Squak Mountain Trail Run - 12K - Run


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Issaquah, Washington
United States
4th Dimension Racing
38F / 3C
Overcast
Total Time = 1h 22m 12s
Overall Rank = 9/57
Age Group = 30-39
Age Group Rank = 1/9
Pre-race routine:

I've had a lot going on this week as my cousin's memorial was on Saturday. A ton of family was in town and Thursday night I ended up out waaaaaaaaaaay too late with them.Beer report: "Another IPA" and the "Single Hop Pale" But it was totally worth it. However, I've already been a little under the weather so I came home a touch early from work Friday, got in bed and slept for a couple hourse, woke up for dinner then went to bed at 8:00 pm. J was super sweet and brought me an "EmergenC cocktail" which was just emergenC with a strawberry slice on the rim lol.

So, long story short, no beer :(
Event warmup:

I woke up quite groggy and still not feeling right. I don't usually allow myself to have cereal in the house because I am kind of addicted to it. I will rip through a box in two days, easy. Anyway, I happened to have bought some and I just couldn't stop at one bow. So I had 2...or was i 2 and a half? Anyway, my stomach hurt all the way up to the start of the race.

The lot was full when I got to the event so I had to park offsite. Which really, was no big deal as it allowed me to get a warmup jog into the park. I picked up my packet then ran some more. Maybe 3 miles total? Towards the end of the warmup I did some strides then headed down the trail to the start for the pre-race meeting.
Run
  • 1h 22m 12s
  • 7.46 miles
  • 11m 01s  min/mile
Comments:

I lined up near the front and listened to the meeting. Everything seemed pretty straight-forward and I had studied the course map pretty well. They counted down and we were off.

I immediately felt bad. I originally thought it was because I had been under the weather but now I don't know. This course was just plan hard! The climb was VERY steep on a gravel service road. About a half mile up we were directed to a side loop trail through May Valley. This was very technical single track that was quite grown over. The ferns draped over the trail so you couldn't really see the footing. Most of the time I was just hoping for the best. I worked my way up to 5th or 6th place overall. I didn't see another woman anywhere.

As it got steeper, I passed another couple of guys and must have been close to 3rd or 4th. The Valley Loop started to go downhill and we all sped up. It was even trickier to find your footing when running faster. Also, in this section alone there were at least 10 downed trees which you either had to hurdle or stop and climb.

Because I was going so quickly, trying to sight footing AND keep a good rhythm I totally missed my turnoff. I began back onto the loop again, moving uphill. I got about 1' down the course and decided I probably missed a turn. I turned around and got back on course but it cost me! I had to pass about 10 people and still didn't have the leaders back in sight.

Then, as we finished the lollipop and were headed back onto the service road I noticed my shoe was untied. Sighhhhhhhh. I knew I had to stop as we were waaaay too early in the race to leave it. I stopped and lost another 20 seconds or so.

There were now a few miles of steady steep climbing on the double wide service road. It was gravel and in reasonable shape. I just put my head down and went to work.

I tried not to focus too much on what or who was up ahead. I just got into a mental zone and kept repeating to myself "DO.NOT.STOP.RUNNING" About a mile in I started passing all the same people I had in May valley and was finally working myself up into my original position. The climb was some of the most challenging running I had ever done, yet is was soooooo slow.

Everyone was doing run walk intervals. I reeled them in one after another. ALL of them encouraging me (which is the awesome thing about trail racing.) Finally I was in my original position with only a few ahead. I kept pushing and as we approached the aid station I saw a man hiking on the trail and he was walking backwards because it was so steep! He looked at me, like I was a complete nut case and said, "How do you do that?" I just smiled and told him I have no idea. Although I was thinking to myself, "Dude, I am not the one walking up a mountain backwards!"

I was only 4 back from the lead. The peak of the mountain was in sight. I made one more pass as I made it to the top.

I had made it all the way to the top without walking! Well, except for my shoe tie stop. I was extremely proud of myself.

After the peak we started a long descent and it wasn't long before a couple of the guys passed me. I have really been working on descending, and I have gotten much better at it but I have a lot of opportunity for improvement to say the least.

The downhill was all on single track. It was VERY technical and some spots were incredibly steep. In fact there was one hill I considered sitting on my rear and sliding down.

After about two thirds of a mile or so of descending we hit another uphill. Another uphill? How can we possibly go up anymore? But we did.. Almost 500 feet in fact! It allowed me to catch all the way up o the guys again, however I stayed behind them rather than passing.

We crested that final hill then it was all down.

Down, down, down, down. for about 1800 feet.

I thought I was doing pretty well. I had a good rhythm and was staying up on my toes. My tunrover was quick (although I need to keep working on this)

Still, I saw no other women.

That being said, I did not relax. I did NOT want to lose the OA women's win because I suck at downhilling. So, I pushed hard. TO the point where I was a little uncomfortable and out of control. I was hot on the tail of one of the guys who had passed me. I was just out of reach but I was using him as a rabbit to push me a little out of my comfort zone.

Then out of nowhere he gets tripped up and went down HARD. He curled into a little ball as I approached him. I thought for sure he broke his leg.

I asked him if he was alright and he said, "sort of" and offered to help him up but he said he wanted to sit for a minute. I asked if I could get him some help of any kind and he said that he really wanted to finish under his own power. So I let him be. He assured me he wanted to again so I took off.

I'm not really sure what the right call is here. I guess I can't really help someone if they don't want it. And I totally get that.

There was a little more single track and then we opened back up onto the gravel road, made a quick right then a left into the winding finish trail. I cruised into the finish feeling exhausted but accomplished. That mountain was a beast!

I waited around the finish for the guy who fell to make sure he made it and he did. His ankle/leg was VERY swollen but he finished with a smile and thanked me. He said he just wanted to wait for the swelling and adrenaline to set it so he could finish. Sigh, boys ;)
What would you do differently?:

I just need to keep practicing. There is ALWAYS room for improvement in uphill running and for me, lots in downhill too.

Not miss my turn, tie my shoes better


Post race
Warm down:

I jogged around a bit and then up towards the start where I had ditched my long sleeve then back to my car for about 2 total.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Suck at downhills still
Need to continue to improve fitness
Missing the turn
Tying Shoe
Still not 100% Healthy



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Last updated: 2015-03-11 12:00 AM
Running
01:22:12 | 07.46 miles | 11m 01s  min/mile
Age Group: 1/9
Overall: 9/57
Performance: Average
Course: This race is the most challenging in the series. The race has a total gain of 2,800' for the 12K. The single track is extremely technical with 10-15 trees down on course.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized?
Events on-time?
Lots of volunteers?
Plenty of drinks?
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5]