tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69760359886502992702024-03-13T12:49:58.648-07:00The Bourassa BlogThe mountains are calling and I must go!Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-8369594175502145872020-01-30T11:40:00.001-08:002020-01-30T19:58:54.789-08:00HURT 2020 and my blog resurfaced!YIKES!!! 17 Ultras since my last blog post...and I have to admit, it is hard to start back up. I mean really where do you start?? Added to the fact that writing does not come natural to me. I way overthink it. I write, I edit, I rewrite. I think you get the picture.<br />
So why do I do it? Simple, I love sharing my running experiences with others as well as all the learnings that come along the way.<br />
So here goes, time to kick it back off. I'm going to start with my most recent frolic in the tropics along with some of the highlights since my last post!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My forever kid<br />
p/c <a href="https://www.jameskaofoto.com/index">James Kao</a></td></tr>
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September 2018 Mark Twain 50 F1-- won a coupon for <a href="https://myspringenergy.com/">Spring Energy </a>(more on this later!)<br />
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October 2018-- Lost my very best friend in the world. The Baz.<br />
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Jan 2019-- HURT 100 F5<br />
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Jan--<a href="https://www.injinji.com/">Joined Team Injinji Toe Socks </a>the humidity of St Louis was trashing my feet... Not anymore!<br />
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Feb-- <a href="https://aravaiparunning.com/network/blackcanyon/">Black Canyon 100k </a>James "Frenchy" proposed to me after the race!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw9fJK_dpC7YH4bhsPqAQYD9hCxHFP-A_j1Yp1SBWl_WhkV0thlyo6Zn-wONlGvDYXb1kdq30cmuIxjbJEUBottW_M64oi5xW0yC9rvWcCTE8KSJ9LM2G8z1XQtX78vti4hv_T17mQw/s1600/BW+%252837%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw9fJK_dpC7YH4bhsPqAQYD9hCxHFP-A_j1Yp1SBWl_WhkV0thlyo6Zn-wONlGvDYXb1kdq30cmuIxjbJEUBottW_M64oi5xW0yC9rvWcCTE8KSJ9LM2G8z1XQtX78vti4hv_T17mQw/s640/BW+%252837%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YES! P/C <a href="http://www.chrissymariephotography.com/">Chrissy Marie</a></td></tr>
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March-- <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/KY/GrandRivers/LandBetweentheLakestrailruns">Land Between Lakes </a>60k F1<br />
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May-- Lakewood Colorado...my new home!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqCIVePuZmSjtJB49f2S7edCJgtN8grRSKwTwm1wMa76_LubTc1TauFlKymSjtcJCOcRI5SDWlvF2ezPWAWYaLS8mx_f9d2v8Rks9wPOlkPtgWmM0XJRB0cqr5OKXbYPZMcVuoliKpA/s1600/2016-09-10+17.44.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1458" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqCIVePuZmSjtJB49f2S7edCJgtN8grRSKwTwm1wMa76_LubTc1TauFlKymSjtcJCOcRI5SDWlvF2ezPWAWYaLS8mx_f9d2v8Rks9wPOlkPtgWmM0XJRB0cqr5OKXbYPZMcVuoliKpA/s400/2016-09-10+17.44.18.jpg" width="400" /></a>June-- <a href="https://ultratrail.it/en/">Lavaredo Ultra Trail </a>120k F16--Highly recommend this race, absolutely beautiful!<br />
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Sept-- <a href="https://www.bearchaserace.com/">The Bear Chase </a>50 mi F1 on my 50th birthday<br />
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Sept— Joined the <a href="http://myspringenergy.com/">Spring</a> Tribe!<br />
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Oct-- Married my best friend<br />
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Dec 7th-- <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/brazos-bend-100">Brazos Bend 100 & USATF National Trail Championship</a> race F2<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQHmSPL8cXQwbH8Sjt9Mcf9IwOfh8Pi2DhhWhNNTX7T8BEvCRh3tk5AbFvQJu8-uyd0rEmNBYE4aj3Wt4AbZGuvn4Ps7SqVLFxk1asDwia0Y2vRfkG3MEzYYqjW5VhBUsT-TD5EM5LQ/s1600/DSC_80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQHmSPL8cXQwbH8Sjt9Mcf9IwOfh8Pi2DhhWhNNTX7T8BEvCRh3tk5AbFvQJu8-uyd0rEmNBYE4aj3Wt4AbZGuvn4Ps7SqVLFxk1asDwia0Y2vRfkG3MEzYYqjW5VhBUsT-TD5EM5LQ/s400/DSC_80.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I DO! P/C Rosie Burke</td></tr>
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Jan 18th 2020--<a href="https://hurt100.com/">HURT 100 </a>20th Anniversary Race And my Race Blog :)<br />
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Nerves were running high for me going into this years HURT. Mainly because I chose to race a 100 miler 6 weeks prior to the HURT.<br />
And while it was my fastest 100 miler by over 2hrs in 17:01 it was flat (900ft vert) and absolutely wrecked my quads for a solid 2 weeks following the race!! In actuality my quads were feeling it after 25 miles (only 75 to go right...). And I was not sure why? I had been training for the flats and yet...<br />
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Fast forward to my training leading to the HURT. My endurance was there post Brazos, all I needed to focus on was my leg strength for the climbing. The HURT 100 has 25,000 ft vert!! Not something you can go into running only flats.<br />
My 6 weeks leading into the HURT looked like this--<br />
1st & 2nd weeks mostly recovery-- 30 miles, 4200ft vert<br />
3rd-45 miles 11600 ft vt + weighted vest hiking<br />
4th-57 miles 8900 ft vt + weighted vest hiking on the stair climber<br />
5th-55 miles 9000ft vt + weighted vest hiking for some of the vert as well as on a stair climber<br />
6th-Race week<br />
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So there you have it, not a lot of miles and while I was ok with this, I had really hoped to get in more vert. Hence my angst. Would my mileage and my vert parlay into the endurance and strength needed not just to finish the HURT but to race it at the level I pressure myself to?? Time would tell.<br />
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The 2 weeks leading up to the HURT the posts started pouring in, just like the rain falling on Oahu. Give or take they were having about a month straight of nothing but rain. It was absolutely going to be a muddy, wet mess of a race. The RD was sending out emails to this effect and they were doing all they could to clear the course of debris from the high winds. With this information I decided to tweak my race gear...and went shopping for my first ever pair of gators. (Last year at the HURT it was muddy and rainy and I ended up stopping to change socks twice) I of course also came home with a new pair of shoes having fallen in love with the aggressive tread on the -- Hoka Mafate 2. And after a couple of runs they were added to my race gear. I would also be racing with Injinji compression toe socks a first for me. I have been running/ racing in <a href="https://www.injinji.com/">Injinji</a> for about a year and they have worked wonders on my feet. But this would be my first 100 miler with <a href="https://www.injinji.com/shop/compression.html">Injinji Compression.</a> I had done some training with them and decided my 50 year old legs could use the extra support.<br />
Joining for the HURT would be my husband :) aka Frenchy. He would be pacing the last 40 miles as well as crewing with my tiny islander, Becca, but only after the 1st 20 miles (no crew access prior). My race strategy was going to optimize having crew. No dilly dallying like years past. I know without a doubt if I had crew at Brazos I would have gotten under 17 hours easily. In looking for quick aid station transitions my plan was for 2 hydration vests and 2 soft flasks, both <a href="https://ultraspire.com/">Ultraspire</a>. My crew had a list of what to place in my vest and as I came into aid stations we would swap the old one for a new one packed full of my supplies and outside of snacking at the aid station I would be off, less than 5 minutes. <a href="https://myspringenergy.com/">Spring Energy</a> was my fuel of choice. I used this during my 17 hours at Brazos and it worked the entire time. And while my crew would have extra socks, clothing, I had no real plan to use it unless it became necessary. For some reason I had images of me doing a superman style fall at some point in the mud.<br />
I come back to this race year after year not because it is easy :) we all know it's not that! But because this race has taken hold of a part of my heart. The Ohana of the HURT, my family. IF you have run this race and finished it or not, you know what I am talking about. The people, the organizers, the volunteers become a part of you just like the roots of the forest. Yes this is a brutally beautiful course and yet when you leave it, it will have you wanting to come back for more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5Mol9kDPVUZsr-_D-FoaD-jB9yNbAScOjCyX1hqoiS931Fk38UjE-GNv4q-zAbsdOEdR9nlvpKGvWJ-CH1dPUObrh_ejYz4hV1Yya-Bt9pEzQPducFtPazIYk2vbOgQh3gssvLhyphenhyphen7w/s1600/VideoCapture_20200118-105549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5Mol9kDPVUZsr-_D-FoaD-jB9yNbAScOjCyX1hqoiS931Fk38UjE-GNv4q-zAbsdOEdR9nlvpKGvWJ-CH1dPUObrh_ejYz4hV1Yya-Bt9pEzQPducFtPazIYk2vbOgQh3gssvLhyphenhyphen7w/s200/VideoCapture_20200118-105549.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pack off ready for the exchange!</td></tr>
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As with most races, I had a time goal for this race (which may have added to my pre race angst) sub 30. I said had because with the mud I knew this was not likely to be a sub 30 kinda race. And so when asked what my goal was, my response became, a race I would feel proud of knowing I gave it my all.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes much of this race was spent with my hands on my quads, pushing upward, into the night.</td></tr>
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Race weekend was calling for no rain. No it would not dry the course but, we would not get rained on :) Frenchy brought me to the start and saw me off, 6am. I would see him next after the first loop. The HURT is a series of 5 loops.<br />
1st loop complete and 20 miles in. <br />
My legs felt great. And yes, as advertised areas of serious MUD holes. But no issues with shoes or socks or gators. They were all doing their job. Only concern was sinking my heels in the mud and pulling up, almost lost a shoe. Downside of newer shoes is having them a bit loose to prevent hot spots. Something to just be aware of. My crew gave me a new hydration vest, and a soft flask of coconut water to go and I was off. I would see them next in 7ish miles and the plan was the same. In and out just like clock work. Minus a few diva moments if something was not JUST right. With this type of looped course involving out and backs you always have an idea on your placement. At this point I knew my placement, after 27 ish miles I was sitting 3rd. But waaaay to early to be concerned. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvSKbGzH0Co1PYUa5hISXQIso5nR-skDTLPUN997GnMqgWWvyjSURaZZFR3kDisLGyO133FYRRGrZkjG9Ll1ZAFwL_3hjfIVOOiRJtXkjSwbl3rqKoFYxGha5gx4Xqu4jpAuj7cyEGw/s1600/34219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvSKbGzH0Co1PYUa5hISXQIso5nR-skDTLPUN997GnMqgWWvyjSURaZZFR3kDisLGyO133FYRRGrZkjG9Ll1ZAFwL_3hjfIVOOiRJtXkjSwbl3rqKoFYxGha5gx4Xqu4jpAuj7cyEGw/s320/34219.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of loop 2 and looking slightly crazy!<br />
P/C my Frenchy</td></tr>
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Next AS Nu'uanu, no crew allowed and I am told as I am leaving that I am now sitting in 2nd. The lead female has having stomach issues and was still there.<br />
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Again, too early to think about place, with A LOT of the race left to be ran. And so while not fast, the miles ticked by, I loved seeing all the familiar faces of both runners as well as volunteers and so far this body of mine was holding up to all the mud, roots, slick rocks/boulders....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising through the roots and bamboo...NOT!!!<br />
P/C Paul Smith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z5GgZf7ubgyeKHZ4yO_mL58M827uoWlamGmPuPqR9ffv_Swa3xAfR92VhJPnXOto453f5UfQNKHUZinzw_QbyhxbD7jiXsdCFRFiSrUgBxvHQU7lTLrKUmN35TctoDoX8yxeckxpwQ/s1600/IMG_9010+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Z5GgZf7ubgyeKHZ4yO_mL58M827uoWlamGmPuPqR9ffv_Swa3xAfR92VhJPnXOto453f5UfQNKHUZinzw_QbyhxbD7jiXsdCFRFiSrUgBxvHQU7lTLrKUmN35TctoDoX8yxeckxpwQ/s400/IMG_9010+%25281%2529.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ya I gave up rock hoping after the 2nd loop!<br />
P/C Paul Smith</td></tr>
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Heading into the 3rd loop I started to have some low points with my stomach. I was staying up in my hydration, peeing frequently :) using Spring Energy electrolyte apple ginger in my water and consuming coconut water in my togo bottle leaving AS's. I think the heat just got to me. <br />
So I backed off on my Spring Gel as my stomach wasn't tolerating it. A first for me. One of the great benefits of Spring Energy is that it is real food and does not have the sweet paste like consistency of other gels. With rice as an ingredient it mellows the gel and allows it to be tolerated late in a race. But maybe not 100% of the time :) and so I snacked on bland rice balls (lightly salted and actually kind of good).<br />
Happy to pick up my Frenchy at mile 60! Yay me!! I was still sitting in 2nd and working out the kinks in my stomach but, everything else was a go.<br />
Going into the race I was a bit concerned on how it would all go down with Frenchy as my pacer. It is not the easiest to have your spouse as your pacer. Just ask anyone who has done it if you don't have personal experience. It can just get too real.<br />
So we chatted about my concerns prior to the race and I was feeling good about our plan. We decided he would lead on the hills and I would lead when it was flat or downhill. This gave me a better view of the ground as well as it let me set the pace for our running. While James was concerned that I might drop him, he did not have to worry about that :) And I promised him I would not complain and that I would be ready to push with what I had left when he joined me. And I did. The last loop of the race I pushed, I had held 2nd place for most of the race and aside from an injury, that is where I wanted to finish. Frenchy kept me up to date on what was happening with 3rd place. She (Suzanna Bon) was 45 minutes behind me leaving mi 80, at mi 87 she was 35 min behind. I would see her on the out and back and she was moving well...and so I kept pushing. At mi 94 she was 24 minutes back. James pushed the food (yeah stomach was better and so was my Spring Energy, Oatmeal Wolf pack with 300 calories!! Love it!!), the fluid, and with words and love. He would say, Suzanna would run this...and so I would run.<br />
The finish, ring the bell, kiss the sign, F2. (Suzanna 13 minutes back, shout out to this lady for her amazing race)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZhoj4aFssP7qamOql4XPpOjehrcycMgqKbDeFI8RTPvC0GlzhQ20WKy5tRkYdnCxHsSdDEotGBNBL7MXkALuhguYCe6_2HF385k8Dl6VkVvEV2L38A8jqfWQsWYqecL-rQdHrRajpQ/s1600/IMG_9018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZhoj4aFssP7qamOql4XPpOjehrcycMgqKbDeFI8RTPvC0GlzhQ20WKy5tRkYdnCxHsSdDEotGBNBL7MXkALuhguYCe6_2HF385k8Dl6VkVvEV2L38A8jqfWQsWYqecL-rQdHrRajpQ/s320/IMG_9018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This felt good!</td></tr>
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How I love this race and all involved!!<br />
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Side note-- Frenchy had put in for lottery and did not get into this race. His words after not even one loop...No thanks :)<br />
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Go ahead and ask him his thoughts on the race now....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew/pacer! I could not have done it with out you two, thank you!!</td></tr>
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Whew! Not so painful, hope you enjoyed the read!<br />
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What went well--<br />
Shout out to my sponsors you are all on my team for a reason!!<br />
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Training Plan-- As it turns out, trashed quads from a flat race make for strong quads once recovered, legs felt strong the entire race!!<br />
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Frenchy-- If you're looking for a pacer...you can't have him :) truly could not have asked for a better partner out on the trails, pushing me to find the little bit of extra something to give to my race! Thank you bebe<br />
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<a href="http://myspringenergy/">Spring Energy</a>- I made a few meals out of this. Oatmeal Wolf pack 300 calories, real food with fruit. If you have not checked this stuff out hit me up for any questions or a discount code!! It is truly a game changer.<br />
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<a href="https://www.injinji.com/shop/compression.html">Injinji Compression</a>- feet were sore after 32 hours but whose wouldn't be :) NO sock change!! NO blisters, NO black nails.<br />
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Ultimate Direction Gators- Did not have to take my shoes off even once, kept everything out!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://squirrelsnutbutter.com/">Squirrels Nut Butter-</a>- Small amount of chaffing on my back...only because I did not start with it!! Side note you can gel your hair with it prior to braiding if you forget your hair paste ;)<br />
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<a href="https://www.patagonia.com/trail-running.html">Patagonia trail running gear</a>-- Perfect ultra gear! Even for a race with minimal gear!<br />
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<a href="https://ultraspire.com/">Ultraspire</a>- Waist lamp/ Soft flask/ Hydration vest- Nailed it, no issues<br />
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<a href="https://www.julbo.com/en_us/sunglasses">Julbo-</a>- Sunglasses not needed for this race (mostly dense forest) but they certainly were needed for our beach recovery!!<br />
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<a href="https://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars-</a>- A great pre/post anything snack! Not to forget their oatmeal and granola :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.hokaoneone.com/balanced-shoes/mafate-speed-2/190108918847.html?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc_brand&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmsrxBRDaARIsANyiD1qlXSwd0peM4mRXX-DT73Zb96rlPntPJOZFZKoQXroNrfi4vd4-UiMaAjXwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Hoka One One</a>-- While I am still waiting for Hoka to pick me up as an athlete :) These shoes just do it for me. I typically race in the Speedgoat but for this race traded it in for the Mafate Speed 2 and just wow. Almost out of the box perfect for this race!<br />
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What could have gone better--<br />
<br />
No mud :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPP7D1yhfg2WF_9hw0LzVlLWiuMLDDXHH82f36l9cpMtC95HL8ZS-fWUmWxFRlImVtUyR04hDBeDrfi6hd9SL6a1hUn-CllSFUB9D-OasVubfI_NokgbmcjVMJsGS05tWY_gcRvrnL_g/s1600/IMG_8889+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="737" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPP7D1yhfg2WF_9hw0LzVlLWiuMLDDXHH82f36l9cpMtC95HL8ZS-fWUmWxFRlImVtUyR04hDBeDrfi6hd9SL6a1hUn-CllSFUB9D-OasVubfI_NokgbmcjVMJsGS05tWY_gcRvrnL_g/s400/IMG_8889+%25281%2529.JPG" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are in Hawaii after all! Post race beach time.</td></tr>
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This race went as well as I could have hoped for. At the end of my 32 hours, yes I was proud of my effort knowing that I gave it all I had. Maybe sub 30 is not in the cards for me.... ;)<br />
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NEXT UP--<br />
Frenchy and I return to Croatia in April!! Let the training begin!<br />
<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-86050344930697637132017-07-18T07:27:00.003-07:002017-07-19T05:51:29.667-07:00Pulling an all nighter with Frenchy!It was the day before my 50 mile race in Costa Rica and I see a posting from my bebe, James Lambert aka Frenchy. He has just registered for <a href="http://66.49.207.158/phpnuke/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=21">RUTS</a> a 10 Hour Endurance race...on a 1/2 mile Horse Track...in Kentucky. In 2 weeks. And just like that and within a matter of moments I too was registered for this race. I mean who does that?? Register for a 10 hour race the day before a rather important 50 miler. Not to mention a 10 hour race that loops around a 1/2 mi track!! This would be a first for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWBadlZahERRtDxMIIHbqaK0atZV5auqbUoGoJjZWoBZxXMWmNKgilC3_HCXJppUpbhtEPKN7Ve8r-y980YuvSrkcq8LmHRuo3ZwV5_9A4dXyZKvO0HH07PruA6fxlxmqOLZT7lnfZg/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWBadlZahERRtDxMIIHbqaK0atZV5auqbUoGoJjZWoBZxXMWmNKgilC3_HCXJppUpbhtEPKN7Ve8r-y980YuvSrkcq8LmHRuo3ZwV5_9A4dXyZKvO0HH07PruA6fxlxmqOLZT7lnfZg/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre nap Fresh Squeeze IPA a few hours before the race!</td></tr>
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So you know how Costa Rica ended. And I came away intact and in recovery mode. With the 10 hour race two weeks away and Vermont 100, 7 weeks away. My goal was to recover some but essentially train up to RUTS (not a goal race) and see how I felt for the race. And all the while building strength for Vermont. This came out to a 49 mile week after Costa Rica and a 23 mi week the week of RUTS.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby and the Baz! And yes, this meant we had a <br />
bed taunting us all night long and just steps away!</td></tr>
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Being who I am, I did take a look at the results for RUTS to include the CR of 63 miles (course record) and even though I've not ran a race like this before I felt that if I my body was ready post Costa Rica, I had a shot at the CR.<br />
I was excited to run this race and even had to laugh at myself when I thought about what I was about to do. Frenchy was more familiar with this type of endurance race and he was getting a kick out of my competitive nature that had me looking up times. Especially as I had just raced and had no experience with this type of race. Needless to say we were both looking forward to running it. We would see each other the entire race and with it starting at 8pm and ending at 6am we considered it an all nighter, date night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM9Gni7Vpa4N4HwdBT97cfhna9ut9SayF8yd-PUSrNK0hhtSI5r4tevf_wABw5Wn28eFi2JPJiQi_3902ChHC0KmyyA98LfedImOO31YI1HvnTyPG2fLJWXdXAw5oLAdlTnCBZ03IfA/s1600/IMG_0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM9Gni7Vpa4N4HwdBT97cfhna9ut9SayF8yd-PUSrNK0hhtSI5r4tevf_wABw5Wn28eFi2JPJiQi_3902ChHC0KmyyA98LfedImOO31YI1HvnTyPG2fLJWXdXAw5oLAdlTnCBZ03IfA/s320/IMG_0742.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheels on the bus go round and round...</td></tr>
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This was our first road trip in Ruby and with the Baz! After a short 3 hour drive, we parked Ruby under the shade of some trees in the center of the horse track! How cool is that, we would be setting up our own aid station on the side of the track. A brief nap and then go time.<br />
My strategy would be to run around a 830-9 min pace...until I slowed down. James was going to do his thing around a 10-11 min pace. I would see him when I lapped him ;) as well as at the turnaround every 2 hours. Here the RD reversed the direction we were running on the track.<br />
And so into the night we ran, around and around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSmUfWMH1ads_RXe4Njo8mua7EzikvTZDTxf0dG-XN_xvxN1Ha2myNYvBtkiErqLXtxrdQ9pDsY58aai4fkH2NkQCu5nixL-GxUHH7vF8-Jxn5fdOV7ADpKRl7trnERAbqvmeRyvLrg/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSmUfWMH1ads_RXe4Njo8mua7EzikvTZDTxf0dG-XN_xvxN1Ha2myNYvBtkiErqLXtxrdQ9pDsY58aai4fkH2NkQCu5nixL-GxUHH7vF8-Jxn5fdOV7ADpKRl7trnERAbqvmeRyvLrg/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's right, no gear!</td></tr>
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What a completely different kind of endurance race.!! No hills or mountains, no challenging terrain, no course markings and yet no concern of going off course. No solo running, no need to carry any gear and no potty breaks without an actual potty...but PLENTY of mental and physical challenges.<br />
Mentally the concept of running in circles, rather short circles might I add was super challenging. Nothing to break it up, although with the company of ALL the other runners the entire time...kinda cool. Most of the running was just me and my mind, and body. I of course choose this race to not bring the option of music... Opps, I think I could have used that as a distraction at some point during the 10 hours. <br />
Physical...I felt fine for the most part, but maybe a bit of leg/ hip discomfort from the same motion. No hiking, just running. Why, because this is what the race called for. <br />
132 times around the track and 66 miles later and I am fortunate to come away with an F1 and a CR.<br />
Pluses for a race like this...many. Constant camaraderie with old friends as well as new friends, aid at your fingertips, restrooms the same, support any time you need it, easy to follow course ;), NO DNF's once you start, you are a finisher! I loved seeing a number of parents out there with their kids. The kids would run and then take a break and later come out and run some more..all night long. Beautiful!<br />
Minuses...well you need mental toughness to run in circles for 10 hours as well as a bit of crazy :) No actual<br />
The very best part....finishing the last couple of miles with Frenchy and the Baz!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best night ever!</td></tr>
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If you are thinking this might be your kind of race well then, head yourself to Kentucky next year. The RD Steve Durbin and his crew put on an excellent event. The 1 and only aid station outside of what you might provide yourself is well stocked and has the best "little" helpers making pancakes and bacon. These kids stayed up all night cheering and feeding us as we ran around in circles!<br />
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If you want to hear a bit more about this race as well as my race in Costa Rica, check out <a href="http://www.heartlandrunning.com/podcast/2017/7/2/denise-bourassa-making-the-boys-cry-ep31">Heartland Running Podcast</a><br />
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/64830/531888-denise-bourassa-making-the-boys-cry-ep31">https://www.buzzsprout.com/64830/531888-denise-bourassa-making-the-boys-cry-ep31</a><br />
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Will I run this type of race again....never say never :) <br />
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As always, if you are looking for just the right gear for your next race, hit me up with your questions! The sponsors who support my racing are my sponsors for a reason!!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/trail-running.html">Patagonia</a><br />
<a href="http://ultraspire.com/">UltrAspire</a><br />
<a href="https://www.julbo.com/en/16/home.html">Julbo USA</a><br />
<a href="https://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars</a><br />
<a href="http://www.squirrelsnutbutter.com/">Squirrels Nut Butter</a><br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-63332562640663955472017-06-14T07:59:00.000-07:002017-06-14T16:11:57.441-07:00The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa RIcs...Take II<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">TNF 80k Endurance Challenge Costa Rica…Take two.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tw2WOC_sHy5Bx6TT9T_IFj4b0u15mcSQBZNsb5nGpfUNyWDm6vMHfpbyqqMl1RgD5uEtD7_pOcrXpqDrDMAZs97armGfZnT0mez9lz-PQ5DpU6G-x8GTQYrc5RUJ2arUNzwCbMyRQQ/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tw2WOC_sHy5Bx6TT9T_IFj4b0u15mcSQBZNsb5nGpfUNyWDm6vMHfpbyqqMl1RgD5uEtD7_pOcrXpqDrDMAZs97armGfZnT0mez9lz-PQ5DpU6G-x8GTQYrc5RUJ2arUNzwCbMyRQQ/s640/IMG_0524.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pura Vida!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes you have to go back to a place you have been, to see how far you have come. This was my FB/ Instagram post after the race and it is so very true.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">My first visit to CR was by invite, a first for me. I was super excited to visit this country and to run this race. Sadly, I went out too fast not adjusting for the heat and humidity and ultimately did not take care of the engine that was supposed to get me to the finish line. I overheated and pulled from the race at 35k. Just making it to the other side of the hottest part of the course, the canyons. Lessons were learned that day.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Take II-- Two years later.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Another invite and an opportunity. Here was my opportunity to take my learning's from my first attempt in Costa Rica and to apply them. No not to just any hot and humid race but to the same one. Lucky me :) </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I broke two years ago because I failed to take care of my body under the conditions it was racing. To the best of my ability I would not be repeating this mistake.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxJ1Dj0yUPTq5aWyKZfkBJv2lB5rJT3s_aPnxhhU3Q6b9V-1zErGzEPgkSPLBZZ7Lvul7Lm_nKuYt3rqlO1k2Gq3I3-sRZ8twFC_rHkTbcLJmRgHnP2LD9fWqMS4lrgLmgIAirOa55w/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxJ1Dj0yUPTq5aWyKZfkBJv2lB5rJT3s_aPnxhhU3Q6b9V-1zErGzEPgkSPLBZZ7Lvul7Lm_nKuYt3rqlO1k2Gq3I3-sRZ8twFC_rHkTbcLJmRgHnP2LD9fWqMS4lrgLmgIAirOa55w/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling focused :) P/C Sproston</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">The weather for Costa Rica, Rincon National Park for race day was calling for overcast skies, thunderclouds, intermittent rain and record high humidity (two years ago it was record high temps). With all this, I felt ready. Amy Sproston joined on this trip. She would be racing the 50k event. She and I went on a couple shake out runs prior to race day and got a quick introduction on what the humidity would feel like....minus our waterfall dips!</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">The night before the race, Nick the director of The North Face Endurance Challenges asked me what my goal for the race was. My response was to have a good race, take care of myself…and make it to the finish line. He was there two years ago and was excited to see me return. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Race morning and I am rested, relaxed and feeling ready. Maybe even getting used to the critters in the jungle. A flying coach roach landed on my should at breakfast and I calmly flicked it off, a few moments later one dropped down my bra and I did the same...Imagine that!! </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1G6Z34dDF14I3RUZAl6mHf3lgOTX3g-dituKFkSs4hc7FUWb5gTcmRDxTW8YRiGf8HbApGya5NDsfwArX5xQUiZ9yvS7ubxY8FRQeJ5NyDWGSwNmxic_NWpwv8pKGdOXd7zd5VtEhg/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1G6Z34dDF14I3RUZAl6mHf3lgOTX3g-dituKFkSs4hc7FUWb5gTcmRDxTW8YRiGf8HbApGya5NDsfwArX5xQUiZ9yvS7ubxY8FRQeJ5NyDWGSwNmxic_NWpwv8pKGdOXd7zd5VtEhg/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">p/c Costa Rica Ecogreen</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">With a 0530 start I was happy to see the overcast skies and, well, the humidity, it was expected. The first 4.5k was uphill and I was pleased that I was not completely soaked with sweat by that first aid station as was my previous experience. And unlike previous in which I flew past the aid, I stopped and drank two cups of Gatorade before taking back off. At this point I was around top 5 female but was truly unconcerned. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">The course would offer 13 aid stations with the largest gap of 8.5k. The terrain was a mix of jeep roads, jungle/forest single track and pavement with a total of about 6k of vert. Per the RD it had been raining in that area for a month and we would see a lot more mud, and water crossings. My area for concern was the Canyons which would start at 34k and last only 7k. While not terribly long my previous experience made the 7k feel like a marathon in distance.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Not long after the first aid station was I saturated with sweat and I stayed on my plan. I was drinking 2-3 cups of fluid at the AS's, refilling my 1liter hydration bag as well as my handheld. Adding ice down the bra for good measure. I started with Tailwind in my hydration and was using GU and banana wedges and chips for additional calories.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYURok_fAoHX3FCaPuJ1ciUsTS2rgUsAx6lDVttxRXmpnzEr-TOWnnwt4YycUlw4EivvabTaD-Qyaq1FLIEHIaza-pNESMInexqVt3rziJducCoqp4PHWkER3qU81ELKC-QpMqbtBigg/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYURok_fAoHX3FCaPuJ1ciUsTS2rgUsAx6lDVttxRXmpnzEr-TOWnnwt4YycUlw4EivvabTaD-Qyaq1FLIEHIaza-pNESMInexqVt3rziJducCoqp4PHWkER3qU81ELKC-QpMqbtBigg/s320/IMG_0686.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little warm in the canyons but not like 2 years ago!<br />
p/c Josue Fernandez</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhYI7OTbNHRlQZ3iWwv1qo9G3QZdFPVU7QGF5IHlUFdrGP3pgvjktn0aQBDR6DFmUpJpZUkmH6a1vpccBWT0_sV9O8OzY4H_DuPeosBCsId_o0oG8IEfXi8Q55Y-y9mRsVWKG-BI0ng/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhYI7OTbNHRlQZ3iWwv1qo9G3QZdFPVU7QGF5IHlUFdrGP3pgvjktn0aQBDR6DFmUpJpZUkmH6a1vpccBWT0_sV9O8OzY4H_DuPeosBCsId_o0oG8IEfXi8Q55Y-y9mRsVWKG-BI0ng/s320/IMG_0596.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the challenge! p/c Costa Rica Ecogreen</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Feeling in control and knowing that there was a lot of race still to run I came into AS 3, 19.5k and was told I was the second F and F1 was 5 minutes up on me. No worries, my body and mind were in sync and I wanted to keep it that way. My confidence increased a bit when I saw Kaitlyn after only 4k. My pace was steady and I was feeling good. Kaitlyn and I chatted prior to the race, both recalling my last attempt and her passing my overheating body in the canyons. This was not going to happen today. In and out of AS 4 to AS 5 and into the canyons…same canyon as before 100% different experience. I came out on the other end of the canyon beaming. I made it. May sound silly but I was almost giddy. I was also a bit hot, but I was managing it. More ice, fluid, and calories and away I went. AS 8, 50k mark I was told I had 10 minutes on Kaitlyn coming out of the canyon. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlbrlP7ry3GxrzOt4Fdjt8ab80GF0jbuHBSajcJW-eXTejzSF3j72uhyphenhyphenhi7L8wbvDr1AcqHAcXyPJgRL0G7xBJObakX8fMxI_4ARJin2Xjl5UnFZawVeloCP5ug3cYh10Hxg45V0q0A/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlbrlP7ry3GxrzOt4Fdjt8ab80GF0jbuHBSajcJW-eXTejzSF3j72uhyphenhyphenhi7L8wbvDr1AcqHAcXyPJgRL0G7xBJObakX8fMxI_4ARJin2Xjl5UnFZawVeloCP5ug3cYh10Hxg45V0q0A/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Lush green and lots of water.<br />
p/c Josue Fernandez</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">I was still feeling relatively good…only concern was some calf cramping. While my legs were feeling strong on the climbs, if I tried to do my signature trot on the hills (using mostly calves) my calves would give me little bee sting like warnings. And so I changed to hiking the ups, and eating salt, bananas and gatorade…taking more fluid and ice with each AS. And I was still completely soaked, telling me that I was providing enough fluid for my body to regulate its temperature effectively. YAY!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">AS 13, 4k to the finish, and a spot where Amy and I took a dip in the waterfall the day previous. So close, perhaps a moment of distraction and that is all it took for my first annnnnd only fall. While soft enough it didn’t stop both of my calves from seizing up and have me yelling like a wild Howler Monkey. With the assistance of a couple 50k runners they stretched out my calves and I was on my way to the finish line!</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">And it was a good day....</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to Federico and Ligia for bringing me back to experience your race as it was meant to be experienced! </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">For those of you out there looking for a beautiful challenge and something the entire family can enjoy, this race is for you. Plus there are multiple races aside from the 80k. If you decide to throw this vacation/race on your calendar you will find a well organized and supported race and you get to practice your Spanish :) The event is held in at <a href="https://www.guachipelin.com/en/">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a> and has something for every member of the family! I highly recommend this as a race as well as a vacation destination!</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">Pura vida!!</span></span><br />
<br />
Take aways..<br />
While my weekly miles weren't high, they were consistent and supported my overall fitness for the race.<br />
<br />
+++ My sponsors have the gear I use dialed!! What I use, I use because it supports the female athlete/ competitor that I am!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBI6GPM9H1SFWcczr_O_UZQNoU0qCG3CN4NnY68PVZko0Ef9Ht4HCJ_55t6iCQR8gnAElfuEanuJNuCes-1KsBLZRdP9D632lbnVt-vWeyGfBQeriZjUO9dMQ7v-xDVQ-3TfBptEaig/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBI6GPM9H1SFWcczr_O_UZQNoU0qCG3CN4NnY68PVZko0Ef9Ht4HCJ_55t6iCQR8gnAElfuEanuJNuCes-1KsBLZRdP9D632lbnVt-vWeyGfBQeriZjUO9dMQ7v-xDVQ-3TfBptEaig/s640/IMG_0597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">F1 finish and no I did not run a 50 miler in 2 hours :) p/c Costa Rica Ecogreen</td></tr>
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<u>Julbo Sunglasses</u><br />
>>Access<br />
<u>UltrAspire</u><br />
>>Spry 1 Liter hydration vest<br />
>><a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/io/">Lo waist belt</a><br />
>><a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/flask/">Ultraflask</a><br />
<u>Patagonia</u><br />
>><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-strider-running-skirt/23466.html?dwvar_23466_color=FCGC&cgid=sport-trail-running#tile-9=&start=1&sz=24">Strider Skirt</a><br />
>>Trucker Hat<br />
>>Capilene lightweight tank/ Centered bra<br />
Nike Wildhorse<br />
Stance socks<br />
<u>Nutrition</u><br />
>>Tailwind Nutrition<br />
>>GU...any flavor I had left over from Croatia :)<br />
>>Bananas and chips on the course<br />
<u><a href="http://www.squirrelsnutbutter.com/">Squirrel's Nut Butter</a></u><br />
<u>Mental state</u><br />
>>Focused<br />
>>Intentional<br />
>>Determined<br />
>>Patient<br />
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-84833923927188975342017-05-30T19:12:00.000-07:002017-05-30T19:14:18.770-07:00<div class="p1">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLgJwuQ_d5wH7hzcKu6t1Mik17tYSMRO7bwx0CyXQVonVUGKyePqflbsoMHg-Pd4dBEgOVxmeoGfSGsHk96Gc73LOAUHFqdixYgqq5qnhq8u94bldX9sU_UONkvHV_XhoPn6PBiwk2g/s1600/IMG_9694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLgJwuQ_d5wH7hzcKu6t1Mik17tYSMRO7bwx0CyXQVonVUGKyePqflbsoMHg-Pd4dBEgOVxmeoGfSGsHk96Gc73LOAUHFqdixYgqq5qnhq8u94bldX9sU_UONkvHV_XhoPn6PBiwk2g/s400/IMG_9694.JPG" width="400" /></a><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.istria100.com/">100 Miles of Istria</a>, no surprise, did not disappoint. As last year the race committee orchestrated a 170k race that was incredibly well organized, supported and energized by everyone involved with it. Add to this the beautiful countryside, the sunny skies, the Adriatic Sea, and you have yourself one hell of a race!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">As I am knocking on the door of becoming a seasoned mountain 100 runner I feel confident that I know what a great events consists of. But, if you want to hear it from a newbie just ask James aka “Frenchy” Lambert!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I was happy to be given another opportunity through the Ultra Trail World Tour to return to Croatia for this race. A podium finish last year earned me with invite this year, thank you UTWT. I fell in love with the race last year and had no doubt I would become just a bit more smitten. Plus, this year I would not be solo, I would be sharing this experience with my partner, Frenchy. And so here we were two runners, with different levels of racing, different experiences to draw upon, and different race goals but the same love and passion for the journey we were embarking upon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm9WoN5b6-lhWcB_Q4Pa8fcc_cfmRofczTMahUuJuIFKn2OHHKRLsPDVj2mXhI4oYbkeTnh5yFzVcivAAbB7mz5A7yDjbrWIGghr2h-iubYE0jryhfSmfTzfHU_-P0WpWNQCRUUfUEg/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm9WoN5b6-lhWcB_Q4Pa8fcc_cfmRofczTMahUuJuIFKn2OHHKRLsPDVj2mXhI4oYbkeTnh5yFzVcivAAbB7mz5A7yDjbrWIGghr2h-iubYE0jryhfSmfTzfHU_-P0WpWNQCRUUfUEg/s200/FullSizeRender+%25287%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runners love story!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This year the race was added to the UTWT series and I was excited to race it as such. Frenchy was looking to finish the race to gain points needed for the lottery for <a href="http://utmbmontblanc.com/en/">Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc </a>2018. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoxljmZ81Te4j-tcM0SvO_2TuVH41nA-NG-SBrZPOK_2QQrf0mP8hkgAoryRWhZrfRHqz_B7Bia4aT0BL2Vdc7iYRtXXUdhPGmurzsQ6-TdA8vRkcdJZfUBsUa1jxazooG9320bZ0vg/s1600/IMG_9673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoxljmZ81Te4j-tcM0SvO_2TuVH41nA-NG-SBrZPOK_2QQrf0mP8hkgAoryRWhZrfRHqz_B7Bia4aT0BL2Vdc7iYRtXXUdhPGmurzsQ6-TdA8vRkcdJZfUBsUa1jxazooG9320bZ0vg/s200/IMG_9673.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two kids horsing around ;</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br />I tend to tell more of a story in my blog than just the nitty gritty of the race. Feel free to scroll to the bottom for the nitty gritty!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">With 100 Miles of Istria added to my calendar so began my prep for the race. Having raced it successfully last year, I felt confident with mimicking the same training plan. And so I put together a plan with similar weekly mileage, vertical climbing, and strength training. All necessary elements in preparing for Istria. Frenchy would have the same training plan.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">My gear would be the same, it all worked incredibly well only need was to set Frenchy up with the same. I would be using the Ultraspire Zygos pack with the front water bottles and the Lo waist belt for pinning my bib as well as easy access calories. The pack would carry the rest of the needed supplies (details to follow). While I would not be using poles, I hooked Frenchy up with some sweet Black Diamond collapsible <a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/trekking-poles/distance-carbon-z-pole-BD112177_cfg.html#start=5">Carbon Z trekking poles </a>(soon to be his new best friend), </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP4Iu7dJ68WDQnlMlI6AmCL8ETP735aOqmfHKOTZEIFnOQCSuAKybf7Jh8oF72iKwuycJmYmjls_D5yJOdegG39eTtFoMBoIj1j5-GFLswNYzKRu3iN6DCIscCenwjvV3rnDSIhzyNg/s1600/IMG_9658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP4Iu7dJ68WDQnlMlI6AmCL8ETP735aOqmfHKOTZEIFnOQCSuAKybf7Jh8oF72iKwuycJmYmjls_D5yJOdegG39eTtFoMBoIj1j5-GFLswNYzKRu3iN6DCIscCenwjvV3rnDSIhzyNg/s200/IMG_9658.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does Frenchy looked a bit wide<br />
eyed here?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLcQp6ZNh_s13_zpugBoHFoHKcKQFdJlRuImxtXnDhaGm6tusKNVhalg0O3HY577hHEAXzuXMvXNlZMMlc9jJ5NFA_3Tkgkqg-EIp0UzHhH_c7eXWIekR7S5QgJyyUkVxUz7oILOUvQ/s1600/IMG_9676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLcQp6ZNh_s13_zpugBoHFoHKcKQFdJlRuImxtXnDhaGm6tusKNVhalg0O3HY577hHEAXzuXMvXNlZMMlc9jJ5NFA_3Tkgkqg-EIp0UzHhH_c7eXWIekR7S5QgJyyUkVxUz7oILOUvQ/s200/IMG_9676.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great group!</td></tr>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Training complete, gear assembled and we were off. We arrived late Wednesday for a 4pm Friday race start. The day and a half before the race was spent just being lovers walking around the quaint city of Umag with a little race prep thrown in and the occasional pulling of Frenchy off the ceiling. This was his first mountain 100 and yes, he was as terrified as he as excited by what he was about to undertake. But the coast line, the food, the energy of Croatia and maybe a bit of me kept him balanced and excited.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">4pm Friday post 100 mile bus ride to the small town of Labin and the race start. We arrive an hour early and so we hit a restaurant for some pasta and a soda. Not a bad idea, I eat enough and I’m happy that Frenchy is eating well. A full belly for a long adventure race was not a bad idea for my Frenchy. My goals were based off last years 25 hour race. I was looking for the same, faster or perhaps a finish. Frenchy was looking for that finish and an adventure.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9ZwBfsuqMqjZ3yJMS3fozMd8qlG3KwSe8kW724V9ENi_8hnddBQJJwVmgWloOSaYXU0ObCdRboUKccvifnkHGeKuzZpBmtAm9LcimpavcJEww6tiV6l1WTziqr42VJJNLR97ngcedw/s1600/IMG_9671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9ZwBfsuqMqjZ3yJMS3fozMd8qlG3KwSe8kW724V9ENi_8hnddBQJJwVmgWloOSaYXU0ObCdRboUKccvifnkHGeKuzZpBmtAm9LcimpavcJEww6tiV6l1WTziqr42VJJNLR97ngcedw/s320/IMG_9671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busing it to the start!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6s9hyphenhyphenQH_OkoK3i3oRbQqUev48EVC2YFXbCzw0Cd_wOaCboW2PSxTsQjSE-KjfdwOHF_3BZ8jUeYSnmwm8y2bFOeWWxGz9Kt0CG1PpQV7fO-ThdqASDPHbhgX2ZtOGBnCN-pRowx-0w/s1600/IMG_9683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6s9hyphenhyphenQH_OkoK3i3oRbQqUev48EVC2YFXbCzw0Cd_wOaCboW2PSxTsQjSE-KjfdwOHF_3BZ8jUeYSnmwm8y2bFOeWWxGz9Kt0CG1PpQV7fO-ThdqASDPHbhgX2ZtOGBnCN-pRowx-0w/s200/IMG_9683.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic of a pic </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1n-roFFzpCbtsS9U8fjtrTvBGb39hSlyQltcUI_sW-urPa31RvrrGYC97xFVMglZQXvlcM5txJZrqKXa3vjxssevcYEFEjz2HElRprUqCEi9D5pPLcHbG_N4uoMipickYEBNO8qTzw/s1600/IMG_9668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1n-roFFzpCbtsS9U8fjtrTvBGb39hSlyQltcUI_sW-urPa31RvrrGYC97xFVMglZQXvlcM5txJZrqKXa3vjxssevcYEFEjz2HElRprUqCEi9D5pPLcHbG_N4uoMipickYEBNO8qTzw/s200/IMG_9668.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP4Iu7dJ68WDQnlMlI6AmCL8ETP735aOqmfHKOTZEIFnOQCSuAKybf7Jh8oF72iKwuycJmYmjls_D5yJOdegG39eTtFoMBoIj1j5-GFLswNYzKRu3iN6DCIscCenwjvV3rnDSIhzyNg/s1600/IMG_9658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHP4Iu7dJ68WDQnlMlI6AmCL8ETP735aOqmfHKOTZEIFnOQCSuAKybf7Jh8oF72iKwuycJmYmjls_D5yJOdegG39eTtFoMBoIj1j5-GFLswNYzKRu3iN6DCIscCenwjvV3rnDSIhzyNg/s1600/IMG_9658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="s1">A kiss and a hug were exchanged knowing the next time we would see each other would be at the finish line in Umag. We would both be spending the next unknown number of hours experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Our feet would be taking different steps but on the same trails and cobble stone roads, our eyes would be seeing different views on the same horizon. We would meet knew friends and we would learn more about the deep inner recesses of what makes up our mind, body and spirit. We would be running 100+ Miles of Istria</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bQ8iOgzkhnyoEmJAr5z9F-ZbNee8wFN85dWPDy6ylqFPVF0WZwtuJwmFzL3pmaP9mXBDznPJeoS2T-36k1xpP-pjvfJwG5lAv0MTxX2GiEilVgrH_B59uR4jOZ27lvWX5RXsM5YKWw/s1600/IMG_9690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bQ8iOgzkhnyoEmJAr5z9F-ZbNee8wFN85dWPDy6ylqFPVF0WZwtuJwmFzL3pmaP9mXBDznPJeoS2T-36k1xpP-pjvfJwG5lAv0MTxX2GiEilVgrH_B59uR4jOZ27lvWX5RXsM5YKWw/s320/IMG_9690.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing country side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">First AS Plomin, 17k into the race and all was well. I was running comfortably, consuming calories regularly and while a little warm I knew the sun and the temps would be dropping while I was climbing. My head lamp came out at the 32k 2nd AS and I recalled to last year that I was a bit further before needing the headlamp…I wandered how Frenchy was and what his sunset view looked like. By the 3rd AS 43K I pulled on my arm sleeves and my gloves not quite needing my windbreaker. While all systems remained intact, my feet were beginning to feel the technical rocky terrain in a way that I did not expect. AS 5, 74K I knew I would not be chasing a PR. While my legs were feeling strength on the uphills, my quads were feeling to much of the downhills and my feet were definitely complaining to me. This would make the nighttime section just a bit more tough…and then along came Sam. There were 8 Americans racing and lucky me, he was one of them. He was from Alaska and this was his first 100 mile race. Fact... misery loves company. With company you can “suffer better”. Chit chat takes your mind off of you, along with giving support to another runner in turn provides you with strength. Sam and I raced into the night, and into Buzet. The one AS with our drop bag. A place to change your shirt, repack your calories and yes change your headlamp batteries. As well as tend to any ailments IE draining and bandaging blisters. We had to laugh when as we left Buzet not only was the sun up but we went the wrong way! Guess we were having to much fun! Through some highs and lows Sam and I kept company. We had a Czech fellow with us for a good portion and even though he did not speak English we were still company. We parted ways around 150k when my stomach insisted I stop and rest. Sam gave me the phone number of his girlfriend who had raced and Won the 100k event. I took the number knowing I would not be using it but knowing that as Sam left me, it made him feel better. Time did not matter as I sat in the shade. The sun was hot and my stomach was in knots. My uphill legs were there but my downhill legs forgot to show up for the race. And my feet were no better and of course I worried for my none mountain runner Frenchy.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHAxlMCoo4fFxZW98mWqA_mRMxDmoO-G5leci_JvKG4aqilP6DGswISC4-Sv2hzc-QzRJIILyG5TzkWuBn2luAYph48S1_DYsDNHCO4Lbx5pXikVOjr2fkTWfJPkoes7TNPyH4oMaRg/s1600/IMG_9862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHAxlMCoo4fFxZW98mWqA_mRMxDmoO-G5leci_JvKG4aqilP6DGswISC4-Sv2hzc-QzRJIILyG5TzkWuBn2luAYph48S1_DYsDNHCO4Lbx5pXikVOjr2fkTWfJPkoes7TNPyH4oMaRg/s320/IMG_9862.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue all around but not my smile,<br />
or my spirit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">A few more runners pass (I am mixed in with the 100k runners) and I start moving again. This is the inner strength ultra runners have, to keep moving even when all the fibers of your being don’t want to. I started hiking the ups, slow trot on the downs and walking the technical downs. On the flats I trot. I had less than a marathon to go and I knew I would be finishing this race. No PR, no not even close. Last AS with 13k to the finish, a volunteer I recognize from last year tells me I am 7th female and that if I keep moving I “should” be able to hold it. I enter the AS and pick up a soda, and a handful of chips. Even as I am munching on the chips unwanted tears are welling in my eye and rolling down my cheeks. If you have run 100 miles, you know how this feels. Your emotions are dripping off your shirtsleeve. Last year it was a pissed off achilles tendon and then a bee sting that had me sobbing like a baby and this year it was the wear and tear of racing 100 miles and the frustration on not performing to the level of which you are capable of.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I left that AS and after 3k began to see the count down from the 10k to the 1k mark. It was flat, not technical and so I ran. My body was no longer feeling increasing levels of pain, it was all generalized. I passed many runners who had passed me when I was struggling and sitting</span> on the side of the road and words of encouragement were exchanged.</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">28+ hours F6 and the finish line.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUxr6goo7aUpOf7O2z-nds4_dGgF9PMCWwTAau3eoCTozRK1371d3UbRqu5jmoq98YnkrMr1y6s2UBIkGHIEEo0yH-K9ySAV0msZDf65t8_hFvy9ESYvfyC6hKnBjGgtEOlAiYNNIpw/s1600/IMG_9755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUxr6goo7aUpOf7O2z-nds4_dGgF9PMCWwTAau3eoCTozRK1371d3UbRqu5jmoq98YnkrMr1y6s2UBIkGHIEEo0yH-K9ySAV0msZDf65t8_hFvy9ESYvfyC6hKnBjGgtEOlAiYNNIpw/s1600/IMG_9755.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deeper you dig the deeper you are affected, truth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Highlights—</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Being at the finish line to watch someone you love accomplish something they have only dreamt of! Super proud of my Frenchy.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Gear-- 5 stars-- all of it was perfect for this race and I would not change a thing!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u><a href="http://ultraspire.com/">Ultraspire </a></u></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Zygos Pack</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Lo waist belt</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Bottles</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u><a href="https://www.julbo.com/en/16/home.html">Julbo </a></u>Access shades/ head buff</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/home/">Patagonia</a></u></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span>Strider Skirt....love this skirt!</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"></span>Capilene lightweight Tank/ Centered bra</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Arm Sleeves</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>R1 gloves</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u>Black Diamond</u> <a href="http://lackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/headlamps-and-lanterns/icon-polar-headlamp-BD620616ALUMALL1.html#start=21">Icon Polar headlamp</a></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u>Hoka </u>Speedgoat</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u>Stance </u>Run 3/4 socks</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u><a href="https://www.squirrelsnutbutter.com/">Picky Bars</a></u></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u><a href="https://www.squirrelsnutbutter.com/">Squirrel Nut Butter</a></u></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u>Tailwind Nutrition</u></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Take aways—</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mountain races requires training on the trails if you want to be successful at racing competitively. Most of my training for Croatia occurred on the streets of New York. 3 weeks prior to Croatia I went back to Bend Oregon and logged 100+ miles with 31k of climbing. One week of trail running while solid is not enough. My feet were too tender for the rocky terrain and while I had been doing my strength training for my legs, my quads were in no shape for the downhills. </span><br />
<span class="s1">My love for trail racing has much to do with the lessons I learn with each race. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span>
<span class="s1">Nest up....</span><br />
<span class="s1">The North Face Endurance Challenge 80k Costa Rica May 26</span></div>
Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-39620924172812091562017-02-02T06:26:00.000-08:002017-02-02T06:26:12.585-08:00May have dropped the ball on my blog but not my racing :) <br />
Contrary to what my blog might indicate....I have been racing. <br />
I actually raced a 100 miler between <a href="http://aravaiparunning.com/network/blackcanyon/">Black Canyon </a>and <a href="http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/">Run Rabbit Run 100</a>. No, not Western States. I understand where you would make that assumption....if you follow my blog....I mean after all I registered for and raced Black Canyon 100k for just that purpose...and was even fortunate to earn a ticket to "The Dance"aka Western States.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2odtFeJ5Qz1LbvLDy4GqwD7cbs-cQIRUpsYUd05a4APBinIUx-y3VczBe5DGX1csmszqHBcpbGYyKOX0BKxzRwDtvowkzmN_awZdvb1Hkwy-w77RHUGDDSAckGITZ_09CxpZ3MWYzyA/s1600/IMG_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2odtFeJ5Qz1LbvLDy4GqwD7cbs-cQIRUpsYUd05a4APBinIUx-y3VczBe5DGX1csmszqHBcpbGYyKOX0BKxzRwDtvowkzmN_awZdvb1Hkwy-w77RHUGDDSAckGITZ_09CxpZ3MWYzyA/s320/IMG_1264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Rather, I was offered an opportunity through the <a href="http://www.ultratrailworldtour.tv/en">Ultra Trail World Tour</a> to race one of their future races; <a href="http://www.istria100.com/">100 Miles of Istria</a> in Croatia (170K). This race was April 8th, giving me 11 weeks for a bit of recovery and then prep for Western States. Or so I thought. I had a good race in Croatia. Finished F3 in just over 25 hours and had an amazing time. As I gain more 100 mile experience and have more races to compare...I would highly recommend this race if you are looking for an international experience. Add to this a race of which I traveled solo, no crew, no familiar faces for support, I was extremely comfortable navigating this foreign country. Take a look at the attached video from this years race for a great peek into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Mx4FVZ_Zc">100 Miles of Istria.</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5C-NNN64qljEA8V-6q4GDDWycghyX3XM535n3yBAyRN5J4bLYWikk1BR2iZPPGd0TOOzU2iBrbPIauaKh1LBs17MP0llJwfYOg358213-BWy5uJj5cetCp5214y7O5iroD7ynf7mg/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw5C-NNN64qljEA8V-6q4GDDWycghyX3XM535n3yBAyRN5J4bLYWikk1BR2iZPPGd0TOOzU2iBrbPIauaKh1LBs17MP0llJwfYOg358213-BWy5uJj5cetCp5214y7O5iroD7ynf7mg/s200/IMG_1155.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Achille flare up during Istria<br />
may have created a change in gait<br />
and psoas issue??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbrSsqv7S-55aP0mc0h7L0IaM2bFCqNngOCn-o4zxZQBVRPhr-vKXQMhBeWG2_lux_Tt07qOhJgFTmeKCBy-TOg5M99CPmWozox9ENOKXr6YFlkKhKp3PY7grDzgKp5nCziSFa0uymg/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbrSsqv7S-55aP0mc0h7L0IaM2bFCqNngOCn-o4zxZQBVRPhr-vKXQMhBeWG2_lux_Tt07qOhJgFTmeKCBy-TOg5M99CPmWozox9ENOKXr6YFlkKhKp3PY7grDzgKp5nCziSFa0uymg/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" width="320" /></a>While the experience was super positive I unfortunately came away from the race with psoas tendonitis aka deep groin pain. With continued thoughts of racing Western States, I bought a new road bike, enlisted in the help of chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, injections (x-ray and MRI to confirm what my issue was) all to no avail. I would not be racing Western States, 2 weeks prior to the race I withdrew. I stopped all therapies and my cycling. Time to let rest do it's thing....and guess what... it worked.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIGeJ81qCJik4uMuK2M_Yu2WGckZkjULYhyphenhyphengd14Cqab7f1oW44ZMFnEXkVBDliOL-oYrLGrsCE9gVgOwRJsZP1oTYnYJi208RCUN5Zr4wXqkERH834ve9Ctv224tMHciXFjZ-5tvXpg/s1600/IMG_3266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIGeJ81qCJik4uMuK2M_Yu2WGckZkjULYhyphenhyphengd14Cqab7f1oW44ZMFnEXkVBDliOL-oYrLGrsCE9gVgOwRJsZP1oTYnYJi208RCUN5Zr4wXqkERH834ve9Ctv224tMHciXFjZ-5tvXpg/s200/IMG_3266.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If your wondering what the "Tent" <br />
looks like! Jaz likes it too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And so began my training for Run Rabbit Run. After all I was already registered, just a matter of seeing if my groin would tolerate the training. I increased my mileage slowly and while I could feel my groin off and on it never lasted long. 4 weeks prior to Run Rabbit I threw a race on my calendar as a training run. Standhope 60k in Ketchum Idaho with 11,000 vertical feet at elevation. I felt great. My psoas was still there but not painfully so and it would go away most importantly. The rest of my training consisted of hiking with my 17lb weighted vest as well as "sleeping" in my <a href="http://www.hypoxico.com/">Hypoxico</a> tent.<br />
And then it was time.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawGwTT77R-F0zdPWUTRZ7agYCYCpNswyw4Q3Ls1M24rzkIvGfnpsX9s_eOCKL-KHFvtWtS3viYhHkTT_sGe9aRMrV-ESAj-zaU8VCgWDISNUlY0BMCBV0JU8MTcpVHHKt7i1-u6ndZQ/s1600/IMG_4339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawGwTT77R-F0zdPWUTRZ7agYCYCpNswyw4Q3Ls1M24rzkIvGfnpsX9s_eOCKL-KHFvtWtS3viYhHkTT_sGe9aRMrV-ESAj-zaU8VCgWDISNUlY0BMCBV0JU8MTcpVHHKt7i1-u6ndZQ/s320/IMG_4339.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre race calories with my crew :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Carrie traveled with me as crew. I registered as a Hare...no need to worry about who might be pacing me....no pacers allowed. But, having raced in Croatia (no pacers allowed) where I went with no crew, this was something I now had experience with. <br />
The start of the race was a climb up Mt Warner about a 4k climb in 4.4 miles to 10,800 ft elevation. With the field consisting of only Hares... we did not spread out. The Tortoses started at 7 that same day. We all formed a lovely chain and climbed the Mnt, I did have thoughts that perhaps we were going just a tad to fast but...what the heck, I was with great company!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCCp9FFLSQFskq8XLj4y2lR7SyHh516T7og9uYhUCIzmaypDbXXtfpwM1l-IPUm7-TRXeUl6jNP1dDzWLd8l2oxbBumb6lRu4ZzQ3Z8ZQXMhYP_DpMXi8Pqmh1pnBR5ir7Qzf2ROOuQ/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCCp9FFLSQFskq8XLj4y2lR7SyHh516T7og9uYhUCIzmaypDbXXtfpwM1l-IPUm7-TRXeUl6jNP1dDzWLd8l2oxbBumb6lRu4ZzQ3Z8ZQXMhYP_DpMXi8Pqmh1pnBR5ir7Qzf2ROOuQ/s320/IMG_4452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Climb of the race.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My starting gear was a handheld and a waist pack. I had originally planned to start with the Spry 1L vest but during the course of my morning nap, changed my mind. I went cool with the rest of my gear as we had bluebird skies seeing us off for the noon start.. Velocity bun huggers, singlet, trucker had, Julbo Access shades and arm sleeves (tossed as soon as I saw Carrie). I packed my waist belt with GU and Honey Stingers and put Nuun and Carbo Pro in my handheld. Hoka Speed Instinct were the shoes I opted for.<br />
I saw Carrie 5 times during the course of the race and had 2 drop bags of which I would visit twice. <br />
First at mile 21. Leading up to this aid, a runner from Canada fell into step with me. We shared miles and swapped stories leading into the Olympian aid station. Per Adam, he was sticking with me as in his experience women pace themselves better then men :)<br />
At Olympian, Carrie provided me with coconut water, Fritos, a croissant sandwich, refilled my water bottle and I grabbed a few more GU gels and raced away. I was feeling my psoas and little random quad pain but all was well. Although I may have raced away without my handheld...oops, short out and back and I was off!<br />
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Coming out of AS 21mi I passed Anita Ortez. While she and I had been leap frogging, I had not seen any of the other females. <br />
Mile 29.4 would be the next aid and Carrie. I passed some runners and was passed by some. But for the most part ran solo through this section and having a blast. I was singing to my tunes, taking in the sights and thinking of all those out there supporting me during this race. May have been having too much fun as I kinda forgot to pay attention and caught a toe while taking in the views...no harm, just dirty. Time to pay attention.<br />
At the next AS I was feeling my quad, my psoas, my achilles...weird. I got to Carrie, ate a few Advil, more coconut water and Frittos, a small headlamp and was off. Some runners stay away from Advil and while I would not recommend it throughout a 100 mile race, I will take it if I feel the need. It was 545pm and I was anticipating seeing Carrie at mile 41 at approx 8pm. Meaning I would need a headlight but not my full on set up quite yet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_J4Sx1QDRZFu8qWxlrZK1tsvIL9Ovo04gIvfoIG11zwRKhAtl7a25cWN0dkLaHvqpp0Ecoqhi3u0myFfPqqfjY7JRAeRDNtsJ2hYf_-MWqjgheWc0NsDBl_PeWefOXhaW9bqduN7Ow/s1600/IMG_4365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_J4Sx1QDRZFu8qWxlrZK1tsvIL9Ovo04gIvfoIG11zwRKhAtl7a25cWN0dkLaHvqpp0Ecoqhi3u0myFfPqqfjY7JRAeRDNtsJ2hYf_-MWqjgheWc0NsDBl_PeWefOXhaW9bqduN7Ow/s320/IMG_4365.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of great support at this race.</td></tr>
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<br />
This section had some nice runnable trails with a shorter climb. Here I connected with a few runners off and on. No women, at this point I was around F5-6. As predicted I hit AS 41.6 Olympian again at 815. It was amazing to watch the full moon crest the horizon as I descended into the aid station to Carrie. When the sun sets and the moon rises and vise versa are special times during the course of a 100 miler. Here we swapped my single headlamp for my Black Diamond head/ waist set up added my Houdini windbreaker, mittens, long sleeve merino and a head buff. I was still warm but knew the temps would be dropping soon. And while this combo worked well I was super happy to have some hand warmers offered up to me at Summit AS mi 57.8 by the eventual 4th place Master Becky. The temps had dropped and I added to my layers a hat, my Houdini pants, and another mid layer....I had hopes of a sub 24 hour finish and while I had been on track I started dropping off pace the second half of the race. I saw Carrie along with Bill (who was crewing his wife Ronda) a couple more times with mi 74 being the last I would see of her until the finish.<br />
The night time sections I struggled with a bit, with needing to take a few breaks either on rocks or leaning against a tree as I found myself no longer shuffling but rather moving in a drunken stagger weaving my way up the climbs. I think fatigue with the cold temps in combination, sapped my energy stores. Thankfully dawn brought with it renewed energy as well as some female company. One came from behind and one from in front. This was a good motivator and brought my mind back to the race at hand. I picked it up and was able to pull away from both runners. Unfortunately my Garmin lasted only about 17 hours and I did not bring a back up so with no time and no distance to have a point of reference I truly felt like time had stopped. With 3 aid stations prior to the finish it felt like an eternity between each aid. At this point our race started co mingling with the 50 mile runners. <br />
And then finally I was at the last 6 mi stretch of downhill...what a bugger of a finish! 24:52 no, not sub 24 but a finish I was certainly happy with. F5, 2nd Master...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj-LEj2X8hv0hnzZfCoYW5krcMuqCDUqa3pxNkx1pYXvF3bz9jwoevN7dbjWCXEfTOutScUURtp9JJ_i7Pg9Vl29TUUDX-AUsCj6e8Vj9HpWDT_BkajjtnDcZhoVv_z30ipJuGQLXhA/s1600/IMG_4361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj-LEj2X8hv0hnzZfCoYW5krcMuqCDUqa3pxNkx1pYXvF3bz9jwoevN7dbjWCXEfTOutScUURtp9JJ_i7Pg9Vl29TUUDX-AUsCj6e8Vj9HpWDT_BkajjtnDcZhoVv_z30ipJuGQLXhA/s400/IMG_4361.JPG" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finish line with my bestie!</td></tr>
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<br />
<u>As always the learnings:</u><br />
I have more mid weight layers that one should own...pack layers in all drop bags.<br />
With COLD temp races go with more rather than less, even if you don't "think" you need it.<br />
I should have brought a pack that was a bit larger which would have afforded me more room to pack more gear.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj8xuXjYnjKwzqJrsfjKcYXWaM6-K1YYXrPIayW_lXVe8LQAOp0rCZWZutgzCAVj1MPihDJ5PksoDSP-_O-hde58OL-0AgdaVZoNP-1zYm8NivPg-fKxNPpn2r8Fg_qOrfwRpwjh4GA/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj8xuXjYnjKwzqJrsfjKcYXWaM6-K1YYXrPIayW_lXVe8LQAOp0rCZWZutgzCAVj1MPihDJ5PksoDSP-_O-hde58OL-0AgdaVZoNP-1zYm8NivPg-fKxNPpn2r8Fg_qOrfwRpwjh4GA/s320/IMG_1135.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The essentials!</td></tr>
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Istria take away--always pack your race essentials in your carry on, just in case you don't reconnect with your luggage.<br />
<br />
<u>Highlights:</u><br />
Carrie! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Love you lady!<br />
Super well organized race. Great aid stations as well as marking and support along the way.<br />
Lots of positive energy going into the race kept me supper balanced even when I was struggling.<br />
Tailwind...I ended up consuming only Tailwind calories for the last 15-20 miles and used it throughout the race. I was impressed with how well it worked for me.<br />
Patagonia-Houdini pants, H20 jacket,<br />
J<a href="http://www.julbo.com/en/16/products/family/sunglasses_5.html">ulbo Access</a> sunglasses<br />
Ultraspire Spry 1L; <a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/io/">lo waistbelt</a>; <a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/iso-versa/">handheld</a><br />
Picky bars prior to the race<br />
<br />
Next up...Wrap up of 2016 and the 1st race of 2017!Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-12068199840383082692016-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:002016-02-20T11:15:08.334-08:00Black Canyon 100k..chasing The Golden Ticket!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtU7KOzonUMemoXq1hOIdwsKZ0y9AmlsyeejbMUk_Q4FIA6ComuAHceDv5HBBi2Pd_WbFTAXi2p6YDyxwMUdnk3dTrN3ivjUMImyUOSVOONXioMZwpFN5gTf3C_zvrmXb_Vbfj4N9Dg/s1600/BC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtU7KOzonUMemoXq1hOIdwsKZ0y9AmlsyeejbMUk_Q4FIA6ComuAHceDv5HBBi2Pd_WbFTAXi2p6YDyxwMUdnk3dTrN3ivjUMImyUOSVOONXioMZwpFN5gTf3C_zvrmXb_Vbfj4N9Dg/s320/BC1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When in Arizona p/c me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1immSuwiu9VCHX7sfDThE-su6MzDnMlmD7NsOesdMhbWMOM-XUKhgwAmbefCaHAjwVFbLNuWBDAv7oIbYmwinXC4Bzc7g6Kmv1-LxRA3rq08o26m7Qj2fVUni4Khomr85Ltpn4GKm0A/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1immSuwiu9VCHX7sfDThE-su6MzDnMlmD7NsOesdMhbWMOM-XUKhgwAmbefCaHAjwVFbLNuWBDAv7oIbYmwinXC4Bzc7g6Kmv1-LxRA3rq08o26m7Qj2fVUni4Khomr85Ltpn4GKm0A/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The starting line is always filled with friends!<br />
Photo credit Keely Henninger</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.hurt100trailrace.com/">HURT 100 </a>was in the books and I came away feeling pretty good. <br />
It was entertaining to watch the expression on the faces of people who would congratulate me on my <a href="http://www.hurt100trailrace.com/">HURT100</a> win and ask, "what's next?". My sheepish response being, "<a href="http://aravaiparunning.com/network/blackcanyon/">Black Canyon 100k</a>", 4 weeks later oh and reason being, chasing a "<a href="http://www.wser.org/golden-ticket-races/">Golden Ticket</a>"...."If you never try, you will never know", reads the sign in the front entry of my home.<br />
What did my training look like during the next 4 week period? I waited a week before going for a 6 mi treadmill run. Almost immediately I felt pain around the outside of my ankle but because I could tolerate it, I did. Yeah, I know.... Monday morning I consulted one of the sports trauma docs at work and received a "peroneal tendonitis" diagnosis. Imagine that, an overuse injury!! Prescription, rest. And so with that I took two days off, and on the third day trialed a 4 mi treadmill run. Nope, apparently I needed more time off. The next three days I rested and tried again on the fourth day (maybe a little stubborn). All was well. I ran 13 miles at Smith Rock, no discomfort, and my legs felt nice and strong. Although, I was a bit sad the following day that my quads were more sore than I thought they should/ would be. With Black Canyon 4 weeks out from HURT, 2 weeks of which were already gone, my plan was to be as recovered and as ready as I could be. My only focus for the remaining week of training would be leg turnover. I had the strength and endurance from HURT but was lacking the turnover. So, I hit the track a couple of times and at Smith I concentrated on running steady and strong. <br />
Just like that it was time to taper for Black Canyon 100k. Why a 100k, 4 weeks after HURT? I mentioned the "<a href="http://www.wser.org/golden-ticket-races/">Golden Ticket</a>"... 2015 I was not fortunate to place top 10 at Western States 100 and I did not get in through the lottery. That left racing in with one of the Golden Ticket races of which Black Canyon was. As a Golden Ticket race, the top 2, male and female finisher would earn a Western States entry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlC12gyxYRKclQLHJpH9JnKehyphenhyphenRLWywPitJSWMX764FynPN4X2Fk-qW0WBM7fj9XU7INh1S9uNdTYU9ObmlKS9EdmvjGad43AUrxXdFbeTlBZpkKjvVD-z-kl1affqy86gQvTfymI6g/s1600/BC4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlC12gyxYRKclQLHJpH9JnKehyphenhyphenRLWywPitJSWMX764FynPN4X2Fk-qW0WBM7fj9XU7INh1S9uNdTYU9ObmlKS9EdmvjGad43AUrxXdFbeTlBZpkKjvVD-z-kl1affqy86gQvTfymI6g/s400/BC4.JPG" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Scotty Mills<br />
This pic is for you Ken!</td></tr>
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As it would turn out, and for my very first time at this distance, I would be traveling solo for this race. No crew, no pacers. Now, maybe this is something many other runners are used to....but not this chica. Of all my <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Denise&lname=Bourassa">Ultrasignup</a> races at the 100k or 100mi distance I have always had crew/ pacer support. I call my team my little pit crew. Yes, Ken calls me a diva :) I call it, being loved! Because I generally have this support, I was looking forward to taking this one solo. I currently have on my 2016 race calendar, <a href="http://www.istria100.com/">100 Miles of Istria</a>, in Croatia and <a href="http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/">Run Rabbit Run 100</a>, both of which I will not have a pacer and potentially no crew. Good time to familiarize myself with how to do it solo.<br />
As it turned out, I connected with friend and fellow Bend runner <a href="http://blog.montrail.com/athletes/amy-sproston/">Amy Sproston </a>the night prior to the race. Sharing some great pre race hang time until we toed the line. Gotta love racing with good friends!<br />
Prepping for my race, I planned 2 drop bags, 1 at mile 24 and 1 at mi 51. In the 1st bag I placed GU calories, a can of coconut water, and frittos. The 2nd drop bag was more GU calories, coconut water, frittos, s-caps, <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">a waist pack, a handheld </a>and for worst case scenario a waist lamp. My goal time was 10-11 hours which would have me finishing in the daylight. But...you never know.<br />
With a 7am start on a completely exposed course and expected high of 85 degrees I started the race with what I would end up finishing the race wearing. <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/shop/womens-trail-running?k=1E-3m"> Patagonia race kit,</a> <a href="https://www.patagonia.com/us/product/fitz-roy-bar-interstate-hat?p=38094-0">trucker cap</a>, <a href="https://www.julbo.com/">Julbo shades</a>, cooling buff at my neck, and a <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">1liter hydration pack</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdpf5nnarKe6hRVv4DcOichMdHDRZL66b_qow9OGcSRLoztf8OU6aWCBft6gfr6xs5vKqWwoSonPu6rA1UpcR650flRKwGOQ2C5efOq8tBAjwHzTaykYpjsg1lTwi-oIl5mBBhSuZGA/s1600/BC7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdpf5nnarKe6hRVv4DcOichMdHDRZL66b_qow9OGcSRLoztf8OU6aWCBft6gfr6xs5vKqWwoSonPu6rA1UpcR650flRKwGOQ2C5efOq8tBAjwHzTaykYpjsg1lTwi-oIl5mBBhSuZGA/s640/BC7.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Howie Stern; no trees to be seen mi 19!</td></tr>
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At the end of the day I would say that I had a great race. I started out nice and strong, and felt great for the most of the race. The first 20-30 miles I settled in, holding pace with a group of guys who were great company and helped the miles fly by. While our group spread out a bit in the middle part of the race, I continued to trade spots with a couple of them. Amy took the lead from the start and other than on a 1mi long out and back at the 50k mark, I would not see her for the rest of the race. Early on I passed a couple of gals, and then was passed by Amanda Basham, who ended up behind me on the out and back (I heard she went off course). While I was concerned about her behind me, she ended up dropping from the race.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJsuMfhFF3I6fdhm43qvcqDz-qf1veuHqqPGnFlYUKtwrIoXQRKF-tIVyU5z7_9xXMAeVPw93QNVDbHd61Xco9SHpPwj_-pLIxxahvTjKNWUCfOpnmtLnQaRFgMSCTxta0-UlU6mp6w/s1600/BC6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJsuMfhFF3I6fdhm43qvcqDz-qf1veuHqqPGnFlYUKtwrIoXQRKF-tIVyU5z7_9xXMAeVPw93QNVDbHd61Xco9SHpPwj_-pLIxxahvTjKNWUCfOpnmtLnQaRFgMSCTxta0-UlU6mp6w/s640/BC6.JPG" width="493" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Howie Stern; mi 38</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My main mistake on my solo quest, was with my drop bag at mi 21. I guzzled the coconut water but then forgot to take my extra GU/ Honeystinger calories from the bag. While the aid stations had fruit, chips, PB&J, and sweets, they did not have GU or other gel calories. I paid for this after about mi 40 when I ran out of the calories that I started with. While GU can be at times hard to eat, it is crazy effective in bang for your buck than the actual food at the aid stations. With the heat, and the amount of salt I was consuming to keep my leg cramps at bay my gut had no tolerance for solid food. This would be my low point for the race, mi 42ish to 51 where my next drop bag was. Here I did get more gel calories, only 2 packs. Not sure what I was thinking....I was able to take one but after that my gut was finished. Thank you to the nice ATV folks who stopped to check on me as I was loosing my guts on the side of the road. It's at about this time 92 miles left) that I was so very thankful that I was only running 62 miles and not 100 :)<br />
Last few miles to the finish line, I felt confident there would be no one to challenge my second place finish. My body was tired, and my feet (still recovering from HURT) were toast. I was ever so happy and greatful to cross the finish line with my body intact and with a Golden Ticket!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to cross the line....with a Golden Ticket!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you to <a href="https://www.aravaiparunning.com/">Aravaipa</a> for putting on this great event. The race was incredibly well organized and the aid stations and course markings were top notch!!<br />
There is a reason I am an ambassador for the gear I run in/ race in. <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/shop/womens-trail-running?k=1E-3m"> Patagonia</a>, <a href="https://www.julbo.com/">Julbo</a>, <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">Ultraspire</a>, <a href="https://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars</a>...The gear I wear day in and day out. Seriously, take a look at my pics, it is the products I love to use and recommend to friends and family. If my mom were with me here today annnnd if she had the vision of running a trail race, this is the gear I would set her up with!<br />
As always love, hugs and cheers!<br />
Denise<br />
<br />
Solo quest learning... as I look to <a href="http://www.istria100.com/">100 Miles of Istria </a>on April 15th...Take advantage of your drop bags, no harm no foul to have one every opportunity the race supports. Could be a game changer!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc0Ik9EyVBEG48PDUMF9Ib_CIb2s7Q1__rxPZHZaV1DMAmZHymZTDPSxEPZnG05kGMLA-kIie1FYD83wtZ7kN2jMxFSpr0MlSPwA56qBJA-lCDxg-97DFMyrF4lCgrjpxJLerKWnT4A/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHc0Ik9EyVBEG48PDUMF9Ib_CIb2s7Q1__rxPZHZaV1DMAmZHymZTDPSxEPZnG05kGMLA-kIie1FYD83wtZ7kN2jMxFSpr0MlSPwA56qBJA-lCDxg-97DFMyrF4lCgrjpxJLerKWnT4A/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the words of Spro, "finish lines are better with friends"!<br />
In the words of Chris Askew, "we did Willy Wonka proud"!! #goldenticketX2!</td></tr>
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-91281108623669452312016-02-11T21:46:00.001-08:002016-02-11T21:46:41.338-08:00HURT 2016...Redemption<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB9XyTUpTGkc3qO9xED1iv5-WPm_K-dvWFZ1NgiBBeguuSWVjY7hGRaMtfm7pWn37mjr8ioV5jUsTZ-YwFHZvhQxa6ncrlF3vkw6cvBiHeanOpzl_Mr3XxPlTiZqWXaQQESQDy50HFQ/s1600/Turkey+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB9XyTUpTGkc3qO9xED1iv5-WPm_K-dvWFZ1NgiBBeguuSWVjY7hGRaMtfm7pWn37mjr8ioV5jUsTZ-YwFHZvhQxa6ncrlF3vkw6cvBiHeanOpzl_Mr3XxPlTiZqWXaQQESQDy50HFQ/s320/Turkey+run.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving run!</td></tr>
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Thanksgiving day brings a snowy 12 mi run with my spouse, running repeats on Grizzly Mnt. We return home and while I go for a second run to log more miles, Ken cooks dinner.<br />
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It's a friends going away party;<a href="http://marriedtothetrail.com/about/"> Mary M</a> thru hiking the triple crown this calendar year, never done by a female! As soon as the hugs are exchanged I leave to squeeze in another 10 miles.</div>
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Christmas Day and as we make the trek from Bend to Eugene to spend time with family, I'm dropped off 17 miles short of our destination...to get my run in.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqArKGW5cXvxuZ9LsilMzKtXrsqGuF_y-A-ccEjltWKkLVPuHPYw3rnzTqdrlb4v2n_r2pEqmUwXnmfbAw7eCwbPx5-bWRhAKvKmYI4s-EtlEi2C-iWN3CwmIZRps_1UqsOAoUF0kgxg/s1600/IMG_7647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqArKGW5cXvxuZ9LsilMzKtXrsqGuF_y-A-ccEjltWKkLVPuHPYw3rnzTqdrlb4v2n_r2pEqmUwXnmfbAw7eCwbPx5-bWRhAKvKmYI4s-EtlEi2C-iWN3CwmIZRps_1UqsOAoUF0kgxg/s200/IMG_7647.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie, Merry Christmas!</td></tr>
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It's 4:30 and I'm off for my 10 mi, 90 minute slog through the snow, followed by a 10+ hour work day with a repeat of the same 10 miles back home. Ken has cooked me dinner, of which I eat and fall into bed exhausted (typical M-F).</div>
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If you are training for a January 100 mile race, these stories I am certain, sound familiar. These are not complaints but rather what you do to get the miles in.</div>
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HURT 2015 was my first 100 mile DNF. That year I was physically ready to race, but I was not mentally ready. I took a fall early on and mentally I embraced that fall and used it as a handicap for not finishing rather than as a crutch to finish.</div>
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Time and energy was spent, sacrifices were made and...I did not finish.<br />
After 2015's DNF, I knew before I left Hawaii that I would be back. Added to this was being contacted by the RD, asking if a photo of me from 2015's race could be used on their Ultrasignup web page....</div>
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I was determined from the get go that HURT 2016 would be different.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkYpYQcCwIYC26jaWkWaa3VXtf30EiYkC0ZIwkURkb9WInD5-hxnkl7VACWnONNuBfpPtA2qNEM5hERq4p49CjVYKLC2Kt_lMhkQl-iPK0iOPdRXuFYRfdY1JQzSth3n2N2jbpaf7qA/s1600/IMG_8017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkYpYQcCwIYC26jaWkWaa3VXtf30EiYkC0ZIwkURkb9WInD5-hxnkl7VACWnONNuBfpPtA2qNEM5hERq4p49CjVYKLC2Kt_lMhkQl-iPK0iOPdRXuFYRfdY1JQzSth3n2N2jbpaf7qA/s320/IMG_8017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 6am send off crew! photo c/o Cory Smith!</td></tr>
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HURT 2016 once completed would be my 13th 100 miler. With a DNF as motivation, Ken, family and friends as crew and pacers, how could I fail. And so I took that attitude and my physical and mental toughness on a 30 + hour trek in the jungles of Hawaii and I came away with the win. Hell ya!! But seriously, unless I had a bone protruding from my body, I knew I would be finishing this race. It was a serious added bonus winning it!!<br />
So you know how I finished but how did my race go...</div>
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At the pre race briefing we were handed two cards and asked to write down two motivational/ inspirational notes. I did not write mine down because they were at the forefront of my mind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd3bXl49yQUK5hgOqJiA21qETeJmoab8RmP-Se6Wh5DAJVab2zgRHQyAE9pMbH8dvOw65AdOJKJA3E99PIgjdqZe1z_6e2FH5W7XqhEhSJkpoZzUoTPYxAINn7CfElXLsB7STDUmvhw/s1600/IMG_6863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd3bXl49yQUK5hgOqJiA21qETeJmoab8RmP-Se6Wh5DAJVab2zgRHQyAE9pMbH8dvOw65AdOJKJA3E99PIgjdqZe1z_6e2FH5W7XqhEhSJkpoZzUoTPYxAINn7CfElXLsB7STDUmvhw/s320/IMG_6863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My amazing older brother(and yes, 5 sisters)<br />
who has lived with ALS for the past 19 years<br />
#runningforthosewhocan't!</td></tr>
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1.) Run for those who can't 2.) Redemption run. Not even for a moment was there a thought of not finishing. I also committed to myself and my crew that there would be a smile on my face entering and exiting all the aid stations.<br />
I knew about the heat/ humidity, and like last year, started the race with only a <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">UltrAspire Isomeric Race handheld and Quantum 2.0 waist pack </a>stuffed with my calories. I swapped to the <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">Spry hydration</a> pack after about 25 miles. I stuck with GU and Honeystinger while running and had my crew supplied with coconut water, fritos, fruit cups, applesauce and turkey sandwiches at the aid stations. This proved to be a great combination for me. I never had a low point with my calories and for the first time found myself holding down the GU calories all the way through to the end of the race. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA0_sAaRk0HXXjQOP6YDCQU-F_-U9iFETc5i0PoXAzPHpuEa24aJcKTssisvVrvd_Dw0TcPhnhBpNZa1MIqd7aorInXR19Er9X0wF-2Goq5myumFEn4t6XNXAD_WQg7Dri5fNUse6ow/s1600/IMG_8095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA0_sAaRk0HXXjQOP6YDCQU-F_-U9iFETc5i0PoXAzPHpuEa24aJcKTssisvVrvd_Dw0TcPhnhBpNZa1MIqd7aorInXR19Er9X0wF-2Goq5myumFEn4t6XNXAD_WQg7Dri5fNUse6ow/s320/IMG_8095.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic time mi 95 in front of the Bien Bench (which was in the sun :)), <br />
If you can take 1 GU why not take 2!<br />
Photo c/o Ronda Sundermeier.</td></tr>
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Final calorie stop mi 95 in front of the Bien bench, here my pacer Ronda told me, "1 GU was easy enough you might as well take 2", and so I did. Did I mention the coconut water....for the last 3 years I have taken to drinking coconut water at aid stations with crew access. I may have gone overboard at HURT. My crew had to stop and buy more as I drank 9 cans. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6tQbpq_AUxatbaYbfdCQe7y0JMLVR2aWvxKvluaFtPikD71RZ1r8bP9toie3oFCiR-p3nV0Y9udfufBYOiTQejjGkCA02gEbDEjRmH3w35-Fn3qaBMmRrZw6XAvmnqylTWge7yAOXA/s1600/IMG_8092+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6tQbpq_AUxatbaYbfdCQe7y0JMLVR2aWvxKvluaFtPikD71RZ1r8bP9toie3oFCiR-p3nV0Y9udfufBYOiTQejjGkCA02gEbDEjRmH3w35-Fn3qaBMmRrZw6XAvmnqylTWge7yAOXA/s200/IMG_8092+%25281%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More coconut water? :)</td></tr>
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This was in additional to the 4 fresh coconuts I had from Michael Arnstein (2015 HURT winner). He was at a junction on the course serving up fresh coconut's all night long!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIcW-TyHPgnjgYoEUSaAk4mesTzuY0br8gfbh91VNKyGY65YL2Df4kWMtmeXNJ_1nBl8urq2-NVwCKZJsH7Nl0vdvm4Sh8Yo3CGbCj5EovClYmUiwDbq_JXrc_ex752NOOPJbunmEzw/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIcW-TyHPgnjgYoEUSaAk4mesTzuY0br8gfbh91VNKyGY65YL2Df4kWMtmeXNJ_1nBl8urq2-NVwCKZJsH7Nl0vdvm4Sh8Yo3CGbCj5EovClYmUiwDbq_JXrc_ex752NOOPJbunmEzw/s320/IMG_8026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Ronda S. Thank you for the coconut <a href="http://www.thefruitarian.com/">Michael</a>!</td></tr>
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This is a crazy technical course with slick roots, rocks, mud and so I started the race wearing the Nike Wildhorse. I also brought the HokaOne Speedgoat. I decided to start with the firmer Nike and move to the softer Hoka later in the race. While this did prove to be a good plan, shoe change at mi 60, a better plan would have been to race the entire race in the Hoka's. The softer, tackier tread of the Hoka was a better shoe for the terrain. The Wildhorse's tread is made of a hard material making it slip on the rocks and roots.<br />
I mentioned the humidity, and for the first time EVER I did get a little backside chaffing, perhaps this is proof that I do have a backside :)<br />
As always, the aid stations at HURT go above and beyond with a wide variety of food to entice runners and amazing volunteers who clearly love doing what they do. I was super spoiled with my crew of 4-6 off and on. If there is a course in which crew is not needed, this would be the one. As was pointed out by my crew, I lost time having them at every aid station and while it was great having them there it was not necessary. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DdiuVqNqh9WJNgx57yulH4ykGPIsmBVLRkoj6Nziv0tkEwRxWajijRCy9vlYC67wzeL9uxuz4Z7XqkAywrht9vkyKsno8Wmhh5jnwlpZzg28Xs7zSz9kAoayCfbQuxlrgnk5319emw/s1600/IMG_7995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DdiuVqNqh9WJNgx57yulH4ykGPIsmBVLRkoj6Nziv0tkEwRxWajijRCy9vlYC67wzeL9uxuz4Z7XqkAywrht9vkyKsno8Wmhh5jnwlpZzg28Xs7zSz9kAoayCfbQuxlrgnk5319emw/s200/IMG_7995.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bend goes M1 and F1! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0hyCUFVxLJY_jszrHZqrnbxp78G8TkZjIzZnPcC4OarmaCspiUE6KhiDGzwsRgSVmhb04uNAdL9_GP2MJAGZ7_rglJfNQGkBglODe4kZtFzn0WNNloskNxf3SW9IM6g8Wa8ywBI3dg/s1600/IMG_8001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0hyCUFVxLJY_jszrHZqrnbxp78G8TkZjIzZnPcC4OarmaCspiUE6KhiDGzwsRgSVmhb04uNAdL9_GP2MJAGZ7_rglJfNQGkBglODe4kZtFzn0WNNloskNxf3SW9IM6g8Wa8ywBI3dg/s400/IMG_8001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HURT family photo<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> c/o Angus To; crew Carrie, Roy and B-Fine </span>Pacer/Crew Ken, Bill, and Ronda, you all were amazing!!</td></tr>
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HURT is a looped course with out and backs taking the guess work out of where you stand in the race. I enjoyed for the first time in a 100 mile event taking the lead from the start and maintaining and growing that lead through the course of the race. I got to see fellow Bend runner<br />
Jeff Browning move up into the lead for the men and take the win. As well as Yassine return from last years DNF with a 3rd place finish. What a great day, what a great race!<br />
Thank you to Stan and Cheryl for the Kukui nuts donated for my cause. Huge shout out to John, Jeff, Stan and PJ for putting on such an incredibly organized and yes, even fun event.<br />
To my crew / pacers, you guys were awesome!<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/trail-running">Patagonia</a>, <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">UltrAspire</a>, <a href="https://www.julbo.com/">Julbo</a>, <a href="https://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars</a>...it just keeps getting better, thank you for your never ending support and love! <br />
No better time than the present....Next up February 13th <a href="http://aravaiparunning.com/network/blackcanyon/">Black Canyon 100k</a>...Chasing the Golden Ticket.<br />
Stay tuned!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1FNk3tGx65s_y9ZzAM-V3BCr51s2dhfGgDcGGPNpyEVkOmXwkbbMO4i7KDRf2kQpDe75lrS7FUHwjsjpDLhSVD7Oi8Kh0Xn-ML9MUOgPUTGgAJk_B3DNPWugWeVzW-AsB4wCCHPMqw/s1600/IMG_7990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1FNk3tGx65s_y9ZzAM-V3BCr51s2dhfGgDcGGPNpyEVkOmXwkbbMO4i7KDRf2kQpDe75lrS7FUHwjsjpDLhSVD7Oi8Kh0Xn-ML9MUOgPUTGgAJk_B3DNPWugWeVzW-AsB4wCCHPMqw/s400/IMG_7990.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kiss! Photo c/0 Angus To</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYMeBcGHJLZDg-O_iD38xZTozL34ulk2FXrxCmMBDXTQ6-XeA8rPH5fB-SWNqlM_b8b3xE6SpCJZv28ob8KA6OsImZN7sZ4UImSRmJVqoxIQZlE9i_cElqzyAkxzt3WLm0uA5mdk7Q/s1600/IMG_7988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYMeBcGHJLZDg-O_iD38xZTozL34ulk2FXrxCmMBDXTQ6-XeA8rPH5fB-SWNqlM_b8b3xE6SpCJZv28ob8KA6OsImZN7sZ4UImSRmJVqoxIQZlE9i_cElqzyAkxzt3WLm0uA5mdk7Q/s200/IMG_7988.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the finishers ring c/o Angus To</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FW1arRIdph8VZuZb74Vhiq2VxT1_RjAGQYNKoJsNqsECkaMT03F7qts62daXyftdTjbrThwej5lnMDbqRPh-pL5XBGYa_wQXTnDNCTCBjkaHKKHQPjtiCI7DYWadX08JKAbh6CPczA/s1600/IMG_7879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FW1arRIdph8VZuZb74Vhiq2VxT1_RjAGQYNKoJsNqsECkaMT03F7qts62daXyftdTjbrThwej5lnMDbqRPh-pL5XBGYa_wQXTnDNCTCBjkaHKKHQPjtiCI7DYWadX08JKAbh6CPczA/s400/IMG_7879.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benefit of racing in Hawaii,,,you got it, beach time! 2017 who's in??</td></tr>
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-3972558176832039822015-09-15T20:03:00.000-07:002015-09-15T20:35:56.693-07:00Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc: Why 103 miles...because 100 miles won't get you around the mountain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time and time again I am reminded as to why I am drawn to trail running and ultra trail racing.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOlEj-4Am7EcK-dCkT7BIJX-1on60QElMkdEchqOsxyGAmXu0CwvpufrrpQfWS52nYR31uqGePONujzkzGXSzKXmbQoXK6Qi91p9o-LmcRN-xFIsaM0vRwpewYHKtG9KX8u4K3M-R3A/s1600/IMG_20150822_163436116_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOlEj-4Am7EcK-dCkT7BIJX-1on60QElMkdEchqOsxyGAmXu0CwvpufrrpQfWS52nYR31uqGePONujzkzGXSzKXmbQoXK6Qi91p9o-LmcRN-xFIsaM0vRwpewYHKtG9KX8u4K3M-R3A/s400/IMG_20150822_163436116_HDR.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courmayeur pre-view<br />
Photo c/o Topher Gaylord</td></tr>
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UTMB-- Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc. This race has been on my radar for a few years and because of the fan fare that follows this race it landed on my wish list of races to run.<br />
What is the <a href="http://www.ultratrailmb.com/accueil.php"><span style="color: #666666;">UTMB</span></a>? It is a 103 mile race that takes place in the Alps across France, Italy and Switzerland. It boasts 30,000+ feet of climbing and it takes you ALL the way around Mont Blanc. The race accepts through lottery more that 2300 entrants and they are given 46.5 hours to complete the race. Couple of added twists this race has that I had not experienced before...runners are not allowed pacers during the later stages of the race. The race is in open country, in mountainous terrain with weather conditions that can change very fast. Due to this each runner has a list of required gear that is to be carried for the entire race (about 8-10 lbs worth). Lastly, and just because they can, the race starts at 6PM!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZYumozPYiiHT5_PrP0ArPGp8fYpISvki-yJto7Rk0CJQtdXIR2mIHRbnwSspOs44D1zg6GRysxUAb2SMgF-mVDn0ycOKCODoQw5TLvA3W_C13RY_fSPoYY89ZEtVegutf88CUvhapw/s1600/IMG_20150822_142033097_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZYumozPYiiHT5_PrP0ArPGp8fYpISvki-yJto7Rk0CJQtdXIR2mIHRbnwSspOs44D1zg6GRysxUAb2SMgF-mVDn0ycOKCODoQw5TLvA3W_C13RY_fSPoYY89ZEtVegutf88CUvhapw/s320/IMG_20150822_142033097_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feast at Maison Vieille, thanks Toph! </td></tr>
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I had a rough go of it at <a href="http://www.wser.org/"><span style="color: #666666;">Western States</span></a> this year. Stomach issues during the heat of the day, stomach virus the week previous and a candle that I was burning from both ends had me wanting to call it a day at Michigan Bluff. But, my steadfast crew along with the help of Jimmy Dean Freeman got me out of a chair and back on the course. My sub 20 hour goal was back burner-ed and the finish line became my new goal. I made it to that sometimes elusive line and not long after WS I began looking forward to UTMB. I took the two following weeks off and with 5 weeks to hone my training I can say that I was truly excited for UTMB. Excited and terrified that is. I had yet to run a race with 30+K of climbing and I was unsure on what to do to prep for this. So, for the next 5 weeks I slept in an altitude tent, trained with a 15lb weighted vest, used poles, carried my pack full of fluid and gear of which I had no need for and I repeatedly climbed buttes and mountains around Bend. Training complete.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eB6FML3Jv3wVWy53F534M4pr3xKRZuFF8OG2FK94qvce8TdVvz0V4MDtI4kpM_A8XET8vCU6I_1at5HMzXQLi6rSa2pSAiEr11AtY6ZNQgwYsYavvPcNZH6zfxCwjVd-l7Jm6vlUfA/s1600/344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eB6FML3Jv3wVWy53F534M4pr3xKRZuFF8OG2FK94qvce8TdVvz0V4MDtI4kpM_A8XET8vCU6I_1at5HMzXQLi6rSa2pSAiEr11AtY6ZNQgwYsYavvPcNZH6zfxCwjVd-l7Jm6vlUfA/s640/344.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chamonix, France at the Patagonia Chalet and home for the next 2 weeks!</td></tr>
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We arrived in Chamonix, France (race start and finish) 2 weeks prior to the race with plans to preview some of the 10 notable climbs around Mont Blanc. And while we did eventually preview 5 of the climbs, lack of luggage for the first 3 days delayed our running. Seriously, I brought a carry on one would think that I would know to pack essential items in it...lesson learned!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vpzt4kl0zRhNBan-bhiZeD8c8vhvjtLzw8W1zDg0xMyO-rbyex_3xHZdGDAp3OHijAWDz2nDveK1Frpg8FWUfq-_XXkXz3NwfwfAolhtsQuFayhFDctCiaWa4I1o9sx5GmClizjErw/s1600/IMG_20150820_111315476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vpzt4kl0zRhNBan-bhiZeD8c8vhvjtLzw8W1zDg0xMyO-rbyex_3xHZdGDAp3OHijAWDz2nDveK1Frpg8FWUfq-_XXkXz3NwfwfAolhtsQuFayhFDctCiaWa4I1o9sx5GmClizjErw/s320/IMG_20150820_111315476.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-race tour <br />
Col du Bonhomme</td></tr>
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We still got in some pretty amazing runs, opening my eyes and my heart to the TMB...I was and am in love with this amazing countryside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVA4709YfDp1CZd3oaPLKEPssK1tBK-r5EyLJqM-My7psqsOzCGNxl36KPwDDoSWyYFd8Dr3l_znFOIVFlgZekgMhugIYuPqVgNOEvvg44pHOr7hTv6wnKixthvst6NMzmt6Hy6Xokw/s1600/IMG_5997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVA4709YfDp1CZd3oaPLKEPssK1tBK-r5EyLJqM-My7psqsOzCGNxl36KPwDDoSWyYFd8Dr3l_znFOIVFlgZekgMhugIYuPqVgNOEvvg44pHOr7hTv6wnKixthvst6NMzmt6Hy6Xokw/s200/IMG_5997.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain music...cow bells!</td></tr>
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Once in Chamonix my prep for UTMB did not stop. While physically I was ready, the hay was metaphorically in the barn, my mental prep had just begun. The power of positive thinking and attitude can create happiness and success. I believe this, so began my prep. I committed to myself, my husband and my friends that on race day I would only be expressing positive thoughts. Nope, no complaining, no whining no bitching to my crew or those around me. To help secure this I would be dedicating the first climb of the race to my mother and the last climb to my brother. The first taken from my world way to soon and the second who has been living in the shell of his former body and suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's). They would be with me on all the steep climbs leading to majestic mountain tops as well as the rocky descents leading to the picturesque villages brimming with spectators and volunteers. I was ready.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyD83VXYap-hU-8Udin4bEdErxzN8hpvAyC9rHKxPj6BG6VRSPjlO_KW7KJ6Qf-mN0zxO0PooYbOB6NfOvsiATrboLwcOcdc5UhPpCd4OGahF3Gv7GYmjA7rGhqT_4xGESUswJyUAwg/s1600/27852553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyD83VXYap-hU-8Udin4bEdErxzN8hpvAyC9rHKxPj6BG6VRSPjlO_KW7KJ6Qf-mN0zxO0PooYbOB6NfOvsiATrboLwcOcdc5UhPpCd4OGahF3Gv7GYmjA7rGhqT_4xGESUswJyUAwg/s320/27852553.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st day--Flash-Sport Photo</td></tr>
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I made my way to the start, fortunate to be in the elite corral at the front of the 2500+ runners. It was 5:30PM, I had just topped my belly off with a <a href="http://pickybars.com/"><span style="color: #666666;">Picky Bar</span></a> adding to the pasta I had eaten at 2:30. It was 80ish degrees and the forecast was looking excellent for the next few days. I settled in with a group of familiar peeps from the US to wait for the start and then we were off. Crazy good energy from the thousands of spectators lining the streets sent us on our way. I was kinda waiting for the tidal wave of runners to overtake me and was happy when it did not happen. We were running perhaps faster than one should for a 103 mile race in the alps but over the 10k distance of open road it allowed everyone to settle into place. And so it began. As we spread out I found myself high fiving children and adults along the route, smiles exchanged with shouts of, "Aller Denise!!" filling the air. Sharing the trail with a US runner, Jamil Curry and while tapping hands with some youngsters I said to him, it's like they are refilling my energy stores with each high five, the smaller the hand the bigger the boost!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM24hskVBnF_hgV1inrQeknLrFFT5glT65uixcifs7AQTMYZaf4MqdaRVZQXUcPC69zfH-06ea21w9yZdOOCElPdazrdljYF0W1oJJMxl-OTvZOFJnXfLIx9Ek2nWjlHAlqU-ep907Q/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM24hskVBnF_hgV1inrQeknLrFFT5glT65uixcifs7AQTMYZaf4MqdaRVZQXUcPC69zfH-06ea21w9yZdOOCElPdazrdljYF0W1oJJMxl-OTvZOFJnXfLIx9Ek2nWjlHAlqU-ep907Q/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">My fella rocked the TDS...<br />
because it's not always about me :)<br />
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The 1st climb of the race I had not previewed but I knew what to do. I took my poles out of my pack and with thoughts of my mom I began to climb. While not familiar with the 1st descent, the words of Topher rang in my head, warning of length of this descent (2nd longest of the race) and to take it easy...loads of racing ahead. At about mi 18 and just before the 2nd climb I would see Ken, this was the first crew spot, it was about 10pm. I stopped long enough to change my socks and eat a few calories.<br />
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The technical terrain had me regret starting the day in my thin Patagonia wool socks and while I had hoped to change into the thicker pair, sadly I had not pack them in my bag of goodies. And so I changed into what was available with Ken making plans to go back to the Chalet to retrieve the thicker pair for later, should I need them. (Fellow crew we had meet at Gorge Waterfalls 100k this year offered her socks, small world!)<br />
With a kiss I was off, leaving that aid station in company with the friendly bearded face of another US runner, Sean Meissner. The 2nd climb was up the Col du Bonhomme, I had seen this climb and was looking forward to passing familiar points (even in the dark). As promised I saw Topher at the start of the climb, he joined step with me, offering up supportive words and advice from his treasure trove of experience. Topher was hugely instrumental in UTMB becoming the race that it is today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioirVYVunNkT3XtiYOH5Q-UNGoM7LUKj8anngIpc7cdLXJ_kh1p0YynoRydmttfSSToRRpvD9N0rPZL7dLdLrVHNau1kcIvAkXcQaSGFMokjGo3_3UvvfUtgQe-nPYWIHRMOVaqFsE6Q/s1600/27855267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioirVYVunNkT3XtiYOH5Q-UNGoM7LUKj8anngIpc7cdLXJ_kh1p0YynoRydmttfSSToRRpvD9N0rPZL7dLdLrVHNau1kcIvAkXcQaSGFMokjGo3_3UvvfUtgQe-nPYWIHRMOVaqFsE6Q/s320/27855267.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st night, love the bonfires!<br />
FlashSport Photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH9p3NA2LhHmJToszzHV0pNEdq0xdm9SpHdpkUDikONaGnxa2KCmbYuEr0_jiFfqqqm5vzbeKS6ovbxRt2wyTjhdpJEH6DqhhCJq2FH1rkP_rYPzZvFPwwBfgFmVWRD1er5PglMuqlA/s1600/IMG_20150829_070306837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAH9p3NA2LhHmJToszzHV0pNEdq0xdm9SpHdpkUDikONaGnxa2KCmbYuEr0_jiFfqqqm5vzbeKS6ovbxRt2wyTjhdpJEH6DqhhCJq2FH1rkP_rYPzZvFPwwBfgFmVWRD1er5PglMuqlA/s320/IMG_20150829_070306837.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night time pasta feed!<br />
Photo c/o Ken S.</td></tr>
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Did I mention an almost full moon??? Dropping down into Les Chapieux the moon was full in the sky. Running along a road leading up to the 3rd and 4th climbs I found myself shutting off my headlamp and running by the light of the moon. Moments like these are truly lifepoints! Up the next two climbs I went. The air was getting chilly, made more so by the howling winds. As I climbed, squinting my eyes from the wind, I started to feel tired. I thought for a moment, perhaps, just perhaps I would need a nap once over this climb. I credit the thought of a nap to Ken, who had raced the TDS on Wednesday and who during a very low point in the race for him...took a nap. Lucky for me, once over the climb, thoughts of napping were gone from my mind. Instead I was energized by the familiarity of Lac Combal (toured this section with Topher) along with the following climb that would take me up and over Arete du Mont-Favre and down into Courmayeur where I would see Ken again. Mile 47. As I made my way up the climb, the skyline began to brighten with the rising sun. I had made it safely through the night intact both physically and mentally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm03PeLI_q7b_tsxP5_Otyrz6u0_plm4l_xJ9XXv9NJulXFm68ccaH9KGFK_7VZNyQGiKRXIdri9pajMbP2cLbXVnxIgyAzsg5i9OS6OiRrB1FA_dBSuLw7Qrw04Oj7bJLOstMpuMZQ/s1600/27904601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm03PeLI_q7b_tsxP5_Otyrz6u0_plm4l_xJ9XXv9NJulXFm68ccaH9KGFK_7VZNyQGiKRXIdri9pajMbP2cLbXVnxIgyAzsg5i9OS6OiRrB1FA_dBSuLw7Qrw04Oj7bJLOstMpuMZQ/s320/27904601.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Day; Flash-Sport Photo</td></tr>
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Courmayeur found me with a bowl of pasta and some coconut water, yum. I was getting hungry and my gut was solid. My race fueling was working well. I had started out with Honey Stingers and only just started swapping to GU, taking advantage of coke, soup and sweet bread at the aid stations. Cheese, salami and chocolate were also offered but I could not bring myself to sampling any. Another kiss and away I went excited for the daylight and the trails ahead, so far so good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaw2ZrYYLY8hTRXqW25TlX0PvYbdPeOKssnLWOrvP21JIZbU6HAA9ZGKryJSXgqVVtqDl5P0DDJoeyCcHfcWuKstxfZ6OUNsXnK4arST4yfsffAcGoL6kA7yUZsnx8BBqKr-f1I_LHg/s1600/27926679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaw2ZrYYLY8hTRXqW25TlX0PvYbdPeOKssnLWOrvP21JIZbU6HAA9ZGKryJSXgqVVtqDl5P0DDJoeyCcHfcWuKstxfZ6OUNsXnK4arST4yfsffAcGoL6kA7yUZsnx8BBqKr-f1I_LHg/s400/27926679.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flash-Sport Photo</td></tr>
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This next section took me by surprise. I had previewed it but due to the weather, I did not get to experience the beauty of it. By far my favorite section, Courmayeur up over Refuge Bertone and across to Arnuza. The breathtaking scenery made me forget all else. I had the permagrin of someone who was punchy drunk by the views, adding fatigue to the equation and I was feeling pretty dang happy, if a bit goofy!<br />
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Climbing up and over Grand col Ferret on my way to La Fouly I could see the familiar bouncing ponytail of a friend up ahead and had hopes of sharing the trail with her. Sadly La Fouly would be the stopping point for her and she would become one of the 600+ runners who would not make it to the finish line.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Day; Photo c/o Davide Verthuy</td></tr>
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On I went, into Champex-Lac mi 75. Along the way I found myself holding pace with a French runner, Emir. I don't know French and his English was just as limited yet, we held company and enjoyed shared smiles brought on by our attempts to communicate. At times he would hold up, preferring to wait for me rather than running on alone. We separated after Champex-Lac crew/aid station as I needed blister attention before I could push on. The <span style="text-align: center;">hot spot had reared it's head and so off to the medical tent I went, getting what looked and felt like a cast placed on my big toe, post drainage. At this point it </span>was clear that I would be running back into the night again. My fueling continued to be working well. Outside of smelling like someone who had run 75 miles in the same cloths, sweating periodically off and on throughout the course of the day, the night, the following day, going into the night again...I was doing okay. Mentally my race strategy was working well, not once had I expressed negative thoughts and for the first time in ALL of my 100 miles races (this being my 12th) negative thoughts were oddly absent. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35yJHxw5tHuWDtyO0brTD5d0BtMzs_7888AgngMNIOO_JzmSxX3JRyOMI3Bhzz32b33nM9Oj3yoibNVrHilr8-w6_bapYzyz4ngXMpMYpm9DheOUCYKIw4Eo2WqbYMqXQrgGUQXqNVw/s1600/IMG_20150829_152354626_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35yJHxw5tHuWDtyO0brTD5d0BtMzs_7888AgngMNIOO_JzmSxX3JRyOMI3Bhzz32b33nM9Oj3yoibNVrHilr8-w6_bapYzyz4ngXMpMYpm9DheOUCYKIw4Eo2WqbYMqXQrgGUQXqNVw/s320/IMG_20150829_152354626_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blister care and applesauce! Photo c/o Ken S</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I left that aid station and a short time later was joined in company with a runner from Canada, Matt...finally, someone to chat with!! Onto climb #8 we went. Ken would be at the Trient aid station mi 86. Not spending much time in the aid station, </span>I left Trient with once again my headlamp in place, not quite needing it but knowing I would be flipping it on soon. Ken had shared that I was 13th or 14th female (I had hopes of breaking the top 10 for women) he said that the female runners in front of me were looking tired and slowing up and to keep pushing but I too was also feeling symptoms of fatigue. <br />
While I was not experiencing negative thoughts, I was getting emotional. Taking a spill on a soft part of the trail and finding myself in tears, no injury, just tears. Thoughts of my mom had me crying as well as thoughts of my brother. I had been up for 32+ hours, racing for 24 of those hours and I still had a good 7 hours ahead of me. This does a number on any runner and I was no exception. I found myself grateful to have my Canadian friend holding pace with me. This was his first UTMB and while he had thoughts of sub 30 hours, he was ultimately looking for a finish. And so, as my climbing became slower and my descending even slower, I was in good company. We chatted and joked making our way up Catogne the 9th climb. He agreed that this climb should be named the stair master climb, we even saw an Ibex, and the moon was full! I passed a couple of female runners on the climbs up only to be re-passed on the descents. I saw Ken one last time at mi 92 in Vallorcine, he told me to be strong, one last climb to go...he shared that he had been keeping my brother up to date on my race and that he was sending his love. What more did I need.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final miles in great company, thanks Matt! Flash-Sport photo</td></tr>
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I traded spots a couple more times with Jen the speedy downhill runner from Australia (she offered to wait up and run in with me, amazing!!) and Nicole Studer what felt like an eternity later, Matthew and I finally dropped into Chamonix, touring our way through the streets of town before making it to that incredibly special sight...the finish line.<br />
<br />
31:39:39; 14th Female; 146th overall. While my goal time/ place was not achieved, I achieved so much more. Thank you to all my sponsors who support me in my passion for trail running. I am so very fortunate and appreciative that I have the ability to be an ambassador for this amazing sport.<br />
<br />
What went well:<br />
<u>Nutrition-- </u><br />
<ul>
<li>Pre-race--Pasta, <a href="http://pickybars.com/"><span style="color: #666666;">Picky Bars</span></a></li>
<li>During--GU's, Honey Stingers, CarboPro, soup, coke, applesauce. I started with the Honey Stingers until they became too sweet then changed to Chocolate GU, tolerated this until mi 95 where I may have vomited.</li>
</ul>
<u>Gear:</u><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/trekking-poles/distance-carbon-z-pole-BD112177_cfg.html#start=5"><span style="color: #666666;">Black Diamond Z Poles</span></a>-- did I mention that I LOVE my poles, huge value add for me in using them. Many of the climbs lead you up and then down super technical terrain.</li>
<li><a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/headlamps-and-lanterns/icon-headlamp-BD620617ALUMALL1.html#start=1"><span style="color: #666666;">Black Diamond Headlamp/ waist pack</span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/zygos/"><span style="color: #666666;">Ultraspire Zygos pack</span></a>--fit everything perfectly, easy in/out access for my poles (20sec to store)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.julbo-eyewear.com/en/9/products/sunglasses/sfamily/trail-running-mtb_9.html"><span style="color: #666666;">Julbo</span></a> Access sunglasses with the Zebra lens</li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home"><span style="color: #666666;">Patagonia</span></a> </span>Cap 1 sleeveless tank/ skirt during the day, adding rm warmers with mittens at night.</li>
<li>Nike Wildhorse shoes--felt good the entire time (socks were the issue).</li>
<li>Pre-view of some of the course!! As my first race with 30K of climbing, it set my mind at ease to see some of it.</li>
</ul>
What I would do different:<br />
<ul>
<li>Thicker Patagonia wool socks. I went with the thinner pair because of the heat. Should have remembered I use the thick socks at Western States.</li>
<li>More technical downhill training. My climbing was strong but lost loads of time in my slow descents.</li>
<li>Not sure what to do with the evening start to better prepare for it....open to suggestions.</li>
<li>Move to the Alps to train :)</li>
</ul>
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-71489151678992169142015-06-23T12:52:00.002-07:002015-06-23T12:52:14.048-07:00The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa Rica <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53oFkGU_DFbN6Z0OakO4ooDU1EPf0yAUSkXVdMcDrXoF1n8qTokuX4KR7vj_3In-QAlbwIfTpsl-FMd5vh1F3aClxXs3mqFb7-U9Ejv3JJv82EXcJZnjXrOhy7eZ6fLDrIZ55c_CYeg/s1600/11188169_450748248440724_2889715176765542222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53oFkGU_DFbN6Z0OakO4ooDU1EPf0yAUSkXVdMcDrXoF1n8qTokuX4KR7vj_3In-QAlbwIfTpsl-FMd5vh1F3aClxXs3mqFb7-U9Ejv3JJv82EXcJZnjXrOhy7eZ6fLDrIZ55c_CYeg/s640/11188169_450748248440724_2889715176765542222_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TNF Endurance Challenge Costa Rica, truly a great experience! Photo c/o Juan Mata</td></tr>
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<br />
No, not the outcome I would have liked to have seen with my first international race but it is the races like this one that reminds me of how much of what I do is about being an ambassador of ultra running and not just about running a specific time or even the finish line. <br />
<div>
Traveling home from <a href="http://lakesonoma50.com/">Lake Sonoma 50</a> miler I received a message from the promoter of <a href="http://endurancechallenge.cr/" target="_blank">The North Face Endurance Challenge Costa Rica</a>. The message started with an apology for the informality of contacting me via Facebook and went on with an offer for me to travel to Costa Rica to run his race. I read it twice completely taken by surprise with the offer. I consider myself a good runner. I am fortunate with my running ability and typically race toward the front of the pack, with this along with my love for the sport I have gained the sponsorship listed on my blog page. Yet, this was the first time I had been invited to an international race. What an honor, what a privileged! I immediately moved a couple of things on my calendar and responded with a thank you and Yes!<br />
But first a race I had already scheduled and three weeks prior to Costa Rica, <a href="http://www.quicksilver-running.com/">Quicksilver 100k</a>. My training had been solid and I anticipated on having a good race. QS had 13,000+ vert ft, and was mostly on very runnable packed dirt roads. I was racing with some speedy ladies and was having a pretty good race up through around mile 40. At about that point my body started to feel beat up with all the hard packed surfaces (I was racing in the Adidas Adios). About mi 45 my guts revolted, first experience with ischemic bowel causing me to stop multiple times with abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea....ugh! At one point I thought about the cougar sightings as I ducked into the bushes to take care of business. 11 hours 8 minutes later I finished the race, F5 with F2-5 all within 15 minutes apart. Not my best race but not a terrible race either. Perhaps if I return to QS I will run with shoes with a bit more cushion! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTB_YXYFVy-V5sQDBqxqcP-ehRIzandZFEfWAmeQMTK3lgNeX404BeA_flBPNRPa3kGgMnE6pZVidqsCq0v84kRzat5xE0C1NLUwEuU1WyeexWl4e8J4R1lGCjcKHxUdoWsuaJwf3rQ/s1600/10659443_10153033776672517_6736642746726686773_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTB_YXYFVy-V5sQDBqxqcP-ehRIzandZFEfWAmeQMTK3lgNeX404BeA_flBPNRPa3kGgMnE6pZVidqsCq0v84kRzat5xE0C1NLUwEuU1WyeexWl4e8J4R1lGCjcKHxUdoWsuaJwf3rQ/s320/10659443_10153033776672517_6736642746726686773_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QS100k; Photo c/o Greg Lanctot</td></tr>
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With 3 weeks until TNF CR, I recovered a bit, ran a bit and tapered a bit. As I began my travels to CR I was feeling ready for the 80k I had signed up for.<br />
"Pura Vida", translates to Pure Life. This is a saying used in Costa Rica as a greeting or a farewell or really anytime. How beautiful is that.<br />
I landed in CR Thursday afternoon and lucky me, Jorge Maravilla, his girlfriend Ashley and baby "King Joaquin" were on the same shuttle taking us to the race headquarters. Not sure what to expect I was completely wowed by our accommodations as well as the generous hospitality of our host and hostess, Federico and his wife Ligia. We were staying at the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin</a>. This hotel had about 12 different adventures you could explore right outside your door. Our hosts, knowing how busy they would be with the race (TNF Endurance Costa Rica is the largest race in Central America) arranged for an activity planner. She would help set us up with any of the adventures we wanted to go on and take care of any of our needs while we were there. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time for everything!! Photo c/o Jorge M.</td></tr>
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Amazing first class service and accommodations!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtf2tXgsNbt8X72m_ONG1-u3CiO4wfmOkuP0JWhqM-srNlk13EfdQZy7Urs-p5C1o-eNhGEdIAIspD0sHY2MyIAcxGGud1fdTlQizBG0bjxGJhtLYzMYL4wLpFMNIZ-yR8vazeOYQRw/s1600/11313042_451511918364357_3325544811981147268_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtf2tXgsNbt8X72m_ONG1-u3CiO4wfmOkuP0JWhqM-srNlk13EfdQZy7Urs-p5C1o-eNhGEdIAIspD0sHY2MyIAcxGGud1fdTlQizBG0bjxGJhtLYzMYL4wLpFMNIZ-yR8vazeOYQRw/s320/11313042_451511918364357_3325544811981147268_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooo serious :)</td></tr>
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Our race would start at 0530. Not bad and considering the heat and the humidity we would be experiencing it was good that it was an early start. The course touted 7k of climbing and so the challenge for the day would be the weather. While I had never raced with the kind of heat as well as the humidity we would be seeing I was feeling confident that I would be able to manage it. I have raced hot races and I have raced humid races...and did relatively well with both.<br />
The race started, no need for headlamps as it was already getting light. I wore my <a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/spry/">Spry hydration</a> vest with a 1L bladder and a collapse-able bottle in my front pocket for later in the race when I would maybe need additional fluids. A high-five with Jorge and we were off. I ran a steady pace for the first 5 miles, although my legs felt like lead and my head was throbbing...not a good sign. Within a few more miles I started to feel better and was able to enjoy my surrounding a bit more. The terrain was said to be technical and fast. An interesting combination that was oddly true. Roots, rocks, and slick surfaces at times and at other times fast dirt roads. Technical and fast defined :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxe7POiIpgVQ9r5BDRFqYU-ZsoNAJ3jjKl4PmKIwQDIcZpPL3J8KHph9NMTvjgKJHkRsAb6sfewHbVgQHOtyVKuOPeEaiQW0GehbS5dZU9VouAQSrrwrlMgFPy5rMc0lz8leol29cCw/s1600/11390377_450748155107400_1046956440414799385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxe7POiIpgVQ9r5BDRFqYU-ZsoNAJ3jjKl4PmKIwQDIcZpPL3J8KHph9NMTvjgKJHkRsAb6sfewHbVgQHOtyVKuOPeEaiQW0GehbS5dZU9VouAQSrrwrlMgFPy5rMc0lz8leol29cCw/s640/11390377_450748155107400_1046956440414799385_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would be the fast part...Photo c/o Juan Mata</td></tr>
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Within 40ish minutes I found myself soaked, the kind of soaking you would get if you were to take a shower...with all your running cloths on. I wondered about the possibility of chaffing, you see, I have NEVER chaffed before and it was now a serious thought. I had taken the lead at the start and as I came into the second aid station at mi 10 I found myself being passed by two women. I took my time refilling my water, filling the collapse-able front bottle and was off. It was hot and humid, just as we were told it would be and somehow I was already not managing with it. Along one of the roads we were running on there was a truck with a young man standing beside his small red cooler. I saw him hand something to a runner in front of me and I thought to myself that he must be with that runner, crewing for him. Only after I saw the runner raise his arms above his head and squeeze water over himself did I get it. I trotted back to the truck and was rewarded with a chilled baggie of water (Spanish not needed)! Which I poured over my head, did not drink :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieftmBfyDzhiClEnyHLl3AftNy5tgNTOBzb2a0Hnbr369nGTWf0WGGGkkOQtPMF-Xn1xqZYqbv38erJPHlwUGvg9de26g1cb3nmRzug9x4Bzn62zqAZpGWKlib0V6ZWMiwdI15ClTAoQ/s1600/11233500_450754605106755_8748949563692006952_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieftmBfyDzhiClEnyHLl3AftNy5tgNTOBzb2a0Hnbr369nGTWf0WGGGkkOQtPMF-Xn1xqZYqbv38erJPHlwUGvg9de26g1cb3nmRzug9x4Bzn62zqAZpGWKlib0V6ZWMiwdI15ClTAoQ/s320/11233500_450754605106755_8748949563692006952_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunate to race with this great group of ambassadors!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqegojOug34fMZ799EsWLAWAeQfNqahkFpCjjvn3Q0JbpkgS5IO9qvLRA-WtF5qY7VmE5S_OYQuKn2T_YkZ9vup5sUW0r18dv75ZkzRNpa0tN0S1Pm9KlqGuXvunz-QoNthYlGpt8w9A/s1600/CRligiafed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqegojOug34fMZ799EsWLAWAeQfNqahkFpCjjvn3Q0JbpkgS5IO9qvLRA-WtF5qY7VmE5S_OYQuKn2T_YkZ9vup5sUW0r18dv75ZkzRNpa0tN0S1Pm9KlqGuXvunz-QoNthYlGpt8w9A/s320/CRligiafed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federico and Ligia, Pura Vida!</td></tr>
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I came into mi 20 and sat for a bit, using ice to help cool off. After some time I put some ice in my bra as well as my hydration and reluctantly left the shaded cover. The next aid station was 7 miles away. At this point we climbed to the top of the canyons. This area had been burned, the landscape was black and the running surface was hard pack white stone. Eerie and yet beautiful. As I climbed up the canyon I could feel the moisture evaporating from my cloths, my skin. Within a short time I went from soaking wet to bone dry. As I trotted and walked I could feel my body temperature rise. I used my front bottle to pour water over my head. My head was throbbing and my heart was racing. THIS was not a good sign. At about mi 25 I stopped and tried to get my heart rate down. I laid down in the shade of a burnt out tree. A couple of runners came by and while they looked concerned our language barrier prevented us from communicating. With me making fan like motions to indicate the heat I got from them that the aid station was near. I got up and started walking again. I would trot a couple of steps but would immediately feel ill. The aid station turned out to be 2 miles away and it felt like it took an eternity to get to it. Once there I sat in the shade and began to ice myself down. I was scared with how my body was behaving (traitor). My head was killing me and I was burning up. With broken communication with the aid station volunteers I called it. I had been invited to Costa Rica to run a race and here I was DNF'ing. Was I disappointed in myself for not finishing...YES but I also knew something bad would have happened if I had continued on.<br />
I was fortunate that there was crew for a runner who spoke English and was able to get me back to the finish. This is the part of the ultra running community that is the same regardless of what country you are in. The unwavering support for the fellow runner.<br />
No, not the race I had anticipated running. Upon seeing Federico post race, I apologized for not finishing his race, but Federico was more concerned about my health then having me finish his race. He had invited me to CR as an ambassador of the sport and while my ability to race is valued being a true ambassador of the sport is even more valuable. He complimented me on being that ambassador, it's not about the race it is about the person. <br />
Federico had said the Tico (Costa Ricans) were friendly and handsome people. This could not be more true as evidenced by he and Ligia as well as the many other people I was fortunate to meet. Thank you for inviting me to your amazing race. I would absolutely recommend <a href="http://endurancechallenge.cr/" target="_blank">Endurance Challenge Costa Rica</a> to anyone looking for an international race, it is incredibly well organized and supported and it is in a beautiful country with beautiful people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNocZoPHv-XErK0JMtRQOxmKIK7rRyjtSOsb3caLV0UbHuknaLrW5y8xktPrfdWsOSLfbrAFCJ5OSz_tkzuYqGDhll0IKkkotrFRzbcNu3yeqTUmwoZRnd_-bnqm-rLe9a_ue9tTmag/s1600/CRbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNocZoPHv-XErK0JMtRQOxmKIK7rRyjtSOsb3caLV0UbHuknaLrW5y8xktPrfdWsOSLfbrAFCJ5OSz_tkzuYqGDhll0IKkkotrFRzbcNu3yeqTUmwoZRnd_-bnqm-rLe9a_ue9tTmag/s400/CRbeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race beach time in Tamarindo!</td></tr>
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As always, big shout out to my sponsors, <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home">Patagonia</a>, <a href="http://ultraspire.com/">Ultraspire</a>, <a href="http://www.julbousa.com/">Julbo</a>, and <a href="http://pickybars.com/">Picky Bars</a>, thank you for providing me with the best of the best!<br />
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Pura Vida!<br />
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-39361390809185284182015-04-27T22:29:00.000-07:002015-04-27T22:29:51.081-07:00Lake Sonoma 5...1st race report of 2015!!Lake Sonoma was not my first race to kick off 2015 but, it was the first race I finished. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HURT100....I will be back to finish what I started.</td></tr>
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HURT 100 in January was to be the first race of 2015. This was a race I was excited to return to. I had grand plans to erase my 2012, 33 hour finish. My goal was to replace it with a much faster time and instead I exchanged it for my first 100 mile DNF....In brief, I was fit and ready for a great race....I took a hard fall at mile 20, continued on until mile 47 and had a mental block at the idea of hurting for the next 53 miles. Just like that I was done. While I tweeted #noregrets and posted fun pics on the beach with friends I did spend the next 2-3 weeks in a depressed state. All of the training and sacrifices with no finish line.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup that would be our age!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKz-lElsaWj27D7n2vAdgqDMJPcoyvhG9PlU_ke2kotBeDCKR9XdDliyL_AykDW-EO8AdXJrBy9pTPtzMHig3r_SeuLadoh0ZTMmG51zJqOysH_jKEfVgRPK1CVg0CuW0PpIaaGWDnw/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKz-lElsaWj27D7n2vAdgqDMJPcoyvhG9PlU_ke2kotBeDCKR9XdDliyL_AykDW-EO8AdXJrBy9pTPtzMHig3r_SeuLadoh0ZTMmG51zJqOysH_jKEfVgRPK1CVg0CuW0PpIaaGWDnw/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#noregrets...my A@!</td></tr>
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The 100 mile DNF is a pill I hope I NEVER have to swallow again and I will forever have this will me at each start line I toe.<br />
It took me a good 4 weeks to allow myself to even think about training again after HURT. Physically I was fine but mentally I was broken. I work 50ish hours a week in a high stress environment. Monday-Friday I have to be focused and intentional in order to get my training in and I was not ready to go there yet. And then like a flip of a switch, mid Feb, I was ready. Lake Sonoma 50mi was about 7 weeks away and this was something I could wrap my training brain around. <br />
Prior to HURT, I had started Bikram yoga, this is a 90 minute yoga session in a room heated to around 105 degrees. While not "fun" I figured it would help me train for the humidity of Hawaii, and lucky me... I found the heated yoga helping with my long standing hip issues (piriformus syndrome) that I had been dealing with for the past year. So even if it is 1 time a week, I have continued with Bikrams. With my hip feeling better I was able to resume speed workouts in my training up to Sonoma. I even threw in a 10 mile race the weekend prior to Sonoma, Horse Ridge 10 miler. I had raced this before and found myself with a 3 minute PR ....good enough for 1st Master! Onto Sonoma!<br />
TJ does an excellent job in recruiting for a stacked field of talented athletes....this year was no different. I raced Sonoma in 2012 in a time of 8:18 F4, and again in 2013 in 8:52 F9. 2012 was a wet year, lots of mud and while I had a good race, I knew I could run it faster....2013 was a dry year but unfortunately a bit of a shit show for me :) we all have them! This year, I was feeling fit, the course was dry and there would be plenty of competition to keep me company and help push the pace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWkST0EJ34duhxlXzlkgJvVDvlaKBHBONY9hf92Fe2dl1rpzULoEXAdp9AwuP834nwXAMhG_hB0vw8y6dND9PIOajigb5Y_LlU1nwGsY-YroRV50gBf_WJOQRnwY9VD11qdIGIKBlZA/s1600/IMG_3857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWkST0EJ34duhxlXzlkgJvVDvlaKBHBONY9hf92Fe2dl1rpzULoEXAdp9AwuP834nwXAMhG_hB0vw8y6dND9PIOajigb5Y_LlU1nwGsY-YroRV50gBf_WJOQRnwY9VD11qdIGIKBlZA/s1600/IMG_3857.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not exactly floating across the water!</td></tr>
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TJ's wife arranged for my accommodations in a beautiful home in Healdsburg and Carrie was my traveling companion. One of our roomies' in the house is a newbie to the ultra running scene Keely Henninger, all of 22 years old and we picked up on our way to the race another youngster Ashley Erba 18 years, both needed transportation as...get this... they were to young to rent a car!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdD23Kyvc6at6XNWHr5SWI_VkiUBWC3sA6K4M3CjdSeL-F3BbkffjVAm9tlTBncmAp75RG8MFOP7Re7ERpPW0-Z5O6VAvBGirU3wBLHeOLg0nqtX-Pgzgbo4xkTUc-tDPS_GI-e6LqA/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdD23Kyvc6at6XNWHr5SWI_VkiUBWC3sA6K4M3CjdSeL-F3BbkffjVAm9tlTBncmAp75RG8MFOP7Re7ERpPW0-Z5O6VAvBGirU3wBLHeOLg0nqtX-Pgzgbo4xkTUc-tDPS_GI-e6LqA/s1600/IMG_3854.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beaut of a day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0lG8m3chGUD-pxpE4R2OswOdJfw-oIJm1tlLxPP7MCJ6l7YNvimAP4A04uuq7zFgabjNghBiUpqOx_UhRgUAQEEVy9hKncOvXfi3a1TTCzfwjPzlJ0schvTju7AI-pc_AZAZfFllhA/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0lG8m3chGUD-pxpE4R2OswOdJfw-oIJm1tlLxPP7MCJ6l7YNvimAP4A04uuq7zFgabjNghBiUpqOx_UhRgUAQEEVy9hKncOvXfi3a1TTCzfwjPzlJ0schvTju7AI-pc_AZAZfFllhA/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a girl out for a run!</td></tr>
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As anticipated the race started out fast, first couple of miles are on the road allowing everyone to find their pace. I settled into my groove, feeling relaxed and happy to have the race begin. After a bit of time I found myself in pace with Jimmy Dean and enjoyed his chatter for a handful of miles before his leggie stride loped away from me. The trail was dry and fast, a few creek crossing that if you placed your feet just right you could avoid getting wet. It was going to be a warm day and so I tried to embrace the early morning chilly temps. Greetings were exchanged with Meghan , Pam and Kaci as we exchanged spots and then with Keely around the half way point. I was hoping to stay within the top 10 and at the turnaround mi 25 I was sitting in 8th and in short order 9th as Kaci passed me just outside of the aid station. This is where I would sit for the remainder of the race. Although I did toy with the 10th place after taking not 1 but 2 solid falls. The second fall I was a bit slower in collecting my wits about me and was passed by F10. But was able to chase the F9 spot back down. Having broken my watch with the second fall, I was content to run my race through to the finish. With 6 miles ish to go, I came upon F8 walking, she had tweaked her calf. <br />
That would be the last female I would see and so with my focus being to stay on my feet and not slow down I finished F8 in 8:24. Not my fastest Sonoma and not my slowest, and while I had hoped to run it faster, a solid race is always a good day!<br />
I will be back to race Lake Sonoma. John and Lisa and the rest of their team put on an amazing event from the pre race festivities, the aid/ crew stations to the post race celebration! I will be hanging around for the wine tasting next time!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I get a.....</td></tr>
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What took care of me during my 8+ hours of fun in the sun....<br />
Pre race calories: <a href="http://pickybars.com/" target="_blank">Picky Bar</a> Smooth Caffienator, coffee, banana, yogurt<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> of course, mesh trucker hat, wool socks, bun huggers,<br />
<a href="http://www.julbousa.com/" target="_blank">Julbo</a>'s Whoops<br />
<a href="http://ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a> Spry<br />
<a href="http://ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">UltrAspire </a>collapsible bottle<br />
Calories:<br />
<a href="http://pickybars.com/" target="_blank">Picky Bar</a> Blueberry Boomdizzle<br />
Flask w/GU coconut water, Scaps, CarboPro<br />
Coconut water at the aid station...thank you Carrie!<br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-68302304080523966052014-09-15T22:23:00.000-07:002014-09-16T09:50:07.091-07:00Summer of Grand Slamming....and DONE!It's hard to believe that it is done...I am done. On Sept 6th I successfully completed the <a href="http://www.run100s.com/gs.htm" target="_blank">Grand Slam of Ultrarunning </a>a mere 10 weeks after I began this amazing adventure. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre race pic with Nan!</td></tr>
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My last race report or rather sad story, was truly my lowest point of the Slam. Yes, I wondered when, where, and how it would feel to hit this low point and I am ecstatic to report that Vermont was it. Not that I felt that I could go much lower ...you never, ever know. There are never any guarantees in this sport we call Ultrarunning. Having said that, put away your tissue, there will be no tears shed in reading the rest of my Slam story!<br />
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So yes, Vermont left me battered and bruised. So, what did I do? I got down to business, damned if I was going to go through all of "that" in Vermont and not do everything I could to get myself to the <a href="http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/run/leadvilletrail100run/" target="_blank">Leadville </a>start in a much improved state. I had 4 weeks after all, the longest break between 100's. And so it began, massage therapy, physical therapy, acupuncture. I admit, I was a "bit" freaked out, I was feeling it (strained soleus) ALL THE TIME! I told myself it was because I was constantly traumatizing the tissue trying to make it better, which was very true but I believed it would help and so I kept with it. (I truly don't know how Ken put up with me during this time....I was completely consumed with this calf thing, thank you baby, you are the best!). I also accepted that I might not be at 100% by <a href="http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/run/leadvilletrail100run/" target="_blank">Leadville</a>. <a href="http://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/run/leadvilletrail100run/" target="_blank">Leadville</a> is a very runnable course, lots of packed dirt roads as well as pavement with 3 significant climbs (repeated 2x's). To tilt the scale in my favor I decided that I needed the added support of trekking poles, courtesy of <a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Roch-Horton/263106729" target="_blank">Roch Horton of Black Diamond </a>as well as fellow <a href="http://trail-running-blog.patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia runner</a>. I also decided to give my calf issue a name...early on I called it a niggle....now I was calling him Nigel. Kill em with kindness right, if you can't beat um make friends with them, or something like that...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep er rolling!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThlSQffQyr0jj-XkegZqTwcm90iRDjO0nkCa9MlMe4-d5n7if3Fxtho5-0zA5s-6dC0pasjZ-TnaheK45fTi9gQ4LgTFbYiuNAtRpP0v5s4DtXzat7B-OuffEudMhrGlhnxyCYZJiVQ/s1600/IMG_4698JO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThlSQffQyr0jj-XkegZqTwcm90iRDjO0nkCa9MlMe4-d5n7if3Fxtho5-0zA5s-6dC0pasjZ-TnaheK45fTi9gQ4LgTFbYiuNAtRpP0v5s4DtXzat7B-OuffEudMhrGlhnxyCYZJiVQ/s1600/IMG_4698JO.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thank you for being<br />
there Ken!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;">With my crew in tow I made it to the starting line, race start 4am August 22nd. My race strategy would be to go out slow and easy. Nigel was taped and compressed (couple of Advil for good measure) and we were off. I saw my crew at May Queen mi 13 and was happy to report that all was good. Couple scary moments of feeling Nigel as I navigated around the lake in the dark (not to mention going off course, seriously the same spot as last year!) Big thanks to the runner who realized we were no longer running around the lake!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">I began ticking off the miles, not fast but steady. Each time I saw my crew they would assess me feed me and send me on my way. Couple of low points with the heat but heck, I new I could do this.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU6XzW7bHGRo4SiKTnkY16MwJHEMZbbvhQ6CFN61mSyWSe-O6f-KlRuPY6z89Vwe70AF30OEdgomLMnsaPAkEwVJdzjeWMgSTxokAaeccI-p3-gszOWy3vF4WqkV9CzJhPVg0pPLQ8g/s1600/202+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU6XzW7bHGRo4SiKTnkY16MwJHEMZbbvhQ6CFN61mSyWSe-O6f-KlRuPY6z89Vwe70AF30OEdgomLMnsaPAkEwVJdzjeWMgSTxokAaeccI-p3-gszOWy3vF4WqkV9CzJhPVg0pPLQ8g/s1600/202+(1).JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling the love! Photo c/o Tera Dube<br />
Thank you<br />
Gary and Lynn'O for stopping by!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgujjTusIbCqbXI1RTWG5kLHuo4CXI6eM2t6FkbSjvH-NeBF5T_ZEMvJNEzL5SNu2EgyqUKNwNM5F5zDtTbMbUsStZYdZh2H3tSlwe5yT_Rr48RWh3dyYZ8r_isuACTYSFz3wPe2tYA/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgujjTusIbCqbXI1RTWG5kLHuo4CXI6eM2t6FkbSjvH-NeBF5T_ZEMvJNEzL5SNu2EgyqUKNwNM5F5zDtTbMbUsStZYdZh2H3tSlwe5yT_Rr48RWh3dyYZ8r_isuACTYSFz3wPe2tYA/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe0SW3-KydCwdYPovUWTfnwq61cIF7n751Td4VhAhE5h4FilVTv33t_YFgLiw2G-jzQZVh0yLpuUcmbbSi3UyGwIC0MIJVtyUhninMx6yIjivSFV2x8OFgU2pIo2GTuEByUrTzfsUUA/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
I made it up and over Hope Pass, 12,600 ft with the help of my poles. I picked up my pacer Johnny'O at the 50 mi turn around and more of the same. The second time over Hope Pass was a bit of a struggle, not enough O2! But, unlike last year, I got to the top, had a drink and headed back down the other side with Johnny'O pushing me all the while and with each step I was breathing just a bit easier.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMDXy49mQYbOoEWPyhypja_K2rUqnR6fQO5GCF0yAw2HVrhVNDqwlg9tlahTdtDVofaG93OHLuC49H0DGtvOEEOoGqsc_hD_GJVcsC_UNYuPKx6fGcBX1UqPCoBxlh3vsHlcRyRu3WA/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMDXy49mQYbOoEWPyhypja_K2rUqnR6fQO5GCF0yAw2HVrhVNDqwlg9tlahTdtDVofaG93OHLuC49H0DGtvOEEOoGqsc_hD_GJVcsC_UNYuPKx6fGcBX1UqPCoBxlh3vsHlcRyRu3WA/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Top of Hope Pass with Johnny'O, Mi 55 Photo c/o Caleb Wilson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu56Bw7FO0snAXwblFLb57NcfaM7CDgmZAoHgNpPef96TWN5oWfc4UlEeDP4eTmNiZDqy2yd8BMPNijhjuMgscvH0VYIhPMMYDClaAvLb_dvIBJ_ZnPoWtFMuBiNrOKyaquqyY7OQcw/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu56Bw7FO0snAXwblFLb57NcfaM7CDgmZAoHgNpPef96TWN5oWfc4UlEeDP4eTmNiZDqy2yd8BMPNijhjuMgscvH0VYIhPMMYDClaAvLb_dvIBJ_ZnPoWtFMuBiNrOKyaquqyY7OQcw/s1600/photo+2+(3).JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And more calories!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgujjTusIbCqbXI1RTWG5kLHuo4CXI6eM2t6FkbSjvH-NeBF5T_ZEMvJNEzL5SNu2EgyqUKNwNM5F5zDtTbMbUsStZYdZh2H3tSlwe5yT_Rr48RWh3dyYZ8r_isuACTYSFz3wPe2tYA/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgujjTusIbCqbXI1RTWG5kLHuo4CXI6eM2t6FkbSjvH-NeBF5T_ZEMvJNEzL5SNu2EgyqUKNwNM5F5zDtTbMbUsStZYdZh2H3tSlwe5yT_Rr48RWh3dyYZ8r_isuACTYSFz3wPe2tYA/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" height="200" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Yup that's a hot dog :)</td></tr>
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Mile 60 I picked up my second pacer, changed my socks, and yes actually had a couple of bites of a hot dog (same girl that eats Happy Meals!), thanks Nan your the best! Pacer Amy kept me going, taking over where Johnny left off. Again we were steady to slow and Nigel must have grown bored with me as he appeared to be gone!!! Last hand off was from Amy to Ken.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe0SW3-KydCwdYPovUWTfnwq61cIF7n751Td4VhAhE5h4FilVTv33t_YFgLiw2G-jzQZVh0yLpuUcmbbSi3UyGwIC0MIJVtyUhninMx6yIjivSFV2x8OFgU2pIo2GTuEByUrTzfsUUA/s1600/photo+4+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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There would be no repeat of last year, we stopped assessed our need for clothing, dressed to meet that need and after a bit of time by the fire, we were off. Somewhere during the course of the race it became clear to me that this race would be one in which I would walk away, healthy and intact. I was not counting runners or looking at my time. I started the day not knowing if Nigel would be spending it with me or not and when it became apparent that he was not, I had only enough energy to finish the race. And so I finished the race, with Ken by my side and the sun was rising.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qYk6MN6o9EBnq7D3yeZ2-qOqOlptUx6jMHHZaFR6x9OgG1ANY3XlYJRsSIqK-Rmb9XSBU03qJGEb2cz7U0-DAqYM9H0DgtEzyBZGtNL3bqULEd7iywItJsbVHFprd6MRWIuo2n9daQ/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qYk6MN6o9EBnq7D3yeZ2-qOqOlptUx6jMHHZaFR6x9OgG1ANY3XlYJRsSIqK-Rmb9XSBU03qJGEb2cz7U0-DAqYM9H0DgtEzyBZGtNL3bqULEd7iywItJsbVHFprd6MRWIuo2n9daQ/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="386" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And done....</td></tr>
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<b>Nigel was gone....and I was healthy. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp9S_IWWEMCeOjVzpVMNUNRe_kTIXx950vHlOZ_VB0oexRCh_YvGT_pjMAuNqvcGt7P4MllKxfaxMbqwofbHzeXk8vwh-AI79clOACco6plqp_3WYjArYuDzrBTQ4clQO9JNRzHhoTQ/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp9S_IWWEMCeOjVzpVMNUNRe_kTIXx950vHlOZ_VB0oexRCh_YvGT_pjMAuNqvcGt7P4MllKxfaxMbqwofbHzeXk8vwh-AI79clOACco6plqp_3WYjArYuDzrBTQ4clQO9JNRzHhoTQ/s1600/photo+2+(6).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Sister Summit pre Wasatch</td></tr>
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I had 3 weeks before the final race and I was actually starting to believe that I could race it. I can't say how excited I was at the idea....I gave myself a week off, and the following weekend found myself hiking Tumalo Mount followed by a Mount Bachelor summit. I went for a few runs during that week and the weekend prior to Wasatch hiked the South Sister. To date this was the most activity I had between races if you don't count therapy. Not that I didn't throw in some PT and MT for good measure :) Life was good!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6R9Cbz_K2ahpphLKb0hNA5Eu2rhxyoetgXdqd94eTk49hEaYz9KdbsGKnBEg2JL3YzG4QdlcmIvhwdQvvkiLeV0WuCMqFUnO1xs1HWLfeCflQTYjzgK1DEwVxkee3PttftEq3EjAig/s1600/photo+4+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6R9Cbz_K2ahpphLKb0hNA5Eu2rhxyoetgXdqd94eTk49hEaYz9KdbsGKnBEg2JL3YzG4QdlcmIvhwdQvvkiLeV0WuCMqFUnO1xs1HWLfeCflQTYjzgK1DEwVxkee3PttftEq3EjAig/s1600/photo+4+(6).JPG" height="320" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woohoo go time (wakey time Johnny'O)! Photo c/o Nan</td></tr>
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With me at <a href="http://www.wasatch100.com/" target="_blank">Wasatch</a> would be Ken as my crew as well as 1 of my 2 pacers BUT we also had the company of fellow Bendites <a href="http://www.irunfar.com/tag/darla-askew" target="_blank">Darla</a> and Chris Askew (Dar was racing, Chris was Pacer/Crew) as well as Johnny'O and Nan from Boise<br />
(part of my Western States and Leadville Pacer/Crew, Johnny was racing Nan was crew)! This was going to be a blast! The last race of the Slam and I would get to spend it with an amazing group of friends.<br />
Rocho of SLC would be my other pacer and aside from the crazy detailed advice (thank you Roch!) he gave for the course, he had a great question for me "what's your goal?"....and so I asked him to send me splits for a sub 24 hour Wasatch run. In his words, "<a href="http://www.wasatch100.com/awards" target="_blank">CHEETAH</a>! sub 24 and a possible win..." With this request Rocho sent splits from his Cheetah year 2007! The course had been altered this year and was reported to be 30-40 minutes faster in the last 17 miles.<br />
5 am start and I can hear the voice of Rocho urging me to get near the front in attempts to be on pace once we began the first 4000 ft climb up to Francis Peak @ 9100 ft. I joined in step with <a href="http://www.sportiva.com/ambassadors/athletes/mountain-running/jenny-capel" target="_blank">Jenny Capel</a> (who I would spend the ENTIRE day racing with) and we made the climb up to Chinscraper Summit, where I'm told I am 7th female. This time I am interested in my place as well as my time...what the heck who the hell was in front of me. We did not walk the climb, I actually thought we moved up the mountain rather well. Time to check myself, we were only at mile 13, plenty of race left to move up in ranking. More important was to watch my splits and stay on, not too fast as to leave it all out on the trail in the early miles. As I ran into and out of aid stations I was on pace give or take 5-10 ahead and I was having a great time! The Wasatch Front is an amazing mountain range, at any point I would look up from the trail to some seriously spectacular views.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVN29e5288snJA_czlc1VZlb1SKdR_EayPhw1rsQf1jNykZbeEBRe9tZsXESH4YXZMXpR6ozbC4vP1Twprc8U9kkhawunhcHESkrj_ieHGLVwbO3_Hz0Ie48-0_oij19jY-U7qCnVVQ/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVN29e5288snJA_czlc1VZlb1SKdR_EayPhw1rsQf1jNykZbeEBRe9tZsXESH4YXZMXpR6ozbC4vP1Twprc8U9kkhawunhcHESkrj_ieHGLVwbO3_Hz0Ie48-0_oij19jY-U7qCnVVQ/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG" height="320" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Just one more bite, thanks Chris!</td></tr>
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I would pick Ken up at mile 39 which was also the first point in which I would see him. Only issue at this point was that I discovered a new pain...in my knee and it would pretty much scream at me on the super steep descents...of which there were a few. Odd. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TeD3TsrRsGnSi4F9bkP6coXre0MH042XiqiJ2LH5vrJDpbj5_MEtmbTkDZ4uKsa7cedLBR3ruR9evx-6fjenDnWSX5nhtvDNean9T5ZK0VYDyHeYS-LQDXkQYpxzDNw5ws21DGdlAA/s1600/photo+3+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TeD3TsrRsGnSi4F9bkP6coXre0MH042XiqiJ2LH5vrJDpbj5_MEtmbTkDZ4uKsa7cedLBR3ruR9evx-6fjenDnWSX5nhtvDNean9T5ZK0VYDyHeYS-LQDXkQYpxzDNw5ws21DGdlAA/s1600/photo+3+(5).JPG" height="318" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's do this! Photo c/o Catherine Horton</td></tr>
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Mile 39 and Ken, he crewed me along side Chris and Nan and then he took off with me. Turns out I was 5th (with Jenny in front of me) at this point. He ran me to Lamb's aid mile 52 keeping me on pace, I was a lil whiny through the heat of the day but he got me there pretty much on pace and intact. Next up was Rocho, we left the aid station walking, he wanted me topped off with hydration and calories for the following 17 mi trek to Scott's Tower @ almost 10,000 ft. Once we started moving we fell into a rhythm, hiking with spurts of Rocho calling out, "chop chop" as he patted his leg, meaning it was time to trot. As we ran, he led the way calling out when it was time for me to take some <a href="http://www.honeystinger.com/" target="_blank">Honey Stinger chews</a>, "if you can take 1, you can take 2". As we ran into and out of aid stations he pushed the calories, first it was 1/2 a grilled cheese and next it was a cup of broth. Roch new the climbs and when to push the calories to get the most out of them. Ugh, but because he did it with authority, I let him push me and I took the calories....WHAT! Seriously, Ken is a figure of authority as well as my partner but yet...yes the odd dynamic of husband and wife, pacer and racer...<br />
In route to the Brighton aid station I finally got to see a moose, it was around Dog Lake and fortunately already off the trail, thank you Jenny! With Rocho knowing where to look I also got to see and touch the famous carving of the <a href="http://adamiata.blogspot.com/2012/08/wasatch-wanderings.html" target="_blank">"Boxing Bear"</a>, as assured by Rocho to give me strength! Excellent! It was much needed as we powered down the hill to mile 74.63 aid station for the hand off to Ken, still on pace for a sub 24 hour (thank you for your great pacing Roch). I was warned to stay out of the Brighton Lodge Aid Station...too warm and inviting. It was 10:15PM and I could see the draw. I instead climbed into Rocho's van where his wife Catherine, Nan and Ken helped me into warmer clothing. Roch was off in search of more calories for me to consume. I then did as I was told and walked into the Lodge was weighed in and said "269 out" and walked back out....yup, it was warm and cozy and FULL of runners!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3N-dkPl7QM2k66EfC0pBBUAg_h2wXVX0Y6hwAeRwmYYEXOzRIx-RP6KzhVUEgvVLhibn2aQyYpwVVCdTRc_gFRPI8jX4Acgb8JcrXxetDCU5FccaRVG_UTQyl4tqIpPbUsSwdB_lIQ/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3N-dkPl7QM2k66EfC0pBBUAg_h2wXVX0Y6hwAeRwmYYEXOzRIx-RP6KzhVUEgvVLhibn2aQyYpwVVCdTRc_gFRPI8jX4Acgb8JcrXxetDCU5FccaRVG_UTQyl4tqIpPbUsSwdB_lIQ/s1600/photo+1+(5).JPG" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't think about it, just eat it! Photo c/o CH</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE04quhmTjYndIAoD534i4oQ5vvEIkIU9jHlJ1kUMuwtymt-NJ1oWgTNqvkA67eIgAdA_tSxDmnl_XA7pia3eL8zYV3359K2IHk1d9F5Y7_s7ag-MXG9s3nYpzI3LLmCO58i3d2Mbaw/s1600/photo+5+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE04quhmTjYndIAoD534i4oQ5vvEIkIU9jHlJ1kUMuwtymt-NJ1oWgTNqvkA67eIgAdA_tSxDmnl_XA7pia3eL8zYV3359K2IHk1d9F5Y7_s7ag-MXG9s3nYpzI3LLmCO58i3d2Mbaw/s1600/photo+5+(4).JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for some layers! Photo c/o CH</td></tr>
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Next 3 miles would be straight up Catherine's Pass but before that a bowl of soup (eaten outside of the Brighton Lodge aid station)....Ken would be with me to the finish (as well as Jenny :) and other than Catherine's pass we would have Grunt's Pass, a few other short climbs but essentially a fairly runnable section to the finish....or so we thought. Holy heck these runnable sections greeted us with ton's of loose rocky descents as well as new cut trails, perhaps we were the 1st?? :) But I was good with it all, my legs felt great (knee issue disappeared shortly after it appeared) I had taken care of them on the early descents and had $$ in the bank for these late mile hard descents. AND I was still on a sub 24 hour pace. Jenny passed me around mi 95 the final time placing me in 4th, a local runner was in 1st, and Darla was 2nd. My goal for a sub 24 hour was well within my grasp but a podium finish would elude me.<br />
And just like that (well not really), with Ken's urging me to push a bit more, we were done, 23:37:31 a <a href="http://www.wasatch100.com/awards" target="_blank">Crimson Cheetah</a> finish and I was officially a Grand Slammer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pZVPdjafNj8sax9uKZynsSeXAsGN4Kkh2wfv0NXdEq6aJsQf_LLulU8coUuAS9Hqjta2HSHZuy3PHNsDvVZMl6n9HQYFKoDFoT2LljeISwqXpTZoEcFOh0J3zyGFL3PcgNV9wdKRiA/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pZVPdjafNj8sax9uKZynsSeXAsGN4Kkh2wfv0NXdEq6aJsQf_LLulU8coUuAS9Hqjta2HSHZuy3PHNsDvVZMl6n9HQYFKoDFoT2LljeISwqXpTZoEcFOh0J3zyGFL3PcgNV9wdKRiA/s1600/photo+4+(4).JPG" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best pacing crew ever! Photo c/o CH</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9QKuUZUnbX9dHxxsH6b3zcR9om_NaDryx9NuZ8IsDiGFQt2IMQCITUtBD8_aNZTArhAFFVpa-9PM6e1wlsfVDpG4hS5pRpamDZMhkQgVOSGYcOChO866vvTSJ76uwqM_a5g8fgS75A/s1600/photo+3+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9QKuUZUnbX9dHxxsH6b3zcR9om_NaDryx9NuZ8IsDiGFQt2IMQCITUtBD8_aNZTArhAFFVpa-9PM6e1wlsfVDpG4hS5pRpamDZMhkQgVOSGYcOChO866vvTSJ76uwqM_a5g8fgS75A/s1600/photo+3+(4).JPG" height="320" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Crimson Cheetah's" Photo c/o Chris Askew</td></tr>
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1986 was the first year of the Grand Slam and in total it has been completed by 302 runners, 43 of them female. Of the 43 females I now hold the 4th fastest F combined time, the fastest F masters time, and the second fastest F Slammer time on the Wasatch course. Not so bad considering I came up with an injury before the 2nd race of the Slam. Ultrarunning is about setting goals and continuously re-evaluating and adjusting those goals and at times "knowing when to hold them, and knowing when to fold them". I feel so very fortunate to be a part of this beautiful thing we call Ultrarunning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9Hg-zL_1KFgLNm5t117x_x_JRmFdFdoPhfycPtptEQwE9cw3fnkDofWqL7tdn4hXAkMQo_g4huB999S6Nee1ioKBXcUYMxfdFvTLZ1FUsEnlUpL4k088A00Sz7-Xau2lhDXv3-FmTg/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9Hg-zL_1KFgLNm5t117x_x_JRmFdFdoPhfycPtptEQwE9cw3fnkDofWqL7tdn4hXAkMQo_g4huB999S6Nee1ioKBXcUYMxfdFvTLZ1FUsEnlUpL4k088A00Sz7-Xau2lhDXv3-FmTg/s1600/photo+3+(6).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Grand Slammer 2014! Photo c/o Chris Askew</td></tr>
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I can't thank the people in my life enough for their amazing and unwavering energy and support! Thank you to my sponsors for taking care of me out on the trails in all of those oh so important ways!....Ken, words can't do justice for how much it means to have you as my partner, my crew, my pacer, my support.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 Slammers pre Vermont 100</td></tr>
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<a href="http://vermont100.com/" target="_blank">Vermont 100</a> and officially halfway through the <a href="http://www.run100s.com/gs.htm" target="_blank">Grand Slam</a>. </div>
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Going into the Slam I spoke of experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (at some point)…I can only hope (please, please, please) that VT100 was my lowest of lows. My first 100 was in 2011 and I figured out then that I am fairly tough. Having finished VT100 (my 8th ,100 miler) I have decided that not only am I tough, I am stupid tough!!</div>
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What has led me to this conclusion??</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">03:50AM and feeling good!</td></tr>
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I finished WS feeling really good. I came away unscathed outside of some left calf tightness of which I felt for approx the last 25 miles of WS. Post WS I took 5 days off. I purchased a weighted vest and went for a hike on the 6th day, and on the 7th day I went for a run. All was well, I felt an initial twinge in my calf at the start of this run and the tightness released. I continued to workout minimally for the following week with plans to sweep part of the PCT 50 course on the Sat prior to VT100 (VT100 was 3 weeks after WS100). On the advice of<a href="http://www.sharmanultra.com/" target="_blank"> Ian Sharman</a> I was only planning on sweeping no more than 12 miles, unless I was hiking. While I was feeling good post WS, he cautioned that come mi 20 of VT100 my legs would likely tell a different story. With intentions of sweeping only a short distance to maintain my recovery plan I ended up not sweeping at all. 2 miles into the run out to where we would begin sweeping, on a slight downhill and with my left leg leading, I landed toes pointed, calf flexed and felt a pull/pinch/niggle….call it what you may and just like that, I was done running. I stopped, called out to Ken while rubbing the source of discomfort but it refused to go away. After a few tears, I hobbled back to the race start and began what I would continue to do for the following week; Ice, compression, Advil, and elevation with a couple of massages thrown in for good measure. <a href="http://www.rechargesport.com/" target="_blank">Recharge</a> (Athletes recovery lounge in Bend, amazing place!) was kind and sent me to Vermont with a laser stimulator to use as needed. As hoped, my calf felt better with each of the 6 passing days until VT100. I opted to not test my calf prior to race day. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mi 21, happy to see my crew;<br />
Photo c/o Serena Wilcox</td></tr>
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With Advil, Spider Tech tape, and compression sleeves in place I had high hopes come the 4am race start… hopes that were VERY short lived. I made it about a quarter of a mile (yup 400ish yards) when my calf “niggle” reared its ugly head with a pinching/pulling sensation. I moved off to the side of the road and began rubbing it, reassuring the passing runners that all was well when in reality I was freaking out. What the hell was I going to do??? Seriously, not even 1 mile!! I continued to rub my leg; taking a few test steps with the same result as I continued to reassure the steady stream of passing runners that all was well. At 4am it was dark, and with my light at my waist, my tears of frustration were easy to hide. Decision time…my options; quit the race and quit the Slam; continue the race and possibly tear my gastroc and then have to quit the race/Slam; or possibly continue the race without further injury to the muscle and make it to the finish line and stay in the Slam. My logic, I came to Vermont with time goals along with the possibility of a podium finish BUT, the reason I came to Vermont was for the Grand Slam and if I could manage to “finish” VT100 and stay in the Slam then that was what I would do. And so I began my shuffle. "One Step at a Time", just as the temporary tattoo provided by the race stated. The majority of VT100 is on hard dirt packed roads making my shuffle even more doable. With the ENTIRE field of racers in front of me my shuffle allowed me to gradually rejoin the race.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l2SoHD6YNd_Tl3-HJ95zKcy99WwcW5f9JQN7WQC9SWHSfhxTIdSfC8eFa07KDPq5K49NE4mvr1rP-FTQl717yWMHPvKnPI9xVf5k_Qa8my7Q0lC4vVgJAYLpL50wu3XTIBl9l38suw/s1600/56-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_762530="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l2SoHD6YNd_Tl3-HJ95zKcy99WwcW5f9JQN7WQC9SWHSfhxTIdSfC8eFa07KDPq5K49NE4mvr1rP-FTQl717yWMHPvKnPI9xVf5k_Qa8my7Q0lC4vVgJAYLpL50wu3XTIBl9l38suw/s1600/56-2.JPG" height="200" width="150" yua="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing countryside; <br />
Photo c/o Serena Wilcox </td></tr>
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I finally saw my crew at mile 21, interesting how it’s the familiar faces that strike straight to the heart of your emotions. While it was easy enough to share with complete strangers my calf “niggle” dilemma in a matter of fact manner, it took only one look from my sister in law for the tears to surface. I think at this point I held it together for the most part, telling both her and Serena (crew and pacer for the last 30 miles as well as local resident) that my calf had flared up and that I was going to give it what I had to get to the finish. They plied me with Advil, bio-freeze, some calories and hydration and watched me shuffle away.</div>
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At the pre race briefing the 2014 Slam pack gathered. I picked up a cool bandanna created by Brad Bishop, fellow Slammer. For the race I decided to tie it to my hydration pack. The idea was to help identify fellow Slammers on the trail. It worked and what a nice touch. I passed a runner who saw the Bandanna and he shared his story of having registered for the 2014 Slam but was unable to finish WS which effectively took him out for his quest of the Grand Slam. With his DNF at WS he still planned to show up and race the last 3 races, and try again for the Slam next year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small smile please asked my crew!<br />
Photo c/o S.W.</td></tr>
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Another runner heard I was going for the Slam and shared with me his goal of attempting the same one day. And then there were those who knew of the Slam and were in awe that I was attempting it. These are the stories that feed the soul of us runners and unbeknownst to them they helped to keep me going. And going I did. Each time I saw my crew, they took the absolute best care of me they could. They would later share that they truly felt helpless and had no idea of how to help me. I can only hope that I conveyed to them the value of just having them out there. They helped me change socks, drain blisters, ply me with Advil, bio-freeze and give me a hug when I needed one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mi 70 and the beginnings <br />
of my right quad bruise :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a natural gait, but happy that <br />
Serena would be joining me!</td></tr>
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Serena finally joined me at mi 70 providing me with some much needed distraction. VT100 is a unique race in which runners are at times sharing the roads with horse and riders running the same race. Due to the hazard of the horses, music was not allowed. This meant I was stuck with only my thoughts…how I would have loved some upbeat tunes to fill my head and drown out my thoughts. My body was a wreck, my hip flexors were killing me as well as my groin from the external rotation of my left hip. This was due to my inability to push off with my left foot, instead I would approach the hills with the side of my foot, protecting my calf. My right quad was toast, it was doing all the work my left leg refused to do, all the climbing as well as the impact of the downhills....Finally, when I was close to my breaking point and upon my request, Serena and Carrie helped me onto a cot at Bill’s Cabin aid station mi 88, they removed my socks and shoes, elevated my legs and for a brief 5-6 minutes, I rested. They also consulted with Ken back in Oregon, who told them to let me have my 5 minutes and then get me back out there. Yup tough love from afar is what my fella gave me. And so they got me up after my brief rest, I drank some much needed coffee, took a bite of a grilled cheese sandwich and got back at it. The going was slow as I was only hiking at this point, Serena was a saint and yes, finally, I made it to the finish line. Carrie was there waiting and I walked straight into her arms and let the tears flow, finally letting the physical and mental guard that I had been holding in place for so long drop away. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbWS47ubzZKelrjWDjUMtE_i_JDAP1T6SVVAMJnGgmbSyAPG7LL_wCdhxnGpw7x61abox2NyoH7G5KaC1tsV3FtjtoRTkAwHxXKKbJEul3BjYqbxwdk6rcxp5KGLOJy9BFu-53_FvBQ/s1600/Rightleg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_762530="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbWS47ubzZKelrjWDjUMtE_i_JDAP1T6SVVAMJnGgmbSyAPG7LL_wCdhxnGpw7x61abox2NyoH7G5KaC1tsV3FtjtoRTkAwHxXKKbJEul3BjYqbxwdk6rcxp5KGLOJy9BFu-53_FvBQ/s1600/Rightleg.JPG" height="200" width="149" yua="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right quad post race---</td></tr>
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And so yes, I am tough…..stupid tough. With my almost 25 hour VT100, I have had to let go of my time goals for the Grand Slam and you know what, that is okay. The Grand Slam is an amazing feat all on its own, if I can recover from my injury and see this thing through to fruition, I will be damn proud of myself. </div>
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Feeling very fortunate to have finished Vermont 100, I am happy to say that I will be toeing the start line for the 3rd 100 of the slam, Leadville 100 Aug 16th!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFQi3OBiR0w4yzw2jmzAYpOONDgAUMbt0ws0_Zyvn8CLrv1kDDMxdkSqlJBUfjI4HC-HYYtbc7I-ubfYfChTXnXW4IHYR1rHB0OpoCBUrNzd-zkmUx3KlrwqhvLC1U2gd538ZvQXivg/s1600/sleepy+time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_762530="null" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFQi3OBiR0w4yzw2jmzAYpOONDgAUMbt0ws0_Zyvn8CLrv1kDDMxdkSqlJBUfjI4HC-HYYtbc7I-ubfYfChTXnXW4IHYR1rHB0OpoCBUrNzd-zkmUx3KlrwqhvLC1U2gd538ZvQXivg/s1600/sleepy+time.JPG" height="400" width="298" yua="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 hours later I rested....</td></tr>
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I can not tell Carrie and Serena how much it meant to have them out there for me. They made me smile when I had no reason and helped to relieve some of the weight of my internal struggles when I was at my lowest. Thank you. Thank you to the race volunteers for taking such great care of me as I came through their aid stations and always with a smile on there face. For Harvey and Shasta, thank you for remembering me from the registration and giving me that great hug before you sent me on my way to get to that finish line.<br />
As always thank you to my sponsors for providing me with the perfect gear, supporting me as I chase after my crazy running dreams! <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a>; <a href="http://www.ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a>; <a href="http://www.julbousa.com/" target="_blank">Julbo</a>; <a href="http://www.honeystinger.com/" target="_blank">Honeystinger</a>; <a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Blackdiamond</a>. While physical health is not a guarantee come race day, your gear can be. <br />
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-22285607260206656522014-07-15T23:58:00.001-07:002014-07-16T17:58:41.066-07:00Grand Slam/ Western States 100-- 1 down 3 To Go!! Yes this is a blog post....not a photo album but what can I say I like pictures!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAhN_pDMKTRbKzz97M-k2Dmzruods_5Kikh4LcZb5thlkZEEtLqTV7Y7R6wzdt_ush8PG1NyWgG3zYMZJdEaXIVTeilGU4bh1R9ggA0CyPERqM7RpagjLNV-UGFMkwC8uNJl6JpiG-Q/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAhN_pDMKTRbKzz97M-k2Dmzruods_5Kikh4LcZb5thlkZEEtLqTV7Y7R6wzdt_ush8PG1NyWgG3zYMZJdEaXIVTeilGU4bh1R9ggA0CyPERqM7RpagjLNV-UGFMkwC8uNJl6JpiG-Q/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Slammers 2015</td></tr>
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Timeline for publishing this post was 3 weeks....why? Because Western States 100 is the first race of a series of races referred to as the Grand Slam. You may have read mention of this in my previous posts. For those who do not know, the <a href="http://run100s.com/" target="_blank">Grand Slam of Ultrarunning</a> consists of officially finishing four of the oldest 100 mile trail races in the U.S. all in the same year. Might as well call it for what it is...all 4 races actually occur with in 10 weeks!!!<br />
So, added to my excitement of running <a href="http://wser.org/" target="_blank">Western States</a> for the 3rd year in a row is the beginning of an epic adventure. An adventure that will challenge my mind, body and soul in ways I am unable to even imagine. Some call me crazy and possibly in need of medication, but for me this is living!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuLtaUGkmFQ3GvTTpLiXzw6y6wydZNoldZO2CTeu7T41PPjTfr2iLRPYYVqfhUO2rYWo0Bry-I2DnN1iUwLDwMByt_XtoK6wgFtxgkaaUad7V8qei9raAWBSuewTrJmbf-RxqpFuCxw/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuLtaUGkmFQ3GvTTpLiXzw6y6wydZNoldZO2CTeu7T41PPjTfr2iLRPYYVqfhUO2rYWo0Bry-I2DnN1iUwLDwMByt_XtoK6wgFtxgkaaUad7V8qei9raAWBSuewTrJmbf-RxqpFuCxw/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little WS training!</td></tr>
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WS prep consisted of my now traditional Memorial Day training camp, 3-4 days of quad pounding runs on the WS course while spending time with great running peeps! The training went as anticipated minus 1 digger, and I even picked up a new nickname...."Funsize" :) thanks Matt Keyes! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0QbL46ZyfJWVsN2m4_mXspEMbW_OdsMBBXzLx5gr4YNQv2_hVwNZtvd_PwRsR48LEbG7cDHuB4HH7zv8bzDSKOV70fOvYfKa0iur15h5RuW2JzBqoV8eFKECmJOu3Eh-HniAWbHSBg/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0QbL46ZyfJWVsN2m4_mXspEMbW_OdsMBBXzLx5gr4YNQv2_hVwNZtvd_PwRsR48LEbG7cDHuB4HH7zv8bzDSKOV70fOvYfKa0iur15h5RuW2JzBqoV8eFKECmJOu3Eh-HniAWbHSBg/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" height="200" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Joe McCladdie</td></tr>
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Additional training included Black Butte repeats, Pilot Butte repeats, Aubrey Butte....I think you get the picture. This year my focus was quad strength, last year I suffered from quad death and lost what felt like an eternity in time due to this, maybe it was my training or perhaps it was the 106+ temps in the canyons. Either way, my plan was to eliminate the factor I could control. Physically, I was looking pretty good for WS, no real injury but rather what had become a chronic piriformus issue (self diagnosed of course) which when irritated extended into my hamstring. This only prevented me from doing speed work or upbeat tempo workouts (ha, while I know these w/o's would be of benefit...my heart was not broken). Additional focus was on my core, hiking, and going into WS healthy and fit, knowing that after WS I would be recovering and maintaining between the rest of the races.<br />
5 am start and what a day! The women's field was stacked; I placed 8th last year in a time of 21:44 and my PR was 20:28...my goal for today was sub 20 hours and a top 10 finish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J34e9hw_w3zNkfxnoLxyVFvdveMfygy3zduFMTT4UaKF-B-p0Hwi3xxvhaf2aavZpGihPJ2UdbyAFAWVRYHdHNR4_RaoFzluUaat52SW8oMkB6Cf9_KhJqfqBg6XROzxOVoYgi6HrA/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J34e9hw_w3zNkfxnoLxyVFvdveMfygy3zduFMTT4UaKF-B-p0Hwi3xxvhaf2aavZpGihPJ2UdbyAFAWVRYHdHNR4_RaoFzluUaat52SW8oMkB6Cf9_KhJqfqBg6XROzxOVoYgi6HrA/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's do this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibWOHUuzme6C7ZXVSlq0AmkUceo2NB77o4qv-Ez2blVmT6aiRNRDye3Ve-v3ly8LcjXIY7I7kx2rtDGVMKvqwouCkrrDM5uexytUkW-Skma8YItZU3ujd7RYjzDCtVEjBWR2rgDqnbQ/s1600/photo+3+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibWOHUuzme6C7ZXVSlq0AmkUceo2NB77o4qv-Ez2blVmT6aiRNRDye3Ve-v3ly8LcjXIY7I7kx2rtDGVMKvqwouCkrrDM5uexytUkW-Skma8YItZU3ujd7RYjzDCtVEjBWR2rgDqnbQ/s1600/photo+3+(2).JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best crew!</td></tr>
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I started out easy, hiking and jogging the immediate 3.5 mile climb up the Escarpment before settling into a steady pace. I spent some great running miles with <a href="http://runningmegleg.com/" target="_blank">Meghan Arbosgast</a>, she knows how to run this race well and I decided she would be safe to stay with in the high country. Unfortunately Meg's was having a rough go of it and I moved ahead at about mi 22...although half expected her to re appear using her speedy downhill legs. I saw "Team D" at mi 30..."Team D" consisted of my hubby, my sis in law and some friends from Boise. Ken and John would be my pacing team and Carrie and Nan my crew. "Team D" looked like a professional pit crew, spraying me with sunblock, feeding me my chocolate milk and fruit bowl, replacing garbage with new stingers, an ice bandanna and new bladder for my hydration bag and then sending me off. Yes, sent off, Ken pretty much kicked me out of my pit row.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-agnKEe9pxZHmg04Aokuoo-MeQgvFBYXukquhLH3INod6jrDXP0AqKLzyNUWdRDqAl7ZHI7WILkbatn7CCmPdpKsNvE-4Jy8UK6f7mSp3CP-zKqzZIJsq-MUA_53lhmeFMMnSEMwf3Q/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-agnKEe9pxZHmg04Aokuoo-MeQgvFBYXukquhLH3INod6jrDXP0AqKLzyNUWdRDqAl7ZHI7WILkbatn7CCmPdpKsNvE-4Jy8UK6f7mSp3CP-zKqzZIJsq-MUA_53lhmeFMMnSEMwf3Q/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the day!</td></tr>
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Before long I was enjoying the trail with another friend, Adam from MN along with another fellow Slammer also from MN, Jordan. What fun! Seriously, things were going well and I was feeling good. I think at this point I was 8th F but it was early. The aid stations came and went; the volunteers were as amazing as ever, cheering us runners in and then giving each of us individual attention. It was great to get a hug from RD Craig Thornley at Last Chance AS mi 43.3. I left the AS with the words of "you know what's coming next don't cha"....that's right Devil's Thumb! With the fire of last year, the swinging bridge had yet to be constructed and so lucky us, a cable was placed across the water to aid in the crossing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE7MBI0ERaHw-ljOV3qexd5jEbhsEiW_gqmrzJi0mkgDbUfyUHlp96qQIXZhhjGdkdGOExZsodY08JY4Z9egBMAOUXchTxhTOTXtQpzSB2X_ZyPHHmzCMCXouz1np7wGJtlPxlDXu4w/s1600/web126065-01-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE7MBI0ERaHw-ljOV3qexd5jEbhsEiW_gqmrzJi0mkgDbUfyUHlp96qQIXZhhjGdkdGOExZsodY08JY4Z9egBMAOUXchTxhTOTXtQpzSB2X_ZyPHHmzCMCXouz1np7wGJtlPxlDXu4w/s1600/web126065-01-122.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Facchino Photography</td></tr>
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This provided a well needed cooling prior to the climb to the top of the thumb. As I was making the climb I passed Emily Harrison and while I was hoping to find some of the speedy chicks in front of me it is always tough to do so when they are struggling...we were not even to the half way point. Emily ended up dropping at mi 55. I next saw my crew at Michigan Bluff mi 55. As always this puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERQ4cruoxeDxQrZoaagRtQS-Ihmzl37E4FhbFYe322age4QXjMGu0cMih2pwAkpOwjjbAFmp9zJM_oQX4l2J6zuXKvq9X86Hd_lv1SyA4GTco7wtI8PNrykZ8aIdPybvX158Lmcinlg/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERQ4cruoxeDxQrZoaagRtQS-Ihmzl37E4FhbFYe322age4QXjMGu0cMih2pwAkpOwjjbAFmp9zJM_oQX4l2J6zuXKvq9X86Hd_lv1SyA4GTco7wtI8PNrykZ8aIdPybvX158Lmcinlg/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pit Row</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_XgdM2N7EW8mFg4GF5keK8BPmU-z6bWgc8q0CbImqSBzBjlcg9moMjonrAokj5Q3sXY1sZv8IZKqND-01RBFhdWlmvewwbmFEOtfm401ZKd6ufnohi2t6GGVjwa65aO71KSKoe6WEQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_XgdM2N7EW8mFg4GF5keK8BPmU-z6bWgc8q0CbImqSBzBjlcg9moMjonrAokj5Q3sXY1sZv8IZKqND-01RBFhdWlmvewwbmFEOtfm401ZKd6ufnohi2t6GGVjwa65aO71KSKoe6WEQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great pace Nan!</td></tr>
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More of the great crew support and this time Ken trotted with me a bit as I drank my chocolate milk providing me with some updates. I would see my team again at mi 62 and so I decided to wait on the flask and I took a few gels for my calories. Oops, wrong choice. I should have taken the flask or even more Honey Stinger chews. As I was needing calories on the climb out of Michigan Bluff I took a gel and it triggered the always dependable gag reflex. I quickly spit it out but it was too late and within moments I lost all that yummy chocolate milk. So much for more calories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDR-SnOvziILYsSU9DEdbo5pZYV-2V95990k3fqfqr2wlqvSbUUvYy7e8b_9IpJCTCRHSJ0dwFDuNYSgkxGGrksJJ9glkqDb2WuRygMI8re9-d2qjcmeGluQlOrkL-YvH_huYVuMAkA/s1600/web126065-03-404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDR-SnOvziILYsSU9DEdbo5pZYV-2V95990k3fqfqr2wlqvSbUUvYy7e8b_9IpJCTCRHSJ0dwFDuNYSgkxGGrksJJ9glkqDb2WuRygMI8re9-d2qjcmeGluQlOrkL-YvH_huYVuMAkA/s1600/web126065-03-404.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refreshing dip in the river!</td></tr>
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Next aid was Bath Road and I was happy to see Nancy waiting to make the short trot into Foresthill with me. She worried that somehow I would drop her in the 1.4 mile trek, fear not Nan, you were solid! More of the same from my crew at Foresthill as well as Johnny'O joining me for the next 18 miles! All was going super well, passing Emily had moved me up to 7th F and while for a brief stint I had caught up with Nikki Kimball, the call of nature aka bowels, had me tucking into the bushes while she moved ahead. I was told both Nikki as well as Kaci Lickteig were 5 to 10 minutes up on me. The downhill run to the river was uneventful for me which at this point of the race is a super positive thing to be experiencing. Johnny'O kept me going, reminding me of all those things you start to slip on at this point of the race. To the river we ran where Ken was waiting on the opposite side. Meet and greet with my fella and up the road we went. Feeling pretty good we trotted the majority of the road to Green Gate; almost caught you Nan (she was running in front of us to prep what I would need at the crew spot). One more weigh in, pit crew attention and Ken and I were off falling into step with <a href="http://runblog.adamcondit.com/" target="_blank">Adam Condit</a> and his pacer <a href="http://joeuhan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joe Uhan</a>, who might I add knows pretty much all the words to every Katie Perry song! I was running well at this point, Ken was pushing and I was responding. I was over my 20 hour goal by about 25 minutes and while I was running well, a sub 20 did not look likely....and I was okay with it. I was having a solid race, nope no complaints from me. We came into Browns Bar, the <a href="http://www.roguevalleyrunners.com/" target="_blank">Rogue Valley Runners</a> aid station; love these guys, a lil TLC and they too sent me off. Slower pace than before but still feeling relatively good, I was still tolerating nips off my flask. Hwy 49, one last visit from my crew and on to No Hands Bridge and up to Robie Point. We followed the freshly painted foot prints to the white bridge where the rest of my crew joined for the final sprint (jog) to the track. Nope, no sub 20 hour but I had a solid run. There are always post race reflections on where you can improve and this race is not different....and lucky me, F7 means I get to come back next year! But for now I will place my focus on my next race, Vermont 100; July 19th!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg2I94Xef9TZbKVoP2Hs69D5a5HGFQZ1gdKwW9Ggq2gLDCIEfSNilHMzS5NVNLAwbYXmRuCmZ3o6JADIrYOboFoOfE-vet8e2Rr5S19z9_a5wb9yjHFadcbx9meydO3TWKU3BeGu2Cw/s1600/web126065-05-147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg2I94Xef9TZbKVoP2Hs69D5a5HGFQZ1gdKwW9Ggq2gLDCIEfSNilHMzS5NVNLAwbYXmRuCmZ3o6JADIrYOboFoOfE-vet8e2Rr5S19z9_a5wb9yjHFadcbx9meydO3TWKU3BeGu2Cw/s1600/web126065-05-147.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sub 20hr but moved up a spot to F7 and had a great day!</td></tr>
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Always a huge thank you to my crew and pacing team, you guys rock!<br />
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Gear Review:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Velocity shorts aka bun hugger.....loved them!</li>
<li>Fore Runner tank</li>
<li><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> wool socks; performed great in the heat as well as the water.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia </a>EVERlong; the toe box with the soft mesh on top was perfect for all the downhills.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a> Spry; lightweight with a 1L reservoir</li>
<li><a href="http://www.julbousa.com/" target="_blank">Julbo</a> Access Zibra lens; excellent for the sun and the shade as well as under a visor!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.honeystinger.com/" target="_blank">Honey Stinger</a> chews: great for about half of the race before they get too sweet.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamond</a> headlamp/ waist pack: I used the light only at my waist and it was perfect.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVEasAa-8SBx3qU3ciXek9YaCG1C99lkgBJ_EQi22klWsOs9dLVPu0XoW3nOjEhZkuCaaONmCH4JeVQk-so5OkReJ5K4LYZfj50WJBdkwJscieT7aulOLdJ1RqGam_NPzoOIKcF0kKg/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVEasAa-8SBx3qU3ciXek9YaCG1C99lkgBJ_EQi22klWsOs9dLVPu0XoW3nOjEhZkuCaaONmCH4JeVQk-so5OkReJ5K4LYZfj50WJBdkwJscieT7aulOLdJ1RqGam_NPzoOIKcF0kKg/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best partner ever!</td></tr>
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Thank you to my sponsors who help support me in what it is that I love to do!<br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-25360165828051492222014-04-20T00:50:00.000-07:002014-04-25T13:45:50.651-07:00Mini Grand Slam Prep Part II....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RU6kY6oCPA47DQqbeODlClk6op39WiflR9mosr4n9qh6gnsiL6RM9T0ftdzJ_YcsSRP4fnpGEB6lnSaE1RtNiwHCKA0Z5Ii0o7t4OIQhS3JQPBuimFPyW3N5qJRIJZqS9XAR1wKfuA/s1600/Rumble1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RU6kY6oCPA47DQqbeODlClk6op39WiflR9mosr4n9qh6gnsiL6RM9T0ftdzJ_YcsSRP4fnpGEB6lnSaE1RtNiwHCKA0Z5Ii0o7t4OIQhS3JQPBuimFPyW3N5qJRIJZqS9XAR1wKfuA/s1600/Rumble1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's do this (pic confirms it, I am "lil" d)! Photo c/o <a href="http://www.tachifoto.net/Running" target="_blank">Glen Tachiyama</a><br />
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You know those special runs you have where everything feels effortless, feet are light and agile, legs are fresh and fast, stomach is solid..well....today was one of those days, lucky me! <br />
We had a crazy nice day for the Peterson Ridge Rumble 40 mi, blue skies, 32 degrees, sourrounded by local running peeps and a sane start time of 8AM as compared to the 4AM start of the Gorge 100k. Add this to sleeping in my own bed pre race night and BAM! The combo to a great race!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq97ltaKHjAVPoMIRiDOV1d_VSXiaUuvhfJcbf2_-CBQaAJK3R9WkEMu35yyA2mg1_CQY7ZQNfKZQsjwP0ZzzSlYk0nm6srkTeE02EE4KWZX-ZKeyLuK-YpMtsu6s3O0kOsRvxS4fCUQ/s1600/PNPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq97ltaKHjAVPoMIRiDOV1d_VSXiaUuvhfJcbf2_-CBQaAJK3R9WkEMu35yyA2mg1_CQY7ZQNfKZQsjwP0ZzzSlYk0nm6srkTeE02EE4KWZX-ZKeyLuK-YpMtsu6s3O0kOsRvxS4fCUQ/s1600/PNPhoto.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue bird skies! Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
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We took off and although I was towards the front of the pack, I managed to not see a post in the center of the trail until it was unveiled by the runner in front of me and WHAM, within 400 yards of the start I performed a nice endo/ yard sale! Runners from the front and back were kind enough to stop and help pick up the pieces including Ken, who was a bit concerned but all was good and we were off again. I fell into pace with Darla and after some introductions Kristina from MT. We were holding a pretty good pace 7:30ish. I was feeling good, the sun was out and the trail was flat. While I thought perhaps I was going a bit fast I was feeling good and fI (we) continued on. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHXGUjK8gC5c4bpv3ByaraSUQzy9hek0S1iZmsurJ95Q7l7Bn95Iq2onTS1X6tr9nLUTK6X6czuFp3pgv8R5YS0vxn1WOHZsVbRWC102__0g044lFCkqLzSQrQ8P6HPysNx-byFjraw/s1600/PNphoto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHXGUjK8gC5c4bpv3ByaraSUQzy9hek0S1iZmsurJ95Q7l7Bn95Iq2onTS1X6tr9nLUTK6X6czuFp3pgv8R5YS0vxn1WOHZsVbRWC102__0g044lFCkqLzSQrQ8P6HPysNx-byFjraw/s1600/PNphoto1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing trail, great company! Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
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We cruised through the first aid at 7 mi, Dar and I pulled away from Kristina and continued on with a few of the boys, Ken included. I was happy to have the company as by mile 10 I had already tried to go the wrong direction twice and was called back by the kind hearted runners behind me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawlwQ9Mtj2DKnvbUw50mr8Vc4i-rOUi6puy-YQppWLD5WoTeT_RoGaO9Rtz3iHGStE4hy3YETPpTSXrul_gy1ltis7haVyoMfLYgsV5egnHFuRBNlN8yOgvzfVBc0vGAioczqi3qwSA/s1600/GTachphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawlwQ9Mtj2DKnvbUw50mr8Vc4i-rOUi6puy-YQppWLD5WoTeT_RoGaO9Rtz3iHGStE4hy3YETPpTSXrul_gy1ltis7haVyoMfLYgsV5egnHFuRBNlN8yOgvzfVBc0vGAioczqi3qwSA/s1600/GTachphoto.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love running with Dar! Photo c/o <a href="http://www.tachifoto.net/Running" target="_blank">Glen Tachiyama</a></td></tr>
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By mile 14 and with a small out and back I was in the thick of it with the runners. Mixed in with the early start runners and within a few miles runners from the 20 miler and then from almost out of no where the speedy front runners who apparently had gone off course....all inspired me to run faster. By mile 20, I was on my own. I made the long climb up to mi 28 aid station, greeted by Rod Bien and Chris Askew (Fellow Bendites) and swapped my hydration pack with a handheld and a flask. Today, unlike at the Gorge, I stuck with my Honey Stinger chews, eatting a couple every 20 min or so, and drinking Coca Cola at the AS. Solid combination, no lows and no stomach issues. The flask I picked up was a mixture of salt, coconut water, Carbo Pro powder and chocolate GU, easy for sipping.... sounds yummy right? :) I did put it in the freezer the night before and it was still chilled and kinda tasty! With 12 miles to go no problem, I had been running steady and feeling good. Sure my legs were starting to feel tired but nothing unexpected, I had been running hard and they should be tired. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK4LealzywiGW7F1_A9cio4nkoiTDPHqcwuZgvDqFNdrWhp20PRLfgxSdKJsJc5-BBbXN9QI1nJAnUaWXrojxD-5ExsYxSaj2c-h43jRs50NmQFcnQv9ypKGZskkTAJxlNn2ejou15A/s1600/GTachDB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFK4LealzywiGW7F1_A9cio4nkoiTDPHqcwuZgvDqFNdrWhp20PRLfgxSdKJsJc5-BBbXN9QI1nJAnUaWXrojxD-5ExsYxSaj2c-h43jRs50NmQFcnQv9ypKGZskkTAJxlNn2ejou15A/s1600/GTachDB.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling the trail....and loving it! Photo c/o <a href="http://www.tachifoto.net/Running" target="_blank">Glen Tachiyama</a></td></tr>
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Running on my own at this point I was paying extra attention at any crossing to support my staying on course so when I caught a glimpse of something, and wanting to be sure it was not a ribbon, I looked back, ( bad call) catching my toe on a rock, WHAM on the ground I found my self...fall #2! Crazy, I don't usually fall (I was 0/2 at SOB 50mi and Gorge 100k). I dusted myself off, spit dirt out of my mouth and with a shake of the head was off. While in solitude I was enjoying the beauty of the day, the views were amazing, skies were pristine, I was feeling good and...in the lead :)<br />
Just past the point of the pic above....yup fall #3....what the hell! This time I was not quite unscathed, as it was superman style and downhill both shoulder sockets felt impacted and my quads raked across some rocks...one more spit....maybe 6 miles to go at this point...time to get er done and that I did. 11th overall and 1st female! A most excellent day out on the trails, how lucky am I!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying across the finish line :) Photo c/o <a href="http://animalathleticspdx.com/" target="_blank">Animal Athletics</a></td></tr>
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What a beaut of a day, thank you <a href="http://blog.montrail.com/athletes/sean-meissner/" target="_blank">Sean Meissner</a> for a great race and to the volunteers! As well as all the runners out there supporting this event for the Sister's High School Cross Country team!<br />
So I will be thinking about this come Slam time (admittedly this was a very SMALL test)....What did I do right during my recovery?<br />
<ul>
<li>3 days rest post <a href="http://gorgewaterfalls50k.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gorge 100k</a></li>
<li>2 of the 3 days spent at <a href="http://www.rechargesport.com/" target="_blank">Recharge</a>; recovery boots, ice/hot rotational soak</li>
<li>Easy running with 1 strong 12 mile tempo run on the weekend in between races.</li>
<li>And of course hydration, nutrition and rest.</li>
</ul>
What was dialed for the race:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia </a>Strider Short and Fore Runner Tank</li>
<li><a href="http://ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">Ultraspire</a> Spry 1L and 20oz handheld</li>
<li><a href="https://www.julbousa.com/" target="_blank">Julbo </a>Trek with Zebra lens</li>
</ul>
What I would do differently....review the course! <br />
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Next up <a href="http://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">WS 100</a> the 1st of the<a href="http://www.run100s.com/gs.htm" target="_blank"> Grand Slam</a> races.....<br />
Join me on my journey....See you in June!<br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-20957110080326683972014-04-10T18:14:00.001-07:002014-04-10T18:14:36.283-07:00Mini Slam; Grand Slam Prep....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJUGTy-F7P53xAxd2QcUHnuX7kt6eWqrwzeAPXeTt89E35QLbb-AzpDOSteDDxHn7AfM6iEe0GK7AcGM_3DXqppSBBI18DibygZXpaSgCLwvQ2Bbm-OqSbK_4bWyj06SraiV3-toOhw/s1600/_DSCPN1-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJUGTy-F7P53xAxd2QcUHnuX7kt6eWqrwzeAPXeTt89E35QLbb-AzpDOSteDDxHn7AfM6iEe0GK7AcGM_3DXqppSBBI18DibygZXpaSgCLwvQ2Bbm-OqSbK_4bWyj06SraiV3-toOhw/s1600/_DSCPN1-X2.jpg" height="249" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the good times roll! Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
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Having NO idea of what might be in store for me this summer with attempting the Grand Slam, I had an opportunity to do my own mini slam as a trial run. This mini slam would give me an idea on how my body/mind might handle the short turnaround between races. <a href="http://gorgewaterfalls50k.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gorge Waterfalls 100k</a>, March 30th followed by <a href="http://www.petersonridgerumble.com/" target="_blank">Peterson Ridge Rumble</a> 40 mi <strong>2 weeks later </strong>on April 6th! The Gorge had about 12,000 feet vert of super technical running while the Rumble has about 5,000 ft of vert and a fairly fast course.<br />
Ken decided to join me on my adventure and signed up for both races. We stayed at McMenamins Edgefield (awesome place to stay if you have not tried it out!) in Troutdale about 13 miles from the race start. Finishing off the race party was Ken's sister and brother in law, Carrie and Roy, who joined us for the weekend to do a little 100k crewing. While Edgefield provides a wide range of fun activities to partake during your stay, with a 4AM race start, Ken and I were in bed by 9:30PM. Nope no movie, no soaking tub, and definitely no sampling at the whiskey bar, or the martini bar....just one beer from the tap house before bed! Our hopes (rather stupid I admit, McMenamins is a place to party....not sleep) of a good nights sleep were dashed with the sounds of all the jovial patrons until around midnight when we finally drifted off. Alarms sounded at 2:15 and while some guests were just making their way to their rooms, Ken was making his way to the lobby for our much needed coffee, in attempts to jump start our brains. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmj3YRSJYsN5MTCbzlRnRb1BVwjuCPohASO-Qqy4-hCaX7WXrK_dykp4-wE4pYZgSFzcWccy3PEHGFmU9YPCJBTpNGrb8AMIz6JS0IASsXetZWHiZcaFiG8YCWQhDK-Q5b5faKE-L8fg/s1600/_DSCGorge2-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmj3YRSJYsN5MTCbzlRnRb1BVwjuCPohASO-Qqy4-hCaX7WXrK_dykp4-wE4pYZgSFzcWccy3PEHGFmU9YPCJBTpNGrb8AMIz6JS0IASsXetZWHiZcaFiG8YCWQhDK-Q5b5faKE-L8fg/s1600/_DSCGorge2-X2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising into the 50k turn. Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
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Almost without realizing how we got there, we found ourselves at the race start....this time we were toeing the line, sporting the Rocho special, <a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamond</a> headlamp at the waist as well as on our heads (killer set up!).....we were not going to miss the race start today and we were definitely not going to be running around without headlamps with 3 hours in the dark! 40+ degrees and drizzling and we were off, not so bad. We were hopeful that while we knew we were going to get wet, that perhaps the weather Gods would be kinder to us than they were to the 50k runners on Saturday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMjI6WwJwYGp4yH3Fl98tVNKvn7YcIHkIni7oEmWGKCW337mSrr_7SN7wPWcIN1m6GkRstjYwssoQnSPChFDSPOWj21hHEhfo04clqXh-f7vOBLpAi5G-NGKlCmN244WaVUhNVg_qlg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMjI6WwJwYGp4yH3Fl98tVNKvn7YcIHkIni7oEmWGKCW337mSrr_7SN7wPWcIN1m6GkRstjYwssoQnSPChFDSPOWj21hHEhfo04clqXh-f7vOBLpAi5G-NGKlCmN244WaVUhNVg_qlg/s1600/photo.JPG" height="200" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just about to the 50k turn around! <br />
Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
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The race was an out and back, same course as the 50k runners...only of course we would be running it twice. We started at Benson Park and began the long 1500ft climb up and over the trail for Wahkeena falls over to Multnomah falls...it was pitch black and while you could hear the roar of the water I wondered at times if it was better that I could not see; first because you were going straight up and in the dark you could not tell how far you had to go, second because we were warned of narrowness of the trail and to take caution. At points, should you fall...you would not be getting back up! With that in mind, I trotted along the rocky, muddy terrain with utmost caution. Ken was with me, which was nice. I was hoping that we would get to spend some good miles together. In a 100k it does not typically take long before you are running by yourself and while I knew it was going to be a long day of running I hoped to at least share his company for parts of it.<br />
I emerged into the daylight unscathed and came into an aid station to see the smiling face of Katie Bien, she was out on the course crewing her hubby and fellow Patagonia runner Rod "Bandit" Bien. I saw Carrie and Roy at the 20 mi aid station. Carrie was taking care of Ken who came in just in front of me and I put Roy to work refilling my fluid while I ate a gel. Asked how I was doing .... "getting my ass kicked" was my response. I was staying on my feet but wow, not easy. I had not anticipated ALL the rocks and adding the mud and the wet slick moss to the combination, I was feeling completely worked earlier than I hoped. The course description advertises amazing scenery, passing by multiple falls, and moss covered hillsides, with little elves and everything....all very true and I even tried at times to take in the views but for my own safety I ended spending the majority of the time with my<br />
eyes on the prize...the ground and not falling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjZtjEeuW_gtdrwqJhZZa1uS5yV_pQVCsi-C8B-2Mct3CdaBQp_ikf3Qo7a_0Eo5FINzyqG-aLsqpX8oLBiCLXw2SMqg-5imvYI1aAEmDW5KNLEC1P7NQzt5U3rQm1gYs7gUOiPtbgA/s1600/IMGGlenT_0306-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjZtjEeuW_gtdrwqJhZZa1uS5yV_pQVCsi-C8B-2Mct3CdaBQp_ikf3Qo7a_0Eo5FINzyqG-aLsqpX8oLBiCLXw2SMqg-5imvYI1aAEmDW5KNLEC1P7NQzt5U3rQm1gYs7gUOiPtbgA/s1600/IMGGlenT_0306-M.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out for that....rock...Photo c/o Glen Tachiyama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With that in mind I was holding out plugging in my music until the turn around....yup that was my carrot. Just get to the turn around and I would be rewarded with some tunes! On my way to the 50k point Ken shared one of his gel flasks, I was eating Swedish fish and jelly beans and found that my gut was not happy with the combo and even though the gel flask didn't settle great, it was easier to get the calories in with. At this point I decided to go with only gel calories as they would give the biggest bang for the buck. With an out and back I also had the opportunity to see the lead runners. As the lead runners flew past (Rod appeared to be having a great race, 2nd place, and Yassine was looking good in 4th) I found Ken and I in 12th and 13th place, I was F2 at this point and was able to see that F1 was about 4 minutes up on me. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSDtLPQhYwYNjvBqx8klZEWTAu9PQcCyu6i_7kcxK2I_p_Pgh8eAoM1OImTgivcduwldAB1qPpgbBbs1xg3lUOYE1LTJEUjmuo-YNHAH5QfChrCGg1xSUzs_EMxWsrD_4Fg0aJuzZvQ/s1600/IMGGorgeF_1666-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSDtLPQhYwYNjvBqx8klZEWTAu9PQcCyu6i_7kcxK2I_p_Pgh8eAoM1OImTgivcduwldAB1qPpgbBbs1xg3lUOYE1LTJEUjmuo-YNHAH5QfChrCGg1xSUzs_EMxWsrD_4Fg0aJuzZvQ/s1600/IMGGorgeF_1666-L.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the amazing falls! Photo c/o Glen Tachiyama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The turn around came and went and as Ken and I were still running within shouting distance of one another I opted for no tunes. I came into aid station mi 40 and forced down some gel, refilled my pack and was off. I went a short distance and stopped for a pit stop in the bushes and with a sour gut told Ken to go, I was fine and was going to plug in my tunes. That would be that last time I would see Ken for the duration of the race....although with the many switch backs he would continue to hoot and holler at me :)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymNyHlhvMxdo_KNSo9c7J-81hJPU1869u97B_DM9zV5dD-iI-DTvqHY9vHm8VvMpXkuKVU8ask1dfYRcnRbIvo75MvTa6qnwoRPVsRLObvYE6PIXVmSgthB2QJZo-k7JO6OjASfF9Pw/s1600/_DSCGorge3-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymNyHlhvMxdo_KNSo9c7J-81hJPU1869u97B_DM9zV5dD-iI-DTvqHY9vHm8VvMpXkuKVU8ask1dfYRcnRbIvo75MvTa6qnwoRPVsRLObvYE6PIXVmSgthB2QJZo-k7JO6OjASfF9Pw/s1600/_DSCGorge3-X2.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling tired and looking tired<br />
Photo c/o Paul Nelson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly, my music malfunctioned after only about 20 minutes and the remainder of the race was spent we me and my thoughts and not very entertaining thoughts...."damn the rocks", "I remember this muddy section", "hope my knee does not get worse", "I think I will go through the brier bush instead of the mud bog", "common gut take a few more calories", "if this trail gave away I would be okay with that", and the best on yet..."did that switch back sign really announce that I am at 3 of 11 switchbacks to get to the top"!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Next thing I knew I was running (trotting) down the final hill. It was about 4 in the afternoon and although I did get a few odd looks from the day hikers, I think the runners in front of me pre warned them and they all graciously stepped out of my way. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRp_LySAgfoDymlKEdxLpIEtzB7BZgKd1-DXyWckK0vTaJiDaMWsef3J74EF3dWfVCsWh4jF5Td5c4WsOfIzdhcBPgqsFElqYirxgqFpcaRXK-rQ8rNysdgttUcemf4YEnZQGfCftoZw/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRp_LySAgfoDymlKEdxLpIEtzB7BZgKd1-DXyWckK0vTaJiDaMWsef3J74EF3dWfVCsWh4jF5Td5c4WsOfIzdhcBPgqsFElqYirxgqFpcaRXK-rQ8rNysdgttUcemf4YEnZQGfCftoZw/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaping to the finish line! <br />
Photo c/o Bandit Bien</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I finally made it to the finish line 12 hours and 20 minutes later.....2nd Female, 13th overall and with Ken 3 minutes in front of me.<br />
James Varner RD greeted me at the finish along with Ken, Carrie, Roy, Katie and Rod (M2) and all I could do was shake my head and laugh. What an amazingly tough race!! <br />
Thank you to <a href="http://rainshadow-running.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rainshadow Running</a> and RD James Varner for putting on a great race and all the volunteers who took amazing care of us crazy runners coming through the aid stations....and of course Carrie and Roy for spending 12 hours out in the cold with us :) Love you guys!<br />
What worked well:<br />
Roch Horton special <a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamond</a> lighting system<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/womens-houdini-jacket-windbreaker?p=24145-0" target="_blank">Patagonia Houdini</a> jacket (great in the early hours and compact enough to fit in the front vest pocket)<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/womens-capilene-1-baselayer-silkweight-crew-special?p=11856-0" target="_blank">Patagonia Cap 1</a> long sleeve shirt<br />
<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/ultra-lightweight-merino-wool-run-quarter-socks?p=50000-0" target="_blank">Patagonia wool socks</a> (wet feet most of the day and no issues)<br />
<a href="http://ultraspire.com/product/spry/" target="_blank">UltrAspire Spry</a> 1L hydration vest<br />
<br />
What did not:<br />
Swedish fish and Jelly beans (should have stayed with honeystinger gels and solid food earlier in the race)<br />
Ipod not set up correctly<br />
<br />
Next up Peterson Ridge Rumble .....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/editor/static_files/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-47043652316293904652014-02-08T20:50:00.000-08:002014-02-09T12:37:40.020-08:00SO50...kicking off 2014<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZyO59EUq1CRIDqvxvXVWvwcAJp2xeBykRWQBzwEiVi9Bd6Ea4OXO66_LPTMISY_BimBVf4XW2LVDZVUch2i9L2KgjViIAOORHkIRLX1dppy0FqF_h_xZFseawwUCksdeY5DmVICUGA/s1600/1+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZyO59EUq1CRIDqvxvXVWvwcAJp2xeBykRWQBzwEiVi9Bd6Ea4OXO66_LPTMISY_BimBVf4XW2LVDZVUch2i9L2KgjViIAOORHkIRLX1dppy0FqF_h_xZFseawwUCksdeY5DmVICUGA/s1600/1+photo.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Ken, George and I looking tough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And the 2014 race season has begun; I kicked it off at the
Inaugural <a href="http://sob5050.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sean O’Brien 50</a> miler in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Malibu</st1:city></st1:place>. <br />
While my 2014 race calendar may not be filled with monthly races, I aspire to compete in the <strong><a href="http://www.run100s.com/" target="_blank">Grand Slam</a></strong> of racing this year, four 100's in less than 4 months....lots more to come!</div>
<br />
I first registered for the <st1:placename w:st="on">Orcas</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype> 50k (same weekend) and then deciding some Vitamin D would do me good I swapped it for racing in sunny <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malibu</st1:place></st1:city>, one of <a href="http://www.keirahenninger.com/" target="_blank">KeiraHenninger’s</a> races. If you haven't run any of her races I highly recommend it, great courses,aid stations, volunteers and after parties. Keira is also a fellow <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> trail runner.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XOHmzXOLEymaHyM0r-C96uLmlczyV6tD447mUn7uDBCj4ieNxeIi-nNoUMKYCxOLMPHisgWQlhQ3J8hTYvwf5FcGKs4ejfhEtXR3SMvNl5jQoazfODIt9cTDqda95eI08dQ1PH7plQ/s1600/SO50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XOHmzXOLEymaHyM0r-C96uLmlczyV6tD447mUn7uDBCj4ieNxeIi-nNoUMKYCxOLMPHisgWQlhQ3J8hTYvwf5FcGKs4ejfhEtXR3SMvNl5jQoazfODIt9cTDqda95eI08dQ1PH7plQ/s1600/SO50.jpg" height="143" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great dinner with friends!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
With sun in mind, rain greeted Ken and I on Thursday, but that did not stop our adventures. First stop was Ventura where we spent part of the day touring the <st1:place w:st="on"><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patagonia</a></st1:place>
headquarters with George (<a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> trail running team manager) as our tour guide (Thanks G!). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Friday, Ken and I spent the day relaxing and putting in a few shake out miles on the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The course reports 11,000ft of vert and as I took in the
towering canyon walls all around and the heart stopping drops to the canyon
floor of below I could only imagine what Saturday would bring.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
My training had been haphazard in building up to this
race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After registering in
November I then proceeded to take from December 4<sup>th</sup> through January
1<sup>st</sup> completely off from running. I won’t bore you with my girlie
issues <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
and while I did some cross training IE stationary bike, walking on the
treadmill, squats, lunges and the like, there was no running to be had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say with my longest run, a
21 mile Smith Rock Badass run courtesy of team mate <a href="http://www.gobroncobilly.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeff Browning</a>, I had a bit of trepidation going into this
race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ken asked if perhaps I wanted to
bump down to the 50k distance but being the who I am, I did not…with the thought that this
race would be a strong training run <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> Ha!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwJTGrh7wC11GLgtjD3ZewrKV2AgSSafLJK1prjKjEjyuz7ctFZNbxRVK64XFUCnklpPS7RqJRid5uZJqCwqhBajLy7SDLsAP89rdEkCeqF9c6SITcPjVyNdlBUiAiBKHdYnRhn0TuQ/s1600/DB3.small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwJTGrh7wC11GLgtjD3ZewrKV2AgSSafLJK1prjKjEjyuz7ctFZNbxRVK64XFUCnklpPS7RqJRid5uZJqCwqhBajLy7SDLsAP89rdEkCeqF9c6SITcPjVyNdlBUiAiBKHdYnRhn0TuQ/s1600/DB3.small.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://www.singletrackstudio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donovan Jenkins</a> mi 6.5, warming up on the climb!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p> </o:p>Saturday arrived,
temp of 28 degrees and clear skies, so much for the heat of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malibu</st1:place></st1:city>! Ken and I quickly rethought our dress
for the start, adding the <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/search/W's%20Houdini®%20Jacket" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Houdini</a> layer for some protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had checked in for the race and had gone
back to the car, hoping to connect with George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I called him the previous night, calling upon him to aid us with a couple
of headlamps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup, you got it; we didn’t
bring any and guess what time the sun rise is in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malibu</st1:place></st1:city>…6:40 race start was 0600….no George,
and no lamps. Ken and I got out of the car about 6 minutes before the start of the
race and for the 1<sup>st</sup> time (not due to being in a bathroom) we heard
the hoots and hollers and flashing lights of a race starting without us!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, we are NOT rookies but between the
headlamps and missing the start of the race we were definitely not showing our Ultra running
experience!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrxtLG4HBQJ9Hj5uHvu0nNHq2rtkCpNSU_m6UP4qSKPgVRR_6NKP9x-2C0slhx-qWahodaBp0TRsFUsRUkGUeWBUHR6P79Pi1CuLUyRMZOZI8ehbynORw8aYxgYOmY-aZB6selYOQUA/s1600/6+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrxtLG4HBQJ9Hj5uHvu0nNHq2rtkCpNSU_m6UP4qSKPgVRR_6NKP9x-2C0slhx-qWahodaBp0TRsFUsRUkGUeWBUHR6P79Pi1CuLUyRMZOZI8ehbynORw8aYxgYOmY-aZB6selYOQUA/s1600/6+photo.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Greg Lanctot; UltrAspire<br />
Spry 1L, love it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgua_tAVVmH4ucBq2ih-1RXFk9TT0fJmqI2AI7vJW8KTIvx1bv8TU0tdQD2CGMFpKVlC1dkq7bghh0X3XO3l0oPaTwebopbAhd6y0Vid-TeCXWTn_5HrPBfxbgJnVcc1ETsZ4wxr2X_mg/s1600/4+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgua_tAVVmH4ucBq2ih-1RXFk9TT0fJmqI2AI7vJW8KTIvx1bv8TU0tdQD2CGMFpKVlC1dkq7bghh0X3XO3l0oPaTwebopbAhd6y0Vid-TeCXWTn_5HrPBfxbgJnVcc1ETsZ4wxr2X_mg/s1600/4+photo.JPG" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Greg Lanctot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To the back of the pack we ran and I mean DFL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone even graciously asked to take our
drop bag when they saw us looking frantically around for the drop bag location…and
finally, we were off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I quickly found myself tucking in behind a runner with a
light and who looked to be doing the same as I, maneuvering efficiently through
the runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he saw my predicament
he even stopped and turned around to allow me to use his light to cross the
creek!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How great is the camaraderie
among ultra runners!!</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFYrG1pmekDB6sNrpC7iI8RWPpGt4UpiPGm20wUOSOBw3fRS3sH-AW4U-Xm_YT-u5Ujzcc4iwt1JpQ5n_IhB4e78XPfhFkiW-K5jWwuoy38j58P7NXP8YLw9cljRXjsQt8Gj1Cd8jAQ/s1600/5+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFYrG1pmekDB6sNrpC7iI8RWPpGt4UpiPGm20wUOSOBw3fRS3sH-AW4U-Xm_YT-u5Ujzcc4iwt1JpQ5n_IhB4e78XPfhFkiW-K5jWwuoy38j58P7NXP8YLw9cljRXjsQt8Gj1Cd8jAQ/s1600/5+photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo c/o Greg Lanctot; having an amazing day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I finally made it out onto the first long climb on a fire
road and was able to move freely among the runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I moved through the runners it gave me
great opportunity to meet and greet both friends and new faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1<sup>st</sup> aid station was 6.5 mi and I
was told the lead female was 12 minutes up on me <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> go Cassie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling good and it was early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was making the climbs nicely and hitting
the downhills at a moderate pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
long I was running with <a href="http://sob5050.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meghan</a> (who had already taken her 1<sup>st</sup> fall <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span>
) I would pass her on the uphill and she would pass me back on the
downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally pulled ahead of her
at the second aid station, also passing Bree Lambert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span>head of me were Luann Parker
and Tera Dube.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This next section was a
long descent, Luann and Tera pulled ahead with Luann leading the charge down
the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept my pace around the 7:30’s,
again fearful of what would happen if I started pounding the down hill this
early on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were at about mile 15.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WeEQjHr70R1pWxGHEWkjCRo6aPKdipgr-ZJWYOJmjDd3Q_QuSxDjNNzyAhTF-OYM633Q_SqTtlIa1lsMHuQ1jfGamI_nzQv8dqfQ-N-b65FCJKTfhY2c62KCKFJ3_-23fJH06KiMWw/s1600/3+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WeEQjHr70R1pWxGHEWkjCRo6aPKdipgr-ZJWYOJmjDd3Q_QuSxDjNNzyAhTF-OYM633Q_SqTtlIa1lsMHuQ1jfGamI_nzQv8dqfQ-N-b65FCJKTfhY2c62KCKFJ3_-23fJH06KiMWw/s1600/3+photo.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asked to smile with a mouth full <br />
of banana! Mi 37<br />
Photo c/o Greg Lanctot</td></tr>
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I came into aid station #5 at mile 19 and was told I was F5. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section had a small out and back giving
me opportunity to see Luann and Tera heading out as I was coming in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fueled up and was off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This next section was considered the toughest
climb on the course and so I began my trot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within about 5-10 minutes I found myself passing both Luann and Tera. In passing Luann she asked "you're already in <a href="http://www.wser.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Western States</a> right?" I responded with, "yes" ,"I'll let you go then", responded Luann. This race is part of the <a href="http://ultracup.montrail.com/" target="_blank">Montrail Ultra Cup</a> and the first 3 men and women get a ticket to States, if a runner is already in States it rolls to the 4th finisher. If
the volunteer at the aid station was correct, I was 3<sup>rd</sup> chick at mile 22, which by the way was the furthest
I had ran in give or take 3-4 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crazy what thoughts like that do to your brain <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued to feel strong and let my legs do
the <st1:personname w:st="on">work</st1:personname> on the climbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, as I hit the down hill, I stayed
conservative with my pace and while I wanted to look behind me for one of those
speedy downhill gals (Megan, Luann or Tera) I refrained and continued to run
my own race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took in the amazing
scenery while listening to some great tunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I chatted with a few of the guys I came upon but spent most of this
time by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the trail and the
voices in my head…"are my legs going to hang in there?", "wow we have to climb all
the way back up to that ridge?", "how and where is Ken, why hasn’t he passed me,
where are the women?", "ugh I don’t think I can eat anymore Swedish fish", and so on
goes the voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally the last aid station, 6.5 miles to go, same 6.5 we
started with and so I had sort of seen it once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came into the aid and was told F2 was 8
minutes up on me and then was asked, do you know how far back F4 was??? Not
sure how I was to know and so I said, “I wish I knew” and was off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trotted out of the aid, up the sandstone
and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I new at this point I could
push the down hills and was still running the ups fairly well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With about 1 mile to go and heading up the
last climb of the race, I glanced back and hear and well as saw F4, Tera “hey Denise”
she says…..ugh, seriously!!! And so I did what I could only do, I trotted the
ups and pushed the downs and…Tera was still close behind me…I hit the
last flat section racing with what I had left…racing to the finish line with Tera a mere 18 seconds
behind me!!! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5GNSId6SRroUPyEkVzkmuVtGv-3MBcYSGzO3bTmEWrHFOtQxAhdkLahFu-WcSriVlawrMiI9ZRkVjLVK97IyKaadd7NyJBZy9CTxe0jDDeCPKCaIK4TfM0IegK9kncmEBNHSmlADyQ/s1600/SO501-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5GNSId6SRroUPyEkVzkmuVtGv-3MBcYSGzO3bTmEWrHFOtQxAhdkLahFu-WcSriVlawrMiI9ZRkVjLVK97IyKaadd7NyJBZy9CTxe0jDDeCPKCaIK4TfM0IegK9kncmEBNHSmlADyQ/s1600/SO501-4.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great job ladies F1-F4, see you all at States!</td></tr>
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What a day, what a race. Congrats to Tera for securing that 4th spot and a ticket to states, as well as Cassie and Sally (F1, F2) who also secured States entry.</div>
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Big shout out again to Keira Henninger who put together an absolutely amazing race. As always a special thanks to my great sponsors <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> and <a href="http://www.ultraspire.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UltrAspire</a> for creating the best gear out there. <br />
</div>
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-74172196283108217692013-07-30T21:32:00.001-07:002013-10-29T12:57:56.845-07:002013 Western States 100 aka, "The Dance"2013 <a href="http://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">Western States 100</a> miler and <a href="http://ultracup.montrail.com/" target="_blank">Montrail Ultra Cup</a> 2012-13 goals accomplished!!!<br />
<br />
June 29th Western States 100, what a ride...okay maybe more of a run than a ride.<br />
<br />
My crew and I mimicked last years travel plans; leave Bend on Wednesday (after work) stay overnight in Reno (loose a few $$) to arrive in Squaw mid morning on Thursday. Highlight of our stay over in Reno...my fortune cookie from dinner, "A long term goal is about to be achieved", can't argue with a fortune cookie right?!<br />
This years crew / pacer team consisted of last year crew, grown by my brother in law and fellow Bendite Stephanie Howe. Yes, that made for 3 crew and 2 pacers and when not pacing, up to 5 crew! Ken did call me a bit of a Diva. In my defense, my kiddo, Rachel, shared that last year she waited for the "Bitchy Denise" to make an appearance during the race...and she never did :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91ta3SOMs4e6HUYKXTVwzw00aJgssJTNos4YZlCBDjMSvxX0zkuNswFjRugY4Jrz8kFEuPrAoi3OVOqIRBrfueKMvmxDXFJxEXR0YsTW_YX5KA3VgWsS-Mqn7CKCfxXhRhHB9FEgObA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91ta3SOMs4e6HUYKXTVwzw00aJgssJTNos4YZlCBDjMSvxX0zkuNswFjRugY4Jrz8kFEuPrAoi3OVOqIRBrfueKMvmxDXFJxEXR0YsTW_YX5KA3VgWsS-Mqn7CKCfxXhRhHB9FEgObA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
With almost 2 full days in Squaw to prep for the Saturday 5AM race start, I had plenty of time to plan with my crew my needs, wants, and anything else I could come up with to ask of them on race day. While I felt fairly dialed in for food, hydration, and race gear, I was less confident as it related to the main unknown, the heat. I have raced in warm conditions but I had yet to experience anything in the triple digits and triple digits was the projection for race day. As crew / pacer for San Diego 100 miler, where there was a 44% finish rate due to extreme temps...I had a healthy respect for what the heat could do to us runners. Like last year my heat training consisted of a couple of weeks training in the Sauna...that was it. And so with that I set about my game plan...start out at a moderate pace and try to take advantage of the early morning temps but...not so strong to place myself at a deficit further into the race. At each aid station my goal was to evaluate my needs and to address them prior to leaving the aid station, "get square" was the advice from fellow <a href="http://patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> runner, <a href="http://www.gobroncobilly.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Browning</a>, winner of the San Diego 100. For my hydration I would use my <a href="http://www.ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">Ultraspire</a> Spry and once it heated up I would also carry a 16oz Ultraspire handheld for dousing my head as needed. I planned to wear a bandanna around my neck filled with ice to help keep my core temp down and as was recommended I exchanged my red race jersey and black shorts for a white tank and pale green shorts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost go time!</td></tr>
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Mixed in with race day planning was the next best part of running any ultra....hanging with all the great runners / friends and experiencing the dynamic energy that surrounds WS's. If you can picture your last family reunion with all of your favorite family members, you will have a good idea on what getting together for this event is like. An amazing bunch of people all congregated around an equally amazing event and RD'd by the best of them out there, <a href="http://conductthejuices.com/" target="_blank">Craig Thornley</a> aka Lord Balls!<br />
<br />
5:00 AM race start, skies were clear and the temps were pleasant. As planned, I started out at a moderate pace, climbing up the Escarpment and enjoying the company of many familiar faces. Once up and over, I spent the next hour + in the company of Ashley Nordell, from Sisters. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Facchino Photography; Beautiful clear skies!</td></tr>
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While I was running comfortably I started experiencing what would be one of my lowest points for the race (how lucky to be getting it out of the way so early :)). While having a room central to Squaw is great for the social aspect of the race, it is not good for sleep. If you close up the windows it feels like your in an oven and if you open them up, the party outside sounds like it is in your room. 2 nights in Squaw meant 2 nights of no sleep. At this point in the race, I began to feel complete body fatigue...and I actually felt ill; flushed face, burning eyes, light headed, like I could lie down under a tree, curl into a ball and go to sleep. I had no idea how I was going to run 90 more miles!!! And so, I found myself focusing on Ashley in front of me and placing one foot in front of the other, praying what I was experiencing would go away. Lucky for me, it did and within the next few miles I began to enjoy the trails again! I ran through to Robinson Flats mi 29.7, feeling re-energized knowing I would see my crew. This year there would be no wringing out of my mittens or towel drying of my body. My brother in law, Roy, did get to hear a lil bit of the bitchy Denise, when he sponged me down with water...the water had grown warm as they waited for me and for thanks I grouched, "that's warm!". He stopped and redeemed himself by handing me my food of choice, cottage cheese (chilled) mixed with a Dole fruit cup :) and Odawalla chocolate protein shake mixed with coconut water. This proved effective through out the race when I could see my crew. With some food in my belly, I collected my handheld filled with ice water and what would prove to be my new best friend...my iced bandanna and off I went.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qHn2rnW5p_hT5PhVqCgIc0rW2_RN-3rhYLiAgh-te9Td5h__-UvFxLz1lMf_SCYtNprjJ_cKLNlKXQqgtEkNzCAaSbCB3tcOMd-8Mfwu-ogAHQq0acFv48Odz4-V7tsKXGwZCT4DZg/s1600/20130628_ml_westernstates1848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qHn2rnW5p_hT5PhVqCgIc0rW2_RN-3rhYLiAgh-te9Td5h__-UvFxLz1lMf_SCYtNprjJ_cKLNlKXQqgtEkNzCAaSbCB3tcOMd-8Mfwu-ogAHQq0acFv48Odz4-V7tsKXGwZCT4DZg/s320/20130628_ml_westernstates1848.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Long Run Picture Company</td></tr>
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My second low point came around mi 34, Millers Defeat....this low can only be understood by other females. Yes, I started my cycle that AM and this time I found myself distracted from the race by cramps. I came into Dusty Corners mi 38, asking for what I knew they would not have, Advil (which can lead to kidney problems in ultra events) along with some female product....they did not have either but kindly said they would call ahead to the next aid station. I arrived at Last Chance mi 43, to be greeted by some wonderful volunteers who had the second part of my request. I was starting to feel better as Rachel had given me some Advil back at Robinson Flat and it had finally kicked in.<br />
I ran from Last Chance to Devil's thumb exchanged greetings and conversed a bit before moving on past Kerrie Burxvoort, who was struggling with foot issues. I had been running in the 10th position for females up until then. At the base of Devil's thumb, I took advantage of the creek and spent a couple of minutes climbing down to it for a full body soak...it was well worth it! On my way from Devil's thumb to El Dorado Creek, I passed Joelle Vaught, the heat was no friend to her and her stomach.<br />
I saw my crew again at Michigan Bluff mi 55.7, and enjoyed getting iced down by Roy...no warm water this time :) Ken told me the next female was maybe 15 minutes up on me (Emily Harrison) and she was not looking strong. I took off, putting on a bit of pretense of feeling better than I actually was. While I was managing to the heat, like everyone else, it was taking a bit out of me. I found myself taking the advice from the expert panel of the day prior, run in the shade and do a bit more walking in the sun. Next aid would Bath Road where I would get to enjoy Rachel's company for the 1.5 miles to Foresthill. She was a delight, I trotted the majority of the uphill road and Rachel filled me in on how the race was unfolding ahead of me. I was super excited to hear that <a href="http://theturtlepath.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pam Smith</a> was holding the F1 spot and running strong.<br />
Foresthill I picked up the 1st of my 2 pacers, <a href="http://stephaniemariehowe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie Howe</a>, she would take me to the river crossing and Ken would be taking me from the river on home to Placer High School.<br />
I came into the aid station and welcomed the attention from my crew. Once again my core was cooled and with me feeling/ looking like a drowned rat and Steph looking as fresh as a summer breeze, we were off. Stephanie was great company, giving me encouragement when I needed it and providing the distraction you need when you have run 65 miles. Our trip to the river was happily uneventful minus some calf cramping. I left Foresthill having ran out of salt tabs and forgot to refill my stash...I refilled 5 mi later. When we got to the river I was happy to climb into it for the crossing and even happier that we got there with a bit of daylight left as my headlamps were at the top of Greengate 2 miles away. I was also very thankful for the volunteers in the river holding the cable steady as the high point of the river reached my shoulders!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS0d-BvVr1ynP9ZM9Ujs0gXsu1WOCBSZnSTSwMCqr9uzu_deT1KaCqqIvQo4YcnMzH3e7Qo0GjBsFupw-WEr33RICWEdi7RYte9qDUyNCtOdfwNewjvfu5rYBBmB9wZkr_tKAdvr8QQ/s1600/116489-04-421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS0d-BvVr1ynP9ZM9Ujs0gXsu1WOCBSZnSTSwMCqr9uzu_deT1KaCqqIvQo4YcnMzH3e7Qo0GjBsFupw-WEr33RICWEdi7RYte9qDUyNCtOdfwNewjvfu5rYBBmB9wZkr_tKAdvr8QQ/s320/116489-04-421.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Facchino Photography</td></tr>
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Ken greeted us on the other side and the 3 of us made the almost 2 mile uphill trek to Greengate. As compared to last year I trotted the majority of the hill, I was feeling good and happy to be sharing the last 22 miles with my husband! The hand off was complete, thank you Stephanie, you were a gem!!<br />
We collected our headlamps, I was to wear the Roch Horton, <a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamond</a> special :) 1 lamp at my waist (The Storm) with a second one on my head (Polar Icon). 300 luminescence of retina searing light!! Perfect combo for the terrain!<br />
Hard to say when but somewhere along our trek to Placer High, my quads left me...I had heard of quad death but had never actually experienced it. I have on different occasions had painful quads brought on by downhill pounding but this was different. Way different. While I was capable of trotting the uphills, the flats and gradual downhills, anything that had a significant drop to it had me shuffling a painfully slow and somewhat frightened shuffle. I would not be gaining on any of the female runners in front of me at this pace...quite possibly I would be gained upon. I had been running in 8th place for the last half of the race, I could only hope that I would hold it until the finish. Ken gave me encouragement as best he could but aside from picking me up and carrying me, I had only one downhill pace, very slow. Brown's Bar aid brought the Rogue Valley Runners aid station, this year, unlike last, I knew my placement and with the cheers from the enthusiastic volunteers, Ken and I shuffled away. Highway 49 aid station at mi 93 was the last time I would get to enjoy my crew. I sipped on some soup and welcomed both with pleasure and pain Roy rubbing down my quads, it was with reluctance that I left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd24CBK8yZTVXzl5Ae7tVzDGtJ5XWApBPW6b5qxdSWz8i8z42BYIoKl0pfxAwdbEZluNOLL0igrA2UxsEI0XH0brlC56s9LLDPh8dYI_2wPYH4_25mvw_YWhT3pVp9KWMWDCeUgmfoeA/s1600/116489-06-109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd24CBK8yZTVXzl5Ae7tVzDGtJ5XWApBPW6b5qxdSWz8i8z42BYIoKl0pfxAwdbEZluNOLL0igrA2UxsEI0XH0brlC56s9LLDPh8dYI_2wPYH4_25mvw_YWhT3pVp9KWMWDCeUgmfoeA/s320/116489-06-109.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Facchino Photography</td></tr>
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The last aid station, No Hands Bridge and 3 miles to the finish....Ken tried to get me to rally as I was passed by Auburn resident Matt Keyes (he got me by 70 sec) and with one last push we were on the track.<br />
Top 10 finish....F8, and an invite back for 2014!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRT-YjP4vNagn-6Rn3uRdTdIkExu6phG9xlTM9mY1UuzAaphmcbFruceEEVmwwjKF1sOhbS4sH7MXzHMAj5Gy8WLUC9VhGM3hRGhfjB3UP4AsDK-x5ewWDGKrdTpurchJKRd_OIp-0A/s1600/MUC2012-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRT-YjP4vNagn-6Rn3uRdTdIkExu6phG9xlTM9mY1UuzAaphmcbFruceEEVmwwjKF1sOhbS4sH7MXzHMAj5Gy8WLUC9VhGM3hRGhfjB3UP4AsDK-x5ewWDGKrdTpurchJKRd_OIp-0A/s320/MUC2012-13.png" width="180" /></a><br />
And the win for the<a href="http://montrail.ultracup.com/" target="_blank"> Montrail Ultra Cup</a> 2012-2013!!<br />
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My thanks go out to my sponsors and to those who have helped me to achieve my goals <a href="http://patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia,</a> <a href="http://ultraspire.com/" target="_blank">Ultraspire</a>, <a href="http://www.hypoxico.com/" target="_blank">Hypoxico Systems</a>, <a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/" target="_blank">Black Diamond</a>, Ian Torrence my coach, and my husband. Ken, thank you for supporting me through all of my crazy running adventures as well as spending long (seemingly endless) hours with me out on the trails!! <br />
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As always, none of us runners would be writing of our accomplishments without the great support of all the volunteers....Thank you!<br />
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As I am finishing my blog I sit in my "bubble" at 11,500ft in preparation for my next running adventure...Leadville 100, August 17th! <br />
<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-34437311913546567062013-06-10T21:45:00.003-07:002013-06-10T21:45:35.755-07:002013 Race UpdateFirst blog for 2013....Yikes!!!! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF9G_QuLTW4udSAUhEjTWE8-DnX3XE1shj3qke6Jps1tkSqG1MROpUwB27vh4D5dXCbVWBJjgDcHY5Eke2ouEakXn4VqcS-qPLm_GocPzzmVX-Cs2Thv96nJbvtoC_lRoWxPoNSuZ9g/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSF9G_QuLTW4udSAUhEjTWE8-DnX3XE1shj3qke6Jps1tkSqG1MROpUwB27vh4D5dXCbVWBJjgDcHY5Eke2ouEakXn4VqcS-qPLm_GocPzzmVX-Cs2Thv96nJbvtoC_lRoWxPoNSuZ9g/s200/photo+(5).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home stretch</td></tr>
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January 12, Bandera 50k in TX....you might be wondering why I would make the trek to Texas for a 50k race. The reason, chasing the <a href="http://montrail%20ultra%20cup/" target="_blank">Montrail Ultra Cup</a> (MUC) for 2012-2013. As the defending champ for 2011-2012, I had decided to go after it again. I had my 100 miler, <a href="http://montrail%20ultra%20cup/" target="_blank"></a>and my100k, and was still needing the 50k and 50 mile distances to compete with maximum points for race series. With a 1st place finish at Pinhoti 100mi, and a 2nd place finish at Waldo 100k, I was sitting in 1st place for the series.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5oeAUPdVZl_xHtfPA1Jep82bYAdCdaU-XDxH0S2VLJhq_ruNBDbH4MUVD1w_Kjxwu07Yo7i95KfHw7PYAVoQMZASidGAXzjNolZdDs8dy1H0Z3MVtthL8ZYp6Ak1HxAsR56DmiuzIg/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5oeAUPdVZl_xHtfPA1Jep82bYAdCdaU-XDxH0S2VLJhq_ruNBDbH4MUVD1w_Kjxwu07Yo7i95KfHw7PYAVoQMZASidGAXzjNolZdDs8dy1H0Z3MVtthL8ZYp6Ak1HxAsR56DmiuzIg/s320/photo+(4).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beep Beep! and yes my shoes weighed about 10lbs, <br />
thank you Paul for being out there!</td></tr>
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Bandera 50k was a day in which I quite possible should have just stayed in bed (had it not been for the MUC). I struggled for most of the race, never really feeling good or finding a rhythm with my running. I questioned on more than one occasion why I push myself to be a front runner...what's wrong with going out and running a race, "just for fun"??? I am asked frequently, "what do you think about when your running ALL day?", it would likely be easier to describe what I don't think about.... I completed the race and while it was not one of my best performances, I secured a second place finish, enough points to maintain my 1st place status for the MUC and walked away with a Roadrunner trophy...beep, beep!<br />
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Next up, Chuckanut 50k in Fairhaven, WA. The 50k distance is a distance I have yet to embrace. You have to run faster, and stay engaged for the entire distance if you hope to race it competitively. Chuckanut is a <a href="http://patagonia/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> sponsored race, RD'd by fellow Patagonia ultra runner, <a href="http://krissymoehl.com/blog/" target="_blank">Krissy Moehl</a> and I had heard great things about her race. Add that to a chance to run on new trails in the great Northwest....and that was all it took, I was all in! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVw7oWsH0gST4wj4kwqdxDqpvdjCIR5nwxIvcX63VrubDYEWZnIBtV_qBU929IBpPnQ2CS7qOA9BVMZ0LaHxmhWyVmvGCbhs7MAhgeoHicoULXRAx_jHAxY4XcJ-stxNi2HXXqEeyOQ/s1600/chuckanut+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVw7oWsH0gST4wj4kwqdxDqpvdjCIR5nwxIvcX63VrubDYEWZnIBtV_qBU929IBpPnQ2CS7qOA9BVMZ0LaHxmhWyVmvGCbhs7MAhgeoHicoULXRAx_jHAxY4XcJ-stxNi2HXXqEeyOQ/s320/chuckanut+2013.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Glenn Tachyama...climbing Chin Scrapper </td></tr>
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As it turns out racing the first 10 miles and the last 10 miles, slowing through the muddy technical middle 10 miles will only get you so far....9th place finish in 4:43. I still had a great time running in the rain on some great new trails and hanging with some amazing runners! Thank you Krissy for putting together such a well organized race! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx6ZFJxpX8weGIYvAMNVG5z56ub2_21ZuhIuakCMC_6FtAKD-Xw8IylkB3azaz_LF5cG4rrvufg73ZKUyfaYdbIpiT6IPoaiaSvy1GMT-Cd_Karfewwb18ZsWpTobSxSuJmhYLRwWrQ/s1600/chuckanutpic+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx6ZFJxpX8weGIYvAMNVG5z56ub2_21ZuhIuakCMC_6FtAKD-Xw8IylkB3azaz_LF5cG4rrvufg73ZKUyfaYdbIpiT6IPoaiaSvy1GMT-Cd_Karfewwb18ZsWpTobSxSuJmhYLRwWrQ/s200/chuckanutpic+2013.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuckanut 50k, happy to be done!</td></tr>
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April 13, Lake Sonoma 50 miler, CA....8:52 and a 9th place finish. The trail was uber dry, and fast, the temps were warm and the field was stacked! With each race I run I continue to grow and learn as an ultra runner, whether it is nutrition, hydration, electrolytes, what layers to wear for the cold, or not to wear for the heat there is always a take away.... Sonoma was no different. I finished this race coming away a bit more race savvy than before it. Sonoma 50mi is part of the MUC and could be used for the 50 mile distance that I still needed but I was planning on racing Ice Age 50mi and I was anticipating perhaps a better than 9th place finish :) Big thank you to John Medinger for putting on an amazing race as well as the great aid support through out! Did I mention the wine tasting that followed :) when in Rome...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKQdWOxIOF0YLCMsN6cgwCQZOIpCAsNxK1lAGsxyAy1UqAZ29jE0SGPbaBZQ6WxrnOFJy91xZTVhTZYgVBkFSzSGtDiLy3y9GSgYYyLkASH5F431Oa037rls5MIfpEd91X_YsdIftEQ/s1600/Ice+Age+Ken's+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKQdWOxIOF0YLCMsN6cgwCQZOIpCAsNxK1lAGsxyAy1UqAZ29jE0SGPbaBZQ6WxrnOFJy91xZTVhTZYgVBkFSzSGtDiLy3y9GSgYYyLkASH5F431Oa037rls5MIfpEd91X_YsdIftEQ/s320/Ice+Age+Ken's+bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday boy Ken, on race night!</td></tr>
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May 11th, Ice Age 50 miler....I was looking forward to racing on the Ice Age trail again. Having won the race in 2012, RD Jeff Mallach was super kind to invite me back...when I mentioned that my husband was thinking about his race, he comped him too :) thank you Jeff!<br />
We flew over on a Thursday, hubby Ken, fellow <a href="http://patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia </a>ultra runner <a href="http://www.gobroncobilly.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Browning</a> and I. I have come to learn that when traveling for a race, get there at least 1 full day before race day. We got there mid- afternoon on Thursday with plenty of time to relax and plan our race strategy prior to the Sat morning 6am start. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVa0y6_XiXSP6ELVLEWhU_Uys9SdjmRNvyqI-mEUJ5DDCVltuyrpBphYxAPVypag-hOOCNvJhzVaMvKQ9oA8JFoSjfl1syNfKNjSO5nWcJ2KvnuqvhTZovDUw6Ox-2kgBIOiGOsHx_g/s1600/Ice+age+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVa0y6_XiXSP6ELVLEWhU_Uys9SdjmRNvyqI-mEUJ5DDCVltuyrpBphYxAPVypag-hOOCNvJhzVaMvKQ9oA8JFoSjfl1syNfKNjSO5nWcJ2KvnuqvhTZovDUw6Ox-2kgBIOiGOsHx_g/s320/Ice+age+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early on in the race, photo by Ali Engin.</td></tr>
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Race morning brought cool temps and we were all ready to go. Ken and I spent the first 10 miles running together. I was F2 from the start (and to remain in this spot for the remainder of the day) Cassie Scallon was F1. Normally I race my 50 milers with my <a href="http://www.ultraspire.net/" target="_blank">Ultraspire</a> hydration pack but with the 8 aide stations and cool temps, I ran this race with a 12oz hand held bottle. There was plenty of great aid station support to refill on both hydration and calories. Ken pulled ahead of me around mile 11 and other than a couple glimpses of him on the out and backs, that would be the last I saw of him. He was running strong and I was super happy to see him having a good day. Each of these out and backs also firmed up Cassie's F1 spot as well as my F2 position. Cassie was running an amazing race and even before the race was complete I new we would be looking at a new course record! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwQ3yhwfdAqp9aDXciyApAfG5KIFg45FmBWDRjBmikG3AFdXsPCAcyRSb_o0Eeyw_5YnRefR3r4JdatRVLXI2-ODVi_ErdLRrOkJ5hRK0khT_B0KxVDxeouesoqlwR6LCdYat93IszQ/s1600/_MG_7571+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwQ3yhwfdAqp9aDXciyApAfG5KIFg45FmBWDRjBmikG3AFdXsPCAcyRSb_o0Eeyw_5YnRefR3r4JdatRVLXI2-ODVi_ErdLRrOkJ5hRK0khT_B0KxVDxeouesoqlwR6LCdYat93IszQ/s320/_MG_7571+(1).jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta love the Red solo cup! <br />
Photo by Jaco Clapsaddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk98yxSzZMgruQxsJubWFN3uOdmenfHKzvRTToTgog-gzrHvai-wn3WXsM74qZ0YJ-Q6inCPWx2v2uxHUXbyDPm4nH0E6It2_NcC2MVSM4IyZsyppXJ5wqm698dwulVkeP3xiuCY15g/s1600/Ice+age+2013CU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk98yxSzZMgruQxsJubWFN3uOdmenfHKzvRTToTgog-gzrHvai-wn3WXsM74qZ0YJ-Q6inCPWx2v2uxHUXbyDPm4nH0E6It2_NcC2MVSM4IyZsyppXJ5wqm698dwulVkeP3xiuCY15g/s320/Ice+age+2013CU.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ali Engin</td></tr>
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Going into this race my goal was to better my 7:12 time from last year. By mile 25 I knew that this was not going to be. I bonked a couple of times, got chilled and unfortunately, on a very, very, well marked course, I went off course.....and yet, with all that, it was still a great day of racing on the Ice Age trail. When the day was done, my finish time was 7:51, F2. My second place finish was all I needed to secure my 1st place position for the MUC. The series will finish with <a href="http://www.wser.org/" target="_blank">Western States 100mi</a><br />
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Next up on my race calendar is Western States 100 mi, June 29th! The race is stacked with talented runners and rumor has it, we may be looking at record setting high temps...time will tell!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXcHlvXqcZYcv-OS2__cLhgek6rglPGLjXQFO6mCEhDfUcmtR11c0RawKNxsZFcnN8Preb9nLmRYoMKwRO9_UEiMuZxAdIn8HI0YbdpS0yFJoE_P4lzdFKJTBIf0o1k7pfsW9WoaBDA/s1600/425239_10151656832105412_128020854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXcHlvXqcZYcv-OS2__cLhgek6rglPGLjXQFO6mCEhDfUcmtR11c0RawKNxsZFcnN8Preb9nLmRYoMKwRO9_UEiMuZxAdIn8HI0YbdpS0yFJoE_P4lzdFKJTBIf0o1k7pfsW9WoaBDA/s320/425239_10151656832105412_128020854_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial weekend training camp on the Western States course!<br />
Photo by Joe McCladdie</td></tr>
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Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-1017088471519792872012-11-25T11:36:00.001-08:002012-11-26T20:39:44.605-08:00Pinhoti 100 miler<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 250px; text-align: left; width: 208px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGHMG3i5-aQnphYLVVG4x_IPASKtcnxf1ErkVdOLzcIbKccLd2VC07Lk6MRrb7Zdr7pS5k21USj6hpCGNxP0kQxdajkw9WBtA877ZqbCZO3edlYysnS-cX8dAKh-qTATaUNhdWwyxg/s1600/Trail%25202_Koosah%2520Falls-GE-630-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGHMG3i5-aQnphYLVVG4x_IPASKtcnxf1ErkVdOLzcIbKccLd2VC07Lk6MRrb7Zdr7pS5k21USj6hpCGNxP0kQxdajkw9WBtA877ZqbCZO3edlYysnS-cX8dAKh-qTATaUNhdWwyxg/s320/Trail%25202_Koosah%2520Falls-GE-630-L.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKenzie River 50 miler. <a href="http://longrunpictures.com/" target="_blank">Long Run Picture Company</a></td></tr>
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<strong>2012 race season</strong>....three 100 milers, one 100k, three 50 milers, and two 50k's.....nine in total. It is no wonder that as I was traveling to Alabama for the Pinhoti 100, I had more than my share of self doubt. I was feeling fatigued, under trained, I had a sore Achilles tendon on the left and a sore knee on the right....what was I doing getting ready to run my third 100 miler of the year. Ken did not want me to race Pinhoti, "3, 100's in one year, you are over racing" he said....(This is where I should also mention that in the month of October I married my best friend Ken Sinclair, moved into a new house, and played nurse to Ken through his heart attack and cardiac stent placement!)<br />
In my defense I ran Waldo 100k, Aug 18th (2nd place), followed by McKenzie River 50 miler, Sept 8th (1st place), racing well and feeling great for both races. Pinhoti on Nov 3rd just seemed like a good idea, after all, it was part of the <a href="http://ultracup.montrail.com/overview.aspx" target="_blank">Montrail Ultra Cup Series</a>, <a href="http://patagonia.com/" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> was one of its sponsors and well.....the idea of running in Alabama in the Talladaga forest on a trail called the Pinhoti....who could resist??<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnoS5UwiMt4MYRLOxUZY7wJQ6pxVlavXa_j_uSe72pMkpJzTI5yy4an6Wqn_APopQE8ysupLCfvtMdDYEXG-X62vn1ywRvByRN-ZnsL8s6xhyhNzw1HHNeSCLWa6fEjoEGy2cT94UwA/s1600/IMG_9563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnoS5UwiMt4MYRLOxUZY7wJQ6pxVlavXa_j_uSe72pMkpJzTI5yy4an6Wqn_APopQE8ysupLCfvtMdDYEXG-X62vn1ywRvByRN-ZnsL8s6xhyhNzw1HHNeSCLWa6fEjoEGy2cT94UwA/s320/IMG_9563.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husband and Wife!!</td></tr>
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I arrived in Alabama on Thursday with my pacer and crew Amy Freeman, Ken was going to fly in on Friday (yes, Ken's cardiologist cleared him for travel...NO pacing). The temps in AL were comfortable in the low 70's, with the humidity in the 50's. Friday brought Ken to AL and some hang out time at the pre-race briefing with <a href="http://www.yassinediboun.com/" target="_blank">Yassine Diboun</a>, Roxanne Woodhouse and the rest of the ultra pack, all of us prepping for a late season 100 miler. After the briefing we carbo loaded at an Italian restaurant Amy and I ate at the night prior and heard one of the best lines spoken with a great southern drawl....Ken's dinner was delivered with the words of, "here you go big hungry"! Classic.<br />
That night as I set my race gear out, I took one last opportunity to review the race packet information and my race strategy. Not knowing how to rate the course, having never run on the trails, I was struggling with what splits to use, that would bring with it my goal finish time. Ken had printed out from the Pinhoti website splits for both a 20 and sub 20 hour finish. I elected to focus on the sub 20 hour splits.<br />
Go time was 6am and so we set our alarms for 3:00am, picking Yassine up before making the 1 1/2 hour trek to the start. Pinhoti is a point to point from Heflin to Sylacauga, where we were staying. The temps were in the mid 40's with the humidity in the 80's, not too bad. The drive to Heflin seemed to take forever but then almost to quickly we were toeing the line with the RD calling out, "get outta here"! We started out on a gravel road before taking a sharp turn onto single track. I took off quickly hoping that as we hit the single track I was in good position, one in which I could run without needing to pass or be passed. I was successful, the pace was good, I was in a train with 4 guys and we only got passed in the dark by one speedy chick, Melaine Fryar. We kept it nice and steady while in the dark, and I was thankful for the train as it allowed me to focus my attention on the rock / root strewn, leaf covered trail, rather than the next turn in the trail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ01Fri5CVbqtVNyP9w2IWUN9WWx3Gn2ofFxwgkndjQ_BvZst23CHDMLe63YSo76s2Yv52IJQFl5IzJC7ICVxPh4HmkvS1zBTn3xeQS3pbBvJFNztEUgXtQVByDiHO39pVSdp-nV2IA/s1600/2012_Pinhoti+100+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ01Fri5CVbqtVNyP9w2IWUN9WWx3Gn2ofFxwgkndjQ_BvZst23CHDMLe63YSo76s2Yv52IJQFl5IzJC7ICVxPh4HmkvS1zBTn3xeQS3pbBvJFNztEUgXtQVByDiHO39pVSdp-nV2IA/s400/2012_Pinhoti+100+44.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling spry, early in the race! Picture by Scott Livingston</td></tr>
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The Pinhoti course had 18 aid stations, the furthest distance between stations was 6.9 miles and the shortest just 3.3 miles. Crew could support their runners at 12 of the aid stations and pacers could join their runners as early as mile 40. I saw Ken and Amy at the first aid station, 6.7 miles into the race where I handed off my headlamp, ate a Hammer Gel and was off. I was thankful for the arrival of daylight as the trail was proving to be rather challenging with the obstacles on the trail fully camouflaged by the leaves. By aid station #2, mile 13, I had passed Melaine along with a couple of guys, and was greeted by my crew once again. More Gel, a top off of the handheld and see you in 5 miles at aid station 3. This was kind of fun, it felt like they were with me the entire time! The trail remained the same, while beautiful with the many colors of fall I think I would have preferred the leaves to be green and UP in the trees. I did forget to ask what kind of animal lives and digs all the holes that were along the trail. The holes were about the size of a large grapefruit, some were disguised by leaves while others were identified by the sticks (skewers) someone had shoved into the holes. To remain a mystery I guess.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkf_IUlAPym1RLJlWzDcxhOj-JHOTi8wuyGm0exEjjfVwiZMZjWFHfCYp3jjb_SehH53iXt98uyWCY9D7RYmX0h33Hc8-ehYVdzlcMkyuD4bKiC29NmA2EvS66xIG54GDwC_kD-7LUw/s1600/2012_Pinhoti+100+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkf_IUlAPym1RLJlWzDcxhOj-JHOTi8wuyGm0exEjjfVwiZMZjWFHfCYp3jjb_SehH53iXt98uyWCY9D7RYmX0h33Hc8-ehYVdzlcMkyuD4bKiC29NmA2EvS66xIG54GDwC_kD-7LUw/s320/2012_Pinhoti+100+118.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before descending Blue Hell trail. Picture by Scott Livingston</td></tr>
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Ken swapped out my handheld for my hydration pack at aid station 5, the next 7 miles included climbing to the highest point in AL, Mt Cheaha and it was starting to warm up. This section did prove to be a tough one and I was happy to have my ipod with me as I was running mostly solo. I had moved into 4th place overall but was trading off and on with the 5th place guy. I think by this point I had already fallen a 1/2 dozen times, no injuries but, body coming into contact with the ground non the less! During this section I crossed a creek about knee high, and came upon some scrappy looking campers....while I did not pay them any attention, they still managed to set me on edge and almost immediately I found myself sprawled onto the ground. I fully expected to see when I looked back and while jumping to my feet, a rope tied across the trail. I had to laugh when all I saw was a root crossing the trail, secured at both ends. Seriously....a rope?!?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHiIyiK6EQRiCQKwZqYuLh1Zu1RCMiiKeJ55by6fzvuRX2kmWwgxP6XapdMkzZ2xpOHyRhFotNIK0-_C_ecMknxFwGYIEPnA5TPNTfji4-tjIhFYJZEvm1us_A7vwdOXsebzbVWljew/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHiIyiK6EQRiCQKwZqYuLh1Zu1RCMiiKeJ55by6fzvuRX2kmWwgxP6XapdMkzZ2xpOHyRhFotNIK0-_C_ecMknxFwGYIEPnA5TPNTfji4-tjIhFYJZEvm1us_A7vwdOXsebzbVWljew/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My amazing crew at the top of Mt Cheaha!</td></tr>
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Aid Station 8 and I was sad to see all my efforts in getting to the highest point in AL were only rewarded with what was called the Steep Lake trail also known as "BLUE HELL"....no running here! Huge boulders, covered in colorful fall leaves made up the decent, add in a couple of wrong turns and I was ready for this section to be over. A little further I saw my crew and was told that Amy would be joining me in 15 miles! Amy enjoys the 1/2 marathon distance but was stepping up to the plate to help a friend in need. She would run a total of 22 miles, 18 miles on, 10 miles off, rejoining me for the final 5.5 miles. Something to look forward to! Added smile at this point was Ken sharing a short story....Yassine, "how far back is the next guy?" Ken, "it ain't no guy" Yassine, "who is it?", Ken "it's D", Yassine, "shit!"....Yassine was super stoked that I was racing as well as I was....even if I was gaining on him. He was 8 minutes up from me at that point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEVXm9hAnR3NhEbgnSqxYZj0XA2WFZMbs4xBpobImegaEdRiOfX4bKTXSayUNbzBzkmC7XtiTJcfkkwQ3J-Ipsl6GAmQrxL6LJGtpPVqdS748eq1ZssuVEnW8AHKJQxMvTY2opZpcEA/s1600/Pinhoticrew_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEVXm9hAnR3NhEbgnSqxYZj0XA2WFZMbs4xBpobImegaEdRiOfX4bKTXSayUNbzBzkmC7XtiTJcfkkwQ3J-Ipsl6GAmQrxL6LJGtpPVqdS748eq1ZssuVEnW8AHKJQxMvTY2opZpcEA/s320/Pinhoticrew_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm chocolate milk, thanks guys!</td></tr>
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I was still feeling relatively good, eating what appealed to me at the aid stations, mostly gel and my protein chocolate milk (note taken when I drank too much....yup stomach cramps for a while after that!) I was doing well staying hydrated and taking S caps with the 80 degree temps and the humidity. The next few sections remained status quo for the terrain, rolling hills on a rocky single track trail. Running along the trail I would actually slow at times to take in all the amazing shades of fall in full bloom. Otherwise my gaze was focused on the trail directly in front of my feet in attempts at staying on my feet! I was starting to feel some apprehension as the indentation of the trail was but a mere hint (in a wide open forest) in the broad daylight and the trail markings were few and far between.....how the heck was it going to look at night??? <br />
As promised, Amy joined me for some night time running at aid station 12, mile 67 (just dusk) leaving Ken to crew us both. I was happy to have Amy running with me and Amy was happy to see that my pace was one she could easily keep! I took this opportunity to finally ask how much time I had on the second female, F2. Unlike Western States, I knew exactly what place I was holding. Amy shared that she and Ken had waited up to a 1/2 hour at a previous add station and the next female had yet to arrive. I was relieved as I knew that I was slowing, due to both fatigue and nightfall...I was hoping that F2 was doing the same. Helping boost my spirits was Amy telling me that I was currently 11 minutes under my goal time!!<br />
At the next aid station, I handed off my hydration pack and went back to my handheld. The temps were dropping and I did not need the additional hydration (or weight) of the pack. Amy was great company breaking into song frequently to keep us both entertained. Having her second set of eyes also helped keep us on course when the markings were less than obvious and the trail almost nonexistent. She encouraged me to trot off and on when we were climbing the hills and helped me up each time I found myself lying on a bed of leaves. No surprise, I did not complain when we broke off the trail onto a gravel road. Amy ran with me for 18 miles, as promised, before taking a break. I was at mile 85, still feeling strong, mentally and physically. Ken served me up some more chocolate milk and I was off. Unfortunately, I struggled with staying on course during the following 10 miles, going off course twice. The first time there was NO marking at a intersection and the second time I was looking down and missed a right turn....it was well marked....I did not ask Ken how I was doing for pace when I saw them at the aid stations. I had slowed and gone off course.<br />
Amy rejoined me at Aid station 18, mile 94.5. She was a gem, she listened to me complain about going off course, curse at the rocks on the trail and retch as I tried to take in more gel calories.....and then she would break into song, thank you Amy for lifting my spirits, for being with me! We were almost done, I was almost done....We saw Ken as we hit the road....just over 2 miles left....Ken calls out my running time....19:01, and then tells Amy not to let me walk! To put into words what I was feeling.....I was going to be well under my goal finish time for the win (5th overall) and a new course record! I finished in 19:24, 2 hours and 20+ minutes under the previous course record. Indeed a nice way to cap off my 2012 race season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNTk3JO1NEc_yrbGO4URzkPKyAA-TWm4gzzf65y9Yj-P6iAe9Vhq85bi18W7BbK0_StFuksmMn7f3YU1FZvlThRNgm8OCQqubmHp9K4EU18oOLScymCy7weIAOK8G4cNy3p1MybnMYg/s1600/Pinhoti123_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNTk3JO1NEc_yrbGO4URzkPKyAA-TWm4gzzf65y9Yj-P6iAe9Vhq85bi18W7BbK0_StFuksmMn7f3YU1FZvlThRNgm8OCQqubmHp9K4EU18oOLScymCy7weIAOK8G4cNy3p1MybnMYg/s320/Pinhoti123_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well done ladies! 2nd and 3rd Megan Hall and Melaine Fryar</td></tr>
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When asked if I would run this race again....my answer was without hesitancy, No. Now, 3 weeks later the toughness of the course has faded along with my body aches and in its place is memories of the beautiful trails, the friendly people, the great aid station support and all within a well organized 100 mile race...maybe I would go back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceg3dd_wo7OMJXSAEB8wa23tYKd5jynlyHVpWVkQpU-WpLvz71e2yP_RBn_EzeLusQKw3VnhadgppNE_vJ1BJiTPZr-QFu58_qL8XtbVbuk0i0-dnomyekcNDooMrT2tkIlMiQXBCoQ/s1600/pinhoti_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceg3dd_wo7OMJXSAEB8wa23tYKd5jynlyHVpWVkQpU-WpLvz71e2yP_RBn_EzeLusQKw3VnhadgppNE_vJ1BJiTPZr-QFu58_qL8XtbVbuk0i0-dnomyekcNDooMrT2tkIlMiQXBCoQ/s320/pinhoti_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew and Yassine, 1st Female, 3rd Male, Oregon for the win!</td></tr>
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Big congrats to Yassine for earning his ticket to the, "Big Dance" (and not getting chicked)! I can't thank Ken and Amy enough for their amazing support out on the trails, thank you! Ken, thank you for supporting me even when you felt that I should have been resting. <br />
My <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/uspro/shop/womens-trail-running?k=1E-3m" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> gear was perfect from the cool morning temps on through the heat of the day. I raced the early morning hours in my <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/uspro/product/womens-capilene-baselayer-4-expedition-weight-baselayer-quarter-zip-hoody?p=43670-1-112" target="_blank">Capilene 4 hoody</a> and <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/uspro/product/merino-3-midweight-glove-liners?p=47875-1-155" target="_blank">Merino 3 liners</a>, light weight yet with enough protection to break the early morning chill. Thank you to RD, Todd Hendersen and all the volunteers along the 100 miles, 18 aid stations for putting together a great race. For those other runners out there, I would recommend the <a href="http://www.pinhoti100.com/" target="_blank">Pinhoti 100</a> ! <br />
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Next on my race calendar.....some well deserved rest!! <br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-91414560073010925922012-09-09T21:14:00.002-07:002012-09-09T21:14:35.772-07:00Ticket to StatesPost Western States blog I asked that you stay tuned....read on!<br />
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What a busy summer of running is has been, all of it leading up to <a href="http://waldo100k.org/" target="_blank">Waldo 100k</a>, August 18th and hopefully my ticket to next years <a href="http://ws100.com/" target="_blank">Western States 100</a> miler! Going into the race I had a my goals established. #1...earn a 1st or 2nd place finish for the much sought after Western States entry, #2 course record for the Master division (Held by Meghan Arbogast) and #3... see #1!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg65l-RF-YdLVuRnXe_QbgWu-MNu0pX81f0IJhsnbLABop7KrjifP3JrjhEp80XVRyucNFMABPG4xUQXoflmaLWgce4ZeZN8axrbOiWGPtkgx307D-PBdXrLO6Euw8z1YjyVeNRKOYVA/s1600/speedgoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg65l-RF-YdLVuRnXe_QbgWu-MNu0pX81f0IJhsnbLABop7KrjifP3JrjhEp80XVRyucNFMABPG4xUQXoflmaLWgce4ZeZN8axrbOiWGPtkgx307D-PBdXrLO6Euw8z1YjyVeNRKOYVA/s320/speedgoat.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the may climbs at Speedgoat</td></tr>
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There are many things that factor into prepping for race day and this years prep for Waldo was no different. While my work hours keep me from over training with high weekly mileage, I did place focus on what went into my training. <a href="http://waldo100k.org/" target="_blank">Waldo 100k</a> has 11,000 feet of vertical gain and summits 3 peaks so I thought it was perfectly reasonable to register and run <a href="http://karlmeltzer.com/speedgoat-50k/" target="_blank">Speedgoat 50k</a> in Utah on July, 28. Speedgoat is held in the Wasatch mountain range and has 12,000 ft of vertical gain. This is of course dependant on the year and the race director, Karl Meltzer (who added a 1000ft from the previous year just for fun). My 7 hours and 31 minute 50k time for a 5th place finish emphasized only the fact that I am not a mountain runner and that the Mountains in and around Bend are not BIG mountains. The race did serve the purpose of putting me on some freaking tough climbs in preparation for Waldo. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dd95Cp73axiY6CnXjuEKiq2GTdp3n7tgrVc40598sUNWESz0nqPfd43v3naHCz1IuJrDzswN6THPrePDl9uehSFhh7AkhI0FLkyZqorxlc6MlIqq2mUdMBFF_t85EC7v6tehClVv3A/s1600/Cascade+relay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dd95Cp73axiY6CnXjuEKiq2GTdp3n7tgrVc40598sUNWESz0nqPfd43v3naHCz1IuJrDzswN6THPrePDl9uehSFhh7AkhI0FLkyZqorxlc6MlIqq2mUdMBFF_t85EC7v6tehClVv3A/s200/Cascade+relay.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No obstacles here</td></tr>
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Next race, Cascade Relay, held outside of Bend. While at times I actually thought our team was in last place (think we were at one point), I ran my legs as if we were winning, concentrating on my leg turnover for the speedier parts of the Waldo course. I followed this run with a 21 miler around Paulina Crater the following day for the fatigue factor and one last run / hike up the South Sister with some fellow Oregonian Ultra runners and my race preparation for Waldo was complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYvkiJpI1j8wEXJKff1p3pEwWolNm-IdRPvcuYa-68YkpSennFu7HMt9FELH-PUinK2ckhPTQGnAooFDEGRV9YIAIwKcEmPu2_JDYnq_PRi69gAFxJhwXhH9Zv8nW0ygkxeXM0bBCw/s1600/south+sister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYvkiJpI1j8wEXJKff1p3pEwWolNm-IdRPvcuYa-68YkpSennFu7HMt9FELH-PUinK2ckhPTQGnAooFDEGRV9YIAIwKcEmPu2_JDYnq_PRi69gAFxJhwXhH9Zv8nW0ygkxeXM0bBCw/s200/south+sister.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of the South Sister, blue bird day!</td></tr>
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As with any trail run in the summer there is always fear of forest fires. Last year <a href="http://mrtr.org/" target="_blank">McKenzie 50K</a> was rerouted due to a forest fire and in 2008 Western States was canceled due to fire. This year it visited Waldo, just two days prior to the race a fire broke out around Bobby Lake. Fortunately it was contained and extinguished and RD Craig Thornley and his crew put great efforts into re-routing the course in short order. As expected they were successful and the 100k (62 miler) became a 65 miler! Western States picked the right guy to run their show. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWfDa4eFityrjhfyw60x1hBVk_XR9AF_NcCaXThUHgAq5YT6veyhkOJEX8zNgtVwln_MTHpEVG4_HKYzfPUZQYplNk6iPlZBWRAMJDkNnG6C05EWEoVARvHMNHvzVOAst8KleTl2Teg/s1600/Waldo+lake-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWfDa4eFityrjhfyw60x1hBVk_XR9AF_NcCaXThUHgAq5YT6veyhkOJEX8zNgtVwln_MTHpEVG4_HKYzfPUZQYplNk6iPlZBWRAMJDkNnG6C05EWEoVARvHMNHvzVOAst8KleTl2Teg/s320/Waldo+lake-L.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlton Lake mile 31</td></tr>
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The race began at 5AM and we were was off. The first part of the race takes you strait up Willamette pass ski area. I had wrote down what my splits needed to look like to keep me under Meghan Arbosgast's masters course record ( I knew with the added mileage I was not going to break the record but wanted to track my splits until the course deviated.) As I ran / hiked up the mountain, I used a technique given to me by <a href="http://www.gobroncobilly.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Browning</a>, a fellow <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> runner. Rather than hiking what I could not run I would hike for 15 breaths and then run for 15 breaths, alternating in this manner I was 2 minutes faster than 2011 and by the time I was at the top of Mt. Fuji I was 5 minutes faster than my previous years time....Thanks Jeff! <br />
Joelly Vaught and Alison Bryant were 1 and 2 early on and while I wanted one of those places I also knew it was going to be a long day and it was early yet. I kept to my own race, running comfortable yet strong. Sadly, I took a huge digger early on but fortunately it was on a soft, silt covered trail. It was one of those falls that takes you completely by surprise...my arms stayed by my side, and when my body hit the ground, my feet kicked back up behind me practically touching the back of my head. Ken (my crew) made reference to a chimney sweep as I came into the next aid station...I was covered from my forehead down with dirt that stuck nicely as it had started to drizzle just previous to the fall. While I am certain <a href="http://www.journeyfilm.com/" target="_blank">JB Benna</a> got some great film of my dirt covered state, thankfully I have yet to see a photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhfLLBKcLunBTVors4HjEgZLDDpzij-TSz1uv0s69EzWMOOiDAUG0tAfxvasb6KvRVVzb5ElYicnOzt8eUqfKDpfR4ufGS0-9lzcciSwiNYOhCQmtdK9hICcgCBkkFWg9KfE54J3vpA/s1600/Waldo+Leap+of+Faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhfLLBKcLunBTVors4HjEgZLDDpzij-TSz1uv0s69EzWMOOiDAUG0tAfxvasb6KvRVVzb5ElYicnOzt8eUqfKDpfR4ufGS0-9lzcciSwiNYOhCQmtdK9hICcgCBkkFWg9KfE54J3vpA/s320/Waldo+Leap+of+Faith.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://longrunpictures.com/" target="_blank">Michael Lebowitz</a>, this smile is for you!</td></tr>
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I was running well, and as I came into each aid station I was pleased to find that I was gaining on F1 and F2. At 4290 aid station Alison was 7 minutes ahead of me and within the following 7 miles to Twins 2 aid station (44 miles) I caught and put 4 minutes on her. I was still feeling good and was confident that I would be holding the 2nd spot to the finish. I picked up Ken, who would be running with me for the last 20 miles, he apparently did not expect to see me yet and was busy taking care of business in the bushes. I of course just kept running and Ken had to catch me on the road. Carrie and Roy (my crew) saw that in Ken's haste he forgot his hydration bottles and met us at the next aid station with them (good thing since there was no crew access from there out). Coming into Gold Lake aid station at mile 50 I was surprised to see in front of me F1, Joelle. We entered the aid at the same time and while I fueled up, she was off. I left the aid station a few moments later and there was no Joelle to be seen. The last time I saw Joelle she was coming down from the top of Maiden summit and I was heading up, she put the afterburners on and that was that. That girl is a tough mountain runner. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnEhvJVTlh6yhf1deSgeSeSTW56eAQuRlDX1qDqb4mjRl6HZimINcsK_wX50EvB94sKd90WT-NhitopThJAKy0gPQT1KoT3QyQDNa5a76J36J6kNSU1xcLkFiEt5M46zAb5vzNg3zSA/s1600/Finish-110-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnEhvJVTlh6yhf1deSgeSeSTW56eAQuRlDX1qDqb4mjRl6HZimINcsK_wX50EvB94sKd90WT-NhitopThJAKy0gPQT1KoT3QyQDNa5a76J36J6kNSU1xcLkFiEt5M46zAb5vzNg3zSA/s640/Finish-110-M.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the finish line! 2nd female 7th overall</td></tr>
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I finished Waldo super happy with my F2 spot and my 2nd Western States entry!!<br />
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Huge thank you to Craig Thornley and crew for putting on an incredible race and all of the volunteers and the fire fighters who made this event possible! Thank you, <a href="http://longrunpictures.com/" target="_blank">Michael Lebowitz</a> for being out there catching the journey on film. Yet again, my <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> gear saw me through all 11 hours, 22 minutes of the race in perfect style, even with all the dirt!<br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-31422077905731801652012-07-10T20:48:00.001-07:002012-07-10T20:54:21.196-07:00Western States 100What an amazing experience....running Western States 100 miler. The journey began with first my ticket...Second place finish at Waldo 100k. Waldo was in August of 2011 and was the 1st race of the Montrail Ultra Cup series, placing 1st or 2nd in any one of the race series earns you a spot in WS 100 along with points earned for each race ran of the series. The grand finale of the series was WS 100.<br />
Having raced 2, 100 mile races (San Diego 100, June 2011 and HURT 100, Jan 2012) I knew I was capable of completing the distance. My goal for WS was not only to complete the race but to race it well and with a competitive time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXkRtv2gax5bZ0g9IJhnw0kluxaFRwDaHwgHZ_x3V6jGKy-wZXQhjycLjE3uKLfJXwyIzw6MRmIDwiPLVnaq4kmwLALs7EWZELnWOZRM4mE3bU7k7rj274bLZQmRCILehMUUZ3LVWKQ/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXkRtv2gax5bZ0g9IJhnw0kluxaFRwDaHwgHZ_x3V6jGKy-wZXQhjycLjE3uKLfJXwyIzw6MRmIDwiPLVnaq4kmwLALs7EWZELnWOZRM4mE3bU7k7rj274bLZQmRCILehMUUZ3LVWKQ/s400/photo+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew, Carrie and Rachel under the countdown clock!</td></tr>
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There were rumors of perhaps record temps for the heat in the canyons and so I focused my attention on the Memorial Day training camp. This was both an opportunity to see the parts of the course I had only ever heard about (Devil's Thumb, The Canyons...) I was hoping to experience the heat of the canyons at some point during the 3 days of running on the course they call "States". I ran 82 miles over the 3 days and while the 1st day was cool the 2 following days gave me some of the warmth I was looking for. More importantly I was exposed to the same trails that I would be seeing on race day. I continued my heat training in Bend , not on my runs but rather in a sauna as we had yet to see any heat.<br />
As race day drew closer the anticipated high temps began to diminish. WS 100 starts in Squaw Valley and finishes in Auburn at Placer High School and the temps were dropping on both ends.<br />
We arrived in Squaw on Thursday, we being my DP (domestic partner) Ken Sinclair, my kiddo Rachel and Ken's sister Carrie. Ken was to be my pacer for the last 38 miles and Rachel and Carrie were my crew.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Kiddo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf2tDrMwoCclGUWnNjkHcsAvt5PedgCSfkFwndyyIK3DT5uMGh17XKp8jBcZXpuUSjPBs1rtyb7H-OWDSiXvQibtmWu4NkNfbWFV_kwt_Dd9XU12u07loqPwLDZAGucEOx-i_yFk_qQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf2tDrMwoCclGUWnNjkHcsAvt5PedgCSfkFwndyyIK3DT5uMGh17XKp8jBcZXpuUSjPBs1rtyb7H-OWDSiXvQibtmWu4NkNfbWFV_kwt_Dd9XU12u07loqPwLDZAGucEOx-i_yFk_qQ/s200/photo.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost go time!</td></tr>
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Race morning presented with cool/cold temps with rain in the forecast. My crew and I were up at 3AM super excited for the 5AM start. It is difficult to put into words the energy that surrounds WS. This energy had been flowing through me from the moment we arrived in Squaw and I was eager to get the race started.<br />
My race plan was to start out conservatively but steady, don't pound the down hills to early or toast the legs on the climbs. I had a pace chart put together by AJW along with great info on how to put together a smart race specific to the WS course.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlkhd-z3tmd83tK4U1AjpXkj_xsu_aKByNOy3UsVsMOsrxLtr-j7wiJuqs0z-d78QAwzeNMM0p0YSeo8MqBlzR7g7XnY_KOjUi3od0r_vY3k0G3ok2HU_FT1x5gW82s-v-5x9hEve7Q/s1600/db103175-01-165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlkhd-z3tmd83tK4U1AjpXkj_xsu_aKByNOy3UsVsMOsrxLtr-j7wiJuqs0z-d78QAwzeNMM0p0YSeo8MqBlzR7g7XnY_KOjUi3od0r_vY3k0G3ok2HU_FT1x5gW82s-v-5x9hEve7Q/s320/db103175-01-165.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope no views here!</td></tr>
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The first climb was incredible, 4 miles with 2500 vert ft. I hit it slow and steady, the higher we climbed the uglier the weather. Reward for reaching the top was gusting winds, pouring rain/ sleet and no views...... Sadly this weather stayed with us for the next 35-40 miles. My fowl weather apparel consisted of a visor (put my sunglasses away in my hydration pack) my <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/search/houdini" target="_blank">Patagonia Houdini</a>, super happy it had a hood, and my fleece mittens. A giant thank you to the amazing aid support who would happily wring out my mittens each time I came through and who had hot chicken noodle soup at the ready. A few miles outside of Duncan canyon aid station I came across what all runners hate to see, a fallen runner. She was with Meghan and a group of guys and was down with an asthmatic attack. Fortunately the next 2 female runners were running with inhalers and offered them up to help. The relief of the bronchial spasms was almost immediate and after a few minutes of hanging out, Meghan encouraged me to continue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOENFxk80LOK2nmnFGCH6DKOWbYq9AAxXz3QcmwdUfxehc1w88WpJuX4Qypw_P6K4FlN7V0nfzL0B3baunpppp5D2TW5kgX5N-jaGdygSM7bBQjHfx5gQ9daDwGxsTPwrAXyEEMXj1ag/s1600/db103175-02-125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOENFxk80LOK2nmnFGCH6DKOWbYq9AAxXz3QcmwdUfxehc1w88WpJuX4Qypw_P6K4FlN7V0nfzL0B3baunpppp5D2TW5kgX5N-jaGdygSM7bBQjHfx5gQ9daDwGxsTPwrAXyEEMXj1ag/s320/db103175-02-125.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people sing in the rain, I smile!</td></tr>
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My first opportunity to see my crew was at Robinson Flats, mile 30. I was cold and felt like a drowned rat and pretty sure my smile of gratitude to see my crew looked more like a grimace as I could not feel my face. Rachel took on wringing out the mittens while Carrie tried to towel dry by frozen body...Ken was busy talking strategy and shoving food in my mouth....my spirit was lifted as I left my crew and while no warmer I felt pretty good. I was a little bummed when Ken said they would not see me again until Forest hill, mile 72. Michigan Bluff, mile 62 was a spot to see your crew but there was concern that they would miss me at Forest hill if they went to Michigan bluff first.<br />
I think I finally started warming up around mile 45, thankful when I actually stopped to take off my Houdini and plug in some tunes! Shortly after which I rounded a corner and rolled my ankle on a rock and fell to the ground. I had not realized how fragile my emotional / physical state was until this happened. ALL ultra runners roll their ankles, I do it often enough that I have to give credit where credit is due....sturdy bones : ) The difference this time is that I broke into tears, I had been cold for what felt like forever and then as soon as I was feeling better, I roll my ankle hard enough for it to pop and it really freaking hurt! I forgot to mention that I was racing in my Adidas Adios, a light weight racing flat, hence no stability on rocks. I spent the next while gingerly placing my footing so as to keep my rolled foot flat (or somewhat). Not to much later I was back to running with out much thought of my ankle. I spent some good miles with a fellow <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> runner Tyler Stewart and Montrail runner Eric Skaden over Devil's Thumb to El Dorado Bridge and onto Michigan Bluff where I was surprised to find Carrie!! I had chatted with a runner who had crew at Michigan Bluff and when asked I found that I was truly sad to say that my crew was going to be further down at Forest Hill. Thank you Carrie for lifting me back up! Next crew support was to be my Kiddo at Bath Road. This is the first opportunity your crew can actually run a short distance with their runner. Rachel was concerned that she might not be able to keep up but I assured her that after 60 miles, she would be fine. As we trotted up the hill on Bath Road I paused to look at my Garmin and did ask, "is 12:20 pace to fast" and proceeded to do a bit of power hiking : ) Rachel ran with me to Forest Hill where I was weighed ( forgot to mention, for this race you are weighed the day prior and then throughout the event to track your hydration status). This was about my 5th weigh in and all was well. After weigh in I ran to my crew who had all that I had asked for ready....they slathered my legs in Arnica Gel, and my face/ shoulders in sunscreen, I drank some chocolate milk and off Ken and I went. I was so very thankful that I was going to have my favorite running partner with me for the last 38 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7VuXAac7EIlTxtN_sGCUH-2haEJChngzWxGDOC7NMjcwXIhPdGWSAVWSaKKeI9J-kFDecWsXXgX_vEI_XkmhokNcpMDZMLRwtzFl4SLCbdaGGAmau4DSF154rJ_nyabNUuXZxQQfgg/s1600/WS100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7VuXAac7EIlTxtN_sGCUH-2haEJChngzWxGDOC7NMjcwXIhPdGWSAVWSaKKeI9J-kFDecWsXXgX_vEI_XkmhokNcpMDZMLRwtzFl4SLCbdaGGAmau4DSF154rJ_nyabNUuXZxQQfgg/s320/WS100.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest Hill, picking up my pacer!</td></tr>
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We had some pretty good running from there to the Rucky Chucky river, passing a handful of guys....we had yet to see any female runners. Tyler was the last female I passed on Devil's Thumb leaving me sitting in 13th place. Rucky Chucky was not so nice, while I had gotten warm at points during the race, I had yet to get hot and the Rucky Chucky was a river crossing that would put the water level to my mid chest at points at 8pm no less. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ERG0QwrdW_dVaBDc4Ab49p34F8IfS8n8YK9ZpxJ9JDEd4NpaO6yYe5NPykaxkqDiHxUVdk-xCdDyNZPGt9vDvENtW9ou3GZ453D4hbXo5xAHAZ1anaxyYrPQgejWjsNoscK0djCGAg/s1600/db103175-03-254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ERG0QwrdW_dVaBDc4Ab49p34F8IfS8n8YK9ZpxJ9JDEd4NpaO6yYe5NPykaxkqDiHxUVdk-xCdDyNZPGt9vDvENtW9ou3GZ453D4hbXo5xAHAZ1anaxyYrPQgejWjsNoscK0djCGAg/s320/db103175-03-254.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rucky Chucky river crossing</td></tr>
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Need I say brrrrrr, I once again found myself freezing and while the next 1.5 miles was a climb to the Green Gate aid station where my crew would be, I was still freezing when I got to the top. Rach and Carrie were immediately on task, treating me like a queen. They changed my socks and shoes, got me into a sweatshirt and my old Houdini and mittens....and for the second time that day, stomach feeling like crap, and freezing I felt the tears welling back up. Rach started briskly rubbing my white hands and with her tears rising to the surface I "got a grip" stood up and said, "okay, let's go" to Ken. We had our headlamps and off we went. Seriously, I had not just signed up for this but had been looking forward to this day for a long time.<br />
As we left the ALT aid station someone said I was in 10th place, Ken and I knew I was in 13th and so as we came into the next aid station, I went through while Ken hung back to verify my place. He was told 10th and the woman tracking this "was NEVER wrong". Ken caught me sharing this news and in the distance to the next aid station I passed 2 females, placing me in 8th. I was super happy with this and while my pace was that of someone having run 85 miles, I was confident that I would not be passed. <br />
I ran through the next few aid stations oblivious to the fact that I was actually in 11th place (having never jumped from 13th to 10th, the never wrong woman had been wrong) Ken on the other hand was aware, we came into Brown's Bar aid station supported by the Rogue Valley Runners and they said I was indeed in 11th and Meghan had come through about 30 minutes earlier. This was again confirmed to Ken by our crew 8 miles from the finish. Ken kept this information to himself and I continued to run.<br />
My crew joined us about a mile from the finish, running the last mile in with me, what an amazing feeling! John Medinger was announcing as I came in, acknowledging my Waldo finish that got me to the starting line and my win at Ice Age and finished with "and is the unfortunate #11" (top 10 are given automatic entry into the race for next year), I felt a small surge of emotions, but ultimately my 11th finish could not take away from my feelings of accomplishment....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzb8EKYdGNZH7YuXqel6xeAjpoKDEm3AD1Hk9wtOGSfEzAUVmCjDDmTku3aWle_0o8uags2kGPfUX-5yCc98UHaaamtuled_noWwXT2XYKWl4eDRUpnS7MMuut40NsxG-5CI5vy6OTg/s1600/db103175-04-183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzb8EKYdGNZH7YuXqel6xeAjpoKDEm3AD1Hk9wtOGSfEzAUVmCjDDmTku3aWle_0o8uags2kGPfUX-5yCc98UHaaamtuled_noWwXT2XYKWl4eDRUpnS7MMuut40NsxG-5CI5vy6OTg/s400/db103175-04-183.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a feeling!</td></tr>
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Icing to my 11th place finish was taking home the win for the Montrail Ultra Cup Series! Not to bad for my first attempt at Western States 100!<br />
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Timothy Olson and Denise Bourassa Crowned 2011-12 Montrail Ultra Cup Champions<br />
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Huge Thank you to Western States for their amazing coordination of an incredible event, the support on the course was phenomenal, volunteers were super energized through the pouring rain and the darkness of night! Super huge thanks to my family/crew and my pacer for being there through my highs, and my lows, you guys were amazing for the entire 20+ hours! And yes, you will be invited back next year (when I race back in!!). Thanks to <a href="http://www.spidertech.com/" target="_blank">Spider Tech</a> for keeping me pain free with the postural and lower back support tape, "the s*it just works". A big thanks to my sponsor <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/home" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> as always the gear worked great in the rain, sun and the river! I am looking forward to racing my way into Western States 2013....Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976035988650299270.post-43938273431014064842012-05-22T20:25:00.003-07:002012-05-22T20:25:22.621-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Ice Age 50 Miler--May 12, 2012</span></h2>
<em>"<span style="font-size: large;">In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt" --Margaret Atwood</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">What better time to start blogging than with <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Patagonia</span></a> as my
new sponsor and a win in Wisconsin at the Ice Age 50 miler! This was a solo trip
planning to make it a quick race weekend for some Montrail Ultra Cup points
(having DNF’d Run Rabbit Run, I was in need of a 3<sup>rd</sup> race, hence WI).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course
profile…rolling hills nothing crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based
on this I set my stretch goal as a CR sub 7:11:43, hell why not! My second
goal was to beat the masters record 7:17:07(sorry Meghan) and my 3<sup>rd</sup>
goal was sub 7:30. Race day arrived and I over slept my 3AM alarm, thankfully I awoke
to my second at 3:30am. Thankful as my DP (domestic partner) back in Bend also
slept through his 1:30am pst alarm, he was my security phone call!! Yikes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I still had good time to prep I had
a little extra adrenalin coursing through my veins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I arrived at Kettle Maraine Park at 5:15, plenty of time to
pick up my race bib, #50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
looked at the other runners to verify that my #50 was my bib # and not 50 for
the race I was running….what a dork!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandi Nypaver and I chasing down the leader</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t7CT0qPwaoTidSPCk3aOGNvrRfzywfB3faYamkE17-xWmHZSvz-Rq7gOhv2W4TVUQL_HXFBo81OhpbpiBQeLPZzRqiGnIznoDMbAkC7OzstxBqX-sxpfmRQQnjdSN1CiMN5lYlmVEQ/s1600/538119_3620386882710_1665071694_2808922_1322088039_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stage was set with the RD singing the National Anthem
then we were off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cruised through the first
10 miles, a bit fast averaging about a 7:40 pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a group of runners including Sandi
Nypaver and Adam Schwartz-Lowe(he too ran HURT 100) Sandi and I were 2<sup>nd</sup>
and 3<sup>rd</sup> behind Melanie Peters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>F1 went out even faster than us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately I was surprised to find the “rolling” hills relentless and
technical and just like that I was rethinking my goals for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfgPVm5ZeZuDTm5JOxdfsm0VHiQp1Gu19mt7ExCiQwqX9YpIiWC0OtImqt8kdWlY3Yg_UNNbMhHym66MFGdO9UK-kZngjIkhf4VF63qgTN8CyKTl2aEChCEY672AYNkPdMSarQWJ0Qg/s320/ice+age1-IMG2970.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="231" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charging hard for the finish</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfgPVm5ZeZuDTm5JOxdfsm0VHiQp1Gu19mt7ExCiQwqX9YpIiWC0OtImqt8kdWlY3Yg_UNNbMhHym66MFGdO9UK-kZngjIkhf4VF63qgTN8CyKTl2aEChCEY672AYNkPdMSarQWJ0Qg/s1600/ice+age1-IMG2970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was racing with a Ultraspire hydration pack and it allowed
me to race through the AS’s happily sipping on my fluid and munching on Honey
Stinger chews and S Caps. The weather was humid but with a light cloud cover,
not too hot. The hills eased up around mile 20 and I was happy to see some
forested stretches to stretch my legs out on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I passed Sandi, F2 and found F1 at mile 22 coming into an AS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling pretty good and left the AS in
the lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This did not last long,
Melanie quickly caught me and pulled ahead…she was apparently feeling better,
and for the second time, I let her go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
bystander saw us a few paces apart and said “it’s a race” my silent reply, “not
this early and not at this pace”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
she was out of sight, I settled back into my own pace up hill, down hill, up hill
et. honey stinger, salt, hydration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
looked at my garmin at mile 26, 3:42…this meant I was still on pace for what I
thought was the CR (turns out the time on ultrasignup is not the CR, the
website has the CR at 7:04 set by Ann Trason!) I plugged in some tunes around
mi 33 happy to take my mind off the leg fatigue from the ups and downs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About mi 36 I lost satellite with my Garmin :
( As I came into the AS at mi 37 I again caught sight of F1 who was just
leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This AS doubles back at mi 43
and I asked the crew to have my drop bag ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Figured that would be a good time to swap for my handheld and drop the
pack (almost empty) and off I went after F1!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I caught her in the next mile and put in a small surge up a hill, Melanie
took a few walking steps and I passed her continuing the surge up and over the
hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIvsCCRMWstOVr0PdQH4KoDtdsZyjE4sdB7wH6iIXrPm-FtAZ9zwdvjF9hUBi-NbSU7HGVCRVLvuHE84lSOsnR4nFMDF_BCDqpQlf4F3AS4PV8dRRhu8HixXGuYxVDqLrCVJ26g3t_A/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">I reached the next AS at mi 40 and
turned around heading back to the previous AS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No watch but figured when I saw F2 I had put about a 4 min gap on
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept pushing the pace and while
not feeling fast I knew I was running faster than F2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hit AS at mile 43 looking for my drop bag
and turns out that it was MIA…I left the AS with my almost empty pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point I concentrated on taking
smaller sips from my hydration pack and drinking at the AS’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last AS was 1.5 mi to the finish, what a
great feeling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drank some coke and off
I went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall I was feeling pretty
good, still trotting the hills, and passing some of the guys : )<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I came up the final hill to the finish my
eyes went immediately to the clock, 7:12 and change...finishing in 7:12:37, F1
and 11<sup>th</sup> overall!!! Super great feeling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be taking home the win along with some
extra Montrail points : )<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Added bonus...turns
out running sub 7:20 at Ice Age also qualifies me for consideration for the
2013 World 100k team, what an amazing day!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Done!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Huge thank you to RD, Jeff Mallach for putting on such a great event it was super well supported, and plenty of course markings to keep to keep even ME on the right trail! Props to the<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Patagonia</span> </span></a>design team, my gear took great care of me all day, perfect fit with no issues to be found even after 7 hours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next up....<a href="http://www.ws100.com/" target="_blank">The Big Dance</a> in June!</span> </span></div>
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</div>Denise Bourassa aka, "tiny d"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13431667415058529892noreply@blogger.com0