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: 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!



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

Race Recap: Logan View Raider Run

Hooray for the 2nd annual Logan View Raider Run! My 7 a.m. run "through the country" was better than expected. I was a little worried about the heavy rains just hours before, but the gravel roads were okay with just a few muddy spots. I met some new and old friends! I even saw some friends from the Dizzy Goat!

Pre-race food the night before was fabulous! All runners received a FREE spaghetti dinner. Salad, garlic bread and dessert filled my plate. Yummy. It was nice to see the various running groups conversing and taking their group picture. I met Loree, a fellow 50 State Half Marathon Member. Nebraska makes state #45 for her!

For those of you wondering what a run "through the country" is...well, it's exactly how it sounds. I passed cows, tall corn, sunflowers and even came across a caterpillar crossing the road. I sure hope he made it. With maybe a mile of payment, the entire course was gravel that included PLENTY of hills. Aid stations were available about every 2 1/2 miles. Gatorade, water and jelly beans alternated the out and back course.

 

Aren't the sunflowers beautiful?!

I kept hearing, Nebraska's hilly? Well, it is! Check out this elevation change!

 

Even though the hills were a killer, it wasn't THAT bad. I managed to run the entire first half, hills and all. And chose to walk up the hills on the way back. See that last hill? Oh.my.word.



Oh...and you can't beat a half marathon for only $35!

After that last hill, I knew I was free. My running friends ran ahead and were already done. Probably enjoying my chocolate milk. Don't worry, I got some.

Hooray! We did it!

PROS: Nice hometown race, post-race food, pre-race food, COLD chocolate milk
CONS: Hills (but nobody can fix that), bad cell service, few spectators on course

Note to self: Don't forget to turn on your GPS watch BEFORE you start. I had to post-pone the start by about a minute. Thanks Susie! It's a good thing I know the race director :)

Not a new state

5th Half Marathon complete.

2:41:22

New Course Record!

2 min. 14 sec. off my PR :(

 

 

See ya in Utah...T-13 days!