Ultramaraton Baja Trail

This last weekend March 17th I ran this race. In Tijuana Baja Calif. In Mexico. I just want to start by saying I was really nervous about this one . I had at least 4 people tell me how hard this race was going to be so I knew it was going to be a challenge but a new challenge is always welcome.
 The day started really early , I was up at 2 am and a friend picked me up on his way down to the border at 2:30am. The bus was scheduled to pick us up at 4:30. You would think we would have enough time to get everything done but we barely made it to the bus and then finding the bus was its own adventure.. By the time it found us we had walked 4 miles.

The race had 3 distances. My friend Louka ran the 80k and started at 6 am . The rest of our group  Kylee, Scott, Janell, Maria started at 6:30 we ran the 50k. So there we all are standing in the cold rain excited and ready to go. We all counted in Spanish and off we went. You start in a single conga line going up hill and make your way up a mountain. Then there was another and another. My friends did not lie to me this was a hard race but lets be honest whats the one thing that makes a hard race not so hard.....Perfect Weather
How can you complain when it is 60 degrees with a light mist. 

The views went on forever.

This is at the top of El Capitan. Getting up here was an adventure..

Seeing so many familiar face of friends I admire and call friends made the miles and hard work go by quickly. 

Another familiar happy face coming my way..

and another. Sometimes you run races and you know there are people you just admire and look up to because there so strong and have been killing it in this sport forever. There also so nice and wise and then You feel lucky just to able to share the trail with them. Even if your way behind them it is still special.

I loved the race and I didn't mind the climbs. You know how sometimes your just feeling it. I got lucky because this week I feel good and I went out at my pace and just ran my race and finished around 8:20 something. 

I really loved how the entire day unfolded. It was such great course and the rain all of it made it a special day.
I want to mention a couple things.. The course was so well marked. They did a great job marking it. The aid station and the volunteers so kind. They gave me hugs and food and so much encouragement . If you get chance to run the Baja Trail Maraton Just do it.
Be the girl who decided to go for it !!! That's it.... Happy running 

Malibu Canyon 50k race report

Malibu Canyon started of well. I drove up the night before and stayed at my sister in laws house. It's a 3 hour drive from my house so I decided going the night before would be smart. I am a terrible tired driver so I just avoid it now. I stayed with her the night before and then only had an hour drive in the morning. I arrived at 6:30 am and that gave me plenty of time to get ready in my car and check in. Everything was very well organized . I really like my tech shirt and I also got some socks. Gotta love swag :). The weather was that perfect morning running cold weather. You can stand being outside with out really needing a jacket. The sky was a clear blue. The sun was shinning really bright but it was still chilly.

Over 100 people gathered at the start and then just like that it was ready set go. I really liked the small group of runners that gathered it felt like a small race. Everyone said hi and good morning. many people asked if this was your first 50k.  I saw a friend I admire from San Diego Karen. When I ran the San Diego 100 back in June I remember some lady at mile 70 something at some aid station held my face and told me I was going to make it and that I just needed to keep going. I will always remember that because it was at that moment that I believed I was going to make it. Karen was that lady and while I was running I put the two together. Those volunteers at the aid stations can make all the difference in the world. God Bless all of them. 

There was 2 big ass hills. The 50k had 5900 elevation gain. There was tons of climbing but as you can see it was not rocky so it was really nice.There was only 18 percent single track. 74 percent dirt road and a little bit of asphalt.
 I have friend Jeff Hooker who I  is a really great power hiker and runner . He does it so well and I have watched him and he has walked me through his style so I practiced as much as I could . It was the perfect place to practice practice, practice. I honestly do not think you can ever practice power hiking enough. 

 I really enjoyed myself. It was so pretty and as I was running it dawned on me that in 2010 I had run this course and failed. This is the same course as the Bull Dog 50k and because I failed (DNF) at this once I felt really good about how much better I did this time. I am telling you this never gets old. The picture is of Malibu Canyons and I could see the most insanely huge houses from the trail.

This part of the run was short but it felt very Patagonia. It looks warm in this picture but it was cool.

My shameless #runningselfie

I made a  new friend and it turns out we have run other races together but we never met.

 I finished at 7hours and 15 minutes and 8th in my age group. They had aid stations every 5 to 8 miles and everyone was friendly. I filled up with water got some chips and I was golden.

My legs look so skinny in this picture. They are actually really big and buff (JK)…
 Once again I had a wonderful time met new people and heard some great stories. The race director was really nice and friendly. If I could change anything it would to not drive home the night of he race and I wore the wrong shoes for sure. I love the mini adventures in my life that running theses races provides for me. Thank you for reading. G

My Noble Canyon race report

Happy Monday!! Here I am all excited and ready to tell you all about my Saturday morning. I was actually able to get up on time and make it to the race about an hour early. It really did help my anxiety to plan ahead have most of my stuff in the car and drive there knowing I had plenty of time. As soon as I arrived at 5:30 am I saw Paul directing traffic. Its always nice to see a familiar face and know that your in good company. It was kind of cold but according to the news and to weather we have been having lately I knew it would get hot quickly. I wore a short sleeve shirt and I think I have learned how to pack my Nathan simply without stressing. I took 6 GU's. A pack full of water and granola bar.  Four S caps and that's it.  I used to pack everything I could think of but simple seems to work better. 

Like all the races I have done in San Diego this one went really well. I picked up my bib quickly and registration was well organized. I even had a cup of coffee while I waited . As soon as the sun came out I saw my friends and got in line and we started right on time. 6:30AM.

The weather seemed perfect at 7 am. I was not to hot at all. If you compare it to The Julian Full Moon run then I would say it was amazing weather. I start near the back. I know what I can do and I don't want to be in faster runners way. People were friendly and we all said good morning and wished each other a good race. 

The aid stations had everything we needed. Caring volunteers ready to cool you off and yummy food. I try and only eat bananas  and watermelon (my tummy likes that) and Ginger ale. This is never a good place to try new food if you ask me.

This was not an easy race. It was hard and warm out there. This takes a ton of work. I don't care if you are in the lead or in the back, it's 31 miles of hard work for all of us. Thats what makes it so good. 

  

This is my #runningselfie   

This was the half way point. My friend Nartaya came out and gave me a hug and a cold Gatorade. It warmed my heart to see her out there, cheering for all of us. The views are beautiful up here. I had no problems. I just ran and power-walked my way to the finish line. It was a good day and the race director and the volunteers did a great job putting it all together. They had great food after the race, too. 

I think I came in at 7:41. That was fine and I was happy with my time. The only thing that scares me is I am running Cuyamaca 100k in two weeks. I felt Noble Canyon was hard :( I can only imagine how hard Cuyamaca will be. I have heard mostly scary stories about how hard that race is. I am working toward the Jacket and I only have Cuyamaca 100k to go before I finish so… I have to do it and give it my all.

Here is a blurry group picture. It was a good time and the best part hanging out with all these cool people. Saying thank you to the race director after you finish because you feel so accomplished. Life as a runner is a good life. 

Next Sunday..

Hi. I have been resting up and being a mom. I have gone for a couple good runs but I a trying to listen to my body. I have a 50K that I have been looking forward doing this sunday. It will be my first time running The Hodges 50k. I have heard great things about this race and I am crossing my fingers its not to hot. I know its a really well put together race and the organizer is a really great guy. Mike has ran this race twice and he did great. I just want to have a good time and do a little better than my last 50k. The race is about 15 minutes from my house so that is very cool. A local 50k.
Lake Hodges is always full of runners I think its hard to find trails around here and you can get a-lot of solid miles out there.There are hills and its pretty.  I had a bad experience out there once so I really don't run there as much as I could. I ran out of water and it was over 100 degrees and I was not alone but it sucked . I will be running 31 miles out there Sunday so I should get over any feeling I have about Hodges while I am out there. I am looking forward to the experience and seeing some friends out there on the trail. Oh and seeing my dad and family at the finish line is always a huge plus. I have my kids this weekend so they will be there too. I love having cool races to look forward to but even more the cool life experience you get is kinda awesome .