This is a little late because it has been so crazy. We got home from Western States and had 3 days to turn around a leave again - for the rest of the summer.
I had the most amazing opportunity to crew and pace at Western States 100 last weekend. When I paced Caroline Boller at the Black Canyon 100K she asked me to pace her at Western States. Of course I jumped on that!
Preparing to head to Western States was not as exciting as being asked to be there. Poor Caroline! I probably had her so stressed out. I was trying to keep the trip cheap. I am also teaching a summer class at the community college and trying to work around that. In the end, my whole family decided to go and we paid for a hotel. I canceled class on Thursday (my students were super happy, but I did also make them watch a lot of videos about Western States the day before I left).
We left early on Thursday morning headed for Truckee, CA. We went through Vegas to the 95 to get there. I have never taken the time to stop at the Hoover Dam so we decided to play tourist and make a quick stop. It was packed with people and a million selfie sticks! I was surprised to see ski slopes so close to Vegas. We saw what seemed like a ton of barely surviving towns. It was so sad to see these towns with what used to be beautiful buildings now crumbling. My daughter even asked, “Why does seeing these buildings make me so sad?” I just kept wondering who is staying to keep these towns barely alive? The other thing we saw was a lot of was brothels. Also sad, I mean I get you need to pay the bills, but a brothel in the middle of no where and the closest town is barely surviving… It actually lead to some interesting economic discussions with the kids, once they learned what a brothel means.
I had the most amazing opportunity to crew and pace at Western States 100 last weekend. When I paced Caroline Boller at the Black Canyon 100K she asked me to pace her at Western States. Of course I jumped on that!
Preparing to head to Western States was not as exciting as being asked to be there. Poor Caroline! I probably had her so stressed out. I was trying to keep the trip cheap. I am also teaching a summer class at the community college and trying to work around that. In the end, my whole family decided to go and we paid for a hotel. I canceled class on Thursday (my students were super happy, but I did also make them watch a lot of videos about Western States the day before I left).
We left early on Thursday morning headed for Truckee, CA. We went through Vegas to the 95 to get there. I have never taken the time to stop at the Hoover Dam so we decided to play tourist and make a quick stop. It was packed with people and a million selfie sticks! I was surprised to see ski slopes so close to Vegas. We saw what seemed like a ton of barely surviving towns. It was so sad to see these towns with what used to be beautiful buildings now crumbling. My daughter even asked, “Why does seeing these buildings make me so sad?” I just kept wondering who is staying to keep these towns barely alive? The other thing we saw was a lot of was brothels. Also sad, I mean I get you need to pay the bills, but a brothel in the middle of no where and the closest town is barely surviving… It actually lead to some interesting economic discussions with the kids, once they learned what a brothel means.
Playing Tourist at the Hoover Dam
We arrived in Truckee and dumped the kids and our stuff at the hotel. I messed up the reservation and we only had one bed. Once you laid down at night it was just people everywhere. Careful where you step! Norm and I headed to town to pick up pizza that I ordered. I wish I had known about Truckee Thursdays! It was a huge street festival and the downtown main street was packed with people! I would have brought the kids if I had known about this cool event. The pizza was from Best Pies. It was yummy! Even the gluten free dairy free pizza that Ava and I ate.
Saturday morning Norm and I left the kids sleeping and went to Squaw Valley. I was going to run the Montrail Uphill Challenge and I had a meeting with Caroline. I was excited about the uphill challenge until I learned it had been rerouted. We couldn't run up the road that would be used on race day because there was work being done on the ski lift. What that means is they were helicoptering parts up and down the mountain. The race started and everything was fine. I wasn’t looking to win, but had set a time for myself to beat so I started a bit back in the group. The rerouted course was beautiful and rocky. Unfortunately, there was a lot of pushing, shoving and general obnoxious behavior. A little over a half mile in I decided to pull myself from the race. There was no need for me to get hurt. This race was meant to be fun and I was not having fun. Also, I had a big responsibility the next day. I decided to just go for a run before heading to my meeting with Caroline. After my run we met up with Caroline. We had a crew meeting and got all the details worked out for the next day.
Norm and I headed back to the hotel to pick up the kids. We had told Enzo we would hit some skate parks so he could ride his bike. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any skate parks that were BMX friendly. We decided to hit a few parks anyway and hope we didn't get kicked out. We went first to the Truckee park. He had a good time there. We also were able to talk to some kids about the best places to go with a bike. They recommended Incline Village. We left Truckee and drove to Incline Village. I had no idea that Lake Tahoe was so beautiful! We are already making plans to come back to visit. Enzo enjoyed the park in Incline Village. Ava and I took a walk on the path that goes around town.
Saturday morning Norm and I left the kids sleeping and went to Squaw Valley. I was going to run the Montrail Uphill Challenge and I had a meeting with Caroline. I was excited about the uphill challenge until I learned it had been rerouted. We couldn't run up the road that would be used on race day because there was work being done on the ski lift. What that means is they were helicoptering parts up and down the mountain. The race started and everything was fine. I wasn’t looking to win, but had set a time for myself to beat so I started a bit back in the group. The rerouted course was beautiful and rocky. Unfortunately, there was a lot of pushing, shoving and general obnoxious behavior. A little over a half mile in I decided to pull myself from the race. There was no need for me to get hurt. This race was meant to be fun and I was not having fun. Also, I had a big responsibility the next day. I decided to just go for a run before heading to my meeting with Caroline. After my run we met up with Caroline. We had a crew meeting and got all the details worked out for the next day.
Norm and I headed back to the hotel to pick up the kids. We had told Enzo we would hit some skate parks so he could ride his bike. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any skate parks that were BMX friendly. We decided to hit a few parks anyway and hope we didn't get kicked out. We went first to the Truckee park. He had a good time there. We also were able to talk to some kids about the best places to go with a bike. They recommended Incline Village. We left Truckee and drove to Incline Village. I had no idea that Lake Tahoe was so beautiful! We are already making plans to come back to visit. Enzo enjoyed the park in Incline Village. Ava and I took a walk on the path that goes around town.
Working on the ski lift
Getting ready to race
Truckee Skate Park
Lake Tahoe is beautiful!
Saturday we were up at 4am, kids up at 4:30am. We packed up and left the hotel by 5am to meet Caroline at the first aid station for crewing. It was a long and winding drive on Mesquite Ridge Road. It was beautiful, but the kids all ended up really motion sick. Norm headed to the AS to get set up while I tried t help the sick kids. Thank you to the crew for Kaci Lickteig for sharing gins-gins to help my kids! A lot of runners came into the AS looking really hot and already pretty wrecked, but Caroline came in happy, smiling and not complaining about the heat.
Sinjin enjoying breakfast at Duncan Canyon
At the next AS we were set up and waiting when Ava showed up having been stung by a bee right as Caroline was coming into the AS. We got her out of the AS quickly, but at the car realized that we forgot to spray sunscreen and hand her the iPod. Norm was depressed, but there was nothing that we could do. I looked at the crew instructions thinking we might be able to meet her at the next crewing location. But it seemed risky. I needed to be ready to pace her at Foresthill. I also needed a nap. We decided to head to Foresthill where I could take a nap and then get ready to pace. Norm blew up my sleeping pad and I was able to sleep next to the car in the shade. When I got up, Norm got my pack ready while I changed clothes. We sent the boys to eat pizza and Ava went with Norm and I to wait at the AS in Foresthill. It was fun at the different locations to run into people I knew from Phoenix and chat.
Norm gets my bed ready so I can nap on the side of the road at Foresthill.
I met Caroline on Bath road and we went right through the AS since she had crew waiting for her. Off we headed towards the Western States Trail. It is ridiculously beautiful! It is the place where fairies live! Then you drop down to the middle fork of The American River. The sun was setting, the sky was beautiful and it made the water look an amazing purple color. The trail was super runnable. I was so happy to be there. Caroline started to have a sloshy stomach. The same problem had happened at Black Canyon. I knew if she walked a bit her stomach would settle and we would be running again.
Even though the sun was setting, the temperature was not dropping. I thought I would be so happy to be in the river when we got to Rucky Chucky. Brrrr! That river was cold, but once I was out I was hot again immediately. But crossing Rucky Chucky was an incredible experience.
I was so happy that I bought a new headlamp. Much brighter than my old lamp. Poor Caroline had a headlamp was that was barely working. Struggling with her stomach I took the lead and tired to encourage Caroline to move a little bit faster. I just kept reminding her that we didn't want to get caught. Running in the dark was crazy. Of course I kept seeing things that weren’t there. Also, there was a lot of rustling noises above and below us. I later found out that someone saw a bear and a mountain lion. I am glad I was not the one to see that! The scariest part was when I could hear a voice behind us. The person was whistling and sounded like he said “where did you go?” Then we heard the weird whistling again. I kept stopping to look behind, but never saw a headlamp. I was convinced that some crazy creeper was on the trail and was coming for us. I was preparing myself to fight him off because Caroline was in no condition to defend herself or run fast, but then I saw two headlamps. I have never been so happy to see headlamps!
I handed Caroline off to her husband to pace the last 7 miles. I wanted a beer and food so much, but it was the middle of the night/early morning. I wouldn't be getting food or a beer. I found my family and said a quick hello before going to meet Caroline to run in with her for the last 1.3 miles. There was someone behind her. We thought it was Pam Smith. We all stayed quiet until we could no longer see headlamps. I said to Caroline, “You are a fast runner, it is time to run fast.” And she did! Onto the track we went! Her husband and I high fived and we fell back and watched Caroline finish 8th female. I was in tears a bit. It is amazing to accompany someone as they push through their worst moments to accomplish great things!
We slept in our tent at the high school right next to the track. I struggled to fall asleep despite being up for 24 hours. It also did not help to have the announcement of each runner. I mean CONGRATS to those people, but it made it hard to sleep. It was awesome because I got see so many people that I know finish the race. We all got a little bit of sleep before it was time to pack up and head home. I wanted to stay for the awards ceremony, but I needed to get home.
I loved every minute of Western States! If you ever have the chance to go – do it! Even if you go to spectate, crew or volunteer. It was an amazing experience. If you are ever in the area, run the Western States Trail. It is beautiful! Thank you to Caroline for inviting me and trusting me to help you through your day.
Even though the sun was setting, the temperature was not dropping. I thought I would be so happy to be in the river when we got to Rucky Chucky. Brrrr! That river was cold, but once I was out I was hot again immediately. But crossing Rucky Chucky was an incredible experience.
I was so happy that I bought a new headlamp. Much brighter than my old lamp. Poor Caroline had a headlamp was that was barely working. Struggling with her stomach I took the lead and tired to encourage Caroline to move a little bit faster. I just kept reminding her that we didn't want to get caught. Running in the dark was crazy. Of course I kept seeing things that weren’t there. Also, there was a lot of rustling noises above and below us. I later found out that someone saw a bear and a mountain lion. I am glad I was not the one to see that! The scariest part was when I could hear a voice behind us. The person was whistling and sounded like he said “where did you go?” Then we heard the weird whistling again. I kept stopping to look behind, but never saw a headlamp. I was convinced that some crazy creeper was on the trail and was coming for us. I was preparing myself to fight him off because Caroline was in no condition to defend herself or run fast, but then I saw two headlamps. I have never been so happy to see headlamps!
I handed Caroline off to her husband to pace the last 7 miles. I wanted a beer and food so much, but it was the middle of the night/early morning. I wouldn't be getting food or a beer. I found my family and said a quick hello before going to meet Caroline to run in with her for the last 1.3 miles. There was someone behind her. We thought it was Pam Smith. We all stayed quiet until we could no longer see headlamps. I said to Caroline, “You are a fast runner, it is time to run fast.” And she did! Onto the track we went! Her husband and I high fived and we fell back and watched Caroline finish 8th female. I was in tears a bit. It is amazing to accompany someone as they push through their worst moments to accomplish great things!
We slept in our tent at the high school right next to the track. I struggled to fall asleep despite being up for 24 hours. It also did not help to have the announcement of each runner. I mean CONGRATS to those people, but it made it hard to sleep. It was awesome because I got see so many people that I know finish the race. We all got a little bit of sleep before it was time to pack up and head home. I wanted to stay for the awards ceremony, but I needed to get home.
I loved every minute of Western States! If you ever have the chance to go – do it! Even if you go to spectate, crew or volunteer. It was an amazing experience. If you are ever in the area, run the Western States Trail. It is beautiful! Thank you to Caroline for inviting me and trusting me to help you through your day.
Camping at the high school track
Crewing at Western States takes it toll!
