Squamish50 (21...22...24km?)
Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:14 pm
I had been considering this race all year, so when I won a free entry, I knew I had to do it.
It's a new race, and amazingly filled up beyond the original limits (they opened up more spots). I'm not in shape to do the full 50 miles so I opted for the shorter distance, which is billed as 21km. However, in the weeks leading up to the race we received updates that it was more like 22.5km... or maybe a little further. ;)
I drove up to Squamish with a friend who was also running, and ran into some other trail buddies along the way. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm. I've never actually run in/around Squamish before so the trails were all new to me.
The first chunk of the race was actually up (up up) a gravel service road. Aside from a short stretch on a side trail, the first four miles were all uphill on gravel service road. That was NOT fun. I'm not a fan of gravel roads at any time, but this was a continuous climb in the sun for 4 miles. And on the little side trail detour I got stung by a hornet. The friend who was running with me was about 10 feet behind me and she also got stung in the same spot! Minor annoyance, but the stinging did not make the 4 mile gravel climb any more enjoyable. ;)
Finally we reached the highest point and turned on to a real trail--a mountain biking trail! It was dusty, winding, and really really fun. We bombed down that trail and it felt so much better than being on the road. So I was disappointed that it wasn't longer, and suddenly we were on the road again, heading back up the gravel. But this time we didn't have to go as far. I was actually thinking during this stretch that this race really felt like mountain biking: long, arduous climbs followed by short, fun descents... and repeat. After grabbing some water and a handful of m&ms, I left the aid station and headed on back into the trail system. There was some up/down and then we hit a really nice stretch of flat, soft trail. Living where I do, I'm not used to trails being so flat for so long, and I was really enjoying it. We then turned down on to a technical downhill--also mountain bike trail, and here we actually had to leapfrog some mountain bikers for awhile. This section was really fun, and it was here that I started to feel really happy. There are these moments in every trail race where I just feel the joy of what I'm doing, and I think to myself, "this is what life is all about." But it was also a stretch where taking a tumble was a very real possibility, so I was being pretty careful--and I'm glad now that I was careful, because later on I saw several people who DID take a tumble, and they were pretty beat up!
The rest blurs together a bit... it would change from technical and rocky to soft dirt with a few roots. Some more switchbacks, a bit more climbing, lots of descending (it was a net downhill course). Leapfrogging with the same handful of people throughout the race. Glad that the trails were shaded. Loving the rainforest (as always). Eating peanut butter m&ms for fuel because I forgot to buy gels. Thinking that the race seemed longer than it should. Slowing down, but still feeling mentally and physically fine. Noticing that I had blisters on both feet, and kicking myself for not wearing my defeet socks today.
Then coming out into a neighbourhood... oh that damned pavement. Pavement... pavement for too long. The good news was that meant we were nearing the end.
Then into the home stretch, and having to run on the side of a train track (rocky), straight into a strong wind coming off the water. Ugh. Tough way to end it. Can't see the finish line, not sure how much further... and then suddenly there it is! Tried to look good for the finish, where a friend managed to snap my finish line photo.
At the finish, there were a number of perks:
- icecream
- massage tent
- beer garden
- showers (yay!!)
- soft grass to sit on and ease our sore feet
I have several blisters and my hornet sting is still... well, stinging. But aside from that, I felt pretty good and was happy with my race. I felt as though I gave a good effort and ran well, even though I am not as well trained as I'd like to be. Garmin says 14.8 miles, which is 23.8km, but there was variation among garmins. It took me 3.5 hours... a little slower than I'd hoped, but I'm happy with it anyway. :)
Oh, and at the awards ceremony I randomly won one of these: http://www.ultraspire.net/products/spry/
So that was pretty sweet, especially since I won the race entry itself! Bonus.
I would definitely run it again, and confess that I was a little jealous of those who had done the full 50 miles.... maybe next year!
It's a new race, and amazingly filled up beyond the original limits (they opened up more spots). I'm not in shape to do the full 50 miles so I opted for the shorter distance, which is billed as 21km. However, in the weeks leading up to the race we received updates that it was more like 22.5km... or maybe a little further. ;)
I drove up to Squamish with a friend who was also running, and ran into some other trail buddies along the way. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm. I've never actually run in/around Squamish before so the trails were all new to me.
The first chunk of the race was actually up (up up) a gravel service road. Aside from a short stretch on a side trail, the first four miles were all uphill on gravel service road. That was NOT fun. I'm not a fan of gravel roads at any time, but this was a continuous climb in the sun for 4 miles. And on the little side trail detour I got stung by a hornet. The friend who was running with me was about 10 feet behind me and she also got stung in the same spot! Minor annoyance, but the stinging did not make the 4 mile gravel climb any more enjoyable. ;)
Finally we reached the highest point and turned on to a real trail--a mountain biking trail! It was dusty, winding, and really really fun. We bombed down that trail and it felt so much better than being on the road. So I was disappointed that it wasn't longer, and suddenly we were on the road again, heading back up the gravel. But this time we didn't have to go as far. I was actually thinking during this stretch that this race really felt like mountain biking: long, arduous climbs followed by short, fun descents... and repeat. After grabbing some water and a handful of m&ms, I left the aid station and headed on back into the trail system. There was some up/down and then we hit a really nice stretch of flat, soft trail. Living where I do, I'm not used to trails being so flat for so long, and I was really enjoying it. We then turned down on to a technical downhill--also mountain bike trail, and here we actually had to leapfrog some mountain bikers for awhile. This section was really fun, and it was here that I started to feel really happy. There are these moments in every trail race where I just feel the joy of what I'm doing, and I think to myself, "this is what life is all about." But it was also a stretch where taking a tumble was a very real possibility, so I was being pretty careful--and I'm glad now that I was careful, because later on I saw several people who DID take a tumble, and they were pretty beat up!
The rest blurs together a bit... it would change from technical and rocky to soft dirt with a few roots. Some more switchbacks, a bit more climbing, lots of descending (it was a net downhill course). Leapfrogging with the same handful of people throughout the race. Glad that the trails were shaded. Loving the rainforest (as always). Eating peanut butter m&ms for fuel because I forgot to buy gels. Thinking that the race seemed longer than it should. Slowing down, but still feeling mentally and physically fine. Noticing that I had blisters on both feet, and kicking myself for not wearing my defeet socks today.
Then coming out into a neighbourhood... oh that damned pavement. Pavement... pavement for too long. The good news was that meant we were nearing the end.
Then into the home stretch, and having to run on the side of a train track (rocky), straight into a strong wind coming off the water. Ugh. Tough way to end it. Can't see the finish line, not sure how much further... and then suddenly there it is! Tried to look good for the finish, where a friend managed to snap my finish line photo.
At the finish, there were a number of perks:
- icecream
- massage tent
- beer garden
- showers (yay!!)
- soft grass to sit on and ease our sore feet
I have several blisters and my hornet sting is still... well, stinging. But aside from that, I felt pretty good and was happy with my race. I felt as though I gave a good effort and ran well, even though I am not as well trained as I'd like to be. Garmin says 14.8 miles, which is 23.8km, but there was variation among garmins. It took me 3.5 hours... a little slower than I'd hoped, but I'm happy with it anyway. :)
Oh, and at the awards ceremony I randomly won one of these: http://www.ultraspire.net/products/spry/
So that was pretty sweet, especially since I won the race entry itself! Bonus.
I would definitely run it again, and confess that I was a little jealous of those who had done the full 50 miles.... maybe next year!
