2012 Season Preview

2011 Highlight: The Placer High Track with Jamie

After last year, I promised myself I would do two things this year: race less and not run a 100-miler.

Um, … yeah.

My reasoning was that I needed a break from the stress of running a 100-miler. I know some people run these things all the time – multiple 100-milers in a year.  For me, that kind of training takes a huge amount of mental focus, not to mention time. I thought I was ready to be a bit more of a well-rounded athlete for a while – get back to some rock climbing and some mountain biking.

My motivation for racing less stemmed primarily from the fact that I completely went over my racing budget last year.

And then I got into Hardrock.

So, I figured with the “no hundo” promise out the window, I may as well give up on “less racing,” too. Sometimes you just have to celebrate reality and roll with it. The thing is, I really like racing. And, I’m aware that I typically perform better when I race more. Well, I thought Western States was a big deal, so I let myself go a little overboard on the racing last year regardless of expense. In case you’re wondering, I think Hardrock is a way bigger deal. I’m not concerned about performance like I was at States, just, you know, totally petrified about the whole thing.

So, with all that in mind, buckle your seatbelts. Here’s my 2012 racing schedule:

3/4/12 – Napa Valley Marathon

Every now and then I go through this little fantasy about how I’m going to break my marathon PR (3:26) set at Grandma’s way back in 1998, and that was the thought behind signing up for Napa. A lot of experiences have indicated that a PR is totally possible, even likely. Back in ’09 I was way into running those damn Yasso 800 workouts, and I could knock 10 of them off at 3:00 pace. Last year, in the midst of early season high mileage, I ran RiverCity as a training run in 3:27 with ease. I know it’s possible. Unfortunately, Napa is not going to be it. I am on week #2 of illness and virtually no running right now. I was in great shape at the New Year, but in recent weeks I simply haven’t put in the necessary work for a PR. Still, it’s a new course for me so it should be fun, and hopefully it will provide a good early-season workout.

3/10/12 – Way Too Cool 50K

Only six days after Napa, I’m not expecting huge things from myself at this race. Still, it’s a classic. I love the course, and I will be sharing the day with many friends. It’s going to be exactly what I need to get me excited about the upcoming ultra season.

4/14/12 – Lake Sonoma 50M

This one looked like a good course due to its 10,000’ of elevation gain. (In honor of Hardrock, this year’s training is all about vertical gain and loss.) I have a pretty serious adventure run planned for the week leading up to this, so once again, I am not expecting huge things from myself in terms of performance.Just good, solid training and fun times.

4/29/12 – Big Sur Marathon

When I was in high school and dreamed of one day running a marathon, I had three races on my dream list: L.A., Boston, and Big Sur. I ran Boston in ’96, but never made it to the others. They both fell unceremoniously off my dream list when I became a trail and ultra runner. That is, until my friend Charlie decided that, to celebrate her 40^th birthday, she wanted to run a marathon with me. I think the last time we toed the line together was that day in Hopkinton.  (Expect for that time in Seattle, which sucked, and CIM in 2001, which sucked even worse. Neither of those count.) We’re definitely due for an awesome run together, and I’m pretty stoked for this weekend.

5/5/12 – Miwok 100K

After last year’s race at Miwok, I wasn’t going to sign up for this one because I can’t imagine having a better race. Pretty lame, huh? But after I got into Hardrock, I decided I needed a 100K on the schedule to get the mileage up. Plus, this is such an awesome course! All downhill, as I recall.

6/2/12 – Pocatello 50M

This is supposed to be a gnarly course, but beautiful, and people seem to love it. Sounds like a perfect Hardrock trainer to me! I’d like to have a good day here because I think it would be a real confidence booster. I can’t take an actual taper for it, but I’ll take a couple extra rest days the week before. I’m road-tripping to this one with Jamie, and a few other cool ultra chicks will be out there as well. Ladies’ day in Idaho! Woot!

7/13/12 – 7/15/12 – Hardrock 100

I won’t bother you with a big essay on this one. (There will be plenty of time for that later!) I’ll just give you a quote about the race description from the website: “100-miles which includes 33,992 feet of climb and 33,992 feet of descent for a total elevation change of 67,984 feet with an average elevation of 11,186 feet - low point 7,680 feet (Ouray) and high point 14,048 feet (Handies Peak).”

I have a number of pacing and volunteering gigs, and big adventure runs planned as well, so the calendar is looking pretty full at the moment. Let the season begin!

Will I see any of you out there on the trails?

 

Family

One of the biggest disadvantages of living in a remote, mountain town is being so far away from family. I have a bit of a reputation for “independence,” when in reality what I’m most often seeking is adventure. (It’s just that sometimes, being independent is a requirement of the adventuring gig, you know?) But the truth is, I don’t get to see my family often enough.

So it was a rare treat last week when I was able to join 12 other women in my family at a cousin’s cabin near Bear Valley for our “Snowshoe Jamboree.” Can I just tell you how much ridiculous fun it was? And can I further state how awesome my family is?

There is a whole lot to be said for surrounding yourself with people who have known you since the day you were born. People from whom you do not need to hide your embarrassing truths because they most likely know them already. People who can laugh as loudly as you can, and do so regularly. People who, in so many obvious ways, are quite a bit like yourself.

There was hiking involved, and snowshoeing. A good amount of eating, of course, and some consumption of wine. One lucky ultrarunner could run straight out the cabin door, no driving needed, to run trails through the nearby state park.

But all of those things were just joyful accoutrements to the main activity of laughing, sharing, and remembering with family.

Rumor has it this will be an annual trip, and I'm already looking forward next year's rendition.

First Chair, Last Call: 11 Rules for Life in a Ski Town

This post is dedicated to the wonderfully inimitable Ms.Meghan Hicks, whose grocery store frustrations in Park City inspired the topic.

Sugar Bowl Sunrise - photo by Andrew Pinkham

1.  Accept the weather. Most of the time in the winter, it’s gonna dump, at least if you live in the Sierra. Get your fat boards tuned. Get a Honda snowblower, a big shovel, and a strong back. When it doesn’t snow, remember how much you hate shoveling and go ice-skating. Summer? In Tahoe: 80 Degrees and sunny, every day. Count on it.

2.  Use beer as currency. It may not get you everything, but it can go a surprisingly long ways. If you know the right people, you can pay with beer for most services – ski tuning, boot fitting, work on your house or car. You can also pay for most anything with ski comps (if you work at the resort and get comps in your paycheck) – things like haircuts, massages, yoga, etc. Always find out if people are willing to trade services, too. This saves everyone money!

3. Drive a Subaru. Well, you might drive a Tacoma, but just make sure your vehicle can handle the snow. Get snow tires. Don’t be that guy that shuts down the freeway because you had an accident. Don’t get yourself stuck on the unplowed streets of your neighborhood because, trust me, they will still be unplowed when it’s time to drive to work or the ski hill. Being stuck on a powder day fully sucks.

4. Don't think you're awesome. No matter how amazing your skills at skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, or running, there will always be people who can kick your butt. People with Olympic medals and huge sponsorship deals. Small town, big talent. Your ego may take a hit, but at least you’ll have no shortage of partners willing to join you on your crazy endeavors.

5. Shop at the thrift store. Did you know a lot of rich people live in resort towns? They get rid of stuff on a shockingly frequent basis – stuff they’ve barely worn. One summer I bought two incredible Ann Taylor dresses at the thrift store for a total of $7 and wore them both to weddings. Plus, thrift store shopping is Earth-friendly, and that’s how we like to roll.

6. Stay off the interstate in a snow storm. Because you can bet some idiot is breaking rule #3.

7. Tip big. You plan to come back to that bar/restaurant/hairstylist, don’t you? Make friends, and it will serve you well in the future. Karma, baby.

8. Talk small. Your “private” conversation is never private. Be nice, because someone is always listening – someone who either knows you or knows what you’re talking about.

9. Be a good dog owner. Adopt from the pound. Pick up after him. Take an obedience class. Don’t bring him to indoor parties. And don’t even tell me he’s part wolf. You’re full of it!

10. Don’t go to the grocery store on holidays or weekends. This one is very important. It will be so crowded, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MIND! Once it took me 15 minutes to find a parking space at Safeway. Then I spent five minutes searching for a cart, but they were all being used – every last one! I finally helped someone unload her groceries into her car so I could have her cart. Needless to say, once I got inside the store, the experience only went downhill. Lesson learned. Now, if I run out of food between Christmas and New Years, I grocery shop at 6:00 am. Or I eat canned beans for dinner without complaint. (Don’t go to restaurants at these times either, by the way.) 

And, my most important tip?

11. Don’t bitch. There are down sides to living in a resort town, definitely. But just remember: You live where other people come to vacation.