Pre-race

I buzzed around all week trying to get my gear together to no avail. The most I could do was toss things in a corner as the days whipped by. Thursday night I was finally forced to make some sense of the pile. I used small clear zippered blanket bags to hold a variety of sundries as I assembled 4 drop bags. Along with my handy-dandy check lists I was as ready as I was going to be. Friday morning I got busy in the kitchen and made my infamous veggie wraps and some yummy puliogare rice. Tossed in a couple avocados, bananas, Ensures and SB Double Shots and I was set. I’ve pretty much gotten away from using gels and the like over the past year, replacing them with whole foods and total luxury items (the Double Shots). I felt loaded with options for every aid station. (Note: I still carry a gel with me at all times for emergency use, as I’ve been unofficially pronounced dead on the trail in the past and gels have brought me back to life, so don’t be thinking I’m dissin Hammer.) Anyway, I grabbed a few camping items and headed out. Made a quick stop for Indian food take-out so I’d have dinner for both Friday and Saturday. Arrived in time to witness the Rock & Roux Gumbo cook-off between Crash and Henry. The jury voted Crash as the winner, but as Henry will tell you all too quickly, his huge pot was empty by day’s end so it couldn’t have been that bad. The temperature dropped as darkness set in so I retired early for quiet solitude.

Race Morning

Up at 4 I had my version of breakfast of champs: banana and coffee. It was a chilly start of about 37 and I was frettin’ on what I coulda-woulda-shoulda packed. My right calve had been really bothering me in just the last week so I applied some warming essential oils and hoped for the best. I hung near the rear of the pack as runners passed and squeezed into a single file over Lucky’s Peak.

Loop One >25 miles

Lucky’s was uneventful except for the Halloween novelty at the top and the occasional and short-lived mud slide. At Equestrian Marcia Inger and I happen to be leaving at the same time and ended up hanging together for the next couple hours. After 18 or so miles Marcia pulled ahead. She was well ahead of her pace chart and was focused on her goal. I was committed to keeping my own steady pace since more often than not I have started races too fast only to falter in the end. Truth be told I didn’t even know if I could finish this bugger. (Kinda kept that little secret to myself, not wanting to affirm anything negative.)

As predicted, it was a gorgeous day and I was enjoying every bit of it. I’ve never had my hopes up for winning anything at a race, so as always I was in this for the fun. Seeing all my friends at aid stations and on the trail is what this is all about for me. Cutting up with Gabe at Equestrian, seeing Steven Moore whiz by and John Reynolds pacing later...it was great! At one point I ran out of water and crossed paths with Naresh whom I hadn’t seen in months. A quick sweaty hug, a couple inches of water for my bottle and we were off in pursuit of whatever the day had in store for our individual journeys.

Loop Two 25>50 miles

Coming back into the Lodge I changed shirts, socks and shoes. My food choices were paying off well. I headed out all smiles. As I passed the photographer again I yucked it up with him on how I was having so much fun I could do cartwheels. I guess I didn’t realize Henry and Crash were within ear-shot of that so I was called on it. I managed to spin out one abet their help. We all cracked up as we went in our own direction. Thank goodness the photographer didn’t record that one.

Cairns, Boyles, Sky Island, Three Sisters...the day just better and more beautiful. The combination of the high social factor at aid stations along with running solo was working well. Running alone was quite satisfying, giving me time to take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful park.

Arriving at Nachos I made the realization that not only was I going to finish this race, but I was going to do it in under 16 hours. (That was my other secret: 16 hour finish) Grabbed my headlamp, injected a SB Double Shot and took my veggie wrap to go. The six o’clock hour was approaching and it was going to start cooling off and getting dark soon. Nachos to Equestrian was uneventful. My good friend Mark Licatino was serving up the usual long-winded, good natured insults so I didn’t dally. I picked up a long-sleeve for the inevitable chill of lower temps on a sweaty sports bra.

I was very focused and nothing was slowing me down now. My steady pace and restraint on the first loop had paid off. I charged up Lucky’s without hesitation. The only time I paused was as I waited for Dmitry to cross a small gully coming from the other direction. He was cussing the-no-where-to-be-found Joe Prusaitis for “...purposely coming out and placing boulders in the path. One of these days I’m was going to show him...you just wait...I’m going to move them all back before the race...I will…” Takes a lot to get a rise out of a nice guy like Dmitry, tells ya something about Lucky’s, doesn’t it?

Anyway, it was dark:30 and once I finally got off the sketchiest part of the peak I was full speed ahead. I kept looking at my watch willing it to slow down, but alas it just kept on tickin’. I didn’t stop to chat with Marcia as she and her pacer Paul were heading out for loop 3. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and never slowed down. I crossed the finish line at 15:02! Yeah! In a year that has brought me more challenges that I ever dreamed possible I had succeeded!

Post 50 Miles

I thoroughly enjoyed a warm shower and my Indian take-out dinner. Hung out and visited for a while, then back to my tent to crash for a couple hours before getting back up. I wanted to cheer in the sub 24 hour 100-milers as they came, as well as help any other runners as needed. Marcia and Cheri Woldt were both attempting their first 100 miler and being tested on this dark and cold night. (They both passed with flying colors!) I met Naresh’s crew and knew he would be in soon and want warm food. I heated up some of the Indian puliogare rice, hoping he may enjoy the familiar fare. I’m told the third loop is the deal breaker for many runners. It had taken it’s toll on Naresh and it was good to get some warm food in him. He left unenthusiastically back into the night. His crew came to me a little while later and urged me to pace him from Boyles. I was very reluctant since Naresh is so much faster than me, but knowing he had 80 miles under his belt I agreed. How fast could he be? Let’s just say I won’t ask that question again!

I’m told daylight brings runners back to life and in this case it was absolutely true! Naresh was on fire! I could not keep up with him! The best I could do was keep him in sight-most of the time. He blew past Shawn Fagan and his pacer with a brief wave. As I attempted to keep up with Naresh I ran past Shawn huffing and puffing, and he asked me what I was doing out there. I spat out that I was trying to keep up with my runner! He choked with laughter. I woulda slugged him had I not been overly preoccupied with going into cardiac arrest. I finally caught Naresh as he was sitting on a rock taking a break. All I could think of was, “Good God, what am I doing out here? I had a perfectly good race, wasn’t that enough? Isn’t there a short cut back? Naresh will never even miss me!” Apparently not. He slowed down, for what reason I still don’t know, and we took in the beautiful views from Three Sisters. We barreled down the final stretch to Equestrian in good spirits. Naresh was looking good and being well cared for by his crew. I yucked it up with Shawn for a few minutes before heading back to break camp.

I had to get back to Austin so I was unable to see some of my friends finish, but I sent them good vibes the rest of the day. All in all it was one of the best days at the races ever. I really love this place. I love all my dear friends that shared this day with me, both here in the park and in my heart. And I can’t finish this report without giving my sincere appreciation to Joe and Joyce for all the races they pour their love and energy into. Thank you. As always, I can’t wait until next year!

Cris