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Run to the Top of Mt. Baldy – Labor Day 2008 Race Report
Darryl, Michael, Yogi B and Roberto relax at the top before the 4 mile walk down
Just another Labor Day Monday, 8 AM, and that means I am on the starting line of the “Run to the Top” of Mt San Antonio aka “Mt Baldy,” the tallest mountain in LA, topping out at 10,0064 feet.
The race starts at 6,000 ft and is some of the 8 toughest miles. In fact, this race is 43 years old and known as one of the hardest races in the country. It can take anywhere from just over an hour to 3+ hours. It takes even longer if you just try to hike it.
This is a race that separates the “the men from the boys or women from the girls.” Everyone I have talked to at the top says how hard it is and I have heard people say it is harder than a 26 mile marathon.
To be fair this is my secret “A” race every year. I feel like I have home field advantage. But, this year there was a little exception, I hardly trained for it and I was doing the Disneyland Half Marathon the day before.
At the same time Gary was training with his group in the hills of Palos Verdes with hopes of taking me down this year, he smoked me in Catalina.
I can’t explain it, yet that mountain feeds my spirit. I find places in my body and mind that I rarely find in any other races. I get a “don’t quit” attitude, and felt it strongly this year.
With that, I found myself passing Colin about 4 miles up the mountain, what I didn’t know was that Gary was close behind me. I never saw him in the parking lot or at the starting line, he was being sneaky. It didn’t matter I wasn’t going to let anyone pass me that I couldn’t pass by the top and all the runners around me were strong.
I finished with a 1:36:41. I finished 73th overall and 12th in my age group. 3 minutes slower than last year. 14 minutes slower than 2006, which I came in 17th overall. Now that I look at this year’s results, I was in the toughest age group. It seems the closer you get to 50, the stronger these other old trail runners are getting. It still feel good about my performance and not every race is a PR.
In the end, I struggled up the hill with grace. I ran my own race. I helped others and stuck to my plan. Out of breath at the top, I looked over LA and the desert feeling alive, proud, and proud of all the other warriors that were joining me at the top.
It is a race that you don’t get a medal for finishing, because you don’t need one, you know what you did. It is a race that can test your resolve and a race that teaches you humility. I believe it is a test of spirit that serves me through the entire year and helps throughout my life. It is a race to put on your calendar.
Look for a short Runumentary soon.
Live Focused, Steve Mackel – Mountain Runner
Yoga for Runners – Adds A Trails Run Starting Tonight, and Every Thursday
Trail Running and “Yoga for Runners” in conjunction with Lululemon
It is time to bump up the training, increase strength, work on our flexibility, breathe consciously and focus our minds. Starting tonight at 6:30 PM we will go out on a 40 minute trail run followed by a 45 minute “Yoga for Runners” class.
The total training will last about 1.5 hours. The Run starts at 6:30 PM, the Yoga will start at 7:15 and finish at 8 PM. If you can’t make the run come for the yoga at 7:!5 PM.
As always, you are responsible for your own safety. Please be considerate to other people on the trails and join me in coming back to the RBAC with a piece of trash. Help keep our trails clean!
In case I have an update or need to make changes, please check SoCalRunning every Thursday or even better, become a member.
Every other week everyone is welcome to join at a local restaurant for some food and drink. Location and address will be posted on SoCalRunning.
Train Focused,
Steve Mackel, Lululemon Ambassador
Catalina Marathon Race Report …Part 3
This was my third time doing the Catalina Marathon.
What began as a dream a long distant goal of an island sitting out in the Pacific Ocean free from the cars, trucks, exhausts, freeways, and dirty green water of the Los Angeles. It seemed like an escape a place to get away from Los Angeles for me and my family.
My family has always had a close affinity with the Island. I have always had an affinity for islands.
My father in his twenties already tired of the rainy English weather left that Island for a sunny Island in the Bahamas when he was still in his twenties.
He arrived in tropical paradise with only $50 in his pocket, my mom, and three young kids, myself at six, and my younger brothers Jason, four, and Karl, two.
Pursuing a dream of a better life somewhere. From where these CALLINGS from is so hard to say…but I can only envision my father sitting at work or in his house looking out at the crummy English weather and dreaming of something better.
Most of his family ridiculed his decision. “You’re bloody crazy for going to a little island with three young kids”. “You’ll be back in a year”. “You’re denying your kids of proper childhood”.
But these are all trappings that you must learn to overcome when going for some rediculous goal.
I like to call it the CRABS IN A BUCKET SYNDROME. Put a bunch of crabs in a bucket, as one climbs out, others will try to pull him down.
Ever felt like that with your fitness goals? Like as soon as you say it…someone shoots it down. Your vision of running a marathon. Or running a half marathon. Or a triathlon. Or maybe even the Catalina Marathon. When you thought the idea…felt the calling…do the people in your life say “yes you can do it” or do they start finding reasons for you to fail…maybe that voice that shoots down your dreams is in your own head.
In two weeks, I will be interviewing someone on the phone, Greg Norte a peak performance Coach who will talk in detail about LEAVING THESE CRABS behind. That’s a call you don’t want to miss.
So let’s back to the story.
My father did well in the Bahamas. We lived there for six years. I grew up on a Caribbean Island. White sand beaches. Snorkeling. Waterskiing. Great friends.
A childhood a could not have asked for any better. My younger brother Jason was my playmate much of that time. We’d climb trees together…play catch for hours…kick soccer balls…ride bikes…it was amazing…and I still consider him my best friend.
At twelve my father moved to Southern California where we’ve grown up since. We moved to Palos Verdes.
So after moving here, my father always a lover of boats, has bought a series of bigger boats until he got boats big enough to do…you guessed it…go to Catalina Island. I’ve been over there numerous times with him on his boats. Fishing. Snorkeling. Sitting drinking tea. Eating fish and chips. Something about the island…the small town of Avalon…the clear water…the smell of the ocean all reminders of who and what my family is…and what’s important for us.
Like a trip to an Island away from all the bussle of our lives. Enjoying one another’s company…out in nature…well maybe there’s nothing better in this life.
Maybe it comes a little close to what we’d like to call heaven.
Writing this out now…so much more becomes clear to me about who and what I am and why I pushed cajoled so many runners to go to Catalina and run the marathon.
As I write this…I see now how this is so much more than just Steve and I wanting runners to go do a hard race. We’re not nuts. There is always a purpose behind what we do with the people we coach.
But now as I write this…as I reflect back on this journey…its clear that there was a deeper purpose behind this crew of people we’ve been building. A purpose to the miles on wet muddy trails. A purpose to the cold morning runs. A purpose to Monkey Hill, Del Cerro, the Bataan Death March, hill intervals, the grueling Buffalo Run.
So like I’ve written before there was a lot of special meaning to this Catalina Marathon as it was my younger brother Jason’s first marathon.
He ran with the Beach Runners a few times. Fast runner…very nimble trail runner. This was his first time with the unique training requirements of the marathon.
The Weekend…the finale…the FINAL BATTLE.
Steve and I arrived in Catalina Friday. Checked into 319 Catalina Ave, and then went to lunch with my parents for guess what?…Fish and chips.
So we sat with a view of the ocean…talking running…talking marathon…speaking to my brother and his daughter, Kelsea (my niece), excited…just glad to be away…away from LA for the day…the weather was fantastic. I bet a lollipop to Kelsea I would beat her Dad. A marathon is one race I would have a chance.
On the boardwalk of Catalina beachfront other Beach Runners began arriving…Uncle Sam, Sara, Sandy, Jake, Gwendolyn, Alex, Yolanda.
I cannot tell you much this is special for me. It’s beyond words. The feeling of being part of a team about to do a REDICULOUS GOAL like the Catalina Marathon. It is a damn hard race as the team would attest to but its like I just want to yell out loud like the Obama cheer, “YES WE CAN!”.
We all checked in. Had to walk up some crazy big hill for registration. Saw more Beach Runners…Mina, Doug, John, Bill, Keith, Pamela, Andrea.
Steve and I began meeting a bunch of oldtimers of the Catalina Marathon. Runners are religious about this marathon. It’s like a pilgrimage…a trip to a sacred foreign country…a place where you see the fellow people on your journeys.
The night before Matt and I cooked up a damn fine meal. I meditated and visualized the race ahead the next day. We had Beach Runners come by the place for last minute coaching…it was going to be GOOOOOOD.
The next morning we took a very rough boat ride at 5 a.m over to Two Harbors. A lot o f people got sick.
Then we all met up at the starting line. Like 20 Beach Runners…by far we had the biggest team there. The starting line…I kid you not…was drawn in the dirt. We waited for a little while then we were off.
My plan…well you know how those things go…was to run with Matt and Jason for while…well I think their plan was maybe to keep up with me. It’s so funny that other people see me as fast…if you guys only knew where I came from 5 years ago. Another story.
I ran with Jason for about two miles. Up the first set of hills. I really love my brother. He was always the athlete in the family…star soccer player…good at everything … now he’s a really fast runner. Even on trails. So we ran together checking out the awesome views then after the first little downhill I looked back and he was getting into his pace…I was finding mine. And I was off.
I don’t understand Beach Runners who run with other people on races. It is strange to me. I find a pace that’s good for me on that course on that day with how I’m feeling with my goals in mind…and damn if I’m going to wait for your ass.
A RACE IS A RACE. Some of y’all got to get this into your heads a little better. A RACE is not a training run where you kick back and talk about the crumpets and tea you’re going to have at the finish line.
It’s a chance to spill your guts out on a course against people that have been training for months just like you have. A chance to run until you’re damn tired then you gotta run for many more miles.
A chance to GET ON THE PODIUM. Any which way you can.
So leaving my brother behind, I was off. The first six miles for me were frisky to say the least. A big long downhill took us down to Little Harbor and a series of big hills began.
I did notice I was getting a little tired by this point. Not good. My fear was that doing th e LA Marathon a few weeks earlier would effect me. This was turning out to be the case. Screw it…I was still going to run hard.
I passed mile 13 at 1:53. About five minutes faster than last year. Pretty good. Then a long straight section goes through the middle of the island. I got into a groove here and just plugged away. In retrospect I felt good here…but people were certainly beginning to pass me. With some fatigue starting to show in my legs…I kept just one thought going through my mind…just do each mile better than the mile before…just do each mile better than the one before. GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT.
I had to walk up the first third of nasty Pumphouse hill at mile 18. But I always feel guilty walking hills on a race, so I finished it up running. At the top of the hill my legs cramped up for a few minutes. Strange. I had been taking lots of electrolytes the whole race.
The rest of the race I was tired. I have to admit. A few reasons for this: the traveling to Orlando/San Francisco with lots of luxurious foods, the dropoff in training after Buffalo, not enough sleep in the nights leading up to the race, and running LA two weeks before. The last few hills were tough. I was beat ass tired. But hanging in there. Plugging away. Not giving up. No way was I going to give in to this course to my competitors no way!!!!
Then the downhill came and I was much slower than I usually am on the downhills… but still doing 6:30 miles. I got on the road and decided I was going to go all out for the finish line…the last five miles had been a trudge…and I wanted to go under four hours. So I gave it my all. Passed about three people. Everyone is sooooo fast at this pace.
Saw the finish line and cranked it. My parents cheered me on. My niece cheered me on. Bernice and Noretta cheered me on higher up on the road. I was going to leave nothing out there on that course.
My time…3:59:55. Whew. That cut it a little close.
Matt came in eight minutes later. Then Laurie with a smoking 4:09 (she should have won a podium spot but they got the paperwork wrong…more on that later).
Then we waited. My niece was getting anxious but finally Jason came down the road to an awesome time of 4:25 for his first marathon.
The rest of the Beach Runners came in. Some did better than expected. Some a little slower but all of that is irrelevant. Everyone just loved the course.
There were wildflowers everywhere. The air was clean and crisp. A tail wind helped us through the middle of the island. The views were magnificent. The food was tasty on the course.
The course is tough…it’s challenging…for most of us…it’s the hardest thing you might ever do athletically…but EVERYONE of our runners finished.
I cannot even begin to put into words how proud I am of everyone of you.
That you all choose to not just do a marathon but a damn hard one because you knew that through these kinds of challenges it makes you grow into a stronger more determined person than you are already.
And that you know how beautiful that Island is. Especially this year…especially with all the wildflowers that were out there.
Your friendships mean the world to me. All the days on the trails of Palos Verdes…talking about our lives…our dreams…the flowers…the mustard…how to run uphills and downhills…getting lost…getting our asses kicked by Monkey Hill.
I loved every single moment of the whole journey. And I’m bummed it’s over already.
So that night we had a party at 319 Catalina Ave. We gave speeches. Mine was on my real goal…no it wasn’t about going under four hours. Or winning the American Trail Championship for my age group (which I did but paperwork, again, not correct).
The real goal was to be like the old timers we met over there. The ones walking around with bars showing 20, 26, 27 marathons done year after year on that island. Because its a chance to go to a beautiful place with good friends, do a hard race, and celebrate.
A real pilgrimage. Like I told everyone that night. You will see me in Catalina every year doing those two races. I’ll add in the fifty miler this January (my new goal). But no big copywriting jobs, no chasing the almighty dollar, no luxurious hotels, can even begin to compare to the joy and the pride I felt watching all of you come to that finish line.
I look forward to training you all again next year. On the trails.
We finished the evening off similar to the way we did last year. Matt, Jason, Sandy, Anna, John, his girlfriend, and Uncle Sam, well we went to the Karoake bar. The Chi Chi bar was closed…the girls wanted to dance…and Uncle Sam being the gentleman he is showed us all a bunch a nifty dance moves.
Thanks to all the great mentors that helped out in Palos Verdes this season…Uncle Sam…Keith…Matt…Janet…George…LaTonya…John. You folks were the real reason behind the program’s success. You all are the most amazing people.
If I’ve forgotten anyone please excuse my A.D.D.
The Buffalo Run – The Ultimate Trail Run Race Report by Steve Mackel
Podium Spots for Beach Runners L-R Sara, Steve, Gary, Mina, Christy, Duncan, Haley
WOW! What a race. This has got to be one of the most difficult Half Marathons in the US if not the world without going somewhere or doing something ridiculous.
The first 5 miles are up, tough up hill, followed by a screaming couple miles down hill, then back up and then back down. This race starts at sea level, climbs to the top of the mountain behind Avalon then turns around and brings you back to town. It is primarily on fire roads. You have nothing out of the ordinary to deal with except Mother Nature yet Mother Nature can always have the final say. Fantastic views are around every corner and we ran through some burn areas so we could see the hillsides starting to regenerate.
Here’s what I have to say about the race. The first hour is tough. You just figure how to get through without walking. Then the race gets steeper in both directions, up and down. I read somewhere that there is 4 times the amount of force exerted on the body going down hill. Whatever the number is we know it is more than running on flats and up hill. There are some steep down hills sections after miles 5.5 and the race finishes with 3 miles of steep down hills. You just get to the point where you can’t stop. These parts eat up your legs and my legs a feeling it today.
Beach Runners use ChiRunning® techniques. We train our athletes to run smart up hill and fly down hill. We use gravity. This is an area I have to continue to work on. I was passed by 7 people on the down hills. I was still running fast, sub 7 minute miles yet I was governed by some fear, fear of injury, protecting my back, fear of truly letting go. I watched these people motor past me on some very steep terrain. Maybe next year.
In the end it was Gary’s day. Catalina is like home court advantage for Gary. He has been training hard for this it paid off. I couldn’t keep up with him on the up hills and forget about it on the down hills. He finished 12th overall 1st in his age group. I still had a good day 30th overall and 2nd in my age group. I value this medal as much as any.
I want to congratulate everyone who made the trip over and participated in this great race. The Beach Runners had a fantastic showing bringing over 20+ athletes and finishing with 7 podium spots. We don’t train people to run fast, we train people to be successful and every Beach Runner finished, some quickly.
Now we are looking forward to the Catalina Marathon and Los Angeles Marathon. We have a couple more weeks before the big days. The Beach Runners are ready and we showed it yesterday. Our training programs work – “For your best marathon ever” join us.
A special congratulations goes out to Beach Runners Mentor Barb and Beach Runners Sissy, who never gave up.
Thank you to all the volunteers, race officials and the Catalina Conservancy for staging this wonderful race.
Steve Mackel, Head Coach – MarathonTraining.TV and Beach Runners
Many of the Beach Runners Pose for a Photo After the Race.
Saturday Nov 3rd Set Your Intention Trail Run
Are you ready for a long run again? Do you need to get out in the healing power of nature?
This Saturday November 3rd I will leading a long trail run in the hills of Palos Verdes.
It has been long enough trail runners. The hills, the dirt, the rabbits, the snakes, the hawks, the view of the Pacific Ocean are calling.
We will meet 7 a.m. at Trump National Golf Course. Parking is readily available and free.
The run will be approximately 1.5 hours. It is appropriate for any level of runner. Or this is a good time to just go out for a long hike. We will be running slowly as it is the start of a new season. Don’t be intimidated. Nothing beats a long walk in the fresh ocean air.
You will be given a specific spiritual focus for the run. This is a good time to rediscover yourself after the Long Beach Marathon. How is your body feeling? What are your new goals? It will become more clear to you after your run Saturday.
We will follow the run with some yoga on one of the most beautiful spots you can imagine overlooking the ocean. Again our yoga practice will focus on setting your intention. Spiritual practice here will stay with and benefit you for the upcoming training session for the Catalina and Los Angeles Marathon (BeachRunners.org).
I will ask for a donation for the yoga class. Currently your money is going to the Smile Train which brings smiles to children with cleft palates and split lips. Your donations from my birthday party have already paid for the surgery of one child. You brought a lifetime of smiles to the world that night.
Donate what you can on Saturday. ($5-$10 recommended).
I will see you there….
RunCast 21 Mt. Baldy Run-to-the-Top
This is my first time using YouTube and the picture quality is not quite what we had at blip.tv. It is still a lot of fun. You be the judge.
Train Focuesd, Steve Mackel – Beach Runners Head Coach
Warrior Workouts and Trail Running
Halfway Straight Up Taxman in PV, That’s Matt Pushing Forward
Want a warrior workout, trail run with Gary or I. The number 1 reason to learn ChiRunning® from us is because we put it to use everyday. Gary’s Tuesday Night Trail Run and Power Yoga tops the charts. When you look at the picture above, know that this is what a warrior workout is all about, learning to make it to the top of a super steep, long uphill with loose rocks.
You can work hard or ChiRun and work smart, its your choice. And don’t let this scare you. We have other trails that aren’t so difficult starting out of the same location. Everybody has to start somewhere. We thought about this and have a safe and fun way to get you going or really challenge you.
“Tough Races in Beautiful Places” that’s our motto.
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Certified ChiRunning/ChiWalking® Instructor and Trail Running Instructor
Steve’s Coaching, ChiRunning® and the Beach Runners in a Feature Article in Outside Magazine
Check Out the Full Page Article on Steve’s Coaching, ChiRunning® and the Beach Runners, Page 68
That’s right, the nationally renown Outside Magazine has a full page article on Steve’s Coaching, ChiRunning® and the Beach Runners. Written by the “Lab Rat” Nick Heil the article gives is account of training with the Beach Runners last January.
Before I go any farther, thank you Larry Rosenwinkel, new ChiRunning® Instructor – in training – for getting this started. He just finished the ChiRunning® Instructor training in Dublin last week and is going to be an awesome ChiRunning® Instructor.
It was a beautiful day on the So Cal Coast, with perfect 360-degree views of my favorite city, Los Angeles and all it has to offer.
When Nick was planning this trip he informed me he was coming out, he was a little worried about keeping up and going for 2+ hours. To be honest I was too. I was coming of my herniated disc injury and my left leg and foot were still not at full strength and numb. I want Nick to get the whole Beach Runner and ChiRunning® experience and tried not to let my nervousness and lack of training show. I was nervous because it had been 4 months since I had run that far and not knowing how my back would handle it.
I started out the way I always do, teaching the ChiRunning posture from chapter 4 in the book. Nick is a good athlete and caught on quickly. We started out heading for the hills of Palos Verdes. These trails are tough and perfect training for any marathon or endurance run.
When go on the trail and a group of us stayed together as everyone listened to my ChiRunning® tips. We were going at a good clip. Then it was time to turn around, downhill, this is ChiRunners shine.
The group split up. I took it slow to protect my back. Nick and I ran the last 6 miles in together and continued to work on his form. He got the feeling and that’s what we try to teach. It is really all about learning the feeling.
Once at the park I lead a fun flow yoga class under big tree on the San Pedro cliffs. We finished and some of us went to breakfast. What a great way to start a Saturday. Nick and I said good-bye and I wished him luck in his upcoming race, the Mt. Taylor Quadathlon in New Mexico.
He did an excellent job explaining ChiRunning® in his article. It is worth the read and Outside magazine is offers great information that excites and motivates people like Gary and I. Look for the article on page 68 of the new July 07, issue of Outside Magazine, on newsstands now.
The Beach Runners Enjoying Some Breakfast With Outside Magazine Writer Nick Heil (center in blue)
Train Focused, Steve Mackel – Certified ChiRunning/ChiWalking® Instructor
Sindy’s UltraMarathon Race Report
Peggy (womens 15 Mile winner), Sindy, Sandy, and Laury
Catalina Marathon was such a beautiful experience. When coach Gary
suggested going 7 miles farther in an ultra marathon I was eager to
try! In preparation We’d done two four hour runs and I’d done one 26
mile run in the Santa Monica mountains. My running has been improving
and with coach Garys coaching I felt ready for this adventure.
Every run is a learning experience. Either helping you realize your
strength, your improving endurance, or a challenge that shows you the
things you need to improve on. This race was a challenge for me.
I was prepared for the distance but not the terrain. Single track,
rocky, and with 7000 ft elevation gain. I ran the first four and a
half hours on pace and feeling good. The views were beautiful and the
technical trail was also beautiful. We ran over two mountain ridges
and we were on the Pacific Crest Trail when we hit a seven mile
section with loose rocks, no aid stations, and downhill swtchbacks.
This section slowed me up a lot and I could see my time slipping. I
arrived at the 21.8 mile cut off 5 minutes too late. I wouldn’t finish
this race today.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, however, as coach Gary
says,”smooth seas do not make good sailors”
This run gave me the opportunity to evaluate my running and it has
driven me to work on some training aspects I have avoided. I love
running especially since learning Chi running and adding yoga to my
training. I feel that every choice we make takes us where we need to
go. I was where I needed to be. I was doing exactly what I needed to
do. I learned the things I needed to learn to become a better runner
and a stronger person.
I’m going to go back to finish the course in a few weeks. I need
closure with the mountain. The message of my experience is never stop
trying. Learn from the outcome you get and don’t let the fear of
falling short of your goal stop you from going for it.
I’m so grateful for our supportive coaches and the other beach runners
I’ve become close with. I wouldn’t trade this experience for
anything.
Thanks for letting me share my story.
—
Sindy Seal
Natural Strength Private Training
(310) 689-8931
Ultramarathon Race Report with Gary
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
Muhammad Ali
The word courage comes from the old French word corage meaning what is in your heart. It has taken on a modern meaning of bravery or toughness, but its older meaning points to something more richer. That our courage sometimes is not brave, but very emotional, but its always a strong faith in our direction.
I took three runners up to the mountains on Sunday to run 33 miles in Big Bear at the Holcomb Valley Trail Run. 33 difficult miles in the mountains with 7200 feet elevation gain in altitude on challenging terrain that would be exhausting to hike let along run.
Beach Runners Sandy and Sindy both trained with us during the winter and ran the Catalina Marathon for their first marathon. This was an impressive athletic accomplishment because the Catalina Marathon is one of the hardest marathons in the United States: 18/26 miles are uphill with 4100 feet elevation gain. Both these strong women found that they loved running on the natural surfaces of trails.
So when I threw out the idea of training for an ultramarathon, these were the only two Beach Runners who had the courage to attempt something this difficult. Training would mean a significant commitment of trail running for hours and hours every weekend. And power yoga. And our secret nutrition plans.
We ended up spending many weekends together up in the hills of Palos Verdes. We even climbed a mountain (San Jacinto).
And in this time, we became really good friends. I now consider these two remarkable women two of my closest friends.
Coaching is still a learning process for me, and I did what I could to develop training routines, motivational messages, and nutritional guidelines. All the while these two with beautiful beginners minds, followed along to all my training suggestions with strong determination and discipline.
I signed Steve up for the ultramarathon despite his wishes. I knew deep down inside Steve needed a new challenge. He has overcome so much this year by self healing his back injury. Steve has a ton of courage, and has been doing lots of trail running and power yoga this year also, and with a 4:32 at Catalina, I figured he had the ability to do this ultra with no specific training due to his ChiRunning skills.
Overall, my fitness was excellent. I am in the best running shape of my life. My endurance base is off the charts. I’m strong from Power Yoga and hard trail running. Ate extremely well the week before the race. But unfortunately, did not get enough rest.
The five days leading up to the race I did a hard trail run, power yoga, hatha yoga with my teacher, and trained Beach Runners including two yoga sessions. I cannot stress this enough to take it easy the week before race day. I didn’t follow this advice and it affected my race.
The Race
The race started with a five and a half mile climb to a mountain pass. Steve forged ahead of me suggesting I run with him. But I was torn. A dilemna I’ve been thinking about for days now. With me was Sandy, who I had done so many training sessions with, who I had done so much coaching. I reflected back to my prayers that morning with God and my prayer had finished with asking God for the opportunity to help another finish this ultramarathon rather than asking for a fast performance from myself.
Those of you that know me know how important that is for me to help others finish.
The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.
Robert Cushing
So I chose to run with Sandy for a while. Enjoying her efficient pace on a very difficult, rocky, mountainous, and high altitude course, I took my time and conserved my energy. Steve was ahead somewhere and I figured he was taking it easy also. My plan was to run with Sandy to the high point of the course at mile 8 then run hard on the down hills and catch Steve.
I left Sandy at mile 8 after wishing her good luck and began running hard for the next 6 miles. When I passed mile 14, I began slowing down, bogging and couldn’t figure out why.
Then another runner, Lorraine came up behind me, and asked, “How are you doing?”
“Feeling a little tired.”
“Do you have a Goo? You need to eat right away. In fact, you should have been eating this whole course.”
I sucked down my only Goo, and began eating my Garden of Life bar. The fact was, I hadn’t been eating much for the first two hours of the run. Just nibbling at the rest stations. That was insufficient calories for the difficulty of the race I was doing. I needed to be eating every 30 minutes. I thought I could eat every hour. But not on a course this difficult.
So I bonked. Yes it does even happen to coaches. After eating my Goo and Garden of Life bar, I felt a little better and had the energy for a very challenging and rocky downhill section to mile 20. It took 100% concentration to not trip on all the rocks. I almost tripped numerous times, and the one time I did let my mind drift, I ate it, landed on my knee and rolled into a bush. Nothing too serious, brushed myself off, and kept running.
Miles 20-23 were a steep steep fireroad, and so I walked most of it. Lorraine who was faster than me on the uphills, caught up to me and we chatted. I was so amazed on that course that day because everyone I spoke to was the most incredible athlete. Lorraine had done over 70 ultramarathons and had qualified for Boston like 20 times in a row. This is one reason I like doing hard races, because I get to meet amazing athletes who motivate me to accomplish more than what I’m doing.
So Lorraine and I ran together for a while, swapping stories, laughing, enjoying this climb. After another rest station where I should have been eating more, I grinded out a long flat fireroad through the valley from miles 24-27.5. This fireroad seemed to go on forever and forever. I tuned into my metronome shifted into a ChiRunning 1st gear and found my focuses again. Thats the beauty of learning ChiRunning–even when you are tired, you can use your form to keep propelling yourself along.
At the last rest station, I ate one of Sandy’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and nibbled on some Pringles. And was relieved to hear that there were only 5.5 miles to go.
A little delirious, I forgot to fill the water bottles on my fuel belt. So was thirsty for the last section. After a two mile climb, the rest of the course was downhill. It was very rocky so I had to completely concentrate, but for me, like Steve and Sandy, it was the most enjoyable part of the course. Especially with this fantastic scenic view of Big Bear Lake.
I came up to the finish line to have Steve and Sindy (you’ll have to hear her story from her) cheering me on across the finish line.
I was passed by a runner the last 50 yards. I simply did not have the energy to race him. Afterwords, he said his race was slow because he had done a 100 mile bike race the day before!!!!! Yikes.
Other than him, I had passed many runners from mile 8 onwards, about 10-15 runners. And no runner had passed me other than my guardian angel Lorraine. So I run according to my plan of taking the first 8 miles easy, then running hard the remainder. That just was not enough to stay up with uber runner Steve that day.
My time: 7 hours 9 minutes. Steve came in 19 minutes ahead of me. So he had an awesome run. I am so proud of him.
About an hour after I came in, Sandy ran to the finish line smiling with tears in her eyes.
Sindy ran a courageous 21 miles but was unable to finish this day. I’ll let her tell her story. But all I want to say is that there is no failure in attempting to do anything as difficult as an ultramarathon, marathon, or half marathon. Less than 1% of the American public ever complete a marathon. So to train for an ultramarathon and run most of a very very difficult course up in the mountains earns my deepest deepest respect and admiration.
Some reflections…
Race Mindset: Not tough enough for me. I spent too much time running with Sandy trying to help her along when she didn’t need my help. I needed to let her run her own race. She was well prepared from my training program, and needed to let her go once the race started.
Also I spent too much time walking hills. Now if you are a first time marathoner or ultramarathoner, you should walk hills. But I had the fitness and the skills from ChiRunning to run many that day that I walked. Read Steve’s race report on how he ran most of the hills that I walked.
In addition, I cannot ever ever give Steve a head start. He is too good a runner to be caught from behind. Lesson learned for Baldy.
A bigger issue for me is to get more courage on race day, a competitive gear, to be able to run hard even when tired. I still need to get tougher. This is something I can work on during my training runs during the week. In fact, this last Tuesday night, I pushed myself hard up three tough PV hills and passed my training partner Matt despite my whole body being fatigued from the ultramarathon. I will need this ability to laser focus on my form even when tired for Baldy. I have the skills from ChiRunning. I have the breathing practice. I just need the mental toughness.
My ChiRunning was essential for finishing this race. I had a lot of speed on the down hills. Using my metronome and taking short strides was essential for keeping my momentum even when I bonked from lack of race day nutrition. I had no pain during the run from any part of my body, fatigue, yes, but no pain. I felt great after the run, walking around like normal. Thats the real benefit of ChiRunning: you can run a 33 mile ultramarathon in the mountains with no injuries, and no pain. As a competitor, I have to keep this in mind sometimes, what a miracle this running system is.
Overall, this was a fantastic weekend for me. I got to spend time with three people I really love. I met new friends. And I helped others finish the race by signing up Steve, and coaching Sandy and Sindy.
The course was beautiful. We saw mountains, valleys, meadows, songbirds, Big Bear Lake, with clean air, and friendly volunteers at every rest station that would even fill our water bottles. We want to think Pam and Gary Kalina for putting this race on for the 11th year in a row. Put your application in early for next year because it fills quickly.
Courage is the first of human qualities, because it is the quality which guarantees all others.
Winston Churchill
Steve, Sandy, and Sindy are such amazing examples of courage to attempt a race as difficult as this one. All three were not afraid to fail. That’s the meaning of courage for me. They trust themselves, their coaches, ChiRunning, Yoga, and God. They know in their hearts that by just coming to the starting line of a hard race is a success.
I can’t wait to go running with them again. They are wonderful inspirational people that I’m lucky enough in this life to get to run with.
God Bless you,
Gary
The Beach Runners Ultra Team- Gary, Sindy, Steve, and Sandy
Founder – Coach Steve
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