She Rocks the Trails 25K on June 13 was the hottest (literally) race I’ve done this year. Living in Tahoe I was really worried that my stomach would get upset, suffer heat stroke and DIE! This race is mostly women, but a few brave men joined the party.
The race began and ended at the Auburn Overlook. It started with a mile and a half downhill on part pavement on the famous uphill that I had heard about many times crewing the American River 50 mile for Ron. We started how that race ended. At the Cardiac Hill aid station we climbed a STEEP .7 mile uphill on narrow single track. Later I checked my stats from last year and discovered I was 5 minutes faster coming up that hill. My body started heating up and I regretted leaving my gel cooling collar with Ron to pick up at the 6 mile aid station. The blood was pounding in my head and then miraculously we reached the top and was actually able to run along a flat canal in the shade. At mile 4 a gal with a cooler of ice was like an angel. I noticed the gal in front of me putting ice in her bra and since I had 2 miles to go to get my cooling gear, this was a good idea. When I saw Ron back at the overlook I loaded up on ice in my hat, bra and neck and headed down to the river. Thank heavens for the shade, but as the bridge drew closer the trail was more exposed and could feel the temperature rising.
The aid stations were well stocked with ice and I took advantage of it trying to keep my core cool. Coke was my drink of choice and only ate a few potatoes with salt at No Hands Bridge. Ron was at No Hands Bridge and helped me get back on the road. Only 4 miles to go but it was all UP. I just kept those Chi Running hips moving and actually passed some gals on the steeper uphills. About a mile out, I called Ron to tell him where I was and lo and behold, he was right in front of me! He ran with me and then would go ahead to get some video.
I met 2 great gals, Jennifer and Jessica, in those last two miles and they finished right in front of me. We discovered that they were going to be at the TRT training run the next day that Ron and I were going to volunteer at. We promised to save some burgers for them and their friends. Post race refreshments were served by guys in fake tuxes. They made us feel so special. Hanging out we discovered a pile of ice bags and Ron dared me to cool down on them. It was 90 degrees. I’ll probably go back next year and hope it is cooler. Check out the video that Ron took.
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