Ironman: It's time.

Yesterday I signed up for my first 140.6 distance triathlon, Ironman Arizona.  I'm so excited to train for this race and cross the finish line I can barely contain myself!!! One of my biggest support groups is my running and triathlon friends on Twitter but they have really only known me as a runner.  As a self pep talk I thought I'd summarize why I will be able to be an IRONMAN!! :)

* My first triathlon was KidSport Triathlon when I was in I think, 5th or 6th grade.  I loved swimming and only kinda hated biking but I strongly, fiercely hating running.  My dad's final training for me involved swimming in our pool, doing a short bike and finishing with a 1/2 mile run around the neighborhood.  I don't remember the yelling part, but apparently I hated my dad in that moment.  Haha!  He was the meanest dad ever for making me do it.  I don't remember much of that tri but I do have a few memories from the run.  The next year I did it as a relay and I was the just swim leg.  That was much better. :)

* Didn't do another one until 2006.  It was the Baylor Tom Landry Triathlon.  My dad did it too and the day went great!  I was hooked and wanted to do more.  I had been running for 5 years at that point and loved that in a triathlon when you get tired with one sport, you get to switch!

* Not including the KidSport Tri I've done 16 triathlons.  Two 70.3 distance, two Olympic distance, and 12 Sprint distances.  Two years ago when I started trying to become a faster runner is when I become more competitive in tri's.

* Both my 70.3's were horrible.  The swim and bike on the first one went great but the run was horrible. The swim was great on the second one but both the bike and run made me not do another tri for a long time.  I was so discouraged.

* Since those bad 70.3's I've concentrated on my true love, running.  I've become a much stronger, more confident athlete through running.  My bike has improved dramatically because of the mental toughness running has brought me.

* My love of the bike is renewed.  I took a lot of time off and I'm having more fun on it than ever before.  I have such a bigger community of friends to bike with me and train with me than I've ever had before.  I can't put in all those bike miles alone.  I won't make it until November.  

* Running 50 miles was the best thing I have ever accomplished as an athlete.  It has given me a new outlook on myself as a person and an athlete.  I know some 100 milers that think anyone can run 50 miles, it's 100 miles that really separates people.   While I do believe some of that is true, I don't agree that anyone can run 50 miles.  At least not actually run them.  Maybe run 30-40 and walk the last 10 in.  To me, I ran 97.5% of those 50 miles and it was without question the hardest thing I have ever done.  To keep my body running when all it wanted to do was walk, to know that without question my mind is stronger than my body, these are the reasons I know I'm ready to be an Ironman.

* When I was in HS I remember thinking I would do an Ironman before I was 30.  I'll be 33 next November 18.  Not too bad. :)

* I have the most amazing husband, family, and friends who support me daily in my training and racing.

* I love and always have loved training.  It's why I race.  I love the daily accomplishment training brings.  I can't wait for the full training spectrum that is required for Ironman training.

* I am determined to beat Troy out of the water. :)

Fall Quick Hits

It's amazing how healing writing that last blog post turned out to be.  I almost instantly started to feel better just getting all those feelings off my chest and into the world.  I got lots of great feedback from friends who had been there before and gradually my legs started to come back as well.  It's amazing how fast time has gone since I wrote that post!  A quick list of things I've been up to:

October 15 Palo Duro 12.5 mile race

I love Palo Duro!!! Last year it was my first ultra and this year I did the short race.  It was COLD race morning which my body just loves.  I felt great from the beginning and just kept picking up the pace each mile.  It was my longest run since Lean Horse so I was nervous about my IT Bands and stuff but everything went great.  I had bad neuroma pain in my foot for the last 3 miles but I'm used to that. The after party is what makes PD so fun.  Hanging out in the Canyon, cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners, and enjoying new and old frunners. 

Erin, Corina, and me on Sunday in the canyon

October 22 Double Trouble 5k

My running club puts on this race and I decided last minute to do the 5k.  I had to forgo two 5k's in Sept because I hadn't recovered from Lean Horse yet so I figured it was time to see just where my speed was at.  Training for ultras all late spring/summer really slowed me down but it was worth it.   My "out of speed shape" 5k pace tends to be around 7:30 - 7:35.  My 5k PR from last December was a 6:57 pace so I'm considerable slower but it was good to have a "fitness check" to base my training paces off of.  Always love doing club races, the support and volunteers are so amazing and although it's a hilly course, it's a course I've run a million times.

DT 5k coming up the last hill to the finish.

October 30 Monster Sprint Triathlon

Having not done a tri since August 1, 2010 I was feeling really excited and kinda nervous about this.  I had one goal...to get first in my age group.  When I made my goals for 2011 last December one of them was "1st AG in a triathlon." I only gave myself one shot at it.  Haha! Monster Triathlon was my 16th tri since I started in 2006 and the first time I got 1st AG!!! I had been 2nd a few times but never 1st.

Hanging out before the race start

To say that I was excited about winning my AG is an understatement.  I didn't train long, only about 5 weeks, but I trained hard.  Short bike rides but always focusing on strength and speed.  Same with my swims and runs.  I didn't need endurance, I needed some speed.  It was freezing race morning which really helps me, I knew my legs would still be able to run fast even though I had only done 2 bricks.  

The swim was uneventful, I felt just ok the first half and felt great the second half.  This was the only thing I was worried about.  All summer I had trained my body to run 50 miles, it takes me A LONG TIME to feel warmed up.  This race was going to be over before I normally start to feel good.  Pushed as hard as I could on the bike, staring at my mph the whole time. I was always about 19-20 except on the hills so I was excited about that.  Didn't wear a watch on the run and couldn't feel my feet they were so numb but just pushed hard.  I had no idea of my pace but the last mile kept trying to pick it up and couldn't so I figured I had to be going close to 7:30's.  I had the fastest bike and run (my 5k run was faster than the previous weekend's 5k race) split in my AG and 3rd fastest swim. It was a great day made even better sharing it with incredible girl friends Marci, Erin, Corina, and Stacy.  I felt like such a rockstar having them there, it was really special for me!

Erin, Corina, Me, Marci, Stacy

November 19 Wild Hare Trail Race

Coco, Rick, Me, Byron, George

Heading down to Wild Hare was a last minute decision.  I didn't have any November races on the calendar and with the weather getting better, a weekend camping strip seemed great.  My brother said he'd camp with me so it was a done deal.  I signed up for the 25k realizing it was going to be my longest run in 10 weeks. My plan was to take it easy for the first loop and pick it up for the second loop.  Well, my nightmare weather situation played out instead.  My body yells a big fat eff you when it's super humid.  I just couldn't do anything.  My upper body felt like it weighed a million pounds and I was just soaked from head to toe with sweat.  I overheated so bad with chills, goosebumps, swelling, and dizziness.  This has happened to me a number of times now (even in just the last year) and so I knew I needed to slow down and just treat it as a training run and not a race.  Ran decent until 11 and then had to walk it out and concentrate on getting my core temp dropped.  It sucked and I was frustrated but still loved the trail and the race and getting to run with my brother.  

Mama C, B, and me

This was two bad weekends of long runs in a row for me.  My weekday intervals are going great, I'm hitting my paces even when I'm tired but I could use a strong weekend run any day now.  I could also use a few consistent weekends of cool weather.  


Best part of WH was our camping zone.  Mitchell had found what turned out to be the perfect zone.  We were right on the trail and in the shade.  We stayed there all day and night cheering for the 50k and 50 mile runners as they did their loops.  We played Bocce ball, grilled fajitas, and drank beer.  Knowing how horrible the humidity conditions on the trail were it was just amazing to watch these runners knock out loop after loop.  (It also made me frustrated because how come their body seems to handle it better than mine??  It's not the heat...it's the humidity that I can't do anything with.)

Camping zone in the back!

Next up is volunteering at the White Rock Marathon on December 4 and running Isle du Bois 10 mile trail race on December 10th!

Post Lean Horse Blues

Racing a 50 miler was one thing.  Recovering from a 50 miler is a test all in itself.

I've had a rough go at it the last month.  I thought I was doing things right, I started nice and slow.  The first week back I didn't do anything but 2 yoga classes.  I would have done more yoga but I was still so dehydrated and since I do Bikram yoga I just didn't have anything to sweat out.  I had a headache for 9 days I was so dehydrated.  I did a few runs the next week and I just went a little too far and just a little too fast on each of them.  I didn't run far and I didn't run fast but it was more than my body was ready for.  Such a very fine line.  So, my IT Bands on each leg really starting give me some trouble.  I stopped running and have stuck with swimming, cycling, yoga, and weights for the last 2 weeks.

It's been great to get back into swimming and cycling.  Erin needed a cycling buddy and I was reluctant, cycling isn't normally something I look forward to but I changed my flat tire, dusted off the cobwebs and met her for a Saturday ride.  Well, it was awesome.  I hadn't had that much fun on the bike in a long time.  I have basically taken 14 months off from the bike.  I'd maybe been on my bike 10 times in the last 14 months.  My last triathlon was RiverCities in August 2010.  That time off seems to have done the trick because my passion for cycling and triathlon is renewed.

Me and Erin on that first ride

I'm still amazed at how much Lean Horse did a number on me.  In one sense, I'm really happy it has taken me so long to recover.  That to me means I left everything and more out on the course that day.  It means my body was ready to quit but my mind was stronger than body.  I've had probably the worst post-race depression I've ever experienced.  After my last 70.3 triathlon that I trained so hard for I finished and thought, "meh." I didn't feel this overwhelming accomplishment, I was just tired and pissed at the weather and mad that another 70.3 didn't go the way I wanted.  After Lean Horse, I'm still very proud of my accomplishment.  I wouldn't change a thing about that race and it satisfied so many internal wants for me I think I'm scared that no race or challenge will be able to live up to it.  I feel lost and confused on where to turn next.  My body is loudly telling me that it needs a bit of a change but I'm not sure what my mind wants.

I ran 9 trail miles today and was just in heaven.  I wanted to run all morning.  I didn't have a ton of leg pain but I was very cautious.  I know that there's no need to make a decision on anything right now.  I don't need to sign up for a race, I don't have to push myself.  But that's not me.  I'm a goal oriented person and I want to push myself.  In this "recovery" month I've done two-a-days twice a week, three-a-days twice a week and something all the other days.  None of it is running, but my enthusiasm for becoming a better, stronger athlete is higher then ever.  I have a few races that I'm signed up for and a few races that I've had to forego.  I know with more time the fog will clear and Lean Horse won't be the "Everest" to me that it is now.  In the mean time though, let me know if you want to join me for a ride.

Lean Horse 50: My first 50

August 27, 2011 Hot Springs, South Dakota

The pre and post race road trip, Mt Rushmore, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, and “crewing the crew” deserve a post all for themselves.  This report is just about my first 50 mile race.

Part One: The Mickelson Trail - Miles 0 - 33

Team Lean Horse! Greg, Erin, Troy, Me, Byron, Kevin

Somehow, I found myself standing among 100 mile, 50 mile, and 50k “fun run” runners in the middle of absolute BFE on a beautiful morning in South Dakota.  Now, I’m a pretty confident runner.  I think I’m a smart runner, an experienced runner, and a strong runner.  I know the things I do well and I knew that this race would be an outlet to show myself that I am all 3 of those things.  What I didn’t know was just how far 50 miles actually is and how much more I have to learn and experience.

Beautiful sunrise.  We're headed left. 

Erin and Byron, #bestcrewever, are so different from each other in so many ways which made them the perfect crew.  As all the runners are nervously milling around Erin’s very quiet and taking pictures and video.  Byron is loud and encouraging and pumping us up.  I need a little of both in my life and ran back to give Erin a quick hug before we were off.  I just about cried my eyes out right then.  

BEST.CREW.EVER.

Kevin and I had hoped to stay together until he made the turn around at mile 12 for the 50k.  We found ourselves with a big group of other runners.  A few 100 milers from Canada and a 100 miler from Boulder.  Turns out he was at the 24 Hours of Towers run that Beth took me to in July.  He even remembered hearing about me, “the girl from Dallas that just flew in and drove straight to Towers.”  We had a great time talking with everyone and hearing their stories.  We’re running a nice conservative pace, averaging about 10:45.  My legs don’t feel great, but they don’t feel bad, I could tell we were at altitude (approx 4,200 to 5,500 ft) and that it would take a couple hours for my legs to shake out.  Not worried at all, I definitely have a few hours to kill. 

As we come to the Argyle aid station where Erin and Byron are and I decide to use the porta-potty since it was there.  I ask Erin to get me some things and I stand in line.  My nutrition plan was water in my pack (Ultimate Direction Wink...it’s the best) and in my handheld I had one scoop of Perpeteum and one scoop of Heed.  I had been running with this mix this summer with great results.  Today, not so much.  Already in 8 miles it was making my stomach queasy.  Unable to do much in the bathroom I hurried back on the trail and took a GU instead of my mix.  I didn’t end up catching back up with Kevin but really enjoyed this 2 mile stretch of being by myself.  I really like to make sure I’m running the pace my body needs and it’s hard to tell that when you’re in a group.  

As I was running out of the aid station Erin and Byron drove by and I yelled at Erin in good fun, “Hey ya Jack Ass! You overfilled my Wink! It’s leaking all over me!”  She made Byron run down the trail, take my pack, empty some out, and run it back to me.  It was so funny.  I realized when I was running without the pack for a bit that it felt really good and thought maybe I would switch to just handhelds (I had one in a dropbag) later.

So, the trail at this point is just what you would expect from a rails-to-trails.  Very smooth and gradual.  You can’t tell by looking if you’re on a hill, but your legs could definitely feel it.  Then all of a sudden you would be going downhill and I would yell (to no one but myself), “I knew it! I knew I was on a hill!” It’s very, very open and while it’s a pretty area of the country it got old fast.  It’s the same scenery the whole time.  I ditched my camera early, there would be no videos on this race, I needed all my energy to go to the task at hand.

Wide open...

Byron and Erin know me pretty well and I had reiterated before the race that I probably wouldn’t ask them to do much.  I really wanted to see their faces and it would help me to know they were up ahead waiting on me. I’m pretty self-sufficient and have been in all my races up to this point.  (I’m one of those women that gets mad when a man does stuff for me.)  Well, turns out, I was the exact opposite.  From the first time I saw Erin at Argyle to the end of the race I let them (wanted them to) handle everything.  I would think about what I needed while I was running so I could tell them exactly what I wanted and then I just stood at the aid station table stuffing my face with cantaloupe and potato chips while they refilled all my stuff.  It felt like a break from thinking to just put it in their very capable hands.  

Byron crewing me!

So, I’m running, it’s getting hot, Kevin’s turned around and Greg’s up ahead of me.  I am running with the two Canadians and starting to struggle a little bit.  After the Pringle aid station there was a 5 mile stretch that was really hot.  The direction we were running provided zero wind and it was right next to the highway which was annoying.  The right side of my face and arm were getting slammed by the sun and I was wanting to take some walk breaks.  I started cramping in my calves at mile 16.  

My calves and cramping.  This is nothing new for me.  I have dealt with this since I started running and so I know what to do and how to handle it.  However, I have never had it this bad.  EVER.  It was all I could do to stay one step ahead of the cramping from mile 16 to 50.  More on this later.

During this 5 mile stretch I start to see the 50 milers come back towards me so I know my turn must be soon.  I get to see Greg and talk with him for a second, he looks great and strong.  Always the competitor, I count the number of women ahead of me.  I count 4 women and I make the turn at the same time as another girl, Maggie.  So Maggie and I are 5th and 6th.  Knowing I could be top 5 women is a big source of motivation for me and I carry that motivation to the end of the race.  I LOVE out and backs because I get to cheer for and see other runners.  I love trail runners and ultra runners so much.  They are everything that I love about humanity and the sport of running.  They are the most encouraging, unselfish, caring group of people.  I was so excited to see people and I was cheering so much that I got short of breath and got a side stitch.  This made me laugh out loud. 

I’m really excited at this point.  I made the turn around!!! Woohoo!!! I just ran 20 miles like it was a walk in the park.  Exactly what it should feel like for a 50 miler.  My running stride is feeling really good and I’ve dropped my pace down to about a 10:30.  The terrain is climbing a bit and I add in some decent walk breaks here.  I’m always keeping an eye on my over-all pace because deep down I want to break 11 hours.  At this point, I could almost break 10 so I’m thinking I’m doing great.  If only I understood what was coming...

Get back to Pringle for the second time and my spirits are high thinking I had just run a marathon and I get to see Byron and Erin.  Only 8 miles to go to get back to Argyle and make the turn off the trail and onto Agryle road.  This turn marked the last part of the race and in my head, the turning point of the race.  I knew if I got to the road in good shape, I would be fine.

Coming into Pringle the second time

The next 4 miles my spirit falls out of me.  I can’t stop my legs from cramping, it’s slightly uphill and I’m getting overwhelmed.  I’ve been by myself since the turn around at mile 21 and I realized I’m going to be by myself until the end of the race.  I’m still having some stomach issues and struggling to get myself to eat.  These were a long 4 miles for me.

I finally get to the Lime Kiln “Key Lime” aid station and I talk to the women running it.  I said I’m really having a tough, tough time controlling the cramping in my calves.  I can barely run sometimes and I am taking in a ton of salt. They asked where I was from and then said “Well, you’re really used to the heat but not this dry heat.  See how dry your clothes are? The dryness whisks all the moisture away from your body and doesn’t retain any of it.  You have to just keep taking salt and more salt.”   These ladies changed my race for me.  I had been thinking all of those things.  It was hot, but I’m from Texas and I’ve been doing Bikram yoga all summer.  It wasn’t really the heat that was bothering me and I realized it was dry but it took having these women logically tell me out-loud what was happening to help me not freak out.  So...I kept popping salt pills trying to stay one step ahead of the cramping.

The awesome aid station volunteers that pulled me out of my cramping funk!

4 more miles to Argyle and I’m starting to feel better.  I see Erin and I’m finally full of smiles.  I felt so good being able to smile for her, all the other times I had seen her I was so serious and quiet because I was overwhelmed with the prospect of running 50 miles.  At Argyle I only had 16 miles left.  I was so excited to turn onto new terrain and start the final trek to the finish.  I hung out for just a bit at the aid station, dropped my pack and switched to two water bottles.  I had water in one and the perpeteum/heed mix in the other.  I thought I would try it again. (Silly, silly Michelle.)  She asked if I wanted to know what I was in for on this road because she had just driven it.  I told her I had heard it was really hilly but I love hills and my legs would welcome the change of muscle use.  She’s walking with me and we see a HUGE hill.  I get excited because it’s exactly what I want.  I turned around towards her, throw my hands up in the air and yell, “ONLY 16 MILES!!!!!!!”  She smiles and yells it back to me.  I was so incredibly happy and proud of myself.  There were never any thoughts of quitting at anytime during the day but know I really knew I was going to do it, I was going to run 50 miles.

All summer I had practiced power walking long hills and running hard down so I was thinking I am good to go on this.  However, here is the part of the story when I realize, although a smart, strong, experienced runner I still have many, many things to learn.  I came to this race with the intention of experiencing my lowest of lows and learning how to bounce back from it.  I wanted to hurt, I wanted it to be really, really, really hard.  It was.

Part Two: Argyle Road to the Finish.  Miles 33 to 50.  The longest 16 miles of my life.

Let’s see.  Argyle road is 11 miles long.  It is not paved, it’s a dirt, pebbly road.  There is ZERO shade anywhere.  There are lots of cows and a lot of hills.  My calves and shins are cramping.  My stomach hurts.  I think I have to go to the bathroom, this is not going to wait.  I keep looking for A tree.  Just ONE freaking tree.  It’s miles before I can find A tree.  Really?!?! I’m not looking for a forest or even a tree to hide behind.  There’s no one out here, I’m totally over having privacy.  If I’m going to stop though I want some damn shade!  Finally, I see a tree and decide to use it.  I carry Wet Ones with me and I’ve never had to use it in a race before, I’m so thankful I have them because I really didn’t want to lose a sock. Haha!  Ok, feeling much better now and not 30 seconds after I get back on the road I see my little green Honda Element come towards me.  Yay!!! The Best Crew Ever is here!!! They play me some Britney and refill my water bottle and tell me about Kevin and Greg.  They tell me Kevin had a really hard time on this road and even almost dropped but rallied and finished 3rd overall Male in the 50k! I’m so proud of him for not giving up and a little consoled that he struggled on this road too. Then they tell me that they are going to find Troy and won’t see me until the end.  Ugh, my heart drops but I know I can’t be so selfish.  There are 3 other runners out there that need them just as much as I do.  I tell them I’m fine, I’ve got this, and off they go. 

This isn't from Argyle Road...it was on the Mickelson Trail but you get the idea.  ONE tree and lots of SUN.

The next 3 miles are a mix of running and walking and constant cramping.  I just can’t stop cramping.  My calves cramp going uphill, my calves cramp going downhill, my calves cramp walking flat road.  It just won’t stop.  It’s so very hot (later found out it was 102) and although I’m not bothered by the heat like I am in Texas I am really bothered by the intense sun.  I just need some shade, that sun is burning my skin.  The sunscreen that was on my arms bubbled and I had hundreds of tiny bubbles all over my skin.  A guy that I had passed before the Argyle aid station caught up with me and we ended up leap frogging for the rest of the race.  We never ran (or walked) together, just kept leap frogging.  After the race he told me, “That little shit, I just can’t drop her!” That made me laugh so hard.  It really helped having him out there on the road with me.  If I saw him running I would think, “Come on Michelle, if he can run, you can run. RUN. PICK UP YOUR DAMN FEET.

Finally the aid station, 6 miles into Argyle.  The woman tells me the next aid is 5.5 miles away.  Great, I think, I can do that.  I conserve my bottles, drink 3 glasses of Poweraide and 2 glasses of coke and I’m out of there.  This time I fill my bottle with Poweraide instead of the Perpeteum/Heed.  This did the trick.  No stomach issues and I finally got the cramping under control.  *Note to self. Try new things earlier!!! I didn’t really cramp for the next 4 miles.  I’m really tired though so my run is very slow and my walk is even slower.   I start thinking about the amount of water in my bottles and that I have 1.5 miles until I can refill them.  Well, 1.5 miles comes and goes and there’s no aid station.  We turn off the road and onto a grass trail and I think it must be wrong.  Where’s the aid station?!?  I’m walking now just watching my over-all average pace get slower and slower.  I’m so incredibly thirsty.  I kept thinking about my Bikram teachers and how they say as long as you hydrated before you got here it’s all in your head.  The water just makes your mind and mouth feel better.  I try to tell myself that but it’s so hot and the road is so dry and dusty and I just need WATER.  

My typical self-shot from the trail.  

Looking back on this, what I really needed was more calories.  I didn’t take in enough during this stretch because I wasn’t thinking but also because I didn’t have enough fluid to wash down the GU.

I finally get to the aid station over 6.5 miles later and just burst into tears.  I tell the very nice aid station girl who was all by herself (thank you volunteers!!!) “I’m sorry, I’m just feeling really emotional because I’m so thirsty.  Can you please help me.”  Guess what? She’s out of Poweraide and Coke.  My two favorite things.  Kill me. For the first time all day I sit down. I sit down and cry and watch my over-all pace go from being able to break 11 hours to not being able to.  I only have 4.1 miles to go and I am at the lowest point I’ve ever been in any run.  I consciously tell myself that’s why I’m here.  I am here by choice.  I wanted to experience this low and I want to rally.  During Jemez this summer and Chattanooga this summer I never felt this, I had really good strong races this summer.  That’s why I signed up for the 50.  I needed a harder challenge.  This pep talk gets my ass up and on the road for the last big hill.  

My walk is SO slow.  I tell myself these 4 miles are going to take me 2 hours if I don’t run.  My run is a very slow 13 - 14 min per mile shuffle but it’s getting the job done.  We’re in town now on paved road and I’m shuffling.  (and yes, I’m thinking about the song while I’m running and giggling)

A mile from the finish about to make a pass (roadkill) :)

Looking at the DQ sign and shuffling

I’m about 1.5 from the end and I turn around to see if any girl is going to catch me.  I had passed a girl on the trail before Argyle so I knew I was 4th female.  What do you know...there’s Maggie.  I see her and can’t believe that I have held her off for 27.5 miles and she’s going to pass me in the last freaking mile.  No way.  I’m so thankful for her and her strength because it kept me moving.  At the waterfall, 1 mile from the finish, there are Byron and Erin.  Oh, here come the tears again.  They stayed in the car, moving slowly, just ahead of me.  Them being there kept me running.  I turn the corner and see the Dairy Queen sign.  It’s official, tears are now streaming down my face.  The race description had said, when you see the DQ it’s time for your finishing kick.  I run it in to the finish, throw my hands in the air and my calf immediately cramps.  Haha, so stock.  

Cramping and Finishing

Greg is there as well as Byron and Erin.  They tell me I’m 15th overall and hand me a 1st place Age Group award.  My heart feels remarkably calm and the tears stop.  I’m so glad Greg is there.  It’s such a wonderful thing to have someone else that knows and understands exactly what you just went through.  Maggie finishes about 5 minutes after me and tell me she would see me running and think, “Go girl!! Way to run those downhills!!”  So sweet, I’m sure her unspoken encouragement helped keep me going. 

Team First 50: Team 1st Place AG

 This experience was everything and more that I hoped it would be.  I thought going into it that I would be able to find a pace and as tired as I would be I could hold it.  In every race and stage race I’ve done this has been the case.  No matter how tired I was, I could find a running pace and I could keep it.  This was not the case today and it was a really good lesson to learn.  I don’t feel sad or bad at all about not breaking 11 hours.  I had it for 46.9 miles but I went to Lean Horse to learn more about myself and what I was capable of.  I didn’t go to Lean Horse to break 11 hours.

What’s next?!? : )

Official time: 11:14:26, 1st AG 30-39, 4th Overall female, 15th Overall 

Thanks to Erin for the majority of the pictures!

10 Years 10 Memories

This past June marked my 10 year anniversary of training and racing.  10 years ago I was 21 years old, bartending, a full time student, and already sick of the college bad habits lifestyle.  I ran 2-3 miles a few times a week throughout college but that spring had ran for 60 minutes without stopping.  It was one of the proudest moments of my life!  I didn’t know anyone that ran and I couldn’t believe I had just ran for a whole hour.  I thought if I can run for an hour, I can run for 2 hours and 3 hours and 4 hours! For me that first hour was the hardest one.  So in June of 2001 I signed up for my first race, the White Rock Marathon and started training. 

10.  Enjoyed every step of that first marathon.  I had friends and family scattered all along the course, it was a perfect weather day and I felt amazing.  Not concerned with time, I hugged my family when I saw them and soaked in the experience.  I finished in 4:34.

Finishing White Rock in 2001

9.  Running and my family.  I ran 3 races getting ready for White Rock.  My dad came to my first one, a 10k, and ran it with me.  He biked alongside me during my first and only 20 miler of that training.  He ran miles 20-23 with me during the marathon and my parents have rarely missed a marathon or triathlon in the last 10 years.

8.  Lake Tahoe Marathon in October, 2002.  My first real running “low.”  I was so tired and cramping and had to walk some at the end.  I crossed the finish line and immediately burst into crying, shaking tears.  They only lasted 30 seconds and then I was fine.  It was my first experience with “It’s over. I can stop.”

7.  Spending the next 7 years on and off with triathlons, taking big breaks after a race and getting out of shape and going through the pain of having to get back into shape.  3 years ago I promised myself I would never get that out of shape again.

6.  Rockledge Rumble 15k in November 2007 was my first trail race.  I was new to the area and didn’t know many people.  I forgot socks and rushed home to get them.  I had been sick all week and was only moderately better.  I got caught in a fast group on the singletrack and bonked by the 4.5 mile turnaround.  I WAS HOOKED.

5.  Chattanooga 3 day stage race.  June 2011.  3 days of running on trails in the Smoky Mountains on a new mountain each day? With my RAW friends? Enough said.  This was a great trip because of the people I shared it with.

4.  Discovering my passion in running is in the mountains on a trail.  TransRockies RUN3 Stage Race and Jemez Mountain 50k are my two most treasured races.  I ran them both with Beth Hyland and pushed my body to new limits in each of them.  I envision the next 10 years an adventure of finding new trails and exploring new distances.

3.  Trying to get fast.  After running the same comfortable pace from 2001 to 2009 I made the mistake of joining RAW and getting sucked into wanting to get faster.  I was so happy being slow! Just kidding, it’s been an incredible journey and I’ve already far surpassed any speed times I had ever imagined.  I’m not intimidated by distance but I am very scared of speed.  It’s been the best thing for me to face that fear and learn from each quality workout and race.

2.  Sharing all my good and bad training and racing with my husband, Evan.  A few examples: the good, he was at marathon number one, White Rock in 2001.  I’ll never forget how much I looked forward to mile 18 so I could see him. The bad, he was at mile 16 of my DNF in Houston in 2011.  He let me be sad while saying all the right things so I wouldn’t get discouraged about my favorite pastime. 

Hiking in Colorado this summer

1.  Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers changed my life.  Be careful newbies... : )

Rock Creek Stage Race Part 1

Rock Creek is a store similar to REI that puts on races in the Chattanooga area to benefit Wild Trails, an organization that supports and protects the trails in the area.  This was a 3 day stage race taking place on June 17-19 on Raccoon Mountain, Signal Mountain, and Lookout Mountain.  Troy had originally found this race and mentioned he "might" be "thinking" about it.  Well, having had such an awesome time at TransRockies last August, I'm hooked on stage races and at $90 for all three days combined, signed up immediately.   Between me pumping this up and the awesome video they have on the race website, next thing I knew there were 12 of us going. 

The backyard of the house we rented in Soddy-Daisy, just north of Chattanooga.

It was awesome to have so many friends at this 3 day race.  We over-analyzed each day's elevation and terrain and aid stations and anything we could possibly think of.  Seeing each other on the trail and seeing Fiona at the aid stations made it so special.  We'd hang out drinking beer and eating pasta and cookies for hours by our cars after running.  The wonderful race directors learned our names and on the second day even went and bought more beer!! (I cannot express enough how great of an event this is because of the race directors and volunteers!)

There were raffles everyday and a bunch of us walked away with prizes valued at greater than our race fee.  I won a pair of shoes (very appropriate since I forgot mine on day 2.)  Troy won over $300 in gear between raffles and Master's prizes.  It's truly a great event.

A few general observations from the weekend:

1.  When they say "flat...for Eastern Tennessee" what they actually mean is rolling hills and no flat parts.

2.  When they say "technical terrain" they mean rocks.  Rocks and rocks and rocks and more rocks and then more rocks.  Miles of un-runnable terrain because of huge, giant, slippery rocks. 

3.  If the directions say "Turn Left," you will be presented with 7 different intersections, none of which is the one you need.

4.  If the directions say "continue on" they mean turn left.

5.  If you forget your shoes the world's greatest race volunteer will lend you hers.

6.  If you decide to have a BBQ at the house you rented it will hail.

7.  If you have been subjected to 24 Styx's songs in a row, you are with Kevin Wessels and Rick Sanford.  Jump out of the car, it only gets worse....YES will be next. 

8.  If you fall 3 miles from the end and get a charlie horse in your calf, Michelle Liles will tilt her head back, cackle, and yell, "Now's my chance!!!"  You're then on your own. 

9.  If you wake up at 5:00 a.m. and the humidity is already 91% you should start taking salt tablets immediately. 

10.  New trails plus great friends plus a well organized event equals a kick ass weekend of running!!!

More detail on each day soon!

The whole gang before the start on day 3.
From left: Jon, Kevin, Gretchen,  Rick, Fiona, Greg, Brad, Dat, Michelle, Me-Michelle, Staci, Troy

Memorial Weekend

I never post about anything non-running but I just happened to spend most of memorial weekend with my running friends! Friday night the trackies went to the Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan to watch the 1st Friday fireworks put on by the city of Grapevine and dance to The Spazmatics.  We had a great time and it was fun to see everyone all dressed up instead of all sweaty. : )

Nick, Colleen, Emily, Tammy, Beth, Me, Erin, Kat, Tom, Laura, Monica

Cut off Nick : ), Colleen, Emily, Tammy, Me, Erin, Kat, Tom, Laura, Monica

Saturday I met the B&B crew for a trail run at MADD on the Northshore.  I hadn't planned to go 12 miles because I had already run trails twice during the week and I'm supposed to be recovering.  I felt really good at the end though so it was fun.  Normally B&B stands for Beer and Bagels but this time it stood for Bloody Mary's and Bacon!  We went to Little Pete's afterward and enjoy the shaded breeze on the lake.  Love these runners!!!

Libby, Fiona, Corina, Erik, Michelle, Stacy, Gretchen, Me

So disgustingly sweaty and gross...but I had fun. Haha.

Sunday I met the Chattanooga crew at the MADD shelter once again for a few miles.  This was their maxed out weekend before they start to back off the mileage for Chattanooga.  They were running Saturday, Sunday, and Monday out at Northshore with their hardest day being Sunday.  They did two loops of MADD to Far Gate.  I hung with them for one (9 miles) and it felt like 20.  I realized I was pushing my luck running three trail days in a row so soon after Jemez.  Came home and slept for 2.5 hours before going to Nick and Colleen's (fellow trackies) pool party!  Those two always put on a great party!  We had many things to celebrate because they're getting married in a few weeks, Troy's leaving for the summer and Beth is moving to Ft Collins.  Obviously we didn't "celebrate" Beth and Troy leaving, we'll miss them!!! But any excuse for a party! :)

Ginny, Me, Nick's butt

Today I haven't left the house once.  Just relaxing with my favorite man at home and watching marathons of "My So Called Life" and "Two and a Half Men."  Back to full time work tomorrow, summer vacation's over! :(

A Few More Jemez Pictures

A few pictures the Jemez photographers took! I love the individual ones from the top of Caballo Mountain.  Not a hot and humid day has gone by that I haven't wished I was back on that mountain.  The three pics from the top of Caballo of courtesy of Rachel Granzow and the one of me and Beth coming up to Pipeline aid station is from Dave Dogruel.  Thanks for the pictures!

Me at the top of Caballo 

Coming up to Pipeline Aid Station at mile 22.

Beth on the top of Caballo

Troy on the top of Caballo

Jemez Trail Ultra

To live is the rarest thing in the world.  Most people exist, that is all.  ~Oscar Wilde

My beer cap the night before the race.

I'm so overwhelmed with emotions from this race, I don't know where to begin.  I traveled to Los Alamos, New Mexico with Troy and Beth.  We left at 5:30 on Friday morning.  We were all really focused on our hydration and eating so we had quite a few stops but the drive was easy and went by fast.  I have done the drive to Santa Fe a number of times with Evan so it was familiar and brought back fun memories.  We met Alan and Helene at the hotel and went to packet pick-up.  

One thing that made this race awesome is the people!!!  First person I saw was Steve from Dailymile.  He recognized me immediately and was so awesome.  His wife is from Ft Worth and they now live in Los Alamos.  He had posted a ton of pictures from when they marked the course so I had in my mind what to expect.  He and his wife were also manning the "Last Chance" aid station.  (Where I had a bite of pumpkin pie!)

Lots of fun sponsors were there like Nuun and Montrail (two products I love) and I bought last year's race shirt also.  This is the only frustrating thing about races (not just this race, it's always unpredictable)...what the heck size shirt do you need? Beth and I needed XS sizes in last years shirt but Large in this years shirt! Unfortunately, I had asked for Medium and it doesn't fit me at all.  I forgot to bring it after the race to exchange.  Thinking I might email them because it's a great shirt with a map of the elevation on the back.

Helene and Alan Walker, Beth Hyland, Troy Pruett, Me
(Helene's photo, thanks!)

Spaghetti dinner...saw David Hanenburg and David Pearson from Dallas.  We saw them twice on the trail too!! Also ran into friends that we met at Cross Timbers trail race this year.  Mustache Man (Dave) and his Amarillo friends (Erik and Seth)!  We ran with Erik for awhile on the third major climbing section and he was super supportive and optimistic.  The food was great and we filled up on noodles and cookies.  Took a drive to the race start and then a stop at the grocery store for some bagels and beer. (of course!)

After a very long day it was finally time for bed.  4:30 wake up call, 6:30 race start.  I had a tough time actually falling asleep, I felt like my heart was beating really fast and I was stressing about the altitude.  Focused on deep breaths and once I was asleep I didn't wake up a single time until 4:05.   Got at least 7 uninterrupted hours of sleep, I was more than pleased with that.  

I had eaten a bagel with almond butter right before bed and I ate the same thing when I woke up.  Also had some coconut water and coffee in the morning.  I felt like a whale but my stomach had settled perfectly and I was confident in my nutrition to start the race. 

With Brenda before the start

Ok...finally the race.  It was in the low 40's at the start with expected high's in the low 70's.  PERFECT.  I wore short sleeves and gloves.  I kept the gloves on until my drop bag at mile 19.2.  Beth and I met Dailymile friends Brenda and Ellen right before the start and then we were off! The first mile is on the road and we took it nice and slow.  It's 4 miles until the first aid station and the first major climb.  This first climb to Guaje Ridge is what the half marathoners do.  Beth and I got separated at the first aid station because I pulled off the trail to get my poles ready and take a GU.  I was really, really focused on running my own race and at this point I was really struggling with the altitude.  It became very apparent that this race was not about having a time goal or even focusing on the mileage.  I only focused on 5 things:

1.  Never stop moving forward, ever.

2.  Big lungs, big, steady breathing.

3.  Drink and drink some more.

4.  Eat and salt, eat and salt. 

5.  Smile

Beth hung with a big group of folks from Ft Collins and she quickly got 5-10 minutes ahead of me.  It was never a plan to run together and I knew that I could not hold that pace for 33 miles.  I found myself with some fellow flat-landers, they were from Phoenix and we learned about the fire in 2000 from a local that was in our pack.

The fire in 2000 was a controlled fire by the fire department that got out of hand. 

So from the start to the first aid station was 4.2 miles: 721 ft elevation gain, 555 ft elevation lost.

From the first aid station to the top of Guaje Ridge was 2.2 miles, 1,540 ft elevation gain, 170 ft elevation lost.

Top of Guaje Ridge (Helene's Photo)

The next part of the trail was beautiful.  It was marshy, really green, and we had a lot of creek crossings which makes me smile.  Just back and forth over the same creek.  Then we came up on the ladder! What? Love stuff like that.  I was moving really slow at this point.  I was a little frustrated because it didn't seem like we were climbing that much but I knew I was probably around 8,000 ft and so just kept focusing on #2...breathing.  Turns out we did gain 835 ft in this part.  From then on I just always assumed I was running up or I was running down.  There were ZERO flat sections.

Top of Guaje Ridge down...1,050 ft elevation lost.  To Caballo Base 835 ft elevation gain.

The ladder!

Almost my turn to climb the ladder.  It was kinda tough with poles. :)

Aid Station #2! Caballo Base and the biggest climb of the day.  It is 2 miles to the top of Caballo Mountain and we gained 1,771 ft of elevation in those two miles.  It was so steep.  17.2% grade...your treadmill won't even go that high.  I'm in really good spirits though because this is why I'm here! I love climbing mountains!! I get in a groove and I think a lot about my brother and I channel his climbing strength.  He is a hiking beast and just last year we had taken a trip to New Mexico to climb Mt. Wheeler.  Beth, Dad, and myself had left our heavy packs at our camp to summit...Mitchell put his on for the training to get stronger.  Seriously, the boy can climb.  I though about how he would approach it and just went hard, took a quick break, went hard, took a break, and slowly made my way up.  All of a sudden I see Troy flying toward me!  Troy in his crazy tye-dye shorts!!  We stopped and talked for a bit and it was really motivating to see him.  I continue on with my hard, rest plan.  Then on a switch back I see a bright pink top! It's Beth! I yell, "Beth!!! I can see you!!!" I thought she was way ahead of me and was probably about to be on her way down the mountain.  

Turns out she was in a pretty bad way at this point.  We talked and she explained what was going on with her stomach and fatigue and I got pretty worried.  I had never seen her like this and I was starting to think she would need a medic and might not be able to finish.  We just kept talking though and inching our way up the mountain.  I cannot explain to you the joy I felt when we reached the top.  I even got sad thinking this was already our last huge summit and there wouldn't be any more. (I know, I'm crazy.)  I was running with such childlike happiness and we were taking pictures and we saw Brenda at the top.  Just awesome.

I was also so excited because being at the top meant we got to turn around and run down.  My absolute favorite part of mountain trail running.  Things are going well for awhile and I'm passing people until my first big wipe-out of the day.  My left leg ended up underneath me as my torso kept moving forward.  I felt a little knee tweak but did a full body check and knew I was fine.  It slowed me up a little though and I was more cautious the rest of the way down.  Unlike running down Hope's Pass in Colorado, this terrain was steeper with sand and gravel that made slipping very real. 

Back at the Caballo Base aid station, Beth and I refill our packs with water and keep focused on #1...always moving forward.  I had a mental picture of what the elevation was like but somehow I forgot that IMMEDIATELY after Caballo Moutain was the 3rd biggest climb of the day.  And hence, my first real low point.  We just kept climbing and climbing and climbing and I was getting pissed and tired and so I kept eating and drinking and we were still climbing and I had no idea when it would end because there was no summit in my head that I knew we would reach.  Beth was starting to feel a lot better which was a huge relief and I was starting to think we might be together for awhile which would be awesome.  We're with Erik from Amarillo at this point and he is the voice of reason for us.  He's done it twice before and tells us when it will end and that we're doing awesome.  He was so positive and nice and it really helped me to focus on being strong.  Once the major climb was over there was a great stretch of open trail with a slight downhill and I was able to get into a running groove.  I yelled to Erik, "Look! I'm running!!" Haha, it felt amazing to actually run.

Caballo Base to Pipeline:  2.8 miles 1,169 ft elevation gain, 222 ft elevation lost.

Pipeline aid station was a full aid station with tons of goodies.  The volunteers for this race are just ridiculously amazing.  There were so many of them and they all were attentive to whatever you needed.  I was really feeling oranges and gold fish crackers for some reason.  Not my normal food.  I was in high spirits again, having conquered that third climb and found my running legs.  My breathing was really figuring out the altitude and it was starting to take second stage to eating and drinking and enjoying my day in the mountains.  Our next check point is now getting to Ski Lodge where our drop bags are.  This is the second and last out-and-back part of the race so I was hoping we would see Troy again.  Knowing that there are zero flat sections of this race I figured that if the people coming towards me were running then that meant it was downhill for them and uphill for me.  Down to Ski Lodge was mostly a gentle downhill though so I picked up some speed and enjoyed saying hi to everyone we passed.  We saw Troy and the first thing out of his mouth was, "I'M SO SORRY!!!" Hahahaha!! This race was his idea and he was so sorry that he had told us to come out here with him.  I told him he was crazy and that I was having the time of my life.  Although, Beth and I did feel some relief to know that he was struggling out there too.

Pipeline to Ski Lodge:  2.9 miles (total mileage at this point 19.2), 293 ft elevation gain, 629 ft elevation lost.

Running into the Pajarito Ski Lodge I almost started crying because there were so many people there cheering.  They were cheering for you like you had already finished the dang thing.  It always bugs me at road races when you run by spectators who just stare at you and don't cheer because you're not the runner they are there to cheer for.  Beth and I make a pit stop at the real bathrooms and I washed all the salt and dirt off my face.  We get our drop bags and sit our butts down and enjoy the moment.  There was a runner there who drank two beers and then went back out to finish! 14 miles left to run and the guy drinks 2 beers.  (We did pass him and beat him...there's no way we were going to let him beat us.) :D

Back up to Pipeline (629 ft gain) was a little bit more of a struggle so I started to really get inside my head.  I was really focused on moving forward and running.  Even if my run felt like a walk, I knew it was faster than a walk and I had to just keep moving.  Beth and I had a heart to heart about how we were feeling and what we needed and used our energy to get up to Pipeline.  There was never a moment in this race that I was really sad or low or had negative thoughts.  I felt very strong the whole way.  Sometimes my strength resulted in a very slow 13 minute mile run and sometimes it was a 23 minute per mile hike up a 22% grade.  Having Beth behind me kept me constantly motivated and optimistic.  I was having an adventure in the woods with a great friend, there were times when I didn't want it to end.  This race never ended up being about the mileage, it was just a great day of never-ending challenging moments.

Back up to Pipeline Aid Station:  2.9 miles, 629 ft elevation gain, 293 ft elevation lost.

Just after Pipeline Aid the second time before the hill. 

Our last climb (so very naive)...the volunteers said it was just around the corner.  I get my camera out because what is before us is a HUGE hill.  Looking at it though we knew it was going to be our easiest climb of the day.  Amazing how quickly our perspective of a hill changed.  Still scooting along and then we hit another one just like it.  We're on jeep roads at this point and I'm not really feeling it.  I tell Beth, "I could really use a second wind, I'm starting to fall."  Within 3 minutes of saying that, we reach the top and are greeted with a beautiful sight.  Singletrack in the woods.  "This will help."  And it did.  We're running downhill and jumping over fallen trees and I'm feeling back to normal. My quads are completely thrashed and I'm starting to really get a headache but I'm loving the terrain.

Pajarito Ski Lodge in the background

Pipeline to Guaje Ridge 3.7 miles: 316 ft elevation gain, 1,048 ft elevation lost.

We had been warned by our Amarillo friends that when we got to the Guaje Ridge aid station to drink as much as we could and fill our bags to the top.  One of the volunteers gave me his personal stash of Advil for my headache and we ate a bowl full of Cheez-It's.  We knew we had a lot of downhill ahead of us and it was wide open in the section really impacted by the fire.  It's all dirt and dust and rocks and dead trees and it's the longest section without an aid station, 5.3 miles.  Talking with friends afterwards, they really hated this part and had a hard time staying motivated.  Because Beth and I were together though we kept talking and talking and just making our way down.  We passed a lot of people in this part.  I took my second and last fall here.  I've been using trekking poles the whole time which I love but as I get tired they become a bit of a liability.  I knew this from TransRockies though so I tried to be careful.  Wasn't quite careful enough, I slipped and my arm and pole went way behind the rest of my body, oops. With about 2 miles to go to the next and last aid station we bottomed out a little and it reminded me of my favorite part of Palo Duro.  This is weird but the chant that kept going in my head was, "You're a good little runner Michelle.  Keep running.  You're a good runner, run Michelle."  I focused on my pole plants and got that rhythm in my head.  I actually ran up some of the speed-bump hills in this part because I was so focused on running. 

Guaje Ridge to Rendija Canyon:  5.3 miles (total mileage 31.0), 36 ft elevation gain, 1,792 ft elevation lost.

Last aid station!!!! 1.9 miles to go!!! Steve and his wife were there and took our picture and I had some pumpkin pie and then they told us to get out of there. So we're climbing again and walking and then running and then we see the pedestrian tunnel that we had entered at the very beginning.  Two fast 50 milers pass us and I tell Beth I'm motivated to pick up the pace.  We have a mile left and I say, "We can run a mile."  She says, "It's cool if we crawl or walk too." Haha, I totally agreed and thought I should have said, "We can do a mile."  We get another 1/2 mile down and I say, "Two laps around the track!!" I get back, "Michelle, I don't normally run 32.5 miles before my track workout." See, we're having so much fun!!  We are beyond miserable and tired but we're a little sad the day is about to end. 

Last Aid Station! Dailymiler Steve and his wife. Thanks for the treats! (Helene's photo)

Tunnel...about a mile left. (Helene's photo)

Then we enter what is every trail race director's idea of a funny joke.  A hand over hand climb up to the finish.  I just ran as hard as my legs could run after having ran more than 32 miles and then I had to climb these rocks.  My spirit took a drastic dive south and I heard people cheering my name and couldn't even look up or smile....I was in shock, where was that damn finish line?!?

Rendija Canyon to Finish: 1.9 miles (total distance 32.9), 426 ft elevation gain, 206 ft elevation lost.

Beth and I cross the line together and she said, "What do we do now?" We had just spend 9 hours and 38 minutes with only one thought....move forward, never stop moving forward.  And then it was over.  I walked to a shaded tree and laid down and tried not to cry.  She went and got our bags.  

Spent two hours drinking beer and eating delicious green chile enchiladas and visiting with Dallas friends, Mike and Melissa, and getting to see Dailymile friend Amy finish the 50 mile.  We've never met in person and she's just ran for 12 hours and 21 minutes.  As she's about to cross the finish line I realize it's her and point and yell, "AMY!!" She looks at me, smiles and says, "MICHELLE!"  Can you imagine running for 12:21 and seeing someone you've only ever seen a thumbnail picture of and recognize them?? Amazing.  She was 5th overall female and my hero. 

Met Alan and Helene for dinner and shared stories of our day.  They had ran the half marathon and had an awesome time.  We (the 50k'ers) all agreed it was the hardest thing we'd ever done.  After that 3rd climb at mile 15 Beth and I said it was already harder than all 3 days of TransRockies combined. 

Post race dinner (Helene's photo)

There isn't a single thing that I would change about this race.  I'm so proud of myself I can't hardly stand it. :D  I think my nutrition leading up to the race was great and my nutrition during the race was great.  I listened to my body and pushed as hard as I could the whole time while correctly pacing myself.   I hope it comes across that I just loved being out there and sharing it with friends and strangers.  I have a 3 day stage race (20 miles each day) in Chattanooga in 4 weeks.  Should be just enough time to recover and taper! 

Finishers award