Ultra Running: Trials of the Trail 

Ran Northwest Trail Runs event atSquak Mountain today.  This particular race is a ½ marathon.  The trails were in great shape with only a few muddy patches and very well marked.  The runners were blessed with beautiful weather; we actually saw the sun a rare visitor to the Pacific Northwest these days.  The course is wonderfully difficult that climbs about 3300 feet.  On the trip up the steep trail I took to a power hike to running pattern.  This is a technique that I will pout to good use during the Western States 100.  I decided that I would go out with a more than comfortable effort pushing a little through the initial climbs.  This event also included a 10k option so I decided to go out with a woman who was doing the 10k; I knew this would keep me on pace for a good trail half. 

Last night just out of curiosity I looked at last years finish times.  The course record was set last year at 2:33:10   Not ever running this particular trail before I had no idea how this time would correlate to other trail run times.  That’s the real beauty of trail running: time is only relevant to that race on that day.  I run sometimes on another mountain near Squak called Mt. Si.  By looking at the elevation of the race I figured I could translate my Mt. Si training run times to this course.  I predicted a time of 2:40, maybe better if everything was perfect, maybe slower if things weren’t.

After splitting from the 10k group, I thought I was either 1^st or 2^nd woman.  I ran miles 4-8 with a young lawyer and we talked politics to kill time and take on the climbs. Even though our politics didn’t match up we enjoyed each others presence, company & support on the trail.  At 8 miles he started to bonk, this was the longest trail race he had attempted.   I gave him some sips of my electrolyte drink and he sucked on a GU as I lost him on the next ascent. 

There was an aid station was at 9.5 miles so I took a GU and looked at my watch, if my math was right I was on pace to break the course record.  This was a big surprise but I decided to go for it!  I thought there may be a woman in front of me, and I wanted to catch her.  I ran like the wind down the winding descent off Squak.  At every switchback I looked ahead to see if I could see any other runners. I never saw another person. 

As I came out of the forest to complete the last 400 meter loop before ending at the parking lot I refused to look at my watch.  I had no idea if I would hit the course record.  I slowed to a more comfortable pace for that last loop.    At the parking lot there was a guy in a lawn chair writing our numbers and the clocktime, a nice simple finish for a lovely day on the trail.

Unofficial Result: First woman, new course record 2:27:39

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/26/2008
• Time: 10:00:00
• Total Time: 2:27:39.00
• Distance: 13.1 miles
• Average Pace: 11:16.69/mile
• Ascent: 3,300 ft
• Descent: 3,300 ft