Sunday, June 9th I participated in the 103rd annual running of the Dipsea Race.
It is a phenomenal race. One of my absolute favorites. The history is so rich and endless (the oldest footrace in the nation after Boston Marathon), the people and community are so dear (it is one of the biggest events in the county and everybody cheers, runs, or volunteers), and the race itself is awesome.
The Dipsea is a unique race. It is only 7.4 miles, but shortcuts are allowed. The course starts in the Depot in Mill Valley. there are three flights of grueling stairs in the first 1/4 mile after the only flat portion of the course. The trail keeps going upward through some houses up to Panoramic Highway. The first descent is on trail with some stairs. It is relatively steep and earned it's name "Windy Gap" for the gusts of wind always blowing. The trail empties onto Muir Woods highway, which runners take the first shortcut- down the highway instead of on the "real" trail. Runners get back onto the real trail and descend into Muir Woods. There are two ways of getting down from the highway: The "safe" way winding down through the redwoods or the "suicide" shortcut. It is aptly named suicide as runners bomb down a very, very steep, narrow single track, surrounded on all sides by poison oak and sharp bushes. Once out at Muir Woods, runners cross a creek and begin the tedious ascent up Cardiac. The first part is called Dynamite because it is very steep, narrow and runners have to navigate through tree roots and rocks. Then the trail becomes "better" heading to the top. It is a very long hill, about 2-2.5 miles. Once at the top, runners meander around to where the next shortcut is. Again, the option to go down a wider, much less steep trail is forgone to go down an even worse "trail" than suicide. This shortcut is called the "swoop". It empties onto Steep Ravine trail, which is all stairs downhill. After, runners encounter "insult hill", named for the crushing feeling one feels when he/she realizes there is still more uphill to be run. After, it is all downhill to the Beach. There are, of course, more shortcuts. One could take the a nice run through the Moors, or one could go down Panoramic Highway, and enter some more "trails" through blackberry bushes, poison oak, crossing a creek and navigating around felled logs. Each of these shortcuts becomes more narrow, more steep, more dangerous in regards to the maintenance quality, and more taxing on the legs. After, it is a short drop down to the highway and a 800 meter sprint to the beach parking lot, the finish.
On Sunday, I woke up at 6 am to eat breakfast and change into my race outfit and Skora Cores. I went back to sleep around 6:30 and slept until 7:30. At 7:45 am, we left for the depot. My mom drove me downtown and dropped me off, then she, my aunt, and my sister all headed over the mountain to the beach to meet up with my dad and his girlfriend to watch the finish. I met up with some friends, chatted and caught up with all the people I haven't seen since summer when I left for school. I did part of my warmup with Liz and Jon. We watched the start at 8:30 am and cheered for all our friends. Another unique fact about the Dipsea, the start is split into two groups: invitational and runners section. The Invitational runners earn their spots place-wise each year and get to forgo the ridiculous entry procedures. The start is further split by age groups. The older folks and the youngest runners start first in Group AAA, then it gradually decreases to AA, A, B, C... etc until the fastest women and fastest men start, all the way at the back in group Z, and scratch. It makes the Dipsea even more competitive because of all the people you have to pass to place well, and the older and younger athletes get an advantage; they are actually able to win the race!
To give you perspective, I started in Group Q of the Runner's section at 9:13 am, 43 minutes after the first group has started. I actually cheated the system. I turned 18 the day of the race last year, and I turned 19 yesterday (the Monday after the race). The last group to start for women is group R, 19-40 age group. So I had another chance!
When I stood at the start line, I knew what I had to do. I had to pass an incredible amount of people and race my heart out to get in the top 750, to make invitational before I lost a minute. I stood at the front of the line, poised and ready. My heart beating fast knowing it was a matter of seconds before I would experience incredible pain.
The rope dropped and we were off. I let the 10 year old boys in my group sprint ahead, but I held my position at the front of the pack, knowing how crowded the stairs could be. I passed those boys within the first 15 steps, and I kept passing more people. I took them speed walking; skipping a step. I ran between each flight and continued passing people, head down and gripping my quads or pumping my arms. At the top of the stairs I straightened out my body and kept running up and outwards. When I hit Windy gap, I sprinted as fast as I could down the stairs. I think I only hit a few of them, it felt more like flying. Sprinting down Bishops and jumping over all the rocks prepared me well.
When I hit the highway, I passed more people. I felt my stride lengthen and I could hear some people I know say good job as I passed them. I of course took Suicide shortcut and tried not to injure myself slipping and sliding down. I accidentally grabbed a thorny bush to try to slow myself, and it raked through my hand. (I still have a couple thorns in there...) Glisading down High school hill and grabbing the side bushes also prepared me well! When I hit the parking lot at Muir Woods, I knew I had to push hard up Dynamite, but take it conservatively, so as not to die up Cardiac. At the bottom, somebody counting told me I was 834th in the race. It had a positive and negative affect on me. Positive: I knew I was very, very close and still had a great amount of downhill to catch people. Negative: the thought of maybe I won't make it, get passed on Cardiac, entered my head. But it was quickly pushed out with the lactic acid seeping into my legs up Dynamite. At this section, I had caught up to all the old people who were taking it slow. I passed a lot of them, but many of them got mad and wouldn't let me through as they took their sweet time. I guess they didn't want to be pushed off the trail, but it was annoying for me, and probably wasted a lot of energy going back and forth behind them, trying to find a way out.
Hurdling a log!
I came out of Dynamite and started up the fire road. Within two minutes, a man covered head to toe in blood came running down towards me. The 8 year old next to me shrieked in terror as his blood dripped all over the trail and some even landed on me. I told myself that that wouldn't happen to me; I'm smart; I'm careful; I won't get hurt. I kept pressing onwards. I passed people on Cardiac, but some fast guys passed me too, which hurt my morale and let that thought come back into my head. When Cardiac got steeper at the top, I just had to remind myself there was a water station and people cheering at the top. Mary would be there! It would all be downhill! I grabbed some Gatorade when I crested the top and started to lengthen my stride again. Mary wasn't there, as I couldn't hear her. I didn't dare try to search, as it would slow me down. I passed by this woman, both of us running very hard. It felt like the speed I did my 400m intervals at. She was very encouraging. I burped after the gatorade, and then she did right after. We both laughed (well, as much as we could while at that pace). When I passed her she shouted "you go girl! You're so fit and hot! I want your body! Well, not like that, you know what I mean! You're so tan, god!" haha it was very entertaining.
I finally got the the swoop shortcut. It was even worse. My legs hurt and I had to keep up a very fast speed, as an old man was hounding me. He couldn't pass me because there was no room, but he kept me pushing. I tried to stay nimble and not break an ankle... We hit the bottom where we had to basically run down this steep mound of dirt onto the steep ravine trail. However, here it is a bit tricky because with the acceleration of running down the dirt mound, it is almost enough to run over the side of the trail-side cliff if you aren't careful. So in one motion I jumped on my butt and slid downward resumed running. I didn't even slow or stop, which is awesome, but I got a little scraped up and got dirt all over my butt! The stairs on Steep Ravine were slick with the drizzle and condensation from the fog and I had to put extra effort into "flexing my abs and trusting my feet". It was tough on my legs constantly going down steps as opposed to running. But thankfully I hit the bottom without falling or worse! Then, insult hill. Oh god how I hate this hill. It is completely demoralizing. It took every ounce of will power not to walk like the others, keep pushing, and not give up. I just had to put my head down and grind.
Eventually, I hit the highway again and tried to pick people off. This mother and her 12 year old daughter remained in front of me when we got back onto the trail shortcut. The mother was very annoying, shouting at her daughter commands for navigating the trail, commands at me to move out of the way so her daughter could be out of harms way (because me, a 118 lb girl could do SO much damage...) But they were much slower than me, and again I kept trying to pass her, but the girl wouldn't move out of the way! So finally I had to shove her a little onto a "pullout" patch on the trail, much to the disgust of that mother. But I didn't listen and sped up.
Sprinting my heart out
I was on an all out roll towards the beach. I kept telling myself to push harder; it will all be done soon. It was almost over. I caught up to a woman who had passed me on the final part of trail and managed to pass her while hurdling this giant piece of wood, over a ditch and onto Panoramic. A guy was right in front of me. I sprinted with all my heart and soul towards him, trying to reel him in. Oh how it hurt! I was in complete pain, yet I couldn't feel anything. When I made the turn onto the final straightaway, I could hear my family cheering my name. It felt like I was flying. I don't think my arms have ever pumped that fast, and I don't even remember feeling the ground with each footfall. My face had pain and exasperation written all over it. My heart was in overdrive. I caught up to the man and finished basically next to him. As soon as I crossed the line, I was bent over hugging my legs. The volunteers asked if I was alright; I took a deep breath, straightened up, and proceeded over to get a water and shirt. I looked at my watch. I had PRed by 15 minutes to run 1:13. I smiled and jogged over to my family.
I was so happy to be done and to have finished well. I assessed my body to find lots of mud and dirt, but no real cuts or blood! Which, considering, is a miracle! haha
I meandered over to the mass of people on the grass picnicking, despite the rain and fog. I exchanged stories, talked and hugged all my running friends. It was a fabulous morning. We left an hour later, as I had to get warm, shower with tecnu, eat food, and study!
Later that night, once the preliminary results were posted, I anxiously scrolled looking for my name. I had finished 638, qualifying for invitational by 102 places!! My time was good for 454th!! Also, I had passed about 200 people going up and over Cardiac, which is mind boggling to me!!!
I am very pleased with my results and race. I gave it my all and finally am seeing results for my racing and training. It's a great feeling, knowing that I am doing well and running stronger, faster, and harder than ever!
You could say I've made a comeback, but I say I am finally making an appearance. I cannot wait to see what I can do next!
all smiles!
My tat held up well
These little girls are so cute! (coach's daughters)
