The Damn Run - Trail Half Marathon - 3:10 for Shavi and me

A fun trail run. Starts at Cool and ends in Cool. The race director does a great job in marking the course. A low-key race with many locals running it. I started the race with a full sleeve shirt and then as it got warmer, folded the sleeves. It was not that bad but I got some arm protection from the sun! ;-) Lot of uphills and some downhills which I love! Makes the course interesting. We both finished the race in 3:10 and had a good time on the trails.

Susan B Anthony 5K - Ruchi's best - 25:48 - Aug 13, 2016

One of my favorite races by Buffalo Chips Running club. Well organized short course with 1 aid stations half way across. They have a free fun kids race in the morning of the race. Took W with us last year to run the few feet of race. Fun event. They have a Inflatable bounce house also for kids to enjoy. A very friendly and cheap women's race. The course has lot of turns as it goes in the neighborhoods. Gets warm that time of the year. So, short clothes and lot of sunscreen. One could do without a hat or visor as it goes through some neighborhoods which are shaded enough at times.

Quicksilver 100K - San Jose, May 14, 2016 - 15:28 hours

Quicksilver 100K was one of the qualifiers for Western States 100 mile Lottery. So, he HAD to do it. He could not do Canyons 100K (the other qualifier) which is in town, as he had something else going on that weekend. Going out of town and staying the night before in San Jose was not an easy thing. Thank Goodness for A & C who took care of W while we were gone.

This was not an easy race at all with lot of drop outs. But Shavi got it done in 15.28 hours. The aid stations were great. I went to several aid stations that I could reach. Most of the aid stations were not hard to reach. He finished before it got dark and drove back home the same day.

Moklumne 52 miles for Shavi - April 16, 2016 - 12:56

Another hard 50 mile race, done in 12:56. It is an hour and a half drive from Sacramento. The race is spread over two days with higher distances on Saturday and lower ones like half marathon on Sunday. It is a 3-day festival: Moklumne

This is another great and excellent race organized by Single Track Running.

Ruck-a-Chuck 50K for Shavi - 6:58 - April 10, 2016

Right after AR 50, Shavi jumped into another hard race: 50km. This race starts in Foresthill. Yet another great race by Single Track running on a hard course.

AR 50 - April 2, 2016 - Shavi ran - 10:37 - Ruchi ran last 9.

Since he said that he is not going to shoot for his personal best, so I decided to run with him the last 9 miles as pacer. It was crazy uphill but I enjoyed those serene mountains and the scenery. W and I went to Big Lots (Mile 11) and then to Beals point (Mile 26) to cheer him and then I went to Rattlesnake bar where I joined him for the last 9 miles.

Way Too Cool 50K for Shavi - Mar 5, 2016 - 6:26 hours

He finished in 6:26 hours. Not his personal best but he was not training for doing best either!

Fourmidable 50K for Shavi - Feb 20, 2016 - 7:13

Not his best but he got it done right after doing the other 50K with me couple weeks ago. His best for this race has been 6:56 in the past. This is a very tough course but a great race, per him. Organized by SingleTrack Running in Auburn, this is a great race.

American Canyons - 50K - Feb 6, 2016 - My first one!

Shavi and I did my first 50K ever. Finished in 7:48! I was just done with CIM in December, 2015 and thought adding 4-5 extra miles on the trails wont hurt me. I was looking for a low-key trail race and found this perfect one. I went to the trails 2-3 times with Shavi for training runs. Training runs being around 20-22 miles. Then Shavi got sick when I was to do my longest trails miles during training. So, I ended up doing 24 miles on my own around Lake Natoma on the trails.

Trails are beautiful and this race was greatly organized. Road racing is no where closer to trail running. Where it took me 4.28 in my last road marathon (26.2 miles), it took me 7:48 hours here in the mountains with the crazy uphills and downhills, given that it was only 4-5 miles more. I did have to take pain killers because of my IT band issue but again would not have been able to get through it without Shavi. Thankful for the multiple creeks on the way where I could dip my feet and feel better. So thankful that I was able to run this race and get a little taste of ultra running.