Ingrid's Ambitious 100K Trail Run - Santa Barbara Trail Run Race

The Miwok race robbed me of my first 100K. Although I was disappointed that the mileage was shortened, I was elated, as my performance during that race, was beyond expectation. SBTR was my first 100K and a tough one at that. As a rookie runner, I have not planned to do this competition. I have not even heard of it but found out about few info from Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® (UTMB http://www.ultratrailmb.com/), the race that can earn me 3 qualifying points. And so – I signed up, not knowing what the elevation gain. 

With 3 weeks left into the race, that’s when I check the course profile and shocked that it has almost 20,000 ft gain. How steep is Santa Ynez ? – I asked myself. I made a trip to Santa Barbara to check the trail condition, hoping that 3 weeks is not too late. Judging from what I discovered, I expected some gnarly, sandie and slippery segment trails of it.

June 15 – The day of the Santa Barbara race. However, a week prior to this race day, I was hit with sore throat and hard coughing. I was gulping cough syrup, hoping and forcing myself some miracle relief.  Whatever it is, even with acute pneumonia, I would still run SBTR. Hey its not like I would go up at altitude, that coughing would be a set-back. Two days of protein and carbo-loading should be enough to keep-off bonking. My hydration and fueling strategy this time too was different from Miwok.

I thought I arrived somewhat late in Rancho Oso but according to the Frenchman runner (who would later drop in the race), I came too early. He told me that the RD won’t be starting to distribute bib at 6AM. The Frenchman was conversing with a Brazilian runner, who would later on win the race. I’ve never been this excited to run long. It used to be I view long runs as another same old work-out. To be in this race was felt different. The participants are, from the likes of Badwater contender to veteran runners. To put it bluntly, I am the only runner, who has been running for over a year, attempting a tough 100KM.

Just as the countdown begins, I kept my fingers crossed, confident and telling myself repeatedly that “I am a trained mountaineer, I can do this”. The RD signaled “GO” and we all run headed to the expected sandie/fire road trail. The next aid station is not that far, Arroyo Buro.  This section is somewhat technical but not that hard. Again I reminded myself, mountaineering was harder than this – “piece of cake”. I realized that it could be painful during the night. Ya – we all wanted groomed trail when traversing in the dark.

The  Angostura station was a relief. The heat of the day has started to affect me. The awesome volunteer put ice on my hydro-bag. I did not check how much I've got but I was not thinking at that moment. The downhill was a blast. I was probably logging 7ish pace to Red Gate.  I stopped only less than a minute here (which was a huge mistake). Off to more downhill that I forgot to check how much liquid I have left. I had no spare as I did not carry handheld water bottle. With 3 miles left to Forbush station, I was out of water. It was also here that I passed the Frenchman, he was vomitting and in bad shape. I should say he was dehydrated and if he continued, he may need a heli-ride out of the mountains.

I tried to maintain pace to Forbush, but it was tough going when my throat started drying on me. I remember this section during my last scouting trip, it seemed that the fire road is near but it wasn't. I heard voices but each end of the switchback was just a trail. Instead of running or power hike, I walk. Finally came the much needed aid station and few runners I met I found out that they were lost. I told the captain that a runner behind me was in bad shape.

Off to my next destination, the heat felt like its scorching. This time I wished of those clouds to roll down but not an inch touches me. There were winds to cool me but not enough to keep my body temperature down.  What a painstainkingly rolling of hills but I was determined to recover the time I lost from walking. So I tried to run as much.......

Then I fell. I fell in the easiest downhill I have run in my life. I fell in the most comfortable run. What a joke! I run too many technical downhill, ledges and talus, not one instances that I took a fall.  I had cuts to my lips, forehead and both knees. My head and knees were much impacted. I felt kind of out of my zone from the impact. It happened quick - the head, lips and knees were swelling within few seconds from the fall. Two guys behind me helped me got up. I cleaned up myself. I can't see much. The sweats got into my eyes. I ate lots of sand and I thought it broke my sunglasses but it didn't. From this point I slowed even further.

I guess when I reached  Romero Camuesa TA station, all the crew already knew.  I was assessed medically but I've wanted to continue. I will finish this course. I started reminiscing memories of painful traverse I had done in the mountains. I lod toenails, my feet were blisterry and had miles away at altitude rugged terrain in the Sierras and I survived it. If I survived that traverse, I had all the confidence a minor fall would not deter me from finishing the course.

It was over half hour that I rested here. Part of it was the time spent cleaning up my wounds. My backpack was readay when I was about to start running when I remembered of my drop bags. I needed potassium and that the electrolyte drink given to me doesnt contain that much of that nutrient I needed. So I requested the volunteer to throw the liquid and be replaced it with my coco-water. Yes - I am coco-water reliant. I do not take Gu-gels that much as I dont perform well with gels but with pure coco-water, this drink has the necessary potassium and sodium, along with other nutrients, that it keeps me going.

Divide Peak Pass - this is where I admire the beauty of the mountains the most. Its rugged and dry terrain, solemn and calm environment - away the hustle of bustle of big cities. Below were the clouds like billowing winds beneath the surface blanketing the coast. I stopped here and was given my orange bangle and my deserving cold cola drink.

I thought its going to be easier and faster from here. I had to pick-up my pace to make up for the lost time. But the heat is draining my energy. Again I reminded myself, that I lived in the middle east where temperatures could rise way worse than this heat. I survived riding my mountain bike in the most rugged terrain of the Oman/UAE border...I should be able to make it back to finish line with a gesture to myself again "piece-of-cake" :)

SBTR 100K

SBTR 100K

I was back in Romero C, but just to pickup my headlamp. My bad, I forgot to change the battery of it but hoping that its going to last to Rancho Oso.... The fall did affect my downhill running. I was not speedie like Im used to.. I better be careful than sorry. Next stop to Forbush, I made another mistake of taking the wrong turn, in the most well marked trail. Rather than taking left turn, I turned right. I should have been smarter as there were no trailmarks in that direction. Just above the dry creek rock bed, there was a table and left-over of campfires. I knew then that I was in the wrong trail.  It was not there before as I vividly and certainly remember. What's worse I dont know where I came from. I started to panic but with the help of GPS feature in my Garmin, I found my way back to the junction where I made the wrong turn. I could only thank the technology today. I have no plans bushwhacking to the finish line and of course, I have to get back tonight, my baby Jonas is waiting for me! 

At Forbush - a 100 mile runner asked me if I got lost as he was way behind me when I headed down off to single track from the fire road. I nodded. I recalculated how long it will take me back to Red Gate so I wasted no time, just enough refueling and liquid I took off. I must crossed the sandie slope, there were several of those slopes dangerous to crossed it at night. Thanks gawd I made passed there and gnarliest trail before total darkness.

The Red Gate station was a delight to see at night. It makes you want to stay there. I was served with real soup. Hey what a surprise. At Northface race the soup served was chicken stock and so during the Miwok race... And at this station I learned from the many drop-out runners list. How many participants from the greater Sacramento Region had already drop ? It was the list of familiar names. Though it was quite a few names but I was not surprised and I dont judge them. Unless a runner run in the mountains for many many times, dropping in a race like SBTR would be unbelievable but most of the drop list names are not mountain runners. I may be a rookie in running but I had more than enough time on my feet and technical ascent/descent to be able to survive such trail conditions. The soup gave me renewed energy to conquer the next dozen mile left. I chowed more noodle soup in Angostura but not looking forward to the semi technical pass to Arroyo Buro. I carried some trailmix in a ziplock bag. Though not liking this food I was certain I am going to appreciate it later on.

The trail to Arroyo Buro was my lowest point. I cussed and hated to be there. And I tripped the second time, cussing more and hated to be doing this race. There were several headlamps from the distance, so I hurried..... they could me the 100KM runners that just regained their energy. I got a glimpsed of them when I made it back to that station. As it turns out to be, they were three 100 mile runners. I had less than 3 mile left of fire road then Im done but those guys, 6 miles of a loop before they get their deserving buckle.

The road to the Finish Line has gotten slower and slower for me. I had no reference of my speed. The garmin died on me  along the way. Saw some eyes but could be just stray or domestic cats owned by nearby campers. Alas, I completed the whole 100K course. I had smiles on my face and relief that the suffer puppy has finally come to an end. The Finish Line was deserted - where's everybody ? So I woke up the RD sleeping in his mummy bag. I said " Hi - I finished". RD was not expecting me to arrive that soon.....RD asked me how was it and I replied " Oh - I got lost" and RD replied back "But you made it back"....... Left my name and the time I finished 03:59AM.  I officially finished the most difficult and epic 100K trail run in the US.  After training for just over a year, I conquered this mileage of my running career. Once again, a trained mountaineer and rookie runner "me" grabbed another bragging rights, in one of the most epic trail run in California.

Thanks to the RD for organizing such a great event... a "survival of the fittest" race. It is a lifetime to remember this race