Hi!
My name is Sawna. You may remember me as the author of this so called blog. I know... it's been a while.
I swear I didn't give you up for lent... which reminds me that I didn't give anything up this year other than remembering lent. WHOOPS.
Back to the topic.
Sean O'Brien(SOB) has been on my to do list since 2014.
Unfortunately last year I had injured myself during Avalon 50miler in January that left me unable to run- even walk normally for four months.
Although I was unable to race, I volunteered at the first aid station of SOB 50/50. What an experience- one that left me itching to race even more!
After that injury I swore to myself that 2015 would start off on a better foot. (No pun intended).
I can promise myself plenty of things, which I do occasionalyl- but without action, without actually putting together a plan and executing it properly and efficiently... I'm all talk.
Once I was over the pain: pain of the body mind and soul of what happened during Angeles Crest 100 I finally sat down and incorporated a training regimen into my schedule.
I use training regimen very loosely. My main goal is to purely have fun. My want to run should sprout organically and not forcefully.
That is how I saw SOB100k.
This was my first 100k race and honestly didn't really know what to expect. I can say that for any race I participate in as I am still extremely fresh to the Ultra environment.
In the two months leading up to SOB my goal was to have a three week build then a rest week and start again. Along with running I incorporated more strength training, you know- weights, squats, burp(I can't say the word without crindging)ees ... all that jazz.
I also followed a strict two week taper. At which point I was ready for it.
Training for SOB included heaps of 3-4am wakeup calls and running the actual course with my pals Waymond, Stephen, Da, Carlos... the gang!
Friends that inspired me to TRY a bit harder, run a bit farther, and absolutely always have fun!
Race day felt like any other day. Early wakeup time to meet a bunch of friends for a run.
Except this run- well it was more than just a couple of friends.
My stomach dropped as the clock ticked down to 0 but off we 100kers went.
My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to have fun.
Don't go out too hard, you've done this a plethora of times Sawna- you don't need to go beyond your limits... at least not yet.
I remember watching the sunrise around mile 5 and thinking how grateful I am that all the pains I felt during those hard training runs are completely gone.
Shin pain; plantar pain, ankle pain poof- gone!
It was wonderful coming into the aid stations seeing so many friends just there to support!
Backbone loop is where I went into the hurt locker. I had a fantastic run down and cought up with a few friends at the aid station, it was the climb out that put me in the darkness.
I was going through the rollerdex of excuses in my head to just sit down and call it a day, however, nothing I was pulling up applied to anything I was feeling.
Honestly, my body was feeling great but my mind was lost.
During those couple of miles, I was pretty down on myself. Doubting my capabilities to complete any single race no matter the distance.
Why? That was what I kept thinking to myself.
Why did I sign up? Why did I think I could do this?
Why am I putting myself through another dnf?
The normal Sawna would've seriously punched this person I had mutated into.
Arriving at the aid station at the top I grabbed a cup of coke and a cliff bar while chatting with the volunteers.
Within a minute of drinking the soda and eating the small cliff bar I felt revitilized.
A whole new person.
You may have possibly caught me singing to myself all the way to Kanan. I felt great and I didn't care who knew it.
Running into Kanan for the second time I was surrounded with more friends, Team in Training and other ultra runners a midst.
Refuled my coke and cliff bar supply and off I went.
During the whole race I ran with a variety of people. Definitely my favorite part of racing is meeting and getting to know the person next to you during those miles you are running together.
Running into corral canyon I didn't know what to expect. I was definitely going through a rollercoaster of highs and lows and knew that this next loop was not my favorite.
What happened next is not what I had expected at mile 40-50 or felt during training but I felt great.
I had told myself that the faster I run, the faster I'd be done with this and to be honest- the quickest to a beer... where ever I could find one.
I paced myself and ran most way back up and returning to Coral Canyon I just continued on in a sprint off into LALA land.
Reminising of all the training runs I had been doing on the same trails and how extremely good I felt compared to those days.
Who would've thought that I would've felt better at mile 60 than I did at mile 1.
Passing so many friends on my way to the finish line I honestly didn't believe I had it in me but it was my longest completed race.
The last mile was in the darkness and crossing the finish line I was greeted by so many ultra friends and my best friend Lecia and her boyfriend were there with open arms- and a six pack of Laguinitas.
Damn that girl knows me too well.
It felt pretty good to have completed the whole coarse despite my attempt to drop several times.
That night I slept like a baby, quite literally, in the fetal postion with Juniper wrapped around my legs keeping them nice and toasty.
Thinking back how I felt after AC100, after Avalon, after Leona...I was dreading how I would feel after this race.
Honestly I just didn't want to look like I didn't know how to walk!
Surprisingly I was fine. I felt as though it was just another training run and I went along with my day as usual.
Farmers market with my sister, my mom came and visited and we had lunch and went to the book store. I felt great, tired, but great nonetheless.
SOB100k CHECK!
That same week I was able to start my Gorge 100k training with a solid training week consisting of Mt Wilson and my favorite, Mt Baldy.
I'm really too lazy to re-read any of this. I hope it makes sense.
I know I've already chatted with people on my race report but I thought it would only make sense to write it here... you know considering this is my running blog.
Next up Gorge 100k in two weeks and some change.
Till next time,
Peace, love and happiness suckas!
My name is Sawna. You may remember me as the author of this so called blog. I know... it's been a while.
I swear I didn't give you up for lent... which reminds me that I didn't give anything up this year other than remembering lent. WHOOPS.
Back to the topic.
Sean O'Brien(SOB) has been on my to do list since 2014.
Unfortunately last year I had injured myself during Avalon 50miler in January that left me unable to run- even walk normally for four months.
Although I was unable to race, I volunteered at the first aid station of SOB 50/50. What an experience- one that left me itching to race even more!
After that injury I swore to myself that 2015 would start off on a better foot. (No pun intended).
I can promise myself plenty of things, which I do occasionalyl- but without action, without actually putting together a plan and executing it properly and efficiently... I'm all talk.
Once I was over the pain: pain of the body mind and soul of what happened during Angeles Crest 100 I finally sat down and incorporated a training regimen into my schedule.
I use training regimen very loosely. My main goal is to purely have fun. My want to run should sprout organically and not forcefully.
That is how I saw SOB100k.
This was my first 100k race and honestly didn't really know what to expect. I can say that for any race I participate in as I am still extremely fresh to the Ultra environment.
In the two months leading up to SOB my goal was to have a three week build then a rest week and start again. Along with running I incorporated more strength training, you know- weights, squats, burp(I can't say the word without crindging)ees ... all that jazz.
I also followed a strict two week taper. At which point I was ready for it.
Training for SOB included heaps of 3-4am wakeup calls and running the actual course with my pals Waymond, Stephen, Da, Carlos... the gang!
Friends that inspired me to TRY a bit harder, run a bit farther, and absolutely always have fun!
Race day felt like any other day. Early wakeup time to meet a bunch of friends for a run.
Except this run- well it was more than just a couple of friends.
My stomach dropped as the clock ticked down to 0 but off we 100kers went.
My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to have fun.
Don't go out too hard, you've done this a plethora of times Sawna- you don't need to go beyond your limits... at least not yet.
I remember watching the sunrise around mile 5 and thinking how grateful I am that all the pains I felt during those hard training runs are completely gone.
Shin pain; plantar pain, ankle pain poof- gone!
It was wonderful coming into the aid stations seeing so many friends just there to support!
Backbone loop is where I went into the hurt locker. I had a fantastic run down and cought up with a few friends at the aid station, it was the climb out that put me in the darkness.
I was going through the rollerdex of excuses in my head to just sit down and call it a day, however, nothing I was pulling up applied to anything I was feeling.
Honestly, my body was feeling great but my mind was lost.
During those couple of miles, I was pretty down on myself. Doubting my capabilities to complete any single race no matter the distance.
Why? That was what I kept thinking to myself.
Why did I sign up? Why did I think I could do this?
Why am I putting myself through another dnf?
The normal Sawna would've seriously punched this person I had mutated into.
Arriving at the aid station at the top I grabbed a cup of coke and a cliff bar while chatting with the volunteers.
Within a minute of drinking the soda and eating the small cliff bar I felt revitilized.
A whole new person.
You may have possibly caught me singing to myself all the way to Kanan. I felt great and I didn't care who knew it.
Running into Kanan for the second time I was surrounded with more friends, Team in Training and other ultra runners a midst.
Refuled my coke and cliff bar supply and off I went.
During the whole race I ran with a variety of people. Definitely my favorite part of racing is meeting and getting to know the person next to you during those miles you are running together.
Running into corral canyon I didn't know what to expect. I was definitely going through a rollercoaster of highs and lows and knew that this next loop was not my favorite.
What happened next is not what I had expected at mile 40-50 or felt during training but I felt great.
I had told myself that the faster I run, the faster I'd be done with this and to be honest- the quickest to a beer... where ever I could find one.
I paced myself and ran most way back up and returning to Coral Canyon I just continued on in a sprint off into LALA land.
Reminising of all the training runs I had been doing on the same trails and how extremely good I felt compared to those days.
Who would've thought that I would've felt better at mile 60 than I did at mile 1.
Passing so many friends on my way to the finish line I honestly didn't believe I had it in me but it was my longest completed race.
The last mile was in the darkness and crossing the finish line I was greeted by so many ultra friends and my best friend Lecia and her boyfriend were there with open arms- and a six pack of Laguinitas.
Damn that girl knows me too well.
It felt pretty good to have completed the whole coarse despite my attempt to drop several times.
That night I slept like a baby, quite literally, in the fetal postion with Juniper wrapped around my legs keeping them nice and toasty.
Thinking back how I felt after AC100, after Avalon, after Leona...I was dreading how I would feel after this race.
Honestly I just didn't want to look like I didn't know how to walk!
Surprisingly I was fine. I felt as though it was just another training run and I went along with my day as usual.
Farmers market with my sister, my mom came and visited and we had lunch and went to the book store. I felt great, tired, but great nonetheless.
SOB100k CHECK!
That same week I was able to start my Gorge 100k training with a solid training week consisting of Mt Wilson and my favorite, Mt Baldy.
I'm really too lazy to re-read any of this. I hope it makes sense.
I know I've already chatted with people on my race report but I thought it would only make sense to write it here... you know considering this is my running blog.
Next up Gorge 100k in two weeks and some change.
Till next time,
Peace, love and happiness suckas!