If you don’t want to read the whole blog, here is the summary. I walked, sometimes crawled, up a mountain then ran down while my pants keep falling off and I was peeing on myself.
Here’s the long version. I had signed up to run the Kahtoola Agassiz Climb on a team with Michael Carson, another Team Aravaipa member and Dustin Phillips, the team manager. This race was like nothing I had ever done before. Running up and down a steep hill in the snow and ice. It looked pretty hard, but I love pushing myself to try really hard things. The race is an amazing event that helps an amazing organization. The race is a fundraiser to Camp Colton. My PhD dissertation is on the importance of access to green space during the school day for middle school and high school students. Taking part in this race means I am able to try something new and support a cause I totally believe in – awesome!
Sinjin had an event on Friday night so we didn’t leave Phoenix until about 9pm. We loaded up two teenage boys, three tweens, three dogs, lots of bags and two BMX bikes along with Norm and me. Remember that awesome car box I bought at REI last summer? Evidently Norm didn’t because instead of putting it on the car it’s hidden in the shed somewhere. But by the time I got home at 8:45 I did not want to waste any more time before leaving. We were packed in tight, but fortunately the car ride went fast. We arrived at 11pm, but no one felt like going to bed. My very kind friend let us stay in her cabin in Kachina Village. Not tired and making two half full bags of fries out of the freezer I was regretting not bringing wine. (Sorry Jennie – I owe you some fries!) Norm headed to the gas station for wine (for me) and diet pepsi (for him). In case you don’t know, Kachina Village is about ten minutes outside of Flagstaff and your only choice for shopping is the gas station at the entrance to the neighborhood. I think we finally got to bed around 12:30am.
Here’s the long version. I had signed up to run the Kahtoola Agassiz Climb on a team with Michael Carson, another Team Aravaipa member and Dustin Phillips, the team manager. This race was like nothing I had ever done before. Running up and down a steep hill in the snow and ice. It looked pretty hard, but I love pushing myself to try really hard things. The race is an amazing event that helps an amazing organization. The race is a fundraiser to Camp Colton. My PhD dissertation is on the importance of access to green space during the school day for middle school and high school students. Taking part in this race means I am able to try something new and support a cause I totally believe in – awesome!
Sinjin had an event on Friday night so we didn’t leave Phoenix until about 9pm. We loaded up two teenage boys, three tweens, three dogs, lots of bags and two BMX bikes along with Norm and me. Remember that awesome car box I bought at REI last summer? Evidently Norm didn’t because instead of putting it on the car it’s hidden in the shed somewhere. But by the time I got home at 8:45 I did not want to waste any more time before leaving. We were packed in tight, but fortunately the car ride went fast. We arrived at 11pm, but no one felt like going to bed. My very kind friend let us stay in her cabin in Kachina Village. Not tired and making two half full bags of fries out of the freezer I was regretting not bringing wine. (Sorry Jennie – I owe you some fries!) Norm headed to the gas station for wine (for me) and diet pepsi (for him). In case you don’t know, Kachina Village is about ten minutes outside of Flagstaff and your only choice for shopping is the gas station at the entrance to the neighborhood. I think we finally got to bed around 12:30am.
Ava, Enzo and me sometime after midnight...
I wasn’t too worried because I knew I could sleep in and the bed at the house is super comfy! My dreams of sleeping like an angel on a cloud where not to be! I slept like crap thanks to our little dog who spent her night crying in her crate. At some point I said to Norm (snarled at Norm) “Someone needs to do something about that dog” I have been a mom long enough to know when someone is pretending to sleep. “Are you ignoring me? I snarl again. At this point he must have realized he was not going to get away with his fake sleeping bit because he got up and went to get the dog.
Since the race started at 5pm I wasn’t really sure how to handle nutrition. I decided since we were having a late breakfast I would make that my big meal of the day. After feeding every one we took the big boys to Bushmaster Park. Enzo loves when I go to Flagstaff to train or race because they have 3 skate/bike parks. Leaving Bushmaster we went to Kahtoola to pick up my race number and borrow a pair of microspikes. Everyone at Kahtoola was super nice. I ran into to my team mate Michael and his wife Lori as we were leaving. Now I was getting nervous. A quick stop at REI for a gel and Picky Bar (just in case) and pair of Smart Wool socks. I wore smart wool socks when running through small patches of ice and snow over the summer and loved them! Unfortunately I lost one of the socks – we joked that socks should be sold individually and not in pairs!
Since the race started at 5pm I wasn’t really sure how to handle nutrition. I decided since we were having a late breakfast I would make that my big meal of the day. After feeding every one we took the big boys to Bushmaster Park. Enzo loves when I go to Flagstaff to train or race because they have 3 skate/bike parks. Leaving Bushmaster we went to Kahtoola to pick up my race number and borrow a pair of microspikes. Everyone at Kahtoola was super nice. I ran into to my team mate Michael and his wife Lori as we were leaving. Now I was getting nervous. A quick stop at REI for a gel and Picky Bar (just in case) and pair of Smart Wool socks. I wore smart wool socks when running through small patches of ice and snow over the summer and loved them! Unfortunately I lost one of the socks – we joked that socks should be sold individually and not in pairs!
Later in the day I will be running up the snowy mountain.
Kahtoola microspikes and my number
Sinjin finds a little snow! Back at the cabin we picked up the remaining kids and headed to the park. I was feeling really tired, Sinjin was having his usual trouble with altitude and our park visit didn’t last long. We headed back to the cabin telling the girls we would drop them at the park in Kachina Village. Sinjin discovered piles of ice/snow that hadn’t melted and was suddenly feeling much better! Finally back at the house I made lunch and went down for an hour long nap before I had to get up and get ready.
Any nerves I had were over the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. What to wear, what to bring, I was clueless! I had spent a lot of time looking at pictures from years past to try to figure out a plan. I had messaged Sara Wagner earlier in the week to ask about water bottle versus pack. She recommended a pack, but I didn’t own one. Lucky for me Jamil lives around the corner and brought over an Ultraspire pack for me to check out. I bought the pack because I like the way it fit, meaning it didn’t smoosh my boobs. I do not understand packs that have bottle pouches or straps right on your boobs! I have very little and it’s annoying, what do girls who actually have something do? Buy Ultraspire I guess. I brought a large selection of possible clothing to wear. Clothes for before, clothes for during, clothes for after and two different pairs of shoes.
Any nerves I had were over the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. What to wear, what to bring, I was clueless! I had spent a lot of time looking at pictures from years past to try to figure out a plan. I had messaged Sara Wagner earlier in the week to ask about water bottle versus pack. She recommended a pack, but I didn’t own one. Lucky for me Jamil lives around the corner and brought over an Ultraspire pack for me to check out. I bought the pack because I like the way it fit, meaning it didn’t smoosh my boobs. I do not understand packs that have bottle pouches or straps right on your boobs! I have very little and it’s annoying, what do girls who actually have something do? Buy Ultraspire I guess. I brought a large selection of possible clothing to wear. Clothes for before, clothes for during, clothes for after and two different pairs of shoes.
My new pack and too much clothing
We got to Snowbowl with plenty of time. I made some final decisions by checking out what other people were doing. I decided against the pack, took my handheld and threw a gel in just in case. I wore tights, a long sleeve, a running pullover, a beanie and gloves. I would later regret this decision, but was warm at the start. Noticing that everyone, but me had their timing chip on the front of their bib I had Norm look at it and realized that it said “this goes in front” or something like that. Yikes! Turned bib around and headed to the start line. I put the microspikes on right by the start (because that was what everyone else was doing.) I needed a pair of small microspikes, but Kahtoola only has XS or XL left on Saturday. The XS fit, but just barely. We line up, there are drums beating, the countdown and we are off! We ran for about 2 minutes and then it was so steep everyone starts hiking.
Waiting to start
Start line
And we are off!
I knew it would be steep, but I was in no way prepared for how steep it would be. There were sections were I would look up and think “there is no way I can get up that” despite seeing people slowly making their way up. It took no time at all for my legs and lungs to be burning. At some point there was one small section where it was possible to run again, but really this was a mile and a half of hiking, except that one section where I was using my hands and feet to dig into the snow. Surprisingly It made it easier to move a little faster. I was quickly learning that stepping into a track left by someone else was helpful, but usually those tracks didn’t match up with my stride and it felt awkward. I also started guessing how long in seconds it would take to get to the top of a climb (which was always followed with another climb that you just couldn’t see yet). I would make a guess and starting counting. I found it really helped motivate to get up the climb. They other thing that was awesome was the drums. It seemed like every time I wanted to lay down and yell “Go on without me! Save yourselves!” I would hear the drums again and it would get me all fired up. I'm pretty sure on the outside it looked like a death march, but on the inside I felt fired up.
Right when I was thinking, wonder when Justin will pass me I heard “hey Pham pick it up” or something similar. Maybe he said something totally different, but that is what my oxygen deprived brain heard. Justin says, “Climbing Camelback will help prepare you for this.” Thanks, but a little late… There was a really terrible moment where you see the banner and think “Yes! Sweet Jesus I made it!” and then realize the banners are for the middle distance and you are in the expert category despite being a clueless twit! The only good thing was that I realized some of the girls ahead of me were turning off. Maybe I am in a better position than I think.
Heading up the last climb I tried to guess where I was at in the field. I thought I was maybe 6th. Finally the top! The people on skis are doing what ever they do to get ready to start flying past us, but there is a few seconds of satisfaction that you can just start heading down the hill. I get to the top in 47:20. I was really happy with this. I wanted to finish in under an hour. This meant I could run 8 min miles and get it done. EXCEPT… I forgot that it was 2 miles and not a mile an a half to the finish and I was not running 8 min miles. The microspikes were no big deal going up. Coming down they took a little getting use to, as did the snow. Start going too fast and it feels like your are going to take a head first tumble. (Michael Carson later confirmed that he too had this feeling coming down the mountain too.) There was a girl in front of me and I was determined to catch her. I was close enough to exchange a few laughs with her until I had to stop, throw my water bottle on the ground and pull my pants up really good! I do not own running tights and had to go to 3 Target stores to find a pair on Friday. I’m cheap because I’m poor. Teacher, adjunct professor, PhD student – I am all of those things and none of them are known for their vast wealth. The pants were fine going up, but running down they were literally falling off! I am convinced my time would have been faster if I had not been trying to pull them up the whole way down. Since I peed on myself the whole way down I guess they are mine for good now… Eventually I got use to running in the snow and I was able to start running fast. Not far from the finish I was able to pass the girl I had been right behind the whole way down. Seeing the finish line I just pushed myself as hard as possible. Off to my right I saw my youngest clapping and cheering while running along side me. I finished in 1:07:20 and I was so happy!
Right when I was thinking, wonder when Justin will pass me I heard “hey Pham pick it up” or something similar. Maybe he said something totally different, but that is what my oxygen deprived brain heard. Justin says, “Climbing Camelback will help prepare you for this.” Thanks, but a little late… There was a really terrible moment where you see the banner and think “Yes! Sweet Jesus I made it!” and then realize the banners are for the middle distance and you are in the expert category despite being a clueless twit! The only good thing was that I realized some of the girls ahead of me were turning off. Maybe I am in a better position than I think.
Heading up the last climb I tried to guess where I was at in the field. I thought I was maybe 6th. Finally the top! The people on skis are doing what ever they do to get ready to start flying past us, but there is a few seconds of satisfaction that you can just start heading down the hill. I get to the top in 47:20. I was really happy with this. I wanted to finish in under an hour. This meant I could run 8 min miles and get it done. EXCEPT… I forgot that it was 2 miles and not a mile an a half to the finish and I was not running 8 min miles. The microspikes were no big deal going up. Coming down they took a little getting use to, as did the snow. Start going too fast and it feels like your are going to take a head first tumble. (Michael Carson later confirmed that he too had this feeling coming down the mountain too.) There was a girl in front of me and I was determined to catch her. I was close enough to exchange a few laughs with her until I had to stop, throw my water bottle on the ground and pull my pants up really good! I do not own running tights and had to go to 3 Target stores to find a pair on Friday. I’m cheap because I’m poor. Teacher, adjunct professor, PhD student – I am all of those things and none of them are known for their vast wealth. The pants were fine going up, but running down they were literally falling off! I am convinced my time would have been faster if I had not been trying to pull them up the whole way down. Since I peed on myself the whole way down I guess they are mine for good now… Eventually I got use to running in the snow and I was able to start running fast. Not far from the finish I was able to pass the girl I had been right behind the whole way down. Seeing the finish line I just pushed myself as hard as possible. Off to my right I saw my youngest clapping and cheering while running along side me. I finished in 1:07:20 and I was so happy!
Finishing!
After a little finish line celebrating and congratulating the girl who finished behind me, we headed to the party at the lodge. It was a fun atmosphere. There is a costume contest and seeing the teams together in their costumes made a lot more sense then just seeing some chick in an old lady night gown in the bathroom before the race! She’s was part of the team that won. They were grandma, the wolf and little red riding hood. So cute! Rob Krar walked right past me a million times! I said to Norm later “Did you see Rob Krar?” He’s response, “No, when?” Oh Norm. (Insert big sigh here). Results were never posted before we left, but I really thought I had done pretty well. (I would find out the next day that was not true at all.)
We rescued the BMX boys from the Taco Bell where they had been waiting since it got dark and cold. A quick stop for some food at Whole Foods and back to the cabin. I was exhausted. EXHAUSTED! I kept telling myself it was only 3.5 miles, but it felt like I had run 100.
In the end I was the 14th women (out of 25). I try to remind myself that I didn’t really train and there is altitude involved. But I did win something because I did it! People it was freaking hard! And I loved it! Going up the steep climbs I just kept thinking how much I wanted to race in the snow more and soon. It was an amazing amount of fun!
Thank you so much to Dustin and Aravaipa Running. If I wasn’t on the team I would never have tried this race. It was a fantastic opportunity!
Unrelated, but equally exciting – I will be an ambassador for Localeikki again this year! You know how when you travel you don’t where to run or wish you could find a group run? Localeikki helps you out! Users add content about group runs and places to run. It’s a really cool app and I am happy to be helping them again this year. We are really trying to get more Phoenix information added. Time for me to start running new places and not just trail 100 from my house all the time!
We rescued the BMX boys from the Taco Bell where they had been waiting since it got dark and cold. A quick stop for some food at Whole Foods and back to the cabin. I was exhausted. EXHAUSTED! I kept telling myself it was only 3.5 miles, but it felt like I had run 100.
In the end I was the 14th women (out of 25). I try to remind myself that I didn’t really train and there is altitude involved. But I did win something because I did it! People it was freaking hard! And I loved it! Going up the steep climbs I just kept thinking how much I wanted to race in the snow more and soon. It was an amazing amount of fun!
Thank you so much to Dustin and Aravaipa Running. If I wasn’t on the team I would never have tried this race. It was a fantastic opportunity!
Unrelated, but equally exciting – I will be an ambassador for Localeikki again this year! You know how when you travel you don’t where to run or wish you could find a group run? Localeikki helps you out! Users add content about group runs and places to run. It’s a really cool app and I am happy to be helping them again this year. We are really trying to get more Phoenix information added. Time for me to start running new places and not just trail 100 from my house all the time!
