Sierra Endurance Runs 9/24

A quick little catch up from the mascara files and my experience at...

SIERRA ENDURANCE 25M and 50M RUNS

With my fourth and final toenail gone, I was desperate to get in a decent weekend of some long distance runs before I had to face the Dick Collins 50M on 10.8. Coming off Transrockies at the end of August I'd been plagued with foot issues that kept me in flip flops for almost 3 1/2 weeks straight (which is heaven, of course, but only if i can also put sneakers on). When I finally did lace up a pair of sneaks, I was so happy....and slightly off my running game. Amazing how much ground you can lose when you can't run. This was my last chance to get in a big push so I headed out to Roseville at an ungoldy hour of the morning to join my friends, Dana and Kara, at the Sierra Endurance Run.

Arriving late to the race start, Dana's boyfriend, Brian, was waiting for me with my race bib and chip as the gun went off and the runners disappeared. Doh. I headed out on the now empty firetrail with a few other latecomers, following the arrows and watching the sunrise sweep across Auburn Lake. Still following the arrows, I caught up to a handful of people as we transitioned to single track and I took the lead (of the stragglers, I mean). Maybe 1/2 mile along the woman behind said she hadn't seen a "pink ribbon" in awhile. I said I was following the arrows. She said the arrows were for another race - we were supposed to follow the ribbons. She was following me who was not following the ribbons. Ah, the pre-race meeting. So often uninformative and yet this once, so critical.

Auburn Lake at Sunrise

So we circled back and picked up the ribbons and went about the next 18 or so miles running on soft, rolling singletrack alongside the lake and beautiful views. Things felt good, loose. The miles seemed to click away quickly enough and then we started to turn inland, or upland I should say, on Cardiac Hill. That's when the heat of the day seemed to unleash its effects. The hike up went well enough. It was steep and long but my legs felt strong. Things were still looking pretty good as I entered the Auburn Dam Overlook aid station, drenched myself in water, grabbed a Clif bar and continued on. And then the wheels just started slowing down. I meandered down some singletrack easily enough then hit the last flat-to-rolling firetrail stretch before the finish. This is where 5 miles felt like 10. Where my water supply disappeared almost instantly and I was left holding a Clif bar and a Gu I couldn't choke down without fluids.

Fortunately, I ran into Kara and Dana coming back for the 50M course - both of them feeling the same effects, each pausing to say hi for a minute before we continued on our separate paths slowly and sluggishly. I was doing a walk/run thing by then, trying to admire the views around me, my legs now just dead and my lips parched. Even Dana warned that what seemed like the last mile or so was more like 2 or 2+. I got passed by maybe 5 people during that stretch but finally No Hands Bridge came into view and I shuffled across the finish line into the arms of a cold and delicious popsicle. Mmmm, popsicles.

Dana just past the 25 mile turnaround.

I arrived back at the start via the shuttle bus just in time to drop my keys in the toilet and see the winner cross in 7:29. All around goodness.

Late to race start, lost on trail, keys in toilet. Nothing left to do but smile.

Driving home afterwards I considered how on earth I could have ever turned around at that point and done another 25 miles. I texted Tina (another mascara girl also signed up for Dick Collins) about my doubts. I was SO done at mile 25 with 2 weeks to go until my first 50M. It was not the sign I was looking for. Taken on its own, it was a fine day, challenging; it got me out onto new trails and supporting 2 great race directors who would also be putting on Dick Collins. The views were great, the sunrise spectacular. I could see going back here on a cool, fall day and doing an out and back on the singletrack along the lake en route to Tahoe.

I just have to remember what friends have always reiterated: where the mind goes, the body will follow.

Dana and Kara both finished the 50 Mile course making their 50M records 2 for 2 with outstanding debuts at American River last year and gritty, dig-deep-in-the-heat performances at Sierra. Kudos to the ladies!

Dana and Kara at the quiet, desolate finish.