Sharing the beauty of running Lake Tahoe & Truckee, California
Yesterday my husband Javier, along with at least a dozen fellow Donner Party Mountain Runners, ran the Overlook 50k. It was a rare opportunity for me to simply be a participant in an ultrarunning event just down the hill.
Usually I am racing or volunteering. The luxury of crewing my husband and several dear friends, then hanging out (on fresh legs) at the finish to greet all, was not lost on me.
by Helen 13 Comments
Feed the Furnace. See the Elephant.
I imagined a scene of flames. Flames within flames created an image: ears of an elephant out of the swirling orange and red inferno, then tusks and a trunk rooted on four legs.
And then I fell asleep. Tomorrow I would seek the elephant at the IMTUF 105-mile trail race. The phrase “seeing the elephant” was widely used in the late 1800’s in reference to gaining experience of the world at a significant cost (click here to read more about seeing elephants.)
by Helen 7 Comments
Follow me at IMTUF 2017: https://share.garmin.com/HelenJavier
The phrase “seeing the elephant” was widely used in late 1800s America throughout the Civil War, Gold Rush, and Westward Expansion in reference to gaining experience of the world at a significant cost.
We are now advanced on our trip about 200 miles and in all this trip I have not seen the ‘Elephant.’ I am told, however, that he is ahead, and if I live, I am determined to see him.
by Helen 3 Comments
As co-Race Director, this year’s Castle Peak 100k for me was all about the course and the community, as perfectly summed up in our new tagline: “All Altitude. No Attitude.”
Creating a signature ultramarathon was one of the driving forces behind the 2014 founding of our non-profit running club, the Donner Party Mountain Runners (DPMR). The club provides the business structure, guidance, and community backing needed to produce such an ambitious event.
by Helen 4 Comments
[Note: often I write a personal race recap for my coach. It is not meant for public consumption. And yet, I somehow feel compelled to share this raw bit with you, Dear Reader.]
These are notes just for you.
Yesterday I had to work hard to stamp out the negative thoughts. Those chest muscles really hurt so that I wasn’t able to enjoy time with the family. Then I made the mistake of looking at the Mt. Tam race from November and realized that I am 5 pounds heavier than November. And I worked really hard that day. And it seemed like it was going to be alot hotter today.
by Helen 4 Comments
It was a brisk but sunny 20° at the start of the Racing Gnome 5k Snowshoe Run. I intentionally started with no gloves, no hat, only a light wool shirt, and a thin waterproof jacket. Less than half way through the race I was already overheating. This is snowshoe running.
by Helen 15 Comments
I rounded a bend and at last, after some 50 miles, the trail was close enough that I could simply slide into the Northern Umpqua River. There I soaked, up to my thighs in the swift current, when a woman with trekking poles came around the bend and uttered a cursory “nice job” as she shuffled by me.
I love to celebrate birthdays, especially my own! I have been on the lookout for a birthday race since I started trail running about 6 years ago. Imagine my excitement to discover the Silver State 50/50 would fall on my birthday this year!
I experienced the Silver State Striders’ trail hospitality for the first time when I ran the half marathon there last year (read the race report here.) Since then, I knew that I wanted to return to this venerable trail race in Reno, Nevada.
Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I knew the story of the Tillamook Burns – repeated forest fires started by careless human actions. A massive replanting effort took place starting in the 1950s, and later the Tillamook State Forest was formed. It is now home to my some of my favorite running trails, notably the Gales Creek, Elk-Kings and Wilson River trails.
On April 23, 2016, I escaped a thick blanket of late new snow to run the Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon, produced by one of our neighbor running clubs, the Tahoe Mountain Milers, in Carson City, Nevada. This was my first time on the course and it didn’t disappoint.