Finding Home in the Canyons

On Sunday, May 4th, 2018 I returned to the Ultra Maraton Caballo Blanco (UMCB). What a dream come true. 

The journey to Urique, Chihuahua, MX in the region known as the Copper Canyons is in itself an adventure, and throw in a 50 miler with the native Raramuri-hugely accomplished runners who have centuries old traditions of distance running- the whole experience becomes transcendent.

This was my second time coming to the UMCB. The first time down was my first official ultra marathon, and the experience was life changing. The community of runners, who became best friends in instants, the atmosphere of the hamlet of Urique, and the run itself. Ah, the run. Allowing my body to run through the canyons side by side with traditionally dressed local people: abuelas with long flowing dresses, abuelos with huarache sandals, skirts and wooden walking sticks, kids wearing jeans-- and all of us smiling, laughing, and feeling the joy of the run.

Running the bridge back from Los Alisos in 2013

Finishing 2013

This second time was all of the above and more. The trip down to the canyons this time included a flight to cuidad Chihuahua, where I met up with Graham and Katie (aka Beardy and Blondie)- the scots, and Peter, the brit- friends from the 2013 race. It's amazing how these connections last. I was sleep deprived and muddled as we chatted over tacos and beers, and extremely thankful for a restful night of sleep before driving down to the canyons the following day.

Blondie, Beardy, Mike Miller in the background, and me on the side right before the race.

Next morning, I met up with Mike Miller, his wife Citlali, their good friend Hilary and the legendary Barefoot Ted for an adventure of a drive 8+ hours from Cuidad Chihuahua to Urique, at the base of the canyons. It was a bumpy ride full of chatter, excitement, and a shared love of this special land. Citlali, Mike and Hilary all work in natural resources, and Citlali had worked for years on restoration and conservation projects right in the region we were traveling through. Barefoot Ted has been coming to the canyons since 2006 during the well published inaugural race.

The gang in the back! Dramamine is already kicking in!

Our noble Jeep Cherokee getting some petrol love.

After some dramamine induced napping, I found myself, along with my new compadres, finally arriving safe and sound at Entre Amigos, the local campground and hostel where many of the international runners end up posting up in town. It felt like coming home. Beauty all around me, and a calm that only comes when you are surrounded by sleepy mountains, flowing rivers and blankets of stars.

So, after some raucous reunions with fellow Mas Locos over the days prior to the race...

And the annual caballitos kids race:

The day finally arrived to experience the magic of the UMCB race. The morning brought cool temperatures and my legs felt fresh and strong. The first 15 miles flew by in joyous movement and friendly chatter with fellow runners.

Here's where things changed: during the long, fast descent from Las Naranjas, I slipped a bit on a rock and rolled my left ankle. I heard a "POP", felt electric pain shoot up my leg and thought, "this is it. I'm finished." I tried to comfort myself by thinking, "at least I had a wonderful time with friends. I guess I'll just cheer people on at the finish."

I really thought my race was over and there would be no way I could complete another 35 miles hobbling along. However, I began to walk, then began to jog, and by being careful and slow, I managed to press on.

At mile 30, at the aid station at Los Alisos (following a straight up death march up to the top of the canyon in the blazing noon heat), the medical staff took a look at my ankle, wrapped it and gave me a pain killer.

Fortunately, that was all I had to take. By hydrating, eating salty snacks and plenty of dates, I managed to fight off nausea, and by being careful about my footing, I managed to stay pain free.

The church at Guadalupe

Before I knew it, I was 10 miles to finish with a final climb to Guadalupe and decent back to town. The final miles flew past in a blur. I was slightly nauseated, but it had finally cooled off, and I had a chance to ditch my race pack for a handheld water bottle at my campground for the last 0.5 miles to the finish.

Finishing felt great. I couldn't believe that I had managed to cross the finish line at all, let alone come in eighth place (F) and knock 35 minutes off my previous course record (10:41 official time).

I was elated and more importantly, with some refreshing soda and salty tortillas, I managed to stave off post-race nausea. Phew! Dodged the bullets of damaged ligaments and intestines turned into acidic knots by S-caps, snacks, water, electrolyte drinks and generally pounding around for 10 hours 40 minutes.

Highlights of this beautiful run for me: the people: young, old, dressed in jeans or full dresses or running kits, wearing sandals, no shoes, tennis shoes, running shoes, skin every shade of browns, tans, pale yellows, pinks. All of us, together, smiling, grimacing, chatting, cheering each other on. This is the magic of this race.

Okay, yes, that was the highlight, but it also felt pretty damn good to get to stand on the stage with the other top 10 females of the race, plus party and eat and cheer and hug my fellow Mas Locos through the late evening.

Now, I am home. My ankle decided to swell up and tell me to lay low. I got a cold. I went right to into my 60 hour per week job, and began quickly to numb myself with bad television and excessive snacking. This is life: the ups and downs- community, hard work, enlightening experiences, joy and accomplishment and then the let down- loneliness, more hard work, traffic, drudgery... AND
saving energy for the next grand adventure.

The doors are swinging open and I'm sprinting through them!

I love beginnings.

Like spring lilies, beginnings are bright, refreshing, and turn to the sun.

A view from the road i70 through Utah.

I recently moved from Florida into my family's home in California, started a new life as a caregiver, and started taking on new career challenges towards applying for a PhD.  

I also began a new training plan towards my next race... it has been far too long since my last 100 miler, and is past time to jump back into the deep end.

Hello running. I'm back.

Not that I haven't been racing and running at all lately. I celebrated my move out west with a sweet 50k on the trails of Oakland, and despite training in flat Florida, managed an age division win. The race was challenging and fun, but the rest of my summer was spent taking an accelerated general chemistry course, biking a bit and generally being a bit lazy.

A view from the Canyon Meadows ultra race. There were hills. Lots of hills.

So, this week I ran a nice 20 mile and 10 mile back-to-back weekend and it's feeling pretty wonderful to be back in my body, rocking the roads and the trails.

The view of the bay from a recent jaunt up Albany Hill

I have been fueling my body as usual for running, moving, studying and transition with delightful plant based meals as usual, and have been feeling blessed to be in abundant California.

My typical bowl of fruits, veg and beans.

A friend recently invited me to help her cater a group retreat with vegetarian dishes, and I was inspired by my time in apple country to make a raw apple pie. My family devoured it, despite their reservations about "raw pie".

Disclaimer: despite this being "raw", I warmed it in the oven before serving. Gotta have warm apple pie!

Yes, beginnings are pretty wonderful.

Endings can be harder.

I recently lost my best friend and companion, Reba. Because I have posted in the past about my sweet furry friend of nearly 13 years, I wanted to honor her memory by sharing her part in my motivation to keep running on plants. 

Reba was the heart of my drive to run-- and live. She was the force behind waking up early, keeping fit, healthy and relatively put-together (i.e.- my therapy, my reason to have a job, to wake up at all). 

She was also an amazing trail dog, and hiked alongside me for over 1,400 miles of the PCT.

Reba and I, when were both young pups.

Without her there is a hole in my soul, where family and friends can only just begin to fill in. I am still running towards my dreams, but part of my grounding, part of the heart of running is missing. I find it now in Reba's spirit of abundant energy and unconditional love.

Thank you Reba for your spirit and companionship. This run is for you. Rest in Peace.

It's the little things

The best advise I've gotten this week: 

"Go have fun and don't let the man get you down."

Okay, point taken.

I recently signed up for 50k in my hometown of Oakland, CA and am looking forward to running through the redwoods for 5-7 hours with a smile on my face.

And here I am now, resting after a night behind the bar, (bartending is great training for upper body strength, but exhausting too!) and wondering how to make the most out of this moment in time. It's hot, and I live in the 'burbs in flat as a pancake rural Florida right now.

Please don't tell me squats are in future! Okay, fine. (SIGH)

As I sit contemplating my day's activities (sit around all day? play with my phone? binge watch Netflix?)

 I wonder; have I forgotten how to have fun?!

Okay, I do have fun in the kitchen.

I have fun with my dog.

I have fun on my bike. 

I have fun on my feet.

(For the most part!!)

Sadly, I haven't actually been trail running since visiting Berkeley last month!

So, I have been learning some hard lessons here in Florida; surrounded by strip malls and parkways. Finding trails requires long drives while I am committed to low emissions. 

Honestly, time on my feet has felt... soulless as I pound the concrete and SUV's whiz by.

Perhaps, finding fun right now is simply about turning on my imagination. Listening to music to drown out the noise of engines. Making lists of the avian life I encounter on my endless laps around the neighborhood park.

And of course, closing my eyes, and picturing the world I want to see: one with less cars, less pollutants, less spending, waste, and greed, more kindness, greenery, and I'll be honest about my personal needs: a bit of elevation!