Black Canyon 100k. #QuittersNeverWin

So much Happy

Three weeks ago I had the best training week after one of the best buildup I've ever had. Starting soon after TNF Chile 100 mile attempt, I intended on earning a golden ticket to Western States 100. Over winter break, I had a couple awesome training runs on the course, which lit the fire even brighter. Running 35 miles for Camille Herrons birthday with the Queen was the best. Putting in long solo miles in slo was mentally tough, but instilled a confidence in myself that was unprecedented. Three weeks ago, Meghan gave me a workout that scared me. The mile repeats were set at a pace way faster than I had ever done and the doubt was high. I crushed it though. I didn't know that I could do that and still feel so fresh, despite being in the midst of a 92 mile week. It got me really excited for Black Canyon 100k- the race for the golden ticket. 

That Friday, I was gliding through SLO's neon green hills and imagining the best possible scenario at BC. I was giddy with the possibilities that could unfold and not a trace of doubt was in my mind. The next day I did my medium long run out in Santa Margarita. I greatly underestimated the climbing in those 18 miles but knew it's a route I always get dehydrated on. I wanted race prep to be flawless. However, halfway through the run I felt a little something tweaking in my low back/ butt area. I thought maybe it was a bruise from some dance move pulled downtown at my roommates 21st birthday celebration. So I ignored it and pressed on.

That night the little pain never went away. I woke up the next morning for my 32 miler and tried to stretch it out. I met my professor Nicole Kulikov (3x OTQ marathoner speed demon and newfound trail buddy) for the first part of the run. We were moving super well on the rocky trails but the pain never went away. Gradually it got worse and worse, slowing me down. Running back down the road with her it was agonizing pain. I had to stop and go home. Nothing I did, short of sleeping, alleviated the awful pain. 

The dream

She told me it was my SI joint. She had gone through similar injury after the 2008 Olympic trials. For the next two weeks everything I did was painful. I only sought relief biking and sleeping. I didn't want to wake up in the morning and go to class or do anything. It was very depressing and I felt trapped. I could see all my hard work and dreams unraveling and that filled my heart with anguish. Since I was severely handicapped and couldn't run, I sought to ease my frustration with baking. Inspired by Steph Howe, I made almond croissants and biscotti among other things. Meanwhile, I tried everything. I saw a chiropractor, sports massage, and went to physical therapy. The week before BC I all of a sudden had the pain diminish in my daily activities. The PT was helping and making me stronger. She diagnosed my injury as a nonfunctional glute. Instead of firing and doing work, my hip flexor took over and pulled on my low back.

She was confident that I could run black canyon and excitedly I regained hope. Wednesday, at the last possible second, Meghan and I decided to go for it. I packed my bags and hopped on my flight. I met up with Keely Henninger and we hung out in Tempe with her friend Hillary. Keely was running the 60k and Hillary volunteered to pace me the last 11 miles. 

Pre race hip thrusts are all the rage

Day of the race, I diligently did my glute exercises in the gym and mingled with running friends. We meandered out to the start line and off we went into the desert. The sunrise was spectacular. The gorgeous mountains were illuminated with purple hues and the pink-orange Sky cast a golden light onto the trail. The cactus were in full force too. The course started with a fast downhill 50k and then started rolling in the hills. We went out fast, but surprisingly the 8 min or faster pace felt like a breeze despite not running for three weeks. I cruised through the first two aid stations, intensely focused on pushing hard and squeezing my butt so it fired properly. I could feel a niggle in my back but mostly ignored it. I could handle that. For some reason, there weren't any gu at the aid stations so I stuffed my pockets with gummy worms and chomped on those. My stomach felt great and so did my legs. I was actually on PR marathon pace and felt great. I tried not to get too excited that early. 

Around mile 16, the jarring little dips in the trail got to me. My back started to really hurt and it greatly slowed me down. I had to stop several times cause the pain was too much. I tried to do my PT exercises but to no avail. I pressed on to see if it would dissipate. I knew that when the pain was giving me chills (it was probs 75-80F at that point), it was time to quit. I dropped at the 20mile aid station. Taylor swift sang "Should've Said No. Should've gone home. Should've thought twice before you let it all go" as I walked it in. That girl knows me too well. 

These rockstars went 1-2. boom!

Going into this weekend, I knew it would take a miracle to finish. The dreams and confidence I had built over this training cycle were so large that my hope burned too brightly to be easily extinguished. In my pre race freak out texting Stephanie, I knew that I had to pull the plug if it got bad; I didn't want to be out longer than I should or regret not trying.

Sitting at the aid station talking to the medic, I was oddly calm. I knew a drop was unavoidable and I am completely fine with it. The grief and anguish I had experienced the previous Sunday thinking that I wouldn't even go to Arizona, was insurmountable. But I did. I made it there. I was on the start line and ran 20 miles better than I have in a race feeling better than ever. I knew my fitness was great, but this injury held me back. I gave it my all and I tried my best. I couldn't ask for anything more and I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to try. 

Now I need to start the healing process and make my body stronger than before. I'm so lucky to have amazing friends surround me and help me through the depressing reality of injuries. I have a couple ideas for this year and I'm really excited for what's to come. 

Shenanigans

Huge congrats to Keely for almost stealing the overall W in the 60k and the winners of the golden tickets in the 100k. It was a brutally hot day and tough course, and I have so much respect for every starter and finisher. Kudos to Aravaipa Running and Jamil Coury for putting on a fab event. Post race was fantastic, Keely, Hillary and I hit up the downtown Tempe scene and drank/danced until I had to make my flight to SFO. The tequila induced clubbing had some great laughs. Now to make up my homework and eat half priced chocolate...

Big thanks to all the support and encouragement I've gotten along the way up to and through this. I really, really appreciate it. Major props to TNF & Victory Sportsdesign (too bad I didn't get to use my drop bag) & Julbo USA, as well as the love from Sisugirls & Stance.

West is Best

Catching Up on a Race, Crew & Adventure Report

Legend... wait for it.... Dary. PC Joe McCladdie

Misty redwoods with Billy Yang PC Joe McCladdie

So life has gotten in the way of writing about the adventures I'm having. (Thankfully not getting in the way of adventures!)  Last I wrote, I had just paced Rory Bosio in a 100 mile race through the Chilean Atacama desert. Not two days back in SLO, I repacked my bag and drove up to Auburn for the Western States training camp weekend. It was a blast to run the last 75 miles of such an amazing course, and with the leisure of three days. The new and old friends I spent time with always make me appreciate our community. I am always, always blown away by the open arms and kindness shown to me by runners. It's like we have this special bond allowing us to feel these familial ties.

Girl Power PC Billy Yang

After being blissfully unaware of reality, I had to put my head down and finish up the school year strong. I had so much makeup work to do and studying for finals that not much else happened... Until finals week itself...

Wednesday of finals week, in June I turned 21. Finally. However, partying downtown and drinking all the beer I wanted did not happen as I had two finals in the following two days. BUT, since I did not have class, my lovely friends- Tera, Jody, and  Brandon- and I went for an epic run in Big Sur. we ran from sea level to 5500' up Cone Peak in a giant, 27 mile loop. We spent the entire day out there enjoying each other's company, the trees, the views, the few creek crossings, and so much more. My heart was so happy; I could not have asked for a better birthday. Tera brought a shot of Fireball whiskey for the top of Cone Peak in a soft flask and I had to take the shot halfway through the run. Gross. After we finished, we enjoyed ciders and the sunset over the ocean. I got a little drunk and ended up dancing along the highway 1 while waiting for Brandon to make his way back. (Long story short: He got lost and finished a couple hours later- he's OK though)

Cone Peak & BFFs 

Poppin' bottles on the side of Hwy 1

Finals wrapped themselves up neatly and pretty soon I found myself driving SLO to Portland with my belongings. This summer, I will be researching Leukemia in the Phil Knight Cancer Inst. at Oregon Health & Science Uni. I am so excited to have received this opportunity to work in a lab with some of the leading minds in cancer research. My world has been blown away by all the amazing resources, toys, and opportunities presented. From here until August 9-5 Monday through Friday, I will be learning and hopefully contributing to the search for finding a cure.

All smiles 1 mile in...

All official & shit.

Miles of Smiles in Forests

Crater Lake in all it's glory

On Fridays, I have been hitting the road and exploring some pretty rad places in Oregon. The first weekend I was here, I ran a 50km race: Mary’s Peak, just outside of Corvallis. It was a beautifully put on event and I met a lot of really cool folks in the area. The race went well for me. I had been tired from all that had been going on in May as well as school/traveling. I didn’t feel too great with headaches, stomach cramps, but I think that took the edge off the pain I was experiencing while running hard. I didn’t know the course, the competition, and had very little expectations other than to just run hard. I took in my fuel every 40 minutes and carried a water bottle. The course started with two miles screaming down a fire road then immediately jumping on a singletrack to run 3000’ up to mile 8, which was situated right on the summit of Mary’s peak. Winding through redwoods and then emerging onto a grassy summit with more wild daisies than one could imagine, I was greeted with gorgeous views 360 degrees of the Cascades and the ocean. There wasn’t much time to appreciate the view and pat myself on the back for summiting, as the race quickly turns downhill and back into the forest. I felt alive and an exhilarating freedom I hadn’t felt in a while. Floating fast over roots on a singletrack, the course went down until around mile 12. It rolled on for quite some time with little blips of ass-kicking steep climbs, which took all of 10 steps.

My new buddy, La Fawnduh

Mile 12 had an aid station, and apparently there was another at mile 17.5, but no; it didn’t come until mile 21. So, I had kinda dug myself into a dehydration hole. It didn’t affect me too much, other than slowing me down a bit. Around mile 23, there was a very steep, mile long hill that was littered with fallen trees. The trees, being at the perfect width and height, could neither be crawled under nor hopped over. So of course, I had to stop in my tracks and heave myself across the logs. At this point in the race, I was passing many of the 25km runners and several guys who had faded back from the 50km. The woman in front of me in the 50km race, Emily, had stayed at the exact same distance the whole time- constantly 7 minutes ahead. At some point in the later miles- around 27- I started to fall apart and knew I wouldn’t catch her. I kept running hard, but the final climb in the open, exposed, hot sun just about killed me. It was really a bitch-slap to the face. But, I survived. I ran 5:02, which tied the previous course record for second female and 8th overall. Emily went on to break her own course record for the win. It was a beautiful long day in the forest and exploring. My Uncle even came out to help volunteer, and it was so great to spend time with him and introduce him to trail ultra events. Strava data HERE.

The Queen & her ladies in waiting PC Tim Fitz

"Bouclair Sandwich!" PC Denise

The next weekend, I actually popped back down to California for a certain party going 100miles Squaw-Auburn. I spent all day Saturday crewing for The Queen- my amazing, fearless, and beautiful coach Meghan Arbogast. Her friend and Pacer #1 Andrea Thorpe remained my buddy for the day. She was calm, cool & collected while I was a nervous Nelly frantic to see Meghan. Maybe I had a little too much energy… Meghan ran sub 24 hours for her NINTH WS100 finish and was so inspiring to watch. I loved, loved, loved being there to see everything and soak in the race and our sport’s history- it was my first start-finish WS100 race experience! I am always taken aback by the incredulous perseverance, determination, and grit displayed by athletes as they put their bodies and minds over the cliff’s edge to test their limits. Rob Krar barely missing the CR on a hot day, Magda in her 100 mi debut, Kaci running so strong the entire day, Gunhild Swanson making the cutoff at SEVENTY years old! (Can I be her when I grow up?), Meghan gutting it out despite thinking she had a broken toe, and seeing ALL my friends! WS100 was certainly a party. Whether they were running, crewing, pacing, or just spectating, I felt like every person in the ultra community I have known & loved was out there! As well as multiple new friends!

South Sister with the other Siblings next door

Lil D recovers from WS100 with South Sister. NBD

This Cali girl hasn't seen snow in a while...

The next two weekends were filled with camping and running adventures. Denise Bourassa and her hubby Ken kindly let me stay at their house in Bend one weekend and took me on a gorgeous tour of South Sister and Green Lakes. Their friend, Scott Wolfe, took me on another tour of the last 20 miles of the Waldo 100k course. Then I camped with Denise and Ken the next weekend up near Timothy Lake by Mt Hood! (Shocked they aren’t tired of me yet) Saturday I spent 35 miles out and back on the PCT. The first and last 9 I got to run with Denise- love that woman- and ate chocolate peanut butter covered oreos at mile 30. (holy goodness I got transported to another world).

35 miles on the PCT does not disappoint.

Sunday, I accidentally found myself at the Columbia River Gorge and went for an out and back run up to Larch Mountain. It was super steep on the way up, so I took my time enjoying the trees and gorgeous waterfalls. Coming back down I was relieved to be moving a bit faster over the technical terrain as I was running out of daylight and unprepared for the dark. I came around a corner and stopped dead in my tracks. Leaning up against a Redwood tree, I put my arm around it in an almost embrace. I was about 3000’ above the River and could see the sunset through the green, lush trees. The last rays of golden sunlight emanated off the green branches as the clouds slowly brightened to deeper pinks and purples. The forest was still and a bird call could be heard somewhere below me. A stream trickled nearby over some rocks. It was an emotional moment and a fabulous end to the weekend.

 

OH SO GREEN 

Why run 5 miles to finish Waldo when you can stay here?