Subject: Purisima Creek Redwoods 50k From: "George & Lezlee Miller" Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 01:12:51 -0800 Here's a quick "race" report from last weekend's Purisima 50k: First of all, my daughter, the dear, sweet Conness Lauren (11) ran the 14k with her friend Lena (11). Their course was the same as the first part of mine - they went to the top of Huddart Park (1700' elevation gain) and back down. My bride, Lezlee, a swimmer and NOT, NOT, NOT a runner, ran behind as a safety patrol for the girls. She ALSO made it to the top and back down in one piece which is more amazing than Conness doing it! They finished somewhere around 2:15 feeling tired but satisfied to have completed something unique. According to Lezlee, there were no injuries, a few aches, and lots of giggling going on throughout the day! There's excitement for some unknown event in the future. We'll see what it brings! Going into last Saturday's race I had two what I considered "major" concerns. The first was the low miles that I had put in since starting up running again 3 months ago. I had two 20 mile runs and a couple 40 mile weeks but most were in the low 20's (a couple with none at all). But in the end I just "hoped" the legs would be there for me – and they were. Secondly, a week before the race I decided to wash the mud off my trail shoes for a change. That's when I discovered a 3" slice above the sole by the ball of my foot on the inside of BOTH shoes. They were substantial holes I couldn't ignore. I flopped between wearing my road shoes or my old trail shoes (that the podiatrist said were not the best for my foot structure). The night before I figured that I had orthotics now and the latter shoe would be best suited for the terrain - I'm glad I did. The day before we saw some rain but blue skies and cool (45 degrees) greeted us on race morning. I planned to climb out of Huddart with a mixture of easy jogging and power walking to conserve energy for the rest of the day. I carried on a good conversation with a young woman that was just accepted to med school. She and her hubby are trying to get out and live a little before they both start. By the time I had arrived at the top, I had finished both water bottles as planned. For a change, I didn't dilly-dally at the aid station. I filled the bottles, took a GU, ate a small square of MY pizza, a SUCCEED, said "thank you" to the aid station workers and off I went within 2 minutes. The next 1.5 miles is a steep downhill that I tried to control without burning out from either going too fast or holding back too much. It worked. By the time I hit the next section (4.5 miles of uphill), I had some energy. I found myself snacking and drinking often along the way instead of waiting for the aid station. When I reached the 10 mile aid station, the queen, Suki, asked what she could get me. I asked for a BLT with avocado on toast. She bust out laughing and said, "Oh I remember you from last year when you asked for scallop's sautéed over rice!" It's nice to be remembered for something. But all I needed was water and to replenish my fanny pack from the cooler that I had stashed earlier in the morning (pizza, sushi, Sees's, Almond Joy, Mounds). The next section is where I was going to decide if I was feeling well enough to do the full 50k or bag it and do the 33k. Fortunately, I was feeling quite good and my feet weren't barking at all so I took the turn DOWN, DOWN, DOWN into the deepest reaches of the redwood forest of Purisima where lives Ewoks, Goldilocks and Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs live (is it "dwarfs" or "dwarves"?). Tony, an oil refinery worker/runner tagged along with me because he had some concerns about getting lost. I stayed with him but went too fast and spent some extra fuel that I wish I would have had for the killer 4 mile climb out of there! Oh well. I'm not sure how much "power" I was able to put into my walk but I tried to do what I could knowing I'd only be half way by the time I reached the top. More aid station refills and I was off running with Blake, a teacher from Bakersfield who was unsure of the trail. We exchanged leads often but finally I let him go because I was uncomfortable with his pace. The weather was SO nice! I flipped my shirt over my head and got a little sun on my chest as I headed for home. Walk, run, walk, run - that's the rhythm right? The final 1.5 mile climb back to the top was rough and this is where the "demons & dragons" came out. I found myself wondering how I could EVER run WS or Miwok or wondering why I DO this to myself! Why didn't I stay home and finish the landscaping or painting or something PRACTICAL? But hey, I also didn't want to lie down to feed the mountain lions so I continued until I noticed that nobody was catching up with me so that must mean my pace must be, well, something. I did reach the top aid station where I saw the perpetually smiling Chuck Wilson. If you look up "nice guy" in the dictionary, you'd find his picture. He was very supportive and encouraging for me. I found that when very tired, an easy shuffle was the best way to get moving again and the pace usually picked up again shortly thereafter. So now I'm at the top of the ridge looking at 4 miles of downhill and another 4 mile loop to the finish in cooling temperatures. I ran the rest with Carol Cumminale and her friend at a nice, regular pace. Occasionally I'd find myself wanting to pass but I finally realized that I'd expend too much on the downhill and would really be hurting when it came to the last 4 mile loop. So I stayed 10' behind and had a nice 4 mile conversation. The downhill ends at the finish line, you report your number, refuel and then turn around and go back out for the final 4 mile loop even as you smell the hot chili (is that an oxymoron) and chicken soup that the finishers are chowing down on. It was a fairly easy loop but the 300 or so feet of elevation gain was not what I wanted. OH WELL. Carol and her friend ran the final 100 yards to the finish line but I couldn't quite keep up so they beat me at the tape! So much for my prize $$$. After refueling on soup, potatoes, and soda (the chili was GONE), I discovered one of the things it will take for me to run longer – sitting for 5 minutes and eating real food. I could have gone out for another few miles at least. I don't remember my time but after eating, it was 7:15. Last year was 7:24 so there's "improvement". To improve on my time I'll have to do speed work and practice running UPHILL more on my long runs. Maybe dry trails would make me a little faster but the wet trails and puddles were fun to play with. The food, water, SUCCEED, and run/walk strategy worked but I just need more time on my feet I think. Next "race" will be Rucky Chucky 50k in March if I can work out the time away from loving critters and home. Thanks for listening. (~: George