Catalina Eco Marathon and Ridgecrest 50k

The Catalina Eco Marathon was fantastic, Ridgecrest 50K not so much.

11/12/11 Catalina Marathon



My first marathon in over 10 years is now in the bag. It was wet and muddy. The original course was changed 3 times over concern for our safety because of the mud and falling rocks. So the single tracks that I was so looking forward to were ditched for dirt fire roads.

It was a very long run. Our coach has us walking the uphills and since the first half was all uphill I did a lot of walking. But I got to say that the program does work. Our longest training run was only 13 miles and I was able to get in the 26 miles and not die. I even went out to dinner with my birthday girl and walked to the movies that night. So all in all it was a great weekend!

Sunday 12/4/11 Ridgecrest 50K



What the heck was I thinking!!! It's been 2 1/2 weeks since this run and I'm still shaking my head thinking about it. The first 20 miles was great but the next 10, not so much. It was a long, long day out on the trail. I was dehydrated the night before 'cause I thought with the long drive I should reframe from liquids. By the time we arrived at Ridgecrest, checked in and finally got food and water it was to late, I was nursing a massive headache that just wouldn't go away. That night I had about 2 hours of sleep 'cause I kept sipping water to rehydrate..

Woke up at 5 and I was at the race by 6 to meet my team and start the run. Felt really good the first 20 miles but bonked at mile 21 and started praying that I make it to the next aid station at 24. Believe me, once I got to the next aid station I was hitching a ride to the finish line. Funny thing but by mile 24 I was feeling pretty good again, well let me rephrase that, I felt like I wasn't going to die and I just dug in and get 'er done. Mind over matter and all that.

I finished but vowed that I would never run anything longer than 6 miles from now on.

My thoughts about ever running again after the 50K
Monday ~ Nope, 6 miles is my limit.
Tuesday ~ If you even ask me to go past a half marathon I'll shoot you with my evil laser beam stare.
Wednesday ~ You know, 26 is probably doable.
Thursday ~ My goodness, this is just like child birth I'm actually considering it again.



My coach is lucky he didn't try to contact me until Thursday or he would of heard an earful. It looks like we are on for the 50 miler in January. I'm still shaking my head thinking about it.

Happy Holidays all my lovely Sparkfriends!