Marathon #10 - Check - You Bet I Did It...

The Mountain Marathon.  Oh how to start this post...   How bout with the elevation chart...



This is the half marathon.  So, yes.  I did this twice.  By choice.  Really. 

Remember how I thought Napa was super crazy hard.  Yeah, not so much.  And now, while you're gazing at this crazy elevation chart...imagine this terrain covered in snow.  Yes.  Snow.  Okay, not the whole thing, just that first big bump on the chart.  8 miles of snow, 5 miles just wet, 8 miles of snow, 5 miles just wet. 

There was no way I would have been able to run this race without Yaktrax.  Even with them we were all sliding everywhere.  I'm sure you're probably looking at the chart thinking, 'well at least she could fly down on the backsides...'  No, I couldn't.  I had to keep from sliding down the mountain.

But... it was gorgeous!  We actually had a perfect weather day.  Just a little drizzle here and there and no down pour until the race was over. 

I'm sure you want to hear some of the stats, right?  First of all, 80 people were registered for the marathon.  Day before marathon this was the facebook update for the race:

ATTENTION: Due to massive amounts of snow on the course, we are rerouting the full marathon. MARATHONERS, you will be running the half course TWICE. Our course markers have just reported that the long section between Aid #4 and #5 is impassable...One of the guys marking the course this morning said that the first 8 miles were an 8 or 9 in difficulty... with Hard Rock 100 being a 10. Welcome to the jungle. First 8 miles have a LOT of snow....

Uh huh.  So how many do you think showed up race morning?  I counted around 50.  Out of that 50, I believe around 42 finished.  Out of that 42, 10 were women.  I was actually the last woman to finish, but not the last overall...

Couple more facts...  The man who won, usually a 2:20 marathoner, 3:59.  The woman winner, 5:01.  Me...6:27.  I know.  Crazy slow.  There was not much running going on up those inclines. This race was soooo hard.  I can't even tell you.  I'm just beyond proud that I finished and didn't give up.

Here we are less than one mile into the trail and it's time to put on the yaks...

Here's the impassible section...no climbing over, just had to scale up the mountain on hands, knees and feet...  No big whoop...

Once in a lifetime trail running experience, for sure...

Just follow the spray painted pink arrows... and fly down that snow trail...

One of the top points of th mountain...gorgeous view, still one more big incline after this!

And heck ya I earned that trucker's cap!!!  (I know I look a little crazy in this pic, but, hey, I just ran a 6:27 marathon...)

Definitely more recap to come with this one!!!!