Masters Running

1

Memories of my first trail marathon, a RR (Read 341 times)

Mariposai


    While we wait for Dove's 100th marathon race report, please allow me to take you to the back country of where I live.

     

    The Sunflower trail marathon was my first trail marathon. I went to it with no trail running practice at all since last fall, and boy did I pay for it. Also this was my first long run since Boston, ohh how fast one loose condition!

     

    The day before the race work took me to Winthrop, the race headquarter. I got stuck in traffic while I waited for the cowboy round up parade went through main street.

     

     

    The Course description from the race website.
    This unique course begins at 1900 feet elevation in Mazama and includes deer trails, cow paths, bike routes and paved roads. Stunning views of the Methow River, North Cascades and Chelan Sawtooths abound from flower carpeted meadows and fields. At two points racers climb to 2600 feet and drop quickly to the finish at about 1600 feet in Twisp.

     

    We started in Mazama, the end of the road before you enter the North Cascades mountain range. The first 7 miles were relatively easy, gently rolling slopes. I ran the entire two legs of the relay with a dear friend who just returned from France, so we had a lot of stories to share. 

     

    We ran by river

     

     

    in deep forested land

     

     

    in open meadows, which was plastered with wild flowers.

     

    You know you are very high up when you can see several mountain ranges all at once.

     

    A picture of runners  going up one of the many hills at about mile 21

     

    After going up and down several mountain ridges, after suffering a severe asthma attach( due to the elevation and  the dust on the first part of the race), and after crushing and burning in the middle of the race due to yet another nutrition issue (my tummie does not like the new gu shot blocks, I found out Sad)

     

    I finally arrived to this point, the highest point on the race course, no wild flowers here yet.

     

     

    The first sight of the finish line! After this point was all downhill! (which is where I found out that I have developed bad blisters under three toenails Smile 

     

    I must admit that I had mixed feelings at this point. I was tired and sore and I was ready to get to the finish line, but at the same time my spirit was not ready to leave this sublime sanctuary of beauty and peace! But going down the hill I went to arrive to the finish line in 5:35.

     

     

    And some people still wonder why I ran a trail marathon?

     

    For the challenge and for it's beauty, of course.

     

    I can't wait for next year!

    "Champions are everywhereall you need is to train them properly..." ~Arthur Lydiard

    Tramps


      Wow!  That's a beautiful course.  Quite a contrast to Boston!

       

      Congratulations on finishing this and thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.

      Be safe. Be kind.


      MM#209 / JapanJoyful#803

        While we wait for Dove's 100th marathon race report, please allow me to take you to the back country of where I live.

         

        xxxxxx 

         

        I can't wait for next year!

         

        Me too. 

        .

        We used to love the same kind of alpine areas so much in those days, we made a Ridge Runners Club complete with patches, etc.  The Mazama ridges you love so much too are still the closest I’ve found to them down here yet.  Are any parts of the of the Sunflower on the Cutthroat Trail I was lucky enough to get to run once too?   Maybe Sunflower can be your century too.

        "Enjoy yourself. Your younger days never come again." 100yo T. Igarashi to me in geta at top of Mt. Fuji (8/2/87)

        runnerclay


        Consistently Slow

          Wow!  That's a beautiful course.  Quite a contrast to Boston!

           

          Congratulations on finishing this and thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.

           +1

          I must put marathon west of the Mississippi on my schedule!

          Run until the trail runs out.

           SCHEDULE 2016--

           The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff

          unsolicited chatter

          http://bkclay.blogspot.com/

            Maiposai thanks for sharing your 1st trail marathon experience. Nice report, fantastic photos, congratulations on your finish.  

            Good luck next year. 

            Courage ! Do one brave thing today...then run like hell.

            SteveP


              Nancy, this is over the top wonderful. Oh My Gosh it would be wonderful to run that course.

               

              Thanks

              SteveP

                mari, what a beautiful course to run.  Thanks for all the pictures. 

                 

                TomS

                evanflein


                  I love your race reports with all the pictures! Do you take your phone or camera along? Or get pictures from the race website? Just wonderful! I'd love to do this race. Smile

                  Mariposai


                    I love your race reports with all the pictures! Do you take your phone or camera along? Or get pictures from the race website? Just wonderful! I'd love to do this race. Smile

                     My wings and my iphone goe with me where ever I go. I took pictures with my iphone.

                    YES!!!!!!!!! come do this race with me next year Smile

                    Maybe we can have DOVE, ENkie and Francesca interested too.

                    "Champions are everywhereall you need is to train them properly..." ~Arthur Lydiard

                      Beautiful, just like the runner!

                       

                      I especially liked the last photo.  Wow.

                       

                      Those poor people hiking/running up that hill all hunched over, they don't look so happy.

                      "During a marathon, I run about two-thirds of the time. That's plenty." - Margaret Davis, 85 Ed Whitlock regarding his 2:54:48 marathon at age 73, "That was a good day. It was never a struggle."

                      wildchild


                      Carolyn

                         YES!!!!!!!!! come do this race with me next year Smile

                        Maybe we can have DOVE, ENkie and Francesca interested too.

                         

                        Can I come too?  Smile

                        I hammered down the trail, passing rocks and trees like they were standing still.

                        Mariposai


                          Can I come too?  Smile

                           Of course!!! you and anyone else who may want to have fun in the wild.

                           

                          Cool

                          "Champions are everywhereall you need is to train them properly..." ~Arthur Lydiard


                          Marathon Maniac #957

                            Oh Nancy - lovely!  I agree, the trail races have the beauty that draws you in, and while the terrain is tougher, the joy abounds!  Beautiful report of a beautiful, but tough, race.  Great job, tough lady!

                            Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, "Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapenos."