I’ve been fascinated
with ultrarunning since I started running over 10 years ago. I followed live races
online and watched as runners endured ultradistances through trails and woods around
the world with a longing that I wanted to do that someday! My ultimate goal
will be to run the 100.. miles of Western States Trail Ultra. Don’t know when
but it will.
Yesterday I
got my yaya’s out and set out to run 55 miles for my 55th year
around the sun. It has been raining and
classic Pacific NW weather for the past couple of weeks. The day I had set to run
for my birthday was totally opposite! Crisp and cool in the morning with a
little fog then sunny all day long! Lots of people got out on the Centennial Trail
enjoying every bit of the beautiful day!
The trail head
did not open till 7 or 8 am so I parked across the street at a church. Machias Park
has an indoor heated bathroom and a great location to have base for my aid
station, my car. My plan was to run from the trailhead north for 5 miles then
back then south 5 miles and back till I had 50 miles then a 2.5 out and back
for 55. I had my hydration vest and food on my but would restock if needed at
my car and sit for a bit each 10 miles.
I started my
watch at 6:23 am and took off from my
car with my headlamp and headed north in the dark. Something about running it
the dark always has me feeling badass ( even in my tutu!) and I was secretly looking
forward to finishing in the dark as well. No one on the trail, slightly foggy
and quiet. Loved it!
A couple
miles later a person walking their bike passed me going south! WTF!! Hi, I said
and they replied back nicely and no threat. Then a lady with her dog walked by!
No lights on them so they saw me before I saw them. Kinda creepy. As I went on I
look behind me every so often and then saw a light on the trail. I wasn’t sure if
it was a streetlight or someone on the trail with a light but I was not going
to stop running to see. It was pretty dark outside and no moon for light. I had
realized 2 miles in that I forgot to tag one of
my teams, Purple Patch Fitness, on my last post so I stopped and updated
my social media. Right when I finished I heard my name and a voice in the dark came
up to me and I was Carsten! He was running a 50K for Marine Corps – MCM Trifecta
– and we happened to be there at the same time! So weird! I mutual friend and I
had run with him part way last year at a totally different location to support
him.
Carsten and
I ran together till I got to my 5 mile mark and he went on farther up the trail
to his turnaround. We knew we would meet again later on and we did! Just that
little bit of running together helped us both to keep going.
The sun was
rising and the fog burning off made for a beautiful morning! Mount Pilchuck
with a little bit of snow was gorgeous! Got back to my car at 10 miles and was
feeling good. Legs were doing well and my energy fantastic.
I moved my
car to the trailhead parking area since the gate was unlocked now. The parking
lot had lots of cars already at 8:30! I had seen a sign a couple miles till the
trailhead that wasn’t there earlier which said it was the designated spot for a
turn-a-round for a 5k spooky run. The sign had a Spartan sticker on it and I immediately
knew the run was put on by Grace and Arnie from Run 2 Be Fit. They were setting
up as I got there. Nice people and I was grateful I was running the other way
and not in the mist of the event runners and hoping they would done when I got back
to my car at mile 20 after running south. (Later… Yes they were almost all gone.
No crowds!)
I Headed
south to Snohomish on the trail. Feeling good I kept up my plan of 2 minute
walk on the one mile lap then run the rest of the mile. (I did this mostly till
25 miles.) On the way I saw the F3 Running group, an older couple getting their
morning walk in. I see them lots on the weekends enjoying the trail and they
always wave and say hi. Sometimes she would be 10 to 20 paces ahead of him, but
today they walked together. There were lots of walkers, runners, cyclists and skate
boarders. Any way to get along on the trail was out and moving. Loved it! People
were friendly and loved my tutu and it made them smile!
Back to my
car at mile 20. Quick potty break, change of shoes and stuffed my face with
Power Bar chews then off I go.
I was a mile
out to the north when I got a call from Alfredo that he had parked at the next
trailhead 2 miles ahead! He had brought his electric bike and came to see how I
was doing. So good to see him out there. He needed to get out into some sun just
like anyone! So cool to see him out there. He rode with me till the 25 miles
mark and turnaround. He needed to go and set off fast on he bike! He was so cute
fly down the trail like a kid out of school! Couple miles later at the parking
area where his truck was, he was just strapping down his bike in the back. He’s
still here! I ran up to him and got a kiss. He had been chatting with a lady
for the past 15 minutes. He find friends everywhere!
Heading back
north, I was having issues. Since after the turnaround my walk/run plan was turning
into more walk breaks in each mile. Taking a check of my body, I was breaking
down. My hips especially. My feet were ok but I could tell I needed to put my
other shoes back on because these were not as comfortable and I had different niggles
in my feet starting to pop up. I looked up on my phone how many miles was a 55k
and what joy when I saw it was 34+ miles and I was so close to that. I was at 28
and I knew I could do that! Not fast but doable.
By the time I got back to my car I was walking
more than running. I changed my shoes to the first ones, ate a Picky Bar, drank
some Nuun and off I went. Run, run, run. No wait. Lets walk a little more. I
only needed 2.1 miles north then turn around and head back. The longest I have
ever gone, run and/or walk, was a 50k (31 miles) and I was so close to surpass
that. 2.1 more and turn around and head back for success. I had called Alfredo,
who was home by now, and let him know that I would be done in less than an
hour. He was relieved! He would be worried about me running after dark.
That 2 mile walk/sorta
run back to my car was long. I wanted to run a little because it was faster, I told
myself, but my whole lower half of my body did not want to. If I walked my hips
screamed at me. One half mile to car. Oh, a big rock! Perfect for a little sit
down. (I think I’m going to thank that rock each time here after that I go by
it on the trail)
The Centennial
Trail crossed the road at a light and with lots of bikes crossing and several cars
stopped, and there I was in my tutu walking across the road. Smile on my face because
I was so close to a goal.
I had
planned on 55 miles and I ended up with more than that. I did a 55k and a
record run and I had the best day! I Ran with friends. Saw the sunrise and a
couple eagles. Lots of bunnies along the trail and dogs with their masters. It
was a great day. I learned what my body can do at this moment. I was hopeful it
could take me farther but I’m happy with how far I have come and would not
change a thing. If you wonder how far you can go, stop thinking about it and plan
on doing it! You never know how strong you can be unless you try.
Thanks for
reading and coming along on my journeys.
Sheryl
Perales
