2:41.Last year's time was 2:39, this year's time was 2:41:16. Only 2 minutes different, but I'm bummed. I wanted to go at least 2 minutes the OTHER way.
13th in my Age Group (out of 18).
La Luz is a hard race. It begins with 2 miles of paved uphill road followed by 7 miles of dirt single-track goat trail for a total 9 miles with an average 12% grade, a total elevation gain of over 5000 ft. The trail ends at the crest of Sandia Peak, about 10,675 in elevation. Since the entry field is capped at 400, I consider it a privilege to get picked in the lottery to run.
I'll do a brief decontsruction for posterity - I like to memorialize these things. It's important.
Positives:
- The trail was in excellent condition for today's run. It was truly a beautiful day. It rained last night, it was nice and cool. The trail was packed and damp.
- This race is one of the most un-pretentious events I participate in. I got to run a 9 mile trail run through the National Forest, this is not a common occurrence.
- I heard a lot of complaining around me, and no complaining from within me. I heard people saying "Oh my God" and making death-like noises. By contrast, I felt silent. I felt like I ran within my ability.
- Last year I got passed a lot on the trail, mainly because I had ITB issues about halfway up. This year that did not happen. I did a lot of passing, especially in the last mile when most people were pretty well cooked.
- I didn't train as hard for the race this year - and as a result, I did not have pain issues or ITB issues. I have a love-hate thing with hills. I think hill running is really hard on my body, but I love the difficulty.
- Last year I finished and my legs pretty much stopped working after that. It was awhile before they were right again. I've had 2 meals and a nap since I ran this morning. By contrast, I'm still sore, but I'm not broken. My hip and knee are still hurting, but it's nothing a little stretching, ice and Vitamin I won't help.
- I can see that I run with a truly crazy crowd. My mother met us at the top with Los Pikachus. She gets that all those people are crazy. For her, meeting those people is broadening her horizons. For me, it's just another race day. What does it say about me that I now get up at 5am on a Sunday morning to go run up a mountain and call that fun?
- I got my t-shirt - they don't give those away. You only get a t-shirt when you finish.
- I think this year's t-shirt is WAY better than last years.
- 2:41? And I felt so good all the way up -- ouch!
- I didn't train as hard for this race this year. I think I might have picked up a little speed if I'd trained a bit harder, but there is a downside to that (see above).
- Just once I'd like to run this race without having to use the toilet at the trailhead (2 miles in). One time. Is that too much to ask?
- I think running within my ability is the reason I didn't go 2 minutes the other way. I pushed but I didn't push to the point of temple-throbbing vomit-inducing sinew-tearing intensity. Well, there was throbbing, but no vomit. Certainly no tearing.
- I got to the Overlook at about 1:30 something with less than 3 miles to go. Unfortunately, they are easily 3 of the hardest miles on the whole trail. As hard as I tried, there was no way to make those miles go any faster.
- I didn't see Moi! Waaah! I had pikachus to chase home, and couldn't stick around to find her. Waaah!
- At least I didn't have the experience my Beloved did. He had numbness and couldn't feel his feet. He had to stop several times on the way up to adjust shoes and socks, and ultimately took off one sock. He lost 12 minutes over last year's time. After the race, he turned around and ran back down the trail - only to twist his ankle pretty badly. He's icing and compressing and elevating and all sorts. Thankfully, I'm not him. But he did take the gorgeous picture of the view from the rockslide. It's pretty breathtaking up there.
Having known what it's like to be injured, I'm not fully willing to risk a limb to take the Safety Tabs off. I hate being out of training due to injury, I've had my fair share (between ITB, hip, knee, broken arm, etc). I'm OK with keeping the Safety Tabs on.
I may have to change my position on this at some point.
18 comments:
You got to the top - you did not die, you did not complain, you can still walk. Well done! And really - if we PR every year we have to keep going faster and faster. That's just no good at all.
Excellent race!
Sorry to read you're a bit bummed about the time, sounds to me like you did an awesome job. I can't imagine that's an event I would ever consider tackling and you've done it twice. Great job, you'll PR next time. I think the safety tabs are a good thing, hope your hubby's recovered soon.
You were in the PR zone less than 2% is pretty much the same after all
Good race!
Safety tabs let us enjoy an active healthy lifestyle while limiting the risk of injuries putting us on the bench. Sounds almost sane!
Hey, gal, that's an awesome time, no doubt about it. La Luz is ass kicking and you kicked it right back. CONGRATS!
I looked and looked for you pre and post race but didn't see you either. But yesterday, in my eBay/Tiger Woods/post-race-induced fog, it suddenly hit me. Were you the gal with the bouncy pony tail, brown hat, greyish skort and red top who ran by me about five minutes once we hit the actual trail? If it was, HELLO!!!!
Wow, what a challenge! Great job!
Um - hullo - you like ran up a mountain. In like 2 and a half hours and change. Most people couldn't walk up the mountain in a day. I think that kicks ass. You are an ass kicker. Nuff said.
Congrats on earning your t-shirt-- sounds like a great day out there. It's no small task to run up a freaking mountain.
Ditto everything above.
NICE JOB. I'm usually hurtin after a 9 mile semi flat run. Can't imagine going 9 uphill the whole way. Hope the Mr. is o.k. too.
I'm with you on the "safety tab" issue. Injuries are no fun, and unless you have been sidelined by serious injuries, you take chances and risks that really are unnecessary to prove what? Running within your abilities got you through the whole race without getting injured and still getting a finisher's shirt. One thing I have learned over the years is there is no real way to compare the results of any race from year to year because there are so many variables. The only guaranteed result is whether you finish or not. It sounds like it was a hard one!
I. Love. That. Shirt. Envy envy envy. it remains to be seen, however, whether I envy it enough to do the LaLuz. Well done, Crazy Jane.
Great job! I've had a better time avoiding injury than I did throwing caution to the wind.
love that first pic, so beeyoutimus!
and, like misty said, i too have serious t-shirt envy!!!
keep doin' your thang -- you're doin' great!!!
Oh- you so rock! Quit beating yourself up!! as for the safety tabs - good idea. Stay strong and healthy for the big races!! The T - well, what more needs to be said?!?
Sounds harder than an IM to me! You rocked jane-way to go..I was struggling even hiking up there..
I'm so envious you got to do this race. What an awsome experience. From what I've heard of this race a 2:41 time is exeptional! Congrats!
are you nuts? sounds like those are good times. okay, i don't tri, but they look good to me. so does that vista. do you ever ride and say 'wheeeeeee'?
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