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.