Archive for July, 2009

What’s Next?

July 28, 2009 · Filed under Endurance, For the love of running, Marathons, Training, ultramarathons · Tagged , , , ,

The Skyline 50K Takes Place Around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley

The Skyline 50K Takes Place Around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley

Well, this weekend my friend Carrie and I are running the Skyline 50K.  A last minute addition to my calendar, I had the jones for another ultra before the end of summer.  Luckily Carrie is known for saying, “I’m in!” Total elevation gain/loss is 4758, which isn’t bad at all.  It should be fun.

Next month I hit Top of Utah with my friend Kim.  I was super lucky to run with her a couple weeks ago.  We got to chatting and realized we both have the same Boston qualifying goals.  Like Carrie, Kim is known for saying, “I’m in!”  She signed up the next day.

View from the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon

View from the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon.

In October, I am hitting Bizz Johnson, my first pure trail marathon.  My frequent advice-givers, Craig and Kevin, call it one of the most beautiful marathons they have ever done.  Again, Kim is in, along with her daughter, and maybe our friend Allison.  I am really looking forward to it.  If I get the Boston thing out of the way in Utah, I am going to simply enjoy.  I’ll bring my camera and take photos along the way.

Two weeks following Bizz Johnson is the Silicon Valley Marathon.  I have run it two years in a row and managed to get my two best times.  It’s impossible to pass up since it’s literally down the road and I know the entire course. I plan to do it again this year as a lead up to the North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Miler in December.

Marin Headlands - Home of the North Face Endurance Challenge 50M

Marin Headlands - Home of the North Face Endurance Challenge 50M

I am totally stoked!  It travels throughout Marin County along trails I know, like the Dipsea, Stinson and Muir Beaches.  Not sure I’ll have company with this one, but no matter.  Being alone is equally enjoyable.

What an exciting second half of the year!  I can’t wait.  I just turned 37 and I am thrilled with the progres I have made.  Since turning 36 last July, I have actually placed in a few races, run my first 50miler, and become an honest-to-goodness trail runner.  I think I have done it all without sacrificing family, friends, or work.  What a blessing!  Love it!!

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Mud, Rain, Rocks and Roots! The Maunawili Demonstration Trail.

July 24, 2009 · Filed under Reviews, Trail Running · Tagged ,

I returned a few days later to take photos. I lost the rain and added my twins to take photos

I returned a few days later to take photos. I lost the rain and added my twins.

* All photos were taken a few days after my rainy run*

I was looking for a nice long run, nothing too hard.  I was on vacation.

So I opened my handy-dandy Oahu book and read the entire Hiking section.  One trail stood out because it was 20 miles long, took me into the mountains, and had a wicked name.

The Maunawili Demonstration Trail glides along the base of the Ko`olau Mountain Range on the island’s windward side, offering spectacular views of the ocean and valley below.  It’s just shy of 10 miles point-to-point and I was going round trip.  There is even a wonderful side trip to a small waterfall that adds another 1.5.

I learned later the trail is frequent training ground for H.U.R.T., Hawaii’s Ultra Racing Team.  In fact, I passed them twice.   Had I thought about it, I would have looked them up in advance and joined in their “fun”.

I left my sleeping family early and arrived at the “trailhead on the hairpin turn” (as it is known to the locals) excited to hit the dirt.  It was drizzling, but I assumed that would end.  I was in Hawaii.  It rains and stops, and rains and stops, all day long.

Ahhhh… everyone knows what happens when you assume.  The trail kicks your a*%.  Deceptive with it’s simple rolling hills, Maunawili is a technical course on a good day.  On this day it was a train wreck…

My son Reece hops and skips over the rocks. Not so easy on a rainy day.

The day we returned, my son Reece hops and skips over the rocks. Not so easy on a rainy day.

Three hours after starting, the rain was still falling. Maunawili was one muddy mess.  Slippery rocks of all sizes covered the course. Because it was very wet, I had to be diligent about watching my step, which meant looking down.  I clearly invited the trees overhead to smack me in the face.  I think they enjoyed it.  Combine that with a mountain ridge and you are heading for disaster.  I slipped three times, falling once. I had to duck and swoop and figure out how to look up, down and sideways all at once.  Ugh!

The Roots

The roots

Ohhhhhh… I almost forgot about the tree roots!  They covered complete sections of the trail.  Can I tell you how much that sucked?!  A lot!

I really tried to embrace and enjoy.  My boss calls me the “eternal optimist.”  Well, Ms. Sunnyside of Life is not ashamed to tell you that I started swearing at mile 3.56 and again around 8.25.  I saw lots of runners and we all shared that look of, “I want to love this, but I do not.”  Ha ha.  One young man simply looked at me in dismay, “It’s really, really, really muddy.”

I hit the waterfall on the way back and jumped in for a swim.  At that point I was so dirty and tired, what was another couple miles. I think I surprised the family that was there.  They were carefully tiptoeing over rocks and lamenting dry places to sit.  In full running gear I walked straight through the creeks, took off my Garmin and Mizunos, and dove in.  I came, swam, and left without a word all while they negotiated with the wilderness.  Bless them.

The whole episode took me so long that my husband was actually concerned. This had never happened before. Simple text: “Worried.  Call me when you get this.

I went back a few days later with my twins.  I wanted to take photos and see how bad it really was.  Had I overblown it in my mind?  Although it was an easy hike, elevation gain is almost non-existent, I think even in good weather the course would be tough.  The roots still wrap the dirt.  The big and small rocks are still everywhere.  The trees still umbrella the runner.

Of course, as is true to the nature of a trail runner, I want to go back and tackle it again… just without the rain next time.  I even think the HURT 100 might be in my future. Because when you step back and forget about the mud and the rain, it really was quite beautiful.

Stunning trees wrap the trail

Stunning trees wrap the trail

Even the day it rained, views lined every bend

Even the day it rained, views lined every bend

The trail wasn't all rock and roots (although you can see roots in the grass of this one). On the day I ran, what would have been a nice reprieve was a giant mud bath.

The trail wasn't all rock and roots (although you can see roots in the grass of this one). On the day I ran, what would have been a nice reprieve was a giant mud bath.

We don't get this in Morgan Hill! Beautiful.

We don't get this in Morgan Hill! Beautiful.

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Race Report: Livestrong Challenge 5K, San Jose

July 23, 2009 · Filed under Race Reports · Tagged , ,

I met Lance Armstrong once, about three years ago.

Our conversation went exactly like this…

Lance: “Hi.  I am Lance Armstrong.”

JW: “I know. (Awkward pause) It’s nice to meet you.”

I am such a smooth talker.  But I wasn’t there to talk.  A new marathoner, I was there to listen to arguably the greatest endurance athlete of all time.  Instead, I heard from one of the world’s most famous cancer survivors.  His passion on the topic was contagious, but I must admit that I quickly forgot most of what he said.

And then my sister-in-law went in for a routine mammogram and came out needing a double mastectomy.

I remembered Lance and his speech and I Googled “Livestrong.” Livestrong is of course Lance’s cancer awareness and fundraising organization.  Through it I found a small way to help.  I could do what I do best.  I could run.

The course was flat and fast, winding through downtown San Jose.  I am not sure what interesting landmarks we passed, if any.  I was racing.  My eyes were either counting the people in front of me or quickly glancing at my pace. I was the second female to cross the finish line.

Not a typical 5K, the event was one of four Livestrong Challenges that take place annually around the country.  As I ran, Lance was riding in the Tour.  We were watching it live while getting pre-race coffee and water.  Someone wondered aloud if Lance even knew our little hometown race was happening.

With Lance off raising awareness on the world stage, former HP CEO and cancer survivor, Carly Fiorina, stood in as our Grand Marshall.  Up on stage she looked very petite and pretty with her hairless head and simple black shirt and leggings.  Nothing like the power-house photos I had seen in the Wall Street Journal and San Jose Mercury News.

I felt out of place as I made my way toward the start line.  More strollers, dogs, and little kids lined the coral than I had expected.  I think half the field was sporting Starbucks. Posters and bibs announced, “I am a survivor.”  There were no time chips. In fact, there was no timing at all.  The announcer reminded the crowd, “This isn’t a race.  It’s just a run.”

I asked myself if I should go easy.  Was it poor form to have a goal time?  I looked up and down in search of runner’s legs and well worn shoes.  Excusing myself through the crowd, I inched closer and closer to the front. I finally saw a young man warming up, back and forth across the start line.  Ahhhh, clearly this gentleman is going to try to go fast.  I found maybe 30 people, out of maybe 200, who looked like they were up for some speed.  I stuck with them and we shot out of the gate.

I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I ran a 5K.  Maybe before I moved to England?  Maybe my 5th grade Turkey Trot?  It was such a short distance that I had trouble judging what speed I should be running.  I still had something left at the end.  I think I could have gone faster, but not fast enough to win.  That honor went to a woman from Iceland whose husband has cancer.  She beat me by a good 60-90 seconds.

I will do this again next year.  It was not only a touching environment, it was a beautifully run event.  The run was just the icing.  The cake was actually the cycling.  There was a 10K, 50M, 65M, and 100M ride.  The cycling would last all day.  On the contrary, I was done in just over 21 minutes and off to breakfast.

I raised a little money and ran this year’s Challenge to support the people I love who have battled cancer.  I have reached an age were that list seems to be rapidly growing.  My sister-in-law and hometown best friend both combated breast cancer this year.  My sister’s father-in-law died from lung cancer just last month.  One of my favorite friends from work beat cancer twice before she hit 40.  I don’t really know how to help other than to offer my love and support, my babysitting services, and to run.

Livestrong Challenge, San Jose

Cyclist and runners gather at the start

Crossing the finish line in 21:39

Crossing the finish line in 21:39

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Aloha from Oahu

July 17, 2009 · Filed under For the love of running

Sunrise in Oahu 071509

Quick update…. I am on vacation with my family in Oahu.  We have a tiny little place on the beach at Punalu’u in the North Shore.

Been running every day.  Had an awesome barefoot run along the sand.  When I ran out of sand, I jumped in the ocean and swam until I found more sand.  Love that!

I was just telling my husband that I am itching to hit the trails.  So tomorrow I am heading into the mountains for a 19 mile run along Maunawili Trail.

Sadly, my awesome month-old Olympus camera broke within 24 hours of our arrival.  Unfortunate story about my husband, a fish, the ocean, and an open compartment in my camera.

Oh well.  Stuff happens.

Aloha!

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The cost of running

July 5, 2009 · Filed under For the love of running · Tagged , ,

You don’t need much to run.  A pair of running shoes, socks, some shorts and a t-shirt. Seems simple.  Seems cheap.  But lately I have realized that it adds up. It’s nothing like our brethren cyclists and triathletes pay, but it can cost a pretty penny nonetheless.

Here is what I pay for on an ongoing basis, cost is estimated and averaged.  I shop online and at outlet stores, buying things on sale or discounted.

  • Custom orthotics – $200 every two years
  • Garmin or the like – $350 every two years
  • Trail shoes – $100 every three months
  • Road shoes – $100 every three months
  • PowerBars – 10 a week at $1 per bar
  • Gatorade Powder Mix – a box every ten days at about $5 per box
  • 2-3 pairs of shorts/skirts a year – $25 per pair
  • 2-3 shirts per year – $35 per shirt
  • Socks – $40 per year
  • Sunglasses – $50 a year.  I lose them without fail.
  • Misc. (water bottles, bladders, GU, etc.) – $250 per year (is a guess)
  • Massage – $120 a quarter.
  • Physical Therapy – $300 per year

And then there are the races!

It looks like I will do six marathons or ultras this year, average price is one hundred dollars per entry, which comes to $600 + the two I had to miss = $800 just in endurance events.  I also enter a few shorter runs, with an average fee of $50.  So I am looking at about $1000 just in entry fees.

I tend to do one or two per year where I travel.  This involves the ~$100 race fee, ~$300 hotel for two nights, meals, gas, and in some cases, airline tickets.

I don’t normally think about this too much, but this weekend I signed up for two runs, added “buy new orthotics” to my to-do list, started looking for flights and hotels for my next marathon, gave up on my crap sunglasses, and realized I need new trail and road shoes within the next two weeks. Ugh!  In today’s economy, every penny counts.

I don’t spend much money in general.  I am not a shopper.  I am not extravagant with my cars or my clothes or my vacations.  I know my cyclist and triathlete friends might think, “One set of racing wheels costs more than all your events combined.”  Fair, but I’m not a cyclist.  I am a runner.

I am an endurance runner, which means running shoes must be flexible yet stable, t-shirts must be technical, socks must protect me from blisters, electrolytes must replenish me, watches must pace me, and races must challenge me.  Besides my family, running long is my greatest joy.  When you look at it that way, it’s worth the investment.  Phew! Time to book those flights to Top of Utah, order my new shoes, and get another pair of sunglasses.

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