On Friday afternoon, Eric, Tori and I headed out for Fruita, CO to run the Desert R.A.T.S. (race across the sand) marathon and double marathon!
We had the usual evening before a race, we picked up our (cloth!) bibs, went to a restaurant (Suds Brothers Brewery) for some pasta (where we saw Craig, Amanda and Chloe), and then headed to the hotel for some (broken, nervous) sleep.
All three of our alarms went off at 4am, which was a little shocking, and we started getting ready. I actually brought along my waffle maker and kitchen supplies so we could have waffles! haha! They had worked so well, so consistently during training that I really wanted to start the day off the same way. The whole wheat pancake mix we used is a just add water mix, so it was super easy.
The three of us found the start of the race easily, and got prime parking since we got there early as advised. Pretty soon it was time to start!
We had the usual evening before a race, we picked up our (cloth!) bibs, went to a restaurant (Suds Brothers Brewery) for some pasta (where we saw Craig, Amanda and Chloe), and then headed to the hotel for some (broken, nervous) sleep.
All three of our alarms went off at 4am, which was a little shocking, and we started getting ready. I actually brought along my waffle maker and kitchen supplies so we could have waffles! haha! They had worked so well, so consistently during training that I really wanted to start the day off the same way. The whole wheat pancake mix we used is a just add water mix, so it was super easy.
The three of us found the start of the race easily, and got prime parking since we got there early as advised. Pretty soon it was time to start!
Craig, Tori, Eric and Amanda at the start
Chloe and Craig
Craig went up to the front to start (good thing too, he killed it, coming in 12th overall in the marathon and not gettingchicked lol) while Eric, the girls and I started in the back. My only strategy for this race was to GO EASY for the entire first marathon in hopes of preserving my shins and SI. Starting in back meant being behind people who were walking up the first hill and not getting caught up in the fast starts by 25 milers.
I really enjoyed those first miles. I met a woman from Longmont who had run the marathon the year before and was back for more. That seems to happen a lot with this race, which I took as a good sign.
We just talked and talked and those first 3 miles went by like nothing. As we approached the first aid station at mile 5.9, I started talking to another woman, DeeDee who was from Boulder and doing her first marathon, just like Tori. These girls are hard core to choose this as their first big race! Mad props.
The course just got more and more beautiful- don't let the bad photos fool you! When we were able to see the Colorado River, I just had to stop and take pictures, despite telling myself not to do that this time lol. The course has a lot of smooth dirt single track, but also a fair amount of rocky, technical terrain and about 6800 feet of climbing.
I really enjoyed those first miles. I met a woman from Longmont who had run the marathon the year before and was back for more. That seems to happen a lot with this race, which I took as a good sign.
We just talked and talked and those first 3 miles went by like nothing. As we approached the first aid station at mile 5.9, I started talking to another woman, DeeDee who was from Boulder and doing her first marathon, just like Tori. These girls are hard core to choose this as their first big race! Mad props.
The course just got more and more beautiful- don't let the bad photos fool you! When we were able to see the Colorado River, I just had to stop and take pictures, despite telling myself not to do that this time lol. The course has a lot of smooth dirt single track, but also a fair amount of rocky, technical terrain and about 6800 feet of climbing.
Looking back at the trail and the river
The view in front
It was soon after this spot that I started running with and talking to a couple guys who are training for the San Juan Solstice. We spent a lot of time passing and re-passing each other. They were super nice, they're going to rock that race. I was really surprised to find that my easy miles were the pace they were. I started dreaming of finishing under 12 hours, but knew that anything could happen in the second half of the race and told myself to chill.
Just keep running, just keep running...
Amanda and Dee Dee
And so the race went on. I was getting antsy to get the first marathon finished so I could get started on the second and try to push myself a little bit more. I think that's why it was so easy to NOT drop out at the halfway point- I felt like my race hadn't even started yet and was anxious to get going.
I came into the halfway point just under 5:14. Craig and Eric were there, having already finished their marathons, to help me grab anything I needed, my own little pit crew! The volunteers were awesome too, they filled my pack with water and got me some Hammer endurolytes (holy lifesavers) while I slammed a bottle of Skratch Labs (thank you, Tori). In my drop bag I had stashed my rolling pin, which I use to roll out my muscles instead of one of these (expensive) bad boys:
I came into the halfway point just under 5:14. Craig and Eric were there, having already finished their marathons, to help me grab anything I needed, my own little pit crew! The volunteers were awesome too, they filled my pack with water and got me some Hammer endurolytes (holy lifesavers) while I slammed a bottle of Skratch Labs (thank you, Tori). In my drop bag I had stashed my rolling pin, which I use to roll out my muscles instead of one of these (expensive) bad boys:
The Stick. Amazing yes, but I'm cheap
When I started rolling out my shins and calves, one of the volunteers cracked up. I told her to feel free to let people know they are welcome to use my rolling pin.
Roll it out
In 6 minutes exactly, I was back on the course, slathered in sunblock and packed down with food (um, note to self, putting sunblock on once is not enough. I got fried). It was so fun to leave again with people cheering and ringing their cowbells! And I got to give high fives to a lot of people I had run with during the race as they came into the finish, it definitely kind of gives you that extra burst of energy.
Chloe finishing the marathon strong
Craig and Chloe after the race
After running on a busy, packed trail full of runners for over 5 hours, enter solitude. After I saw Tori and a friend approaching the finish, and after I passed a man running the double, I found myself very, very alone. For 12.5 miles. It was here I really started thinking about the Boston bombings and how grateful I was to have two legs to carry me through gorgeous trails.
Finally, at the crossroads aid station, volunteers informed me that 2 guys were only about a minute ahead of me and to go catch them. I really didn't care about "catching" them, but I did want to see other runners on the trail. There were a TON of mountain bikers on the course, and many of them were really sweet and cheered me on, but a lot of them kind of forced me off the course, which was hard on my sore legs and also cost me some time after awhile.
I did end up passing one guy soon after the aid station, but it wasn't until Pizza Overlook that I would start going back and forth with two more guys. I think we were too tired to really *talk* but there was definitely a supportive, non-competitive vibe between us, at least to me. I saw a girl ahead of those guys too, but again, I was just not really caring about placement, and she seemed too far ahead to catch anyway.
Meanwhile, Tori was finishing up her FIRST MARATHON ever! I love that she picked a trail marathon to be her first! She rocked it:
Finally, at the crossroads aid station, volunteers informed me that 2 guys were only about a minute ahead of me and to go catch them. I really didn't care about "catching" them, but I did want to see other runners on the trail. There were a TON of mountain bikers on the course, and many of them were really sweet and cheered me on, but a lot of them kind of forced me off the course, which was hard on my sore legs and also cost me some time after awhile.
I did end up passing one guy soon after the aid station, but it wasn't until Pizza Overlook that I would start going back and forth with two more guys. I think we were too tired to really *talk* but there was definitely a supportive, non-competitive vibe between us, at least to me. I saw a girl ahead of those guys too, but again, I was just not really caring about placement, and she seemed too far ahead to catch anyway.
Meanwhile, Tori was finishing up her FIRST MARATHON ever! I love that she picked a trail marathon to be her first! She rocked it:
Al. most. THERE!
Marathoner!
I am so grateful to Tori and Eric for hanging out for SO LONG waiting for me to finish. It helped a lot knowing they would be out there when I was done. At least they got to drink some beer while they waited :)
Classic Colorado post-run treat
So I slogged on. From about miles 35 to 47 I had some bouts of nausea. I knew I needed to keep eating, so I was holding onto this Powerbar but only ate about half of it in a couple hours, the rest melted all over my hands. The Pizza Overlook (did somebody say pizza?) aid station had some cups of soda (most didn't have cups because it was a cupless race), and it was hard to believe how much it helped haha Thank you SO MUCH to all the volunteers out there! I stopped at every aid station on the second loop and I swear, each time I arrived at one the volunteers would quickly ask, "what do you need, what can I get for you." Of course, my answer was always a pathetic, "uuhhh... I have no idea," or some lame-o, overused joke like "new legs?"
The elevation profile, taken from my Garmin
As we left the Moore Fun aid station- the LAST aid station, the two guys I was running with followed close behind until we started going up the last hill. I am just not comfortable running in front, whether it's a training run or a race, I'm not sure why. I let them both go ahead of me even though I had started to see the girl up ahead again and I resigned myself to finishing last of our little group of four.
I don't know what happened then, but when we hit mile 48, it was on. The only hills left were rollers and I just took off, feeling amazing. I caught up to and passed the girl (I told her she was kicking butt and that we were almost there, but she had music in so I don't think she heard me) and just flew down the mountain. I was so ready to be done and in those moments it was like all the pain just.... went away. I ran my fastest miles at the end and actually passed another woman in the home stretch, finishing in 11:17:09.
I know I shouldn't be able to finish that way, but my goals for this race were just to finish. I was really worried about my shin splints flaring up and had I ran harder on the first lap, maybe I wouldn't have made it through the second loop. I have no regrets. Desert RATS was a fantastically run event and we had such a great sufferfest!
I don't know what happened then, but when we hit mile 48, it was on. The only hills left were rollers and I just took off, feeling amazing. I caught up to and passed the girl (I told her she was kicking butt and that we were almost there, but she had music in so I don't think she heard me) and just flew down the mountain. I was so ready to be done and in those moments it was like all the pain just.... went away. I ran my fastest miles at the end and actually passed another woman in the home stretch, finishing in 11:17:09.
I know I shouldn't be able to finish that way, but my goals for this race were just to finish. I was really worried about my shin splints flaring up and had I ran harder on the first lap, maybe I wouldn't have made it through the second loop. I have no regrets. Desert RATS was a fantastically run event and we had such a great sufferfest!
Home stretch
Donezo!
The *real* finishing photo, as Tori said lol
So thankful Eric and Tori stayed so long after their race was over!
They even stuck around for me to get my age group award, which meant a really late night for all of us, thank you guys!
Despite a third place a/g, I really didn't finish all that well in the standings, but this is one race that I REALLY am not bothered by that. The girls that run this double are just phenomenal athletes, and I'm proud just to be running a race with them. I have nothing but respect for all the runners out there who ran either the marathon or the double. Way to go guys! OH, AND, this race ends my getting-lost-in-ultras streak! Hooray!
The next day post-race meal, thanks Mitch. Team Beef would be proud :)
Some food stats for my own records:
First loop:
Mixed Berry Powerbar
Caramel Chocolate Powerbar
2 gels
1/2 chocolate peanut butter power bar
At turnaround
Bottle of Skratchlab Raspberry
2 electrolyte pills
Refilled water
Second loop:
2 gels
1 Mixed Berry Powerbar
1/2 Caramel Chocolate Powerbar
Refilled my backpack TWICE, but volunteers did it, so not sure if I drank a whole liter and a half each time, or if they just didn't fill it all the way. Probably the latter.
2 orange slices
1 watermelon slice
~3 more electrolyte pills
Handful of cheese-its
Handful of potato chips
Cup of soda
First loop:
Mixed Berry Powerbar
Caramel Chocolate Powerbar
2 gels
1/2 chocolate peanut butter power bar
At turnaround
Bottle of Skratchlab Raspberry
2 electrolyte pills
Refilled water
Second loop:
2 gels
1 Mixed Berry Powerbar
1/2 Caramel Chocolate Powerbar
Refilled my backpack TWICE, but volunteers did it, so not sure if I drank a whole liter and a half each time, or if they just didn't fill it all the way. Probably the latter.
2 orange slices
1 watermelon slice
~3 more electrolyte pills
Handful of cheese-its
Handful of potato chips
Cup of soda
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