I have been working with the Pickled Feet Ultra Running team as the outreach coordinator, which basically means that I help with communication with sponsors and making sure that the name is out there and that runners get good swag in their bags. The RDs were also kind enough to allow me to run the race, so I got to see both sides of the event world for this one, and I will take you through a few bits of it:
Course Marking
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| We are course-marking goddesses. |
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| Christine! |
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| Don't get lost. |
Packet Pickup
RACE DAY!
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| My pre-race outfit Photo Credit: Tempus Photo Design |
Christine picked me up about 4:45am so that we could deliver the leftover packets to the start line by 6am for the 7:30 race start. Whew! It was an early wakeup day, but the 7:30 start was really nice. We hung out and watched the huge heated tent fill with runners as the start got closer. We listened to the pre-race briefing and headed out the the starting line, where we counted down and started out the day. I chose not to bring a headlamp since it was so close to sunrise, and I was glad to have left it. Between course marking on Wednesday and the race morning, an inversion had settled into the valley that left all of the sage and grass around us
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| My normal serious look. Photo Credit: Tempus Photo Design |
It wasn't long until we broke from the fog and were afforded the sight of a spectacular sunrise. Although I had told myself that I was not going to snap a lot of photos during this race, I couldn't help myself. Many other runners shared the sentiment, and I have noticed many photos of the sunrise springing up on facebook, all from different heights on the course. It is a great thing to see- that so many of us were moved by the same sight. Some things just hit close to the heart for all of us. I didn't dawdle long and continued on my trek up to the summit, which is situated around mile 7 on the course. The short out-and-back from saddle to summit gave me a chance to see some friendly faces along their way, many of whom I recognized from our nice group of local runners. There is a definite community feel to the Wilson Creek event.
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| Sunrise. |
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| Dawn. |
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| Heading back into the inversion at mile 16. |
I arrived in four hours and twenty-something minutes- which put me way ahead of schedule for the anticipated finish time of 7.5 or 8 hours. I realized when I had reached the summit in under 2 hours that I could possibly pull out a sub-7, so I had been minding my walking and aid station times. Even at mile 20 when I had to redress myself, I don't think that I spent more than 2 or 3 minutes, with all my other stops being less than a minute. Something that I think really helped with this was my switch to the new Ultimate Direction Jenny Vest (I am going to write a review later this week). Instead of using a bladder, I had a quick water bottle refill and was on my way back onto the trail.
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| Emerging from the canyon. Photo Credit: Tempus Photo Design |
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| Foggy out there! Photo Credit: Tempus Photo Design |
fog was so thick that I was unsure of how far I had between aid stations and where I really was on the course. In hardly any time, I reached Stinson Station at mile 25ish. I told Jenny that I thought I was going to go sub-7, and she told me that I had better pick up the pace! I had over an hour, but that certainly put a boot in my butt and I kept at it for the next few miles. I passed in and out of the last aid station, knowing that I basically had a nice gentle downhill for the final miles. Before I was expecting, I reached the sign (that Christine and I had staked into the ground) that indicated only a mile to the finish. I was at 6:30, so decided to allow myself a moment to walk up the final hill before running it in. Another runner came up behind me and said "You know, if you push a little, you can break 6:40." Damn it! I was happy with my sub-7. I followed him in for the last bit and finished in 6:40:03.
I was, and am, ecstatic with my finishing time. I was about an hour faster than I was expecting, and although my previous race on this course was in debilitating mud and was only my second ultra, I PRed by THREE HOURS. I am typically sort of a tourist on my runs. I don't push myself too hard, I stop to take photos, I meander. I experimented this weekend with giving it a little more focus and drive. I didn't run myself into the ground, but I gave a solid effort for the entire race and was very mindful of what I was doing. I want to carry this mentality over into my 2014 year, so I am excited to see what I can do if I try to race a little bit differently.
I enjoyed some nice down time with lots of other runners at the finish for the remainder of the day. Christine and I stuck around until the last runners finished. I have been that last runner myself (on more than one occasion), so I understand how great it feels to get to the end and know that friends are waiting for you. It was amazing to see so many runners conquering new distances, finishing with smiling faces, or even smashing personal bests on part of the course if they were not able to complete the whole distance. With every race I run, I fall more in love with this sport. Part of it is for the running, but so much is the community that comes with it.
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| Happy post-race team. Photo Credit: Allen Sandquist |
It seemed to be a great day for all the runners, not just me. I am so happy to have not only run the race, but been part of the team who works so hard to make it happen. When you run a race, be sure to thank the race directors, the volunteers, the emergency response, and all the spectators that are there to make these events happen for you. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to pull off a good race, and it's good to let folks know that you appreciate them! I may be biased, but I think it's a pretty great group of people that come out to the Owyhees and freeze their butts off to make this happen for us crazy runners.
If you want more info, check it out the race's website.
Recovery
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| Graaaacie! |
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| Frosty! |
