Lake Tahoe Rim 50 Mile Trail Run

The Tahoe Rim Trail's motto is "A glimpse of heaven, a taste of hell" This phrase couldn't have been more appropriate as I trans-versed just over 50 miles of the rim trail this past weekend. The annual event, although one of the toughest ultra's in the states due to its altitude and elevation changes, captures enough audience to sell out way in advance. The waiting list was hundred's long come actual race day.

My morning started at 4am. I awoke in our hotel room and started to understand that I was going to have an interesting day due to the fact that I was not even interested in eating my pre-race breakfast. Odd because I was not hungry enough to eat dinner the night before either. I later read that altitude sickness can cause your hunger to subside, your heart rate to increase, it can cause swelling, nausea, dizziness. Throughout the day I was going to experience all of these. In any event, I packed my adventure pack with the necessities, a change of socks/shorts/top, a first aid kit, a little over 1000 calories of miscellaneous nutrition consisting of bars/gel packs/nuts and dried fruit, 2 liters of water.... sunblock and a 1 ounce shot of vodka as a "last resort" and my camera.

Out the door with an apple in hand, I munched slowly while driving to race venue. Race started at 6am at Spooner Lake, an elevation of around 7000 ft. This was my first ultra race so I decided to stick with middle of the packers and follow what they did for the first couple hours. I found that they shuffle through the flats, walk the uphills, and try their best to be light on their feet on the downhills. The key was to minimize the impact of the ground under your feet. Staying with this group was already throwing my heart rate above a comfortable zone and of course I worried. Mile 11 was the first check in and also where I changed out of my warm-up pants and into my running shorts. After-wards my legs felt more open and ready to tackle the next segment.

The Red House loop was a 6 mile loop with 3 freezing stream crossings and enough elevation change to make you start to respect what the trail really had in-store for us. Half way through we hit an aid station and I started to realize that nutrition wasn't going to be an easy task for me today. Nothing looked good. I grabbed a quarter peanut butter and jelly, and continued on. It made me feel sick.

Climbing out of Red House and past mile 17 I found the trail becoming one of the most beautiful trails I have ever seen. The climbs were horrendous but as we starting hitting some top elevations, the views were incredible. I knew my body was wearing on me, but I continued at the best pace I thought I could handle. There was the fear of going to hard and not having enough to finish. 13 miles we ascended and descended (primarily ascended) till Diamond Peak. This is a ski resort located towards the North Lake area. During those 13 miles (6 of them covered in snow) I started to understand what was going to work for me as far as nutrition. It came in liquid form and was maltodexdrin based gel packs. I had been experimenting with the fructose/sucrose in the Stinger Waffles and other bars were in general making me sick. The gel products combined with chicken broth saw me through the rest of the race.

The Diamond Peak aid station is stationed at the ski lodge (30 miles in) and was where safety runners could legally be picked up. A safety runner is somebody that can run behind you, keep you aware, talk you through your worst moments, but realistically just be there as a friend would be. I did not have a safety runner, but the aid station was packed with supporters who cheered and hollered at everybody who came through. Honestly, I wanted to stay here because it was an all out party complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, and Popsicles!

My concern at the Diamond Peak aid station was water and how far the next station was. I had been going through water fairly quickly and while I had not run out between check points yet, I had gotten really close to dry. I could carry 2 liters max at a time. The next aid station was only 2 miles away, but consisted of close to 2500 ft of climbing. I knew the next 2 miles were going to be the most challenging of the trail, turns out that was an understatement. I decided to go light and fill my pack with 1 liter to keep weight off my legs. Off I went, 45 minutes later and dry as a bone, I reached aid for a full fill up. This Bull Wheel aid station (pic below) had one of the most beautiful views as it sat fairly off to the side of Diamond Peak.

Now, the remaining miles were long, hard, gruesome and so very painful. I found that yes I did eventually go through all my water between aid stops and had to suffice to eating some snow to get me through. Yet, there was not a moment out there that I would have traded. The pain I felt with each step, getting me closer and closer was so surreal. I felt so alive, I felt so miserable. I stopped many times and once to sit down to cry a bit.

The most mentally challenging portion of the race came to me at mile 39.3 (to be exact) at the Hobart aid station. It was the first stop on the way out (6 miles) and as it was a looped course, I figured it would be my last and also 6 miles to the finish. As I approached and as I read the mileage sign, I argued with the supporters that it was impossible that there was over 10 miles to go. It was absolutely not possible, but they enlightened me to the fact that I do not return the same way I came in. There was an entirely different route home. I was devastated to say the least, and I was not the only one. I collapsed into a camp chair and hung my head. Aid station workers naturally came over with nutrition and water. I spent about 10 minutes arguing with them and myself about whether or not I had 10 miles left in me. They convinced me to continue on and I did, I emptied the dirt and rocks from my shoes and off I went. I spent the next 15-20 minutes walking, with my head hung low and definitely not in a good place. Yet, when the calories I had eaten finally sunk in, I found energy to continue. A slow jog got me up to the summit of the trail, 9200 ft was Snow Valley Peak and 7 downhill miles awaited me to the finish.

These last 7 miles were painful, but I ran them. Walking hurt more than running at this point. Not only were my muscles holding on for dear life, but my hips were really starting to lock up. I started rounding the lake at 5:40pm and I could hear the music and festivities of the finish line. It pumped me and I gave it all I could to come in before 6pm. Under 12 hours I told myself and yes, 11:55 was my final time. 11 hours and 55 minutes to conquer the "heavenly hell" of Lake Tahoe Rim Trail Ultra!

Right now my body aches like it never has before, but also, my heart and my soul yearns for more. It wishes it was out there again, just to take in one more deep breath of that wonderful rim air and to be able to see one more vista. To be able to touch one more patch of snow and to splash through one more stream.

The next morning I was able to rehash the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations with my good friend Mary who had completed it with me as her first 50 as well. Both coffee and stories flowed for hours until we finally went and soaked our legs in the beautiful cold waters of Lake Tahoe.



I thank Mary for getting me out on these adventures. She always lays out the challenge and I never regret one step of them.

At home, my husband Nick, my Mother and Grandparents.. friends... were all watching closely online to make sure that we both made it out alive. I love the people I have in my life. Without them, it would all mean nothing.

Now I'm onto the next adventures. In 2012, American River 50 miler with my friend, Danielle, who will be taking on her first. The Zane Grey 50 will also be my destination with Eric Glass who lays more smack down challenges on us than any other friend (but also who is the most supportive). The Xterra Triathlon series with my suppa fun hard core off road buddy, Rebecca. And of course my husband who will be by my side through it all.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of the world by foot, bike and water. Bring it!!!!