reflecting back: all trails lead to umstead 100

hey! well, it's taper time, and most of my friends can identify with "taper-tandrums". You aren't running as much, have tons of energy, and where to channel it?! well, I've pretty much spent the past week obsessing over my box o junk and rick grey- type first aid/blister kit/tackle box. and packed for umstead. All ready to roll.

now what to do, I decided yesterday to scroll back through all my pictures on iphoto. and That is when I got the idea to just make one big slide show starting with my first 50k to present. it's everything, solo training runs, races, group runs. So many memories, epic stories and friendships foraged from having so much fun in the mtns, epic weather, suffering together, post run tailgating:)

I'm so thankful for this journey I'm on, and the people in my life. If you guys don't care, PLEASE think positive thoughts for me on Saturday, march 31- into april 1 and no, the irony is not lost on me that i'll get my first 100 mile finish on April Fool's Day. :)

Sorry for some of blurry pictures.. this took so long to upload I didn't have the heart to go back and edit them out! lazy! :) and also fat man's misery is in there twice but seeing out it took all the hide off both forearms at my first terrapin, and I missed the hole punch and had to go back at my second terrapin, it earns two spots:) grr!

PICTO BLOG LINK HERE

** the two songs are songs I LOVE to run to on my ipod.. the first is Leftover salmon "breaking through" love the lyrics in this song. favorite line is "careful watch you wish for, you'll never be the same, running through the wilderness while the moonlight calls your name."

and the second song is "zebra" by john bulter trio. :) JBT rocks:)

SAGE Umstead100 advice from ultra guru, Bill Gentry

above are pictures from my presidents day AT run in the snow with beth, dennett, joey and maverick. :)

I'm still training for umstead 100. I ran holiday lake 50k as a long training run on feb 12th. had near perfect conditions. Ran most of the race with Marc Guzzi :) ended up running 5:24 18 min PR and I never was really in a hurry all day. so I am pleased with where I am right now fitness wise as opposed to this time last year. and it was SO great to see all my friends and make new friends at this year's holiday lake. I love going to LUS series races because they really are like a family reunion to me now. :)

I've had ALOT of adversity thrown in my way the past couple months in the form of sick kiddos ( walking pneumonia, pink eye, ear infections, strep) and saturday I had a crazy sinus/inner ear infection episode. SO training for umstead itself has been a challenge. but on the days I couldn't get out in the mtns, my relatives helped watch the kids for me to run the roads, I did the spin bike, insanity, p90x.. in short if I couldn't go run.. I worked out hard. I really hope that pays off in the long run. but that being said, I sure have ran a whole heck of alot since january. :)

I have been imploring my good friend, Bill Gentry to share all his pearls of wisdom regarding Umstead 100. He has ran this race more times than any other ultra runner I know of. He was SO nice to type out his advice and sent it to me today, and I just felt it was selfish to keep this to myself. I feel that most of this advice can apply to ANY ultra distance. esp the bold face DO NOT QUIT ( and the start slow!! advice) I hope everyone enjoys it and I really feel all my readers who run can take something away from this. THANK YOU BILL GENTRY. YOU'RE MY HERO!! I'm so excited I get to run my first 100 with bill, rick grey and so many of my other friends. and so thankful for my dialed in crew who has volunteered to help get me to the finish line. :) without further ado:

• U100 is a temptress. Seems so easy, this loop. Lotsa flat stretches in the first 3 miles. No significant uphills. Not a rock in sight. And so much energy at that start, thanks to some 275 runners all gracing that still-in-the-dark starting line. Note: The largest finishing field in race history was last year's 130. Very nearly everybody goes out way too fast. So hard not to get caught up in that. Suggestion: Every mile is marked with a pie plate. Have a pacing plan. Stick to your plan.

• There is only one reason to DNF at U100: injury. Adam Bookspan walked the entire U100 in 27:11 one year. Every step. That's faster than two of my finishes. Here's a thing about U100: The fun factor takes a serious dip once the lights go out. Most of the 50-mile people are done. And lots of the other first-timers quit a lap later. That start-finish aid station feels like a M*A*S*H unit after dark. If possible, stay the hell out of that lodge unless you are rocking this thing. I have taken naps at the outbound manned aid station most years. One year, I slept 1 hour. Another year, I slept THREE hours. And one other year after blitzing the 9:25 first 50 in 91F heat, I walked from 70M to 80M, slept 2 hours, walked to 85M, slept 30 minutes, then shuffled in and STILL did 27:30. Message: This is not as hard as Grindstone or MMT, but it is still 100 miles. If you are not injured, there is no good reason to quit. Do. Not. Quit.

• Front Nine and Back Nine: I divide U100 into two parts. The Front Nine is pretty daggone flat. The Back Nine has some rollers and then one fairly long downhill (Mile 10) followed by a short, fairly steep uphill. The Front Nine features the pancake-flat Spur, an water/goo stop at about 3.5M, unmanned water stop at about 5.5M and then the manned, fully stocked aid station at 6.75M. That's where your drop bag can be. Dunno what you have in mind with Brock and the kiddos, but I would suggest throwing some warm clothes in a bag for here just in case. Maybe some spare batteries, too. Better safe than not. Back Nine includes water at about 8.5M and then at the crest of the "big" hill at just before 11M (the same stop as the one at 3.5M). Perspective on the "hill": you can see all the way to the top of it from the bottom; and it takes less than 4 minutes to run up it. From the unmanned water/goo stop, it's 1.5M or so back to the start-finish. The the start of the race, we go out the gravel road and skip the single-track and other gravel road. On the return and every loop after that, we do the gravel road/single-track option. You'll feel right at home on this stretch. :)

• U100 is the sneakiest one around. I have 11 100-mile finishes here. I also have 4 other times when I have bagged it after at least 50. Except for the Hurricane Year when I got as close to hypothermia as I ever want to come, I have quit because I went out way too fast, totally cratered and then was feeling really, really bad at exactly the wrong time ... when my car was within sight. Whew! It's the hardest thing about a 12.5-mile loop: those 2-3 times late in the game when you come past your car, your kids, that raging fire in the lodge, the showers, and all those lonely looking people who have given up. Suggestion: The local North Carolina Road Runners chapter has a plethora of volunteer pacers. Most are there itching to do one loop just to get a feel for what it's like out there. If you are hurting, take one. Jenny, taking a pacer for Lap 6 or Lap 7 has saved my *** three or four times.

umstead 100 training picto blog

views from the ridgeline of brumley mtn
frozen grossman
biggest hoar frost I've seen in my life
happy to be actually running in the snow
view from top of white top during my NYE run
view from buzzards rock NYE "over the top" run
me and my best buddy from high school hiking up white top mtn on the AT
snowy brumley mtn long run
post interval run on the creeper trail in my HG 100k T!
Sweet maverick the super Aussie during sunday morning long run
Robin Grossman running through the morning sunlight on treasure mtn
me and my puppy! love him so much
nice views during yesterday's morning run.

TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING. That is what is up with jennyd nichols right now. Little Jenny is running her heart out these days. I recovered from hellgate 100k, had a WONDERFUL holiday season full of time with family and friends. I shifted gears pretty much post christmas and started training officially for umstead 100 first week in january. ( even though I ran 24 miles on NYE with the IMTR's at over the top)

So far things are going well training wise. I'm just enjoying being super active and having a goal to work towards. I'm working out at the YMCA a couple times a week on my easy days usually before an easy 60 min morning run, spin biking, incorporating yoga once a week in my routine. and running wise: one day speed work, couple days later tempo run, couple days later back to back long runs ( weekends). I'm recovering from my workouts okay. Feeling taxed and labored while I'm in the moment, but pretty much good to go by the next morning. So I think I have a good balance there.

Little daunting after running 66.6 miles and knowing how much more I have to run for umstead. BUT I have tons of confidence due to the technical conditions of HG vs. how non technical umstead is--

but that being said : 1. 100 miles is a 100 miles, and 2. runnable courses offer their own special set of challenges that mtn 100's do not. I think mostly it's about self control and not being greedy at the start. making yourself be on a schedule and sticking to it from the start. I think for umstead I'm going to run 24 min and walk 4 min. and stay on that schedule. and starting slow etc. if any 100 milers out there have ANY advice to offer up, I'm MORE than all ears!

more than anything, I'm fairly confident I can complete the distance and am aware of the roller coaster ride it's going to be. I feel I've learned enough the past couple years, to just work through my tough patches and keep moving forward.

It's amazing the journey of natural progression my ultrarunning has taken me on. 3 years ago, a 50k was practically an insurmountable distance. I couldn't fathom running 50 miles, then 50 miles grew-- comfy in 2011. So I know 100 miles is going to kick my butt, but I would really like to think I can reach a point to be able to adapt, and it be my "new normal".

next up for me is HOLIDAY LAKE 50k! I'm using this run as a long run, going to have to run another long run the day after. Goals for this race would be to run it faster than last year, but as far as racing goals for HL, I have zero. pretty much the plan is like sophie had me run last year. start slow. sit in the first loop, then work hard the last loop. :)

okay, so any umstead advice, you guys feel free to comment, or email etc!

my first 100k: hellgate 2011

I'm sitting here on sunday afternoon with fat, blistered feet, sore achilles in both legs, wondering what would be the best way to describe this amazing journey I was fortunate enough to go on. It's really almost a surreal experience to be able to sit here and say "I'm a hellgate finisher.". Hellgate 100k in my mind was always the ZENITH of any of the ultras on the east coast. It's where VERY TOUGH ultrarunners test their metal against the elements, rocky leaf covered trails and 14,000ft of vertical climbing over 66.6 miles. oh, and the race starts at midnight. a little different!! I've read so many race reports from this epic race, and I'll be honest to say the race was vilified in my mind. I WAS scared of hellgate. When I was running Terrapin mtn 50k this spring I was with Marlin Yoder and Sophie and she said, " WOOP! HELLGATE COURSE!!" it literally sent a chill down my spine. and we were on the same section Friday night, I told sophie that had some one told me in march, that I'd be THERE running hellgate with her in December, I would of NEVER believed them. I am very happy that sophie convinced me to run Hellgate ( just like LUS and MMTR) She believed in my ability to finish HG, before i even believed myself that I could do it.

I came the evening before the race and stayed off exit 150 at the holiday inn. I slept in and laid around until check out, then came to Camp Bethel and snagged a bunk and proceeded to visit with all my friends and lay around all evening until it was time for packet pick up and dinner.

I have talk about dinner. It's always really special to see all your friends at packet pick up, but one thing I thought that was awesome about dinner was that rather than buffet, you are served family style. As soon as I walked into that dining room and sat down, At that moment the light bulb came on, and I immediately understood WHY horton likes to keep this race small. So Dr. Horton: I GET IT NOW. :)

There are "years": "ice year" "leaf year" "warm year".. no idea what this year will be called. I was fortunate with the weather. It had rained heavily for a couple of days the beginning of the week, so even though the course was a little wet and mucky in many places:) I'm sure it helped with the leaves. The forecast was for low in the 20's friday night and high 41 saturday. I think it was way colder than 20 on top of headforemost mtn. BRRR! but immediately descending I felt it was really comfy. it may have been in the 30's all night. I was never really cold. ( other than headforemost) but I'm getting ahead of myself.

JJ JESSEE was kind enough to come crew for me since brock had to work this weekend. He came after the race meeting and I gave him all my gear and bag o gels and snake oil. He gave sophie, donna and I a ride to the start. It felt a little cold at the start, and I was calm. I thought I would be terrified-- but I wasn't. We lined up sung "o, canada" and the "star spangled banner" and before I knew it was 12:01 and we were off! one thing i did differently this race: no garmin. my first race EVER without it. I just wore my timex ironman and never even set the chrono just looked at the time of day. I can't say it really made that big of difference. I was probably happy to not see how slow my pace was on some sections. :)

sophie and I before the start in our LUS jackets ( that barely got worn)

I guess for my race synopsis I can break it down in a few sentences for each section:

start to AS1: ran with Mike and Sophie-- did we cross the river before the first AS?? I can't remember.. I do remember a river though. I think that was how it went. What really sticks out in my mind is it being really tight and congested on the single track.. people right in front, people right behind you and it was a little nerve racking.

AS1 to Petits Gap:

started up the road and with mike and sophie and buddy, we RAN. It was awesome. finally got my elbow room.

Petits Gap to Camping Gap:

single track with glowsticks on trees:) thanks grattan and donna! I thought of you guys everytime I passed a glowstick. it was a little rocky and downhill ( not my strength) but I was really happy when rocks from the terrapin course started looking familiar. sadly lost sophie and mike once we got off the single track and were climbing on the road. ( just like terrapin!) Sophie is just a rock star on those big climbs. but I was totally okay because 1. I was starting to feel a little worked. so the run/hike thing was cool by me. I just turned on my ipod and got up to camping gap. the moon light was amazing on the road, and I was super happy to KNOW where I was and it be familiar.

CAMPING GAP TO HEADFOREMOST MTN:

okay so I left camping gap and started out toward the white oak trail/WOR loop and was again, feeling really happy that I was familiar with my surroundings and that i was getting ready to go on the promise land course, I leaped frog a bit with alyssa godesky ( who I think got 4th ) .

I was really loving the grassy road and thinking about my first promise land50k this year, how I was extremely sick with bronchitis that race and Rebekah stayed with me for a GOOD bit like an hour and cheered me up and pieced me back together to get me eating again. I knew she was out on the course and had a bad cold and I said I prayer that she was feeling better and having a good time. I spend ALOT of time reflecting on the past year of the races in the LUS.. and just how awesome it was to end my season this way it had all come full circle. started running with a really great guy who got 3rd in the IMTR 50 this year ( his knee was bothering him) I hope he finished but had a feeling he may have dropped at headforemost. So that was cool to get to talk about Mt Rogers and Damascus for a bit. I love where I train and all my friends there and feel so extremely fortunate to call those trails "home". Separated on the climb from the IMTR 50 guy up the mtn. and as I climbed I started to get cold

HEADFOREMOST to AS 5/jennings creek/ breakfast AS:

I got COLD quick up there.. I don't know what happened on that climb but when I got to JJ's trooper at 5:10AM I was light headed and slurring my speech.. JJ ( being the super crew he was) switched nathan packs, got me in my pink jacket and gave me ensure and off I went. once I started descending I immediately felt MUCH BETTER. and WARMER:) I listened to pink floyd and thought alot about my brother, Todd. I wore a locket with his picture in it to Hellgate. I knew it would help me in my rough patches because for some reason, alot of times during my rough patches I think of him, and how he wouldn't want me to quit -- he'd want me to overcome adversity and figure things out and keep moving.

Jennings creek AS to LITTLE COVE MTN:

I got to breakfast AS at 6:41. still dark, I couldn't wait to get rid of my headlamp but decided to keep it until I got to the next AS. Saw JJ. Then I got a cup and filled it with silver dollar pancakes, eggs, bacon and quiche. YES!! QUICHE!!!:) and I ran out of there and started the climb and I ate my yummy, yummy breakfast. MMMM. it was awesome. Then I found fellow IMTR Guy Love, he was having problems eating and drinking. I was sad he was having a bad day. I told him it definitely wasn't my greatest race either but to hang in there and keep moving. I continued on and met Nelson ( waves- HI NELSON) who said he read my blog before and we hiked up the mtn to little cove mtn.

me at the little cove AS mile 34

little COVE MTN to BEARWALLOW GAP:

What a big surprise to get on top of that mtn and see BOB and DREW ( go CATS!!) and JJ!! I was happy the sun was shining, and I was getting ready to drink a handheld of aminos on this section. JJ told me this section maybe a little tough I think it was 8 miles. happy to ditch my rudy project clear lenses and my headlamp and my gloves.. decided later down the trail I should of kept the gloves:) this section was FUN for alot of it, it was FS road then this cool section that reminded me SOO much of the dark side on the promise land course ( but I knew it wasn't the dark side just similar) THEN.. came the fun part.. the devils trail and just alot of climbs. I really had some rough patches. I went from the depths of despair to being SO happy to being alive. I thought the devils trail was unreasonably cruel to me, and then I decided it wasn't the rocks fault I can't run well on them.. I was just mentally not sharp on this section. so I came into bearwallow mile 42 at 10:40AM seeing bob, drew, jj, tammy ( I LOVE YOU GUYS!)

looking like this:

but after a hydration pack change, getting some gloves, sunglasses, lots of encouragement from tammy, bob and JJ and a CHEESEBURGER; I left looking like this:

42 miles down only 24 more to go

much better. I love friends! this picture is small but I'm smiling and RAVISHING a cheeseburger.

BEARWALLOW GAP TO BOBLETT's GAP:

7 miles . from what I remember there was alot of climbing and leaves and ridges. I was alone alot and just tried to run where I could and listen to music. I know i'm slowing down but knew I had PLENTY of time to even run 15:30 or 16 hrs. so That was okay. and so mentally, I just tried to stay positive-- how awesome the weather was ( 40 and sunny) and i was eating.. ( the fact I can get a cheeseburger and quiche during a long run really makes me think I'll be okay during 100's for the nutrition stuff) and what a great experience this was for me just BEING at hellgate and knowing I was going to FINISH hellgate. So I just tried to stay in the game that way even though i was REALLY starting to hurt BAD.

I get to boblett's gap and both my achilles are really really hurting. ( I think it was just all the climbing and running on the rocks)

shuffling into boblett's gap AS.

and Tammy called brock for me! that was SO awesome to get to tell him and the kids that I loved them.

BOBLETT's GAP to FOREVER SECTION

I was hurting bad. So I took 2 tylenol ( yep, I know). Jamie Darling was working this AS and asked me what she could get me to help.. She was so sweet. I asked her for a gun so I could shoot myself:) ( I was joking-- kinda- it hurt just to walk) JJ offered to jump in with me and run the forever section with me. before the race, had NOT even anticipated or thought of having anyone run with me, BUT JJ had on his montrail masochists-- at first I thought hmm maybe just the last 6 miles it would be great to have a friend to run with, but when he offered at bobletts-- I immediately took him up on it. so off we went.

we were LOVING that road down the mtn. so much that I missed the turn onto the single track. We spent about 20 mins ( me trying not to freak out because I had never gotten lost during a race before) finally found out after running back and forth 3 times looking for me 2 other guys were lost too. so apparently Im not the only one who missed this turn:) BUT I decided it was what it was.. and poor JJ I think he either thought I would be mad at him ( hey, i missed the turn not him! not his job to navigate me) or I was going to cry or something. because of the lost time and the couple of people who got ahead of me. nah, I just thought.. this is just life. things dont go perfectly.. you fix what you can, do your best and ROLL WITH IT. So I just decided to have fun running the forever section with JJ. He so selflessly worked all day friday, drove up to camp bethel, stayed up all night, all day and NOW was running with me! It was so much fun just trying to figure out where the forever section would end, laughing and making jokes and saying "HELLGATE!" because WOW. I was almost finished. and I'm SO happy I got to have this adventure with JJ. so thankful for his help, but running with him was the best.

DAY CREEK TO FINISH

it was ON. I knew i had 3 miles up and 3 miles down and I was ready to be done. JJ and I hiked up the first 3 miles to the parkway in 41 minutes. I was SO proud of myself. tylenol was kickin in:) feet felt way better. I crossed the parkway and thought of Gary Knipling who told me to really enjoy that moment knowing there was just 3 miles downhill to the finish on that nice dirt road. and so we made our way down happy to know I was going to run 16 hrs and something and the sun was still bright and shining ( I didn't want to finish in the dark) SO that made me happy!! and finishing this race... no, I didn't cry.. sometimes I do that at finish lines, I was just SO HAPPY to be there. HAPPY I finished Hellgate 100k. HAPPY it was 16:19. Happy I learned so much about working through rough patches and the highs and lows of ultra distance running. Happy to learn that I'm tough enough to get in there and dig deep when i have to. Happy I had the support of my family and so many friends. Happy I got to spend friday and saturday in the mountains with SO many old friends and I made many new friends! Happy horton let me in his race!:) I'll def be back next year.. if Horton, lets me in:)

Bob said it best: " I once was lost, but now am found."

Horton Hug makes all the pain from running 66.6 miles in the mtns all better

fun pre HG long run, vicki's death march picto blog

Well, recovery from MMTR has gone pretty well. I was a little surprised a couple days after the race, how "normal" I felt, and proceeded to ease back into training with cautious optimism. I've been doing some intervals and a couple longer runs, and this past weekend did my last long run before hellgate at SNP with the VHTRC. :Vicki's death march! I had SO much fun running in the mtns big climbs, rocky trails ( that reminded me of Middle Earth on LoTR) and great companionship with a zaney cross section of people who make up Va happy trails... Love running with these guys! never a dull moment. It was a beautiful day, ( a little warm!) met so many new friends and enjoyed spending time with old ones!

here are some pictures from Vicki's death March:

Sophie, kara, Laurie and I at the falls
a Happy David Snipes
just starting out on the fire road, already a warm morning
group shot at the falls

Quatro's "presidential" profile shot
Gary Knipling and I
sophie is either yawning or letting out a primal scream here.
Q- the coolest texan I know.
ham who is very tall.
view of old rag from hawksbill
on the summit of hawksbill tallest peak in SNP

myself, sophie and kara with the massenuttens in the background
a trash can at the stables that a bear had mauled.

SO here I am less than 2 weeks out from HG. Longest race for me to date-- first 100k and it's a doozey of a 100k. I'm looking forward to Epic fun, sharing the trail with so many great ultrarunners. and really, just celebrating what a great year and journey it's been. I've learned so much this year. and I know I still have so much more to learn.

I love night running, I enjoy running in the cold/love winter sports.. so I'm not really scared or worried about those aspects of the race. I know it's going to HURT, and be LONG and take awhile... I've come to terms with all those things when I registered for the race and not fearful about those things. I've accepted this to be " it is what it is." and I'm just ready to run in the mtns with all my friends, and see how the journey unfolds and HAVE FUN, and eat tons of AS food. :)

MMTR 2011: REDEMPTION RUN

Wow. What a weekend. What a journey. It's amazing to be sitting here typing this out. Last year, post MMTR ( where I blazed the course in 11:07 and had the toughest day) I was licking my wounds: I suffered from a severely bruised ego and deflated self esteem. I pretty much wrote a SUPER long, whiney race report offering up ALL the excuses of why I ran such a crappy race. Maybe I just needed that justification for myself, but let me tell you, that 2010 MMTR stayed with me like stepping in a big pile of doggy poo-- you know how the stink stays on your shoes ALL DAY?? That was EXACTLY what it was like. I had zero desire to run Masochist ever again.

THEN Sophie ( dear sophie!) and martha wright talked me into signing up for LUS after holiday lake this year. I decided to do it, but man, I shuddered to even think of going back there and face my demons. I decided to shelve even THINKING about it. That's right I'll pull a Scarlett O'hara.. I think about it tomorrow, for Tomorrow is another day.

Little by little as my fitness and training improved over the summer: I lost 15 lbs by not doing anything in particular really different, other than running and working out tons. I felt lighter, fitter, leaner, meaner, tougher... and then I REALLY started thinking about Masochist, and how I was going to face it again.

and even more importantly, I wanted Redemption.

So the week leading up to Masochist I had a really great sense of calmness about it. I KNEW I had done the work. I did have a little snafu with my ankle on my LAST hard workout of hill repeats on the AT ( it's a bear of a workout! I ran every 2 weeks -- that and running in hurricane section of Mt Rogers was my salvation for this race-- it got me UBER PREPARED) 2 weeks before MMTR, I was just ROCKING my hill repeats and SO excited because I was running so strong, and on the downhill of my next to last one I rolled my ankle HARD. So hard I couldn't run on it anymore and had to walk out of the woods, I then spent the next 3 days with my foot in a bucket of ice every hour I was awake---I would ice it for 10 min. over and over and over. but I wasn't really upset or freaking out ( other than the first day I hurt myself, I was PISSED it happened to me and the timing of it all-- but I quickly accepted the situation and moved to actively try to fix the problem) felt if it was meant to be, then it was going to happen. So what did I do???

I threw a party. And that really was a great distraction. I didn't worry that I wasn't running, I worried about picking up my house and making a menu and going grocery shopping. I had SO much fun cooking for my friends! I think I'll have another before Umstead 100.

So the wens before MMTR I did a test run on single track with the IMTR's and the ankle seemed to hold up well. But my mojo for downhill singletrack was gone. I was very careful and focused about foot placement.

okay, so I get to Lynchburg, meet up with Brock ( who is working up there) and we go check in, I happily laid out aLL my gear for the next day, went over the crew plan with brock ( what he's supposed to hand me at which AS) and then went to packet pick up where it was SO great to see ALL my friends and get my CAT shirt to run in the next day!! okay, I committed a faux pas here. I peaced out and didn't go to the racers meeting. I wanted to sleep. I so left at 7pm and took two benedryl, set my alarm for 3:45am and it was LIGHTS OUT. I was asleep by 8pm and I had the BEST nights sleep EVER. I didn't wake up until the alarm went off. Got up, dressed, ate poptarts.. left Derek and Christian rode to the start with us.. more fun socializing at the start.. it was cold 32F and I really just felt relaxed.. not scared or fearful like last year.

So for the start of the race, I ran SLOW. I ran alot with BOB, but then he went on, and I just kept it about 9min pace.. and it felt like the entire field was in front of me. I came through the first AS, and I was #143. so I was WAY back there. no worries. I watched the sun come up and it was SOO beautiful. Sophie and Marlin caught up to me, so I decided to hang with them and we just had a good time, laughing and talking.. and I did that pretty much with EVERYONE I ran with.. just had a good time and enjoyed my day Loving the fact I was going to spend ALL day in the mtns and

mile 13.. and I can FLY!! don't I look like the hulk?

I FELT it.. the magic of MMTR-- I was too self absorbed and into my pity party to feel it last year.. WHY MMTR is such a special, special race-- it's practically tangible! I decided right then to harness all this awesome positive energy that was OOZING from every direction: the runners, the volunteers, the mtns, the sun, the blue sky, the trees and pretty leaves.. and just SMILE ALL DAY LONG and be-bop on down the road to montebello! and I was LOVING my slime green CAT's shirt! GO CATS!!!

I pretty much sat in until mile 29 and then decided to push a little harder because I really was feeling awesome and wasn't taxed at all. I had a great climb up buck mtn. got to run with rick, kathleen and marlin some more.. then I was SO excited to get to the loop!! That was a very special part of my race! I LOVE the loop. I thought of my friend JJ Jessee , and really just tried to smile and run the loop hard for him, because JJ is awesome. I thought of ALOT of the people in my life while I was running, I thought of my friends, the IMTR's, my family, my kids, my brother Todd, My sweet dog maverick who I knew would LOVE to be running with me. and I know I sound a little flakey talking about all the positive energy-- but in the loop I just felt LOVED and I felt SECURE in myself and my ability. and it just made me run faster and push harder, and it felt great-- I had a permagrin the entire way.

Out of the loop: brock pulls me over to hand me an Ensure and tell me I'm 11th woman and 10th is just a little bit ahead of me. I had my mouth FULL of brownie and I look at him and say: " top 10 gets a goose down jacket." with brownie crumbs flying in all directions while I'm talking ( spouses who crew: THIS IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE-- you see the good, the bad and the ugly.) and I guzzle the ensure and sprint away.

brock telling me what's up-- out of the loop

I get to salt log gap and Jamie Darling's crew is all upset because they missed her. I realize now that is WHO I'm after.. They had a gel and I 5 hr energy for her. I had looked at the clip board, and knew she is just 3 min ahead.. so I told her crew that I'll take her stuff to her, because I know I'm going to be seeing her here shortly.:o) So alas! about a mile or two later.. I see pink up ahead... more than happy to deliver her things to her, and slide on down the trail 10th woman.. THEN I see another lady.. and pass her-- we end up passing each other back and forth a couple of times.. racing in and out of the last AS. and then she finally catches me and drops me on the downhill. curses! oh , well I tried to be 9th. I just couldn't run on those rocky jeep roads that fast as she.. she rocked the downhill. I later discover this was meredith terranova.. Who is very cool and glad that I met her-- we both pushed each other hard and that was fun and intense to race with her:) and she kicked my butt the last 2 miles-- I admit it.

okay, so am on the road, my last 1/2 mile or so to the finish, and I'm just running as hard as I can. I'm SO HAPPY not to be finished, because I actually felt like I had alot left in the tank.. but SO HAPPY to have had a good day and SO much fun in the mtns. I can't believe it's legal to have that much fun and feel THAT GREAT!! . SO HUMBLED.. by how many people helped me to get to that finish line: brock : is an amazing crew at races, and no way could I train and race if he didn't support me, and cheer me on, my parents and brock's parents who watch my boys for races and training weekends, Eric Grossman, Sophie Speidel, the people who I train with aka MY FRIENDS! the IMTR's ( LOVE YALL!!!) , this fall I ran alot with: VHTRC and the CAT's -- thank you to these two groups for being so inclusive and making me feel so at home on the trails with you. So I have this HUGE support network..

PURE BLISS!!!!~

So me crossing the line 9:45:33 and 10th woman at MMTR, while much of the race was solo, the journey getting there involved ALOT of people. THANK YOU to everyone. I really am SO blessed and lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life. So happy to be apart of this wonderful community. and congrats to ALL my friends who ran MMTR! ERiC Grossman won over all! Sophie was 6th and won LUS, Kevin Townshend ran his 10th MMTR, Rob French ran LOW, LOW 9 hrs and won masters. Martha Wright won Masters for the Women. Congrats to Bob and David ( CAT's) who ran their first MMTR!

HELLGATE! HERE WE COME!!!

TOP 10 women for MMTR 2011

SWEET SWAG!! patagonia goose down coat for the top 10

the 2 women responsible for me even running MMTR! Sophie,martha, and myself in our patagonia LUS hoodinie jackets. Sophie is LUS women's champion, Martha is the LUS master's Champion, and I squeaked in with 3rd in the LUS series.