Kat's Race Story

While some WVJS'ers were racing 5-minute miles at the Shriners 8K race in Sacramento on Saturday June 25, I was climbing stairs and jumping over an elevated, live snake's head in the foggy mist on the Dipsea trail (this is for real folks!). This 13.7 mile Double Dipsea race had about 4500 feet of climbing, so I jogged/walked it as part of my training for Pike's Peak Marathon. Below is my account of my experience before, during & after the race.

My Saturday started at 4:00 AM in San Jose. Just like any marathon day, I woke extra early to have my power breakfast of chocolate-espresso protein smoothie, oatmeal with banana & walnuts and ice-coffee (for the road). We hit the road at about 5:30 AM and arrived at Stinson Beach at about 7:30 AM after traveling on the very hilly, winding road that lead us to Stinson Beach from Mill Valley. This drive gave me a taste of what I was up against, steep terrain!

The fog hugged the ground thick and heavy as each age/sex group readied themselves for their handicapped start. When it was my turn, I lined up at the start with 5 other 50-54 females. My leopard gaiters prompted some comments from the waiting younger runners. As we took off, I immediately struck up a conversation with one of the ladies who was from Mammath Lakes...she had run Pike's Peak marathon twice but had the advantage of living at a higher elevation so her training had aclimated her for the elevated marathon. Needless to say, she recommended that I arrive early at Manitou Springs, which sits at 8,200 feet elevation, so that my body could adjust....just what others have been telling me all along. But early in this race, she and the other women in my group took off, leaving me in the dust.

The stair climbing started early in the race. As I huffed and puffed up the first series of stairs, I felt myself breathing ever more heavily and then thought about the oxygen deficit at Pike's Peak. I thought to myself...this is a BIG challenge and good training for Pike's Peak. Younger, nimbler runners started passing me early on but I convinced myself that this was just a training run for me, not a race.

The onslaught of runners passing me was relentless as I kept alternately walking and jogging. My focus was intense as I looked down at the rutted, root infested, gravel & dirt trail. Every step was carefully placed to avoid a mishap (such as falling). I thought I was moving well when suddenly...BONK!!!...I had bumped my head on a low-lying tree branch...a very thick one indeed...like a tree trunk that had keeled over across the trail. Startled, but not injured, I continued along the Dipsea Trail that would take me to Mill Valley. The downhill sections gave me a cardio break but it tested my leg strength, balance and flexibility.

Arriving in Mill Valley, I used the Ladies room. As I was walking toward the door, a male runner in front of me opened the door and went inside. As I came in after him, he looked startled and then said "Oh, this is the women's" and immediatly left. I asumed that he had just became disoriented after scaling so many sets of stairs...POOR fellow...he still had to get back to Stinson Beach!!! Pausing at a picnic table to stretch my aching butt, I noticed a man next to me removing his shoes....said he was trying to remove pebbles that lodged themselves inside his shoes....oh, the hazards of trail running! I told him that gaiters would remedy that situation...I'm surprised that I was the only one with gaiters...and leopard print to boot!!!

I started back for the second half after downing some power gel/gu (whatever that stuff is that makes my hands and other portions of me sticky) and water. Heard someone yell..."Halfway there!" as I started toward the Mill Valley steps that would lead me back to Stinson Beach. I was determined to stay focussed and strong for the task at hand and to avoid the same mistake I had made earlier in the first half when I bumped my head on the low-lying horizontal tree trunk. I felt energized on my way back...had an adrenalin high...soon forgot about the bump on the head...then....BONK!!!...my momentum abruply disrupted, I screamed in pain, "%@#~^***". I felt like one of the three stooges...STUPID me...as I regathered myself and continued on. Lesson learned...look up or straight ahead...even if it means tripping on a root. Dammed if you do...dammed if you don't!

Anyway, still energized, I continued on (momentum re-established), stopping at each aid station for gu/gel and water...picking up several runners to follow back in after leaving Cardiac Hill aid station. I knew I was close to my goal...could smell and taste the finish line...hear the crowds roar as I approached. Was following a young male runner in baggy red shorts when suddenly he cried out, "SNAKE!", and stopped dead in his tracks. I also stopped instantly...good thing I wasn't tailgating him. We both stood there for several seconds and just watched this snake whose tail was hidden in the brush but whose head was out in the middle of the trail...uplifted and ready to strike? I asked if it was a rattler and he said he didn't think it was...and then he asked, "Shall we just jump over it?", at which I replied, "You go first." He started running and jumped the snake and I followed him. I felt relieved that we survived without incidence.

As I left the Dipsea Trail and entered the final road home, I felt a rush of elation when I spotted the Finish Line in the distance with people standing by. As I approached, I began to sprint, pumping my arms wildly as the crowd roared, and then threw my arms into the air in a "V" symbol (for Victory) as I crossed the finish line.

Relieved that I had finally arrived...I heard the commentator yell my name and my time...3:05:38. Not bad for a snail like me, I thought. This is a race I need to do next year...just to see if I remember that low-lying, horizontal tree trunk!

Kat ^|^