I'm Officially and Ultra Marathoner!!!

Racer 556 has been counted!!!!

I'm not entirely certain how to blog about yesterday's amazing Foothills 50K Frenzy!  There are so many amazing things I could say.  First and foremost, I need to thank the amazing Race Director, Jenny, for putting on such a perfect race.  The course is challenging, to say the least.  The Aid Station Volunteers and the other volunteers along the way are some of the most supportive and amazing volunteers I have seen on a race course!  I would like to thank my beautiful family for all of their loving energy and support.  Tracy and Naomi were out there all day just to be able to see me 3 times...but seeing their faces at Miles 18, 22 and the finish meant the world to me!  I'm grateful for my son Nate who made it out in time to help me run to the finish line!  I'm grateful for all of my trail running friends who have been there to support me through this journey; I could not have done this without their support, wisdom and knowledge and especially their friendship.  I would like to thank my non-running friends who have supported me with their kind words and loving energy.  Words can not express how important it is to know and feel that support during the hardest moments on a course.  Thank you!!!

Toward the end of last year, I had big plans!  I had races scheduled for almost every month of the year.  I wanted to get in 12 marathons/ultra marathons and my 400 mile bike ride in by the end of 2013.  Thanks to my concussion in January, ALL of my plans got changed, and it was a challenge to get back on course to get to yesterday's race.  Between concussion, banging up my surgery knee and rolling an ankle, making it to the starting line yesterday was quite the fete, but I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of becoming an ultra marathoner by the end of 2013!

The actual training for this race started back in April, when I was in Florida and was able to start running again after my concussion.  I started out with little runs and even made it up and over the Melbourne to Indiatlantic Causeway.  When I got back home to Idaho, I hit the foothills with my friends, but most of the time I trained alone.  I constantly watched my pace.  I trained smart.  I had trained on every inch of that course so I knew what to expect.  The only thing I didn't account for in my planning was how much time I would spend at the aid stations.  I also didn't take into account how much time I would spend stepping off the trail to let other runners/cyclist pass me (all of those seconds add up). Nor did I take into account the time I spent taking pictures (which I knew I would do....cause that is what I do, after all.)  Originally I had planned on finishing the course with a 20 minute/mile sustained pace.  I ended up with a 21:21 pace.  Not to shabby for my first ultra marathon with only doing serious training for it for 4 months that included 6 weeks off to rest a knee injury and 2 weeks off for a rolled ankle!   But really, this race wasn't about pace and time.  It was about finishing my very first ultra marathon.  It is everything it represents.  And it was about all of the amazing people and friends I have met in the last year!

The slower runners were given the opportunity to start at 5:00am instead of the regular 6:00am start. This way we were certain to  make the 2:00pm cut off at mile 22.  It was cold and dark! It was a New Moon, which meant there was no moon in the pre-dawn sky.  It was a gorgeous clear morning surrounded by some of my favorite runners!  Mary started at 4:30 since her night running companion had to get back home early.

But the other 5 of us started at 5:00 am with our head lamps shining bright. At the starting line, Monique, Lori, Joyce and I took off running, but Michelle started at a walk with Joanne (one of the sweeps of the race).

After the first mile, Monique had taken off like a bat out of hell and Joyce and Lori had pulled ahead of me.  I took my normal place, alone, in the dark.  It was such a beautiful place to be.  Seeing the lights of headlamps ahead of me and looking back and seeing Michelle's in the distance.  I was grateful I was wearing my eye glasses and was able to see things clearly and not worry about my footing.  I was even able to run where I hadn't run before.  The race started out amazing and a HUGE smile on my face!

Somewhere around mile 5, I heard the songs of a coyote in the distance.  This brought back thoughts of a couple of training runs with my friends...once when Dondi and I were being stalked by a coyote, and another time with Mary in a morning training run where we heard them singing in the distance.  Another smile was brought to my face.

The beginning of the race, that was run in the dark, was lit by LED lights placed along the path.  Somewhere along the trail, I was coming up to what looked like a robot at the top of the hill.  It was a man covered in LED lights and reflective gear.  To my tired eyes (that only had 2 hours of sleep), it was kind of funny looking.  He greeted me with a very happy good morning and told me there was quite a site behind me.  I stopped and turned around.  All of the runners that started at 6:00am had their head lamps on and were coming up the mountains.  It was a beautiful train of lights!  I wish my camera could have captured it properly!

The first two 6:00am runners caught up to me at about mile 6.  They were speedy!  By mile 7, the rest of them came in a steady stream.  I got to see lots of my friends pass me.  All of them had smiles on their faces.  All of them said Good Morning.  Each and every one of us were out there living the dream and doing what makes us happy; how could it have been anything other than amazing???!!!  Dennis, stopped along the trail to give me a hug.  Brady passed me in the dark and said, "Martha, is that you??? It's Brady!"  As he waved and kept on running.  How the heck did he recognize me from behind and in the dark???  (It's not like we are close friends or even friends on facebook?) *laugh*

By Mile 6 1/2, I came to the first aid station in the dark.  I checked in my race number 566 with a volunteer and grabbed a little cup of Coke and just kept running.  It was a crowded aid station with all of the runners going through, and I really didn't need anything yet.

Once the sun came up, it was easier to see my friends faces as they passed me.  It was easier to see their smiles and the lights in their eyes!  You have never seen a happier bunch of people at that time of the morning!

By this time I was on Watchman trail (one of my favorite trails in this race).  It's a fun down hill trail.  I took the time to run, and I also took the time to eat one of my Payday bars. I knew the hardest and steepest hill climb was coming and I would need the energy.

At the junction of Watchman and 5 Mile Gulch were a mom and daughter team ringing the cow bell.  It was cold out there, and there they sat cheering us on!

Up I went.  My friends continue to pass me.  I saw several at this point.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

When I got to the 5 Mile and Orchard junction, I saw Jeff (another directional volunteer).

He had a camera and was taking pictures.  He said, "Aren't you going to run for the camera at least?"  My response had him throwing his head back and laughing out loud. My job there was done, and I kept hiking up hill one foot in front of the other. This part of the race is very difficult.  I had to stop several times to lower my heart rate that would sky rocket.  But over all, I was feeling fantastic and couldn't wipe the smile from my face!

By the time I reached the top of 5 Mile at Ridge Road and found the aid station that was blaring amazing music, I knew the hardest part was over with!  Mile 6 1/2 Aid Station!!!  I grabbed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and kept on plugging away up the hills of Ridge Road to the turn around point where I was to pick up a Popsicle stick (as my proof of making it to the turn around). On the way up to that point, I saw several more of my friends coming back down from the turn around!  Lots of high fives and "great jobs" were passed along.  Lots more opportunities to grab pictures with my friends!

At the turn around, Nellie and I grabbed our popsicle sticks and we started our run down.  Nellie took off ahead of me and I was back to being by myself.

I came across more of my friends as they were plugging along up "Popsicle Stick Hill" (I just made that up..and I think its awesome!) and grabbed even more pictures.  This was the last time I saw Michelle until the finish line.












  

A few minutes later when I reached the Aid Station at 5 Mile trail head, I ran across my friend Kristine who said she wasn't sure if she would make the 8 hour cut-off.

Silently I said a prayer for her and Michelle. I know how much they both wanted this!  It would be Kristine's first ultra!  I refilled my hydration pack. Grabbed some more yummy treats and took off down Ridge Road.  I ran down most of it.  When Isabelle and Bonnie caught up to me, I grabbed their picture too.  Such amazing women!!!  Bonnie just finished riding 1000 miles on her bike a little while back and she is in her 70's.  AMAZING!!!

Finally I came down to Rocky Canyon Road and I ran the entire way to the Aid Station at Mile 18 where I would meet my hubby and my daughter for the first time.  While at the Aid Station, I tried an Aussie Bite but it was too dry for this runner's mouth.  So I opted for M&M's and told an M&M joke I had just heard to the aid station workers and made them laugh.

 I dropped off my jacket and my eye glasses with my hubby.  Put on my sun glasses and headed up Orchard trail.  More climbing, but it's all good.  I finally got to a place where my legs could run and I saw Jeff again at the 5 Mile/Orchard intersection and he grabbed a picture of me running as he laughed.  5 Mile Gulch is the trail that likes to roll my ankle.  With a silent prayer, I took off running down the hill.  I ran the entire way down that hill to Watchman where I gave the little girl sitting at the intersection and ringing the cowbell a high five.  I had to hold back tears thinking about this little girl watching all of these amazing ultra runners out there reaching for their dreams and goals.  I wondered what lessons she would take away from this and how much of it will affect her as she gets older and reaches for her own goals and dreams.  I kept running.

This was the home stretch to make my 8 hour cut off (even if I had 9 cause I started early).  I really wanted to finish the 22 miles in 8 hours!  Sure enough, I did!  I was so happy!!!  I handed the aid station worker my hydration pack and ran for the port-o-potty (which didn't tip over..nor was it in any danger of tipping).  Once out, I went back for snacks.  They had yummy chocolate Keebler cookies!  They were amazing!

They had beer which they offered me, but I thought that would just make me puke!  I gave my hubby and daughter a kiss with a "see you at the finish line" and I was off again!  Down Rocky Canyon Rd to the Three Bears Trail Head.

Ahhh... Three Bears...I have only done this part of the course once, and I had forgotten how much of a climb it was going to be.  It might not have been as steep at 5 Mile Gulch, but it was every bit as difficult with 22 miles under my feet.  It was slow. Very slow.  One foot in front of the other.  If there was a time during this race where I felt a little bit "down" , it was here!  I even took a picture with a horrible face just to mark that point in the race. *laugh*  Feeling a bit down, but I didn't lose my sense of humor or my hope that it would get better.  I just kept plugging along.

Finally I finished that climb and was heading down to the Mile 24 Aid Station (which was the 6 1/2 mile one).  I rounded the corner, and there was Jon Kinzer with a big ol' afro on his head and made me laugh out loud.  That is EXACTLY what I needed in that moment of the race.  At the Aid Station, I inquired about my friends behind me. Did they make the cut off?  No one knew yet.  I grabbed some more Coke, M&Ms and pretzels.  Then I saw it!......pizza!  PIZZA!!  How the heck did they get pizza up in the middle of the mountains????  They told me it was soggy from water spilling on it.  I didn't care.  It was PIZZA and I was 24 miles in and it was lunch time!  I never thought water drenched soggy pizza could taste so good!  3 pieces down, and a huge, happy smile on my face and in my heart, I was back to my race!

It was time to go down hill. "It's all down hill from here."  This is true, well mostly.  But this down hill is not the easy down hill one longs for.  It is a steep slick down hill with loose sand covering rocks with deep trenches in the middle of the trail.  One wrong slip, one poorly placed foot, and you could end up with a broken ankle.  We all know how much fun I have with my ankles!  I almost sat on my butt and scooted down this part of the trail.  About 5 times, my feet slipped under neath me.  At one point I was going so fast down that path with no way to stop cause my feet kept slipping.  I just prayed that I would make it down safely.  I did.  Whew!!!

Somewhere around mile 26 I found some more strength and determination.  I started power hiking again till I reached the last aid station at mile 27ish.  They had popsicles.. real ones..not just sticks!  OMG!  Yummy!  I also had a watermelon wedge.  And I took the time to inquire about my friends Ryan, Michelle and Kristine.  Did they know if they made the cut off.  YES!!!  They  had!  I was thrilled!  This meant EVERYONE made the cut off and no one was going to get a DNF (did not finish) because of time! Up ahead of me on the other side of the canyon that separated us, I saw Ron, Bonnie and Isabelle running on Buck Tail.  They only had about 3 more miles to go.  I was so happy for them!  And I knew I would be there soon, too!  I took off running again!

At this point on the course, it was the middle of the day and mountain bikers were everywhere.  I was constantly stepping off the trail waiting for cyclists to pass me.  With a smile and a wave and a "Have a great day!" we passed each other. Some knew I was in a race and they cheered me on.  I finally reached Buck Tail trail (my favorite) and gave the sign a little kiss of gratitude!  I was never so happy to see that trail!  I ran some more.  This is such a fun trail to run on.  My heart was so happy.  I was doing this!  I was REALLY doing this!!!!  Only a few more miles!!!

Toward the end of Buck Tail, I could see and hear my 2 friends Lucia (who was at the the bottom of my trail head) and Andrea (who was at the top of top of the next trail I had to climb).  They were both cheering and ringing bells and my  heart overflowed with gratitude! I  had to fight back tears.  If I lost it then, I would never stop crying.  Sucking up the tears, I kept power hiking. I couldn't run at this point.  But I was walking fast!

Finally, up at the top of the trail where Andrea was, I knew I had the funnest downhill to go yet.  It was the switch backs that I had climbed up earlier in the dark.  I ran the entire way to the Cottonwood trail head. I came across another runner's friend, Anna.  Who was looking for her friend (whom I didn't know).  I didn't know Anna either.  But she gave me a huge hug and told me I was doing great!  I gave her the update that I knew and we went our separate directions.  I passed several cyclists who wished me well. "Only a couple more kilometers to go!  You've got this!"  I smiled.  My heart was full.  Boise is filled with some of the best people in the world!!!

Running through Cottonwood trail, I came across a couple on a stroll with their kid and dogs.  The man asked me if I was part of a race.  I said, "yes."  And he gave me some amazing encouragement.  I kept running.  I came across another man on a walk. He asked me if the race was today. "yes", I said. "You are doing great!  That is so cool!  Keep it up!"  I passed some race volunteers with high fives as they headed out onto the course to sweep and find their friends who were behind me.

Finally, I made it to the Stair Way to Heaven.  These steps I have blogged about before. They are so steep and have no  hand rail and they are at about mile 31 or so. I think it is the race director's sick and sadistic sense of humor to put them there.  *laugh*  The volunteer there came half way down the steps to greet me.  "Runner 556 is coming in!"  I powered up those steep steps like a woman on a mission.  I owned those things!  She walked up behind me to make sure I didn't fall backwards. *laugh*

This is where my son was supposed to meet me today, but he took a new job and wasn't going to make it.  So imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and there he was walking up the hill to meet me!

"Nate!!!!!!!!"  I was so happy to see him.  I had been fighting back tears of joy for the last 3 miles.  Telling myself to suck it up, I could cry later.  I saw Nate and I didn't cry. But I was so freakin' happy!  He was with me for my first Marathon and now he is there with me to finish my first ultra marathon.  It's fitting.  "Mom, you look so great and strong!!  How far have you gone?"  When I told him 31 miles, he was shocked at how strong I was.  I have never finished a marathon looking and feeling this strong and I was already 5 miles over a marathon distance.  He ran the rest of the way to the finish line chute with me.

Once I got to the finish line chute, I was in full sprint mode.  My friend Kristina and her kids Caleb, Sarah and Adam were there with my daughter Naomi and hubby Tracy. They were all cheering for me.

I  hear my running buddies at the finish line cheering me on.  I saw Jeff (who had been at the 5 Mile/Orchard intersection) and he was laughing and smiling as I was at a full on sprint (I'm pretty certain he didn't think I actually ran).  I remember hearing my name being called as I crossed the finish line.  But once I was able to stop my legs from sprinting I was surrounded by friends who wanted to hug and congratulate me!  NEVER have I had that kind of finish experience at a race.  My family has always been there to hug me.  But I have NEVER had so many friends at a finish line there..all waiting to cheer me on and hug me even if I was sweaty and stinky!  All of these amazing supportive ultra runners, who have run their race and waited it out for the rest of us!  All of these amazing volunteers who had been out there all day long...out there waiting to hug the finishers as they came in.

I have to say that this was absolutely THE BEST race I have ever had the opportunity to run.  If you ever have a desire to run an ultra marathon, may I suggest finding your local ultra running community and train with them and do your first race with them.  You will find the same kind of support I found for mine, and its priceless!!!!  Such an amazing experience!  And now, finally, as I finish this blog, the tears of happiness flow.  Thank you!!!!