Tuesday, March 8, 2011

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!!!!

28 comments:

  1. You rock!! Way to go. Can't wait to read more about it.

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  2. Way to go!! that is some crazy elevation!!

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  3. Amazing! You area a rock star. How did the vertigo treat you? I got vertigo just looking at the elevation chart. Well done!!

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  4. NO WAY! That is just crazy! and you are one crazy woman!! WOOT!!!! YOU DID IT :D

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  5. AMAZING! Way to represent the women!

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  6. Congrats!!! Way to stick through it!

    and spray paint on the snow? That seems a little too ingenious to me - wow. so easy and clear.

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  7. WOW!! Great job on running and finishing! Sounds like a pretty tough course but I bet the views were worth it!

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  8. i can't believe you forgot to mention how hard it was on me to drive my minivan down that dirt road to pick you up when it was over.

    seriously.

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  9. Wow. You are a total badass!!! Way to go. Looking forward to hearing the whole recap!

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  10. Great elevation chart! Sounds like a kickass run.

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  11. Two words for you, my friend: BAD ASS!

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  12. Totally agree with Ms. Zippy! That is a long time to be running in those tough conditions! You rock.

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  13. I just looked at the elevation chart and thought that you're totally insane! But I'm totally impressed. Massive effort. You earned that cap.

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  14. Way to go!! You are amazing. What an experience. Can't wait to hear more.

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  15. Good job, glad you did it and didn't just chickened out. Okay call me crazy, when I saw that all I thought about wow that's awesome I will love to give that a go and then I wonder if she will do it again next year to beat her time. :)

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  16. AMAZING! wow!
    I could not do this!!!
    I hope you had no vertigo crap for this one!!!

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  17. Oh my gosh! That profile is insane!! Congratulations on finishing and living to tell us about it. Love the hat.

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  18. You are awesome! My favorite trails are still covered in snow but I have been running them anyway. It is so much harder! I think the farthest I have gone snow running is about 6 miles. I can't imagine running 20 more. You are my hero!

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  19. Huge CONGRATS! First for surviving, second for finishing.

    As your stats say it plainly, that race takes some guts.

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  20. First off, you look ADORABLE as a trucker! ;)

    2nd, i want the drugs you are taking to conquer a course like that...twice!

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  21. Just checking to see if you are still participating in the Virtual 5k - ends Saturday.

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  22. you rock!!! i'm so scared of this race you are describing solely b/c of the male winner's decrease in normal marathon time! eek!

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  23. spray painted arrows!
    o m gosh

    again CONGRATS

    D

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  24. Wow. Just...wow. You rock. That is one scary elevation chart...

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  25. Great Race Report and nicely done!

    Gotta Run,

    Mike
    www.facebook.com/WhyMarathon
    www.WhyMarathon.com

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