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Going light on the Torres del Paine "W"

Author: Murray

Author: Murray

Ridiculous.  This is silly.  I am on display for the world to see and I know I don't look a thing like anyone around me.  For starters I'm only 9 inches tall, okay maybe 7.  My hair grows in only on the very tippy top of my head and is bright yellow.  It goes well with my red fur and people say it brings out my eyes.  I have a large smile and am always ready with open arms.  Of course she is going to take me with her... I'm freaking adorable.

She's got me tucked into the back pocket of her backpack staring down the world.  I'm here so she knows she's not alone. And, I've got her back just in case someone gets any ideas.  My thought, if they see the silly Murray hanging out, smiling, why would someone even think to give her grief?  The bonus for me is I've got a great view taking in her opposite vista and enjoying the protection of the shield she provides from the wind.  Sometimes it gets a little crammed back here with all of the water bottles, jackets and gloves.   In the morning I have this pocket to myself, but by afternoon when the sun starts to warm the earth and her skin, the clothing layers peel away and are subsequently stuffed into my space.  It works though.  Heck, I have no room to complain, I've got a free ride on the "W".

The morning we leave she leaves the bigger backpack at the hotel and loads me along with everything else she will need for a couple of days hiking into her Titan Ultraspire pack, which isn't much.  The blue of the pack is another great compliment to my coloring and I know the photos will look amazing.  Little did I know that the scenery we were about to witness would take my breath away.  I quickly realized my coloring had nothing to do with the amazing appearance of the memories captured with that little phone device.

I've heard her talk about her adventures on trails and I've peaked over her shoulder at a few photos, but I had no idea what power resided in those two legs.  I am not talking physical power.  I am talking about knowledge being power. When you know you can move like that, that no matter what, those pistons and engine can carry you where ever you want to go... that is a kind of power few know and those that do, cherish.  I can just tell.  The trails we covered the terrain we passed over, the many hours to go various distances, the time out all day long... it was a kind of power that is enabling.   It is not something that these ultrarunner people take for granted, it is something they develop, train and utilize to empower them through life.  They are not dependent on vehicles or  the pocket on someones backpack to get them from here to there.  To explore the world under your own power... strong, powerful, willful. Amazing. Lucky.  

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No one was in a rush to get out the door on Sunday morning.  I think I heard something about post-race sore legs and hungry bellies as the morning hours ticked by and plans formulated on the route we would pass, how many days we would be out and where we might stay along the way.  I was ready.  I sat strapped into the back of her "mochila pequena" and smiled.  This was going to be awesome.

With this group I would have thought we would race out the door once we finally got going, but they continued the casual pace of the morning walking up the trail familiar to how they'd moseyed around the hotel lobby.  Those little phone/camera thingys flying out at every turn, preceded by gasping and ahhing and "did you see that?"  I envied the bigger backpacks I noticed on the other hikers as we moved past them, I thought - Imagine how comfy I would be in there!  And " I bet there are a lot more yummy things to eat and a comfier sleeping bag to share.   But alas, you trade comfort for mobility and speed it seemed and even though everyone was walking the two smallest backpacks quickly walked away from the rest of the group.    I bounced along and waved goodbye.  It was a long way to go that first day, and my legs started to feel a bit cramped all balled up in the pack, but I didn't say a thing.  There is NO way I could have kept up with these two.  

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The way the landscape unfolded before us was completely unexpected for all of us. It seemed the consensus that we had no idea terrain could be this beautiful every step of the way.  I know she has seen many beautiful places in the world, but I heard her say multiple times that this is the most beautiful place ever.  How wonderful that I got to share it with her!  She reveled in the fact that the only access was "por pie" by foot.  Everyone that we met on the trail had to arrive by foot and therefore could only get to these remote and beautiful places under their own power.  Because of this there seemed to be a sense of unity.  It didn't matter the language, everyone made an attempt to communicate because we were all in the same place under the same power.

Some of my favorite vistas were on that first day of hiking.  The lakes meeting the mountains, the rocky beach just past the Refugio Cuerros, hiking back up into the French valley to top off the day were some of the highlights of that first full day of magnificent views.  Those two hardly shut up the entire hike, but their conversations were constantly interrupted by the beauty that surrounded us.  "Can you believe this?"  "Wait, did you see that?" It never failed that they would pick back up sharing stories, pondering issues, recounting race stories and like only good friends can do - continued to get to know each other better while enjoying the new discovery of the Chilean trails.

The French Valley

The French Valley

That first night found us camping at the Italian camp in the middle of the "W" with the group we'd started with that morning. Thanks to the two lively CU grads the entire group enjoyed the added comfort of heated water to compliment their dinner and breakfast the following morning.  The excellent hosts provided a cozy evening on "the beach" (the sandy spot with an awesome view, just outside of camp) filled with more conversation, views of the grand mountains and the serenades of the avalanches.  Talk about power!!  What first resembled thunder resulted in the view of snow cascading like a waterfall off the nearby slopes, but far enough away that the view was enjoyed rather than feared.

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Sleep did not come easily.  I believe the three of us spent most of the night trying to get comfortable and stay warm.  Going light has its advantages and now very apparent disadvantages.  In spite of donning every piece of clothing possible both fidgeted and squirmed throughout the night.  I was cozy in my little red suit, but didn't get much for sleep while they tossed and turned.  Dawn didn't come soon enough, but eventually the process of tucking everything away into those tiny packs, including me, started and the sleepy campers started walking again.  A relaxed stop once again at "the beach" to warm them from the inside both in hot beverage and caffeine I could tell it was time to go as the sleepy, quiet campers started buzzing in conversation and even from the back of her back I could sense the energy building in her legs for the miles of trail that lay ahead for that day.  

A mellow 7.5km to the Paine Grande Lodge.  The trail traversed away from the mountains and didn't undulate as much as the previous day so they were able to move a bit quicker when the cameras weren't stopping them along the way.  When the lodge came into sight to two rejoiced, literally.  They had taken the chance on their packaged meals, eating everything with the assumption that they would be able to find the next source of calories at the lodge.  Once confirmed by talking to the camp host they opted to minimize their packs and only carry the few items needed to hike the left arm of the W up to Lago Grey.  An out and back with a guaranteed dinner, shower and bed.  I think their smiles matched mine in size and appreciation.

I could tell the two were a little tired, likely from the poor night sleep.  The conversation didn't stopped, but in spite of less weight on their backs the pace slowed a bit.  More photo opportunities helped them recover, but we definitely weren't covering ground like before.  Perhaps the rough night of sleep was taking a toll, perhaps the race miles were kicking in a bit.  It wasn't a problem, moving slowly along the ridge above Lago Grey was a beautiful way to pass the afternoon hours.

The refugio near the Grey Glacier was a welcome sight and the two enjoyed a bit more fuel before starting the decent.  With only one pack, the two put their few things in the Titan.  She carried it up the trail and he carried it back down.  With the temperatures dropping my little back pocket was filled with water bottles which made it a bit less comfy.  The bottles having a mind of their own and wanting more of the space they bummed and pushed me around.  When they started the final descent back to the lodge from Lago de Pato I'd had it.  Enough bouncing around, I'm outta here!  And without a word to either human I opted to give this walking thing a try and hit the trail.  

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Free!  Dirt surrounded me, large plants soared above me.  The breeze rippled through my yellow wispy hair and red fur.  Quite a different perspective down here 7 inches from the ground.  I can't see over anything anymore and I instantly craved the views of the snowy mountains and glacier green lakes.  And forget about covering any ground when these legs cover inches instead of feet per step.  Maybe this wasn't such a great idea.  Hmmm.  Now what?  I didn't have to ponder this question for too long.  Before I knew it, a kind man with a large backpack scooped me off the trail and attached me to the side strap of his large pack.  As he continued his quick pace I heard them journey back up the trail to find me, but I was already strapped to the nice man's backpack in route for the Lago Grey lodge again, but this time under the stars.  Thankful to be five feet higher I took in the night and the views once again.  He moved quite quickly with good rhythm as the dark settled around us.  I dozed off wondering if I would ever see her again.

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Through the amazing communication of walkie talkies I was passed on to a couple descending the route the following morning, dropped at Paine Grande that afternoon and passed on to some friends of hers.  Before I knew it I was handed over and we were reunited again.  This time on a bus, leaving the spectacular mountains.  What a journey!

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I think our smiles matched in size once we were together again.  I could see her excitement about their last two days hiking. First they made the journey back along the bottom of the "W" and enjoyed a super comfy night at Hotel de los Torres.  To finish up the right arm of the "W" they opted rise early, go light and run/hike up to the base of the Torres (towers).  Apparently this was the best finish for the W hike with the views, varied terrain, and inspiring aspect from the base of the towers.  A spectacular morning and they had the place mostly to themselves.  She promised that we would come back and bring friends that want to experience the power of this magnificent place. 

A few more travel days passed in the towns of Puerto Natales and Punto Arenas before started the long journey back to Boulder.  With the love and passion she has for travel I have no doubt that this is only the beginning of many more adventures for me and further continuation of exploring the world for her.  As far as I'm concerned, I don't care how ridiculous I look, I'm game to ride along in the backpack where ever this chick wants to take me.

If you are looking for help to plan a trip in Torres del Paine I was recently (June 2018) introduced to a new site inspired by our 2013 travels. https://www.bookmundi.com/t/the-torres-del-paine-w-trek-popular-and-pristine

 

Patagonian International Marathon 63k

Never before in all of my travels have I taken as many photos through the plane side window as I did that afternoon landing in Punta Arenas.  First, landing in Santiago I snapped a shot of my first view of the Andes obnoxiously leaning over the kind Chilean woman I had made friends with the moment I sat down.  After making my way through customs and immigration and spending way too money much on a sandwich and juice it was time to board the next flight on LAN airlines to Punta Arenas.  Fortunately I had a window seat and it was late afternoon, so we (my iPad and I) were able to take in the amazing scenery of the Patagonian mountains spreading out before us.

 ** Because I am posting from my iPad I am unable to edit in photos.  There are a few at the end of this post & once I am home I will post an album.  This trip deserves an album**

Little did I know that this would be my last real view of the mountains until the morning when I woke early, suited up in the running clothing I laid out in my exhausted state the night before I walked the vaguely familiar path back to the lobby to find the friendly faces of fellow racers.  Less than 5 hours sleep after 29hours of travel my head was a bit foggy, but with a 40 mile run awaiting me in only one hour's time I had to quickly snap into this current, amazing reality.  The sun was starting to illuminate the Patagonian mountains and as the coffee worked its way into my blood stream I couldn't believe I was here.  Surrounded by Yassine, Billy and Drew the three I'd been emailing with for two weeks making these very plans.  The mountains I've only viewed in photos were waking up in the sunlight just beyond the large glass windows, the remaining snow fields of late spring catching and reflecting the first light and the grand silhouettes then making you tip your head back to take in their full shape.  It was a reality I was more than happy to wake up to.

Hungry from the long travel, but knowing that I had to race soon, I tried to make good decisions about how much breakfast to enjoy.  With many delicious options it was tough, but I managed.  The fancy lodge did well to accommodate so many foreign travelers with strong coffee (rare in Chile) fueling most.  

The 7:15am call for the bus prompted us to hoist our travelers backpacks onto our hips and make the short walk out to the parking lot to await the bus in the chilly morning breeze.  This would give us plenty of time to get to the start.  Without a bus in sight, I ran around to snap a few photos and take in the moment.  It escaped me that I would have many more beautiful photo ops in the coming days.  We waited and waited.  Yassine offered his houdini pants so that I wouldn't have to dig through my pack and the group of runners shivered and jumped around to keep warm.  A large 15 passenger bus arrived about 7:45am and with all of backpacks and goosebumpy legs we piled in for the short drive to the start.  From that parking lot we needed to cover the 20 minute walk to the start... instead this served as a good warm up run.  

We descended a marked walkway onto the rocky beach that opened up to the icy waters and mountain views.  Huge glacial chunks bopped along in the Lago Grey like ice cubes in a fancy blue cocktail and the morning breeze was chilled even more coming off the water.  Fortunately we did not have to wait long before running back across the beach, up the marked trail and through the parking lot we had left minutes ago.  We were running in Patagonia!

The lead men took off at what felt like a sprint, maybe to keep warm, maybe to compete.  I got a little caught up in both and moved along at a pace that allowed me to warm my icy legs and stop the unnecessary shivers.  I soon settled into a pace that felt more manageable for the miles ahead.  The dirt road laid out in front of me, and just beyond, the mountains that would inspire me for the duration.  I am not a fan of running on the roads, my body just doesn't manage the repetitive nature.  I prefer to bounce around, change direction, climb, descend, etc.  But if I am going to run on the roads, I decided I want to run on the roads in Patagonia.  Almost regretting the decision to leave my phone/camera behind I decided it was for the best as my race pace would have changed significantly.  There were so many opportunities to take photos, instead these images are burned into my mind.

Of the many highlights that filled the morning and early afternoon, the most magnificent happened in the first 5k.  Los cinco caballos blancos.  The five white horses. On the long road ahead, off to the right I saw five white horses burst into motion as one. The sun illuminated their manes like a silver lining and the force of their movement nearly stopped me in my tracks.  The surge joined the road and the runners ahead of me and continued up the track.  The road bent to the left and then climbed the hill in a switchback and I was able to watch their muscles flex and relax as they effortlessly climbed, reached the top and moved out of sight as the road turned back to the right.  A few minutes later when I finally topped out on the climb los cinco were off on my left in a golden field of dried grass and vegetation.  They stood looking on for a moment as I kept my head turned to watch them instead of the road ahead.  When the turn was too much for my neck and I had to look forward again I continued glancing back and soon saw them again surge into motion, this time through the field and further away.  Absolutely beautiful and magical... what a start to this race!

When the snow capped peaks rise up in front of you at every turn and the gravel road unfolds, twists and turns and rolls along as dictated by the terrain,  to say the course was much of the same does not mean it was boring.  In fact quite the opposite.  The beauty and rhythm of the repetitive turn over was meditative allowing thoughts to flow, come and go, process and be forgotten.  One of the many wonderful gifts of running.  I made it my goal to run every step knowing that the climbs were relatively gradual and running would mean covering the 40 miles a bit quicker and hopefully keep me in position.  With only water and fruit provided along the way I was thankful I stuffed a  few gels and Z-bars into the many pockets of a new tester pair of Patagonia shorts to fuel the day.  I carried a single UltrAspire Isomeric Pocket also filled with calories.  The combination was just enough for the hours spent traversing the 63 kilometers.  

In addition to the ultra there was also the 44km marathon, a 22km half and 10k.  Each race started at the appropriate points along our 63k course and in time so that we would all reach the meta/goal/finish around the same time.  I passed through the starts of the marathon and half marathon a few minutes before they began their own races.  Running through each starting area brought a surge of energy from the cheers offered by the runners as they jogged around and stripped down to their own racing attire.  Soon after I passed through, the lead men of each of those races closed the time gap and passed me in beautiful form.  The leader of the marathon slowed his pace to chat with me a bit and I soon realized thanks to his introduction that we know each other from a few email communications earlier this year.  Max went on the win the marathon.  The lead men of the half surged by me in a group of three, quiet as can be.

In the final miles I started weaving through a variety of runners, some that had passed me before, some that started the 10k before I had reached their start.  After the final rise the view of Hotel de los Torres was a welcome site likely to all of us.  The grand archway of the finish was apparent even with more than a mile to go.  I tried to quicken my pace in spite of my tight, limited hamstrings.  Covering these final strides the realization that this was my final race of this season brought a smile to my face.  Time for a bit of downtime, a few local adventures and exploring a few other passions.  But before letting my mind wander too much I snapped back to the hay bales that lined the finish shoot and hi-fived with those lining the shoot who realized by looking at my bib number that I was finishing the 63k.  La primera mujer!

Every race, every travel experience gives us the opportunity to learn something.  It might be a lesson that we needed to be reminded of, it might be a new one, but there always is at least one.  With many years of racing and traveling, one lesson I have had to learn is that that there is no perfect way to arrive and prepare for any event in life.  Planes might be delayed, people might change their minds, you might cook your favorite meal or you might scavenge a slice of pizza from the airport bar.  It is good to realize that we can not control and plan every aspect.  There is only approach, execution and attitude that we can influence and always hope for the best.

Photos by Francisco Ibarra  LINK 

GEAR LIST: to come :) 

photos from plane

photos from plane

race start

race start

race finish

race finish

Quick pace, quick thoughts... The GoldenLeaf Half Marathon

Hurry up. Wave number 1 is starting.  Smile.  Photo. Strip off the long sleeve and scurry under the rope to join the other 175 runners in the first group.  Uphill - go!  Adrenaline, surge. Gasp. Straight uphill.  Breathe deeper.  Okay, the hill wins, power hike.  This I can do.  2 miles up.  Altitude. Whoa.  Breathe.  Where are all the colors?  This is the Goldenleaf half marathon.  There! A shock of gold.  This is what I came for. Beautiful.  Switchbacks down. Flip the duckbill hat backwards.  Views of the valley.  Again, this is what I came for.  Keep breathing, we are high.  Push a bit to get past a few pony tails that scurried up the early 2 miles while I was walking.  Gasping.  This hurts.  Fill the chest cavity as full as possible. Recover.  Keep pace.  Dude keeps breathing down my neck.  Why won't he pass?  Fall into stride with the next colorful group of shirts.  Quick feet, keep them dry.  Passing on the right.  Quick steps.  "Good work!" Move ahead, open up the stride.  Okay maybe not that much, the hamstrings are still tight.  Goodness it takes a while for an ultrarunner to warm up.  Tricky footing, keep cadence.  Every step is a good step.  Focus.  Breathe.  Mile marker signs tacked to the aspens, good chance to check the pace.  Can I break two hours?  More downhill on the second half... it's possible.  Another hit of calories.  No water.  I forgot my cup, dang it.  I need to remember that cup like I remember my shoes.  Steep down.  Passing on the left.  Whoops, divot, cut right too soon.  "Sorry, sorry, sorry!"  Down, down, down. Make up time. Breathe.  Work on turnover.  Take in the meadows.  A little more gold.  I love this feeling!  Movement.  Running.  Music in my ears, dirt under my feet.  Love.  A few less shirts to chase.  Pavement.  Bridges.  Cheers.  Cowbells.  Getting closer.  Last meandering trail.  Gravel.  Louder cheers.  Colorful pop-up tents.  Mats across the trail.  Name announced.  Pronounced wrong, but I know that is me.  Glance at the clock.  Stop the watch.  Smile.  Breathe.

439 female finishers

318 male finishers

RESULTS

 

Boulder flooding, Patagonia running

It just hit me last night, and hit me hard.  With an alternate, very real reality surrounding me in my new Boulder community it has been far from my mind to think about traveling, leaving again to go explore another continent.  The recent floods in Boulder have raised many thoughts on life, priorities and focus.  It felt like an entire week went by and I hadn't really gotten "anything" done.  I was fresh off six wonderful weeks traveling in Simba all over the west and had plenty of "to-do's" to catch up on.  But when disaster strikes and there is so much uncertainty surrounding and filling the day, it is amazing how those "to-dos" seem to have less relevance and getting "anything" done just doesn't matter.  I had barely unpacked my car when the rain hit.  Feeling settled back into the house wasn't quite normal yet.  I was still asking my roommate where things were when the rains started pounding.  We woke up to our neighbors basements flooding and 5 inches of water in our storage shed.  Our minor damage was nothing, 3-7feet of water filled some peoples homes.  The entire town of Lyons had unreal destruction and scary needs for evacuation to save the lives of the people living there, never mind the sense of home was completely washed away.  I definitely feel lucky to still feel safe in my home, to have a place to be and reset and to be able to offer an able body to those in need.  The first week home went by and instead of paying bills, catching up on correspondence and planning for this next adventure, time was spent with the people that came through our home, taking to my own two feet with close friends to make our way around town and observe the massive changes to our community, and reading as much as I could to understand the surrounding situation.  It will be a while before Boulder is back to its normal bubble, but the town is filled with amazing resources and able people that I have no doubt huge steps towards that "normal" will happen daily.  Never-the-less the sound of rain coming down or the sight of dark clouds filling the sky sends a chill up my spine and sets a pit in my stomach.  We are fine, but there are so many that are not and I only hope the weather can give a break so that the recovery can happen.

The plane ticket is still there.  An incredible trip and opportunity await me.  The Chilean board of tourism graciously covered my long journey from Denver to Punta Arenas and I will board that flight on Wednesday to head south.  Punta Arenas is by far the furthest south I have ever been and the mystic of the mountains, the history of those that have traveled there before me for their own exploration and the culture that surrounds the area are all the wonders that hit me last night and woke me up to what I now need to prepare for in the next couple of days.  The basics are the 63km Patagonian International Ultramarathon race will take place on September 28.  The route looks to be a beautiful perspective of the Torres del Paine National Park.  The weather may be a beautiful, or it could be a bit chilly and windy... I just hope we get to see the views of those incredible mountains.  The event boasts several distances and is established to help raise awareness for conservation of the Chilean Patagonia.  To be honest, I need to spend a bit more time on the website and getting my head around this awesome trip and adventure.  I'm excited to be traveling with a few other athletes to the event and to enjoy a tour of the park the following week.

More to come... just felt the need to share some thoughts.

 

8000 meter Challenge

A different type of race field, a different gathering but similar enthusiasm for time on the trails and personal challenge exploring mountain peaks in southern California.  Through Patagonia I was invited to be the guest speaker at the pre-race event Wednesday evening.  After an exciting meeting at the Ventura office (more on that later) I jumped back in Simba and headed southeast to the Mt Baldy lodge where I met up with our Patagonia reps, the Pasadena Patagonia team as well as the busy race director John.

The 8000 meter Challenge includes the summits of Baldy, Gorgonio and San Jacinto.  The athletes that make up the field are specialty retailer staff from all over California and Nevada.  The race is 18 years old and has grown from 36 to over 150 participants.  Participants compete as teams to finish the distances and the teams include those that journey to the top of each summit and the supporting crew members that transport the runners/hikers from peak to peak.  Arguably the biggest challenge is getting in and out of the cars after summiting each of the peaks.  There is also a fundraising component that benefits the Big City Mountaineers.  All in all a great event on many different aspects. 

I sat in the back of the room during the prerace briefing feeling mellow and even a bit sleepy, likely from all the road time the last six weeks.  But as soon as the mic switched hands to Kris who would be making my introduction, without fail my heartbeat raised and was audible in my own ears, my senses heightened and body temperature rose.  All nerves firing and before I was handed the mic I forced myself to take a deep breathe in an attempt to calm the system.  Without fail I noticed myself speaking quickly and soon having to take another gasp... forcing me to truly calm down and settle in to the energy of the awesome people in front of me.  No need to be nervous.  

* I loved how many new participants were in the crowd.  There were some great resources, people that knew the routes and event and they would bring that support and information.  The newbies - their job was to keep the psyche.  To keep everyone pumped as if it were everyone's first time out there.  The sparkle of the unknown that is so fueling and inspiring. 

* FKT's.  With the recent Wonderland Trail run fresh in my mind I shared a bit about Fastest Known Times and my favorite bits of sharing trail time on a self picked adventure. 

* And then we opened it up to questions.  The next 50 minutes flew by as we shared information and got people excited for their upcoming event and hopefully future goals.  All awesome questions and incredible engagement.  Made my "job" fun.  

* My Sponsors came in big with swag for this crowd, so everyone that asked a question received something from one of the following... Patagonia, Pro-Tec, Ultraspire, First Endurance or Julbo.  Everyone went home with Flora's new Seven Sources samples and with extra Oil samples left over I encouraged the race volunteers to take them to the pancake breakfast on Friday morning - better than butter!

Fellow Patagonia Reno employee Sara and I camped at Manker Flats Wednesday night and made our way up Baldy behind the runners Thursday morning.  Their 5am start meant that by the time we were headed up around 7am we started seeing the teams making their way down - huge cheers for the Patagonia Pasadena team leading the charge.  Our run up the Ski Hut trail on Mt. Baldy was incredible.  We were a little pressed for time and wondered if we should go for the top, but convinced ourselves that the decent on Devils Backbone would be faster so pushed up through the altitude and were hugely rewarded with a calm, quiet summit, all to ourselves and views spreading as far as the LA haze would allow.  Our only regret was that both of our phones (cameras) were back in the car.  No photos... only shots with the mind. The run only improved from there with the amazing terrain that is aptly described by the trail's name.  The drastic rocky drops on both sides as we traversed off the summit kept interrupting our conversation as either one of us would point out the beauty surrounding us.  A wonderful breakfast and awesome shared.

A full day traveling back into LA, dropping Sara off with her family and making time to catch up on some work to-dos before making my way to the ocean to soak my feet and finish reading Kilian's new book Run or Die.  The summit of Baldy to the Pacific Ocean, California has many wonderful places to take in.

I wonder the stories found on the three summits of the 8000m challenge.  Were the newbies able to keep the spark for the teams?  What percentage summited all three peaks?  What team raised the most money?  No doubt there will be experiences talked about for years to come.

Wonderland Gear List

Items used to make it around the Mountain:

Patagonia: Merino 1 Tank (for Spring 14), Draft TankCross-over sports bra, new version of the favorite All-Weather SkirtMerino LW ankle socks, Gamut Footwear

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Additional clothing: Buff, Merino mid weight glove liners

Julbo:  Tracks sunglasses

 UltrAspire: Omega (Use this code for 20% off your UltrAspire order!!  9FUbzvTj)

 First EnduranceOptygen HP before, EFS shot flask and Pre-Race during, Ultragen during and at finish

Black Diamond: Icon Polar and Sprinter 

Additional Nutrition: Clif Bloks, Clif Z-bars, Honey Stinger chews, Miso soup, Mate Tea, ginger chews, tums, Sportiene, Ginger beer

Pro-Tec: pre and post run self massage - Travel Roller

Timex watch

JUST IN CASE: (in the crew bag, not used)

Pro-Tec IT Band and Patellar Tendon Strap 

Patagonia Houdini Jacket (in Omega pack but never had to wear it) and Houdini Pants, Merino 2 longsleeve shirt. Tsaili 3.0 shoes

Avocados, Tortillas, PB&honey, sweet potatoes, black licorice, coffee, bananas, oranges

 

 

Kickoff! Speedgoat 50k

It's been a nice little break from racing.  My psyche reset, I felt my training coming along mostly just because I have loved spending time on the Boulder trails and getting up high in the Colorado mountains.  Time in Leadville, Silverton and on top of some peaks has been rewarding outside time, connecting me with this state I moved to over 18months ago, but am just getting to know.

About a month ago I got the itch to run a race and checked in with Karl about the possibility of checking out his Speedgoat 50k course.   After a few high miles and hearty workouts it seemed like that would be a great test as well as an awesome fit to the start of a developing road trip.  The Speedgoat 50k would kickoff my 6 week road trip filled with lots of fun visits, some great running and time in Utah, Washington, Oregon and California.  My logic for living out of Simba again?  Rather than ping back and forth through DIA every other week, it seemed to make more sense to just pack up the things I need and stay out for the duration.  I needed to be in Salt Lake for the OR show and Speedgoat fell the Saturday before, a perfect start.

Yesterday finding my way to Snowbird with some good friends that were volunteering made the start to the early morning mellow.  A little back story on these good friends, Lesli and I met while crewing Karl on the Red Bull Human Express October of 2010.  Living in a motorhome for a month crewing Karl every 5 miles, 50 miles a day has a way of bonding people.  There will forever be a connection between this small crew and the many stories that came out of that journey.  I feel lucky to get to connect the dots and spend time with her & her husband while also running Karl's race.

race start captured by Matt Trappe

race start captured by Matt Trappe

The energy for the race quickly built as I got closer to check in and the the starting line.  The Ultraspire crew was there selling cups along with the collection of awesome supportive sponsors.  It felt like an event, well organized, good energy, efficient check-in, many speedy runners readying for the day, an obvious start/finish arch... yet had the good ultra feel with Karl on the mic going through the rules of the course and having us repeat our responsibilities as runners.  

The course profile does not lie.  The 8 mile climb out of Snowbird is a legit start and does a good job of spreading out the field fast.  With enough double track to keep people flowing and not creating a congo line and a runnable grade that left me questioning... will I be able to run this grade at mile 20?  But I wanted a test and I ran what I could and power-hiked when needed.  A few dips down gave the legs a break before returning to the relentless up and we soon found ourselves cresting the top of Hidden Peak.  With the mass number of spectators and cameras I couldn't help but feel like this was a taste of racing in the Alps, in fact the closest I think I've felt on US soil.  Here we'd been climbing for 8+ miles and when we reach there top there is a good size crowd ringing cowbells and cheering us through.  The ease of the tram allowed volunteers and spectators to easily reach the top and provide some good energy to the field of runners.  Nice touch Karl.

Descending the other side found a series of photographers and with the abundance of wildflowers it was obvious why they chose that spot.  Matt Trappe posted some of his photos today and he did a great job capturing some of the beauty we were privileged to pass through.   My mental strategy was to adopt the motto 'take it as it comes'.  I had only heard stories about nearly cresting a peak only to be diverted back down a few hundred feet and then twisting back around to truly go for the summit.  Or how about off-trail, super technical, wicked steep climbs, quad busting descents; all indicators of a challenging event... I decided I didn't want to have any expectations of what the course was going to be like.  This coupled with trying to test my body and fitness made it a little difficult to jug how to spread the peanut butter and I may have wound up a bit thin for those last two climbs, but oddly enough I enjoyed those tough spots the most.  With the technical terrain, bouncing around on rocky descents, charging through off-trail uneven ground and breathing in the thin air there were countless times during the day that I was thankful I had spent time running up high, especially pacing Darcy for the final miles of Hardrock.

The climb to Baldy was taken directly from the Hardrock 100 course description and the final ridge line ascent bringing us back to Hidden Peak was absolutely gorgeous.  You could look ahead at the skyline and make out the silhouettes of the runners working hard in their final uphill push.  An image I have captured in my mind.  Trusting that I would find some downhill speed I tried to suck down the final bits of my EFS liquid shot for a bit of energy, pushed my water bottles off my knees in hopes of gaining a few inches each step.  

At the top I handed off one water bottle to a volunteer with the request of putting it in my drop bag and kept running.  Time to Run, by Lord Huron (funny video, but I like the song) filled my ears and it seemed more than appropriate after the long hike up and the turn over I was now hoping for.  Emma had past me heading into that last climb and while I kept her in sight on the climb I could not find her on the descent... but I still wanted to give it a try.  It is fun to try and run fast at the end of a challenging run like this and throwing in the technical boulder field section and the steep gravely hillsides, pushing the pace also required a lot of focus.  The only person I caught in those final 5 miles was Jon, the blue shirt I had been following all day.  It felt a bit wrong to blow by him in my pursuit of the finish line and another place forward among the women, but testing my turnover rolled me down the hill a bit faster.  

I didn't know where I was among the field, but using the chase helped in the final push and test of my body and fitness.  The obvious Hoka arch awaited in the final switchbacks down, you could see it, but it seemed to be just one more switchback away.  When I finally rounded the last corner and through the arch Karl stood on the other side with a pint glass and Speedgoat medal, but more was the proud look on his face.  I'm not quite sure, but it felt like a proud Papa smile.  Proud of the course, proud to see me finish it, happy to hear my enthusiasm for it.  Thanks for a great run Speedgoat.

Perhaps my favorite part of running an ultra race is the people that come together around it.  Such that we end up in these beautiful places running, it seems to make sense to stick around after and enjoy each others' company, hear the stories that happened throughout the day and share a bit of life outside of our time on the course.  Snowbird and the Cliff Lodge were great places to spend the evening with fellow runners and round out an awesome event.

RACE RESULTS

Race coverage: iRunFar.com on Twitter 

 

Race Kit:

Patagonia: Draft Tank, Cross-over sports bra, new version of the favorite All-Weather Skirt, Merino LW ankle socks, Tsali 3.0 shoes (2.0 currently available)

Additional clothing: Buff

UltrAspire: Isomeric Pocket Handheld x 2 (Use this code for 20% off your UltrAspire order!!  9FUbzvTj)

First Endurance: Optygen HP before, EFS shot flask and Pre-Race during, Ultragen at finish

Julbo:  Ultra glasses

Additional Nutrition: Clif Bloks, Honey Stinger chews

Pro-Tec: pre and post run self massage - Travel Roller

 

Reset the Psyche

I enjoyed a wonderful hour in the Leadville coffee shop writing a blog post with the same title on my iPad, but when I went to sync it with the website the hour's worth of work was lost.  Technology is great... when it works.  Hopefully I can recreate the gist of what I was trying to communicate. 

recent run to the roof of Colorado.  Mt. Elbert 14,433ft

recent run to the roof of Colorado.  Mt. Elbert 14,433ft

Returning home from Japan the beginning of May took me into yet another crazy month of life changes, moving, travel, visitors and not a lot of time to just be.  It may seem that a schedule like that is something I thrive on, and perhaps I do, for a spell, but there is definitely a need to chill out and feel grounded.  Once the dust settled around the end of the month I made the call to pull myself out of the next scheduled race and forced some time here in Boulder to regroup, recover and reset.   

Admittedly, the first look at a calendar that didn't have a scheduled flight posted for the end of the week, or the next, felt weird.  What was I supposed to do with a whole 7+ days?  But it was only the first look that caught me off guard, after that it was easy.  Cooking meals with more than one pot, hanging photos, yoga, kickboxing, catching up with friends, climbing, discovering new running loops and secret spots in Boulder, keeping up with expenses and work from the comfort of my home, writing, catching different events in town including concerts and speaker series, all things I long for when I'm living life on the road.  Speaking of the road, Simba (my car) hardly leaves the driveway, I ride my bike for pretty much everything I need to do.  Finding rhythm in time at home is incredible.  I know I love it and need it and am thankful when I take it.  

It was out on one my new running loops on perhaps the only misty morning in Boulder since I've been back that I realized I was training hard, racking up miles and lots of activities as if I were training for a race, but without the race date looming on the calendar there was more of a freedom around being out in the mountains or adding in a second workout that had me psyched.  I know and realize that taking on race after race, big adventures and/or lots of travel all takes great energy.  Running a 100 mile race alone taps the body at such a deep level, likely deeper than we can even fathom, that if we don't give the necessary recoup time (which is as different for everyone as our preference in shoes) the chances of burn out, injury or both escalates.  When there is time to be without the worry of recovery, tapering or timing, I find that I just do what feels right.  The down time breathes a new space and life into my soul, resetting the system and resetting the psyche.  Having time and space to do just that is key for my longevity in this sport.

Psyche reset.  Now time to look ahead. 

I also love bopping around, exploring the world outside the "Boulder bubble" and I look forward the plans that kick in this weekend.  The Estes Trail Ascent takes place this weekend and I am excited to sit on the Nutrition and Hydration panel on Thursday.  Friday has me headed back to DIA for a trip to Reno and Tahoe for the opportunity to be a part of the Alpenglow Mountain Festival.  Alpenglow is an active Tahoe retailer that is driven by community and getting people outside.  This weekend will be a great opportunity to run trails and engage with people about their passions.  Patagonia Footwear has made it possible for me to be a participant and speaker over the weekend and I look forward checking it all out.

More plans and adventures are coming together for the summer and some of those plans include keeping me right here in Colorado, exploring my new back yard of the Rocky Mountains as well as time right here on my backyard deck.