min and 39min. This is with my moving forward at all times except to drink or consume calories. I saw Luis about a ¼ up the climb, coming back down, shaking his head saying it just wasn’t his day. From that point on I was alone, I couldn’t catch site of anyone. This is a very bad place to be alone. I kept coming out of a switchback or to a clearing hoping to see another human, nothing. Then about 1 mile from the top a saw a glimsp of 2 people, but it was gone in a moment. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. I remembered the story Jay told me the night before at dinner, how he came into May Queen aid station one year when he was on track to finish in under 24hrs and he passed out. He said he was so out of it he didn’t realize he was hypoglycemic didn’t even feel it coming. What if I pass out there’s no one around me, someone’s just going to encounter my passed out self on the trail. Keep moving forward to get off this wicked pass. Once the trees cleared I could see about 10 other runners disperced on the switchbacks ahead of me, but they were gaining distance on me. Or at least it seem. About a ¼ mile from the top a saw a group of wild goats or sheep, I couldn’t tell exactly I took a picture to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating, made a note to myself to check that later.



Going up again, the never ending grade.
Can you see the wild sheep in the background?

Then all of a sudden the wind started whipping around me and pelting me with rain drops. The wind was so instense I thought it would push me over. All I wanted to do was crutch down into a little ball to protect myself. But I was only a quarter of a mile from the top. No mood for pictures this time. In fact I flipped off the pass with both hands and said “I’ll be back bitch.”

 The decend was just as miserable my legs were shaky and there were a lot of lose rocks. It seemed like forever for me to get to a place where I could run, or at least fake a run. About 3 miles from the finish I saw Daniel ahead of me. “I am so happy to see another human.” I shouted out to him. He was just as excited to see me as me him. So we had a hell of a time commiserating together on the way down. Daniel has been getting nausea on the runs, yesterday he amongst others left his breakfast along side the trail. At least I wasn’t experiencing that. With a mile left we were both pretty loopy. I’m pretty sure I dropped my O2 level pretty low, I remember up higher looking at my hands and my fingers being purple.

I crashed hard when we finished. I was so beat up I wasn’t even happy to be done. I said “that may have been the most miserable run (not going to lie there wasn’t much running) I have ever had” Daniel agreed with a “yeah” After that I was diminished to one word sentences for about an hour.



This is what I must look like right before death,
well thats what I felt like at least.



Legs after 8hrs on the trail.

I remember last year pacing over hope’s pass from Winfield thinking, how the runners had to go over it twice after already having 40miles down, insane, who would do that, is it even possible, nooooooooo. Well I now know it is and I also know where there is going to be some major struggling on the course, I will probably cry once I get back to Twin Lakes .

 Basically I made it back to the bed and breakfast crawled into the bathtub, crawled out before I drowned myself and collapsed into bed. I didn’t really sleep, I was more in a daze. Somehow around 10pm I got myself out of bed and went to the grocery store for some beverages, food and snacks, I was already planning on doing nothing but lounging the next day until the night run. I was still quite a mess, I think I walked around the store 3 times and not even remembering Epson salt for tomorrows bath. All night I don’t really think I slept I was more just dazed with a few moments of loss of conscouisness. My breathing was horrible, I was congested and wheezy.

 Totals: 21 miles

Elevation Gain: 8800feet
Time: 8hrs (3:55 to Winfield, 4:05 from Winfield to Twin Lakes)
22:51 min/mile
Caloric intake 1580 (2 gu chomps, 2 cans coke, 6 coconut waters, 3 bars, 100cal almonds)
202cal/hr avg

 I definitely plan on going back out to Hope’s Pass in early August to practice my descends I think if I can get myself acclimated and with a little more comfort on descending I could get my time on that section down to 7:30 on race day. Not speedy but a reasonable goal.

 The only problem I had on this section was breathing, I blame my inability to descend because I was so shaky from poor O2 consumption. (But lets be honest, I need to work on descending too.)

Leadville Training Camp (Day 1 6/23/12)

Day 1May Queen to Twin Lakes, mile 14-40 of Leadville 100 course

 I’m super excited to report that I had a great training day and really got to see what my body can do at altitude.

 The night before I thought about where I would like to see myself pace wise through 26 miles of the course, I thought 15min/mile would be nice to see.

 Woke up at 5:30 snoozed a bunch of times. Wondered out to the kitchen for some coffee and got myself ready. Met Daniel, another runner staying at the same B&B, at 6:30am. We walked to the gym,  I grabbed a yummy berry scone and some more coffee and sat down and met a few other runners. I haven’t been all that great with remembering names though. At 7:30 we all piled in a couple of buses and took off for May Queen, we were running by 8, temp was warm and the sun was out, so no layers needed.

Getting ready to run from May Queen

Ready to Run

I seated myself toward the middle back of the pack. Overall great run, learned a few things, pushed myself to meet my goal but not too hard.

View from Hagerman Pass

Turquoise Lake

Hagerman Pass

What I learned:

The paved section after fish hatchery is long, boring, and slower then you think it should be.

I need to tape my feet. Started feeling hotspots on my feet around mile 14, which ended up being old blisters from the SD100 that hadn’t completely healed over. I took a good 10 minutes to tape my feet up well to prevent any more damage and it seemed to do the trick.

Oops I forgot to tape my feet!

Thanks to the wonder aid station volunteers

12 miles is too long of a stretch if it is 80 degrees and sunny with just my nathen, I ran out of water 3 miles early, which made me do 2 things: runner faster to finish sooner and stop taking nutrition because I didn’t have anything to wash it down with.

Much of this section is runnable.

Summary:

26miles
6:30hrs
15min/miles
Elevation gain: i forgot, somewhere around 4500ft
Caloric intake: 1325 (6 coconut waters, 4 packs of gu chomps, 2 luna bars, 100 cal of almonds, ¼ orange, ½ can of coke)
208cal/hr avg

Afterwards took an ice bath, then an Epsom salt bath, and got ready for dinner. Dinner was awesome, salad and pizza, catered by mountain high pizza. Met some more ultrarunner’s at dinner: Jay, whose Dad accompanies him to crew every 100 he’s done, John the race MD, he gave me some advice on my feet. And just a bunch of other crazy runners like me. And Tony, (aka Anton) got an opportunity to chat with him about his training and get my picture with him.

Look who came to dinner!

After dinner we had a panel discussion to ask some veterens some questions. Good information learned there as well, like how to strengthen my adducters and abductors, which in turn will stop my right hip/IT band from hurting. How to prevent cramping which ultimately means how to prevent build up of lactic acid. And a great pep talk by Ken.

I already knew this but I WILL NOT QUIT. I may feel like crap and hurt a lot, I may be tired and not want to go on. But I am prepared for this, I understand things will go poorly at times, I understand the weather may not be what I want it to do. But I am trained and prepared to finish the race, I have my nutrition plan. Most of all I have the mental toughness to push through any dark place my mind has taken me. I’ve been there many times before(same place, different situations) and persevered through all of them and I will continue to do so time and time again.

Leadville Panel: Marilee, Ken, Jon(race MD), Lynette ('11 1st place woman), Dave, Jay, Jeff, Gene, Anton

I need to checkout. Meeting again at 6:30am.

Leadville Training Camp (day 0, 6/22/12)

Day 0 (Friday June 22^nd)

 Yesterday during my run I was thinking how I was going to be in Leadville at this time tomorrow. It’s funny how fast this has come up. I’ve been so busy with work, I didn’t have time to make hotel reservations or really think about it at all. Wednesday I finally made it a priority to start calling around to find a place to stay.

 I’m not as excited as I thought I was going to be. Maybe I’m nervous to find out how I’m going to perform at altitude. Maybe it’s because the last two weeks I’ve had “blah” runs and wasn’t loving every moment of my runs.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been busy with work and my mind has been wandering elsewhere. Nonetheless despite how my runs turn out this weekend, I hope I discover a new excitement  this weekend to carry me through the next eight weeks and get me to that start line.

Right now I’m up flying in the air somewhere between Phoenix and Denver. I am excited to land, get the rental and take off to Leadville for my weekend adventure.

On a side note I’ve been a little concerned about my diet. I’ve been so busy I haven’t been preparing my meals like I usually do, so I’m eating on the go and because I’m hungry all the time I’m snacking on sweets at the office. I feel like I’m not getting enough green stuff in my diet and concerned my protein intake may have been subpar the past two weeks. So I need to make eating a priority…Oh wait, I already do that. I need to make eating RIGHT a priority for the next 8 weeks. Meaning making sure I’m getting my protein intake every meal and eating lots of fresh green goodness. Speaking of I’m getting hungry right now. I’m going to be in search of a nice green salad with lots of crunchy veggies and a yummy black bean burger when I land.

Alright I didn’t get that black bean burger but what I did have was: side salad, spicy black bean soup, and a buffalo burger patty (it has been a while since I’ve had any type of meat and it was delish)

And of course dessert!

I am exhausted, got checked into Leadville. Went for a 2 mile run to test out the lungs at 10,200 feet! Wasn’t so bad, we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

 What I hope to take out of this weekend:
-meeting new ultra friends
-at least one badass story to blog about
-lots of fun
-serenity in the rockies
-experience running at altitude to be able to make a realistic race plan for Leadville 50
-face any struggle on the trails head on

SD100 - Pacing Eric T.

 I had the wonderful opportunity to pace Eric miles 58-100 during the SD100. My reasons for doing so were selfish on my part, it was a great training opportunity to get in lots of miles, be on the trails in the dark and not by myself. In the end I don't think Eric minded my self-seeking motives. I learned alot from Eric both from his words of advice to how he ran his race. If Eric was having a down moment he never let it show. He continued to push through each aid station, leaving with bursts of energy each time. At mile 80 people were rolling in looking like death, not Eric, were these people running the same race he was? Sure didn't look like it. I can only hope I can maintain half the dignity he held up through his 100 miles. Congratulations Eric, you rock!


Besides pacing Eric, I was able to see Mike and Liam, from Pulse Endurance Sports cross the finish line. Congratulations to Mike for finishing it 1st 100 and congrats to Liam for finishing his first SD100. If it wasn't for the two of you motivating me to get on the trails and leading the way I surely wouldn't be where I am today. 

Mile 58, this is where I jumped in.

Dawn, around mile 76ish

After the Aid station at mile 80.

Check out the view around mile 90.

Saw this little bugger around mile 97.

Done 100miles for Eric! (42 for me)

John Muir Trail (6/4/12)

After one day of rest, I took a trip up to the John Muir Trail in Yosemite. Was able to do a flat 10 mile run at 8800 feet.

I came out of the woods and this little one was not 50 feet away from me.

Another little creature I encountered along the way.

There's a storm brewing, hope I can beat it back to the car.

Made it back to the car, before this started to happen.

Check it out, it's snowing.