Darn chilly when the sun doesn't shine

Wet Turkey

Treadmill, because it's SNOWING!

Running by the lake

Tree-ripe anjou pears

7:01:56, beat the previous time by 31 min! Unsupported (but called self-supported in officaldom out of respect for original FKT)
Run report:
This is my first FKT (and first attempt!), and my first 50k since Torin was born. It was also only my 2nd ever 50k, having run Mt Tam 50k a year and a quarter ago as my first. I built the second half of my 50mi training plan around this project run, and I'm so glad I did! Not only is the Skyline Trail a great way to experience all these different East Bay Regional Parks, today was great training and a real confidence booster. It was a great day out there! 

The day started out well, and just kept rolling. I fairly efficiently managed to do all the little things that can't be done the night before (eat breakfast, pump what the baby didn't have for breakfast), and was ready to go on time. Zak negotiated the boys through an early morning, and they all dropped me off at the Alvarado Staging Area in time for them to get back to Berkeley for kindergarten. I made use of the facilities, and hit the trail right at 7:35. On schedule right from the start! 

Stage 1: Start to Steam Trains (10mi, 2:03)
My beta-tester (thanks, Allen!) had been out running some of these trails and reporting on conditions, so I knew that two weeks without rain had done a lot to dry out the trails. It rained a bit last night, but I was happy to discover it had, in general, left the ridge trails forgiving and not too muddy. The fog was low over the hills, and didn't break up at all until along Seaview. 

I took it easy on the climbs going up Belgum and San Pablo Ridge (although not so much according to Strava), just enjoying the feel of the morning and listening to my running music. I spent a while last night rebuilding my playlist, and it was great to be running with music again. I was eating a ton right from the start, and even wondered for a while (about 4-5 hours in) if I'd run out of food. I was feeling good, not super fast but totally comfortable. It was nice to get back on familiar ground halfway along San Pablo Ridge. I saw 3 rabbits as soon as I hit the pavement on Nimitz, by the Nike pad, so I had fun counting all that I saw after that. An epic 31-bunny morning! I didn't see anyone else until after passing Laurel Canyon, so I guess I had the honor of being the first one to chase them into the bushes. 

I was on pace and a bit ahead of Marcy Beard's split at Inspiration Point. Since I didn't need the bathroom, I ran on through to the next section: Seaview. No idea how many times I've run Seaview (I guess I could ask Strava!), but I tried to take Allen's advice and save my legs for later. I got to Steam Trains at 2:03 elapsed time, right on track and a few more minutes ahead. A full pit stop at Steam Trains: bathroom, drink-mix/bottle refill, empty trash. Even so, back on the trail by 2:08!

Stage 2: Steam Trains to Redwood (6mi, 1:31)
This section has some nice running and usually nice views. I was trying hard to take photos along the whole run, both for fkt tracking and for mental health. I think it helped me stay relaxed about things, since it was a reminder that I was out there to have fun and enjoy the day, and should be noticing and appreciating things outside my own skin. I almost always take a pic or two through this section anyway, though, since I love the view across to Mt Diablo at the northern end, and there are some lovely and mossy trees along the creek heading into Sibley. 

I ran through Sibley without stopping, and enjoyed running through Huckleberry in the fog and drip. Nice to be southbound, since the descent from Sibley is a steep one and the climb back up to Pinehurst much more runnable. I surprised myself coming out onto the East Ridge Trail sooner than I expected, I guess I was just cruising along to my tunes. Still consistently ahead of Marcy's splits, about half an hour at this point. I refilled my second bottle and added a tailwind, topped up what little I'd drunk of the one I refilled at Steam Trains, and filled the empty I had in the back of my (rather, Zak's) vest. I didn't think I'd need it, since it was nice and cool, but I also didn't want to run dry or need to stop at the Brandon Trail spigot. I headed out West Ridge, shuffling food between pockets as I went. HOW much had I eaten already?!

Stage 3: Redwood Park (6mi, 1:30)
French Trail never disappoints. It is always humbling, and always beautiful. My last run-in with it definitely left me feeling humble, so today I approached it with much more respect. I did a lot of hiking in the first 1.5mi, not getting down to the real running until I passed Madrone trail. After that I did some decent running, not fast but keeping at it. One flyby had me thinking I was standing still, but he was probably out for 8mi of speedwork, right? I tried to take a few redwood pics (for those of you outside the Bay Area!), but honestly it is hard to do the trees justice in a photo. And these are just little ones... My music finally ran out in the early part of French, so I unplugged and listened to the world until the last few miles of the day. 

I was starting to feel tired by the end of French Trail, tho that seemed reasonable at 19mi, and looked forward to hitting West Ridge and a little change of scenery. Unfortunately still no views, and that southern end descent actually isn't that nice. The fire road is steep eroded rock slabs, and I guess I don't quite have my descending chops back yet since my pregnancy. I prefer the winding single-track of Toyon, but it wasn't up to me this time! Golden Spike seems uphill whichever way I run it, so I was happy to head down off it to the Redwood Rd crossing and unfamiliar trails. 

Stage 4: Anthony Chabot to finish (10mi, 1:59)
The run through Chabot was 100% fire roads, but still quite enjoyable. I think I passed 5 dog walkers in the first 2 miles (not allowed after Bort Meadows), but they all did a great job of quickly calling their herds to the side, or at least warning me if I was going to get covered in dog snot. The Skyline Trail runs primarily along the east side of the ridgeline, so MacDonald was the only section within sight of more than the occasional solitary house. Some lovely ridge top vistas anyway, especially with the sun finally breaking through a bit, and nice to be here on a cool day. 

Along Grass Valley, 25mi by my watch and 5:45 into the day, it was time to stop for a few minutes and pump. I was still surprisingly comfortable, but trailside pumping was definitely something I wanted to practice before my race! I came through the MacDonald gate still 30 min ahead of the split, so I felt like I had time for a short stop. Found a convenient rock so my butt wouldn't get muddy, and spent about 10 min dealing with equipment and pumping just enough to keep the pressure down. Manual pump requires two hands, can't do that and eat/drink anything! This was my longest stop of the day, and the only time I sat down. Next time I'll be sure to stop at the BOTTOM of a big climb so I have a good excuse to walk for a bit after, as my hips and pelvis were very sore and creaky when I stood back up. 

I was keeping up a steady effort, and not feeling that bad once I shook off the creaks. Remembering both Marcy's and Allen's comments about picking up their paces after French Trail, I was trying to increase my effort level but mostly just managing to keep from slowing down. Not much farther along, I looked at my watch and did some hard math (33-27=??) and realized that, at 6:25 elapsed time, a 15 min pace just wasn't going to cut it. In fact, even 12 min, my moderate effort 15mi trail pace, wouldn't get the job done. WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT HALF HOUR BUFFER?? I really had to dial it up so, as they say, I dug deep. 

Grass Valley and Brandon Trail are absolutely runnable, and I had perfect conditions. The trail is well drained, but the surface was just soft enough from the rain to be comfortable even at the end of the day. I had built a Strava route for this unfamiliar section, so I pulled it up on my phone and never even slowed down at intersections. On an early Thursday afternoon the park was quiet. I found what I needed to go hard, and focused on keeping better than 11 min pace, knowing that I could bomb down the Brandon descent whenever I got there. I put my headphones back on, and put my new running Power Song on loop. 

Have you heard the Gnarls Barkley song Smiley Faces? It is epically AWESOME to listen to en ultra. The sound is great for running, the lyrics are made-to-order ultra material. And you can actually make yourself feel better by smiling, since it tricks your brain into thinking that you ARE happy, so it releases serotonin. Go. Listen to this song on your next long run.

By the time I got to the descent I knew I could make it, but I was pretty wrung out. I was flying down the hill, oscillating between tears and laughter. Once past the golf course at the bottom, I could see Zak and Levi on the trail ahead of me so I knew I was almost there. Levi tried to keep up with me on the way into the staging area, excitedly asking as he ran if going fast meant that I was going to beat the other woman's time. Zak was there with hugs and baby Torin (also happy to see me!) when I finished. And it turned out that my watch logged 31mi and change, rather than +32mi, so I had plenty of time to spare in the end. But this was a great way to finish! 

Thank you, Zak, for the suggestion, encouragement, and support. Thanks Allen, for the advice. Thanks to all my run partners and Strava buddies for cheering me on. 

End run report! Sorry, that is a long one :)

Here are some of those lyrics if my say-so isn't enough to have you tracking down that song already:
What did you do, what did you say; did you walk or did you run away? 
Where are you now, where have you been; did you go alone or did you bring a friend? 
...
Out in the sun, havin' fun, feeling free; and I can tell you know how hard this life can be; But you keep on smilin' for me
...
What went right, what went wrong; was it a story, or was it a song?
Was it overnight, or did it take you long? Was knowing your weakness what made you strong?
... 
Like I said, epic, awesome, perfect. 


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Tara Madsen-Steigmeyer

East Bay Skyline Nat. Rec. Trail, new FKT

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Darn chilly when the sun doesn't shine

Wet Turkey

Treadmill, because it's SNOWING!

Running by the lake

Tree-ripe anjou pears

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