Race Report: USATF National Club Cross Country Championships

Picture courtesy of Tetongirl Photography -- Thanks, Lisa!!

This past weekend I ran in the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Lexington, KY. It was an amazing experience that I can’t wait to tell you about, but first let me back up a bit. A few months ago, I got accepted to the Playmakers’ Elite/New Balance Women’s Masters Racing Team.  I was super-excited about this opportunity. I started running as an adult, so I had never had the experience of running with a team. I came onto the team at the end of the racing season. They had been participating in the USATF Masters Long Distance Club Grand Prix Series.  I was very happy to be on the team, but having never run cross country before I was also pretty nervous. Our fearless leader, Ruth, assured me that I would have a great time and that I would do fine – she was half right.

In our boxes at the start 

The Race:

First of all, you may be wondering why I was worried about running cross country when I am used to running trails. How different could it be, right? Let me tell you right now, it is totally different! In the trail marathons and ultras, I am used to cruising along the trails, conserving energy, walking when necessary and enjoying the scenery. Cross country is flying over the terrain, pedal to the metal. You actually have to be in very good shape for this type of running -- which I, of course, am not right now. The only part of my trail training that carried over was that I was never worried about the footing.

The course itself was fantastic and did not seem particularly difficult, from my inexperienced point of view (or at least it would not have been for someone who was actually in shape to run this type of race). It was almost all on grass, with just a bit of mud. The terrain rolled through most of it, with just a few hills, but nothing I would call killer (although they did kind of wear on me by the second time around the loop). I was glad I was not in the men’s race. They did three loops. Our race distance was 6k. They did 10k.

The course was pretty wet. It had rained the day before, and it was still raining on and off the morning of the race. Thankfully the rain held off for the women’s and men’s masters races, but the open races got pretty wet.  Because I had not run cross country before, I did not have spikes. I really wanted to wear my Pure Grits, which are my favorite trail shoe, but which are not that great in slick conditions. I made some homemade spikes with my Grits and some hex head screws. They ended up working perfectly. I did not slip at all.

Pure Grits for Cross Country

The start was crazy. We lined up in our boxes which were marked out on the ground in chalk. All of the masters women’s teams (40+, 50+, and 60+) were lined up together, 21 teams in all. Looking down the line was pretty impressive. We were starting on an uphill, with a right turn about 100 yds out, followed by a more or less level section. I was lined up at the front of one of our boxes, with my 50+ teammate Sue at the front of the box next to me. I knew that I was not in condition to go out too fast so was planning on holding back and running a sensible pace. The gun went off and the field took off like a huge wave. I was at the back of the pack quickly, in the last third of the runners, and the pace was still way, way too fast.  So much for the plan. 

After topping the hill and making the turn, I glanced down at my watch. It said 7:10 pace. “Shit!!” I wanted to be no faster than 7:50 in the first mile. I knew I was in trouble. I dialed it down a little and was promptly passed by several runners. We all had our ages pinned to our backs, so it was easy to know if the person passing was in our age group. I thought it would be nice to know, but it was actually quite annoying. Before the race had started, our coach, Jim, had said “Don’t get discouraged.” I actually smiled then as I thought of that. It was exactly the advice that was needed at that point.

Somewhere around the half mile I started to wheeze. I have a condition called vocal chord dysfunction that sometimes causes my vocal chords to close. I had not had problems with this in a race for almost ten years, but I felt the familiar "breathing through a straw" feeling. It was probably the combination of the severe cold I had had a few weeks ago, anxiety, the thick damp air,  the lack of conditioning, and the too fast pace that had brought it on. I was hoping that on the downhill that I would be able to relax, do the stupid little throat stretching thing that sometimes helps, and get rid of the wheeze.

I did get a short break in the wheezing, but as we started the rolling back part of the course, the wheezing returned. At this point, I was surrounded by several of my team members, and that really helped. I focused on the back of the person in front of me and just tried to hold pace. Somewhere on the first loop Ruth passed me. I tried to go with her, but just could not pick it up.  I had to settle with keeping her in sight. On the back side of the course for the second time the wheezing was really kicking in. The last mile of the race is just a blur of all kinds of hurt. They should have a new motto for cross country races “All the pain of a road 5k – plus!!”

I finished right behind Ruth, where I had been running for most of the latter half of the race. In case you don’t know Ruth, she is 68 years old --- and the new National Champion in the 65-69 age group! We also had two other National Champions on our team, Kari Chandler in the 60-64 age group and Sharon Dolan in the 70-74 age group. I, on the other hand, finished 21 out of 23 women in my age group. I think it was my lowest finish in a race ever. I definitely have lots of room for improvement!

The men’s race was absolutely incredible! Our Playmaker’s Masters men, as well as the men from the Mid Michigan Track Club did absolutely awesome!  I had never seen a men’s cross country race before. So much toughness and testosterone! The start actually gave me chills.

Speaking of testosterone, there was a men's team there from Atlanta with singlets that said "Team Testosterone" on the front and “No I am not on steroids, but thanks for asking” on the back. I thought it was hilarious (Okay, I admit I was a little oxygen deprived). I went over to take a picture of the back of the singlet, and one of the runners, Grant, asked me if I wanted to trade shirts. I could not give him my new Playmakers sweatshirt, so I ran back to my bag and dug out my Dances With Dirt Hell shirt. Unfortunately, it was a women’s medium, and let’s just say Grant was not. Still he was a good sport, and his wife probably has a new shirt by now. Interestingly Grant also mentioned that he has a running streak of 30 years. I looked him up on the United States Running Streak Association web site, and sure enough, there he was. He has run every day since 8/28/1982. Amazing!!

My new friend Grant looking very buff in his new DWD Hell shirt

I am embarrassed to say that I did not see either of the open races. It started to rain, and I was in that post race freezing thing that I go into all the time. I was huddled in the car trying to get warm. I am sure they were even more awesome for running in the rain!

I have to say that the team atmosphere was just as amazing as the race.  Everyone was so supportive and so friendly. We were all staying at the same hotel, and it was like a summer camp for adults. My abs are sore from all the laughing. I am sure the staff at Jalapeno’s restaurant in Lexington is still talking about those crazy women runners.

Probably the highlight of the trip for me was the music night.  We have some incredibly talented people on the team. Not only can they run, but they can make beautiful music as well. Chere Pepper is an amazing singer and songwriter, and she was joined by Carol Levack, Mike DuCharme, and Tom Halm for an impromptu concert in the lobby of the La Quinta on Saturday evening after the race. It was the perfect end to the day.

Rockin' the Lobby of the La Quinta 

 It was a wonderful trip with a wonderful group of people. I can’t wait to run more events with them. Only next time, I hope that I can have more good training under my belt.  

I was lucky to room with Lisa Soros, our team photographer. She put together a slide show of the trip and was nice enough to agree to share it here.  If you get time, be sure to visit her site: Tetongirl Photography.

Taking Stock: My Year in Running

Well, my year of crazy running is coming to a close, and like most of the other runners I know I am creating my racing calendar for next year. In case you too are at this point, I want to invite you to take a look at my previous post on goal setting called “Running Goals." It may give you a few things to think about as you are developing your own goals for next year.

Before I jump ahead to set new goals, though, it is a useful idea to take stock of what occurred this year, what has been accomplished, what the pitfalls were, and to think of where I want the running to go from here. 

This past year was my year of experiences. I turned 50 and a key goal was just to make it a memorable year. I decided to do that by indulging my passion for trail running. I discussed these goals in an earlier post “2012: Boned, Bloodied, Burned, and Bruised.”  I set out to achieve the belt buckle for running the series of four 50ks, which I did achieve. Along the way, I ended up joining Marathon Maniacs, accruing 10 marathons or ultras for the year, and just generally having a really good time traveling to races, running long distances, appreciating nature, and (with the exception of the Leading Ladies Marathon) not worrying too much about my times. Even though I had some setbacks, such as the DNF at the Martian half marathon or the Disaster at Green Swamp, and a few minor injuries, such as the thing with the IT band and the discovery that I had weak glutes, those things were definitely overshadowed by the fun experiences I had, the people I met and became friends with (you know who you are), the things I learned, and the amazing places I got to visit.

This year was also a success in another way. Writing this blog has been more fun than I could ever have imagined. I have met some really great people because of this, and it has helped me to reach out to other runners more. Many of the new friends I have made this year have come through interactions stemming from the blog. The blog has also given me the opportunity to encourage other runners to write. As a writing teacher, that has been one of the really fun parts of the experience for me. I had some great guest columns on other people’s race experiences and perspectives. In case you missed these, let me give you a quick list:

Special Race Report: Mango Madness by Leslie Miyasato  

Guest Race Report: Warrior Dash 2012 by Kathy Battle 

Inspirational Stories: Running after a Kidney Transplant by Anna Kaschner

Guest Race Report: Detroit Marathon by Rick Rogacki

If you are trying to decide on races for next year, those reports along with the others on the site (You can use the search function to find these -- just type “race report” in the search box on the top right of the page.) may help you decide.

In looking back at the year, I would have to say that my top three favorite races were the Blues Cruise 50k (Leesport, PA) , Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone 50k (Gnaw Bone, IN) , and the Leading Ladies Marathon (Spearfish, SD).  What they all had in common for me is that I really loved the beauty of the courses, and they all had the small and friendly race feel that I love. I will probably go back to each of those in the future although I am not sure how many of them I will make it to next year.

All in all, I would say the running year 2012 was a success. Where do I go from here? What will goals will I set for 2013? That will have to wait for another post. 

Race Report: Pacing at Capital City River Run Half Marathon

This past weekend I had one of the most fun times I have ever had at a race. I was a pacer for the 10:30 group at the Capital City River Run Half Marathon in Lansing, Michigan. For those of you who don't know me personally, this is my "hometown" race now. It starts in downtown Lansing, not too far from the capital runs through part of downtown, across the campus of Michigan State University and then onto the Lansing River Trail, then snakes back to downtown for the finish.

About 2/3 of the race, the parts through MSU and the River Trail, are on my regular running routes, so the  course if very familiar. It is also one of the major runs for my Playmakers running club, as can be clearly seen by the number of red shirts in the crowd.

I have never been an official pacer before, and I have to say that it is an absolute blast!! I was picked up as a substitute because one of the regular pacers for my group, Hollie, was injured. I soon found out that the other pacer for the group, Nancy, was also not going to make it so by happy chance one of my favorite running buds, Dee, got to pace with me! Pacers for this race wear costumes, which totally sealed the deal (both for Dee and me). I mean who doesn't love a good run in a costume?? We decided to be police officers, mostly because we both had the necessary accouterments on hand, except for a few essentials like whistles and fishnet stockings, which were quickly purchased.

Race morning was beautiful: cool, clear, and sunny. The entire experience was a blast. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I am going to save all kinds of space and just play the video so you can see for yourself: (I originally had this set to "Born to Run," but there is that little copyright issue, so you have some blues instead.)



More than anything else, what this day reminded me of is what a really, really great group of runners I get to hang with here in Lansing!

Leading Ladies Marathon Road Trip Part 1: Of Jolly Green Giants and Dead Presidents

Sorry to be absent so long from the blog, but I was truly having an adventure. If you have never taken a running road trip with fellow runners, it is something that you must put on your bucket list. I have long been a fan of road trips in general. It may have something to do with my mom moving me by car from Pennsylvania to California at a very young age. Whatever the reason, I will use any excuse to work one in, and they never, ever disappoint.

We started off from Lansing last Thursday morning full of anticipation. As I mentioned in the previous post, four of us (Janet, Leslie, Linda, and myself) were going from Lansing, Michigan to Spearfish, South Dakota for the Leading Ladies Marathon. We had opted to go in my Nissan Cube (hereafter referred to as Katie), which had the virtues of being good on gas and equipped with a working air conditioner. Unfortunately it was short on space, so each of us was limited to one Playmakers duffel bag, one sleeping bag, and one pillow (with a custom pillow case made especially for each one of us by Linda). Even so, closing the back door was a process involving much smooshing, and there was no way that I was going to be using my rear view mirror for anything except checking my make-up.

In anticipation of the event, Linda had dyed some very pretty pink stripes into her hair, I had purchased tiaras for the group, and Leslie had gotten us bling befitting leading ladies. I also had purchased some window paint so that we would sure to be noticed if we were spotted by other leading ladies on the way up. After a few pictures we were on the road for day one, Lansing to Albert Lea, MN.

From left to right: Linda, Me, Janet, and Leslie 

The first day was relatively uneventful. We missed our chance to visit Iowa's largest frying pan, due more to slow reflexes on my part than anything else. We pulled in to the Albert Lea KOA, and Janet had her first experience of camping, as we "roughed it" in our little Kamping Kabin.

Janet outside our cozy Kamping Kabin in Albert Lea

Day two dawned and again we were ready to hit the road. Spirits were high as we pulled off for our first gas stop in Blue Earth, MN.  Being a little bored by this time, we were easily amused by the Sinclair gas station with the little green dinosaurs. Apparently these dinosaurs are extinct in Michigan, and my Michigan passengers were excited to get to see one in its native habitat. Little did we know, that little green dinosaurs were not the only thing waiting for us in Blue Earth.

We went inside the store to pay for gas and do the obligatory pit stop. It turned out to have a small antique shop off the side of the gas station. Since I love old junk, Linda and I went over to take a look at what they had. Besides a really cool Miss Beasely doll and a Boston vinyl album, they had a really pretty blue bead necklace, probably from the 1950s, that Linda bought for me. (She is awesome!!). She struck up a conversation with the cashier and soon came back to the car with a huge grin on her face. "Drive to the end of the street," she said. "Don't ask why. Just trust me that this will be good!" 

I drove a ways down the little road to the end of the street, and we all squealed in delight as we saw him at the same time. Blue Earth, MN is the home of the Jolly Green Giant. Yes, the Green Giant of canned corn and  peas fame. There he stood, in the park, waiting to greet visitors to Blue Earth.

That is when we learned a little known fact about the Green Giant: he is a runner!! We know this because he was still wearing his race shirt from the Relay for Life that he had done the previous weekend. Apparently, though, we had caught him on his way to the showers because he was not wearing his running shorts, just the little leaves that he wears for everyday.

Green Giant sporting his
 Relay for Life race shirt

We climbed the stairs for the photo op that he had planned for. While we waited for the gift shop guy to figure out the camera, we had time to answer that question that is on everyone's mind when they see the Green Giant on  their vegetable can: What does he wear under that green leaf skirt? Well, the answer is nothing!! Thankfully he shares the same anatomical features as the ever-popular Ken doll, so all scandals were avoided.

Here is where it gets better. As we were getting ready to leave, a guy comes up. He introduces himself as Norm Hall, the news director for the local radio station, KBEW. Apparently they do interviews with tourists who are passing through town. He interviewed us for a spot on his radio show. He was generous enough to send us a copy. I put it together with some pictures from days one and two of the trip:

You would think that was enough excitement for the day, but things were just beginning. The billboards every quarter mile on the highway advertising the Corn Palace caught our attention. It was billed as a "must see," so we hopped off the freeway to check it out. I have to tell, you that it was a bit of a letdown as far as I was concerned, but that may just have been in comparison to the Green Giant encounter.

With the Corn Palace thoroughly investigated and photographed, we headed on across the prairie. Soon fields of corn and soybeans, gave way to fields of sunflowers, and then eventually just prairie grass. Leslie, ever the snake-hater, managed to figure out that there are snakes in South Dakota, a prairie rattler, and sure enough, when we stopped at a rest stop, we found that we were risking life and limb. We jumped back in the car and headed across the badlands to our next stop: Mt. Rushmore.

Mt. Rushmore was truly an awesome sight. I had wanted to see Mt. Rushmore since I first heard about it when I was about 10 years old.  I am a big Founding Fathers fan, and Jefferson is my second  favorite Founding Father. (The fact that I had not only a "favorite founding father" but a second favorite tells you a bit about what a dork I was as a child.)  It was absolutely as amazing to see in person as I thought it would be. Trail runner that I am, I spent half the time trying to determine if there were any trails I could find on the side of the mountain to get closer, but I am sure that there are multiple restrictions on just that type of thing...

Okay, so this is a picture of me.
If you want to see Mt. Rushmore up close, buy a postcard.

As day two of our trip concluded, we did a sunset drive down the back road from Mt. Rushmore to Spearfish, through Deadwood, that looked like a really interesting place to stop but which will have to wait for next year's race. It is truly beautiful country and it whetted our appetite for what was to come.

We pulled into the Spearfish KOA satisfied that our running road trip was everything we had hoped it would be to that point.

Check back in a day or so for Leading Ladies Road Trip Part 2 soon to follow!

Guest Race Report: Mango Madness

I am so excited this week to have a special guest race report for you. Fellow runner, triathlete, cyclist, Playmaker's and TCBA teammate, and partner in ultra-running adventures, Leslie Miyasato, (you may remember her from the DWD Gnaw Bone adventure) just returned from a vacation in Hawaii where she used her time wisely and entered a very exciting trail race. I got bits and pieces of it in text messages while she was gone  ("rats," "hill," "roots," "lost") and was super intrigued (and jealous). I asked her if she would write a race report to share with us all on the blog and she said "yes"!!!   So here it is, Leslie's race report of Mango Madness!! 

Each time I travel to Hawaii I check the local race schedule.   There is always something going on, and always a family member that is gullible enough to join me.   This trip was no exception.   My daughter Christi and my Finnish daughter Maria agreed to join me on their first ever trail race, Mango Madness!  

The race is advertised as "10+" miles. The plus is for the little "detours" they send you on. It begins and ends in a mini “park” at the intersection of Mikiki & Mikiki Heights, a residential area at the base of the mountains in Honolulu.    The term park is used loosely, since the only thing there is a pumping station, some grass, a tree and glaring lack of a pre-race staple.   Not a restroom or port-a-potty in sight, gulp!    Anyone that knows me knows this is not an ideal pre-race situation, not at all!   OK, from the lines I always see at races, this is not ideal for anyone.   Thank goodness this was a trail race.   All trail races have foliage to hide behind, right?    We were also promised a real restroom at mile one of the race, and thankfully, I elected to use it.   Foliage and cliffs don’t really make for wilderness pit stops!

Registration for the race began at 6:00 a.m.     We dropped our $10 into a plastic shoe box and picked our “race bib”, a number written on our leg just above the knee.

Hawaiian "bib"

After a short race briefing, we were off for our 7:00 a.m. start.   Make that 7:20ish……..we are talking Hawaii time here!   Christi and Maria planned to speed hike with me, even though both are runners.   We started at the back of the pack and thought we had ourselves nicely placed between two groups of runners.    We were nipping the heels of the first group, but decided we wouldn’t pass them until after the long awaited restrooms!   So much for nipping at their heels, we never saw them again.   

 After a short race briefing, we were off for our 7:00 a.m. start.   Make that 7:20ish……..we are talking Hawaii time here!   Christi and Maria planned to speed hike with me, even though both are runners.   We started at the back of the pack and thought we had ourselves nicely placed between two groups of runners.    We were nipping the heels of the first group, but decided we wouldn’t pass them until after the long awaited restrooms!   So much for nipping at their heels, we never saw them again.   

The first half of the race was well marked.   We climbed and climbed.    Plenty of roots, mud, and climbs. Everything you’d expect on a trail race, and more.   The scenery on the Tantalus trail system is spectacular, so spectacular that I caught a root at around mile 2.   Thank goodness I’d worn my calf compression sleeves, or my race would have been over.    It’s amazing what a black compression sleeve can hide!   I decided to wait and check out the damage at the first aid station (the one with no first aid kit, but plenty of water and Gatorade).    Not pretty, but I still had 8+ miles to go, so covered it back up and headed up what is affectionately known as the “Concrete Hill."   It’s steep, it’s slippery, and it’s covered with a pebbly concrete of sorts.    The first man and woman up the hill receive a special award.   Perhaps an award should go to the last one up too, although that wouldn’t have been me.    We passed 2 women on the way up.    Yay, no longer in last place!

Mango Madness is a trail race with unexpected detours.    We hit our first detour at the top of the concrete hill.    What’s a little more climbing at this point?   Well worth the view of Honolulu from the peak!   We were given a blue bracelet (a piece of blue plastic ribbon tied around our wrist) to prove we’d been there.    That is the last time we saw anyone.    The two women behind us opted out of the detour.   One more trail marker, and we never saw another one of those either.   Here we were on the top of the mountain, with trails going in various directions at intersections.    We guessed, and guessed, and guessed.    Evidently the person clearing the markers for the last 5 miles of the race cleared them a little too soon.    Oops!

The route down the mountain took us through bamboo, banyan trees, tropical flowers……..more roots and cliffs.    I’m still not sure how people actually run through all of the roots on the trails.    They are incredibly treacherous in a lot of places.     

One amazing find while lost was a tree that looked like it was wearing a grass skirt.    You won’t be seeing a photo, thanks to the rat tree.    I stopped to take a photo when Maria commented that there was a mouse in the tree.     It wasn’t a mouse; it was a rat.   Make that a lot of rats.    The tree actually started to shake with rat activity.   If anything can get me to run through a maze of roots, it’s the thought of rats jumping out of a tree and landing on my head.    Off we went, without a photo of the cool looking tree.  

After more wrong turns and some backtracking, we made our way back to the finish.   We conquered Mango Madness, although Coconut Craziness would have been even more fitting for our trio!   We had a lot of laughs, and actually got to enjoy the scenery once we realized we were lost.   

Would I recommend the race?  Absolutely!   There were some glitches, but hey, we are talking about a $10 race here.   One major snafu (in addition to the missing route markers) was some information we were given at the race briefing.   We were told to be sure to check in at the finish, because they would not leave until everyone was accounted for, even if it meant they had to sit there all night.    I guess someone miscounted.    Everyone was gone, with the exception of the race directors.   They were getting into their cars when we came around the bend, and had no clue we were unaccounted for.    Oops!   Not good on a trail that is an injury waiting to happen and somewhat confusing.    Next time I’ll be sure to stick a map of the trail system in my pocket!  

If you are visiting Oahu, be sure to check out the H.U.R.T (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team) website (www.hurthawaii.com).   They have weekly trail runs and numerous races, including the HURT 100.    It’s a great group, and even though we were lost on Tantalus, we had a great time!   

Have you run an interesting, exciting, or fun race that you would like to share a report of? If so, email me (wyld_runner2@yahoo.com) to make arrangements for a guest post. 

Race Report: Bayshore Half Marathon -- The Power of Teamwork

Most people do not think of running as a "team" activity. Unless you ran cross country or track in high school or college, running is pretty much considered an individual sport. The stereotype of the "loneliness of the long distance runner," became a stereotype because there is a large portion of truth there. Most runners, especially marathoners, do put in long and sometimes lonely miles in pursuit of their goals, but I have found runners to be some of the more sociable people I know -- hence the popularity of running clubs. Runners tend to like to get together to run, talk about running, eat, and sometimes race.

I do not consider myself much of a social person. In fact, I am actually quite a loner most of the time, but I do belong to my share of running clubs. Right now, I am an active member of three clubs, and though I do not keep a current membership, I actively follow the goings on of two more clubs back in California which I had belonged to for many years. You may think I am digressing from the point here, which is the Bayshore race report, but I just needed to lay a little groundwork before I get to the actual race report.

This past weekend was the Bayshore Marathon and HalfMarathon in Traverse City, Michigan. This is the goal race for the spring training series with my road running club, Team Playmakers. I ran the half again this year. Unlike last year, where this was a goal race for me, this year I was woefully  unprepared for 13 miles of fast road running. My ultra training has left me fit enough for the ups and downs of a 6 hour trail run, but it has not left me fit for the continuous fast running that a road race requires. However, my race performance is definitely not the interesting part of this weekend. What was interesting about the weekend for me was the power of teamwork.

I was an MIA team member this winter. Between the cold weather, my ultra training and traveling, and my desire to sleep in on cold winter mornings, I made exactly one of the team training sessions prior to Bayshore. I followed the team goings-on through the Facebook page, but I was not present for much of the training. Perhaps that is why the spirit of the team was so evident to me this weekend.

The week before the marathon and half were tense ones on the Playmaker's discussion group. It seemed everyone had some variety of ache, pain, or problem that was a signal of impending doom (or at least a sign that the goal would not be accomplished). The team spirit and support began to show itself then, and it continued right up to race day.

Jerry and I arrived at Traverse City on Friday afternoon and connected with my friend and teamie Kate,  who had brought along three other teamies, Tina, Mike, and Nicole, as well as her incredibly supportive husband, Mark, and three kids, for a pre-race pasta dinner at Fazzoli's. Spirits were high, as were the nerves. Tina and Mike were about to run their first marathons. Nicole and Kate were veterans, but Kate was attempting a Boston qualifier time which was 12 minutes faster than her previous (and first marathon).

We had a great time and then headed over to packet pick-up. There is not much of an expo for the Bayshore race. There is basically just the Running Fit booth, a few tables for various groups and races, but no real expo. However,  packet pick-up allowed us to run into more of our Playmakers teammates and coaches. Maybe because I had no pressure to perform the next day and maybe because I hadn't seen many of my teammates for a while, I was really enjoying the social atmosphere and excitement.

After packet pick-up, we all headed back to our respective lodgings. Tina popped over to our campsite for me to tape up her knee with some Rock Tape. She had been struggling with knee pain for several weeks and decided to give the taping a try.  We chose a very festive blue argyle pattern. No one would miss her as she passed.

The Bayshore course is set up so that the marathon is an out and back, while the half is point-to-point. The half starts at the marathon turn-around a half hour after the marathon start. The course is a two lane road that winds along the bay with beautiful views. The half marathoners meet the marathoners about 4 miles into the race, so those running the half get to cheer their marathon friends as they pass.

The drawback of that arrangement is that the half marathoners have to get up really early to get the buses to the start. I had to catch the shuttle at the campground at 5:00 for the trip to the high school to catch the bus to the start. I got on one of the early buses and got to the start line about 5:40 for a 7:30 start. It was a long wait, but the up side was that for about the first hour the lines for the port-a-johns were short. I had found a Playmaker's teamie, Theresa, at the high school and was really happy to have company for the long wait. Eventually other Playmaker's teamies-- recognizable by their red Team Playmakers gear-- came by to say hi. Unfortunately, except for Michelle, I did not know many of their names. Our fearless leader Ann, rode up on her bike and herded as many of us together as she could find for a team picture before the start.

The race start was uneventful and organized. I headed off down the course, and it was just as I had remembered. I slipped into my planned 8:00 pace and zoned out a bit waiting for the action to start with the approaching marathoners. At about 4.5 miles the bikes leading the first marathon man came into sight. For the next mile or so, I entertained myself by whooping and hollering for the leading marathoners as they passed by. Soon the marathoners started coming in packs, and I knew it was time to start watching for Playmakers.

I already had it in my head the order my teamies should be approaching. The group that I normally would train with (if I had actually been attending the training sessions) would be in the lead. I expected to see either Paul, Geoff, or Dr. Tom and Hannah first, but I was not sure what order they would be in. Sure enough, Paul came into view first. He looked to be doing great and on pace for a good PR. Geoff came next, and I almost missed Dr. Tom and Hannah in the crowd, but managed to get a quick shout out before they slipped past.

Next I started looking for my dear friend and sometimes training partner, Kate. She was the real reason I had decided to go through with the race at Bayshore that I obviously was not trained for. She was hoping for a Boston qualifying time of 3:40 or faster. I believed that she could do it, but it was going to take a really perfectly executed race on her part because it was going to be a huge PR for her. She had done some really great training, and I was more excited about her performance than anything else for the weekend. Sure enough she came next and looking good. I had lost the ability to do math by that time, but her smile made me think that she must be right on pace.

I must have sent Kate all my energy as she passed because it was about at that time that the wheels fell off for me. I was not used to 9 miles of continuous running at that speed and began to suffer. I had two really horrible miles in there, but was continuously uplifted by the red Playmakers shirts meeting me and the opportunity to cheer on the marathoners as they went by. Soon, I passed the Playmaker's tent on the course and Coach Mike gave me a little boost as I went by.  I was happy to see Tina not soon after and see that she was still running and smiling.

As I rounded the corner onto the track I heard my name and saw the smiling face of my friend Janet, the one who I had cheered to her first marathon finish just a while back, returning the favor and cheering me in. I finished the race a little off my goal of 1:45, in 1:47.07. It was 6 minutes slower than last year, which bummed me out just a little, but it was really about what I deserved based on the training I had been doing. The IT band problem really made me drop my mileage in the crucial 6 weeks leading up to the race, so all-in-all, I was satisfied with the performance. I picked up my drop bag and found Jer. The next order of business was to check the results. I was shocked and amazed to see that I had come in 5th in my age group! Medals in this race go down to 5th place, so I was pretty excited to be getting an award. With that bit of happy news, we headed up to the stands to cheer in my fellow Playmakers and wait to see how the marathoners had done. 

As I sat in the stands cheering in the red jerseys I was so proud of my team. I knew that each of the finishers had a story and had dealt with and overcome many obstacles to be there. The looks of determination and triumph on their faces as they rounded the corner and headed down the finishing straight was priceless. I cursed my phone camera which would not let me get close-ups of the finishers.

Soon the marathoners started to finish. I anxiously watched as the clock approached 3:25. I knew that my friends Geoff and Paul were both shooting for times under 3:30. I was particularly pulling for Geoff, as he had just missed his BQ time at Kalamazoo by a few seconds a few weeks before and was giving it another shot. Paul came around the corner first at a little over 3:26, an awesome time for him!! He totally deserved it because he is one of the hardest workers I know. Geoff came just a minute or so later in 3:28!! He got his time as well!

Next came Kate ...  I cannot tell you how anxious I was. She was trying for 3:38. By 3:37 on the finish clock, I was standing at the front of the bleachers gripping the rail. As 3:38 went by with no Kate, I started to get worried. 3:39 on the clock and still no Kate.  As 3:40 approached my heart was breaking. Just then Kate came around the corner. I could tell she was really tired but still pushing for the finish. She crossed at what I thought was around 3:40:15. Oh man. I felt so bad for her. She had obviously run a great race but had missed it by just a few seconds.

Jer and I shuffled off the bleachers and headed over to the finish area. When I finally found her, she said, "I made it! I made it!"  I had forgotten that the time on the clock was gun time. Her chip time was 3:39.31!!! I was so happy! Her parents were there (who are also runners), as well as her husband, kids, and many of her Playmaker's friends and training partners. It was an amazing moment, so full of joy.  Paul was there, as well, and there were congratulations all around.

We congregated over at the Playmaker's team area, as one by one we cheered in our fellow runners. Each one was a victory and a celebration. Soon we got news from the course. Tina's knee had given out and she was walking and in pain at about mile 21. Erica texted Tina to see if she needed Paul or me to run out to help. She said no -- another of our teammates, Jim, was there on his bike and helping her through it. I also found out later that Coach Lynn, after running his own marathon, was out on the course helping some of the other runners in to the finish. What a guy!!  Soon Tina came around the corner, running, and crossed the finish line triumphant. It was not the time she had hoped for, but she had done it. It was a huge moment for her, as she had faced and overcome many personal and physical challenges to get to that finish line and completing the marathon had symbolic value beyond just the accomplishment itself. 

After the race, a group of us met in Kate's hotel room, with Playmaker's teammates popping in and out all afternoon. What a great experience. I thought back to my first marathon. I was there without any team support. I finished (with a BQ time) and had no one to share it with (except a husband who was extremely grumpy and anxious to get on the road and head home). It really struck me then how great the team experience is, the camaraderie and support. Whether it is a good or bad day, with a group like this, there is always someone there with a smile and  words of support and congratulations. There is always someone there who can empathize because whether fast or slow, we all go through much the same experiences in running a marathon, experience the same highs and lows, trials and tribulations.

One of the things that writing this blog has done is help me to appreciate and reflect on the value of these experiences. I think that often we run the race and when it is over, we may focus on the result and forget to reflect on the value of the experience. What I learned about the spirit of teamwork here will linger long after I forget what time I ran. Thanks Playmaker's!

Here is a look at my Team Playmaker's Bayshore weekend:

Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone Race Report: Redemption at Gnaw Bone!!

Packet Pickup

My second race in the four race series is in the books. Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone turned out to be a much better experience than the Disaster at Green Swamp. In fact, I loved the Gnaw Bone course, and it has now become my favorite of the 50ks that I have run.

Camp L&L on Raccoon Ridge

Leslie and I drove up to the campground Friday night and did packet pick-up. As we were entering the campground, we could see the course marker flags popping out of the woods here and there in the park. It helped raise our excitement level. We also could not believe the mountains around there. If we have hills in Michigan, then these were definitely mountains (albeit small ones by West Coast standards, but mountains still).

Leslie at highest point

Leslie and I both have the same pre-race favorite meal of mashed potatoes, so we left packet pick-up, went to Walgreens for some Ivy Block, and then stopped at Bob Evans for some pre-race carbo loading. We ordered this dish that is basically a biscuit with mashed potatoes on top, covered with chicken noodle gravy (with thick homemade-style noodles). Oink!! We were so full walking out of there we weren't even sure we would be able to run in the morning.

The next morning, 4:30 came around extra early because the inconsiderate guys in the camp site next to us had been blaring their stereo until about 11:30 the night before. As I got out of the tent to run to the outhouse, I could see all the other DWD people in the campground by the soft glows coming from the tents.  By the time we headed to the race site, it was still dark, but Randy  (the race director) had promised in the info sheet for the race that it would be daylight by the start. I was trusting him because I had no light.

He was right. By start time the sun was starting to come up and lights were not necessary. It was a great temperature, about 50 degrees I would guess. I had chosen a sleeveless bike jersey, removable sleeves, and shorts to run in. The bike jersey was so that I would have good coverage on my back for the hydration pack and a zipper up the front (I wonder why they don't make running shirts with front zippers and back pockets -- very handy).  I did not want a repeat of the chafing disaster from Green Swamp. I also did not want a repeat of the knee disaster, so I had taped my knee up again with the trusty Rock Tape, this time in a festive pink argyle design. I was a little nervous about the knee but much encouraged by its ability to make it through the Trail Marathon two weeks ago. I felt like I had a good chance of finishing this one without a problem.

There were more people at the start than at Green Swamp. I am going to guess close to two hundred in the 50k/50 mile combined start, with I don't know how many more in the full, half marathon, 10k, and relays. They started at later times. Leslie, in the  half, did not start until 9:00, so she had a long wait from my 6:15 start. I buried myself somewhere mid-pack. I knew from the course profile that we began with a long hill climb up to the ridges where the race was run, so I was already planning a slow start.

We ran out of the start area, crossed a bridge, and were soon on the muddy horse trail that would take us to the top of the ridge. When I say mud, I am talking deep, dark, shoe-sucking mud. There was not a lot of running happening on my end through this part; between the hill itself and trying to keep my shoes dry I was moving more at a forced march pace than a run. I resisted the impulse to check the pace on my watch and pushed out of my mind the idea that this would wreak havoc with my average pace per mile. Remember, I am running with a new "savor the moment" attitude.  As we neared the top of the ridge, I appreciated the slow pace because it let me have time to notice the really pretty pink and blue sunrise that was going on around me.

Once we reached the ridge, we moved onto a single track and the fun began. The next several miles were very runnable single track, with the usual ups and downs one would expect in a trail race. By that time I was warmed up and removed the sleeves. I again appreciated the bike jersey's back pockets and stuck an arm warmer in each side and forgot about them.

The next memorable section for me was a few miles later when we were running along a ridge approaching a lake. There was heavy tree cover, but I looked to the right, down the slope, and it appeared that we were running above the clouds. I knew that we had not climbed that high, so I knew that what I was seeing had to  be water. As we came down onto the dam at the end of the lake, I realized what I had been seeing. There was a slight mist rising off the lake which had created the illusion of clouds I had seen through the trees -- very pretty.

As the early part of the race progressed, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of downhill and easy running. Although the course profile showed that there were lots of up and down,  the early miles of the race were actually very comfortable and fun for me. The course was also well marked, so I did not have a lot of worries about getting lost. I only had one moment of indecision. I had left an aid station and was on my own with no one in sight in front  of or behind me. I was padding along happy as can be when suddenly there was a pink streamer on a tree and another one off in the distance but not on any type of trail. Now in a normal trail race, I probably would not have thought twice and would have kept right on heading down the trail, but this is Dances with Dirt, and I know the race director's penchant for taking runners bushwhacking.

I headed off the trail (praying there was no poison ivy) through the brush to the pink streamer on the far tree. I stopped and did a complete 360. I could see no other pink markers except the one I had just left. I stood there trying to decide what to do. At that moment I heard runners coming down the trail, so I gave out a yell. It was three women whom I had been leap-frogging with for most of the race and a guy that had come up behind.  The women had run the course the year before, and they were sure that the course stayed on the trail at this spot. We decided to head up the trail a ways to see if we hit another trail marker. I tucked in behind them, and this started a beautiful relationship that lasted for most of the rest of the race.

Our group of four women ran together for the next many miles. I found out that one of the women was in my age group, one was 55-59, and that the other was in her 20s and had never run farther than a marathon before. They were running a perfect pace for me, and although I usually don't like to run in a group, I really did enjoy their company in this race. They liked to stay longer in the aid stations than I did, so I would usually leave ahead of them and they would catch me on the next big uphill (I am improving, but I do still suck on the hills).

On one of the times when I was alone after an aid station, probably somewhere around mile 13, I was passed by a 50 mile guy. As we were chatting, I made the observation that the hills were not as bad as I thought they would be. He laughed and told me that the second half of the course was much harder than the first. I appreciated the  heads-up and spent the next mile or so wondering what I was in for, but then remembered my new attitude and decided I would enjoy those hills when I came to them.

I will tell you that no words were ever more true than those. The second half of the course was definitely a bear.  As we pulled out of the aid station somewhere around 18 miles, one of the women said, "This is my favorite part of the course. This is where it gets interesting," or something along those lines. The next thing I know we are heading off trail for one of those "stupid sections" that the race director is famous for. The next two miles were mostly spent trying to follow the markers off-trail, climbing over downed trees, crossing streams, and at one point climbing straight up a muddy vertical surface on all fours. It was  a blast!

After we came out of that section, we had another aid station break and did some really nice running down to a second lake. As we ran along the edge of the lake, I could not help but think that we had to get back up to ridge level. I knew there was a climb in my future, but imagine my surprise when I found that to get back up to ridge level we had to climb about 20 flights of wooden stairs (about 6 to 8 stairs per flight). These were particularly annoying because the rise on the stairs was about two inches higher than my legs wanted to lift at that point. I guess it was that way for one of the other women I was running with too, as she took a bad fall on the stairs, really smacking her shin in the process. We waited while she tried to overcome the pain and start running again. Soon we were back on our way, but the group I was running with were starting to struggle some while I was still feeling good.

At about mile 26 we popped out of the woods and into the campground. There was an unofficial aid station there, so we stopped for some water and Gatorade. I was ready to go and happy to see this section. I knew this section because I had run it the night before to keep my streak alive. It was a little over a mile of pavement through the park before getting back onto the trail to head back to the finish. I also knew that beyond the pavement a considerable amount of those last few miles had to be downhill to get us off the ridges and down to the finish. On the pavement I was feeling good. I noticed that my group started to fall behind, but I did not realize how much until I hit the official aid station at the end of the pavement. They were nowhere in sight.

I did not need much aid at that point because I had fueled up at the unofficial station just a mile or so back, so I decided to head out. I was feeling a little guilty about leaving the group, but I also did not want to wait because I wanted the best time I could get. I started off down the two-track trail that would take us back down to Mike's Music and Dance Barn for the finish. Most of this section was good running, except for one little thing: more mud.

I was not as successful this time in staying out of the mud. There was just no way to avoid it in a few spots. I stepped carefully into the footsteps of previous runners, preferably males with size 13 shoes. I was doing alright until suddenly I lost my balance just a bit. My left foot missed the spot I was aiming for and went straight into the deep mud. My right foot, luckily, was on the bank. However, as I went to take the next step, I found that I could not move my left foot. It was stuck. I pulled harder and felt my foot start to slip out of the shoe. No way I was going to let that happen!! 

What to do?  Time is ticking! Well, the only thing I could figure out to do was stick my hands into that nasty black mud and dig out my foot. I started digging with one hand, using my other hand to balance so that I would not go face first into the slime. Finally I heard the satisfying "slurp" that comes when the shoe finally breaks loose from the suction and was able to pull out my foot, shoe attached, and make it to the other side of the mudhole. My shoes weighed about a pound each. I stopped for a second to use a stick to scrape the mud off my shoes and to rub my hand off in a patch of what I was praying was not something that would cause a nasty rash later.

Amazingly, with all the time I wasted, there was still nobody coming up behind me. I started running again and soon reached the top  of the grassy ski hill that I knew was very close to the finish. I picked my way carefully down the slope, keeping my eyes open for snakes they had warned us about, and started through the high grass. The trail at this point was about a shoe's width wide and through grass that was higher than knee deep. Things were going well until I caught my foot in a clump of grass and fell. This has been my biggest fear since the ruptured spleen. What would happen if I fell?  I am happy to report that what happened is what had always happened before that fateful day of the ruptured spleen: I got back up and kept running. I felt ten pounds lighter, though, to be relieved of the weight of that question. I could fall again, get back up, and not break myself.

The next section of the course, the last half mile, was classic Dances with Dirt. We ran up the middle of a stream. The water level was low this year, so the stream was anywhere from ankle deep to knee deep in places, and it felt absolutely fabulous!! What I did learn about my Pure Grits at that point was that they are rock magnets. I had forgotten to put on the gators that I had brought, so ended up with about a dozen little pea-sized pebbles in each shoe. The last few hundred yards to the finish were like running barefoot on a gravel road because of all the rocks in my shoes, but I did not care. I was finished, and the race had been, as my son would say "a blasty-blast."

I crossed the finish line in 6:47:25, which was not the sub 6:30 that I had hoped for, but which was still respectable, I thought. I was absolutely shocked when I told them my age group and they said I had gotten first place and handed me my "gnaw bone."

Leslie and I with our bones

I was not sure if Leslie was in yet or not, but I grabbed a muffin (I was starving) and headed out to find her. She was in, so I proudly showed off my bone. She said, "How did you know you placed?" I said they asked me at the finish. (Unlike road races, at trail ultras awards are often given out as you cross the finish line because with the runners finishing over such a huge spread of time, a post-race awards ceremony is usually not practical.)  She said that nobody had asked her. I told her to go check. She did and came back proudly displaying her bone as well. She had also gotten first in her age group.

Post Race Party Getting Started

The post-race party was already starting at that time. The keg had been tapped and people were stretched out on the ground or in lawn chairs cheering on the finishers. We were anxious to join the party, but the bite valve on my hydration pack had been leaking throughout the race, and I was soaked in blue Gatorade from the waist down. I REALLY wanted to get out of my soggy shorts, so we made a quick trip up to the campground to change clothes.

Country band at Mike's Music and Dance Barn

By the time we got back, most of the 50k people had finished. I saw my three women friends at the finish line. They had a rough final section and had finished about 13 minutes behind me. I was glad to see them and thanked them for helping me through the race. Then Leslie and I settled down with Leslie's new friend from the half to wait for the woman's husband to finish the 50k. 

By that time the country band was playing, and the food was ready.  Mike's pulled pork, ranch beans, and cole slaw definitely did not disappoint. Leslie enjoyed the beer on tap while I stuck to Diet Cokes so that I could get us back to the campground in one piece.

We spent the next several hours cheering in the late 50k runners, the 50 milers, and being entertained by the costumed relayers finishing their race. It was a great atmosphere, very fun and laid back. I also saw one of my RUT friends, Andrew, who finished the 50 miles. His next race is Western States!! How exciting!  

Red Hat  Hot Ladies Relay Team

Eventually, things started to wind down (somewhere around 6 pm, I would guess), and Leslie and I decided to head into town in search of more grub (I was still hungry  even after two pulled pork sandwiches).  We drove into the town of Nashville, which is a really cute little arts, crafts, and antiques town and a popular tourist destination. We found a local ice cream shop and got some ice cream and walked around a little. Amazingly the legs did not feel too bad at that point.

All in all, the entire race, from start to finish, was a great experience. I will be heading back to Gnaw Bone next year and look forward to tackling the course again. It is a beautiful and challenging ultra, with a little bit of everything. 

Related Posts:
Quest for the Buckle Part 2: Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone (with course profile)
Race Report: Dances with Dirt Devil's Lake
Race Report: Dances with Dirt Green Swamp
Race Report: Dances with Dirt Hell