To give you some of our background:
Leigh : completed OGUL list, consist of 63 mountains in the Tahoe region and nearby, within 18 months in 2011. By 2012, she started training to rock climb and before end of 2012, she climbed the Cathedral in Yosemite. By summer of 2013, she climbed all 14ers and that includes the technical Palisades peaks. I am one of Leigh's fans. When she want something accomplished, she would work on it at all cost.
Vitaliy: A nurse in San Francisco. He was a peakbagger and became one of the most awesome rock climber. Vitaliy is always accomplished but he could not dance apparently. Nevertheless, in such short period, Vitaliy conquered many challenging peaks including technical peaks in Peru and Denali. You can read his blog here http://vividrea1ity.blogspot.com/2013/09/ben-horne-memorial-climb-evolution.html
Ingrid: Hmmm not much to say other than, I do everything that interest me like climbing, running and triathlon (mostly in alpine region like Tahoe and Eastern Sierras). But one thing I do not do much is photography. Most photos posted in this blog were not taken by me but with my companion during the event :)
You can peek more of my San Francisco / Golden Gate Bridge running shots from this link https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/112364082721983243207/albums/5919649605123060193
Before I start my journey in ultra-running, I'd like to share my thoughts about the running community in general. Prior to start my training to run a marathon, my athletic friends knew that I was mainly a peakbagger. I have no idea that I could run, let alone run 100 miles.
My experience with the running community were mixed. A lot of runners are warm and accommodating people, in general. But there are a few, that are in a way I could easily described as "cliques". Having spent time outside of US, this type of behaviour is foreign to me. For 5 years I was exposed to an "expat-life", where we have one thing in common, make lots of money and retire early. Of course, as we all know - such things don't exist as the life we know it.
What do running cliques does ? In my humble opinion, many of them borne the envious character. So many times I went to climb peaks, that if our trip is a success, the climbing community is very interested to know that route you took to get to the top. Climbers know that climbing to the top involves risk and danger - and its not to be taken lightly or brush off like its a joke.
For the runners, however, a quick progress to ones running ability is a source of envy. For whatever reason that is, it must be the competitiveness of this small community, that drives these cliques to resort to cattiness.
An example of an envious clique would say or do, just to get a rookie runner demotivated.
"Ingrid was a person who did a lot of talk about herself but no one saw any backing to her talk. They saw quite the contrary in her abilities but they were not trying to belittle her for her lack of abilities but were frustrated that she had the never to belittle them." ~~~~~ Helen Fong
I received so much hostilities from Helen's camp. They invented a lot of rumours about me and twisted words and phrases about what I've said or done.
The whole truth is, when I was introduced to the group, they already started hating my presence. I could already feel it without applying my 6th sense. There were only three or more occassions that I interacted with them. Each of those ocassions were all negative. In the beginning, I did not understand why.... it was only until later in 2013, that I found the answer... (you can read all about it in my blog titled "What Kills You Will Strengthen You".
Enough said about the midway interruptions of the clique, so hope you'll be interested reading my experience about the solo run.
San Francisco 100
So many things to do in my bucket list but so little time. Just little over a year of running, I attempted 100 mile run. An ambition I never thought that I would do. On Aug 03, I ran the Coastal Trail Run "San Francisco 100 Mile" http://www.coastaltrailruns.com/sf100.html, but I was not lucky that day. I DNFed due to patellar pain in my left knee. I chose to DNF despite leading the race in the first 40 miles.
A year ago, I had the same predicament, I ran the marathon and succumbed to knee injury, which was not diagnosed that time. It was my first patellar injury. The doctor I was referred to, thought that it could be due to, that I was running in the cold, and not acclimated to the weather. My residence is in the Sac Valley but almost every weekend that I spent my trainings are in Tahoe or Eastern Sierras, that I do not think it was of the drop in the temperature that caused me some knee pain. Previous running experiences however, pointed that it could be true. North Face and San Bruno Ultra were held in winter which made me wore warm leggings suited for the temperature and I successfully executed two races.
During the SF 100 run, I wore Salomon compression skorts and compression sleeves. I should not have worn the clothings because it tightened my legs which reduced the blood flow to my knee. In a way, it made my knee brittle. It did not crossed my mind how my knee could potentially react. Many runners can run well in temps high 50s to low 60s. I just happen to have thin blood that I easily get cold in minor drop in temps.
It seems that I run well when its hot, even if I dont like it. I finished Santa Barbara 100K, with a soaring 110 temps that day. I wont be surprised, I spent most of my life in hotter countries. Before moving for good to USA, I was in the mid-east for good 5 years, in which temps could rise above 120F, mountain biking in the Oman/UAE border.
I particularly wanted to do the SF100, even though its not an easy first 100 mile. For me though, this 100 mile comes with great scenery (if no fog), weather wouldn't be too hot in the middle of summer, and easier to arrange logistics because it is a loop. I even opted not to have pacer, because of my over-confidence. I thought that the odds are all in my favour. I really had it all planned to finish this race at a decent pace.
On Aug 03, a crushing disappointment came. Against my will, I decided to DNF, not because I couldn't do it but for practical reasons, that it is cheaper to DNF than dealing with doctors, med-techs, and co-pays that would make me bankrupt for many months to come.
It makes perfect sense that even if I grabbed the first place in women's category, it was only an ego booster but I will be hard-hit financially. On my descent from Marincello to TN Valley AS, I let the woman passed me and she then won the SF 100. I changed warmer clothes in TN Valley, I decided then that I would not waste my registration fee, that I could finish the 50 mile and get my buckle. With only 4 miles to go to finish the 50 miles, I started to worry, that remedying my knee came too late. The downhill run from Coastal Tr to Muir Beach now so painful, I could not even walk without crying. After minutes of resting,I braved to walk to Muir Beach, waited for pickup and flagged the RD that I am going to DNF.
Trainings for my first 100 mile
Most of the training runs I did were at the higher altitude. I would run on the ridglines of Tahoe mountains and beyond. Prior to the event of Aug 03, I made sure I could crossed off 14er peaks, to get that HBC stored in my muscles. Hoping that my theory works, with my first hundo - I expected it of a good result.
Injury
On Aug 03, San Francisco's weather is supposed to be in the high 60s, perfect for running. However, that weather turned to "all too foggy". I was not acclimated to such cold and worse, I was wearing the lightest running gear, suited for heat, if it ever comes.
Salomon compression skorts and compression sleeves were added to the disaster. It was hard to predict that weather, I couldn't tell what time the fog rolls away (it never did). My knees were too exposed. The combination of wearing the wrong gear and knee exposure, was perfect for knee injury waiting to happen. I had been told about this by my doc the first time it happened. I somehow, after over a year that patellar injury had not come back, I never thought that I was that susceptible to cold.
What's not believable is, the cause of the injury was from too much downhilling when my strongest ability is to power run the downhill. It must have been, that knee couldn't handle the pounding, due to chilly weather that day. I know I could finish the event despite my limping legs, just using poles I was averaging 3.85 miles per hour, that if all goes well, I could still finish the 100 before cut-off. But would it be all worth it and at what cost ?
100 Mile Redemption Run - Self-support - Aug 31 & Sep 01, 2013
My head was fixed to stay on schedule, call it my obsession to complete a 100 mile, whatever it takes to finish a 100 mile distance.
During the long Labor weekend, a friend volunteered to be my only crew and part pacer. The original plan was to run the project posted in Ultrasignup "The Punisher" but on the day of the race itself, it was somewhat smokey in Tahoe due to the Yosemite Rim Fire. It was an alternative then to run the Coastal trails in Marin Headlands and since Im knowledgeable about the trail system, it was not an issue to move the location with such short notice.
First 25 Miles
My first loop was completed in over 7 hours. I had fresh legs to run this loop as I made sure I tapered enough for the hills of this run. It was a painstaking reality that there are no aid station. My one and only aid station has now become a "luxury". And to add hindrance to this run, I had to remember the turns of the course. I end up over-running some, just to turn back because of the error by me or simply gps had not pickup signal quickly. Thankful to my knowledge of the trail system and my ability to work on GPS, it did not cost me much time to figure where to go.
I had enough of liquid with me that I virtually not needing the aid station. What was lacking was the much needed potatoes and bananas which I often get every 4 to 5 miles of the run, fruits and sweets that you can only get if there are aid station(s). Im a non-believer of aid station but doing 100 miler self-support, it got me thinking and miss stopping in aid station this time, which I take for granted during races. How I wish I have few tables in my self-support run.
Having aid station(s) though means more crew and asking for more favors from running friends. And besides I am a big believer not to use pacer, that if I'd like to know myself, I have to do it solo. That I needed to get used to running solo in preparation for UTMB, the ultimate race that I am aiming for.
Mile 26 to 50
I thought that my arrival time in Rodeo Beach would be sooner but dark got me delayed. Another contributing factor was, I did not eat enough to cover this loop. Prior to power hiking Rodeo Valley trail, pack of coyotes were checking on me, howling and all that, but that was not enough to get me scared. I blew my whistle so loud and blew it several times that it sent the coyotes running away from me :)
It was when I passed the SCA trail that I felt threatened. I telephoned my friend, to be at Conzelman, as I prefer not to be running solo in the dark. There's a risk of encountering mountain lions in that trail. It was not long ago that a mountain lion was spotted in Mill Valley, which is only few miles from the course.
When its an event, a runner dont feel threatened with wild-life because there are many runners in and out of the area, that discourages mountain lions to be nearby. Mountain lions can hear/feel the presence of humans, even if miles away.
Mile 51 to 75
This has been the slowest run I've ever done, not just from this event, but for the many trails I was running, including the Punisher trail. I've never been this slow my entire training runs... My companion told me that I did not eat. That was probably the case that contributed to my severely depleted energy, I had only 2 GU gels and a banana to survive the 3rd loop of 25 miles.
Mile 76 to end.......
I telephoned my companion to bring me rice with chowmein. At that time that I called my companion, it was the most lowest point of my run, I was almost wiped out. When I reached Conzelman, all I could think about was the fresh food and carbs... To my disappointment, I saw my companion boiling hot water for my ramen soup. I wanted to cry... Suddenly my mood tanked, I was afraid that I may not be able to do the 100 before end of Sunday.
After bouts of tips from my companion and eating whatever food available, there was a jump in my mood to run again.
At last ... I was done, solo running for the most part of the course. I requested my companion to get me my chowmein and rice......my big meal for the night!
That was the end of my attempt to run 100 miles........ no finisher's jacket, no buckle and no medal but my reward was to satisfy my thirst to run the 100 miler distance.
It felt great and with a sense of accomplishments... Though I was hoping there are sign register where I can write my name in a book called "100 Mile"...
Why I wanted to do self-supported 100 mile run ?
I wanted to finish this so I can take a break from running in September. And that by October, I can take a break from climbing...so by November I can take a break from doing endurance sports. In other words, I will let my body heal....
It has been a hectic close to 2 years (18 months) of mixed climbing and running. I also wanted to regain my strength and get back to my roots, i.e. climbing more and hiking.. but without a break, there would be no way I would improve my speed... hence I wanted to do 100 mile run on self-support, in order that my desire would be put to rest.
The SF 100 Buckle
Just after finishing my 100 mile redemption run, my companion posted on his facebook a pic of me of my attempt to run the hundo distance. I guess the word spread in the running community. A week after, my companion received a mail from Coastal/Zoom. I thought it was some souvenir that my companion purchased for me. After I opened the box, the RD sent me the SF100 buckle. I was extremely happy. The buckle made my day. Thanks heaps RD - Wendell Doman.
No comments:
Post a Comment