6K Uphill challenge run - Squaw Valley - June 27, 2014

After every half mile, I wanted to turn back. This is the initial course of the Western States 100-mile Endurance run: 2550 ft climb in those initial ~4 miles. Brutal is the only word.

This run is organized every year by Montrail, a day before the Western States race. It starts at 10am and is limited to first 200 people on a first-cum basis. Not that if you are not registered, you cannot run up there, but you do not get the swag like the water bottle etc. Well, it is more of a hike for most people, since it is all uphill. Beautiful views and totally worth it.

Coming down is not easy either. I love downhills but this one isn’t easy since the slope is quite a lot. They have free trams for the race participants from the top which take you down but I preferred to run back. Going up took me 1 hour 7 mins while coming down was 25 mins.

Once I did this, I was glad I did it and I was worried about Shavi doing the Western States 100 miler the next day. It got me a very tiny little taste of what Shavi was going to endure next day.

The adventurous endurance run - Shavi's first 100-miler in scorching July 2013

Even though it has been almost 11 months of the 100-mile run, everything is so fresh in the memory, as if it was just yesterday. With the upcoming another 100-miler for him in a few days, I finally thought to post this blog of his first 100-miler in July 2013.

TRT 100 miles - Shavi's first experience running a 100-miler race was awesome and grueling. We knew that it was never going to be easy, even when he was training hard for it. We knew it would bring us long lasting memories and great stories and so it did.

What a journey it had been for him since the day he signed up for TRT on January 1, 2013 at 2am from his iPhone, drinking cocktails, celebrating new year's in Monterey. It sounded like a great idea at that time, and boy was he in for a surprise. The training that goes into running a 100-mile run, the sacrifices that the family makes for you, the lack of social life because you sleep before the sun goes down to wake up at 3 am on weekend mornings to run 10 hours, is no less humbling than the race itself. Shavi surely has a long list of people to be sincerely thankful of who motivated him during the last 7 months of the race, and kept him going.

The race itself was way brutal than he expected, thanks to the heat, lack of altitude training, UV index of 12+. Surprisingly, the two things that he was most worried about (fatigue due to lack of sleep, and tight/achy muscles) was never an issue. He did have some blisters, stomach issues and other heat related issues.

In Shavi's words: "I would have not been able to keep moving forward if it were not for my crew and pacers: My sister, Anu who traveled all the way from D.C. to support me and Ruchi who had more confidence in me finishing than myself. My running buddy, Keith who hiked up to Tunnel Creek TWICE and stayed there middle of night for hours to see me come in multiple times, also 'crewed' my pregnant wife, Ruchi when he was not crewing me. My other running buddy, Antonio who paced me for 30 miles knew exactly when to talk and what to talk and when to shut up He kept me going through the night from dusk to dawn. And my ex-running coach from Sacfit, Ken who paced me for the last 20 miles when I was as exhausted as I could have been, helped me recover from my stomach issues and kept me going in the brutal heat."

We started at 6 am from Spooner Lake State Park in Nevada. The race authorities provided good shuttle service from the parking to the start line for both runners as well as their family. Shavi's crew (my sister - Anu and me) was more than ready!

Spooner Lake at mile 0 - the Start Line: Easy for the crew to reach the start line. Ample parking space from where the shuttle starts. Arriving a bit early is the way to go, just to make sure you do not miss the shuttle. It is a 5-min walk to the start line where the shuttle drops inside the park. Good shuttle service.

Hobart at mile 6: This was too early in the race. So, I decided to skip going here plus it wasn't easily accessible for the crew.

Tunnel Creek at mile 11: Skipped this aid station too as this was a steep hike.

Tunnel Creek at mile 17.3: The runners come through this aid station three times in one loop of 50-miles. Very well equipped aid station.

Bull Wheel at mile 20.3: No easy access for the crew here as well.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort at mile 30.3: This is the first point where I saw Shavi and which was easily accessible. There is plenty free parking at the resort and great waiting area. Shavi looked great at this point.

Tunnel Creek at mile 35.3

Hobart at mile 40.3

Snow Valley Peak at mile 43.1: Skipped this aid station as well since I was going to see Shavi in another 7ish miles.

Spooner Lake mid-way at mile 50.2: This was the next point where I saw Shavi. Since it was the same place from where the race started (TRT is a 50-mile loop through which the runners go twice). This was the first point to pick a pacer. Shavi picked his pacer Antonio here. At this point, Shavi was having some heat issues and stomach issues. His weight had dropped quite a lot, per the weight check point. This was because he had been unable to eat anything except for chocolate milk which was keeping him going. Thanks to our friend, Keith who volunteered to go up Tunnel Creek to give him chocolate milk. I was pregnant at that time and could not climb that steep hill for going to Tunnel Creel. Tunnel Creek is not an easily accessible crew point. It has around 1.5-mile steep hike and it would almost be night at the time when Shavi would have needed us at Tunnel Creek. Shavi changed his shirt and shoes here and checked on other things that needed a refill. He had been alternating between his back-pack and hand-carrying bottles. That relieved him a bit from his back ache. Carrying the back pack for 100 miles is no joke! We always had all his stuff ready before hand. For example, his back pack would always be re-filled with his power gels, charged mp3 player, new bandana, more vaseline etc.

There were lot of people at this aid station, crewing for their runners and volunteering. Shavi sat on his chair at this aid station for good 10-15mins. It was soon going to be dark. Shavi took his flashlights (with an extra one in his backpack and some batteries), handed over his sunglasses to me and took off. I went back to the hotel with my sister. Needless to say, we had a sleepless night that night.

Hobart at mile 56.2

Tunnel Creek at mile 61.2: Even though I did not go to this aid station, our friend Keith went and got me these amazing pictures.

Tunnel Creek at mile 67.5

Bull Wheel at mile 70.5

Diamond Peak Ski Resort at mile 80.5: I was going to see Shavi here again. He was to pick his second pacer, Ken Press, at this point. He was little delayed that his expected time but we knew this since we saw him at his half-way point. Shavi was smiling here, feeling much better than when I saw him last. At this point, I was quite confident that Shavi would complete his race.

Tunnel Creek at mile 85.5

Hobart at mile 90.5

Snow Valley Peak at mile 93.3

Spooner Trail Head at mile 100.4 - the Finish Line: What an awesome finish!!! With a smile on his face, Shavi crossed the finish line. Unbelievable! He almost sprinted the last 7 miles. He said his second wind made him run faster during the last miles, giving him extra energy. Cannot be more proud of him!

More from Shavi: "Of course, goes without saying, I could not have done it without Ruchi. I am sure the last 2 days were more mentally and physically brutal on her than they were on me. I could not have been even able to line up at the start if it were not for her consistent support, motivation and care that she took of me during my training."

"Thanks to all you friends who followed me and cared for me and cared for Ruchi while she was worried 'sleep'less. It means a lot to me."

"I wish to dedicate my first 100mi bling to my Naani (Maternal Grandma) who taught me how to walk, when the doctors said I may not walk."

Needless to say, being 6-months pregnant, I could not have crewed Shavi all by myself, without Anu's support. A whole big thanks to her from coming all the way from East Coast!!

Gold Rush 100K - the brutal race!

Second year of the race. Second year of Shavi running it. AND no lessons learned by either SRA (the race organizers: Sacramento Running Association) or by Shavi (the runner)!! Yet another year of a not good race. Last year when Shavi raced this one, it was very hot, almost 100 deg F and most runners could not finish the 100 K. The course wasnt well marked either. One wouldn't expect this from the experienced SRA who organize CIM (California International Marathon) each year in Sacramento. Maybe it is because this is the first trail race that SRA is organizing and that too long distance! And not to mention, the course was really not 100 km but 105 km!! Even 0.5 miles matter a lot when it is such a long distance.

This year they changed the course for 100K and introduced 50K distance. The race started and ended in Folsom. The trail course was not well marked and many people were getting lost. The aid stations were not as good as they are with other races. The swag wasn't exciting either. It was a very windy day but we cannot blame SRA for that. The course was not runner friendly.

Having no other 100K race in the area around this time, Gold Rush 100K has an advantage for serving as a training run among runners training for Western States and Tahoe Rim Trail 100m. Just like last year, despite of less heat this year, very few people finished this year. Shavi was feeling miserable around mile 26 because of severe back pain and wanted to quit, fearing an injury which could have been all bad for his real long one - Western States 100 miles in June end. He called me, asking my permission to drop from the race;-) I was worried, a lot worried because he has never done that before. We decided that he would keep going slow until he can since there was no pick-up point for me to go pick him at that point. I decided to go check him at all crewing aid stations after that. He kept going. I kept seeing him at all accessible points. Thank Goodness that the baby's grandparents were here that time. I was able to leave him with them and follow Shavi else it would have been hard.

Copying from Shavi's facebook post:
What a day! First, the Gold Rush 100K became Gold Rush 105K. Second, I almost quit at mile 26, but my amazing wife Ruchi talked me into keep going as far as I can to get miles in. She, Keith and Alicia became my impromptu crew after they knew I was hurting. It was slow day, but I am glad I kept moving and finished in day light. Great to see all the support from volunteers and running friends Deirdre, James, Todd, Kelly, Zachary, Brandy, David, Martin, Tim, Sarah.

I am super proud of Shavi for completing this one, in spite of all the hard times he faced during the race. This for sure requires lot of determination, self motivation and courage.

Canyons 50K - May 3, 2014

Canyons 50K was in its first year of inception this year. As the name suggests, it was in the Canyons from Foresthill to Swinging bridge and back. The course is part of the Western States 100 miler trail run which Shavi would be running this year. Anyone who knows this course, knows how brutal this is, especially on a hot day in May!

Considering that it was the first year of this race, it was a great race and very well organized. The swag included a trucker's hat which was great.

Shavi had a great time running and he would do it again.

Miner's Revenge Trail Marathon - April 2014

Miner's Revenge trail marathon and half marathon was in its first year of inception this year. It was a great and well organized trail race. It was held on April 27, 2014 in Cool this year. The marathon course had quite a bit of climbing and downhill, making it a hard race. Shavi was doing it as a training run. So, was taking it slow and easy, completing it in 5 hours and 2 minutes. He was bummed that he did not pay much attention to time in this race as he could have easily done a sub-5:-)

The race swag was different. It included a gym bag. Shavi liked the race and would do it again.

In Shavi's language: Anthony Brantley knows how to put a race together with a wicked course. Loved and hated every bit of the 26.2miles with ~4,700 feet of climbing and downhill.

American River Parkway Half Marathon - my first one after a long break

Yaayi! I am back to running:-) American River Parkway half marathon was my first half marathon ever in 2011. And now 6 months after the baby was born, I did my first official race after the break, on April 26, 2014. I had been running on and off since January 2013, training on my own, with a friend. It is amazing that it was not too hard to get back to running after the baby. Probably, because I had continued running until 6 months of pregnancy but then was a big 5-month break. I actually found running much better after the break:-)

I know the course of this race pretty well. I did not break my personal record or anything but it was a good way to get back to the racing world. This one has always been a great race for me. This was my 3rd time doing it. Heat was the only thing which was worrying me but it was a great cloudy day that day. The course mileage this year was a little off, making it a 13.75 mile course instead of 13.1 miles. I completed the race in 2 hours 40 mins and did 13.1 mi in 2 hours 32 mins, per my GPS.

Anyone wanting to do PRs or wanting to run a half marathon for the first time, this one is a nice race on American River Parkway. Thousands of people participate in this one. It includes 5K race, half marathon walk and half marathon run. This might be the cheapest race in Sacramento with funds going to American River Parkway. It has always been very well organized and well managed. Will do it again!

Mokelumne River 50mi

This was the first time for Shavi running this race in Mokelumne. He had to drive really early morning there (around 5am since the place was more than an hour far from our home).

He really liked the Mokelumne River race. It was very well organized and they gave a really nice jacket to finishers. Not many people ran this race but it was worth running, per Shavi. Mokelumne River is a very tough race with almost 10K feet of climbing. Shavi completed the race in 12 hours and 10 mins - that was how brutal the course was!

As per Shavi's facebook status: Almost pulled a #bobroot today on the trails. Ended up doing 52.5miles to an already tough 50mi course. Mokelumne River 50mi is legit with ~10K feet of climbing and most of it in just 20miles (Mile 15 - 35). It reminded me of the climb to Devil's thumb a couple of times. Nice low key race, very well organized. Would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to get some quality miles in. Amazing views along the course. Good to see familiar faces in the middle of nowhere. (PS: #bobroot is a runner who got lost in the canyons and people spent 2 days finding him. Luckily, he was found alive.)

This was the first long race where he did not have me as crew. Good training run for him. And after the race, he drove all the way back home. Proud of your determination, Shavi! Keep it going.