Canyon Meadows Trail Marathon: A Discovery in Self

Getting ready to head out for 26.2 miles

In March, I decided to run my first trail marathon as a training run for the 50k which would be five weeks later. It would be my last long run before the big day at Folsom Lake Trail 50k.  I purposely choose Canyon Meadows Marathon in the Bay area which had an elevation gain of 3000ft, which was a few hundred feet more than the 50k.  I figured that if I could make it through a trail marathon with more elevation, I would good to go for the 50k.  As race day approached, I started to have huge anxiety because the longest run I had done up to that point was 14 miles. Having done three road marathons, this freaked me out. I am used to 18, 20 miles runs in preparation for a road marathon. But I trusted my coach when she told me I would be fine and that I couldn't compare the two - trails and road. She's done enough of both and I had faith in her coaching.

I was nervously keeping an eye on the weather because it was supposed to be raining on race day.  I'm fine running in the rain, even enjoy it but on trails, you never know if this will lead to a muddy mess on the course. I've had enough experience running in the mud to know that it's a pain in the ass.  Fun but a pain in the ass and I didn't feel like doing it for 26 miles. Thankfully, on race morning the weather looked like it would be perfect. Some scattered light showers here and there with moderate temperatures.  The rain wouldn't get bad until later in the afternoon, around the time I was going to be finishing. I was cool with that :-) 



The mudpit in the first mile

Hubby dropped me off at the start area to pick up my bib. I wasn't really nervous as I was looking at this like a training run but I was excited. It would be my 4th marathon and my first trail marathon. This was something I never saw myself doing.  As we lined up to listen to the course instructions, I was grateful that Tony had given me a run down of the course, especially the first hill right out of the start. Not only was that hill practically straight up but it was a big muddy mess. Two runners actually lost their shoes in the mud, which was hilarious. And I watched a few others try to go around it by going off course and ending up in poison oak. Yeah, I decided just to trudge through the mud and stay in the shallow sections. The first hill climbed for about a mile or so and I was happy when the trail flattened out a bit. I did learn, however, that I am a pretty decent power hiker up hills. This is a good thing since I will be doing quite a bit of that at Tahoe. I decided to really pay attention to walking up all the hills then running the flats/downhills nice and easy. I knew it was a two loop course and was focused on trying to pace myself.

If you look carefully, you can see the bay :-)

The views were beautiful and at one point, you could see the bay from the trail. I stopped to take a fair amount of pictures (more about all that time lost later...a lesson learned). Hit the first aid station and filled up my front flask with Tailwind. I had started the race with about a liter of water in the back reservoir and one flask filled with Tailwind in the front. Then I had a small 5oz flask filled with concentrated Tailwind - 1oz was about 200 calories.  When I filled up the 500ml flask at the first aid station, I added 1oz of the Tailwind concentrate as well. I had brought additional snacks such as Justin's Almond Butter packs, Honey Stinger Waffles and a Honey Stinger gel. I wasn't sure how fueling was going to go but that's why I was running this race - as a learning tool for other trail runs to come. The aid station volunteers were all really nice and then they heard it was my first trail marathon, they responded with "and you picked THIS one??  Nice!"  Same thing from some fellow runners on the course. 

Trails make my heart happy

As I came down the backside of the mountain at the end of the first loop, I was surprised at (1) how good I felt and (2) my time. Before I started the race, I was figuring about 8 hours for a finishing time. The course limit was 8 hours 45 minutes because they were running a 50k on the same course. I came into the aid station that was around mile 11 and stopped to chat for a few minutes then they told me my pace. I was on target to hit about 3:30 for that first loop. I decided I would take it easy the next mile or two to finish out the loop since I knew I had that monster hill climb at the start of the second loop. The last stretch of the loop was my least favorite. Because of all the rain, they had to reroute part of the course as the trail wasn't runnable and blocked by downed trees.  So it was on a paved bike/walking path. Not my favorite thing after being on the trail for 3+ hours. I pulled into the start/finish line which is where the aid station was before starting the second loop.  Tony had warned me about this as well; his words were "get in, get out" because the half marathoners were hanging around, eating burgers and drinking beer. Mentally, I knew it would be hard to take off for another loop with that going on. So I quickly stopped to have the water refilled in my pack, take a few salt tabs and be on my way. As I headed up the big hill, some of the 35k runners were coming down the hill and saying to me "almost there" or "the turn around is close".  I would chuckle thinking how I had an entire loop to run.

It's funny; the second time on the loop, it occurred to me that nothing looked familiar. It was like I was on whole other course. Which was kind of nice!  I trucked along, thinking how weird it was that not only was I running a trail race but another marathon. Me. The girl who struggled through her first marathon and said "never again" only to sign up for a second the next week. I also realized that I hadn't once pulled out my earbuds to listen to music. Hours and hours of running without music - that was something I never saw myself doing. For some reason, having music while on the trails doesn't appeal to me. I enjoy being focused on my surroundings and I can't do that with music. Fueling was starting to get a little difficult - I had been good about drinking my Tailwind and taking in salt tabs but I knew I needed a bit more calories than the Tailwind was providing and the sweet stuff I brought just wasn't appealing. I was having to force feed myself the Honey Stinger waffles...and I LOVE the Gingersnap ones. But not this day. It was all I could do to get in the calories. The almond butter packs were okay but I really wanted something savory. I stopped at one of the later aid stations and was chatting with the volunteers when I noticed the potatoes. Potatoes next to a bowl of salt. Oh, heaven. I gobbled up a few of them and it was the best thing I had ever eaten. Then I saw the Coke. Not Pepsi; anyone who knows me knows what a purist I am and won't touch Pepsi. I don't drink Coke on a regular basis but today, I guzzled down a few Dixie cups and told the volunteers they were like trail angels!  So good and it gave that little boost I needed to continue on. By this time, I was out on the course pretty much by myself. I knew there were several 50k runners and a few marathoners behind me somewhere but I wasn't sure how far behind. As I headed into the backside of the loop and down the hill, I felt very isolated. It was both a welcome and unnerving experience.  I started singing The Brady Bunch at the top of my lungs as I seriously expected a bear to come crashing onto the trail at any moment. If I was bear, I would have been hanging out there.

First and foremost

I stopped briefly on the downhill to reflect a little, pull out my AA coin and have a conversation with my Higher Power. It was somewhat of a spiritual experience, being in that last 10k of the marathon, feeling tired, sore and hungry but at the same time, amazed at what I was doing. And I know I wasn't alone out there. I felt a strong presence with me and the tears came. It's amazing what we can do when we set our minds to something and have faith. I said a quiet thank you and had some brief words with my mom, who I KNOW was up there watching me.  She's proud of her little girl who has finally found inner strength and determination. It was time to finish this thing. I resumed flying down the hill - that last part was a lot of fun, despite hyperextending my knee twice (I need to learn to reign it in a bit when coming downhill).  As I passed through that last aid station and got some cheers, my legs felt super heavy and my mind was already thinking of that dreaded last stretch of bike path. I had to pass the finish line for the third time which was mentally challenging.  But as I came into the finish area on my way out to bike path, I saw my husband and grinned. That was exactly what I needed at that moment. I ran over the car, knocked on the window (yes, in the middle of my race!) and got a quick kiss, smile and words of encouragement. Then I was off to complete my first trail marathon. As I headed out on the bike path, the rain started and I felt very alone out there. I didn't see any runners and it was very quiet.  Then I spotted one of the marathoners heading towards me so I knew I was getting close to the turn around. I picked up the pace a little and saw the turn around sign. It was all I could do not to scream with joy. I knew that I had less than a mile to go.

This was a fun section of the course!

I should mention here that I had stopped looking at my Garmin back around mile 22. I knew when I completed the first loop in about 3:30 that even if I walked the second loop, I would make the cut off and maybe even my goal of 8 hours. I didn't walk that second loop but I stopped worrying about time and just enjoyed being out there. I felt like my second loop was slower, much slower but it didn't concern me. I really didn't have an idea of where I was at, time-wise. I was just focused on finishing, seeing my husband and giving him a big hug. I did glance down at my current pace a few times and was shocked to see a 9 min pace- at the end of a difficult trail marathon. What was THAT about??  It put a grin on my face as I came down the bike path and into the area where the finish line was set up.

As I got closer, I saw the clock.  What?!?  I could see the number "6" on the clock for the hours and was in disbelief. How in the hell did I run this thing an hour faster than I anticipated???  With 14 miles being my longest run and not really much of a taper??  Then I got close enough to see "6:58:30 and was determined to get to that finish well under 7 hours.  I came screaming into the finisher's chute (literally) and crossed the finish line, sobbing for joy. Not only did I surpass my goal by over an hour, but I felt like I *could* have kept running and done the 50k.  Of course, that would have meant another climb up that wretched hill and I wasn't really feeling it.  LOL.  The last lonely volunteer at the finish line placed that medal around my neck and all I could think about was how unbelievable it was that I was now a four time marathoner. What? Crazy talk, right there! I hugged my husband and thanked him for being there to support me; it meant the world to me that he was at the finish line. There is nobody I would rather have there than him. He's been my #1 fan and supporter, making it possible for me to continue chasing my dreams.

That is a strong finish!

Then came the ugly part - climbing into the car for the five hour drive home. My legs were going to hate me. We stopped in Sacramento for a bite to eat and for me to stretch my legs. I was really surprised at how good my legs felt. How good everything felt. That is the way I like to race - being challenged yet feeling strong at the end.  Turns out, I wasn't last. I think I came in ahead of about 5-6 other runners. That was kind of nice since I am a total trail newbie. I can't say enough about my coach. She's put up with my doubt, my incessant questions and anxieties. Training under has taught me what it's like to have a really good coach, someone who has the knowledge and experience to take her runners as far as they can imagine going then take them beyond that. It's uncomfortable and scary sometimes....okay, a lot of the time. But I've learned to have that faith and trust in her, following her guidance and am reaping the rewards. I needed this race. It was more than just a race. I connected with that strong woman inside of me. And that spills over into the rest of my life. It's not just about running. It never was.

Stepping backwards in time a bit - my first real trail running experience

Mud, rocks, hills, water crossings...my trail running initiation at the Folsom Sweetwater Trail Half

Having been on the trails less than a total of 10 times, I was rightfully nervous about my first trail half marathon.  Unchartered territory for me, unfamiliar terrain and feeling totally clueless didn't exactly put my mind at ease.  It had been raining for two days straight and all I could think about was how muddy and wet the course would be, especially since it was a much lower elevation and I knew the ground would be softer than we had in the Sierras. But if I'm going to do this thing called trail running then I had better get used to the idea that I can't control the weather nor can I control what the conditions would be come race day.

At the start in my brightly colored SparkleSkirt!

My husband and I arrived in Sacramento after driving through a torrential downpour over the Sierras. We headed for packet pick up where I would learn, much to my horror, that the race director had changed the half marathon course. I tell the lady giving me my bib that this is my first trail race and she immediately looked concerned then said I would want to listen to the change in course directions very carefully. Not a good sign? The race director started to explain and my head was spinning from all the instructions....look for the pink ribbons, now turn this way, follow for 3/4 of a mile, now look for red ribbons, make sure you don't go up the down path, don't go past that orange cone, pick up the pink ribbon path again, etc. Oooooookay. This was going to be an adventure. I told my coach I was pretty sure I was going to get lost and stuck in the mud.  She said "have fun" with a smiley face emoticon. Sigh. No sympathy there! Later that night, I kept looking out the window, waiting for the rain to stop. Nope. Mother Nature was going to make sure I got a proper introduction to running on something other than pavement. 



Gorgeous morning for a run

By morning, the rain had stopped but things were still very wet. Shoved a fig bar and banana down my throat, filled up my reservoir with Tailwind, gathered all my crap and we headed out to the start. The race started in a small parking lot near a place called Salmon Falls in Folsom. The RD once again explained the change in half marathon course, which still didn't make sense. We all lined up and when the race started, we proceeded to......walk. Single file on a very narrow single track for about 1/2 mile or so. No staggered start, huh? Hmmm. So the 10k, 8 milers, half marathoners, 18 milers, 25k and 50k all started out at the same time. We finally got to an area where it thinned out a bit. I had checked what I could online about the course, mainly the elevation and how technical the trail was; most of what I found pointed to about 300ft of elevation gain and not too technical. Wrong on both counts. Don't believe everything you read on the internet...lol.  After a few miles, I quickly realized the elevation gain of this race would be far MORE than 300ft. I have not been running trails long but my legs know the different between flat and hills. It was also a fairly technical course, with very narrow singletrack, muddy areas, some rocky spots and a water crossing (more on that later...hahaha). The course was absolutely gorgeous and while the rain made for some muddy running, it also made everything green and luscious.



My road shoes didn't like this part too much

The early morning fog emphasized the beauty of the area. At about mile 3, I came up on a rushing river. Okay, it was probably a creek but with all the rain, it looked more like a damn whitewater rafting river! I looked around for the bridge because don't most normal people use a bridge to cross water? Apparently, not when running a trail race. I noticed some folks sitting down and taking off their shoes then gingerly making their way across the knee high water. Hmmm. Well, I know I'm not taking off my damn shoes because it would be my luck to accidently drop one which would then be carried away by the current. I figure, what's the worst thing? I run the remaining 10 miles with sopping wet feet. I guess I will find out if I can run with wet feet (and I had dry socks in my pack so I could always stop and change into them). When in Rome...off I went into the water. Got across to the other side and started running again.



Where's the bridge??

Not bad, not bad. I could deal with the squishy shoes and socks. Praying for no blisters, I continued on. After about mile 5, I started to pay attention to the course more as I knew the turn off for the half marathoners was coming up. As I came around a corner, I saw the orange cone that I knew indicated the path I would be running down to meet up with the main trail again. Other half marathoners were coming back towards me on the main trail saying they got lost, there was no turn off, etc. I kept going, figuring I would just run out 6.5 or so and then turn around back to the finish, which would get me my 13 miles. As I passed mile 6, I saw the sign directing the half marathoners off to the left. Aha! I didn't get lost! I followed the red ribbons then saw where it picked up the main trail again.





Stunning green trails and I look forward to coming back here in April

Came up on another half marathoner who had passed me a while back, stating she must have gotten lost and couldn't find the turn off.  We fell in step together, one behind the other chatting about running, work and other various small talk. As we came up on the river (er, creek), I remarked how the course would probably be short as the creek was about 3 miles from the start and we were at about mile 8. That kind of sucked, knowing that my first trail half marathon would likely be more of a trail 10 miler. The water had gotten higher than it was the first time I crossed it but we managed to get across safely and continued heading back towards the start. It was starting to get warm up and it was then I realized a problem with using the damn reservoir in my pack for my hydration/fuel. I couldn't tell how much I had consumed and I was actually out. I had no water left and no Tailwind Well then. Doh. So I guess it was a good thing the course was short! 



My feet never looked like this after a road race...lol

As we came up the last ascent and crossed the finish, they yelled our time. I wasn't doing this for time, thankfully, so I didn't much care that it was slooooooow. I grabbed some snacks off the table, picked up my finisher's certificate - wait, certificate? Where the hell is my medal?  Hahaha. There's another difference between pavement and trail - I don't know of a half marathon I ever did where they didn't hand out medals. Not a big deal to me and it made me realize how much I've changed as a runner from the days that I refused to run a race, no matter what the distance, unless there was a medal at the end. I was just happy to be done and grateful to have had such a beautiful place to run.



Definitely not a pavement pounder today!

I would definitely love to run this trail again. Good thing since my 50k is on the same trail! It was a nice sneak peek to what I will be running on come April. And as far as the elevation goes, definitely NOT 300ft. It was1300ft. That will teach me to believe everything I see on the internet. I know now to be prepared for anything. I'm very proud that I not only started the race (with all the rain and the last minute course change, etc. I was very tempted to just not do it) but that I finished it with a smile on my face, loving it and wanting more.