Training Log Archive: Work4justice

Part of tent tear down and assembly...only 240 of them!!!

Volunteered at finish.

TransRockies Run3 2015: One of the most amazing and inspiring experiences I’ve had.

One of my new year’s resolutions this year was to become stronger on foot, so jumped into the deep end and signed up to do the TransRockies. As a quick description, TransRockies is a stage trail race that I would rate as intermediate to advanced for anyone who plans to run most of the way. I had been going back and forth on whether I wanted to go for the Run3 or the Run6, and I decided on the Run3. I know there are plusses and minuses to any extended distance, but thought I had a fighting chance with a stage race over an ultra. I am now realizing it is hard to compare the two. My overall strategy was to have fun, stay aware of how I was feeling and stay on top of nutrition and any maladies. Pain tolerance became a big issue, but pressed through that.

Just getting there is a big deal, and see brief notes below if you plan to go, they may help!

We toed the line at 8:30a on August 11 in Buena Vista, CO for Stage One. Very nervous, but excited to start. So many people! So weird to be around all these people.



Michelle and I ran together to CP1, which included a bit of a climb and then a flat trail, which was great for settling in. Once I got out of TA, I became very dizzy, tripped and fell. So glad she was there, and I sent her on her way so I could gather myself. In hindsight, I think I struggled a lot with my blood pressure in elevation. When I was teetering the scales at 240, my BP was 210/150. I went to the doctor for a physical a few weeks ago and it was 117/78. She reduced my BP meds, but we agreed I would stay at the current levels while in elevation. And, if this was part of the dizziness (I think it was) I was still safe with my original strategy and kept myself back from the dizzy point for the rest of the race.

At around mile 10 on the first day, I started running with a couple of women at my pace, which was great. Although, I didn’t have much to add to the conversation when they asked what races I have done. I shared about AR. But then they pressed, “what about run races?” I thought about it, and shared about the Sgt Preston Yukon 5k I did in Muskegon, Michigan. “That’s it?!?” Well, I did do well in my age group. #thankyouverymuch

Teri from Colorado Springs was AWESOME. She gives Kyle Peter and JD Eskelsen a run for their money on the red white and blue garb! She works for the US Olympic committee. She and I ran a good 2/3rd of the Run3. The trails were very sandy, and then all at once rocky. The views were spectacular, and I think on this stage, it was the cliffs and rocks that I loved.

The end to the days were mostly road run slogs…but I seemed to perk up on those 3-4 mile ends. The craggy trails were very tough for me…but day 1 finished and I came in just BARELY under my goal time, and there was more mileage to boot. Woot!



Michelle and I made it through Day 1!



Stage 2

We toed the line at 8:00a on August 12 in Vicksburg, CO for Stage Two.



I was SO NERVOUS. I had never climbed a mountain, scared to death of the heights and wondered if I would have a repeat altitude issue. Fortunately lovely Teri was right there with me for the whole climb. Not gonna lie, the only time I looked up on the climb was in this picture!



But I made it to the top and was relieved!




We got to about 12,200 I think. Hope’s Pass. I think it’s a highlight of the Leadville 100 ultra as well. Running down is no joke either. Very loose and craggy. At the bottom there was a nice rolling trail so I was able to maintain a steady pace there…unlike going done I was hopping around hoping to not turn an ankle or something. I used one pole often to break the downs. I paced in a dentist from Chicago and 2 Canadian women. I always sprinted at the finish :) and the two women passed me! It was a running joke all week. Get it? Running?

At the end Michelle and Cooper and Kim and the kids were there cheeringme in! I sat right down. I needed to feel grounded. Then got up, and got on the shuttle back to the camp. It was an amazing day, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Stage 3

We toed the line at 8:00a on August 13 in Leadville, CO for Stage Three, my final stage.



The night before I had myself convinced to run as hard and fast as I could, but when I awoke in the morning, I wondered, to what end? So, I found Teri and told her that I planned to take it easy that day and just ENJOY. And we did. There were 2 climbs that really didn’t bother me, and we had a great time going downhill. Quads got testy about the last 6-7 miles, but I knew it was just pain and nothing else so we kept at it. The pine forests and the forest floor are beautiful out there. Lots of water falls and just beauty all around. But nothing beats the smiles this stage put on my face:



This finish we could see right across the field, but we had to run all the way around it, which stunk because in AR we would have just run straight to it, crazy I tell ya.



I did it! Sat in the creek and drank a Michelob Ultra Light to celebrate! I had hoped for a more solid mid pack finish, fell a bit short of that landed 36th out of 68 starts. But overall, so glad that I did it and finished!

There are three more stages that Michelle, Kim and Jessie took on. In fact, Kim and Jessie were on the podium every day for a women’s team and Michelle actually got faster as the week pressed on. Amazing!!! I met some super wonderful people, Annie Jean (Open Women 6 day 3rd place), Steve Meyer, JD Eskelsen, Teri Hedgpeth, and so many others I don’t know all their names! I am so grateful for their friendship and advice during the race AND into the future! And a big thanks to Mark Voit, Mindy Fernando and Jason Urckfitz for your running advice and encouragement. And to my peeps who I emailed and texted as often as I could about results. And, not a lot of wildlife spottings…I think there were too many people. Wore Hoka's but I think the Speedcrosses would have been better. They just weren't broken in enough for my liking.

The race appealed to me because it had so many elements of things I hadn’t done before that I wanted/needed to do. I have wanted to be in elevation to see how I would do, as well, I am afraid of heights and wanted to reel that in some, and I have never been to Colorado and wanted to do that too!
Brief notes if you want to do this race (or any stage race):
1. Logistics are huge. Pre and post arrangements are important to nail down several months out unless you live in a camper or your car. Traversing from point to point is significant. And once you are packed, take out half your stuff. The veteran stage racers didn’t smell so hot at the end, but no one cares. Lots of rinsing out of items. Plan that you will eat food that you aren’t used to…and it forced me to try some things that I plan to use in my race strategy.
2. Being an experienced runner counts for a lot, for this race organization is so supportive, that you will cross the finish line every day. I was so impressed with how they encouraged EVERYONE. Also, the medical staff are awesome.
3. Cell service drops often and at a couple of the overnight stays in camp there is little to no service.
4. The tents aren’t water proof beyond a light rain or light dew. I brought my backpacking tent. While it was a bit more work, worth it in the end!
5. Stages 4, 5 and 6 had a bit more road running as I understood it.
6. Poles were helpful, and some people had awkward/unintended results when they used them and had not practiced. (Glad we did!) I would say that several of the top finishers used them. I guess this is a hot topic in the ultra community.
7. The volunteer gig is a lot of hard work. Glad I did it though. Learned a lot and heard lots of stories, and advice!
8. Food is awesome and plentiful.
9. Sun is very hot. I was slathering sunscreen on all the time. Except when there were rain and storms.
10. Medical personnel were AWESOME. No blister too small they say!
11. The mileage will vary from the published mileage up until the day before. Re-routes happen because of wildlife, weather, Vail owners are unhappy...you know.

C • That was worth the wait! S... 12

https://www.strava.com/activities/368387655
Garmin died after a mile. Boo.

Event: TransRockies 3 day
 

Race report coming!

C • Anxiously waiting for your ... 3

Awesome. Not feeling as affected by the altitude. Staying at 9000, but heading into some pockets of elevation tomorrow. Then Tuesday off we go.