Haulin Aspen Marathon...for Micah...

This weekend I returned to the west coast for the Haulin Aspen Marathon in Bend, OR. I won't lie. A part of me was dreading this race. I am not a trail runner. I know a lot of people love running trails and find it to be pure joy and freeing.  I find it to be mentally tiring, always having to watch my feet in the hopes that I don't let my less than coordinated self take a spill. The trail portion was only one challenge, the other being 2,500 feet of elevation gain that would bring us up above 6,000 feet at the height. Again, with that kind of elevation, I knew I'd be out of my element. I can do hills, repeating loop courses, wind, rain, but trails and elevation, I knew this was going to be one heck of a trip.

My parents and nephew live in WA and decided to make the 4 hour drive down to Portland, OR and pick me from the airport to support me as well as saving me a rental car. Although we didn't get a lot of extra time besides the 3 hour dive over and back to Bend, it was great to see them and so nice to not have to drive!

With my flight touching down in the evening we didn't arrive at the hotel until 10pm. I was wasted and had actually fallen asleep in the car on the way over for a bit. Something about the long flights across country really take a toll. I took time enough to get things in gear for the morning and then headed to bed.

I had signed up for the early start, anticipating taking longer than usual with the elevation and trails. After choking down a whole wheat bagel for breakfast, my mom drove me over to the start line. I picked up my packet and marveled at the beauty around me. The start was at an elementary school, and I couldn't get over the views! I pictured the school kids at recess, surrounded by the mountains, and trees. They probably never give it a second thought. But for me, having lived on the east coast for the past 8 years, I was awestruck.  For those of you who have never been to the the northwest, all I can say is it's amazingly beautiful!

 Getting ready for the start

View from the school, mountains in the backdrop

It was still chilly as us early birds gathered for the start, but it was looking to be a fantastically wonderful sunny day. We were given a few last words about the course and then took off down the street for a short stretch to meet the trails. The terrain changed over the course of the race, from single track, to a crushed rock road, from dusty and sandy, to pine needle ridden and packed. We had a few rocky sections, up and down and down and up. And a good amount of it was up. The trails reminded me of the trails I used to hike with my family as a kid. Growing up, we camped all over WA and OR and going hiking was always part of that. Being in Bend took me back to those days.

I brought my ipod along with me, but didn't use it. All I wanted to hear was the trail. Even though I find trail running more challenging, there is something about being out there that is unlike anything you can experience on the road. Maybe it's because I take it with a very different outlook. Trails are a chance to enjoy the world around me. For me, it's never about speed, the time clock or mile markers. It's only about the run.

My body really noticed the elevation difference. I felt like my lungs got as much, if not more of a workout than my legs did. I had no intentions to push myself. This was all about taking in the beauty around me, trying to enjoy it as much as possible, and playing it smart on the hills. As always with trail running, this was also all about not falling!

I had a chance to enjoy the conversation of a few other runners during the course, but cherished the time I ran alone just as much. The elevation had started at mile 4 and by the time we hit 10.5 miles the incline was getting much steeper. We turned a corner and I was happy to see an aid station, but the happiness was short lived as I saw the wall of a hill ahead of us. It just went up and up. And with a live to fight another day strategy (or should I say in another 7 days),  I decided I would be walking most of it. And walk it I did. It took me 18 minutes to cover one mile. I saw runners charge up it and more power to them.  Slow as it was, I think it was a smart choice.

 And up!

Once we finally reached the end of the climb we had hit the half way point and mile 13 aid station  From there we were back on single track trails, through brush, and tress, going steadily downhill. I found the energy I had lacked on the inclines and my running pace flowed.

The day continued on, and the sun was full overhead, really heating things up. But I was feeling good, my legs were not bothering me, I wasn't overly tired, everything was going quite well. That is, until mile 19 where I did what I seem to have a crazy knack for on trails, falling. Thankfully it was a soft and dusty area, so the worst of it was being covered in dirt. My camera however had a less favorable fate. I had been holding in my hand (outside of its protective case) as I'd been taking pictures recently and when I fell the camera ended up covered in as much dirt, if not more than me. I tried to clean it off, blowing the dust off the back, but to no avail. It was a real bummer because I knew there would be more shots I'd want to take on the course and I wasn't going to be able to.  I was honestly a lot more worried about my camera than me.

Alright, so dust yourself off, and keep on going I told myself. That is my motto with just about everything. So on I went, frustrated, by happy to know that I only had a few more miles to go. Quickly  I got my second wind and took off, actually enjoying the run. That is, until mile 21, where I tripped again and this time I took a much harder fall. I hit my right knee hard, landed on my side and immediately rolled onto my back. Quite honestly at that point I just wanted to stay down! I laid there for a second before getting to my feet. This time I wasn't just covered in dust. I had managed to cut up my arm, ankle, and both knees. I could tell that I did more than just cut up my right knee which had me concerned. And once again all of me was covered in dirt. I'm sure I was quite a sight by that point! I walked for a bit to make sure the knee was ok for running, and then continued on. I never did get my energy back again after that fall. I just wanted to be done. The course took us right past the finish line area at mile 24 which was also hard to deal with. You could see everyone relaxing and smell the hot cooked food. At that moment 2 miles felt like an eternity. Finally turning onto a small stretch of road, I pulled out my headphones for the last bit. We quickly turned back on the trail and before I knew it the  finish line was in sight. I finished in 5:27 and was super glad to be done. 

They had a great spread at the finish area with beer (yes uttermost important on my list), watermelon, bagels, chips, hot pasta, caesar salad, brownies and rolls. I got myself a quick plate of spaghetti (and a beer) then made my way over for the shuttles to take me back to the school where my parents were waiting for me. I was trying to make it back to the hotel in time for me to get a shower, and thankfully got back in time for a quick clean up.

And boy did I need a shower! I wish I could have taken a picture to show you what a mess I was!  I was covered in so much dirt and dust, the water running down the drain was black. My white socks had little white left, and for an extra treat I got a blister on the side of my foot about 2 inches long. Again, I don't normally wear my trail shoes, and I forgot that I sometimes need to tape up my feet to prevent that from happening.

I arrived home a broken mess compared to when I left. My right knee is swollen and uncomfortable. But hey, I made it through marathon #29 of my 52 and I am eagerly anticipating hitting 30 next week! It may still seem like a long way off, but getting to this point is huge for me. It feels possible! I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and that light is the life of these children that I'm running for.

Proof that trail running and me really don't mix well!

This week I ran for Micah, who is 5 years old and orphaned in South Africa. Like most of the children I've been running for, he has lost his parents to the horrific Aids epidemic. People are astonished at what I'm putting myself through this year, and yet I think about what Micah and the other orphans have to deal with each and every day. This journey is so not about me! I've said it before and I will say it again. I hope that people will be inspired by what I'm doing, I hope it will make them think, but more than anything I hope that it will make people act! You can read this and be inspired, or you can read this and do something inspiring!! We all have the chance to do something amazing with our lives, and I can't think of a more amazing thing to do than to change the life of someone who deserves so much more. These children have needs, the same as any other child. These children have hearts, like any other child. And yet these children have little hope. This is a chance to make a HUGE impact for a lot of children.  Please join me in this effort! Every dollar counts, every child matters. Together we can really transform the future for these kids!

Today is our chance to change tomorrow. Really, what more can I say?

Final Race Stats:


Finish time 5:27:25
125 of 156 overall
48 out of 66 women