Friday December 13th Kent Ainscough, Charlene Waldner, Andrew Barclay and myself crowded in my car for the short trip over on the noon sailing of the Washington State Ferry "MV Chelan" from Sidney B.C. to Anacortes, Washington on Fidalgo Island. We all shared a room at the Fidalgo Country Inn, opposite the market where Santa was last year. Also, no Santa this year, and the market was closed, so we were unable to buy Fish Assholes too (seriously, it's a thing).
Andrew, Charlene and I did a 30 minute shake out run, with no hills. I reminded Charlene of that rule as she led us up a long steep hill. Kent had the right idea - rest. :). Afterwards we went to our traditional pre-race dinner location - Real Tequila Mexican restaurant for Fajitas!
Saturday December 14, 2019, and we were up early to get race ready. For me that means deciding between shorts or fleece tights. I opted for shorts and regretted that decision later in the race. Marino wool shirt and socks for sure - wet or dry they keep me warm. Caldera shoes, though later I wished I'd brought my North Face Ultra Vert for the better lugs. Foreshadowing the kind of day this turned into. I also loaded up my tailwind nutrition at 200 calories per hour (so I carried 1400 calories to allow for major delay), pickled ginger for the inevitable calf cramps I seem to always get on this course, and salt tabs. I stashed my trekking poles in a drop bag for Cornet Aid Station. We went through this aid station three times.
And at just before 7 am we set off for the 10 minute drive to Deception Pass State Park and the start line. From the car, we had a short trail to hike to the start area in pitch blackness as none of us thought to bring a headlamp. The registration and start area is in a massive 60 x 40 ft heated tent - perfect for a winter race. It's in a sheltered location just off one of the beaches.
The sun came up and a few minutes after that, with a race briefing from James Varner, co-race director, we set off at 8 am. We had an email the day before saying the start route had been detoured due to a rock slide near the bridge. The distance was the same but we had another 120 metres elevation gain. To compensate 10 minutes had been added to the cut-offs.
Start to Bowman Aid Station (9 km - 9:05 am)
As usual the start was too fast along a road, which was level for a while then a short steep climb. The detour kept us on the road until we came to a small parking area for the bridge, then we entered the trail system, actually following the last part of the course backwards, then cutting up and over Goose Rock, before heading back to the bridge. Detour over, we followed the regular route on the "lollipop" out and backs around three headlands, before entering Bowman Aid Station. I was one minute ahead of last year at this point.
Bowman to Bowman Aid Station (12 km - 9:25 am)
This is the shortest stretch between aid stations, an out and back to a headland. I didn't stop outbound at Bowman, just checked in and kept running. Andrew, Kent and Charlene where ahead of me, but because I hadn't seen them on the out and backs, I knew they were not too far ahead. I saw Holland Gidney several times, each time pulling further ahead of me and looking like she's enjoying an easy stroll along the shoreline. I saw Andrew who had passed Charlene - I cheered him on by telling him Charlene would catch him on the second half of the course. But it was good to see Andrew running strong. I saw Charlene not too far behind Andrew. Kent must not be too far back. I arrived back at Bowman still one minute ahead of last year. Again I didn't stop.
Bowman to Cornet Aid Station (23.5 km - 11:06 am)
I like this section from Bowman to Cornet. The first bit is a nice forest trail, then a loop over the north side of the park and a beautiful run alongside Pass Lake, then back to the bridge, over that and a fun smooth run along the coast before the steep but short climb to the summit of Goose Rock at 130 metres above sea-level. The climb this year felt easier than last year. Then all down hill and the last 1.5 km on Cornet Bay Road that felt more like 5 km - it never ends! I arrived in Cornet Aid Station four minutes ahead of last year.
Cornet to Cornet Aid Station - Hoypus Loop First Pass (34.5 km - 12:27 pm)
The first of the two Hoypus Loops. I loaded up my tailwind here then kept moving. I ran as much as I could and walked the hills, especially the two steep hills. Adrian Walton lapped me not far into my first loop - which really helped with the confidence. He was on his way to a 4:35 finish. The trails were muddy in sections, and one steep down hill section was really a mud slide, as was the last steep up hill. The only way to get up was to strain those leg muscles, and pull myself up with the poor ferns at the side of the mud bath. The run from here back to Cornet was flat or mostly gentle down hill and beautiful to run. Then it got dark. And the heavy rain came. With hail. The rain and hail pelted down. I didn't want to stop to put on my rain jacket, so I kept going. I was drenched. I could taste saltly rain water on my lips. My legs got cold from the rain and I could feel them tightening up; not good. Trying to keep them loose and still keep them running was a challenge. I arrived back at Cornet Aid Station in a full-on down pour. Everybody was huddled under the tents. I was back at Cornet at the same time as last year, meaning this loop was 4 minutes slower than when I ran it last year. Though conditions were better last year - no mud at all and no rain.
Cornet to Cornet Aid Station - Hoypus Loop Second Pass (45.5 km - 1:59 pm)
I had some coke at the aid station, filled up one bottle with tailwind, looked out of the tent at the heavy rain and decided I'd better put on my magic rain jacket. As I did this I got a cheer from all the volunteers. What did they think, I was going to drop because of a bit of rain? I actually felt a bit annoyed but took it as it was meant. Snuggled up inside my North Face rain jacket, I picked up my poles and headed out into the downpour.
I'm so glad I grabbed the poles. The trails had turned into six inches of slippery wet mud (I can use inches as we're in the US, but that's 10 cm in the rest of the world). Entire trails were mud, not just sections. It's like running on ice. It's hard to relax the legs when you expect your feet to slip out from under you with every foot fall. As it was my poles saved me from several slips.
My calves also decided to get in on the game with the pre-cramp twinges coming with the slightest slip. I decided to have pickled ginger and take some salt tabs, though I suspect the major cause of the pre-cramps was that the legs had become cold from the heavy rain. Now I wished I had my fleece tights on. The rain had stopped by now; it had to, I had put on my magic rain jacket, which causes rain to stop and the sun to come out. I left the jacket on regardless and kept moving as best I could, cursing everybody who was a head of me and had turned the trail into a slippery mud bath. Bastards!
When I stopped to take a salt tab (which had all broken so I had a plastic bag of salt, so I just licked it), I dropped one of my gloves. I had to go back for it. My hands were cold without them, and besides they're freakin expensive. I'm not leaving one on the trail. It's amazing how tree roots can look like a black glove. And why are running gloves black in the first place? Obviously the designers don't run or do ultras. If they did they'd make them florescent orange so they stand out like a beacon when you drop one on a trail. Also why don't they have loops for your wrist like
Cornet to Finish Line - Hoypus Loop Second Pass (50 km - 2:37 pm)
I didn't stop at Cornet, just yelled out "145 coming through" - made sure they recorded my number and kept moving. The road. Is. A. bitch. I hated this section as it felt like it went on forever. I ran and walked trying to keep moving as fast as I could. Then there was a beautiful trail that was all up hill - it wasn't steep and on fresh legs would have been an easy run. On trashed legs it was like climbing a mountain. I ran/hiked up it. Then there is the
My GPS watch had decided to go walkabout on the last loop, having me running over cliffs and through houses. The heavy cloud and trees probably caused the satellite link to drop out. The distances on the watch after 34 km were not accurate and off by a couple kilometres.
I enjoyed the race. I was happy to hear that Charlene had indeed passed Andrew, as I predicted, and finished in 5:51, Andrew finished in 6:09 and Kent in 6:26. And I was last of this group at 6:37.
I love the finish line party that is a staple of all Rainshadow events. Endless free beer and freshly made wood fired pizza, and a band to listen to while reliving the highs and lows of the day. I had a post race massage from Kelly, a licensed massage therapist from Seattle who was volunteering by providing massages. I didn't catch her last name but thank you for this. It really helped settle down the legs.
Thanks to Rainshadow Running for the awesome event, all of the volunteers who make it happen and keep us safe on the course and my trail running community in Victoria that helps keep me on the trails. And Thank You to all the people I train with Charlene, Andrew, Kent, Lisa, Markus, Karen Dave and many others.
I didn't take a camera with me so I have no pictures of my own for this post.
Next is Orcas 50k in just less than 6 weeks. Time to work on hill climbing and down hill running.
