The work is done

And it's taper time! While I missed going to races, I fell in some kind of a routine that I am going to miss as well. Doing that long run on a 5-mile loop over and over again was a scary thought at first, but with time it became comforting to be so intimately familiar with every rock and turn on the trail. All in all, between long runs and other regular outings, I must have looped there over 60 times. You can say I have a special relationship with Forestry Ridge Park:) It helps that this park is a mile away from home, cuts out time driving (or running) to it. My times improved, and my mindset as well. As I start on the first loop, with barely first steps I am already thinking: just this hill, this flat, that long hill, upper flats, long and rocky downhill, more lower flats and a great downhill finish - I am done with number one. Only 5 left...the tricks we play.

The weather finally got where I love it to be. It's mid-50's in the early hours, and I love starting all my runs in the dark. I am definitely not looking forward to a time adjustment! I like feeling how the darkness gives way to grayness, then to more light - and seeing the sunrise. It is soothing and feels like the world belongs to me, I am a loner. I am, though, looking forward the possibility of doing a few weekend runs with my friends next 4 weeks, when I don't have a specific plan or schedule.

In all, I had done 6 weeks of 80 miles, and each had a 30M long run in it (a couple had longer than that). Not sufficient by my own standards, but it will have to do. I am looking forward getting acquainted with a new race course, Cactus Rose 100, which is totally different to what I am used to and like. The longest climb there is about a mile - and a 1000 feet, but about half the course (consisting of 4x25M loops in washing machine direction, opposite every loop) is much rockier than I I saw - that is, until I've been to Hardrock, of course. This is going to be my mantra, as Joe P. (the RD) says - it ain't Hardrock, girl, go with it:)

I have some persistent issue with my right knee, beginning as far away as Hardrock itself, and it's not getting any better. May be laying low for a few days will help it - may be not, but one thing for sure, dumb knee never stopped me before. I just wonder why, since last time I did have this problem was rather a long time ago, somewhere close to 6 years. It's not fun getting old? :)

Larry is up and training for Bandera 100k and Rocky Raccoon 100M, so am I, technically, too, and once the Cactus Rose is over, I will fall into the plan I outlined for him (with a few/dozen miles more each week, since Larry is a low miles/high quality guy, and I am leaning more towards comforting feeling of making big weeks a prerogative). It's fun making plans for next year, which are pretty different from where I'd be if I were still single and in PNW. Looking on the positive side, so much new stuff to explore!

What makes you happy?

Some pursue happiness, others creat it. Margaret Bowen

I got this card last Friday. Somewhere along last weekend, the clock ticked passed the time, and I turned 40. Is it a big deal, or is it just another day on a calendar? I guess, for most, it was a happy Friday. For me, it was a happy birthday:) And one person made it worth every year, every hour, every minute lived. Despite many a turning points, besides bad news continually striking from different directions, we stand tall - and keep our heads high.
Because we intend to create happiness, not wait for it to happen to us.

I felt pampered that day. Cared for, loved, cherished. I felt like nothing in the world can shake me off this Earth and make me miserable. I will not let it happen. I am the only one who is responsible for my own life. Each of us is. I read enough books to open a psychology business. But bottom line is always a common sense.

Do what you love. Be with whom you love. Do what you'd be proud of. And never blame anybody for what is.

And get bold sometimes. Not in a direct sense of the word. Although close to it counts too:)

Stats.

The Hood 100 paperwork is cleaned up. We had 134 registered runner, 19 of whom Did Not Start.

Out of 115 starters, 85 finished under 30 hr cut off, and 2 more got the distance in some time over - while it will not qualify them officially for other races, they will be in our archives. Yet another person made it 100 miles (even if over time) and was carried last 3 miles by a paramedic and a pacer due to the knee problems (he was taken to a hospital and attended to there, and is recovering now). All said, we have 74% official finishing rate. Not bad for a first time.

I had contacted Stand Jensesn (the man behind run100s.com) and Greg Soderlund (WS100 RD) and confirmed that Hood 100, indeed, is a WS100 qualifier. We submitted the results to the Ultrarunning magazine, and they will be published in December issue. If you get in by lottery yet won't receive your UR magazine (or are not subscribed) - you can use results printed off our webpage. One more note - while this is a qualifier for WS100, it is NOT a qualifier for Hardrock 100. See HR100 webpage for details on which 100's are. We are not mountain enough (a.k.a. too flat), which we never claimed to be.

We are talking about two possibilities for the next year:
1. move the date a week earlier. This will be decided along with Waldo 100k RD's as we'd like to not interfere with Oregon Trail Series, and also give local runners ample time for recovery.
2. due to remoteness of our south-bound part of the course, difficulties (and often not availability) to access AS's and runners, we may reverse the direction - run first south-bound part of 70 miles, and end with north-bound part of 30M. This will give crews more access to their runners when they actually struggle the most, our AS can be re-supplied easier with necessities, and dropped-out runners would be evacuated easier and not waiting for hours on end for AS crew to wrap up. It's a thought. If we go with it, we'll see about responses and conveniences and then decide whether to stick with either course, or go Hardrock style - reverse directions every other year. All this is till in the works, feel free to offer your opinion.

Most importantly is to get that Forest Service Permit again. We had put PCT50 on this course with this forest people for 11 years, and this was the first time we had made our lady that unhappy. This has to be fixed within the next 2 weeks:)

As for me, after a "back-off" week (when I only did a 20 miler on Monday before flying to Portland, and a couple of runs there), I am back, and my 30M run smashed my previous fastest on this particular loopy course by 30 min. Was it rest, or inspiration by PNW trails? In either case, I am tired this week trying to ramp my miles back up, and also have some kind of chest congestion. 2 more weeks, and I can safely taper...I don't like the fact that Larry is sitting on his butt basking in glory of finishing a 100:)

For more stories and pictures from Hood 100 visit our webiste (link on the left column) - we are updating it twice a week with more to come.