Insomnia Trail Run

The thing about trail running is you can always try again later. The Insomnia Trail Race 14k was my let's try again race after my recovery from surgery. 

The experience was the complete opposite to last month's race. This time me I picked familiar trails, made sure my blisters were all heal and I had all the right gear. Remembering the trail run rules, never wear anything that you have not used before and if possible get familiar with the race course terrain ahead of the race. I picked a night race at Folsom Lake and it was simply gougeous. 

The race started after sunset so we had the opportunity to admire the lake and the moon in red before. Taking off as the last rays of light hide in the horizon,  to make room for a red full mood that guard the trails. The lake front view, the gentle small singing waves that took you into the Cavitt trails and the gentle rolling hills kept a big smile on my face. The memory of past runs in the dark trails was still alive in me and greeted me like an old friend. I enjoyed scanning the ground with my head and hand held lamps which forces you to remain mindful and present in the moment. The miles flew by and soon I was at the turn around point where I was offered a shoot of spirit; I accepted and overstayed my welcome while the people at the aid station rushed me away urging me to turn on my lamps. My spirit was happy on Spirit I guess.  

I trailed back slowly wishing the distance was longer; Soon I told myself while I crossed the finishing line. 

Shout out to the Insomnia Trail Race people for an awesome event! 

Whiskey Hill Run 2019

Whiskey Hill Trail Run 2019

After recovering from a surgery and running minimally I was finally able to incorporate myself back to the lines off all those crazy trail runners that plague the hills all over the world chasing after the the dirt in single line in search of happiness through the primordial way of being human, movement. 

I picked the Whiskey Hill Run because why not. Testing my regained human abilities I ventured first into the treadmill, then into the parks and now finally back in the trails. With a knot in my belly the race director said the go and I slowly joined the pack. Rusty on my trail running ways I just figure I would give it a go. What was the worts thing that could happen, right?

Well, on my rusty memory I forgot to check on the elevation profile. It looked pretty flat on the screen and it was only six miles, piece of cake I told myself. Except I was greeted by a 1,200 feet of elevation gain that kept on going for to to three miles ok only to be followed by 3 more miles of downhill. Not what I expected at all!

 Since it was only going to be a 10k I didn't even bother in putting some thought into my gear and went with simple cotton socks. I regretted that about mile 2.5 when that characteristic persistent I think I have a pebble inside my shoe feeling popped out on both feet, let me revealed it to you. Sometimes it's no pebbles but blisters starting to tease you. By the downhill the throbbing pain of each step where I felt my skin sliding back made me wish I could go faster but my lack of enough hill training made my painfully humble. 

Lovely torture I had to smile to as my pride was at risk when I met my husband and mother in law at the trails on the last mile going downhill. Luckily I was flying that stretch and I almost looked effortless for a second, until I passed them. 

I reached the finishing line battered and in pain wondering why I was doing that to myself, what was the point of all that pain? A small boy who was handing the medals was so cute I could not avoid but to smile. It was as he represented through his age what this race was to me, a new start and an opportunity to learn all about trail running it all once more.