Monday morning flight home after an awesome weekend in San Diego. So many memories bouncing around in my foggy-post-100 miler brain... all of them making me smile. What a great time we had hanging out before during and after, such a stellar group of people coming together to accomplish something so individual, but so community driven. It takes so many hands, smiles, efforts and energies to get runners through 100 miles. It hits me every time. Last night at dinner after all was said and done, I was the only racer, but every person at the table of 8 had either been at the race or helped get someone to the race. An amazing ratio.
A great connection that started as a coaching client and is now a great friend too, David, was the bestest host. Not only did he put me up, insist that I take over his awesome master suite of a bedroom, he was open to friends coming along with me Thursday night and again on Sunday. We cooked great meals, and in fact the first night he brought in a chef to prepare an amazing meal for everyone plus more friends of his. It all made for great energy to kick off the weekend.
Kim showed up on Thursday morning and we did our typical power shopping and in my pre-race nervousness I spent way too much money on things we may just need for a 100 mile race. I knew there were no store options once we left town, and I wanted the girls to have everything they might need/want while following me around the hills for 20 hours. Kim kept it under control a little better than I did, but we were able to laugh at the bags and bags of food I brought out of Whole Foods and Trader Joes.
Darcy joined us for the amazing prepared meal of cod and mushroom risotto and the three of us took over the bedroom to get the final good night of sleep before the journey up to the mountains just east of San Diego. It was nice to have the extra time to prepare on Thursday, so Friday morning we got to run down to the beach (only 1 mile away) and play in the water. David and Darcy ran a few more miles and Kim and I went back for coffee and breakfast. We meandered and finally made our way up to the mountains after Kim picked up Toph from the airport and made it in time to check in to our cute little cabin, sort through my race gear so it wouldn’t be too hectic for the girls and sit in on Scott’s prerace meeting. The man has it dialed. He hit on all key important points before 150 runners headed out on the course. My favorite & always a good reminder - no whining.
The 7am start made for a pretty mellow morning and after another good night sleep I was definitely feeling rested after the mellow training weeks leading up to the race. Still had to clear out my head and between Darcy and I we were easily heard through camp and on the trail with our nose blowing and coughing. Super cute we were. Jamie had made the drive up after work on Friday to crew and the simple and dialed feeling walking to the start line with those two was the perfect start to the race. Everyone grouped together while Scott sat by the clock gearing up to let us go. I shed my Nano and moved into the huddle and enjoyed my favorite part of a race the nervous hugs shared before setting off into the day. There are exactly 100 miles ahead, and once you take the first step you are on that journey, but those precious moments before when there is so much unknown and so many different stories waiting to unfold is one that I absolutely love. Each story will be different, but we have the goal of getting back to the same place.
Writing a race report for a 100 miler is daunting. A lot happens out on the course, in your head and in the interactions with crews, pacers, other runners and volunteers. It’s almost too much to write, but also a shame to not capture the experience (especially when it is pretty easy with all of this technology). So I find myself somewhere in the middle, jotting notes from the day.
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*A start line fist-bump from Roch telling me it was my day.
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*Moving out with the group in the first miles realizing how lucky we are to be able to move like this.
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*Being amazed by the simple beauty in the starting miles of this race.
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*Checking in with my body to see how everything felt - noticing the cold, but feeling it was manageable, feeling my legs working and focusing on making each stride a good one.
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*The beauty of crew and carrying very minimal supplies throughout the day.
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*Eating whole foods early and being able to consume lots of gels and bloks in the end.
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*Soaking up the views and varied terrain this course offers.
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*Trying to move through aid stations quickly yet enjoy the time with Darcy and Jamie, but realizing I was airing on the side of efficiency.
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*Bothered I had to deal with my period on race day. (sorry if TMI, but it was a factor)
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*My favorite section for scenery was mile 44-51.
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*Darcy smiling and ready to rally out of the Dog Pound.
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*Great chatter and energy from her to boost me through a couple of lows.
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*Enjoying the laughs and conversations we shared with Buzz and Willy out on the course.
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*The caterpillar attack that everyone thought I was crazy for, but it ended up being a legit poisonous bug!
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*Jamie rallying in 30 seconds to jump in and pace the last 13 miles.
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*Great big hugs from Scott, Devon, Jonathan, Darcy, Jamie, Sarah & Steven at the finish line
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*The boys piled up on the cots inside the lodge when I finished.
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*Toph’s blue lips.
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*Dirty, dirty legs.
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*Sporadic stream of finishers piling into the lodge as I coughed and waited for Roch.
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*Catherine waking me from the cot for Roch’s finish.
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*A mere 2 hours sleep before heading back out to see others finish.
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*Proud first time 100 mile finishers!
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*Hanging out in the sunshine.
