Race Recap: The Inferno

Race Review for The Inferno Obstacle Race on Aug. 30th, 2014

This race was held in Salem, Oregon and offered free camping for all participants in an open field with one portalet and no running water.  Event parking (whether camping or not) was $10.  I had commitments on Friday that left me unable to take advantage of the free camping, but my friend Mariah was looking forward to that (and less of a commute on race day).

Have I told you how much I have been looking forward to this race... and at the same time dreading it?  (Race Preview with more details here.)  I have no upper body strength and working out really hard was not going to give me huge biceps in 6 months.  Maybe I need a personal trainer?  At any rate, I still can't muster a proper push up or a chin up on a bar and wasn't looking forward to scaling tall walls or trying to cross monkey bars.  Even more humbling was searching on google for some hints to what obstacles I might be facing... I find an 11 year old girl rocking some of the 2013 obstacles at a promo event in downtown Portland.  Check out this girl and how much she rocks!

I have seriously got to work on my upper body and core strength because this girl makes it look easy, and there is no doubt about it that this event is NOT easy and not for the faint of heart. 

You can walk around any obstacle that you feel you can not safely perform with a penalty of doing 30 burpees.  Mariah, who is a total beast and "accidentally" ran in the competitive heat and may have "accidently" won for the overall female division said she felt like she did 200 burpees.  There were some obstacles that were unavoidable and had to be completed in the competitive heat.  

Some of the challenges you might face at future events:

• 200 meter open swim.  This was off a dock and an out and back swim.  If you can only tread water, you can take the 50 burpee challenge for skipping it or throw on a safety vest and start floating.  It isn't that bad.  No sea monsters.  
• Lots of walls to scale.  Some with ropes and some without.  Seriously lots of walls.
• Tires hanging from ropes to swing from.  It's like monkey bars only it isn't... and it's a lot harder.  It's fun at least... but get ready to do some burpees.
• Monkey bars with some of the bars vertical instead of horizontal. 

There were many more, but I don't want to give away The Inferno's secrets.  I will tell you that with some of the challenges that required carrying heavy objects and flipping big 'ol tires, at least there were some options to choose a size/weight that was appropriate to your individual strength level.

Training for an event like this does require some upper body strength, some good core, did I mention upper body strength? and some cardio.  It wouldn't hurt and only help to have a team of friends, or make friends in line at the porta potty to run with and help each other over some of the many walls to scale.  

Above all, go in it to have fun, challenge yourself and be safe.  Some of the volunteers to monitor the penalties were more on "the honor system" than to stand over you like a drill sergeant.  Do what you can and move on to the next challenge.  There are a lot of them.  

After being in a race that involved wasps, I really appreciated that The Inferno closed an obstacle after a participant tossed a log onto a nest and was stung several times.  I heard she finished the race and was "okay" but I know that those suckers hurt.

Serious beast.

Finishing this event is a huge accomplishment and a true test of your inner beast.  The medal is pretty awesome and it is a fun event.  If you participated, there was a great opportunity to sign up again for a significant discount, but if you missed out.... stay tuned to The Inferno's Facebook page for any upcoming information and possible discounts.  

What is the toughest race you have completed?  Physical or emotionally challenging?

Luckython 10K and hangin' with Andie of "Andie's Army"

It's Saint Patrick's Day and the day!  Did you participate in a themed race this weekend?  

After a few scattered showers in the Portland area, I spent a beautiful (and chilly) Saturday morning helping out at "The Celtic Crox Half Marathon" which was held in the beautiful Champoeg State Park.  After a few hours on my feet and helping out where I could, I was ready for an afternoon cat nap....

I am amazed by people's strength and endurance to be out in a race and then to do it all over again the next day!   Several friends either ran that half and had a 15K the next day at a local Shamrock Run, or were racing that afternoon at Luckython and then hitting the road for Shamrock.  Such was the case with Andie, doing a 10K on Saturday afternoon/evening and an 8K the following morning.

Chances are you "know" Andie and have meet her on running forums such as "Favorite Run Community" or "Meg's Miles".   If you are really lucky, you might see her while you're out on a run or even at a race.

I was able to catch up to Andie and stay with her, most of the time, at the "Luckython" 10K.  Her energy is unwavering and she was all smiles at her event.  It put my aches and pains and desire for a little nap into perspective!

How Andie got started:
Andie started her journey to walking and joining races earlier this year.  The first obstacle for this task was obtaining a walker.  She had been in a power wheelchair for about 4 years previous.  Her insurance felt that if someone was in a power chair, they "didn't need" a walker.  After several hoops to jump through, the obstacle was mastered and she was out and about on the move!

Andie's first race was "The Heart Breaker" 5k race held on Feb. 16th.  I stood on the sidelines of that race and cheered for people as they passed by with my sign "You make my <3 (heart) race!"  After the half and 10K races started, the 5K came through the course and i first met Andie in person.  "Go Andie!  GO!!"  She was all smiles and based on her posts on the runner's forums mentioned above on facebook, I know that she had an incredible sense of accomplishment.  There is no denying the pride on this young woman's face as she conquers these obstacles that many, for so long, have told her she would never be able to do.

Andie is one determined gal and building up her endurance, she often will walk some distance in the morning and then go out for a second walk in the evening, with a total daily mileage equaling that of a half marathon.

A little more background:
Andie suffers from a form of muscle myopathy.  While in high school, the muscles in her back started to weaken and deteriorate, resulting in a slumped/arched posture and causing some of her disks to fuse.  After several tests and meeting with pediatric neurologists around the US, she was finally able to get some answers and the initial diagnosis.  Once that had been determined, she had surgery to correct her back.  However, it was not long before the disease progressed and attacked her legs.

I listened to Andie explain this to me with a quiet seriousness but an upbeat mood.  I imagine she must explain this a lot or has told her story before.  She is, after all, quite inspirational.  People want to know! But, I felt awkward and over curious with all my questions... but one question had been plaguing me that I wanted to know more about.  I looked over to her with her stoic strength, humbly accepting passing runners' encouragement and cheers or "Hey!  I know you from 'Meg's Miles'!"

I sheepishly asked, "So, this disease... it... it attacks a random muscle group?"
"Yup.  It can."
"At any time?  And you won't know what muscles until it does? Completely unpredictable?"
"Right.  But I'm not going to worry about it."
"But Andie... can it... could it... well, the heart is a muscle.  Could it target your heart?"
She smiles at me and I know she has more courage than I ever could muster.
"Yes.  The heart is a muscle.  Yes.  It could target my heart.  I'm not going to dwell on that.  I choose to remain positive."

Andie conquering a steep hill at Luckython 10K

Walking has helped Andie's muscles to gain some strength and helps her mentally to push through the challenges.  Andie has several races on her radar that she'd like to do, including someday (soon) a half marathon.  Some obstacles she has to face, in addition to the ones she already faces with her health, are races that are "walker friendly" not just to people who walk, but a terrain that will allow her walker to roll on the course.    One thing is for certain though, very little is going to keep this girl off the course.  She is strong, determined and a very caring person.

Official chip time 2:33:59 ...including about 10 minutes or more of chatting with other runners about half way through.

When Andie isn't training, you can find her on "Andy's Army" and learn more about the amazing "Smile Boxes" she puts together for sick children at the various hospitals, Ronald McDonald house, or rehab centers in the area.

I didn't make it out to cheer (or run) the Shamrock race the following day, but I had such a fun time walking with Andie at Luckython.  The course this year was the "South Course" of the Reserve golf course.  The rolling green hills, streams, one wooden bridge, lakes, sand pits and general atmosphere seemed like a perfect spot for a Irish themed race.  I haven't been to Ireland, but I imagined the green rolling hills were something reminiscent of it.  And, as always, Uberthons has some pretty amazing medals.  I'm looking forward to running that one next year!

Did you get out and run a St. Paddy's Day themed run?

Race Recap: Archer Series Stinger 5k &10K

Race Recap for the Archer Series "Stinger 5K and 10K" on January 19, 2014.

This was a very fun event!  There are some things that may have made the race a little "smoother" or a little bit better, but overall, this is an event worth attending.

The race series is brand new, having started in 2013.  It is a small, intimate affair with about 86 runners.  I believe there were about 50 people registered to do the 10k distance.

Being a brand new event, there are a few glitches that might need to be worked out.  I think I may have seen a few more of the "wrinkles to smooth" as a volunteer with my Moms RUN This Town group.  We were not able to accept day-of-race registrations, and I know that was disappointing to a few people.  I did overhear a runner speaking to the Race Director at the finish.  She stated this was the first 10K she had participated in where there were no water tables or aid stations on the course.  There were granola bars, bananas and a hydration/sports drink at the finish.

The shirts were a plain white cotton shirt with a small logo on each sleeve.  Sizes available were only medium or small.  Instead of spending funds on a shirt, save the money for the beneficiary or invest maybe in a visor for everyone.  5k participants were given a yellow visor (with no logo) as part of their swag.

These things are easy fixes and hopefully not something that will turn runners away from future events.  I'm sure that the Race Director will be working to make all future events memorable and enjoyable.

The beneficiary was the Hillsboro Public Library.  The Archer Series is dideicated to picking a local public library to help provide reading materials and math supplies or upgrades to e-devices in the K-5th grade levels.  (Maybe the shirts could have said something like "I run for my library."  Or something more witty...)
Past events benefited the Newberg public library and the Sherwood public library (located in Oregon).

The course is an out-and-back starting near a coffee shop in Hillsboro and before I knew it, on softly rolling hills and curvy roads in farm land.  We ran parallel to Hwy 26 in the distance and the sound of swooshing cars, but within a mile or two the distant highway dipped out of sight too.  I wouldn't call the course flat, but the inclines were not too much trouble.

There were no mile markers, but this is good for me to ignore how far I have gone and how much farther I have to go and just focus on my surroundings.  Focus is a good thing, because while the major road we ran on to the twisting country road had a lane closed for us... but the country road was not closed to traffic and there wasn't much of a shoulder.  Besides a car or two, we mostly had the road to ourselves.

Signs were put up for the 5k turn around and a volunteer shouted encouragement to those nearing her for the 10K turn around.  

I had a lot of fun, got to cheer for friends and strangers as they passed me and ran on roads I wouldn't have even considered before.  It was a beautiful, freezing morning.

Race bibs were round to help ensure that the timing chips would read on the sensor.  Round bis were pretty cool...

The Bling is a nice medal that was first produced to commemorate the start of the Archer Series Foundation.  Age Division winners were given a weighty "coin" for their award and 5k finishers were given a pin of a shoe with wings.  I really wish I had gotten that... I love Hermes.  

This was a fantastic way to support the local library... and probably more appreciated than the late fees I seem to keep accruing on my account.

I do hope to see some improvements to the website for this and for the future events.  Maybe I worry too much about races and like lots of info... but it would be nice to see: 

Course information:  
How long participants have to finish the race.  

Is the course dog friendly?

Is the course stroller friendly?

Course description or map of route.

Is there medals for this event?  For certain distances? 

Is the event timed?  (It was.)

Will there be race photos?  (Not for this one.)

And a final suggestion would be the facebook link on the website takes you to "Archer Series Race" which is a person to send a friend request.  If it were set up as a "facebook page" to click "like" on, it would be easier on that forum to see future events.  Those events would be made public for everyone... instead of Archer Series "inviting" his friends and relying on those friends to continue the invitation process.

I would definitely do this event again, look forward to watching this venue grow and look forward to the half marathons coming up... which I am told offer a BBQ afterwards and "great bling".

Trying to breath again,"I get a medal?" and I PR'd!

 According to my garmin, I have three new records!  Woo Hoo!

New records to smash:
9:44 fastest mile (thanks to a Mariah meeting me at the last mile and not taking any of my excuses...)
31:22 fastest 5k
1:04:04 fastest 10k

What is the smallest race you have ever done?  Did you enjoy it?

Recap: Uberthons' Turkeython! My first Turkey Trot... or waddle.

I enjoyed my first turkey trot this year... and if You haven't done one of these yet, you've gotta give them a try.  There are tofurky is your thing, chances are you'll even find a tofurkey trot near you too.

I participated in the Uberthons Turkeython which was held at the local mall.  I'm pretty sure there were no shoppers that morning, and the ample parking was all racers and their friends and family to cheer them on.  

The race charity benefits a program also put on by Uberthons called the UberKids Enrichment program, which you can read more about by clicking here.  They were raising funds for scholarships for kids who would otherwise not be able to participate in that program.  Another aspect to the charity was kids participating in the kids' dash were encouraged to bring a new toy and/or tree ornament and kiddos could dash with the toy/ornament to place under the tree for the Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

The morning was a freezing 30 degrees Fahrenheit as runners did a 2.5K loop to warm up or stand about jumping in place to try to stay warm.  I wore my crazy turkey costume... and though you might think that would help provide some warmth... I started the race with a numb butt.  So., there ya go.  No extra insulation there with 11lbs of pillow fluff inside my fabric turkey.

 The course was a 2.5K lap around the parking perimeter of the local mall.  That was as close to a shopping center I wanted to be on Thanskgiving morning... but not everyone may feel the way i do about that.

There are events for everyone with a 2.5K run or walk, 5k run or walk and 10K run, along with a relay with 2-4 team members (for a 10K total distance).  Each lap was 2.5K, so for a 5K, run around twice and for the 10K I lapped the mall 4 times.  

The course is billed as relatively flat.  Let me tell you about that. My first 2.5K around, I noted one hill.  Okay, not so bad.  There is one uphill portion that is a little bit difficult, but I'm chugging right along... trying not to burn out with this huge turkey costume on.  On the way back to the start/finish to start my second loop, I thought there was a nice down hill portion.  Not too bad.

The second time around the 2.5K loop, I distinctly remember counting 4 hills. 4!  That's not very flat for a 2.5K.... then the third time on the loop, I decided that the whole thing was nothing but uphill.  But to clarify my bias, my suspenders on my turkey had come loose and I had to carry the damn thing.  I stopped and asked two seperate volunteers managing traffic on the road if they'd help me reclip it... but it just wasn't working out.

As I neared the finish line for the final loop, I ditched the turkey at the JC Penny store entrance and ran as fast as I could.  Literally.

I am proud that my 15 minute a mile pace last April has improved to about a 11:30 minute mile... but when my friend who had long finished her 10K saw me about to start my final loop, she asked if she could join me.   I was grateful for the company as my legs were wobbly like a thanksgiving jello mold and I wasn't sure if i was going to make it... Much less stay upright.  I had taken a spill two days before the race and had road rash on my knee, elbow and both palms.  I didn't want to biff it again.

Well, she wasn't going to let me take a leisurely stroll.  She kept just a step ahead of me, hollering back at me how many more minutes I was from the finish at this pace.  Okay.  That was helpful.  I can't keep this up for a lifetime, but i can keep doing this for one more minute and 28 more seconds.  We passed her husband who volunteered to take race photographs.  On that final loop, I didn't even look his way to smile... much less exert any extra energy to wave.  I asked between puffs if I threw up if we could slow down.  My friend said something about waiting to vomit after the finish line.

 She's a beast!  

Well, I ran a 10:52 minute mile for that final loop.  I'll take it.  :D  

As I crossed the finish line, she grabbed my turkey costume for me, so I got to carry him across the finish.  Poor thing missed out on 2.5K of the race, but he finished too.
 
If you are looking to do this event in the future, packet pick up was three days and open for 7 hours.  So it was relatively easy to beat the lines on race day to get your bib.

Uberthons also had a second bib that racers could write what they were thankful for and pin to their backs.  I enjoyed seeing the ones that I could as people passed me.

Race photos (as of this writing) are still being edited but will be offered for a reasonable price of $5.  It's 4 days post race, but it's also important to remember that the photographer is a volunteer with a full time job too.  (After volunteering at three different races, I have a totally new perspective how much a race is held together by volunteers.)

The crowd is HUGE and very friendly.  There were more than 1,200 participants. I did get pushed once by a "very serious" athlete who was probably pissed that this wide turkey butt was blocking his path to a PR... but I didn't stumble to the asphalt and scrape my knees, so no harm done.  My crazy swinging pilgrim's legs kicked a little girl as I passed and I apologized profusely to her... but I don't think she even noticed.  

The bling is not to be messed around with!  1/4" thick and very heavy, the medal is beautiful.  I also won a grey fleece blanket for my turkey getup.  :)

It was a great morning.  (And day 18 of my Holiday running streak!)

What did you do for Thanksgiving?

DIY riding costume... or "How to stuff a turkey costume for your turkey trot"

Eight days before my "Turkey Trot" race on Thanksgiving Morning... I got onto Google.  This is usually bad news for me, because I see some idea that I can't let go of and become obsessed.  

This time, I looked up "Turkey Trot Costumes" and scrolling through the images, it didn't take long to come across this beauty:

Photo Credit:  http://www.kranson.net/events/2011/thanksgiving/parade/default.htm

The website says it was the Turkey Trot from 2011 in Detroit... So, getting more specific in my Google search terms, I found a youtube video with the runner in action (which you can click here to see it, but you might want to fast forward to 4:25.)  and a blog about his costume!

After my detective work was done, I set to sketching and after two hours from the initial Google search, I had the head completed.  

Because I was in such a hurry, I didn't think this through in terms of blogging and didn't take many photos of the process to make this.  So, bare with me as I try to explain it...

I've made 90% of the costume with found objects in my random home.  I have lots of felt for all sorts of projects, so using some felt, some orange-ish 4-way stretch jersey material, a pool noodle, black pants, coat hangers and a pole I use in the garden for bean runners... I have my costume.  And a whole lot of pillow stuffing.  Some I had to pilfer from friends who had some old/extra pillows I could de fluff.  

First thing, my orange material was "tube shaped" like the material was meant to be sewn into a skirt.  So, I took the "waist" of the skirt-like tube and folded it down to the bottom and sewed the two together all the way around, except for a small hole to shove pillow stuffing and the pool noodle in.  

Next I cut an "x" in the crotch of some old black pants and sew the new opening around the doughnut-hole opening in the orange material.  This "x" has to be big enough to fit around the hole in the orange doughnut and big enough for me to jimmy on before a race.  :) 

Getting into this thing is a making for a bad video on youtube or something.  

Then next part, I had my husband place a tennis ball on the end of the "bean pole" so that if/when I tripped and fell over my costume, I wouldn't impale myself on the rod in the head.  Shove it in the turkey head, add stuffing and sew the neck shut and attach the pole through the "chest" of the orange doughnut and secure pole into the pool noodle with just about anything you can get to work...  We have a lot of hot glue, string and maybe even a little duct tape in the mix.  The tail is attached the same way, with some coat hangers within a couple of the feathers so that it didn't just flop down behind me and get dragged behind me on race day.  It did droop a little and I'll want to fix that somehow so I'm not irritating the serious racers around me when i run in it.

That's pretty much it.  Oh!  Except suspenders.  Suspenders are a must.  That is what I did purchase for the costume at the local thrift shop.  Attaching the suspenders to the orange doughnut, I had to be cautious stepping into the doughnut hole... not to get tangled in the suspender straps and hike the turkey butt up over my own.  That was a chore.  Most certainly something I needed help with.

I have very patient friends...

This is me taking the turkey out for a test spin.  It did great for those 2 test miles.

The reactions I got from witnesses of my test run would be a whole other blog entry...

On race day, I'd change how to get the tail to be a little more predictable and not so droopy and after 3 1/2 miles in it, my suspenders came loose.  I pestered two poor race volunteers at separate parts of the course to reach down into the "doughnut hole" and clip my suspenders.

I swear that isn't as naughty as it sounds.

After giving up on it working again,  I carried the turkey to the end/beginning of the race where I had one more loop to do.  I'll go into all of that when i get the race recap up... but for now, I think instead of suspenders that are removable with their clips... I'd sew in something much more permanent and no chance of snapping/breaking/coming undone.

Anyway.  I added some old back socks to the end of the pants for "boots" (with some white material from the old pillow for the "socks"), hot glued some painted cardboard on for buckles and used a black tech shirt and some white material for the pilgrim's shirt.

The hat is black poster board and a little bit of foam inside.  I hot glued a headband to it and it stayed on perfectly.  That's about all I can think of...  :)  I'll get the recap up soon and post a pic of it on race day.  I added a couple embellishments with jingle bells on the reins and black arm sleeves with white cuffs on my arms.

Did you do a "Turkey Trot"?  Do you ever run in costume?  DIY or store bought modified for running?

**I should add that this beast weighed 11lbs, so I'll probably want to figure out ways to lighten it up too**

Uberthons Halloweenathon all day event recap

Race Recap for Uberthons "Halloweenathon" on October 26th, 2013

It's October and this is my third race (in costume) in as many weeks.  I must be either crazy, or crazy for Halloween... or both?  This time, I went for a mermaid theme.  (I'll spare my poor husband of posting any photos of him in his mermaid costume on the world wide web. Last week I did the Labyrinth theme for 13.1 miles and a "sugar skull" the week before that for a zombie 5k.)

This race is the first time I volunteered with a race organization ever (joining in the fun at packet pickup and then in the kids' dash and 2pm race.), first time I ran a 15K race (9.3 miles) and first time I've ran at all since my half marathon last weekend.  

The race event had 4 main events throughout the day, a kids' dash and then an evening BBQ after the final event.  The events were meant to reach all fitness levels with an option to register as a walker or runner and to do a 5k distance, 10k or 15k.  

Being a glutton for punishment, I decided to do the 15k.  I was able to join some members from my Moms RUN This Town club.  

5K lap done... 2 more laps to go!

The course is a pretty little golf course outside of Portland, Or.  The 5k runners and walkers did one loop from start to finish, the 10k two laps and 15k three laps around the course.

Though I really have to admit that golf is not my thing, nor do I find a lot of beauty in short manicured grass, trees off to the edges of the greenway and one lake within view of the course.  Don't get me wrong!  It's a fun race... I just got bored after the first lap.  A friend who also ran the 15k (and took first in her age group!) had a great perspective on the looping race course.  The first lap helped her see how she was pacing herself, the second loop was her signal that she could "up the throttle" on her speed and the third loop was where she could cut loose and let it all go for the finish.   I think I'd have enjoyed it a little more if I had brought music to get lost in, but I really wanted to be able to hear if any runners behind me were trying to pass me on the narrow golf cart sidewalk.  

Besides a few bumbles with runners tripping over each other at the beginning, the 9am race seemed to go without a hitch!  The course was described as flat, but rolling hills is more accurate.  The course also involves some hairpin turns in 3 different "golf cart cul de sacs" and some paths that turn around and run parallel to other parts of the course.  This was a lot of fun to me, because friends whose pace was beyond me would holler and cheer as they saw me passing on the path further behind them.  One friend was doing her first 5k race ever and I was able to give her a high five as I passed her end of the path.  Once the runners behind her saw I was giving out high-fives, I was then cheering them on and others too.  I love that.  A race is a perfect opportunity to make new friends or at least help encourage each other.    

I ran in the 9am race, "Run for your Bones", with about 311 participants.  The next race started at 11am.  This was "The Zombie Shuffle" that was a fitness walkers' race.  Only about 7 participants signed up for that, so the family went home to have some lunch, layer up since we were freezing and then go back out for my volunteer shift and the Kids' Dash at 1pm.

The sun started to peek out behind the clouds, but it was still a chilly (and beautiful) day. 

My Bugaboo was very upset that she didn't get to run with me during my morning 15k, so she very happily joined the "5 yrs and under" kids' race.  This was a very short jaunt through the grass, where the participants would run to one of the race directors dressed as a skeleton and then circle back to me and some of my Moms RUN This Town friends for a ribbon of participation and a goodie bag full of halloween candy. 

Kids' Dash

After that, the older kids did a 1k run on the sidewalk.  Bugaboo watched the kids go past and asked if she could go too.  So, she got in two races in one day.  I think we both might need a lesson in injury prevention and the importance of not over doing it?  ;-) She did great. I'm so glad she had fun and love that this new activity to me is also something that is important to her.  

It is amazing what an impact my choice to exercise can have on my little girls.

Bugaboo finishing up the 1k race and claiming her ribbon.

After the Kids' Dash, the next race "Trick Or Treatathon" was scheduled to start at 2pm.

This race had about 96 participants. Some of them I recognized from past races and then putting their face together with a profile pic on a local race blog.  That's always exciting to make the match up.  But... you know how race day is a good day to make new friends?  I'm so shy I just let it go.  I cheered them on as they passed, and I hoped they raced well... but I didn't chat them up post race.  I did see the Candy Corn Witch from last week's race and she gave me a hug before she dashed off.  :)

After handing out water, directing finishers to get their awesome finisher's medal and dancing to the music at the finish for awhile, my volunteer shift was done.  We enjoyed some nachos at the free nacho bar inside the party tent and then went home to regroup, get a nap in for Squeakers and then enjoy one last race that evening with Uberthons!

Did I mention that besides a free nacho bar, the tent also had three massage beds where professionals could work out our kinks and knots and give us tips for stretches and home care?  

FANTASTIC!  A fast way to my heart, besides sweet race bling, is a massage.  Seriously.

The 6pm race was the "Monster Moon Run" that required a headlamp or flashlight. Glow sticks were available inside the party tent and costumes abounded with the participants in this event.  I love how creative people are!  About 130 participants joined in the final race, which was a 5k distance for runners and walkers.

Monster Moon Run

After this race, (which was MC'd by Miss Oregon,) participants could enjoy the free nacho bar or pay for a BBQ dinner by Famous Dave's.  We all enjoyed some warmth in the party tent and showed off our fantastic new bling.

I wore mine for the entire day.

Finishers are given a large medal casket that opens to reveal a skeleton inside holding a scroll listing the race distances.  The medal has 4 magnets to hold that casket shut, and it takes a little work to open it.  Once you are about to shut it, make sure your fingers are out of the way!  I pinched myself.  I may be a little accident prone...

This medal was fantastic, and as a total bling-chaser... it was the sole reason why I wanted to do this race.  But watching the different races throughout the day and seeing the different environments each race provided, I think it would be something fun worth doing again.  The 9am race seemed to be the biggest to me, with more chances to interact with other costumed runners, a festive environment with giving and getting cheers from each other... but the night run sounds like a lot of fun to me too.  That one has a lot of potential with volunteers on the course with glow sticks or something like that.

Do you join a race for the bling?  Tell me about your cool races, finisher's bling or halloween type runs! I'm a nut for halloween! 

Race Recap: XTERRA PDX Hagg Lake 10k (and half marathon)

Race Recap:  XTERRA PDX Hagg Lake trail run: half marathon and 10k...  (I participated in the 10k) 

Showing my "team spirit" prerace with 65+ temporary tattoos on my legs

   

On August 11, 2013 the XTERRA PDX "Epic Off Road Weekend" wound down to an end with the half marathon and 10k races.  The day before had been a triathlon!

This was my first timed 10k (my first 10k race being a "fun run" the weekend before) and my first trail race.  Maybe it wasn't the ideal trail for a complete newbie, but I wasn't a total novice to getting torn up on the trails.  (My last trail run was a slow ramble with a running group through some trails in Portland, OR.  The end result was torn up quads, my ITB screaming and me limping for several days.)

Anyway, I'm no pro either, and this was my first race on a trail!  I really started to wonder what the hell I was thinking and started to feel sick to my stomach.  "Keep it cool"  I told myself as I pretended to have it "all together" with my friends with me.

Racing with other people is soo much more fun!  7 other gals from my local Moms RUN This Town chapter had joined in on the fun.  (It also helped to find a super sweet deal on "Living Social"- an online coupon/deal of the day type site.)

As we wondered over to the water's edge to que up to race, the 53 half marathoners were sent off through their course on Henry Hagg Lake Park.  The 176 participants for the 10k were sent off in four waves.  The gazelles in the first wave and the "10 min milers after and then the 11" (according to the race director)...  uh oh.  Maybe I'm too slow for this?

Doubt always has a way to sneak in and make me fearful.

The course starts out at a slight uphill, in tall grass... hiding the gofer holes that pock mark the hill side.  Once you get through that, the course is a cinch!

Naw.  All kidding aside, with the elevation changes and the trails proving to be quite technical in some areas,  the race wasn't going to be for the faint of heart.

Some parts required a bit of jumping over the large gouges in the path and being mindful of those sneaky tree roots that jump out and grab you!  The trail also had deep ruts carved through them from many bikes trudging over it.  Deep ruts.  Don't roll your ankle!

But overall, the course was very beautiful.

After being pulled into the deep shade of the thick woods, I ran by the lake and wound around over a couple foot bridges, next to a babbling brook (so glad I didn't wear headphones!), through a couple meadows and down the road for a short ways until being pulled back into the woods.

I really with a photographer had been stationed at this bridge!  It would have made a fantastic photo op.

I think I might have had a better time if i hadn't stopped to take so many photos... but I really wanted to soak in where I was and remember bits of it later...  :)

Hugging the edge of the meadow.  

 Throughout the trail, I could hear the finish line in the distance and this was either encouraging as I thought I was getting closer, or antagonizing as I'd glance at my garmin and realize I still had quite a bit to do....  The trail was not marked with actual mile markers, but did have "flags" and arrows tied to trees to keep runners in the right direction.  For someone as directional challenged as me, I did alright!  I didn't tack on any extra miles by the time I got to the finish line (and perhaps because of the winding trail and tree cover, I ended with not quite a full 6.2 miles).

Running next to the lake.

 After clearing the final piece of trail and hitting the asphalt of the parking lot, volunteers were stationed to clap and cheer finishers in.  Some of my friends who had finished before me were at the final bend in the road clapping and cheering me in.  That was so much fun!  As they ran next to me, i decided to go all out and sprinted as hard as I could into the finish.  I beat an hour and a half, and I'll take that with a lot of pride!

Each finisher was handed a stainless steel pint glass and could fill it up with endless amounts of beer provided by Base Camp Brewing Company and a slice of pizza.

There was also a raffle ticket in each pint glass and fun competitions for some cool prizes.

With the 65+ tattoos that adorned my legs, I was awarded the stainless steel "growler" which holds 64oz and has a super cool flip top.  I'm in love with this thing!  (And if you really want one, you can pick one up here.)  

Over all, the race was a ton of fun!  There was even an after party the following Wednesday at Base Camp Brewery in Portland, but I wasn't able to attend that.

I did however hear some criticism that made sense to me.  The course was a "lollipop" loop course that had the faster people trampling over some of us slower racers on parts of the course as they started their way back to the finish and we still fought our way to the halfway point.

It is a narrow trail with not a lot of opportunity for passing other runners, not to mention have two-way traffic on it!

I felt so bad as I kept shouting back to the gals behind me if they wanted past me... and they said "No."  They started their own conversations (about wishing they wore hiking boots instead of running shoes and that this wasn't a "run" so much as mountain climbing...) I never heard anyone else wishing to pass... When I got to open road about a half mile from the finish, the first half marathon finisher darted around the girls behind me and then past me.  I cursed out loud and hollered "Sorry!" at him, and he waved and darted off to the finish.

Poor guy.
I hope my slow pace and the narrow trails with other runners right behind me didn't slow him down too much.  he still finished first.  ...And he had competed in the triathlon the day before!!!!!!!!!!

Overall, criticism noted and technical course in mind, it was still a lot of fun, and something worth doing.
I'm really glad I did this race and enjoyed it with the friends that I have and stopped to enjoy the amazing views.

I also didn't tear up my quads or render myself unable to walk again!  Bonus!

Finisher's Pint on the left and "Growler" on the right