My watch struck 3.1 miles as I looked down at my watch. This might be the fastest 5k I’ve done in years, I thought to myself. I had been running right behind Taylor up to this point. I’m not sure that I’ve ever started an ultra out quite this fast before. Well, except for New River 50k. And that was not a good idea for that race.
This race was different. It was overcast, cold and rainy—my ideal running weather. I tried as hard as I could do keep the pace for the entire pace, pushing myself to run a little outside of my comfort zone. Having just gotten a very long-overdue new contact lens perception a week ago and my brand new pair of Salomon Wings, I was able to bomb down the technical downhills like I never had before. (Yes they were brand new, my first time wearing them was that day! I buttered up my feet beforehand with vaseline and my feet felt perfect the whole race).
I caught up to a runner around mile 12. “Do you know when the first aid station is?” I asked. “Is was back there a few miles back where that forrest ranger was with the coolers.” I started freaking out. How could I have ran right passed it? I started running even faster—knowing that I was running low on water and that I needed to get to the next aid station quick. About 3 minutes later I saw Leif, Lynnie, and Darren. “WATER!” I yelled. Luckily, Leif was carrying a water bottle with him and he poured it into my pack. I’m so lucky and happy that I saw them when I did. I got lucky! I later found out that I didn’t actually miss the first aid station and that the first aid station hadn’t arrived to set up by the time I passed through.
This race was different. It was overcast, cold and rainy—my ideal running weather. I tried as hard as I could do keep the pace for the entire pace, pushing myself to run a little outside of my comfort zone. Having just gotten a very long-overdue new contact lens perception a week ago and my brand new pair of Salomon Wings, I was able to bomb down the technical downhills like I never had before. (Yes they were brand new, my first time wearing them was that day! I buttered up my feet beforehand with vaseline and my feet felt perfect the whole race).
I caught up to a runner around mile 12. “Do you know when the first aid station is?” I asked. “Is was back there a few miles back where that forrest ranger was with the coolers.” I started freaking out. How could I have ran right passed it? I started running even faster—knowing that I was running low on water and that I needed to get to the next aid station quick. About 3 minutes later I saw Leif, Lynnie, and Darren. “WATER!” I yelled. Luckily, Leif was carrying a water bottle with him and he poured it into my pack. I’m so lucky and happy that I saw them when I did. I got lucky! I later found out that I didn’t actually miss the first aid station and that the first aid station hadn’t arrived to set up by the time I passed through.
My legs felt good. I loved the weather and the way the overcast fog set into the trails around me making the boulder fields and trees look so mysterious and humble. I let my feet take me. Soon enough I got to a long road climb. I ran as much of it as I could, hiking strong when I had to. After the aid station at the turnaround, I ran in the grass alongside the paved road to protect my knees and quads.
It started to get hotter in the day. I wanted to take off my half-zip but my pace felt too good to stop. I pushed up the big climb to the last aid station. My legs felt strong from GDR. The out and back section ended at the last aid station and I was out on a new trail section for the last few miles. I turned the corner and saw Darren, Leif, and Lynnie all standing there. At this point I had thought that I still had like 3 miles left. “A mile-and-a-half to go!!” they yelled. “A mile-and-half??” I screamed. “OH, LET’S GOOOO!!” I ran that last mile-and-a-half loop with everything I had left! Shortly later I sprinted across the finish line and ran full speed into Darren’s arm’s—almost knocking him down. I felt so good about my race. I felt like I had improved a lot and finished 4th female! I was impressed and proud of myself for placing top 5. My hard work and training paid off, this was my best race yet!
It started to get hotter in the day. I wanted to take off my half-zip but my pace felt too good to stop. I pushed up the big climb to the last aid station. My legs felt strong from GDR. The out and back section ended at the last aid station and I was out on a new trail section for the last few miles. I turned the corner and saw Darren, Leif, and Lynnie all standing there. At this point I had thought that I still had like 3 miles left. “A mile-and-a-half to go!!” they yelled. “A mile-and-half??” I screamed. “OH, LET’S GOOOO!!” I ran that last mile-and-a-half loop with everything I had left! Shortly later I sprinted across the finish line and ran full speed into Darren’s arm’s—almost knocking him down. I felt so good about my race. I felt like I had improved a lot and finished 4th female! I was impressed and proud of myself for placing top 5. My hard work and training paid off, this was my best race yet!
RESULTS
4th Female
38th Overall
5:40:33
4th Female
38th Overall
5:40:33