Pikes Peak Ascent ~ 2014

I knew it would be hard.

Really hard.

But seriously. How hard can a hike be?

This began as any other race. Race day nerves. No big deal. I mean, I'm climbing Pikes Peak! The race started in downtown Manitou Springs. Runners from all over the world were here to claim the prize; the same prize I wanted. Badly. The first 1.65 miles was uphill. No big deal. I knew it would be tough. I think I managed running about a mile of it. I kept up with the crowd as much as I could. And then it became a hike with everyone else.

We joined Barr Trail in Pike National Forest at the 1.65 mile marker where the first station was. Where we waited...and waited...and waited. The trail bottlenecked and we had to wait. Wait for our turn to continue. People were getting upset. We had deadlines or cut-off points that we had to meet.

People started talking, and I listened. Drink when you're not thirsty, one says. Run when you can another person says.

But, Just.
Don't.
Stop.

I was told to enjoy the view. But I couldn't look up. The terrain was nothing like I've ever ran before. I've been on a few trails. But nothing like this. I do remember looking up at the 2.8 mile marker where I saw the Rocky Mountains. Wow. Look how far I've gotten.

I kept to myself. I didn't want to talk. I wanted to save my energy. As the trail got tougher the elevation increased. Someone said, the first three miles is the worst. It has the most elevation gain. I already had a disadvantage. Hooper has an elevation of 1320 feet. At the start of the race, 6,300 feet was already against me. Remember my view of the Rockies? 7,700 feet.

 

 

Surprisingly, I didn't feel that winded. I never got dizzy and I never got a headache. That was motivating and encouraging enough. I did stop once, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. That was enough to keep going. I couldn't feel it when I was walking. It kinda scared me. So I kept going. The terrain continued. My hips were starting to hurt more than anything. The constant step ups was tiring. So tiring. I thought about quitting but I noticed that I never stopped. I just kept going.

 

The elevation continued. 8,800 feet arrived when we crossed No Name Creek. That wasn't fun. The slippery rocks slowed us down. I'm a clumsy bird so I didn't want to fall. It's funny that I don't remember Bob's Road ~ elevation 9,350'.  I do remember finally looking at my watch and realizing at this moment, that I wasn't going to make it in time to Barr Camp; the first cut off. That's all I wanted. To make it to Barr Camp by the 3 hour mark.

 

Gwen was a life savor. I knew Karen would go. She is such a faster runner than me. Gwen stayed with me. She often looked back as I did for her. She kept telling me to go ahead of her. But I knew that I needed somebody. I didn't want to do this alone.

 

She gave one more final...Go. Make the cut off. I could hear people talking. And I went. I left her. That was so hard for me. What if I did make it and she didn't. I needed SOMEONE. I knew I couldn't do this alone.

 

I made it to Barr Camp ~ 7.6 miles at 10,200'. A volunteer put her arm around me. I looked at her, "Did I make the cut off?" And she looked at me. The same way the vet looked at me when my dog was dying. And I lost it. I cried. I cry writing this. It is still so raw. Like a dagger in my chest cutting my lungs; at 10,200 feet. The one thing I didn't want was to fail. And at that moment, I did. I felt like such a failure.

 

And another volunteer ripped my bottom bib and took my number. And there I was listed. As a DNF.

 

Did.

Not.

Finish.

 



I kept hearing, "I'm so sorry. You did so good". I missed the cut off by 3 minutes. Maybe I shouldn't have looked at the Rockies. Why did I stop to hear my heart beat? Should I had run across the slippery rocks and risked slipping? I sat there on that bench and cried. Someone brought me food. Someone helped me put my long-sleeved shirt back on to keep warm. And I continued to watch others cross. I felt so bad for us. All of us.

 

Gwen. Where is Gwen? I asked for her. No one saw her. And I finally saw her. And it hit again. Disappoint not just for me, but for us. Us flatlanders. That's what they call us ~ FLATLANDERS. Those flatlanders.

 

Well, this flatlander is going back. We all are. And I'm conquering that beast. We have unfinished business. At least I know I do.

 

FYI: Karen did make it. Hearing her story was amazing. She made the next cut off at A-frame (11,950') at the 4:15 hour mark. EXACTLY the time she needed. She made the final finish at 6:26. Just 3 minutes before the cut off.

 

Next time? I need to be at the beginning of the start. Get ahead of the bottleneck and walk hard. Jog on the downhill's and straightaways. Continue to drink. And stay quiet. Train on trails. Do squats. Build endurance. It can happen. I believe it.

 

 



Race Recap: Fargo Half Marathon ~ Fargo, North Dakota

State # 8! Fargo, North Dakota. Happy 10th anniversary to the Scheel's Fargo Marathon! 10 Years Rockin'.

You know what happens when a marathon celebrates a BIG milestone...Yep, a cool medal, awesome swag and an unforgettable good time!  :) My quick getaway started off with a 6 am flight out of Omaha and a connection through Denver. With a super easy landing in FARGO! I grabbed some lunch at the airport while waiting for Jodi to land from Orlando. Then we were off to the Expo!

Fargo is super easy to get around. We were downtown within 5 minutes and found street parking close to the Fargo Civic Center. We picked up our bibs outside in the tents and headed inside to retrieve our shirts and bags. Being one of the first 25,000 registrants of the marathon, we received an Under Armour Fargo Marathon Bag! Swag # 1, check! Already, this race isn't disappointing.

The Expo was pretty good. Merchandise to purchase, free giveaways/contests and the usual busyness of an event. After we filled up our bag with the essentials, we decided to head back to the hotel to check in.

We met some 50 staters (new and old) for dinner at Santa Lucia. Can't go wrong with a little pre-race carb load! One of our 50 staters is completing her 50th state, 50th Half Marathon!
Way to go, Susan!!!!!

Saturday morning sure came early. I was so worried about traffic that I made Karen and Jodi get up at 5 am! I can still hear them cursing under their breath :) We got to one of the designated parking facilities with PLENTY of time. Can you hear it...that's Karen :) Any who...we were close to the YMCA which meant CLEAN bathrooms. So we decided to get in line to use them. Unfortunately, they ran out of toilet paper so we ended up using the port-a-potties instead. The line was actually shorter for these. We made our way up to the starting line at Veteran's Memorial Bridge shortly after that.

After a short prayer and the singing of the National Anthem, they released all the runners and bikers. I wish they would have let those with wheels go first.

The course was nice. Lots of turns to keep the mind busy. I didn't like the two long straightaways...but I never like straightaways. A few minor hills (just to get under roads above) but all in all, a flat course. The spectators were amazing and full of life. The aid stations were plentiful and needed at just the right time. Thanks for adding a few last aid stations. It's about the time people begin to pucker out and getting that last glass of water is sure nice.

The course was rearranged being the 10th anniversary so it brought us back to the Fargo Theatre. It was a great ending point. Lucky me, I was able to see the marathon winner finish his race. It's nice to cheer them on!

Not a bad time; 2:26:06. I got a little tired at the 12 mile mark. At the 11 mile mark I was just at 2 hours and I really thought I could PR. We had to run back over the starting line bridge and that is where I lost steam. It was a fun run and if I were EVER to make my way to Fargo again, I'd sign up. But I don't see myself ever traveling in that direction again :)

I really wanted a final picture near the Fargo sign but I just love Sonya's sooo much! Here SHE is!

 

And the best part, Mark Knutson, the race director went out and ran a marathon on his OWN after working ALL day! He ran to raise money for Shoes for Kids. Area businesses were donating a $1000/mile that he completed with a grad total of $26,000! His wife captured his journey for us to follow on Facebook. She was even the aid stations :)

 

State # 8

 

North Dakota

 

Half Marathon # 13

 

2:26:06

 

 

PROS: swag, easy access to events, course

CONS: getting to the post-race food. Maybe try lines with ropes next time. It was just one big mess.

             Let those with wheels go first. Felt bad for them as the runners were practically running   

             on top of them.

 

 

 

 

 Now I can honestly say...

 

 

Can't forget about Susan!

 





Race Recap: Lincoln Half Marathon ~ Lincoln, Nebraska

If you are on a quest to run all 50 states, this is YOUR Nebraska race. Finishing in Memorial Stadium was actually pretty cool; even coming from this non-Husker fan. The registration sells out in hours so I expect you to be on your computer ready to register. Even at 12:01 am on New Years Day!

I met Sonya and Jodi at the Expo ready to pick up our packets.

Jodi and Sonya had never been to Nebraska so we decided to walk around downtown. Let's just say we had fun with what we had! Sorry I walked us ALL over downtown!

Sally finally arrived and we went to the FREE pasta dinner! All you can eat spaghetti, salad, breadsticks and icecream! Not only was it free for the runners, but it was free for the public as well. Can't beat that! Time to get ready for bed there is a little race in the morning!

It's race morning. It was hard trying to meet up with everyone I said I was going to. I managed to meet the 50 State Half Marathon Club! Not a new state for me but it was for others!

Then I found my friends!! Hi girls!

The Lincoln National Guard

And we were off. It took almost 37 minutes just to get to the start line. I took this race as a fun run. I wasn't planning on a PR, but who wouldn't like one! I knew within the first 2 miles that it wasn't going to happen. I'm running Fargo next weekend so I just decided to have fun, walk when I need to, and take lots of pictures!

May the Fourth Be With You!

The course was okay. Crowd support was the BEST I have even seen. People lined up the entire marathon course. Not a single spot was empty. High-fiving kids and people yelling your name! Not to mention the volunteers at the water stops. Have you ever heard of water stops having cups with lids AND straws??? It was almost like your very own water bottle. Very nice.

Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Journal Star.

The course was hiller than I heard. I wasn't expecting that. I thought Lincoln was flat. Apparently, the race director found the only inclines in the entire city and purposely put them on this course! I decided since I finally figured I wasn't running for time to just walk the hills. It was a nice breather for me. I had to remember I was running Fargo next weekend. That this was just a training run.

Entering the last few miles was hard. Seeing Memorial Stadium was nice...but it was SO far away. How come the last couple of miles always have to be straightaways??? Making the turn into the tunnel was cool and then the sun and the turf was just ahead. Being on the jumbo tron was cool too! No one was there to watch me but I made sure to have a fun final picture...to follow...

Crossed the finish line at 2:41:17. Not my best by far. But a finish is a finish. I always say, "You get what you put into it." I hven't been training very well; just assuming I could just do long runs without training in-between. Well, it's time to step it up. After Fargo, it's time to get back into training mode. I know I'll be thankful later.

Not a new state

 

Half Marathon # 12

 

2:41:17

 

 

 

PROS: Crowd support, chocolate milk, local

CONS: My training (which only I can control)

 

See ya this Saturday for State # 8 in Fargo, North Dakota!



Getting excited!

I'm getting really excited for the Lincoln Half Marathon THIS Sunday! I'm excited for a home state run where I don't have to travel very far. No airplanes involved! I'm hoping for a cool morning and clear skies! Nothing like 12,000 friends going for a little run :)

Who else will be there?!!!

Michelle Lewis - Run Run Run (Official Music Video)

Part 2: First Double...The Good vs The Bad

With only 10 minutes to change, we were off to the airport. We arrived with just an hour to spare. A little traffic due to gawking at the cop car :) No big deal! With just a small layover at Chicago Midway, we boarded the next plane to Boston. If I was ever tired of flying, this was it.

First mistake of the weekend, forgetting to refill my water bottle in Seattle. Second mistake of the weekend, forgetting AGAIN to refill my water bottle in Chicago. Third mistake of the weekend, flying so damn far not realizing that dehydration could play a major impact on my heath.

3 time zones later we were in Boston. Have you ever flown into Boston before? I thought for sure we were going to land in the water. I kept picturing that pilot that landed in the Hudson River. For sure we were next. It was after 11 p.m., EST and we still needed to drive to the hotel. It actually was quicker than I had expected. What lies ahead I never thought would happen.

We woke up early. Not too early though. I lifted my head up off my pillow and felt dizzy. So dizzy that my head almost felt bobble like. I didn't say anything. I just thought maybe I was tired. Flying cross country was just insane! I gave it a few moments and lifted my head again.

The dizziness continued but it just felt weird. Nothing hurt miraculously. My muscles weren't even sore. I stood up and almost fell over. I couldn't even walk straight to the bathroom. I ran into the dresser and then into the wall. Water. Just drink water. So I did. I drank about 8 ounces and that's when the nausea set in.

What in the world is happening? I can't be sick. I just can't be sick. I kept telling myself to get it together. I started throwing up and it just didn't stop. Time was creeping in and they were leaving soon for the race. I knew I couldn't go. I just couldn't. Get it together! I stopped throwing up and I thought maybe, just maybe I could go. I could walk. Yes, I can walk. I left the bathroom and I still couldn't walk straight. Now how in the world am I going to walk 13.1 miles STRAIGHT. Literally, a straight line.

I gave in. And I quit. You think, no you didn't quit. But yes I did, I quit. Deep down yes, I did. I quit. I was defeated. I flew 3000 miles across the country to just quit. I missed this amazing opportunity to just sit in a hotel and sleep my day away. Realizing now, it was the best decision I ever made. I could have easily passed out on that course and became stranded in some hospital in Boston. Without luggage, my personal belongings, nothing.

I'm still pretty bummed about the entire situation. I never did run The New Bedford Half Marathon that day. But I do have a nice throw away shirt for my next chilly race morning.

 

See you in Lincoln, Nebraska!

May 4, 2014

Part 1: First Double...The Good vs The Bad

It's been a while since my last run in Tulsa. The winter training was tough. Limited running outdoors and a sore foot kept me indoors but that didn't stop me!

So here I go! My first double. Two states in two days. Coast to coast. Let the fun begin! I was off to Tacoma, Washington for state # 7. The Tacoma St. Paddy's Day Run. Another early flight with connections through Denver landed me in SUNNY Seattle! Yes, the first thing I saw was sun. I was excited. Tacoma was just a 30 minute commute from Sea-Tac so I went straight to packet pick up. No lines! (I later found out that I was two hours EARLY for packet pickup...oops!!)  I picked up our packets and started chatting with the girl at check in. I told her I just flew in from Omaha and that my friends were shortly behind me. I couldn't believe that I was at the Half Fanatics headquarters. Seeing all of Tony's medals hanging on the wall was just an amazing sense of awe. I think I acted too excited because she came back with a little present for us. Half fanatic tattoos! This was our lucky day :)

Check in for the hotel wasn't until 3pm so I was unsure what to do. The Hotel Murano. FANCY!

 

 

Off I went on a little adventure. The hotel was downtown. Many buildings but not much to do. I walked about 4 blocks East looking for something to eat. Doesn't this city have a Subway? I made a turn and there she was. Subway in all it's glorious, scrumptious, deliciousness self. I order the new usual and sat at the window to waste the time away. Of course I took some pictures along the way.

Finally it was check in time so I checked into the hotel where I waited for Jodi. 23rd floor of The Murano Hotel. My ears were popping as I made the trip up. Jodi arrived around 5pm and what do we talk about first...FOOD! Pizza or pasta? Pizza ALWAYS wins with us :)  We found a close place called The Rock Wood Fired Pizza. It's a good thing I am app savvy. With the local check in on my Foursquare app, I scored a FREE appetizer! Loving this place already. We sat and ate and ate. Yummy. Great place. Appetizer, mini pizza and H20 for $10.44 :)

 

 

 

The time zone was getting the best of us so we just went back to the hotel to get ready for race #1. Karen wasn't due into Tacoma until around midnight and we weren't waiting up. The start line was just 0.5 miles away so we didn't have to get up early and drive somewhere. Which is GGGRREEAATTTT!

 

 

 

Great race swag. Loved the long sleeve shirt. What's a St. Patrick's Day race without wearing GREEN??!!! The weather was predicted mid 40's with possible rain. Perfect. We heard Karen arrive late but I was able to fall asleep real quick after she arrived. The race was small so we knew that we didn't have to arrive the usual hours before. We arrived around 7:40 am and took some pictures.

 

 

 

More pictures...

 

 

I had planned on taking more pictures during the run. At about mile 3 the rain began. The roads were wet and I didn't want to slip so I just enjoyed the scenery and the run. Hills EVERYWHERE. Why am I always attracted to the hills?! The nice thing about hills in races is that they are NOT the hills I run on at home. So I don't easily psych myself out. I always think, "Well that hill was easier then home!" The course was an out and back with a little loop in the beginning.  We were running and I noticed everyone carrying hand water bottles. I began to worry...where are the water stops?? Not until mile 4 was there water. Never have I experienced this before. I should have brought my water bottle. And there it sits...AT THE HOTEL. I was thankful for the rain because if it was hot, this would have been bad.

 

The hills continued and I went with it. I let gravity take me down...that was kinda fun! I normally don't like any Gu products but decided to take one anyway. Mocha you are my new favorite. The race continued along Puget Sound and up more hills. The end was nearing and I was remembering those stickin hills at the beginning. Oh my word...I need to run up a hill at the finish. My watch was closing in on my PR and I was okay with it.

 

Crossing the Finish Line at 2:23:07. Not too shabby. I think the downhill's made up my time. Wasn't much time to hang out. I grabbed my medal, ate some grapes and a banana and I was off to the hotel to change. With just 10 minutes to spare, I was able to change and we were off to the airport for leg 2.  See you in Massachusetts!!

 

 

 

State # 7

 

Half Marathon # 11

 

2:23:07

 

PROS: Post race food. Easy access to/from airport. Perfect weather.

CONS: First water stop TOO far away.