Starlight Overnight

April 23, 2016

What a fabulous idea! Running trails at night. This was a free run (not race) that was dreamed up by Gretchen Walla, and supported by Kerri and Matt Stebbins of Endless Trails (a nonprofit organization that's all about takin' care of the trails). It was also a fundraiser for Endless Trails. The aid station was a potluck - we brought our favorite aid station food to share with everyone.

The run was at Flying Horseshow Ranch near Cle Elum. My family stayed in a cabin overnight at the ranch while I was on the trail. Although the course was open until 5 am, I ran until 3 am (after about 28.6 miles) before I called it a night. Before I slid into my sleeping bag, I silently grabbed clean clothes and soap from the cabin and headed to the showers. After I took a 3 hour nap, everyone gathered at the mess hall for pancakes, sausage, and leftovers from the aid station.



The run is about ready to start! It was 8 pm.

 

Coming through the aid station after the first 2.6 mile lap.

 

 

I finished 2 laps before darkness set in.

 

Passing through the aid station after dark.

The trail was marked with glow sticks hanging from tree branches. I did not see them until I was pretty close to them. There were also pin flags with reflective tape. Those little beacons really glowed in the light of my headlamp! I could see them from many yards away. At one point, I was running behind someone with their headlamp on very bright. Their beam illuminated the ground so much that everything else around was pitch black. That made it really hard for me to see anything as I followed them. I had my headlamp on it's lowest setting. I couldn't wait to pass so that my blindness could dissipate and the forest around me could emerge once again.

 

After midnight, it got very quiet. There were only a few runners still on the trial. I didn't see a single runner on my last 2 laps. It was peaceful! Or maybe I was just falling asleep. At one point, the clouds separated and revealed the moon. I turned my headlamp off and ran for a short time using the shadows and my other senses to guide me.

 

The next morning, after a shower and 3 hours of sleep. I won this awesome sweatshirt in a drawing!!

 

Before the start of the run, we stopped near Suncadia for a trail ride on horseback. Maybe not the smartest thing to do before an ultra run, but we had a lot of fun!

 

 

 

Yakima Skyline 50K



(Photo by Glenn Tachiyama)

 

Last Saturday, I completed the Yakima Skyline Rim 50K. I am still coming down off of the high! This is a must-do race for anyone who wants a top-of-the-world experience. The experience didn't come for free though, you have to earn it! As advertised, the course was "with numerous monster climbs and crazy descents in and out of creek valleys, and some ridge running (with spectacular views on a clear day!) thrown in for good measure." I didn't expect anything less than great from a Rainshadow Running event, and I wasn't disappointed!

 

Elevation chart from my Garmin.

 

 My family and I headed out from Seattle on Thursday. We stopped overnight in Suncadia (our first visit to this semi-newly developed area complete with two golf courses and water slides). Then, we moved on to Ellensburg and checked into the Holiday Inn Express. The hotel was a great place to stay because they served a really good, complimentary breakfast starting at 6:30am. I was able to eat a solid pre-race meal before heading to the starting line.

 

When we arrived at the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area I was feeling good. I hadn't forgotten to pack anything before we left Seattle, and I was able to go number two before leaving the hotel room. But wait, there were two things you must show when checking in to get your race number: 1) 40 ounces of water and 2) your ID. I left my ID at the hotel room! Faithful husband drove back to Ellensburg and grabbed my driver's license. Meanwhile, the volunteer coordinator knew me because I was on her list to volunteer the next day during the 25K race, and she let me pick up my race number.

 

The race started. We crossed the Yakima River on a suspension bridge and headed up on a single-track trail. It was straight up, 2,100 feet of up, but I was still feeling fresh. At 2.2 miles, we reached the top and turned onto a "jeep road." We were in the sun and it's heating up. There will be no shade trees the whole day to escape under. To say the road was rocky doesn't quite describe it. There were big rocks, small rocks, jagged rocks, smooth rocks, and rocks that rolled under foot. Ah, but the views . . . they were breathtaking!

 

Start of race

Crossing the bridge.

 





 

Heading to the top of the ridge.

Mt Stuart.

Looking out from the ridge, I saw Mt. Stuart and the mountains of the Enchantments. Then I saw Mt. Adams, and then Mt. Rainier! And then I noticed the flowers were blooming everywhere, even the cacti were blooming.

 

 

 

Breathtaking views.

 

I had to remind myself to stop taking pictures and get moving. After all, I needed to make it to the half-way point by the cut-off time of 12:30 pm. I made sure I didn't fall behind on eating and drinking. I had Gu and Electobytes in my pockets, and Tailwind in my bottles. I also carried water in a bladder in my pack. I started running downhill, back to the Yakima River and to the first aid station. I am usually excited about downhills and I like to bomb down them. But this was intense. It was rocky, twisty-turny, and butt-sliding steep. We had all gone 8 miles when we arrived at the aid station. I didn't stay long because I had another 1,900 foot climb and descent before reaching the half-way point and turn-around.

 

The second climb was right along the Yakima River with more spectacular views. Then, I started to head down to the turn-around and the second aid station. The trail seemed to go down forever. It was relentless. People started passing me on their way back up. Oh my goodness, I had to climb back up this monster! I started to consider slowing down so that I would miss the cut-off time and get pulled off the course. It would be my first DNF (did not finish). No, I couldn't let that happen so I pushed on. The volunteers at this station, same as station one, were so eager to help fill my bladder with water. I also picked up my drop bag and pulled out a can of Red Bull. It gives you wings, right? I was depending on it. This station was managed by my friend, Ross Comer. Thanks to his encouragement, I made it out of the aid station just before the cut-off time! 15.5 miles down and another 15.5 miles to go.

 

This is where the race got mind-numbing for me. I was still eating and drinking, so I knew I wouldn't bonk. My body was going to do just fine but my head needed a little more convincing. I decided I would probably not made it back to aid station one (mile 23) before the cut-off time of 3:00 pm and I was fine with that. You get to ride in a raft across the river if you quit at that aid station. That sounded like fun! However, I reached the aid station AT the cut-off time, and filled my bottle and kept on running. I couldn't quit now! I only had 8 miles and 2,100 feet up and down to go.

 

Suddenly, the pressure was off and I felt relaxed again. The climb up was slow and I did a lot of walking on that ridge. When I turned off the road and onto the single track for the final leg of the race, I shouted for joy. And then there was more joy--I could see my son heading up the trail to meet me! And behind him was daughter and husband. They ran the rest of the way down with me.

 

My little man, heading up to meet me.



The finish line came quickly. The post-race food included hand-made, wood-fired pizza. It was delicious and satisfying, especially after ingesting gels all day long. I didn't get to enjoy the post-race entertainment and camaraderie because 1) I finished so late in the day and I think things were winding down, and 2) my family wasn't interested in sticking around any longer. Besides, we would be back the next morning to volunteer at the registration table for the 25K race. We headed back to the hotel where I took an ice bath.