This race is in Eastern Washington which has a much more dry/hot climate than the Puget Sound area where I live. I wasn't sure how the change in climate would effect me.

I lined up near the front just as they were counting down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO!
And we were off! There was one female in front of me, the rest were male. I kept steady and watched the female. Trying to decided what kind of runner she was, how seriously I should take her as someone to pace off of, someone to work with, someone to compete with. It was hard to tell but I had a feeling she had just lined herself up too far and was starting out quick.

I decided not to make any kind of move and just worked my way into a comfortable pace. The first half mile or so was on an asphalt road for a short out and back. As we were coming back I passed her and was now #1 female.

We took a hard right and immediately were faced with a very challenging ridge climb. The climb was very steep and the running surface was VERY rocky. I went into climbing mode with short calculated strides and put my head down.

It was windy out as well (of course.) I believe the sustained wind up there is typically between 10-30 mph. I think it was at the lower end for our race. Maybe 15?

We were huffing and puffing and not even halfway up. This was HARD. I was definitely feeling all the hiking we had done the day before. But I kept plugging away steadily.

Because the 10K race didn't start until 10:30 am and the sun was out, the RD had told us to keep a close eye out for rattlesnakes. This in combination with keeping a close eye on the VERY challenging rocky terrain gave my mind something to focus on other than the steep incline.

I made it to the peak of the mountain and they announced I was the first female to the top. We ran along the ridge which was a little more flat and circled a huge solar array. I tried not to geek out too much and keep focused on the race. As we rounded the panels I was able to look over and see who was behind me. No one seemed to be within striking distance.

The single track opened back up onto a dirt service road and we began heading down hill. My goal for this race was to really work on my downhill running. My coach has been walking me through some drills to help.

I kept my strides quick and tried to be "one with the hill," gliding over it. Basically just touching my foot lightly and letting the gravity do the work. I passed one of the guys that was ahead of me and was very pleased. I never pass anyone on the downhill!

We took a sharp turn back onto single track and dipped down into a gully which we would follow for a few miles.

The gully was incredibly tight single track with huge rocks to navigate. I was so happy that I had decided on my trail shoes. Normal trainers would have been terrible.

We quickly weaved our way through the sage brush, jumping over the larger rocks and occasional tumbleweeds. The course marking was the perfect distance.

Then suddenly the trail breaks out into a wide open field and I completely lost the trail. My running turned into jogging and then a full stop. Shortly the guy I passed came up behind me, also losing the trail. We decided to work together to find it. I went left and me right. Nothing. So I ran back uphill to the last marker I saw then came back down. Nothing.

I scanned downhill and saw a barely visible old jeep trail that was grown over. I told him I was just going to follow that. We both did. Then another guy came up to us and followed us. After headed down a little way we finally saw the little pink markers and got back on track.

Once on track and accelerated again and we were off. I was really focused on the ground in front of me and constantly scanning for rattlesnakes. Then I heard a really low rumbling, like thunder. I looked up and to my right was a heard of elk. First it was just one then maybe 12! They were running along side us, maybe 15 feet over. They passed us then cut down to the left into the gully we were running in and cut in front of us. It was one of the most beautiful things I had seen! One of the guys behind me had his phone on him and was able to snap a photo just before they disappeared over the ridge. So cool! (see photo below)

Our trail again opened up into a wide field and then a long flat section into the last aid station before the big ascent.

We immediately started climbing. It must have been around a 10% grade minimum and maybe up to 15 or so the entire way. It was just a slow, slow, slow grind. To add to the challenge again, it was really rocky so every time you took a (careful) step you slid a little. It was also starting to get warm. I had decided to wear a loose long sleeve because of the sustained winds, especially at the top. I wouldn't say I regret it but I was getting warm.

The air was very dry, cold and thin. Every single step felt like a battle. I soooo wanted to walk. I looked up and saw a tiny little dot (the lead male) on a switchback and felt deflated. But I sucked it up and kept moving, one foot in front of the other. It hardly seemed like running.

Before I knew it I was in the spot where I had seen the leader and we were approaching the finishing last big climb. The trail wound around and then met up with the road that brought us into the finish. I felt like I could finally open up my stride a bit and run like a human being. I pushed hard into the finish.

Well, I would have felt a little more fresh without all the adventuring the day before but I wouldn't take it back.

I may have ditched the long sleeve after the first descent.


These mountain runs are SO HARD. They leave me feeling so completely spent I can't quite describe it. I am really happy of course that I won, and feel good about my ascending...in this case even my descending but I just keep feeling like it shouldn't be so hard? Every race is harder than the next. But I don't know that I walk away feeling like I conquered the mountain or the race. I am always just so surprised at how hard I had to work and how slowly I ran.

So, I don't know what I need to do or why I feel a little inadequate/defeated at the end. I guess I just need to keep working hard and improving my goat skills. I don't know.

They had free beer, chili and cornbread at the end! I got all of the above and sat in the sun with my niece and my friend (who so nicely watcher her while I raced) and listened to the music. Then we got more beer and went on a tour of the wind/solar facility.

They did an award ceremony where I won a shot glass for being fastest woman to the top of the mountain and then first overall female where I won a pint glass and beer. Could this race be any more inline with my values?!?!?!?! :)


Keep working on my overall fitness, ascending and descending.

I don't know how I can be so happy with a race but also feel like I've got so much work to do!


Best course/volunteers/post race!