TRT 100

Tomorrow I will attempt to run my first 100 mile trail race. I am excited, and sooo nervous! I'll start at 5am on the Tahoe Rim Trail, and hopefully finish by around 7am Sunday morning. Wish me luck!
(The picture is from the finish of the 50 mile TRT race last year.)

Still smiling...thanks Libee!

Living With Nunavit

What started out as a gloomy, wet spring has finally blossomed into a gorgeous summer. Here in Tahoe we are spoiled and think that every day should be sunny and warm, and it usually is, unless it’s ski season, and then it should be snowing hard (and it usually is). I can accept running in snow storms during the winter as part of living in the mountains. Doing it daily through the end of April was really dragging it out. How much of March and April was spent running in shorts? None of it. I have rejoiced this month in running in a t-shirt and pair of shorts, and cruising along the slowly emerging trails.
I began the spring with the Bishop High Sierra 50K. This is a great race on the eastside of the Sierra where most participants are entered in the 50 mile distance, and even fewer participants partake of the 20 mile “fun run.” On the eastside, they like their trails long. The weather turned out to be perfect, sunny and ranging from 60 to 80 degrees over the course of my race. It can often be brutally hot in Bishop, and the day following the race was one of rain and snow in the higher elevations. I felt fortunate to have experienced neither.
I had heard it was a difficult course, but I failed to realize in my pre-race preparations that the 50K course lacked most of the elevation gain and steep climbs of the 50 mile course. Most of my hills were pleasantly gradual and required only walking breaks at intervals, rather than for the entire duration of a hill.
After about an hour and a half my ipod died on me. That’s a little early to lose tunes in a 30 mile race and I was heartbroken. Worse yet, it stopped right in the middle of Naked Blue. I spent the rest of the race singing the snippets of the song that I could recall, and pondering the question “what exactly does ‘unscroomy’ mean?” (I think it either means “obscurity” or is a reference to a shady character, as in, “I didn’t pick up that hitchhiker because he looked a bit unscroomy.”) After a “mandatory wet feet” stream crossing I reached the turnaround point and was surprised to discover that I was in 5th place. The return to the finish was all downhill, but I didn’t manage to catch any of the women ahead of me. On the other hand, I wasn’t passed either. I discovered that not having crew support really affects my fuel maintenance. Instead of Andrew standing there shoving food and drinks into me, I got all spacey and couldn’t think about what I wanted, frequently leaving the aid stations without enough to eat. Consequently I started to bonk in the last 5 miles. Some well timed potatoes washed down with a can of Redbull brought me back to life and I managed to cross the line still in 5th place. I enjoyed an excellent post race meal and massage in the shade, and cheered the 50 mile runners to their finish. How much of the replacement ipod that Apple sent me did I have to pay for? None of it!
After the BHS50, I really didn’t have anymore races on my schedule, and started taking the dogs for 3 mile runs on the trails behind my house. This is me, reveling in my Tahoe summer. (Ahhhhh.) Andrew and I are about to embark on a nearly 600 mile canoe trip through the Northwest Territories and Nunavit in Canada. I am about to spend 40 days paddling a canoe. I am about to get into seriously poor running shape. (But I’ll have buff arms!) Who needs to go on 20 or 30 mile training runs when you are about to get completely out of shape? And besides, the dogs love me right now.
So tomorrow we fly from the airport in Reno, change planes in Denver, and arrive in Edmonton around 8:00pm. The next day we fly from Edmonton to Yellowknife, where we will stay for three days and two national holidays (Canada Day and Fourth of July) to dial out our gear. On July 4th we take a bush plane to a lake in the Northwest Territories where we are left on our own in the wilderness. We will paddle from here, the headwaters, on the Thelon river to the town of Baker Lake on an inlet of Hudson Bay, approximately 550 miles. Just us, the river, 24 hours of daylight, and about 100 million mosquitoes. How much of my summer training will be completed in the next 6 weeks? Yeah, that’s right, none of it!
But on other running notes, last weekend was the Western States 100, which begins about 15 minutes from my house, and ends about an hour away. This is driving time of course, not running. My friend Jack suffered a severe bout of nausea and didn’t finish (along with 44% of the race). Runners suffered through triple digit heat most of the way, and the men’s first finisher was disqualified after being helped across the line by his pacers, awarding the title to 36 year old Graham Cooper of Oakland CA. Nikki Kimball finished in 19:26 to take 3rd overall and her second women’s title in 3 years. How much of this years race in 100+ degree heat was really fun? Well, I know what I think, but on the other hand, maybe the raft ride across the river at Rucky Chucky was fun. Congratulations to all Western States runners!!
Embarking on a long wilderness trip is somewhat akin to running an ultra. You try to be prepared for everything. You spend all the weeks and months leading up to it getting yourself, and everything else, ready. When it comes down to it however, you know there will be things you weren’t prepared for. When they happen, you will take on the challenge and persevere. It’s an adventure. Encountering the unknown is part of the draw.
A friend whom we have never met in person, named Bob O’hara, sent us some information for our trip, and a flag to fly on our canoe. It amazes me to receive such gifts from a stranger, but I guess it shouldn’t. The adventuring spirit is within all of us, though in varying forms. We live to inspire and be inspired.
What Canadian provincial flag did Bob send us? Yup. Nunavit.

I'm It (Darn it!)

RULES - Once you've been tagged, you have to write a blog with 8 facts/things/habits about yourself, saying who tagged you. In the end you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. No tag backs.

Pam tagged me, but I swear I am going to tag her back anyway!

1. I live in Truckee with my husband of almost 6 years (Andrew) our dog Gus (a beautiful mutt) and our border collie puppie Cap (a serious pain in the ass!)

2. This summer Andrew and I will spend 40 days paddling the Thelon River in the Northwest Territories/Nunavit in Canada. We will travel almost 600 miles from the headwaters near Great Slave Lake to an inlet on Hudson Bay. My biggest fear for the trip: navigation! Due to our proximity to magnetic north and our west to east travel the declination changes daily. Not to mention that magnetic north has moved since our maps were printed in 1987, and there is a notation at the bottom of the maps saying "magnetic compass may be erratic in this area" due to the amount of iron inthe landscape. hmmm...

3. I am on the path to becoming an ultra-runner, having run 2 50Ks, a triple marathon, and a 50 miler. I qualified for the Western States 100 and will find out in December if I make it through the lottery process to get an entry for next year.

4. I pick my cuticles constantly and it drives my husband insane. He thinks it's gross, and if you do too then please forget I told you this.

5. I once spent a month in Mongolia with my dad trekking across the Gobi desert in search of the near-extinct Gobi bear. (Yes we managed to spot one!)

6. I can't stand people who are highly judgemental of others and arrogant.

7. I am a closet artist. I love to paint, especially water colors, but have also recently discovered oil pastels. I rarely show anything to anyone because I really paint just for me and don't want to think about the quality of the work. (I do occasionally give paintings as gifts to friends.) I love to paint because for me it is fun and joy and pure play and I feel like a kid sometimes.

8. When I moved to Truckee in 2000 I learned to telemark ski. What a challenge, and what an incredible sport! Backcountry skiing is like nothing else!

Who will I tag for this game? Well, I'll leave it up to them to reveal themselves...that way they can blow it off if they really don't want to do it. (Isn't that considerate of me?)

Questioning...

THE GUIDELINES:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are the questions Kathleen asked me, and my responses


1) What do you teach and why?

I teach 7th grade Math, English, Science and Social Studies. My absolute favorite is Science, followed by English. I'm not really sure how I ended up teaching 7th grade, since I really wanted to teach 4th or 5th, but "fate works in funny ways." I adore middle school! I actually like the akwardness of the age, and watching the transition from little kid to teenager. My students make me smile and laugh every day.
Why do I teach? It's really somewhat selfish...it's just so rewarding! I love doing something with my life where every day I can see the direct and positive influence I have. I also love learning, and sharing that with others is so much fun!

2) What's the best thing about running?

The freedom, and being me. When I run, I feel I am exactly who I was meant to be, doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. Some days I feel strong and powerful when I run. Some runs are pure adventure, splashing through creeks and mud, getting lost, being a kid. In every run I have a chance to get lost in my own thoughts, whatever they might be. I

3) How did you come to live in Truckee?


Andrew and I got married in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota in October 2000 and move straight to Truckee. We had both been here before and had wonderful experiences. Andrew had done a lot of backcountry skiing on a ski course here one winter. I had hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail in 1996 and met some wonderful folks in Truckee. Now I work at a school on Donner Summit, where the PCT comes right through our parking lot!

4) What children's story is most like your life's story?

When I was 12 or so I read a book called "Walking Out." It's a survival story about a girl who gets lost in the Alaskan wilderness. It's not really like my life at all, but I think it did influence my life. I LOVED that story. I loved the idea of a girl from southern California (where I am from too) becoming an adept wilderness traveler.
Eventually I learned to backpack, hiked 2600 miles on the PCT, and spent years guiding backpacking, rock climbing and canoeing trips. Hmm...maybe that book is like my life.

5) Who inspires you?

My sister, my husband, my dog Gus. My students, my friend Heather, some of my fellow teachers. Ultra runners, artists, Nat, Erik, Zac, Aaron and Bryan. Sometimes me.

Spring Things!

Hooray, the tulips are up in my garden!! Even when life gets me down, I can always smile when there are flowers in my garden. I'm not much of a gardener, but I like to plant things that come back year after year. It's such a gift to see vibrant color just appear where last month there was a foot of snow. Soon, the trails will be clear for running and biking!

I ran 50 miles!!

Last saturday I joined 500 other "crazies" and ran the American River 50, from Sacramento to Auburn. I was so nervous, and I am happy to report it was a BLAST! I even ran a half hour faster than my goal time, finishing in 9:28, good for 23rd place! If you're interested, read the detailed account on my "real" blog,

dailyadventuresgretch.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading!

Goodbye to a Friend

Dear Missy,

Today I found out that you are gone. How can you be gone? I really just met you, but I feel your absence so deeply. How can this be affecting me so much, be so painful? You managed, in such a short period of time, to create a connection in my life. It is a connection not only to you, but to so many of the wonderful people that I have met through you. It is a connection to dancing, smiling, laughing, singing, hugging and feeling the joys in life on a daily basis. I feel so fortunate to have known and loved you, but at the same time I also feel so cheated that you were in my life for such a sort period of time.
Before we met, I saw you at many Butter shows. I remember watching you, this beautiful woman in the front with a long scarf that seemed to flow with her movements. You sang along with every word, dancing with friends, dancing alone, and always with a smile that said you were having the time of your life. I spotted you at the rail during a set break at the Harvest Meltdown, and I said to myself, “There’s that girl again, I have to meet her!” Your magic just drew me in. And when I went up and introduced myself to you, you gave me a hug as though you had been waiting to meet me too. Our brief, sweet friendship began.
There is something special about sharing a passion with someone, especially a passion you can express together and with others. Dancing and singing with you at shows has been a highlight of my fall and winter. Thank you so much for coming into my life and sharing so many joyful times. I am in shock at losing you, and know I will be feeling this way for a while. All I can think is that my tribute to you will be to continue to find the joy in every corner of life, as you did, and to stay connected to that family of friends that we have. I know somewhere you are dancing with Lili, that beautiful smile on your face.

love,
Gretchen

Lucky Charms

The sounds of construction from the lot next door drove me out of bed far earlier than necessary. The snow had turned to rain overnight, eliminating chances for the forecasted 3 feet we were hoping to get. I wasn’t sure what this would mean for my run. I prefer running with cold dry snow falling, rather than cold wet rain.
The heat from my coffee and the roaring fire kept me from putting my running clothes on right away. The street out the window looked like it was laden with several inches of slush. It was destined to be a morning with wet feet. I sighed loudly, and, coffee still in hand, went upstairs to find appropriate cold weather clothing.
Splashing along the road around Donner Lake, I pulled my baseball cap low to keep the rain from stinging my eyes. The snow on the shoulder of the road had actually melted back enough that I could run there. With the ski resorts still unopened, the traffic on the road was light, and I was only splashed by a few passing cars. I glanced up to check for approaching menaces, and saw the rainbow. I smiled. In spite of the rain, I raised the brim on my hat. I let the droplets pelt my face and pushed ahead into the fierce headwind. Whitecaps rolled across the lake, and I continued, doggedly, in the opposite direction.
In truth, conditions were considerably better than expected. Two miles in, and my feet were still dry. On further consideration, I decided not to go all the way around the lake, because there would be two miles of unplowed road on the other side. I added an extension up old highway 40, to make the run 6 miles. At the turnaround I cruised the downhill until I reached the lake again, stretching out my stride to release some of the tension in my hamstrings. The last two miles the wind was at my back.

Running Hurdles

I have made a commitment that I am trying very hard to break at the moment. You might think I would be trying very hard to keep a commitment, as would I, but all of my actions seem to indicate otherwise. You see, I need to run 12 miles today. Well, I have a huge list of things I must get done today, but running 12 miles is the commitment part of the equation. Instead of taking care of life, (laundry, clean the house, walk the dog, pack for trip…'') so that I can have time to run my 12 miles, I am drinking coffee and writing.
Truly I think drinking coffee and writing are more important than doing laundry, but it is the mountain of laundry and not the unwritten words, that will keep the run from happening.
That’s not really true either. It is my rationalizations of my need to do laundry that will keep me from running. And who really needs to do laundry? Sure, we all need to have laundry done, but the actual doing of it is no where close to a requirement for human function.
What is it about a commitment to yourself, rather than to someone else, that makes it so easy to break? I feel selfish putting my run ahead of stupid things like cleaning the house because that is something that I am doing for myself and my husband. Running is only for me. But then, running is me.
The commitment of which I speak, is my decision to run the American River 50, a 50 mile running race along the American River from Sacramento to Auburn. Farther than I have run at one time by almost 20 miles, this one is monumental for me. This one will require consistent training. There can be no skipping workouts due to weather, work or other life duties. When snow blankets the ground, as it soon will, I will be driving down the hill to get in my long trail runs. I will be missing ski days with my friends. I will certainly be feeling sorry for myself. But don’t feel sorry for me. Be excited for me. I am on an adventure of uncharted territory for myself. Gotta run.