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Race Report – Girls on the Run 5k

June 10, 2012 by Helen 4 Comments

Girls on the Run – Sierras exists to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” They host fun family running events twice a year on the Truckee River Legacy Trail [update: full trail description posted here]. Runs include a 5k fun run for all ages and a 10k race.

I have run the events several times with and without our kids, and have always really enjoyed the experience. The October event is specifically a costume affair, while the June run is more of an “anything festive goes” type event. Last June I ran the 10k on a whim and was lucky to experience winning a race for the first (and probably last!) time amongst a small field of nine runners. In October our 7-year-old daughter, Clara, joined me in the 5k and we had a fabulous time running in fairy costumes.

Clara wasn’t too interested in running the 5k this year until I suggested that she might wear her newly acquired (hand-me-down) dance tutu. That, combined with the incentive of several girlfriends from swim team also running, clinched the deal. Since Daddy had a long training run on the schedule this morning, it meant that our 5-year-old son, Alex, would be part of the team.

Registration

All children runners must be accompanied by an adult runner. My charges for the run included four runners: Clara, Alex, and two of Clara’s girlfriends. They were some of the younger runners out there, as the school-based program accepts girls in grades 3 through 8. We registered on-site and received goodie bags and race bibs. Everyone in the 5k run gets race bib #1 – so much fun!! Race day turn-out was apparently higher than expected this year, as they ran out of #1 bibs (and later cups at the water station), but the volunteers improvised and everything seemed to work out OK.

Volunteers paint faces and do hair before the run

Volunteers help participants who arrive early enough by painting faces and decorating hair. Next, everyone is invited to warm-up with a short pre-race Zumba class. Clara and Alex skipped the Zumba warm-up in favor of  the “playground” warm-up. The runs started at 10am, but it was definitely worth getting there at least an hour early to enjoy the festivities and play on the unique playground at the park.

The Course

Both distances start and finish at Riverview Sports Park in Truckee. The course leaves the park on the dirt circling the sports fields toward a well-hidden connector to the Truckee River Legacy Trail [update: full trail description posted here]. The 5k course heads left toward Downtown Truckee, then turns around at the pedestrian bridge. The water station is positioned at the turn-around point. Today was warm and the course offers very little shade. I’m glad that I carried water for the kids – our team of four (plus me) easily went through two 20-ounce bottles.

All of our little team ran for the first three-quarters of a mile. They seemed to enjoy the rush of a race start. Clara liked the attention that her tutu garnered, and both Clara and Alex enjoyed huge cheers from Girls on the Run Coach Denise Kowal. Once the crowd thinned we slowed to a walk, but I instructed the girls to run as soon as we saw their Moms on the course. They happily complied.

Everyone is #1 at Girls on the Run!

After that, we walked and jogged most of the way to the turn-around. Alex (our 5-year-old) took off ahead of us at the turn around. I spent about 10 minutes running back-and-forth – trying to confirm for sure if he was ahead of us or behind us. Finally I caught up with him and he was fine – not worried about us, as he was still in the midst of many familiar, friendly faces. He was certainly hot and tired by that point.

The kids struggled to finish the last mile, which ends with a climb back into the park. Spectators and friends helped them rally, and they ultimately all finished with big smiles. All runners received t-shirts at the finish.

Click here for an interactive map and GPS data for the Girls on the Run 5k course (June 2012).

Click here for an interactive map and GPS data for the Girls on the Run 10k course (June 2011).

Overall

This is a great family run at a beautiful and fun venue, and a wonderful way for the girls in the program to celebrate their potential. Alex was definitely at his limit with the 5k distance – I think it’d be even more fun if they would consider adding a very short course for younger siblings, as with the Truckee Running Festival. Medals are only given to girls in the school-based program. We might suggest skipping the t-shirts and instead supplying medals for all the 5k finishers.

I highly recommend the 5k for families with children over the age of 5, and I also encourage you to learn more about and support Girls on the Run – Sierras.

Kids love the novelty of the play structure at Riverview Sports Park

Trail Run Packing List

May 31, 2012 by Helen 4 Comments

What to take with you on a trail run.

Your trail running pack should include everything you need for your run plus some things that hopefully you won’t need. When I started trail running, I searched the Internet for advice on what to take. I couldn’t find a list specific to trail running, but I found some hiking advice that got me started. My current list strikes a balance between practicality for running and emergency safety.

I have thought about what it might be like to be injured on the trail or get lost enough to unexpectedly spend an evening or even all night in the forest. I carry a couple of basic emergency items such as a headlamp, knife, and a windbreaker – all very miniature. It’s tempting to ditch the windbreaker on a beautiful Tahoe day, but I know that the most beautiful day in the mountains generally ends up with a pretty cold night.

Preparing my pack for a long trail run

I carry a few other items that are seldom used, but it sure is nice to have them when needed. These things include bandaids, wet wipes, and a little stash of toilet paper in a plastic baggie. (The baggie is so that you can pack it out.)

Plastic baggies are wildly useful – to protect your stuff against not only rain, but also sweat, accidental spills, and oozing gel. The snack-size zip bags are my favorite. They are useful for: use as a running wallet, cell phone protection, gel packets (full and sticky empties), and map protection. Put everything that you don’t plan on using (i.e. your emergency items) in a quart-size zip bag. This will keep them organized and dry.

I use a Nathan hydration vest, so I like to consider which items I’ll need accessible during the run and put the rest in the back. I can carry everything I need for a 4-5 hour run, including water, depending on the heat. Five hours is about the longest unsupported run that I’ve done, so that is the limit of my experience here. I do omit some items when I head out on shorter trail runs where I’m very familiar with the route.

Essential Items

  • Phone (in baggie if necessary)
  • Full water bladder
  • Food for during run
  • Food for picnic stop
  • Electrolyte capsules
  • Lip balm
  • Trail maps (in baggie)
  • Handkerchief?

Running “Wallet”

  • ID
  • $20 cash
  • Credit card

In Case of Emergency

  • Light shell / windbreaker [Update 3/25/2013] Or mylar emergency blanket
  • Headlamp / flashlight
  • Knife
  • [Update 3/25/2013] Emergency fire starter with built-in whistle

First aid items

  • Benadryl
  • Bandaids
  • Wet wipes
  • TP in baggie
Sure glad I had wet wipes and bandaids in my pack this day!

Morning Checklist

I keep a morning checklist alongside my packing list. I use this mainly on race day – it’s pretty easy to forget your sunglasses at O’Dark-Thirty on race morning.

  • Apply sunscreen
  • Use bug spray if necessary
  • Lubricate skin as necessary
  • Don’t forget sunglasses!!
  • Running cap
  • GPS watch
  • Heart rate monitor?
  • Road ID (if you don’t have one, order your own Road ID here)

Post-run Necessities

Also consider loading up the car with these post-run necessities. You’ll especially need these if you have a car shuttle or longer drive home. If you are doing a car shuttle, don’t forget to put these items in the shuttle vehicle that will be at the end of your run.

  • Recovery food
  • Water (preferably kept cold)
  • Calcium+magnesium supplement
  • Dry clothes
  • Flip-flops or other footwear

Other Thoughts

If you have a GPS watch, learn how to use it. Many can give you a wealth of information beyond pace and distance, including compass direction and even arrows pointing you back to your starting point. Ditto for your smart phone. If you carry an iPhone, get this great app called GPS Kit and learn how to use it. The app allows you to pre-load terrain so that you can access map data even when you are out of signal range. Just be careful not to rely solely on devices that can run out of battery. Always carry printed maps if you are not completely familiar with your route.

I hope this article helps you start a trail run packing list of your own. What do you carry that’s not on my list? Or is my list way overkill for your tastes? Please leave a reply below!

Run Sawtooth Trail Loop

May 27, 2012 by Helen 3 Comments

The Sawtooth Trail, located in Tahoe National Forest in Truckee off USFS 06 (a.k.a. the Fiberboard Freeway), offers a forested Tahoe trail run close to town. The official Sawtooth Trail is a 9-mile lollipop route. I like to do a variation that is a full loop and about 9.3 miles. Either way, there is only minor elevation gain.

View of the Truckee River Canyon at mile 1 of the Sawtooth trail in Tahoe National Forest

Best for:

  • Solitude in the forest
  • Fairly flat trail (by Tahoe standards) and 100% runnable
  • Convenient location right in Truckee
  • Easy parking

But watch out for:

  • Technical, rocky sections
  • No water or restroom access
  • Lots of unmarked trail intersections

Solitude on the Sawtooth Trail Run in Tahoe National Forest
Sawtooth Trail is a convenient escape during busy tourist times.

Getting there

Leave Downtown Truckee headed south/southeast on Brockway Rd. Turn right at the first light, Palisades Dr. Continue on the same road as it turns left and changes Ponderosa Dr. Turn right on Silverfir Dr, then left on Theilin Dr. The gate for USFS 06 is less than .25 miles on the right. Park outside the gate if it is still closed for Winter. Otherwise, drive .25 mile uphill on USFS 06 to the large dirt parking on the right. There is a map at the trailhead.

Route

Click here for an interactive map and GPS data for the Sawtooth Trail Loop route.

Head west/southwest on the single track from the trailhead parking. The trail starts out quite rocky and twisty, but settles down after a while. Enjoy a nice view of the Truckee River Canyon right at the first mile mark. When you reach a sign for “Sawtooth Trail / Sawtooth Road,” follow the arrow to the right to stay on the trail.

Before mile 3.25 you’ll find a sign for the Viewpoint detour. The view is virtually identical to the previous clearing (pictured above), but check it out if you’d like to add .25 mile to your run. After the detour connects back to the primary trail, stay right on any forks in the single track.

You return to USFS 06 dirt road about half way through the run; there is a map and trailhead sign here. Cross the road and continue on the single track. The route is a bit more difficult to follow on the second half of the run, as there are many unmarked intersections. Continue straight through any unmarked intersections with roads or single track. Then, at about mile 6.2 (mile 6.45 if you took the Viewpoint detour), you’ll hit a dirt road. Do not follow the sign to the left for “Sawtooth Trail.” (See variation below for the Sawtooth Trail Lollipop route.) Instead, take the road to the right a few yards and continue with the single track on your left.

Here you continue a gentle climb on single track. After .5 miles running under the power lines, watch carefully for an unmarked single track to your left at about mile 7.5 (or mile 7.75 if you took the Viewpoint detour). Turn left and enjoy the cruise downhill to the trailhead parking, but watch carefully for forks in the trail. At the first (murky) fork, go right. Then, go left and downhill at the next two forks (i.e. ignore any trail that leads off uphill to the right). Mountain bike tracks on your path are a good indicator that you are still headed in the right direction.

Pinedrops in Tahoe National Forest alongside the Sawtooth Trail Run

Route Variations

For a 9-mile lollipop that stays on the official trail, follow the sign for Sawtooth Trail at mile 6.2 and cross back to the first part of the trail, as shown on Truckee Trails Foundation’s website.

Do a 6.75-mile out-and-back with the Viewpoint detour as your goal. When you return to the main trail from the Viewpoint, turn left and go back the way you came.

While USFS 06 is generally an unpleasant surface for running, it can be a fun change of scenery with a couple inches of snow on the ground. Practice the footprints in the snow exercise or run it with snowshoes.

Enjoy your run, and please leave a reply below if you have questions or corrections!

 

Run Donner Lake

May 23, 2012 by Helen 11 Comments

The 7-mile loop around Donner Lake is my go-to road run during the late Spring and Fall. It is scenic, fairly flat, and easily accessed from Donner Pass Rd. in Truckee.

Donner Lake and West End Beach at dusk

Best for:

  • Fairly flat road run (by Tahoe standards)
  • Donner Lake and mountain views
  • Easy parking and restroom access
  • Going for a run while the family plays at the lake
  • Marathon training (do laps), especially during late Fall

But watch out for:

  • Traffic during peak summer months (July & August)
  • Snow in Donner Memorial Park during the Winter months

Route

The 7-mile road run around Donner Lake offers mountain and lake views within the Town of Truckee

Click here for an interactive map and GPS data for the route.

The loop is pleasant to run in either direction, starting at either end. The run is right at 7 miles if stay on the road through Donner Memorial State Park. You’ll shave off about .3 miles if you opt for the crushed granite trail through the park. Below I describe the run starting from West End Beach and traveling counter-clockwise. This is the normal route for the Donner Lake Turkey Trot.

West End Beach, counter-clockwise

View from Donner Pass Rd.

Get to West End Beach by traveling West on Donner Pass Rd. from Truckee. Turn left on South Shore Rd. at the end of the lake and before Donner Pass Rd. heads uphill to Donner Summit. Parking is free, but there is a fee to enter the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

From West End Beach, head south then east on South Shore Rd. Gentle rolling hills take you generally uphill along the “backside” of Donner Lake. Traffic on the backside is very light in all but the peak Summer months. It is shady and cool back there, and prone to slick roads or black ice in the late Fall and Winter. After 2 miles, you drop down a short, steep section to the end of the road and a short paved path that enters the backside of Donner Memorial Park. Be advised that the path and road through Donner Memorial Park are NOT plowed in the winter.

Follow the road through the park, hugging the lake / staying left until you reach the entrance kiosk, where you go left to Donner Pass Rd. Alternately, you can take the crushed granite trail (between the road and the lake) through the park, and follow the trail over the bridge then out to Donner Pass Rd. The trail gets crowded with slow-moving pedestrian traffic during the Summer months.

There is considerably more traffic on Donner Pass Rd. than the backside of the lake, but the paved bike lane provides adequate space to run. Continue west along this flat to slightly-downhill road back to West End Beach. Reward yourself with a cold plunge in Donner Lake!

Route Variations

There are several parking options around Donner Lake. The closest parking to Truckee is just outside Donner Memorial State Park, where you can park head-in on the dirt (assuming there is no snow) for free. On-street parking is also available around the lake from May through October – just be sure you don’t park in the bike lane.

If you have member access to the Tahoe Donner Beach Club Marina, then park there and enjoy the run in either direction around the lake. Enjoy a cold plunge and snack before going about your day!

Train for the big climb at the Lake Tahoe Marathon by adding a run up Donner Pass Rd. toward Donner Summit to one of your laps. (This is only advisable during low traffic season.)

Or, add mileage by exploring the crushed granite and dirt trails that wander through Donner Memorial State Park.

Restrooms

  • Donner Memorial State Park, located at the east end of the lake on Donner Pass Rd. The restrooms near the museum are open year-round. Additional restrooms and porta-potties are located throughout the park along the the running route. (These are closed for the winter.)
  • Donner Lake Boat Ramp, located at 15511 Donner Pass Rd. Restrooms are closed for the winter.
  • Shoreline Park, located midway on the North Shore / Donner Pass Rd. Restrooms are closed for the winter.
  • West End Beach – located inside the park, so there is a fee to enter unless you are outside operating hours. Restrooms are normally open when there is no danger of freezing.
  • Construction porta-potties – there always seems to be at least one or two construction sites along the lake. If you gotta go, you gotta go…

Enjoy your run, and feel free to leave a reply below if you have questions or corrections!

Race Report – Vernonia Marathon & Half Marathon 2012

April 20, 2012 by Helen 11 Comments

Last weekend I ran the Vernonia Marathon alongside my husband running his first half marathon. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, and it felt like my most meaningful race yet for a variety of reasons. First I will describe the beautiful course and share my thoughts on this small but well-organized race. For those who wish to read on, I am happy to share the ways in which this run was extra special for me.

The Vernonia Marathon & Half-Marathon

Trees in bloom around the old mill pond

To me, these standout as the best features of the race:

  • Unique and wonderful scenery
  • Smooth, substantially-flat, asphalt bike path for virtually all of the course
  • Track finish – so much fun!
  • Very well-directed / good signage / plenty of volunteers
  • Small field (also has some drawbacks)
  • Downright cheap race fee

Race Organization

With fewer than 125 runners in the full marathon and 375 in the half, the Vernonia Marathon & Half Marathon is a small race by any standard. The small field accommodates starting runners in both events at the same time and location, which is a nice bonus for couples or friends running different distances. My husband ran the half-marathon and I was able to run the entire distance with him, then continue on to complete the full marathon. We rode the bus with another couple doing the same, and I am sure there were others. The race also offers a one-hour early start for slower participants only, which is a great option for walkers or run-walkers.

The point-to-point course starts in Vernonia, Oregon, and follows the entire 21 miles of the asphalt rails-to-trails Banks-Vernonia State Park to Banks, Oregon, where marathon finishers enjoy a track oval finish at the Banks High School. All runners are bussed from Banks to the Vernonia start. Half-marathoners finish on the trail right alongside the marathon route, another bonus to those running the different distances together. Half-marathoners are then bussed back to the parking in Banks.

I felt the race was very well-directed. The course was clearly marked and signage adequate. Traffic was well-controlled at the Highway 47 crossing just before the half marathon finish. There were plenty of volunteers to help direct runners and to direct traffic along the course. The water station were staffed by pleasant volunteers who seemed well-trained. (OK, not that handing out water is rocket science, but there is some logic that goes into it and it’s nice when they all get it right!) Later in this report I suggest a few minor fixes that would have made our day even better. Now I’ll describe the elevation profile and then the course details.

Vernonia Marathon Course Elevation Profile

While the course is fairly flat and fast and there is only one very, very short steep hill, it is not an entirely flat, über-fast course in the vein of California International Marathon or the Bizz Johnson Express Half. The course does start on the road with a zippy 150-foot drop in the first mile and a half. It is completely flat on the path around Vernonia Lake and for the first bit of the rails-to-trails path. Then there is a slight but steady climb from mile 6 through mile 15, with the exception of the very short steep dip down (and later back up) to cross Hwy 47 right before the half marathon finish.

Elevation profile for the full Vernonia Marathon

Those running the full marathon are rewarded with a gentle 700-foot drop between miles 15 and 21. The grade is kind to the quads and makes busting through “the wall” at mile 20 much easier than it might be otherwise. The remainder of the course is flat to very-slightly downhill, though it does run through open farmland that is susceptible wind. I did experience a noticeable headwind for the several of these flat miles, but the open landscape is beautiful and worth the minor increase in effort.

Vernonia Marathon Course Description: Forest, Farmland & More

With an average total precipitation of less than 50″, Vernonia is not even close to being a rainforest by definition, but it is certainly surrounded by beautiful, lush, green forest. This race does not have a great track record with weather, so I know we lucked out with cool starting temps and partly overcast skies ending just a tad on the warm side. As an Oregon native, I always remind people that you can’t get those glorious shades of green without the rain!

Cedar Ridge Retreat Center at the race start in Vernonia

The race starts at the beautiful grounds of the Cedar Ridge Retreat & Conference Center in Vernonia. With bright green grass and Rock Creek running through the “backyard,” it was a lovely place to start the morning. The numerous indoor toilets were a huge bonus!

At the start, we ran down the road for about a mile until we passed through the town of Vernonia, then onto the bike path from Anderson Park to Vernonia Lake (a.k.a. the mill pond). The old mill pond is prettier than I expected, surrounded by pink flowering trees (see photo at the top of this report). After doubling-back for a short distance to Anderson Park, we finally enter the official 21-mile state park trail. The forest is deep shades of lush green with sparkles of moisture. It is a mystical sight as the morning dew burns off. Only the sounds of vehicles on nearby Highway 47 break the spell.

Mossy shades of green surround the path

The full marathoners continue to enjoy deep, lush green forests through L.L. “Stub” Stewart State Park, for about 3.5 miles starting at mile 14.5. If you choose to step off the trail instead of going to the next port-a-potty, be careful! I experienced an unpleasant encounter with a stringing nettle here last year.

While the trail boasts 13 bridges, the most impressive is the Buxton Railroad Trestle at about mile 19. It is some 80-feet high and outfitted with new decking and guardrails.

Buxton Railroad Trestle at mile 19

By the time you reach mile 22, you are down the hill and into farmland. The wide views are a lovely backdrop to the last miles on the path ~ I’ve run this section several times before and the morning mist is really majestic. By early afternoon, though, a headwind had set in that made me wish for a Clydesdale with headphones to hide behind!

The end of the rails-to-trails path was a welcome sight, knowing that less than a mile remains to the finish. The final mile is mostly lackluster running on the sidewalk through Banks. Volunteers cheer you on as they manage traffic at each intersection until you return to the high school parking. A long chute takes you through the parking lot to the track, where you get to be a track star on the oval before arriving at the finish. I greatly enjoyed both the chute and the track finish!

Useful Course Info

  • Course Map at USA Track & Field
  • What to Expect from OregonLive.com (appears to be based on 2011 race)
  • Maps of start and finish from OregonLive.com

Little Fixes

The course was beautiful, the toilets plentiful, and the people friendly ~ there was little not to like. A few minor tweaks could help make it even better.

  • I would have appreciated a count-down to the start, or at least a “gunshot” to announce the start. When the field did move, the runner in front of me was picking up a dropped item from the ground!
  • My husband had trouble finding the half marathon results posted after his race. Apparently, they passed the results around on the bus ride back to Banks, but he didn’t get a chance to see them.
  • Regarding the water stations, I always think it’s helpful to have an explicit list of stations on the course map. For example, “Water stations are located at miles: 2, 5, 7.5, etc…” Some runners seemed surprised at the distance between stations in the second half of the marathon. (I carried my own water, but do appreciated the occasional excuse to walk through an aid station.)
  • So, this one is really, nit-picky, but it would be nice if we didn’t have to walk on wet grass from the retreat center to the start line. I recognize that most years the day is wet in any case, but I would have preferred to not start the run with wet feet.

Overall

I highly recommend this race for its very scenic and reasonably fast course. It looks like either distance would be great for slower runners and walkers, as well. The race was well-organized and the price very affordable. The small field has a friendly feeling and makes for plenty of elbow room, but it does leave the course quite lonely at times. The weather in Oregon is, well, the weather in Oregon. I know that we lucked out this year, and an April race is more likely to experience precipitation than not. If I run it again, I will certainly keep an eye on the forecast and go prepared.

Keep reading for my personal account of race day.

Personal Report

This marathon held special meaning for me on many levels. Most importantly, the half marathon was my husband’s first race of any kind and I got to run it with him every step! It was also special for me to start a race in my Dad’s hometown and end it just 15 minutes from my parents’ current home. The primary purpose of our trip to Oregon last weekend was to celebrate my Grandfather’s 100th birthday. So I loved running by the old mill pond and thinking about my Grandpa, who worked at the mill before it closed in 1957.

Hubby & me ~ all smiles at the start of the Vernonia Marathon!

Preparation

I first ran on the Banks-Vernonia Trail just a year or two ago, then last May I enjoyed a run of the first 9-miles out and then back from the Banks side. Since then, I’ve had thoughts of running the entire trail at some point. When we firmed up travel plans for Grandpa’s 100th birthday party on Saturday, I put out feelers to see who would want to do some or all of a 20-miler with me the day after the party. My sister-in-law let me know that they were running the marathon that day, and I immediately counted the weeks to see if I could be ready for 26.2.

It was a stretch for me to prepare for an April 15 marathon, but the conspicuous lack of a nordic ski season in Tahoe did open up my schedule a little. I managed an 18-mile run at altitude and decided to call that good. After all, Europeans train only to 30 km, which is just 18.6 miles.

The big birthday party was the day before the race, and I unfortunately managed to stay on my feet for the entire day until returning to my parents’ house after bib pickup late Saturday afternoon. Thank goodness for my Mom, who fixed a fabulous dinner while hubby and I put our feet up!

Nutrition

Carbo-loading on a primal diet takes on a whole new meaning. Only a small quantity of carbs can have a large impact. I had a gluten-free dinner roll and a gluten-free cupcake at lunch. Mom’s delicious steak dinner included only a sweet potato and roast veggies for carbs, though I did top it off with about half of a Dove solid chocolate Easter bunny.

On race morning I had a three-egg omelette and bacon for breakfast, followed by a double whole-milk latte. One nice thing about a late race start is that it allows for time to process a more substantial breakfast.

This was my first marathon since switching from a substantially vegan diet to a primal/paleo diet in December. My calorie intake during the race was about half of what it has been for past marathons, and I never felt hungry or even close to “bonking” for lack of fuel. I took a caffeinated Hammer Gel at the start. Throughout the first three hours I took a total of 5 Clif Shot Roks (about 1/2 package) and a couple of macadamia nuts. I also took one additional (non-caffeinated) Hammer Gel.

Race Milestones

About Mile 1.5 ~ We got to run right by my cousin’s house in Vernonia, complete with leftover balloons from Grandpa’s party! So much fun to have her cheering us on the course.

Mile 3.25 ~ Hubby stopped at a restroom next to the old mill pond to pee. I didn’t mind the opportunity to snap some photos!

Shortly after mile 7 ~ Hubby’s toe was cramping and we slowed our pace by about a minute for a mile or two while he compensated for it. I was worried about him cramping so early in his race, but he really impressed with how he adjusted and worked through it.

Mile 9 ~ So excited (but not completely surprised) to see that my awesome second cousin drove out from Portland to cheer us on. She is the Marathon Maniac who inspired me to run my first full marathon, so we really appreciated seeing her on the course!

The Vernonia Half Marathon Finish is right on the path alongside the full marathon course.

Mile 13.1 ~ Hubby finished his first half marathon in 2:04 with the most minimal of training! I was able to run ahead to capture this photo. After his finish, I walked the short steep climb where the path returns to the old railroad bed, then continued my run.

Miles 14-18 ~ These were lonely and relaxing miles through the shady forest of Stub Stewart State Park. There were very few runners in view and I managed to eventually pass each one that was in my sights for the rest of the race.

As I got closer to Banks, I did appreciate seeing more of the general public on the path (mostly cyclists headed in the opposite direction). With so few fellow runners around and only very sporadic spectators, it was nice to get a few cheers from the cyclists and to have someone to direct a smile at.

About mile 21.5 ~ I started to cramp near the insertion point of my soleus (calf) muscle. I had never experience a leg cramp during a race (or any other run, for that matter). I wondered if I would even finish the race. I walked through the next aid station and then drew on my husband’s toe cramp experience to know that I could get through it.

I tried to adjust my leg alignment, but that only helped a little. Next, I focused all of my energy and breath into stabilizing my core. I mentally drew on everything I had to do this, from my body work with Jen Fluharty at Full Circle Movement in Truckee to my ongoing ChiRunning practice. Within a mile the cramp passed, and I made a conscious decision to keep running strong and to finish with at least an even split.

I focused almost all my thoughts and energy for the final 45 minutes into my breath. I used my Garmin foot pod data (an incredibly thoughtful birthday gift from my parents) to keep my cadence above 90 RPM. I considered taking another caffeinated Hammer Gel, but I didn’t really need it. I doubt that I could have processed it in any case, given the effort level that it was taking to maintain my pace and avoid the return of the leg cramp.

Finally I arrived at the track and was already feeling pretty happy with my pending finish. I enjoyed the final 300 or so meters around the oval and finished in just under 4:08, for a perfectly even split. Not a PR, but a pretty damn great day to run with my hubby, enjoy the forest where my Dad grew up, celebrate my Grandpa’s 100th birthday, and finish relatively strong despite barebones training.

I hung around to pick up my second-place age-group ribbon and for a chance at winning a raffle prize. I love raffle prizes! I didn’t win the raffle, so I returned to my parents’ place to shower and pack up for our flight home to Truckee that evening. Before we left, I gave my finisher’s medal to my Mom, to honor her mainly for being my Mom, but also for the great dinner and watching the kids all day!

Finding Inspiration on Every Run

March 30, 2012 by Helen 7 Comments

Yesterday I ran 18 miles on the road in Truckee along a decidedly un-inspiring route. I had hoped to run Wednesday, but a very wet snow storm blew all morning. Happily, the storm passed, the roads were plowed, and the sun peeked through. It left me thinking about the different ways that I choose to enjoy the hours that I spend running on the road before the trails in Tahoe become widely available.

Gray's Crossing
A lone house along Henness Rd. in Truckee's Gray's Crossing neighborhood. A practical place for Winter or Spring road runs.

Gratitude is one of my best tools for finding running inspiration. Yesterday I was thankful that the weather cooperated and that I was able to find some flexibility in my schedule this week. What good fortune I have to live in a place where I can skate ski on Tuesday, run barefoot indoors on Wednesday, then go for a long run outdoors on Thursday – all within a five-mile radius of home! I was also grateful for the plowed roads and sun-exposed bike paths.

My run started near downtown Truckee at the Community Recreation Center, where you can park for free, use the restroom, and fill your water bottle before heading out. The neighborhoods around the Rec Center have proved excellent for Winter and Spring road running in Truckee. Gray’s Crossing has very few homes and even fewer full-time residents. Further down the hill, Old Greenwood is a bit more built-out, but just as sparsely populated. I sometimes like to add some mileage by passing through Pioneer Center. The paved path doesn’t have 100% sun exposure, but you can easily hop on the road where necessary. (I also enjoy a run in Pioneer Center when I go to Stone’s Tires for that time-honored Tahoe ritual of changing out the snow tires.)

Truckee Road Run Map
Here, there and everywhere... 18-mile road run starting at the Truckee Community Recreation Center.

Another source of running inspiration comes from tiny elements of surprise and adventure. Gray’s Crossing is good for only about 6 miles of running on the road or paved paths with minimal elevation gain (by Tahoe standards) and light traffic. I was not looking forward to 2 to 3 laps around the same neighborhood, so it was with delight that I found the bike path down to Old Greenwood to be free of snow. I wonder if maybe it is regularly plowed, as it was completely clear, even in the tunnel under the freeway. You can find this path off Hennessy Rd, behind the apartment homes just east of the Rec Center. (Click here to see the actual route from my GPS watch.)

The path continues a short distance east-northeast along I-80 until it dips down under the freeway and into the Old Greenwood neighborhood. I don’t know the neighborhood well, so I enjoy the sense of adventure of running around on the roads with only a general heading in mind. I continue down the hill until I eventually get to the Overland Trail exit from I-80. Then a hiccup… the bike path to return to Gray’s Crossing is 6″ deep with mushy snow. I poked around for a little bit until I decide that turning around would be more pleasant and so I returned up the gentle hill the way I came. Slightly annoyed about having to turn around, I turned my attitude around by thinking about the purpose of this training run.

Next month we are going to Oregon for my Grandfather’s 100th birthday. He raised his family in the rural town of Vernonia, Oregon, about an hour outside of Portland. I have many fond (if rainy) memories of tromping through the forest which was my father’s childhood home in Vernonia. So when I found out that the Vernonia Marathon will be run the day after the big party, I was immediately compelled to add it to my event schedule. Understanding that this run is getting me in shape to enjoy 26.2 miles through the beautiful Oregon rain forest was plenty of inspiration to keep going.

Finally, I look at every step is an opportunity to practice my ChiRunning and to increase awareness of my specific body mechanics. Over the course of 3+ hours, that adds up to over 34,000 steps! I have been working on some alignment issues with the fabulous Jen Fluharty of Full Circle Movement, and the long run really gave me a chance to make some mind-muscle connections.

The next time you are out on a less-than-exciting training run, I hope that you’ll be able to draw inspiration from somewhere that can help turn the mundane into meaningful.

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