Rainier 2 Ruston Ultra and Relay

Over the weekend I checked off another bucket list race! Finally, I was able to participate in Rainier 2 Ruston on a team, and enjoy it from start to finish! I've done run support for Elya (on one leg) before, but never been an actual participant on a team.

We had 6 people on the team and each ran two legs, with an extra mile(s) for some tossed in on the final leg, and had so much fun! I don't know if I've even been that tired after a run. Got up at 3:30 am to get ready and head up to the mountain, started in the 7am wave and finished just before 5 I think. It took us 9 hours, 51 minutes, and some seconds to cross the finish.

I slept for almost 12 hours that night!

The first leg is all pavement, after that the next several legs are all, or mostly all trail. I LOVED my first leg (leg 2) because it was 100% trail, muddy, wet, beautiful, fun trail running. I was so happy, and yet again reminded that I must get back to trail running. It's what makes me happy! I really wish I had run with my phone to get pics, but I didn't want to bite it in a puddle and ruin it, so take my word for it that it was 6.6 miles of beautiful trail running.

(All photo's from Elya's phone and taken by different team members through the day, depending on who was running, driving, recovering). 

Top picture...what the last 2 (ish) miles looked like, nice wide, flat, hardly any mud, faster paced running. It was a nice break because the first several miles were mostly single track and you had to pay attention! You can see from my shoes that I had a good time in the mud!

It's a unique race in that it's not supported like most races. No water stations, or if there are stations it's for Ultra runners only, and not always well marked routes. Roads are not closed, and some of the legs you feel pretty isolated. But, the runners around you have your back. They are friendly, helpful, and cheering for each other from start to finish. Totally unique in that you feel like your are team members with all 800+ participants. 

 Stephanie, Kim, Me, Cori, Elya, Shawna = Training BraWds, see what we did there?! At the start.

Don't you love how it looks like I peed myself?! Pretty sure my hand off to Elya wasn't very friendly...I was irritated with how bad I felt and on the verge of being sick.

Once again I had trouble with the heat. 80+, and it's not even summer here yet! The second leg, while short (3. something) was blazing sun, blacktop, straight along the hwy and boring. I was sick, again. The best part of that run was finding a park potty with a freezing cold, metal toilet. I may or may not have sat on that cool metal for much longer than needed. I ended up walking a lot and feeling frustrated a lot that the heat once again was a factor. I MUST figure this out! The neck chiller thing helped a lot, but it cooled off fast. Next year, spray bottle with ice water. One of the other teams ran with them and it was brilliant. 

BTW - that skirt got tossed after the race, that's an oil (from what I have no idea) stain of some sort that washing didn't get out. I also had to toss two pair of socks, and the shirt from my trail leg. The mud was almost like a slimy oily mud and ended up getting on some of my other running gear when all the dirty stuff was tossed in the same bag. Given everything I had to toss out this was one of the more costly races I've done...but totally worth it! 

Another BTW - I went to investigate replacing my skirt (I have a few others that are old and the seems are starting to rub, so it's time to replace them...going on 4 years for several of them) only to find that Lulu discontinued my go to skirt, and now I'm at a total loss as to what to switch to. Grrr. 

Ring My Bell, Ring My Bell! Each exchange has a bell to run under and ring.

Finish line! 

A few things I learned about running multiple legs of a Relay, don't start snacking on the yummy food until your final leg is done. Pickles wrapped with ham and cream cheese makes an excellent recovery snack, and at some point you will want real, solid food in your tummy. Next time I will have something "real" with me for after the last leg. You can only eat pretzels and chips for so long. 

Seriously so much fun, and I can't wait to do it again! Thank you Elya for being an awesome team captain and organizing everything, and thank you ladies for the fun day! I'm totally hooked on Relay's now! 

Run Like The Wind 10K

Well I did it!  I completed the Run Like The Wind 10K in 1:25:20 and feel really good about the effort! 

 Love the wood engraved medals and the beer was amazing!

I pushed when I could, and walked when there was no other option.  I didn't really look at my watch, because I cared more about running smart in the heat than about maintaining a particular pace.  Turns out the heat was hot, but a non issue really.  I managed it well and while I was hot and tired at the end I felt good. 

The hardest part of this race was the ankle breaking rocks on the trail.  Most of the route was baked potato sized rocks that rolled like crazy.  It made it difficult, and impossible in some spots, to run at all.  The only rock free portion of the route was the decent that went on forever.  My quads were burning for sure at the bottom, but it was a much welcome change from the crazy a$$ hill that started the race!  Nothing like a never ending downhill to make you thankful for a crazy a$$ hill back up to the finish! 

 This is what the view looked like for most of the run.

My quads feel like jello today, and my knees are pretty sore.  I worked on them last night with the roller stick, nice and easy, and while it hurt it felt good at the same time.  Not running today, but will take Sky for a walk at the park to get the blood flowing again, and drinking lots of water! 

I had an absolute blast running this race!  There is a stark beauty in the barren landscape, and the race is small.  Less than 40 runners for the 10K.  There were two start times and only about 25 people started in my heat.  The race organizers did a really good job of making the runners feel special, and like we were getting personal attention from them.  

The best part was after I started Mark said Sky took off running and made it to the first aid station (which was visible from the start line) and they gave her water and treats before she headed back to the start/finish line.  They then let her hand out the medals to the finishers.  One of the benefits of running a small event the organizers are able to let the tots be involved like that!  

I tell you there was nothing better than cresting the hill to the finish and seeing my baby standing at the finish with a medal for me.  I know I crossed that finish line with the biggest smile ever!  

Despite having fun, enjoying the race and loving the views I won't be doing this one again.  The biggest reason is my heart loves running through trees and seeing green when I'm trail running!  I just need that in my trail running life!  Plus, I had to concentrate on each and every step because of the rocks.  I was so scared I was going to break an ankle.  Trail running already takes more mental focus than road running (for me anyway) but this was at a whole new level and I just didn't care for it.  I was mentally exhausted by the time I finished. 

But, the #1 reason I won't do it again is THE WIND!  Duh, it's a wind farm, so it's going to be windy, but the entire weekend was constant non-stop wind.  I think Ellensburg has Chicago beat for the Windy City title hands down.  My hats off (literally since it blew off yesterday and Mark had to chase it) to those that live there and put up with the wind on the daily.  

A few random pics from our weekend of camping (KOA Ellensburg = really nice camp ground!) and running!  

 We were packed up and ready to leave, but Sky wasn't not on board with camping being over. 

 The only time Sky falls asleep in our arms now is when we are camping.  It's kinda the best thing ever!

 Post race recovery.  I waited to have wine until after I had a ton of water!  For some reason I just need pj's after a race, it makes my legs feel cared for.

 Texas style BBQ recovery lunch! 

 Hanging out in camp, watching the river and fly fisherman that floated past.

 Pool time!

Not scared of crickets at all!

Overall it was a lovely weekend away.  I'm thankful to Mark and Sky for hanging out at the wind facility for 1:25 while I ran.  Their support makes running so much more enjoyable, and doable!  Thank you to my Mom who had a jam packed weekend, but still made time to hang out with us and spend time with Sky!  

Now, I'm back to focusing on PR training!  Gotta get my quads back so I can work on my speed! 

 

Run Like The Wind

I am so excited to be registered for RUN LIKE THE WIND in June!!!  I have not done a trail race in a very long time.  Check out the link above for pictures of the views...I'm so excited for the views, I may just have to run with my phone for this one.   

I'm excited to make a weekend out of this one and camp with the babe and baby!  Plus we get tours of the wind facility, and I have heard it's a pretty amazing (and kid friendly) place to visit.  There's only a little over 900 feet of elevation gain, but it's at mile 3 and 5, so at the end of the race.  My plan is to take it easy on this one and just enjoy the route and the views. 

Now I need to solve one tiny problem...I don't have trail shoes.  It doesn't look like a very technical route, so I may be ok with the "other" running shoes in my closet (I don't really want to dirty up my Boost shoes!), but will have to do some blister prep if I do that.  I'll have to ponder that one. 

I'm really looking forward to getting back to trail running.  When I started a few years ago that's almost all I did, but have gradually switched to predominately road running.  It will be good to switch it up and sandwich a trail run in between several road races and PR attempts. 

I find it a bit ironic that training starts this week and we have a cold front that's moved in.  Freezing, or below all week long.  Tough training runs makes for awesome race days right!? 

I totally took yesterday off from any kind of physical activity.  Instead I opted for an extended play date at Elya's, and took care of some paperwork before a board meeting last night.  (IRB (Internal Review Board) at MultiCare Health System.  We review and approv, or not, all the research studies they are involved in.  Going into my third year and I still find it challenging, enlightening and completely rewarding)!     

Milk Steamer Mustaches!

I'm convinced play dates are more for the mom's than the kids!  While Sky and Selah had tons of running, jumping, and dancing time...Elya and I had yummy snacks, coffee, conversation and I got lot's of baby time.  Happy campers all the way around!  

A few more Sky pics for you...

Sky loves her Nabi!!  Frankly it's one of the best things ever around here.  She is pretty great about using it for a bit and then giving it back when she's done.  She doesn't get to use it every day, but when she does it's usually because we need her to be happily calm and quiet for a bit (like clothes shopping for Mark the other day), or when she wouldn't sleep yesterday.  At least she was laying quietly in her bed for 45 min while she did number puzzles.  It's not all education stuff though, there are fun Disney and PBS Kid videos on there and Kid Pop music as well.  

Any trail runners out there?  Tell me your #1 favorite trail race!  

For the parents who read...what is your quiet time tool/trick?

Trail Running at the Park

Even though my plan was to keep Sky home and chill all day yesterday she kept asking to go to the park. So we bundled up and hit the trails for a little trail running, and leaf inspecting.  Thankfully it has warmed up around here and it actually didn't feel too chilly.    

Sky really loves it when we visit the park without the jogging stroller.  She knows it means she gets to pick every trail we take and she is in charge.  On my non-running day's I try to get her out there and let it be about what she wants to do.  We run, we inspect leaves, we toss rocks in the lake, watch the ducks, meet new dog's, and run some more.  

She got about a mile of running in before she started getting tired, and slowed down to walk and be goofy. 

It turned out that running a little bit at Sky pace seemed to work out the pain in my knee.  I spent time trigger pointing and foam rolling at home, and hit the hot spot that knocked the rest of the pain out.   

I let her puddle stomp all she wants at the park, but she wasn't having it yesterday.  She flat our refused to get her feet wet.  

I asked her to show me her new gloves...she loves them.  Every time she fell and got them dirty we had to brush them off and pull them all the way back on before she would calm down.

    

I was so excited to find this surprise Christmas Tree on the trail.  Sky was a little confused and kept asking me to turn the lights on.  Such a simple little thing for someone to do, but fun to find when your not expecting it.  

 

Nap time has been challenging since the move to the toddler bed.  Even though she is tired, and still needs a nap, the freedom is proving to be too much for her.  She is constantly getting up and hiding in the closet to play with toys etc.  I really thought she would conk out yesterday because the park wore her out.  She even asked to go night, night.  But, she was up playing, reading her books, and yelling "Get me out of here".  I let it go for a while in the hopes she would fall asleep...being sick I knew the rest would do her good.  Sure enough she fell asleep, but not in her bed!  I wanted to check on her since it was so quiet all of a sudden, but the door wouldn't open.  I got down on the floor to see what was blocking the door and found out it was her face. She slept that was for a a little over an hour.  

So looking forward to the group run tonight!  I'm trying to get some good quality runs in before the Holiday's and all the good food (ok all the wine...the wine it what makes getting up and running in the morning next to impossible!).  I'm taking my running stuff with me, but when it comes to visiting family I'm pretty terrible about finding time to get any runs in.  Especially in the painfully cold weather on the other side of the state.   

Anyone else traveling for the Holidays?     

I'm just thankful our travel is just a 4 hour drive and no flying involved!  

Little Trail Runner

Despite Sky and I both getting over being sick, and it being really cold outside, I knew she had to get out of the house and stretch her legs.  Since I'm trying to keep her away from other kiddos until we are both 100% that left one alternative...a visit to the park. 

 Just us and the ducks.

Since I pretty much despise the playground at Ft. Steilacoom I parked as far away as possible in the hopes Sky would be content with walking.  It worked in that she didn't care about the playground at all.  But, it didn't work because I was trying not to run, to give my lungs a rest, and all she wanted to do was run.

So, I did the only thing I could, I let her run for an hour!  I lagged way behind most the time, walking fast enough to keep her in sight.  Even after an hour all I heard was, "I no done run, run.  I no done".

 She sat down on the trail to take in this view.

 She ducked down and said, "I hide wind", it was really blowing and she was getting cold by this point.

    She's deciding how much I meant it when I told her not to jump in the puddle.

I love the picture on the left, she was standing there letting the wind blow in her face, just like a dog!

 The story of my Mommy life...always chasing after her trying to keep up!

I woke up feeling much better today.  My lungs don't burn and I'm not coughing nearly as much, so the rest day must have been just what I needed.  I'm back at it today though with what is going to be a chilly stroller group run!  I've said it before (and will probably say it a million times more), but I'm so thankful we have the jogging stroller we do.  It's nice that I can bundle Sky up, pile on the blankets, put the cover on, and know she is warm and protected from the cold and wind.  

I really feel like if it's going to be this cold it should just snow!  

Any other snow lovers out there?