Rain, Mud & Snow: Capital Peak Half-ass

For the short version, read the title - it says it all. Yesterday was so much fun! We all crammed into Cat's version of the Yeti, nicknamed Sully (they are both Ford Expeditions). Rob, Jenny, Steve, Eric, Cat and I, and all our stuff. Jane and Abi drove up separately. Rob was wedged into the backseat with gear piled all around him - it takes a lot of stuff to spend a day on the trails. You gotta have running gear, food and drink for the run, food and drink for after and dry clothes and shoes for after. Multiply that by six and it was a full car.


Eric, me, Meghan and Trevor

We rolled into the start in a fine, misty rain. The car thermometer registered 32 degrees and there were traces of snow all around. We signed in and chatted with friends for a few minutes. Back at the car, Eric told me he'd seen Meghan and that she was wearing a yellow coat. Cat and I went to the start and looked around - we weren't really sure which yellow-coated woman was Meghan, so we started calling out her name. We were standing right by her! We got to chat with Meghan, her sweetie and his parents for a few minutes, and snap a picture before we gathered for race instructions.


Y Run Club runners

It wasn't too long till we were off, and not much longer after that when we discovered the word of the day: MUD. Mud, mud and more mud, slippery, red, ankle deep, shoe-sucking mud. We were trailing the pack, getting to experience the mess of mud left by the 50+ runners churning it up ahead of us. We chuckled though, knowing that those going for the full 34 miles would experience it on their second go-round. The course was modified this year - too much snow at the peak to be safe. We ran a figure eight course - one loop of eight miles and one of nine miles. Other than the mud, it was very runnable. Seriously though, the first six miles were a mudfest. We walked through a lot, trying to keep our footing in the slick mess. Cat and I stuck together, vowing to enjoy the day and be in no hurry. After all, we would finish ahead of the 34 milers and have a couple hours to wait, so why worry about cutting 20 minutes off our time? Loop two featured about eight inches of snow at the top - again, runnable, but slick.

Running through the forests of the Northwest is simply beautiful. It continued to rain lightly through out the day, at times snowing, then when we dropped elevation, raining again. It didn't matter though, because we were running through a green and gray paradise. There were a couple ugly patches where we emerged into clear cuts. Those were dismal, stumps, debris and underbrush was all that remained. Luckily, we were soon back in forest. Cat and I talked non-stop through out the run. All along I kept mentioning what Jenny calls "the trench of doom". It is a v-shaped cut, only wide enough to place one foot at a time, filled with red clay. I was actually thrilled when we got there - for two reasons. First, I wanted Cat to know that I was not exaggerating the awfulness of running through it, and second, because I felt so incredibly good when we got there. It is only two or three miles out from the finish and last year I hurt so bad by the time we got there I was nearly in tears. Yesterday I felt great! The clay sticks to shoes, building them up into heavy weights. The only saving grace of running in the trench is the hilarity of trying to stay upright - we had some good laughs through here.

We finished feeling good - so good I was shocked. I remember how much I hurt last year, and how I hobbled for days after. Today I got up and ran five miles and other than two black toes, two blisters (very wet feet yesterday) and a bit of stiffness in my back (maybe from carrying my pack?) I feel fine. We were surprised to find Jenny waiting for us at the finish. She was planning to run 34 miles, but didn't make the cut-off.

Cat had to get back to town for another engagement, so she left us her car and rode home with Jane and Abi. Jenny and I waited a couple hours for the guys to get in - staying warm by the fire, and dry under tarps. When ever the rain let up, we'd dash out to stand by the fire drums, and when the rain picked back up, we'd get back under the tarps. Once the guys got there, it wasn't too long till we were headed home. We stopped for dinner and Starbucks, making it home by 8:00.

I am very pleased with my training and fitness level. I felt good through the run, took my time and enjoyed the whole experience. I'm really looking forward to the Orcas Half-ass after this! In the meantime, I need to be training for the 50 mile goal. Rob talked me into running two loops (20 miles) at Pigtails next weekend, and the weekend after that I am planning to run a triple-hill run for another 20. I'm trying to keep my mileage up but not over do it. Although I'm excited to attempt a 50 mile run, my real focus for the spring is running Big Sur. I have wanted to run there for years, so I am trying to be cautious and get there in one healthy piece.

PS. I just realized that I can't run Pigtails - I'm signed up for an all day 1st Aid/CPR class at work. I guess I'll try for a long one on Sunday instead.