This is how it all started. My brother Kevin was able to obtain passes to hike Mt. Whitney early last spring. He decided to invite my brothers to go with him and I said, "What about me? How come I'm not invited?" With that, I guilted him into taking me too (after all...why are girls not considered for these kinds of things???), but it wasn't a sure thing and I felt bad for guilting him into it, so I told him it was okay (besides...could I really climb that mountain?).
Sometime around Easter he called to see if I really did want to go to Whitney, since he gotten several passes. I was realizing that I needed something to motivate me to exercise and lose a few pounds, so I said yes and then promptly bought some favorite Easter candy - the chocolate eggs with the hard candy shell around them. After all, if I was truly going to hike up a 14,505 feet mountain, 22 miles round trip, I needed my energy.
So, I decided I'd better train. I signed up for a half marathon in Bend, Oregon at the end of June, planned to hike Saddleback in July and I saw a 50K race in the Bay Area at the end of August I thought I should do too. Bend was good because it was a higher elevation and the Cinderella Trail Run was good since it had a 4,700 foot elevation gain. I talked with my chiropractor and she recommended covering at least 10 miles once a week, and several 5-7 milers in between. I had my goal, but I really wasn't inspired to run.
Looking back, I am really grateful that I had the summer vacation to train. It was time
consuming to get all those miles in! I did break a few personal records though - I covered 100 miles total in July and a little over that in August. They were not fast 100 miles, but I didn't care about speed as much as distance.
The race in Bend was beautiful, but I could feel
the elevation. I decided to walk it and started off with the other walkers. I have always been accused of walking too fast, but I realized with this race, I am a snail compared to real speed walkers! One of my best friends, Lindsey, came with her two month old baby to cheer me on. I bet Lindsey would never have seen me doing all these races in a million years since she was the runner in college and I thought she was crazy for
it! I tried getting up to run with her in college but that lasted about 3 days (maybe less).
The hike up Saddleback with two of my brothers was good, but I was fairly exhausted on the last steep mile or two and thought to myself there was no way I'd make it up Whitney.
I decided I had better not do the 50K race and I signed up to do the marathon instead. That was a good choice.My parents were nice enough to drive my dog and I up to Oakland and stay in a Motel 6 just outside a shady area of Oakland (they were one of the only places willing to take
my 55 lb. dog). I was a bit nervous about this marathon,
knowing the elevation gain. I decided to wear my hiking gear, not running gear, so I'd be better trained. I started the race in a beautiful Redwood shaded area where we quickly
climbed to higher ground. I was walking right behind this girl at the same pace so I decided I would make friends and we walked the first half together along with another man who we picked up a few miles in. They were only doing a half marathon, and I was really debating whether I could do another loop on my own since I was felt like I was dragging the whole first half, my knees and feet were already a bit sore, and my time was slow. I do hate quitting something I've set my mind to finishing, so I inquired about what to do if I couldn't finish, and then set off on my own for one more loop.
I was very grateful for my iPhone so that I could text and update Facebook, since on my own I really needed the encouragement people were giving me through there. I reached the middle seven miles that were on a secluded, wooded trail with no stations and I did my best to just keep trekking, not thinking about being alone to face any wild animals (or people). I played my favorite comforting CD - Bryan Duncan worship - and just prayed to keep my mind off
being alone. I did really enjoy the beauty of those never ending woods though.
Oddly enough, I felt like I had more energy the second loop and my knees and feet were holding up. It wasn't until I reached the summit (and right before that were a few steep killer hills) and heading down that my knees really started to ache. I regretted not having ibuprofen on me. I called my parents and asked them to stop and get some ice packs and ibuprofen for the end of the race and to see if my dad would walk my dog backward on the trail to meet me at the end.
Those last few miles were painful, but I did walk with another few people who were attempting to complete the 50 K. That's one thing about races, the people are so nice. There is something about the sweat and pain that bond us all together and make friends out of strangers
.
Right at the last mile, I saw my dad and Hannah walking up and my dog was so ecstatic so see me she jumped up on me, scaring a few people behind me. They wanted to make sure I knew the
dog since I was tired and couldn't defend myself against some crazy dog. It was great to have my dad and Hannah walk that last mile and across that finish line.
I looked a wreck at the end, but really didn't feel all that bad. I was incredibly dirty, but after a nice hot shower and putting on some lotion to counteract poison oak (which I thought I had stepped in, but nothing ever came of it), we went to Outback where I consumed a huge steak.
I felt good after completing that marathon (8 1/2 hours...but 26.2 miles and a 4,500 elevation gain) about having a chance to make it up Whitney. What concerned me the most now was the actual trail and if I'd freak out on any parts because of my incredible fear of heights. I also knew the elevation and thin air could also do me in. But I was ready to try....
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