Running With Sugars

Author: Elizabeth

  • Shadow of the Giants 50k – June 2011

    Shadow of the Giants is usually the highlight of my spring racing season. It’s the race I return to year after year because of the atmosphere, the beautiful scenery, the saucy race director, and the chance to escape LA and play in one of the country’s most scenic areas. I was especially looking forward to it this year because my recent races have been going so well and I intended to try and break my recently-set 50k PR on the course.

    But instead of coming on the blog to (modestly!) gloat about another awesome race, I instead have to type those three letters I’ve never written before: DNF. For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish a race, and to say I have mixed feelings about it is to put it mildly. But let me back up…

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  • Leona Divide 50 Mile Video! April 2011

    I finally finished the video for the Leona Divide 50 miler! I cannot believe it took me a month to put it together. When is someone going to start paying me to do these videos so I can prioritize them over my real work? It was really fun to watch over all the footage and re-live the race. There may not be stripey knee socks like my last race video, but there are still some sweet dance moves on display! Other bonuses: sexy rockstar wigs, creepy dolls along the trail, and I discover the next big running superfood. Check it out.

    In other news, I’m getting really excited about Shadow of the Giants this weekend. I finally booked our hotel room (procrastinator much?) and our weekend plans are set. Word is that the race was almost cancelled because of impassable trails due to snow and fallen trees, but Big Baz found a way. I’m hoping to shoot video during the race (you know, so I can edit it together by August) but it looks like it might be pretty rainy, so I’m going to have to play it by ear. See you on the other side!

  • Whoo’s in El Morro 50k – May 2011

     

    There’s no other way to say this: I had a fantastic time at the Whoo’s In El Moro 50k this past weekend! I tried to get in last year, but the entry field was so small it sold out before I had a chance to register. So I guess you could say I’ve been looking forward to this race for over a year. I wasn’t sure how I would do, since I haven’t exactly been taking it easy the past few weeks, but I ended up feeling really good and setting a Personal Record for the 50k distance. Plus, I was able to definitively answer this most important question:

    Word.

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  • Chino Hills 20-Mile Trail “Race” – May 2011

    I’ve really been struggling with what to say about this race, and how much I can, or should, complain. One of the things I love about trail running is the bare-bones ethos, the rugged nature of the sport, the fact that we carry our own water and duct tape our blisters and suck it up instead of crying it out. I love that there’s beer at the finish line instead of fancy Mylar blankets. (And I don’t even drink beer! But I still love what it represents.) The low-key nature is a huge selling point, so it feels a little disingenuous to complain about this race for being too low-key.

    But, at the end of the day, this race was not satisfying, was not particularly enjoyable as a race (although it was a lovely casual run) and it made me think long and hard about what I expect from a “race” in general. Here are a few of the ideas I had about what constitutes race necessities:

    • Organization: a clear leader, who can answer questions, provide guidance, and get the race started (on time!)
    • A well-marked course so runners don’t get lost
    • Adequate and well-spaced aid stations
    • Safety precautions in place for runners

    Now, there are a lot more things that add to the fun, like goodie bags, awesome food at aid stations, post-run picnics, etc. But these four things are, to me, the necessities required to have a successful race. And I’m sorry to say I don’t think the Chino Hills 20-mile race delivered on any count.

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  • Leona Divide 50 Miler – April 2011

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    This year’s Leona Divide was possibly the best race of my life. I say this not because my time was great (it wasn’t—it was 30 minutes longer than my previous 50-mile time, and hours behind the race winners) and not because I felt amazing during the whole race (I didn’t—hello, crash at mile 43.) But something about this race changed the way I think of myself, and my limits, and my abilities, and I finished with a euphoric feeling that has stayed with me these past few weeks. This same feeling is making it really difficult to write a coherent race report, though, so bear with me.

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