Rattlesnake Ridge 50K

I ran a 50K trail race this weekend. It was an eye-opener for me as I realized I need to start working on running up hills. I also realized I need to get serious about my mileage on the weeks that I don't have a race. Running 7 miles as my "long run" will no longer be enough!

At Rattlesnake Lake before the race started. Blue skies but cool enough to keep my jacket on.

The race started at 7:30 in the morning at Rattlesnake Lake. It was sunny and cool out. The course took us up to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain and down to Snoqualmie Point Park on the Rattlesnake Ridge Trail. At this point, approximately 12 miles into the run, we turned around and went back to the lake, up and over that same mountain. I had a bag of food and drink delivered to the turn around point, and I was glad to replenish my pack with it because I had consumed all of the nutrition I had on me in those first 12 miles.

Rattlesnake Ledge is about 2 miles up the trail from the lake and it is a very popular place (i.e. touristy) on the weekends. As I was getting close to the Ledge, I could hear the people. It sounded like the buzz you would hear in a crowded auditorium. It just seemed insane to me! From the Ledge down to the lake, I had to weave through hikers that were heading up and down the trail. Everyone was very courteous and move out of the way when I asked to pass, but thank goodness I wasn't racing for first place (as if that were even possible for me).

View near the top of Rattlesnake Mountain.

The trail was nice for running. Some rocks and roots but mostly smooth and wide.

Well maintained trail!

Had to pass through several of these gates.

Total elevation gain was 6,700 feet. But, wait, that was just the first 22 miles. I had 9 more miles to go. Those miles were out and back on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail--an old railroad grade that was turned into a recreational path. At this point, it was hot and sunny. About 25% of the trail was shaded, and I was tired and extremely thankful that it was flat compared to the hill I just came off. I was lonely and bored now, but motivated to finish this one!

Snoqualmie Valley Trail. It looks pretty in the picture but I felt like it went on F O R E V E R.

Here is my new friend on the trail. I was so lonely, but she didn't seem to care about me.

I am happy I got to do this race. I had wanted to do it for over a year. But now I've done it, and I don't think I need to do it again.

Photo courtesy of Yutaka Suzue.

Self Transcendence 7 Hour

I signed up for the Self-Transcendence 13-hour run on May 30th. But, the 13-hour race was cancelled due to lack of interest. Luckily, I was allowed to do the 7-hour race instead. On the day of the race, I was so thankful that I was doing the 7-hour since I completed my first 62 mile race just the week before!

This 7-hour race was small (16 solo runners and 3 teams) and it was a wonderful community to run with. The course was a flat mile and a half loop through a park on Lake Washington. One part of the loop was a lolly-pop and that gave us an opportunity to see each other more often on the course. Every participant was encouraging and supportive when we passed each other. And each time I rounded the corner and headed for the start/finish, the volunteer lap counters called me by name. That was so energizing! There was a table of food, the regular ultra run fare, at the start/finish. I also had a large cooler with food and drink that I accessed each lap. The cooler also made for a good seat when I decided to change my socks and shoes sometime during the race. Changing shoes probably wasn't necessary but it felt good anyway. My favorite part of the start/finish area was a leader board. I could see my progress, and how I was doing compared to the other runners.

This was the leader board and clock that told us how we were doing and how much longer we had to run.

My friend, Tami, joined me for 3 laps just as I was reaching my half-marathon mark. That's when my body usually wants to stop. I am not sure why 13 miles seems to be a low point for me but maybe my legs have a memory of my 52-half-marathon-in-a-year streak last year. I thought my family would show up later in the day but they never materialized. Their plan was to rock climb on a wall in the park, and cheer for me at the finish. My daughter was also signed up for a virtual 5K and we planned for her to do 2 laps with me to complete her virtual race. I heard they decided to go hit a bucket of golf balls at the driving range instead.

It was a sunny day, and hot for May in Seattle. I brought sunscreen and applied it once, albeit not very successfully. I got a sunburned. It reminds me that I need to get some spray-on sunscreen!

 

 

I started the race with a bottle full of Tailwind, a carbohydrate and electrolyte drink. I drank too much liquid that first hour and had to stop in the restroom to pee three times during the first couple of hours of the run. It was uncharacteristically warm out and I was over-cautious by drinking too much. Lesson learned--it's a fine line between dehydration and water logging myself.

After the race finished, I stood in the lake up to my waist to give myself an "ice bath." This was a recommendation from my new chiropractor. I think the lake has already warmed up enough that it didn't do much to ice my hips and legs. Then, we were treated to a delicious meal donated by Silence-Heart-Nest  Restaurant. Awards were handed out and I received a trophy for being the second woman. If I am still ultra running next year, I want to do this race again.

Dinner by the lake.

 

Maybe the lap counters cheered for me by name because it was written on my bib.

 

Finally, I headed home for family pictures. Reason: My cousin's daughter is in a 2-year commercial photography program at Seattle Central Community College. Our family was the subject of her classmate's family portrait assignment. Here are the results.