The Bear Chase Trail Race

Published September 30, 2017

Who signs up for a 50K trail run only 4 days before the event? Yep, that happened this week.

Received a promo email for The Bear Chase Trail Race last weekend, Friday before New Hampshire. Generally I delete these (my run schedule’s set 6 months out) but was out-of-town/travelling soooo the ad stayed in my Inbox.

Home sweet Colorado Home. Cool & overcast all week, highs never topped 60 (GREAT weather). Didn’t have a great run in Keene (REDEMPTION). Short miles this month in my Run the Year challenge (Sept 30^thrace) AND only 45 minutes from Home.

I know, I know – crazy ‘healthy‘ addiction. Paid FULL price & promised Ro we’d hike tomorrow 🙂

Saturday morning. Hydration vest outta the closet, packed a drop bag – pickles/watermelon/chicken noodle soup, change of clothes (shirt/socks). I’m my own crew today. Socks? Yep, NINE water crossings – 6 of those, knee deep water. LOVE LOVED it!

Missed bib pick-up night before (work obligation). Arrived half-hour early in Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park. FREE parking ($10 fee waived for runners). Volunteer handed me a Bib, 4 safety pins & my Bear Chase tech shirt. BAM, done.

2^nd time in a month, I’d be running the event’s low-mile race. 100K, 50 mile or 50K – that’s it. First time since April 2016, I actually registered for a 50K (ran 3 last year). Marathon + 6 miles. Baby steps. I see a 50-mile race in my 2018 future.

Sun rose pink over Bear Creek Lake, hats off for the National Anthem & we were off. Bunched up at the first water crossing, then hiked UP the first of three big climbs. Backside of hill? I flew. Since REVEL Rockies training this Spring, I’m a much better downhill runner.

Easiest trail terrain to date – rolling hills, root-free course (my trail nemesis). Ran strong first 14 miles. Lost my mojo during the sun-exposed 6.9 miles ‘round Fox Hollow Golf Course. No tree, no shade, no wind. Popped in the ear-buds, tried to flood my head with sound.

Last loop (18.8 miles in), half marathon distance to go. Dilly-dallied 10 minutes at Bag Drop. Re-clothed (dry shirt/dry socks), bathroom break, swallowed a half-thermos of chicken noodle. Departed with a fresh bottle of electrolytes.

Last climb UP, right quad cramped. Unfamiliar territory. Nearby runner asked if I needed salt tabs. I thanked him, swallowed both & hoped for a miracle. I’m a puker, not a cramper. Limped/walked the climb, limped/jogged the backside.

Clouds rolled in, temp dropped 10-15 degrees, winds kicked up. No sun, no headphones…no need. Quad cramp ceased. My miracle.

Slow pace – 12/min mile – but I kept moving. Shoulders back, no walk, no slog. Head voices stopped. Focused on a guy in white, later a couple both dressed in red. Approached, paced closed behind, then passed/moved ahead. Ninth & final water crossing.

Less than a mile to go AND… I lost the trail. Are you kidding me?? Bush-whacked thru high grass & willow thicket. Crossed a paved road, met a 100K runner. Had run past the Finish by more than half a mile. Disappointed…but back on trail – I kept moving.

Actually came up BEHIND the Finish. 7 hours – that’s a looooong time but I FINISHED. 32 miles total. WOW! ALSO surprisingly, compared with 2016 results – cut more than an hour off my best time. Today’s run a 50K PR.

Out like a LION (September), in with a ROAR (October) – starting tomorrow with a high-altitude hike. Gotta, hafta – promised the pup, right? LOVE LOVE my Colorado life ❤