Run On the Sly - Shavi's birthday race, August 2013

How can Shavi not run this race! It is a perfect birthday gift for him since it falls close to his birthday every year. Last year, it was on his the day of his birthday (Aug 19) and I threw him a surprise birthday party after the race (20-miles). It was lot of fun!

Within the last one year, he has run so many big races and I have accompanied him in all races. But this time it was different. This was the first race, I could not go with him or be with him after the finish. He ran 20-miles and improved his time from last year by 20 minutes, even though he was taking it easy and had not been training for it. His time was around 4 hours. This year, the race was one day before his birthday, on August 18, Sunday. Run on the Sly is run in Sly Park in El Dorado county, close to Placerville.

Last year, Shavi had run the 20 miles just after his terrible back spasm due to which he had landed in ER and so had taken it easy. And this year, he had not yet recovered from his 100-mile race. Last year, I had run the shorter course of 12K but this year, I did not even go there:) This race has various course: 12K, half marathon, 20 miles and 50K. Last year some people got lost on the 50K course. So, we figured that it might not be a good race for 50K. Probably the trails weren't well marked.

Like Blood, Sweat and Beers, this race is also organized by Fleet Feet, Sacramento. Parking at the venue is sufficient and there is a burrito bar at the end of the race for runners. The 12K course is nice, half marathon course is even better and 20 mile course is great with great views of Jenkinson lake. The aid stations are well equipped. Maybe next year, if Shavi plans to do the 50K, then I can talk about the 50K course as well :-)

Blood Sweat and Beers - July 2013

Even before his legs could get some rest after his big TRT 100-miles, Shavi ran another race the following weekend on July 28, 2013. This one was for my sister, Anu. He was pacing her, so running at a slower pace than his normal. They both did the shorter course which is around 6 miles on trails with elevation of course. This race is organized by Fleet Feet Sacramento around the same time every year. I did the short course last year and Shavi had then done the longer course which is 10.5 miles. Both Anu and Shavi were tired after organizing and throwing me a lavish baby shower just the day before. Sleeping late and waking up early for the race did not stop them from going slow in the race. Anu's flight back to her home was that evening. I am so proud of my runners. It teaches you so much discipline in life, determination and tests your will power.

The race which is run in Auburn (parking is close to Auburn dam overlook) is true to its name. You run, you sweat a lot due to hills and then get a couple of free beers after the race. It is a party kind of thing after race. This race has become a trend among Sacramento runners. People like the course and of course the beers after! The aid stations are pretty good. Shavi and I like their race shirts - good colors and look great. The race gets filled up pretty soon.

TRT - 100 miles - Detailed race report by Shavi coming soon!

What a brutal race it was on July 20-21, 2013 - Tahoe Rim Trail 100 miles! Temperatures crossed 100 deg F. 100 deg at that altitude was insane. The UV index was +12. I was at mere 7000 ft altitude and the sun was pricking me like crazy. I am sure it was worse for Shavi who went higher in the mountains. With an altitude change of almost 42,000 ft and with a rate of less than 60% finishers, Shavi finished the brutal race in less than 32.5 hours. He struggled with stomach issues, blisters and high altitude issues during the race but he made it to the finish line with his strong will-power and determination, much before the 35-hour cut-off.

He was walking just fine after the race and there was more excitement in his eyes rather than fatigue just after the race. It took couple of days for his body to get back to normal and he ran a 10K trail race (Blood, Sweat and Beers) with my sister at a slower pace, the weekend after!!

His first 100-miler race was a success and I am super-proud of him! Can't wait to crew him in his second 100-miler, whenever that happens:)

TRT (Tahoe Rim Trails) Training Runs

Day 1: Starts at Diamond Peak Resort. There is lot of parking space available at the resort. The resort is closed during the summer months, so not many people there. The run was supposed to be 20 miles but because of some mountain erosion concerns, the Race Director was not able to get a permit on the trails and had to change it last minute. It ended up to 25 miles. There was only one aid station (Tunnel Creek) but you go through it twice at Mile 5 and Mile 11. The aid station was good but the aid station volunteers there were also not aware of route changes, and mentioned that the run was a 20-miler. So, stock up on your water etc as at TRT, trail routes can change dependent on a various number of things. Because of last minute change, the trail was not marked properly, so be careful to listen to the instructions prior to the race. Restrooms are available at the resort, where the run starts. The run starts with a steep climb: Almost 2 miles of uphill, climbing 1700 ft - a good warm up. A hard climb, especially after the second mile. The views from the top of  the peak (referred to as Bull Wheel) are beautiful. Because of altitude, the air is thin, so there is difficulty breathing if you are not used to hiking at elevation. The training run also covers the Red House Loop. Still not sure why the Red House Loop is known as infamous. It definitely has some steep downhill but there must be some other reason for it to be known as infamous. The trails were not as technical as the Western State trails and had many shaded parts. The organizers of the TRT training runs have post-party food organized at the resort, which includes beer. Definitely the thin air makes you tired way before you can think of!

Day 2: This year it started in a dirt lot at the intersection of Freeway US-50 and CA-28 near Spooner Lake. Lot of parking available. There were a few porta potties available at the start, arranged by the TRT Training Run organizers. This training run is on the 50K course of the TRT. It is not 32 miles, but actually it is 34 miles (They should just call it a 55K race). There are 2 aid stations on the way (that you hit 4 times total). You can cut short the training run by not doing the 6-mile Red House Loop which is also covered on day 1. The trails are already well-marked and the organizers give you a map initially, which is helpful. The aid stations were good and so was the food at the finish. This year only 15 people (out of 200+) did the 34 miles while all the others did the shorter route of 28 miles.

What a weekend for Shavi! ~60 miles of trails with more than 20,000 feet of elevation change. The altitude training was an eye opener for what to expect at TRT 100 in just 5 weeks. The silver lining was that at least the views were 'breathtaking' (pun intended). The picture presented here is of Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe from Snow Valley peak at around ~9100 feet altitude.
Not bad for $10 fee for each day's training run. Looking forward to TRT 100 miler now (Not)!

Night training runs on the trails

Can night runs on the trails be fun? There could be wild animals like mountain lion, black bear. You might not have sufficient light. You might get lost on the trails in the dark. You could trip and fall. Oh well, if you are an ultra trail runner, chances are that you would be aware of these things and would already take such things into consideration to make the night trail running fun and not scary.

1. Lighting on the trails is very important. So, carry a good headlight and also a flash light.
2. Know the techniques to save yourself from animals. For example, pretend to be big in front of mountain lions to make them afraid of you. Bears generally attack when they fear that you are a threat to his/her kids. So, do not do any such thing to make them feel that. Maybe carry a little pepper spray with you ;-)
3. Know your way, as in, where the trails are going. Pay attention to where you are stepping. The protruding roots of the trees can make you trip.
4. Have sufficient food and water with you, in case you get lost.
5. Carry your cell phone with you. Do not use MP3 players during night, specially, to keep your ears open.
6. Always good to have someone with you while on a night run. Go in a group, if possible. And last but not the least, keep someone back at home informed about when and where you are going for the night runs.

Always good to take precautions than to be sorry later!

A little 5K never hurts!

Kaiser Women's Fitness 5K which goes around Sacramento downtown, starting and finishing at the Capitol, is a tradition among the Sacramento women. It is a great run for women with great post-run activities and food. There are walkers as well as runners. I did this run with a friend of mine. It was a quick 5K on the hot day of June (June 2nd), with temperatures soaring to 90 deg F.

This was my third 5K in the past 4 years of my running. It is fun to see almost 4000 Sacramento women running or walking this race. It benefits WEAVE (Women Escaping A Violent Environment). It is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Fleet Feet, Sacramento has great pre-race event for packet pick-up. Overall, a quick course and a fun run.

Reno Tahoe Odyssey (RTO) - 178mi relay race

Shavi had the privilege to run the RTO on May 31 - June 1, 2013 as a team of 12 people. The 178 mi run starts from Reno downtown and goes to Tahoe and then back. Each person runs a leg of 15-18 miles in a team of 12. It is a little expensive race for doing a relay with no aid stations at all. But you do not really need aid stations when you have a van of your team members following you most of the time and it is a relay. Each person runs 5-7 miles at one time, running three legs each, making it 15-18 miles for each.

Shavi's relay legs were pretty hard - some steep climbs but he did great. The team killed it in 23:30 hrs finish time despite crazy heat, no/minimal sleep, eating junk food, and group of 6 people living out of a van for the course of the 178 mi race. There were two vans with 6 people each.

I think such races teach team work: sharing food, getting minimal sleep, helping each other. Isn't this nice? Shavi says it was an amazing experience.

Gold Rush 100K - the really hot 100km race

Can you believe running 100 km (102 km to be precise, which is alomst 63.4 miles) in 94 deg F temperature? That too when you are up since 2.30 am? It's beyond my imagination. Who are these people and why do they torture themselves! ;-) I think it is the feeling of achievement and the sense of satisfaction of doing something different and adventurous that such people get out of such races. I think this is true for race of any distance. You are just competing with yourself and trying to make yourself better each time. Once a person does certain distance, he/she wants to go beyond that distance to check his/her limits. That explains it.

This race was on a really hot day - May 11, 2013. Called Gold Rush 100K, it started at 5 am in Sutter Mill, Coloma (near to Placerville) and ended in Sutter Fort, Sacramento. It's always hard to get a good night sleep before the race, specially when you have to be up that early and drive down almost 50 miles where the race starts. But we managed!

Since it was so hot, only 81 people finished out of 235 who were registered, which is only one-third of the total. This was SRA's (Sacramento Running Association's) inaugural race. SRA has been doing a lot of popular road races in Sacramento. They did a good job with the aid stations but not with the trails. There was over-grown grass on most trails which made the trails invisible. Also, the crews had issues with reaching to the aid stations. I can vouch for that, especially the one at Negro Bar State Park. Even though the website had good directions, still it was not easy to figure out. I had to walk a lot with my bags of ice and stuff that I was carrying for Shavi, to reach at the aid stations.

Shavi did an awesome job in the terrible heat. He kept hydrating very well and having enough salt. Pouring water on him at every aid station helped. He also had a bandana tied on his neck which he would refill with ice at every aid station. He would also put ice in his cap and put on his head, which helped in the heat. He was wearing a cap with a neck-cover which also helped from the direct heat. In spite of all precautions, Shavi was chaffing badly because of pouring water on himself (and so were most of the people). So he kept applying vaseline at every aid station (after 38 miles), which I was carrying with me. He ran the first 38 miles without me coming to any aid station but after that the heat made it miserable and I went to every aid station to check on him, which were 5-7 miles apart from each other.

He finished the race in 13 hours and 45 minutes and was among the top 50 finishers overall and top 10 in his age category. 15 hours was the cut off time to finish the race. Most people were pulled off mid-way in the race because they could not meet the cut-off times. It was terrible hot and there were some bad hills. Shavi finished at around 6:40 pm. He looked strong but later we found out that his toes were all blistered and hurting him bad. He had twisted his ankle around mile 25 in the race but kept running all the way. What a great will power! The paramedics who attended him after the race told him that it seems like a fracture. They freaked us out. It seems all swollen and very painful for him to walk. Hope it's not a fracture or anything bad since he is able to limp and walk. Will be forcefully taking him to doctor today.

Well, something is bound to happen when you run that kind of a B.R.U.T.A.L. race. But all I can say is that I am super-proud of Shavi! Can hardly wait to crew him for his next big one - 100 miles in Tahoe in July 2013. I am freaking out for that race more than anything! Until his big one, he will have to remain injury-free, eat healthy and do a lot of training. Good luck Shav! We are with you:)

UPDATE: Back from Orthopedics Dr.. He got Shavi's X-ray done and did not find any major problem with the bones. He said that it seems like a ligament tear. RICE will probably make it better: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Big Sur Internation Marathon - April 2013

When Shavi had registered for the Big Sur Marathon (26.2 miles), we would not have thought that he would get into Ultras (races more than 26.2 miles) so crazy by this year that this would just be another training run for him. Registration for Big Sur Marathon opens one year earlier than the event and gets filled up in hours. It is pretty expensive also. Probably due to the fact that they have to close Highway 1, the main highway from Big Sur to Carmel for this race.

We stayed in Carmel for the race since the finish line was in Carmel. The race starts in Big Sur and there are shuttles from Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur to drive you to the start line in the cold early morning. The shuttles start at 3 am and they run until 4:15 am, depending on from where you are being transported. Believe me, waking up at 2 am for the race was not the best thing for me (and for Shavi).

I had to book the hotel in Carmel almost a year ago since the hotels also fill out very fast. We stayed at Clarion in Carmel since that was the only one available at that time. It turned out to be a nice hotel for a night's stay.

Shavi reached the start line almost 2 hours before the start time (because that is how it works with shuttles). There is no way for someone to stop you at the start line. Shavi said it was foggy initially and quite cold too. They had great aid stations and lot of porter-pottys at the start line and on the course. He wasnt too happy about the course though. It was scenic, no doubt about it but the course is injury prone. The highway one is kind of at an angle, which makes your feet not run at the same level, which can lead to injuries. He took it easy in the race, enjoying the views and clicking pictures on the course:)

Not to mention that the race did not give much swag, even though it was pretty expensive. Only a medal at the end. It was hand-crafted though. The post-party food was also just ok - nothing spectacular. I do not think Shavi or I would want to do this expensive race again but this is just a personal view.

Another big one, another glory - Shavi's second 50-miler race

AR50 (American River 50) - the 50-miler race on April 6, 2013, Saturday. It was Shavi's second time running this race. He completed the race in a wonderful time of 8 hours 51 minutes, beating his last year's record of 10 hours 33 minutes. I could not believe it - an improvement of 1 hour 43 minutes from his last year's race, in spite of his real bad back and shoulder ache since the prior day. Blame it on his long sitting hours and late night office meetings until midnight or so the last two days.

The race starts in Sacramento and goes all the way up to Auburn. It was overcast that day which was good for him except for the last 2 hours. He still kept pouring water on himself during the race, to cool himself down. He did not stop for more than a minute at any of the aid stations. I saw him at around mile 26 (Beals point, Folsom) and then at mile 41 (Rattlesnake, Granite Bay). He looked strong at both those points. I wasn't expecting him to be back in under 9 hours at the Finish line and was busy chit-chatting with people. I had almost missed seeing him cross the finish! It was awesome. He was looking strong.

After race also, he was much better this time than last year. He was running around on Sunday, doing all his chores. Guess, his training paid off well and the weather was supportive for him.

He was among the top 125 runners out of around 1100 registered entrants. I am so proud of you, Shavi. Next coming up - 100K (~61 miles) race in May 2013!

Way Too Cool 50K and Way Too Cool Shavi

Not only was the race way too cool, but Shavi's performance in this race on March 9, 2013 was also way too cool. He did this 50km (around 31 miles) race for the 2nd time this year and improved his last year's record by 41 minutes which is considered phenomenal in the running world.

The race: Way Too Cool 50K is run by around 300 runners in a beautiful little town called Cool, CA. The runners are selected through lottery.

How did Shavi improve significantly? The answer to this can be better told by him but I think it can all be attributed to better training and a very healthy diet. This is surely not easy but we did it and he gave me yet another reason to be proud of him!!

Good luck for your next big one, Shavi. AR50 (the 50-miler race) this coming weekend (April 6, 2013)!! Excited!

Running a marathon in crazy rain and strong winds

It was amazing when Shavi improved his Personal Record (PR) by 7 minutes in CIM (California International Marathon) in those really strong winds and craziest of all rains. This was his 3rd time running the CIM, which was on Dec 2, 2012. It was a whole new science the day prior, trying to figure what to wear and what not. I got to run two legs of the relay, making it around 13.5 miles, since two people from a relay team backed out at the last minute and I sure was available. It was a great experience and so much fun running in the rain. The rains and side winds were seeming to slap you in the face but this was the first time, I realized that I loved running in the rain. With 1000s of people cheering the runners and 10,000+ runners completely soaked in water stomping their feet in water puddles on the roads, it was a fun time but it was not an easy race.

Here are some tips for running long distances in the rain and wind:

1. Use a trash bag as a rain-cover for yourself and trash it on the way, once it solves its purpose. Be careful that your bib is visible to identify your pictures later on:)

2. Wear as light as possible or have layers which you can throw away while running.

3. Some people wear plastic covers/plastic grocery bags on their shoes. That did not seem to work very well with anyone I knew.

4. Wrap the mp3 player in a waterproof covering. A ziploc plastic bag worked for apple shuffle for me.

5. Salt capsules might melt in the rain. So, put them in a careful place.

6. Use lot of Vaseline on your feet, even if you never have chaffing. Rain can lead to chaffing due to the socks rubbing your feet.

7. Use lot of glide and Vaseline on your body since I know so many people who got badly chaffed in the rain – people who never get chaffed otherwise.

8. Shavi double-taped his nipples to prevent chaffing.

9. For running in a headwind, if you can find a partner that works best. You can take turns in 'drafting' the other person, so that you get a relief from the direct wind.

10. Because of the rain, you might feel that you do not need enough water to drink, but do not skimp on drinking water and taking the right nutrition. Fatigue and cramps will kick in later in the race if you do not pay attention.

11. After the race, change clothes right away. Once the body stops moving, it starts shutting down. You do not want to be in cold-wet clothes when the body needs heat.

12. Just have FUN. Remember running is all about fun. There will always be another race and another day where you can do better.

This year’s CIM was really hard on many people who could not meet their goals but I am proud of Shavi for exceeding his goals in this one, even when he was feeling tight hamstrings the day prior. Not to mention that we took a red eye flight that evening to Florida. The coaches suggested Shavi to take an ice bath after the run and wearing compression socks on the plane. The suggestion worked well.

Any more tips on running in the rain are welcome!

Races for 2013.

2013 has barely started and I have already booked myself for the next 7 months. I won't lie. It is freaking me out a bit. Specially the one in July. Here is a Laundry list of races I have signed up so far:

1. Way Too Cool 50 Km (WTC) on March 09.
2. American River 50 Miles (AR50) on April 06
3. Big Sur International Marathon (BSIM) on April 28
4. Gold Rush 100 Km on May 11
5. and the craziest race of them all: Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Miles (TRT100) on July 20.

WTC, AR50 and BSIM I am not too worried about. Mainly because I have run those distances before. BSIM will be my first marathon out of the Sacramento area - so I am actually looking forward to it. And secondly BSIM will be more or less a training/taper run before my first 100K run two weeks after the race.

The Gold Rush 100K will be my first 100K run. It is going to be brutally hot, but I think I should be able to survive. I have a good feeling about that race. And my finishing goal is not going to be too crazy fast to be much of a big deal.

What is giving me the woozies is the TRT100mi. It's not only a 100 mile run, its in trails with a minimum elevation of 7000 feet and a maximum of ~9000 feet. I have never trained in the mountains in that kind of elevation. So let's see what the next 28 weeks has in store for me.

I hope to stay strong and fit during my training, as the training itself is gonna require a great deal of mental and physical strength.

For emotional strength I know Ruchi will be along the way for FULL support. :D