When I told anyone that I was going to run Ski to Sea they got serious and grave and told me such things like- "well that will be the end of you!"
Well I am still here! And, I still want to be!
With all that in mind I was kind of concerned as I waited at the top of Mt. Baker for my snowboarding teammate to pass me the bracelet chip baton. Only kind of because really, let's be honest, what could be worse than the 24 hour run? I got the chip at about 8:46 and started tearing down the mountain. I missed seeing the first mile marker so I ended up not seeing a marker at all until the 2nd mile which I got to at 8:58. Now I was confused, that was waay slow for a mile. After seeing the next mile marker at 9:04 I was even more confused- could that have been three miles? It seemed too good to be true but about three minutes later I was coming up on the water station they said would be at 3.5 miles. That was when I decided- I don't care if I am going to die- I like running down mountains! It is so much more rewarding than running up them. One you have to do a lot of work, you have to be in pain all the time, it takes forever and you get a slow @$$ embarrassing time at the end. For the other I didn't feel bad at all (not yet), and I was flying faster than I ever had in my life! I got a 10k PR that probably would have been around 38:40. I ran 8 miles at 6:13 pace. It was over before my quads even had a chance to hurt. 49:51 for 8 miles, in a trail run that would have been 4 miles. No contest.
Ski to Sea is also fun because you are not alone- it is a relay. First leg xc skiing, then downhill skiing/snowboard, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking, and it finishes with kayaking into Bellingham Bay. I miss having teammates so it was fun to have some even if it was for just a day. There is someone to cheer for and someone to cheer for you. You don't feel like you have to do hard things all by yourself, rather there are lots of people there with you. My team finished the 93.5 miles in 7 hours and 50 minutes. We were an all women's team and we finished about 57th out of 500. I say about because the results keep changing.
Even though it rained all day and I had to stand around the run finish for two hours until my teammates were able to pick me up it was a fun day. And even though I was sore the next day I can't wait for next year. Goal- run under 6 minutes a mile!
Well I am still here! And, I still want to be!
With all that in mind I was kind of concerned as I waited at the top of Mt. Baker for my snowboarding teammate to pass me the bracelet chip baton. Only kind of because really, let's be honest, what could be worse than the 24 hour run? I got the chip at about 8:46 and started tearing down the mountain. I missed seeing the first mile marker so I ended up not seeing a marker at all until the 2nd mile which I got to at 8:58. Now I was confused, that was waay slow for a mile. After seeing the next mile marker at 9:04 I was even more confused- could that have been three miles? It seemed too good to be true but about three minutes later I was coming up on the water station they said would be at 3.5 miles. That was when I decided- I don't care if I am going to die- I like running down mountains! It is so much more rewarding than running up them. One you have to do a lot of work, you have to be in pain all the time, it takes forever and you get a slow @$$ embarrassing time at the end. For the other I didn't feel bad at all (not yet), and I was flying faster than I ever had in my life! I got a 10k PR that probably would have been around 38:40. I ran 8 miles at 6:13 pace. It was over before my quads even had a chance to hurt. 49:51 for 8 miles, in a trail run that would have been 4 miles. No contest.
Ski to Sea is also fun because you are not alone- it is a relay. First leg xc skiing, then downhill skiing/snowboard, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking, and it finishes with kayaking into Bellingham Bay. I miss having teammates so it was fun to have some even if it was for just a day. There is someone to cheer for and someone to cheer for you. You don't feel like you have to do hard things all by yourself, rather there are lots of people there with you. My team finished the 93.5 miles in 7 hours and 50 minutes. We were an all women's team and we finished about 57th out of 500. I say about because the results keep changing.
Even though it rained all day and I had to stand around the run finish for two hours until my teammates were able to pick me up it was a fun day. And even though I was sore the next day I can't wait for next year. Goal- run under 6 minutes a mile!
