When I first got to San Diego, it was cool and windy. Clouds filled the sky as we began fishing and I even put my jacket since I was getting quite cold. It was unusual for San Diego to be colder than Ohio in the spring, but this year was different.
Later on that evening, my wish had come true. Shorty after dinner, I decided to hike up the mountain in the neighborhood on missions trails. Sal didn't want to go because of the race so I went alone and took a flashlight. I ran up most of it but hiked the steep sections. When I finally reached the top, it was pitch black. I gazed at the stars in the sky and looked over at the city lights and other mountains in the far distance. I had to hike down as my flashlight battery was nearly drained.
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| i'm looking super happy to run |
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| Richard, Catra, me, & Sal - what a group!! |
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| Sal, Robert, Natalie, me, and Nartya |
The next day, I did an 8 mile bike loop past Pedro dam, and through the main trail passing the visitors center. Then I biked up a long steep hill, and looped back towards the house after passing it. My glutes and hamstrings were both tight and I was hoping they would be fine for the race tomorrow. Next, i packed my 4 drop bags checking things off the list: socks, ginger chews, spare shoes, jacket, long sleeve, gloves, headlamp, spare batteries, etc. I headed out to the pre-race meeting with Sal where I got to meet some other 100 mile runners along with a couple people that were cewing Sal and even Richard. As were were getting close, Sal was pointing out the different mountains we would be running the next day!
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| Snapped a picture before the start at Lake Cuyamaca - i was so thrilled that I couldn't get the smile off my face! |
The next morning, we were up at 3:15am, getting dropped off at Richard's and riding to the start with him. I ended up riding with Tina from his crew. We picked up our bibs on race morning, and then took a group picture.
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| Trail Crahers all of us finished! From left to right: Gloria, Robert, Sal, Richard, Ricky, me |
We lined up at the starting line and I was so happy to take on a new adventure. Sal was near the front with Ricky, so I lined up with them. We were given last minute instructions with one of them being to turn around if we didnt see a mile marker for 5-10 minutes. We took off as lots of people ran past us, single file down through a grass field. We had only been running maybe 3 minutes when someone yelled to turn where the markers were, so 6 people in front of me turned and the rest who were in front, were now behind. Yup, I was in the top ten at the half mile mark.
Not long after, runners would slowly pass me as I hiked up the mountain. Yes, we had a mountain to climb in less than a mile from the start. Sal and Ricky caught me and Ricky passed by while Sal stayed with me. I was taking pictures as it was just so pretty.
Not long after, runners would slowly pass me as I hiked up the mountain. Yes, we had a mountain to climb in less than a mile from the start. Sal and Ricky caught me and Ricky passed by while Sal stayed with me. I was taking pictures as it was just so pretty.
We climbed a second mountain, stonewall, about ten miles later. Still feeling great and taking pics on the course. I was carrying two water bottles, one with water and the other tailwind. I know at the first 2 aid stations I had had nearly a full banana and several pieces of watermelon. Also had a piece of bacon and an Ensure at mile 12. I stayed with Sal a bit longer but then picked up the pace slightly so I could take pictures of him every so often. Pace felt easy and even by mile 23 we were on pace for sub 20 hrs. I got to the aid station before Sal so I saw Ashley and Jason, who were crewing him.
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| Somewhere out on the course while i was still work Sal |
I was in the solo division, no crew, no pacers. This was probably a good thing since I got to see what it was like after no eating much. I dumped out my tailwind and began only drinking water in my bottles from around 23 to the very end. I kept eating watermelon and had strawberries and grapes the next couple of aid stations. The heat was setting in and Sal finally caught me with his group of 3 so we ran a couple miles together but by the next aid station, it was only me and one of the other guys. I had some broth and watermelon, then I took off alone but Sal caught me while I was at the aid station. I was worn out and waited for him to hit the bathroom as I didn't feel like going alone. This was penny pines, mile 34. We hiked up another mountain as we were headed towards Todd's cabin aid station, mile 39. This would be at an elevation over 6000 feet, highest point in the race, where we ran easy for a couple miles before going down to red tail roost.
I began feeling nauceous hiking up there and had some soup broth at the next aid station. I told Sal to go ahead as I felt too sick to run and figured if I just hiked a bit I could make it. It took me 2 1/2 hours to make it 5 miles to the next aid station. Someone gave me a salt tablet when they saw me sitting down. I wanted to just get to the aid station so I could drop out. Wasn't sure if it was the heat, being in the sun for several hours, the altitude, not eating, or a combination of any. My chest was also hurting too and i believe it was from my body overheating since it would begin to hurt each time I tried to run. I'm gonna have to work on that if iwanna do any more of these.
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| Just one of the amazing views from the PCT on the course. |
When I finally made it to the next aid station, Ashley was already gone, but Richard's crew was there and told me to lay down, got me some ice in my hat and some water. I layed there for at least 20 minutes but finally decided if I was gonna drop out, 45 miles wasn't even a respectable distance to drop at. I should at least keep going.
I told the aid station crew that I was going to leave with the next runner but since no one was ready that I would just catch the girl ahead of me. I caught her alright but she was walking and I ran past here quickly. I passed a couple others as laying down and cooling off helped so much. I walked with this one lady for over a mile, she said her boyfriend would be pacing her and he was like a 2:30 marathoner. I picked it up and left her though and then met a guy from the bay area and ran with him to the aid station, mile 51. Had more broth and watermelon. Took off again and we picked up another runner. Still on pace for sub 24.
The 3 of us ran/walked to the next aid station, mile 56. We had such a nice group and the other 2 were using me as a pacer since they said they wouldve just been walking if they were alone. I had a now run my farthest distance, and reached 56.5, penny pines 2.
The next stretch was one of the toughest. I had at least gone farther than ever before but the sun was setting and I was getting cold. I was still only having broth and a couple slices of wtaermelon. I had packed my headlamp at the last aid station but gloves and long sleeve shirt was waiting at the next aid station. It was an 8 mile hike from 56 to 64 and I was in the noble canyon. I was walking and seemed to not be able to even keep up with the walkers. I felf sick thr whole time, luckily when robert passed me, i ran with his pacer for a couple minutes and he gave me one of his 2 pairs of gloves. Then another guy passed me who was pacing his wife. He asked if I was in the solo division and I told him I had no crew or pacers and he turned and gave me a hug. Then he asked about the race and then offered his jacket tied around his waist. I declined the offer assuring him that I was dropping out after I reached the aid station but he insisted. He took off to catch his wife. About ten minutes later he returned giving me hand warmers and forcing me to take a gel. I made it to the next aid station at mile 64. That 8 mile stretch took 2 1/2 hours.
I quickly sat down and told the volunteers that I was dropping out. They offered me cheese quesasilla, bacon quesadilla, brownies, chips, etc but the only thing that sounded good was broth so I had 2 cups of soup broth. I was talked into moving on since no one was leaving that aid station for 3 hours. Another guy was sitting next to me after walking in with walking sticks, I thought I could walk with him.
I took off with him and 2 others but after going to the bathroom, I couldnt catch up. This stretch was also 8 miles and all I had was water. It was a 2 mile paved road going straight up a mountain, then gentle trails before climbing a single track trail continuing up to the mountain. Walkers were passing me as I was slowing and feeling sicker and sicker. I kept telling myself I would drop out at 72, that's where Sal dropped out last year and it was a respectable aid station to drop at. I wouldn't finish the 100 since I was feeling so sick. I ended up walking with a guy for about the last 3 miles before the aid station. We would run for like 2 minutes and then walk for about 10 minutes, then repeat. We finally saw the red lights for the aid station up ahead. I was so happy but felt so sick.
I felt like I had to puke when we were about a quarter mile from the aid station. I sat down on a rock and told him is just see him there. Right when I sat down, I began dry heaving. Only drops of water came out, nothing more. I drank almost 2 bottles of water in about 3 hrs again. I tried to puke 5 times but nothing came out but droplettes. I felt slightly better but kept thinking how tired I was and how nothing sounded appetizing and I wanted nothing more than to drop out.
I made it to mile 72 where Nartaya was at. I told her I was sick and was dropping out. I had soup and chocolate milk which tasted amazing. She gave me 2 more for the road after talking me into going with Natalie.
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| Convincing me not to drop out |
So, I took off with Natalie and was hoping to stay awake as my eyes kept closing earlier too. We left the aid station at 2:35am and I had been awake since 3:15am. I went a mile before she started running but her running pace was my fast walking pace. She gave me something to help with sickness but I am unsure if it worked. Eventually I couldn't keep up with her and I was alone in the dark again. There was a good couple hundred foot drop to the right as we were on the pct - pacific coast trail. My eyes were closing again and I decided to nap on the next large rock I saw. So I did. I woke up at 5:05am, not sure what time I went to sleep but guessing between 3:30-4am. I felt energizined and walked quickly to the next aid station.
Nartaya and her friend were there as I returned the chocolate milk I didn't use. I had more broth and chips and said I was going to drop out since I took my wet hat off and stuck it in a drop bag earlier. I knew that sun was fierce and I already had sunburn all over my face. Someone gave me a hat to use and I decided I should run. I knew now that I could finish, even if it would be several hours later than Sal.
So, I took off and began running passing runner after runner. The last aid station was mile 79 so only 21 to go, right? I decided to run as much as I could while I was still mostly in the shade. Next aid station was mile 88, I got there in about 1 1/2 hours running the last 7 miles hard. I felt like a brand new person.
When I got to chamber aid station, I sat down, had an ensure and a bunch of watermelon. Got an ensure in my other waterbottle. Tasted so good! My stomach was completely full, almost to the point where it would swish when I ran. So, i started off easy.
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| Running into mile 88 aid station, feeling great! |
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| A mountain to climb with 5 miles to go!! |
Only 12 to go!!! Shortly after I left I ran through a grass field then right past the entrance to the mountain, someone was walking towards me asking if we were going the right way. I saw a bunch of ribbons a minute ago and said yes and ran about a half mile and realized I was in the same place as the day before when I got lost with Sal and 2 others, another ten minutes or so added on. Rats! Up the mountain I went, hiking fast and getting hot again. I felt foolish getting lost twice in the same exact place. Probably adding on close to 2 miles total, a good 1 1/2 at least.
I remembered the conversation I was with Sal as we ran down the side the day before. Then back down the other side of rockwall and I grew weary but knew I could at least finish, if I only walked. Heard the aid station and ran down the hill hitting mile 93.1. Only 7.1 to go! Had watermelon and don't remember what else but took off. I called Ashley and she said they were leaving and Ricky could take me home. There was another mountain to climb and it took Sal 2 1/2 hrs to go from the last aid station to the end. I passed like 15 more runners while going up the mountain and when I reached the top, a swarm of bees flew passed. I ducked down then sprinted away from them and watched as they flew right passed. Then I just had to go down, right? I went down part of the mountain then up and up. I passed this girl who was looking sick and dehydrated, her pacer was talking and she wasn't responding. I rememebed going down there the day before but now the sun was beating down and I felt sick again so I slowed down. I walked down the other side even after trying to run but I was feeling overheated and sick. At least 3 runners passed me as I walked down towards the finish, but I knew that if I kept walking, I would get there. That stretch was so long even after making it to the bottom. Another mile or so through woods and tall grass fields and finally crossing the street - I took off for the finish line. I ran right up the hill towards the finish line and kept thinking how glad I was for not dropping out. I finished what I came to San Diego for and couldn't thank the volunteers enough for talking me out of quitting. I was so amazed how refreshed I felt after a short nap.
Overall, I found the course quite challenging, not as rocky as I expected but there were some rocky sections - Mostly climbing up and down a couple of the mountains. There was a lot of single track trail, i'df say 80-90% was single track. Several grassy fields as well. Aid stations were awesome, lots of bananas, watermelon, pretzels, cookies, chips, some had strawberries, grapes, bacon, cheese quesadillas, guacamole, brownies, soup broth snf other things that i forget. Also, next time - i would like to use more ice in my hat and around my neck. I pretty much just wore it and didn't use it for cooling off like I could've.
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| Race start! |
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| Just after crossing the finish line |
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| Shortly after finishing |
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