El Vaquero Loco 31k!
What a day! I wish to come again to this race yearly any more. 10/10. To be utterly trustworthy, I used to be fairly scared the few days main as much as the race. I’ve by no means accomplished a path race like this the place I had by no means been within the space main as much as it, and I had a sense I used to be going to be alone lots (which I used to be!). My path runs are all the time with Andrew, Max, or my buddies, and I used to be so nervous I’d take a flawed flip and do not know the place I used to be or get eaten by a bear. I’m completely satisfied to report that the one animal I noticed was attractive butterflies, however I’m guessing there have been loads of animals that noticed me;).
The evening earlier than the race, I had a loopy headache. I saved attempting to return to sleep, however lastly acquired as much as take some drugs as a result of it was hurting so unhealthy… I couldn’t even put on my sleeping masks as a result of I believed my head was going to blow up. I don’t actually get complications, so I’m guessing it was an altitude headache?!?
The alarm went off at 5:45 am, and I went straight for some Ego waffles and a Core Energy. I used to be in my luteal section and Makenna Myler had simply posted about how essential it’s to get protein in earlier than a tough effort throughout this time in your cycle. Genius. I often stick to simply straight carbs earlier than a race, and this change was one.
Isn’t the beginning line cute? The race began at 7:05.
I wished to podium and knew my probability at that was to exit with a powerful effort on the primary 5 miles as a result of I had extra confidence in these miles than within the miles I would wish to hike. The primary 5 had been a gradual uphill on a gravel highway, and I attempted to get lead on these as a result of this sort of working is extra my energy than the steep ups. They stated afterwards they will all the time inform who the highway runners are in these first miles. I felt actually good right here, and it was the right warm-up vs beginning with extra intense climbing.
We had been subsequent to a river after which a waterfall for the whole starting. Throughout these miles, I simply saved fascinated about the occasions I really feel most me are when I’m with Andrew and my children, and when I’m within the mountains working. I really feel most at house with myself and calm… even when my coronary heart price is skyrocketing.
After which at about mile 10 is the place the true work began (at mile 6, I misplaced a couple of minutes as a result of I believed I took the flawed flip and there was no person close to me and needed to get on AllTrails to determine it out… however I wrestle with getting misplaced so the traditional runner wouldn’t get misplaced as a result of the course was so effectively marked and it’s form of foolish that I used to be confused now that I look again on it, ha).
Climb climb climb. I hiked lots throughout these miles as a result of they had been so steep (840ft climb for one of many miles)! The 50k racers began on the end line and had been doing an out-and-back for many of our course. We began passing by one another throughout this time, and everybody was past encouraging and pleasant. It was so good to see folks and take into consideration how they had been doing 19k greater than me;)
The help stations had been legit.
If I needed to guess, at the least 7 of the miles had been via wildflowers. They had been the longest stretches I had ever seen of them.
As soon as we acquired to the highest of the primary peak (mile 12/13), I believed I’d have the ability to actually begin cruising down and decide up my tempo. Nope. It was a ski down in your trainers state of affairs. I fell again on my buns a couple of occasions and simply saved sliding down. It was the scariest a part of the course for me, and no footage had been taken throughout that point.
However I did get a pic coming into the second lake that didn’t require any snowboarding.
After which one other.
Nonetheless feeling fairly good at this level and taking gels each half-hour.
Earlier than the ultimate climb of the day, there was God’s Nectar within the river. By no means has a Coke tasted higher. I chugged it, it was chilled completely, and I grabbed some Swedish Fish earlier than shifting on.
The ultimate climb took every part I had out of me, and there wasn’t an opportunity I used to be getting my telephone out to take any extra footage, although it was gorgeous. I actually felt at occasions within the remaining climb that I used to be shifting backwards. It was a kind of occasions that I instructed myself all I needed to do was take another step over and over till I acquired to the highest. There was a bunch of teenagers up on the high cheering us on and telling us which option to go, I used to be so completely satisfied to see them. They let me understand it was all downhill from there for the final 3 miles! However at that time, the downhill was difficult as a result of my legs had been so drained, however I saved telling myself that you just discover what you search, and so I regarded for each good factor I might consider and every part that wasn’t hurting as an alternative of looking for the negatives.
I completed 1st girl, 4th general, and in 4:09… which is a course document, however it’s solely the second yr on this course, so it will likely be damaged quickly;)… It was a 25k again in 2023. It was additionally a PR for me as a result of I’ve by no means accomplished a 31k race. You gotta rejoice every part you’ll be able to when working is so arduous.
I liked having them run after me to the end line. I felt so fortunate (and grateful they let me know that the mat 100m earlier than the end line wasn’t the precise end line and that I wanted to maintain going).
I wished to make use of the Normatec boots proper after, however actually I simply wished to lie down. I used to be so so drained.
Have you ever ever seen a prettier end line space? I took my sister’s recommendation and introduced an additional sports activities bra and tank as a result of nothing makes me extra depressing than carrying a moist sports activities bra round.
Now for some randomness…
*I could or could not have had three caffeinated gels… oops. One an hour earlier than, one an hour in, and one 3 hours in… I wanted each mg I might get. The true star of the present was my coconut pineapple salt tablets. These really gave me the most important burst. I don’t assume I’ll ever go into the mountains with out them from this level ahead, they usually really style actually good as you might be working.
*In case you had been monitoring my music decisions alongside the best way, you may precisely guess how a lot I used to be hurting–> I began with The Chicks and completed with Nelly/NF/Eminem;)
*This race offers you a HOODIE (that’s so cute), and hamburgers after the race. By no means has there been higher swag.
*Stairs after this race had been so arduous. I truthfully don’t assume I might have climbed another foot in the course of the race. However I by no means fell ahead (simply backwards haha), so I’m proud I lifted my legs in these remaining miles once they had been lifeless and we had been going downhill.
*I wish to check out poles. Those that fold up. I feel they might have helped within the steep ups and downs. Carrying a hydration vest felt like a weighted vest for the primary half, however thank goodness I did as a result of I went via each of my large bottles and refilled them at help stations.
*These individuals who do longer programs than this. I don’t have phrases apart from, you might be my hero.
*I’d put on a hat subsequent time. I had sun shades, however they made it tougher to see rocks, so I didn’t put on them a lot. A hat would have shielded the solar significantly better.
*It’s so good to get on the market and never even take into consideration your tempo, simply survival, and doing one of the best you’ll be able to in every mile.
*I had mud coating my nostrils after I regarded within the mirror afterwards, you’re welcome for not taking an image.
*There have been in all probability 10 water crossings? I attempted to keep away from the water for the primary few, however then I noticed getting my toes moist via them was so refreshing and liked them. I used to be fairly sizzling the final 8 miles however that’s to be anticipated in August, it wasn’t as sizzling as it’s at house, although!
*I’ve accomplished many races the place you end decrease than you begin, however this one, you end greater than the place you begin by 1300 ft.
*This course was so enjoyable since you actually felt such as you had been within the backcountry, as a result of it takes a lot work to get again there, and so it is rather untouched. I can’t advocate it sufficient if you need an journey.
The place (or with whom) do you end up feeling most like your self?
Ever had a soda throughout a race? Did it style like heaven to you, too?
Ever use climbing poles?
Now, which path race ought to I join subsequent?
-Regardless that on the steep ups I instructed myself I used to be by no means doing this once more haha, on the remainder of the course I used to be questioning why I don’t do that each weekend.
