Vacation, Part VI: Mt. Sneffels Marathon (Race Recap)

Well, friends.

I did it. I ran 26.2 miles at 7,800 feet after barely completing my training (thank you, nasty IT band) at 430 feet above sea level. To be honest, August 8th could have gone any way. My IT band could have flared up without notice at mile three or twenty-three, the altitude sickness could have hit hard, I could have woken up with food poisoning like that one time, or I could have ended up in the hospital like that other time. But I didn't. The cynic in me is still surprised by how smoothly the day went. I am entirely grateful for my first marathon experience. It was a dream fulfilled!

I am a marathoner!

Now are you ready for all the details? I warn you: they are the nerdy type that likely only interest runners and moms.

We picked up our packets the night before the race, and I was astonished by the tiny box with bib numbers labeled "Marathon." Only 85 people were registered for the marathon, while 700+ were signed up for the half marathon (along with Ty). This contributed to some pre-race anxiety, as I now envisioned running hilly dirt roads all alone for 26.2 miles.

Race ready! She was crushed she couldn't join the fun!

Race morning! A special thanks to our B&B host, Lysa, for the perfect race day breakfast! She made me gluten-free muffins and fresh fruit -- filling, but easy on the tummy!

It was fifty degrees at gun time, just chilly enough that I was cold at the start line. I wore an extra throw-away t-shirt over my tank and a pair of my dad's socks over my hands until I warmed up. I found a garbage can and ditched them around mile two, I think.

So about that course. The marathon began at 6:30AM in downtown Ridgway, and it was an out-and-back course between Ridgway and Ouray. The half marathon started at 7:30 in Ouray, so my parents had plenty of time to drop Ty at his start. The marathoners ran to Ouray (halfway point) and back to Ridgway, while the half marathoners ran from Ouray to Ridgway, essentially the second half of the marathon course.

Ridgway-Ouray-Ridgway

As I started, I remember feeling slightly short of breath, but not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. My left IT band was tight, but it loosened up the more I ran. At mile two, I remember flying down a hill thinking, "This is going to stink on the way back!" Little did I know just how true that was!

I ran miles 3-8 on the heels of an experienced marathoner. I said something like, "Thanks for letting me hang onto you," during the race, and she quickly responded, "As long as you're not in my age group! But I think I'm old enough to be your mother!" Age gap provided, we were now apparently friends.

There was a girl about my age barely in my sights, and another one a good distance ahead of her.

"See that girl? You're going to pass her before this race is over. And the girl in front of her. Believe me; I've been doing this a long time, and you've got the endurance."

Well I'm glad somebody thinks I'm at least going to finish! 

The first half of the race went remarkably well, considering the uphill climb. The first nine or so miles were quiet and fairly deserted, but once the half marathoners started coming the other way, the energy of the race really picked up. The half marathoners were friendly and encouraging! They knew we were in the double digits already, so many of them went out of their way to cheer us on!

"Looking good, marathoner!"

"Way to go, girl!"

"You're awesome, marathoner!"

Amazing how generic words spoken by strangers hold incredible value.

I saw Ty in the race crowd around mile 10 or 11, which was a huge pick-me-up. He looked great! I also knew my parents were waiting for me at the turnaround with Brooklyn.

I hit the halfway mark at 2:02. I was pleasantly surprised, given the altitude and hills, and I felt energized for the second half. I knew I could run it faster, given the fact that most of it was downhill. I saw my dad and Brooklyn in the distance, immediately noticed Dad's subtle correction of my form, and lowered my hands closer to my hips.

As I passed my dad and Brooklyn, Brooklyn's tail started going a mile a minute (wish I could move that fast!). When she realized she didn't get to join me, she started whining so pitifully! I heard her all the way to the turnaround at the Ouray Hot Springs Park. When I came back by after my loop, I stopped to give her some love.

7th Avenue in Ouray

In regards to nutrition, I took my gels at mile 7 and 14 and drank water on demand. I took Gatorade and water from the aid stations as needed, too. My legs still felt fresh, and I had a lot of energy. By the halfway point, I had passed the first girl my new friend had mentioned. By mile 15, I had caught up with the second girl, who told me she had started way too fast. I passed momentous miles 18 and 20 in her company without a second thought! I was feeling great! Maybe this "wall" everyone talked about wouldn't happen to me? We ran together until mile 21 or 22, and I really enjoyed her company.

My gorgeous course! Somewhere in those middle miles...

I remember I couldn't stomach another gel at mile 21, so I only ate about half of it. I regretfully left my latest running buddy behind and headed for the short out-and-back portion near the end of the course. This strange turn-around was apparently added so as to eliminate a tough hill in the previous course. Somewhere in this turnaround, I began to feel fatigued for the first time. What ensued, however, just about did me in.

Mile 24, I hated you.

Remember that hill I flew down at the start of the race? Yeah, well I had to climb crawl it on the return. My GPS stats later told me that mile 24 had an elevation gain of 39 feet, but I would have sworn to you it was at least 100 feet! It was of a steep, lethal nature -- the kind of hill that makes you breathless just walking. In fact, I did have to walk up the steepest part of the hill! When I reached the aid station at the top, I was unable to respond to a simple, "Water or Gatorade?" Everything was fuzzy, and I couldn't move or speak for a good ten seconds. I truly thought I was going to pass out if I took another step forward. I drank some fluids, grabbed a few MMs (don't ask -- I needed a quick sugar boost, and the thought of more gel was nauseating), and said, "Whose idea was it to put that hill here?!"

I never could keep my mouth shut. What a waste of air! The aid station volunteer smiled and replied, "We've heard that a lot today! But it's all downhill from here!"

I was surprised and disappointed by my sudden decline. I guess I wasn't better than "the wall" after all. It truly felt as though I'd had the wind knocked out of me! Looking back, I think I could have sustained, but I had nothing extra to give. And that hill required way too much "extra" at that point in the game. I think I did the smart thing in slowing myself down so I could finish strong.

I knew I was close, but I knew I wasn't going to break four hours when I saw another hill in front of me (I hit mile 25 at 3:52:00). So much for it all being downhill from here!

Another downside is that I ran alone for the final 5K. I had lost sight of the two runners ahead of me, and nobody was close behind. I passed half marathoners who were walking, but that wasn't exactly motivating.

When I reached the top of the hill at mile twenty-five, I could see the finish line. I resolved to finish strong and to finish well, and I pushed through the mental barrier that miles 23-24 had hoisted.

It really was all downhill from there, and I could see my dad in the distance. Nothing was going to stop me from reaching my family! Dad came toward me to cheer me on, and I remember him yelling, "Get your butt moving! Pick it up!" Coach Dad put a smile on my face, and I did pick up the pace!

As I turned the corner into the finish area, Ty and Brooklyn ran along side me at an even faster pace. Ty had already rocked his 13.1 miles (1:50:43!), but he ran again to help me finish! Amazing what community will do for you! Two miles ago I was spent, and here I felt energized anew! Thanks to my family, I finished strong and sprinted across the finish line. I always like to finish a race this way, no matter how ugly the previous miles have been.

Moments after finishing!

So proud of Tyler for finishing his first half marathon! You're amazing, honey! 

At this point, my new friend came over to congratulate me. To my surprise, she told me I should be an ultra runner, because I'm strong in endurance. She was the kind of lady you don't argue with, but I was thinking, "This was hard enough, thank you."

2nd place female, 20-29! 

Would I do it again?

Absolutely! I said that even while the pain and memory of Hell Hill (my designation) were fresh. I would like to try a flat, fast course next time. It can only get easier from here, right?

What did I learn?

I need others! While I was the one placing one foot in front of the other, I couldn't do it alone. Even this introvert needed the support, presence, and encouragement of family, volunteers, spectators, and fellow racers.

I needed more long run experience. Because of my IT band injury, I really only completed three long runs (over 14 miles), with an 18-miler being my longest. That 18-miler happened to be a fantastic training run, in which I never reached exhaustion and kept a great pace. Athletically, I felt more than prepared for the mileage, but I think it would have been helpful to have experienced the exhaustion a 20-mile run is bound to incur.

Running based on effort helped me pace myself. I wore my GPS watch, but I released any time goals and intentionally kept my eyes on the road instead of my "current pace" stats. This helped me focus on the long-range goal and allow myself to run slower on uphill climbs, when needed. This effort-based method alerted me when I almost pushed too hard at mile 23 and helped me recover for a good finish. I listened to my body, and I did the best I could on that given day.

How did I prepare for a race at high altitude?

I trained in the heat. I've read that heat is a good trade-off for altitude, as far as effort and pace go. Those 100+ degree runs paid off on my 55-degree race day.

I acclimated for a week before race day. I experienced differing levels of high altitude, from 5,000-11,000 feet all throughout that week, eventually racing at 7,000-7,800 feet. I completed my taper runs at altitude, but I didn't pay attention to pace, only effort.

I drank a ton of water. It's important to hydrate well a full week before racing at any altitude, but staying hydrated can speed altitude adjustment. I stayed away from alcohol (except for that one margarita Ty and I shared!), drank a single cup of coffee every day, and consciously drank about double my normal water intake.

I loaded up on my best immune boosters and detoxifiers: Vitamins and probiotics, Lemon (in my water), Thieves and Purification (topical) Essential Oils, Ningxia Red (thanks, Sara!), and fresh ginger. My green smoothie and juice bar tour of Colorado, as well as my hunt for local booch, was also strategically placed during race week.

We rested a lot. If I was tired, I relaxed. I didn't push to the point of exhaustion or extreme fatigue until race day! This is a no-brainer during taper week, but it's especially important when adjusting to high altitude.

Now for all those nerdy stats...

Total time: 4:02:33

Elevation gain: 1,128 feet

Starting altitude: 7,000 feet

Highest altitude: 7,800 feet

Temperature: ~55-75 degrees

Terrain: mostly dirt roads (some muddy) with a few paved areas
Average pace: 9:16/mi
Overall place: 14/59
Division (F 20-29): 2/6
Gender place: 4/29

Splits
Mile 1: 9:30 (elevation gain of 70', loss of 16')
Mile 2: 9:29 (elevation gain of 49')
Mile 3: 9:00 (elevation gain of 4' loss of 54')
Mile 4: 8:52 (elevation loss of 10')
Mile 5: 8:52 (elevation gain of 26')
Mile 6: 9:23 (elevation gain of 89')
Mile 7: 9:35 (elevation gain of 69')
Mile 8: 9:36 (elevation gain of 155')
Mile 9: 9:31 (elevation gain of 93', loss of 59')
Mile 10: 9:19 (elevation gain of 90')
Mile 11: 9:28 (elevation gain of 58')
Mile 12: 9:47 (elevation gain of 76')
Mile 13: 9:21 (elevation gain of 91', loss of 25')
Mile 14: 9:28 (elevation gain of 59', loss of 82')
Mile 15: 8:58 (elevation loss of 78')
Mile 16: 8:58 (elevation loss of 71')
Mile 17: 8:43 (elevation loss of 138' - fastest mile)
Mile 18: 9:15 (elevation gain of 116', loss of 74')
Mile 19: 8:55 (elevation loss of 150')
Mile 20: 8:57 (elevation loss of 132')
Mile 21: 8:59 (elevation loss of 60')
Mile 22: 9:12 (elevation loss of 48')
Mile 23: 9:33 (elevation loss of 8')
Mile 24: 10:09 (elevation gain of 39' - slowest mile)
Mile 25: 9:02 (elevation gain of 31', loss of 56')
Mile 26: 9:15 (elevation gain of 15', loss of 59')

Race Gear

Brooks Glycerins 12, Brooks Epiphany shorts, Brooks Run HVAC Happy Hat II, Nike Relay Tank Top, Amphipod Airflow MicroStretch Race belt, Amphipod Hydra-form Jett-Lite handheld water bottle, Honey Stinger energy gels (Fruit Smoothie & Acai Pomegranate)

Race Recovery

We spent the remainder of the day reliving the race, soaking in the hot tub, sleeping, watching movies, and eventually eating. (It took me hours to feel hungry.)

Post-race napping buddy

Dinner after a restful afternoon - celebrating our races on our last night in Ouray!

The next morning, we loaded the car at 5AM and hit the road back to Texas. A marathon one day, another marathon the next. Thankfully, this marathon involved a whole lot of resting for me! My hubby is the real marathoner, because he voluntarily drove the whole way!

Texas, here we come!

More on my recovery week to come! As for vacation...

...that's all, folks!

(Need to catch up on Parts I, II, III, IV, and V?)

Vacation, Part V: Go Climb a Rock

One of the main reasons we chose Colorado as a vacation destination was because of its myriad hiking trails. When I researched Ouray, I found that it was no exception. Located in the San Juan Mountain Range with a peak of 14,157 feet, Mount Sneffels is considered one of the "14ers" and is taller even than Pike's Peak.

With race day a mere 72 hours away, climbing to the peak of Mt. Sneffels was out of the question (besides -- that would have required a different and intensive training in and of itself!), but a 6.6-mile hike through Mt. Sneffels Wilderness? That was doable.

Three lakes reside on Mt. Sneffels in the Uncompahgre National Forest, and our adventure on the Blue Lakes Trail took us to the lowest of these three lakes. And what an adventure it was! Little did we know that just getting to the trailhead would be a feat! We drove nine winding miles down a sliver of dirt (apparently called "County Road 7") to find the trailhead. This could not have been more different than our experience of getting to Barr Trail at Pike's Peak, where we followed signs and parking attendants to a pay-per-day lot and barely found an available spot! To say Blue Lakes is "off the beaten path" is no exaggeration.

Remote location notwithstanding, there was a considerable number of vehicles parked at the trailhead. We later realized that both day hikers and overnight backpackers left from this location. To our surprise, there were also quite a few young children on the trails. I was impressed by their perseverance! This hike wasn't all that long, but it wasn't all that easy, either!

Trailhead altitude: 9,400 feet

Distance to lower lake: 3.3 miles (6.6 roundtrip)

Lower lake elevation: 10,940 feet

Elevation gain: 1,600 feet

The trip to the lower lake was not as steep as Barr Trail, but the terrain was much more rugged. It was clear that this trail did not receive a fraction of the traffic or a fraction of the upkeep! It was untouched and glorious. A true wilderness.

Adventure Dog! She carried our packed lunch and waters like a pro!

Can you say, "Out of breath?"

Staying hydrated on the ascent! This collapsable water bowl worked great!

Can you find us? My pink doesn't exactly blend in with the environment...

Neither of us had ever seen these fields of wildflowers in the mountains! Zoom in! 

Just when we were getting tired and cranky for lunch, we stumbled upon this...

The Lower Lake!

What color do you even call that rainbow-glistened, enchanted water?

We ate lunch and then just marveled. For once in my life, I wasn't in a hurry. Tyler fished (hooked a crazy red mountain fish, but it got away!), I slept on a rock, and Brooklyn did whatever it is free dogs do in the mountains.

She loved the water! I was surprised, considering how chilly it was!
After all, I was wearing a sweatshirt at high noon in August! 

The descent took us less than an hour, but it was difficult in its own right. (I, er, may have a nasty bruise on my backside by which I remember the return trip. Darn loose gravel!) After a final morning run, this hike may not have been the best decision for taper week. But a chance to behold such beauty with my own two eyes, feel the mountain water on my toes, and warm myself on a sun-kissed rock? That just doesn't happen every day, and I have no regrets.

Mt. Sneffels, we'll be back for more of you!

Need to catch up on Parts I, II, III, and IV?

Vacation, Part IV: Jeepin'

To Jeep or not to Jeep? That was the question. When the subject originally came up in conversation, Ty said he would really like for us to rent one for a day and go on an off-roading adventure. The prices were reasonable, but as we looked into the details, we realized there was a mess of insurance to sort through, too. Additionally, we began to wonder, "Where would be go?"

These two uncertainties led us to book a guided, scenic "Jeep" tour with Switzerland of America, Inc. through Yankee Boy Basin. My parents joined us, too, and we four had a splendid time learning about the history of Ouray while traveling its terrain.

We had the most incredible tour guide/driver! A retired policeman, he also served as the Ouray sheriff for five years. His brother currently owns the haunted Beaumont I told you about. It was obvious he loved Ouray, and he couldn't help but tell us all about it!

At the site of an old mine owned by Thomas Walsh at the turn of the 20th century. He had top-of-the-line equipment, the best housing (with heat!), and a European chef on site. He reduced hours voluntarily, raised pay, and prohibited alcohol for safety reasons. Sounded like an awesome business man, who knew happy employees work better and harder! His was one of the richest and most productive mining sites of its time.

One of the old mining sites we drove though housed 3,000 people! The mountain water contains traces of arsenic, so daily water had to be brought through the mountains in wagons for the crews. Can you imagine?!

Chilly in the mountains!

Check out those crazy cyclists! Our vehicle had a hard time with those inclines!

Abandoned structure

Twin Falls, as pictured on the 1978 Coors Light logo

Government owned and still active!

Up at 11,000 feet! We were about 1.5 miles from the top of Mt. Sneffels at our highest point.

We all agreed this was a great experience, and one that we could not have created on our own! I was leery of doing anything "too touristy," but I confess that this was the perfect amount of tourism to add to our trip. The tour lasted four hours and provided a great overview of old Ouray and the Mt. Sneffels mountain range. The weather was perfect, and the sights were all postcard-worthy. We saw many ATV vehicles, four-wheelers, Jeeps, a dirt bike or two, and several cars/SUVs that had no business on those roads. I, for one, was glad not to be the couple with the car stuck four miles into the mountains. (Note: it's not enough to have an AWD vehicle; clearance matters a lot!) Now that we have an idea of the terrain and available roads trails, we would feel more comfortable renting a proper vehicle and creating our own adventure next time.

*Photos taken with Nikon D40, GoPro Hero3+, and iPhone 5S*

Need to catch up on Parts I, II, and III?