Running with the Garmin 405 showed me that I have no idea how to pace myself in a marathon. Granted, it’s the first marathon I’ve run in a year since I’ve only been racing ultras lately, but I think I hit a mental wall at about mile 16 and ended up finishing with fuel left to burn. It was a good workout and a beautiful course though and I had fun playing with the watch. Next up – L.A. in 2.5 weeks.
This week I did some product testing for the brand Thriv. One of Thriv’s claims is that the bamboo their clothing is made of naturally resists odor. In this video I put this theory to the test by running all week in the same Thriv top.
When the Twin Peaks 50 Miler website warned of 17,000 feet of climbing, they were not kidding.
5:00 am yesterday morning marked the start of the Twin Peaks 50 Mile Endurance run (though the actual distance is closer to 53 miles). The only other course I had to compare this to was the Headlands 50 miler which was 7,000 feet less of climbing and it still completely destroyed me. I went into the start of this race cautiously, careful to save my quads for the 10 mile stretch of downhill I would face at the end which can easily result in broken bones if your muscles are fatigued and your reflexes aren’t sharp. Yes, this was going to be a long day of slow climbs and my only strategy was to stay positive and expect it to hurt.
The first climb went up for about 7 miles before we got to a more rolling pattern. The fire roads were in bad shape with crevices sometimes a couple of feet deep. I noted that I would be running down this same path at the end of the race and in the dark. I fell twice just running up the hill so I knew that I’d have to be particularly aware at night on the way down.
10 or so miles in we reached an aid station before descending down a steep single track which seemed to be entirely loose rolling rock. Right off the bat I was loosing my footing, rolling my ankles, slip sliding down the switchbacks and using all the balance I had not to go tumbling over the edge. It was the first time in my running career that I actually was a little frightened of falling. I’m an all out downhill runner and I don’t like to hold back, but in order to not launch myself over the side of the mountain, my running technique needed to be adjusted.
Andy Kumeda, Catra Corbett, Linda Mcfadden, Craig Slagel, Erin Chavin
At mile 14.5 we hit the Holy Jim aid station for the first of two times. This is where my drop bag was. In an effort not to spend too long at aid stations, I grabbed a pb&j, refilled my camelbak with water and hit the trails, completely forgetting to re-stock on food, so I was off on a 7.5 mile climb with only a chia mix to eat. But I’ll tell you what, if all you have to eat are chia seeds, you aren’t too bad off.
I felt stronger on the ascent up to Santiago Peak than I had felt all morning and I used this momentum to increase my speed a little and begin to break away. We got high enough in this climb to reach snow! At the top of Santiago Peak I stocked my camelbak with a handful of Oreos and took a pb&j in each hand and started running down the mountain. For the first time all day I felt like I was running naturally. The single track I hit was a little rough, but I was feeling more confident in my footing and less scared without a drop-off to worry about. At the end of the single track I took a wrong turn and climbed up the fire road for about a mile before being turned around. Almost every runner I talked to made this same wrong turn.
Chowing down on chia!
I continued the downhill to Holy Jim (mile 30) to pick up my pacer Garrett. At this point I took a dip in the creek in an attempt to ice my quads before scaling up the rocky single track I had nearly tumbled down earlier in the day. The icy creek definitely helped my quads. I felt refreshed going into our next climb. This was the hottest part of the day and I passed a couple of runners sitting in the shade cooling off and resting, which I hate to say, made me feel like the race was over for them. The only instruction I gave Garrett was not to let me sit down. It’s all over when you sit down.
Me, Brian Kroggman and his pacer Bev Jones Carpenter
foreground - Bev Jones Carpenter, Brian Krogmann, background - myself, my pacer Garrett Hamilton
This 4 mile climb lasted at least an hour and a half. After topping off our water at the top, we headed down the fire road to the Indian Truck aid station before climbing to the top of Santiago Peak for the 2nd time. At the aid station I tried to get clarity on where to turn and how to come back down the mountains, but the volunteers actually didn’t know what to tell me. The race was a little confusing and some of the turns were not marked well and on top of that, most of the volunteers didn’t have knowledge of the course either. I was carrying the course directions from the website on me but this was completely useless unless you knew the names of all the trails. I did not. I ended up figuring out the rest of the course by asking a veteran runner of the race. I figured now that I knew how to get back down, I wouldn’t get lost again and i could just relax and enjoy the rest of the run.
Snow on the way up to Santiago Peak
After hitting Santiago Peak for the 2nd time, there is about a 10 mile run down to the finish. Garrett and I got about 4 miles into this before finally needing to turn on our headlamps. Garrett ran next to me, letting me lead the way and set the pace but providing me with more light from his headlamp and flashlight so that I wouldn’t fall into the crevices. This was the strongest running I did all day.
Finally we got to the base of the fire road and reached a point where you could turn, or go straight. I remembered having to turn left at the beginning of the race so I lead Garrett and I down to the right. I still don’t know exactly what happened but now we spent about 20 minutes being completely lost. Most of this is a blur to me, except that I remember being so upset that I started to dry heave and cry while Garrett calmly just told me to turn around and keep running. After two attempts and some bad directions we found our way down the rest of the hill and into the finish area.
I finished with 14:20 (goal was 14:15) only 1 minute slower than Headlands 50 miler, but with an added 3 miles and 7,000 feet of more climbing. Turns out I also placed 2nd overall for women. Not a bad run.
More importantly I got to spend the whole day with friends, running, enjoying the views, and just being grateful that I have the ability to do what I do.
Video Recap!
The first 10 days of the new year have proved to be nothing but awesome, and I hope that this indicates what the rest of the year will hold. I’m beginning to see glimmers of light within my music career, getting more shows, beginning to get paid more frequently, and writing new material that I think will actually stick.
Last week I played at Hotel Cafe with Nina Storey and the rest of the band. This is the third time I’ve played this show with Nina. I’ve really enjoyed doing this with her because the band is basically the same folks each time around and they are all people I genuinely enjoy playing with and hanging out with.
Singing for Nina at Hotel Cafe
Nina Storey at Hotel Cafe January 2010
I’ve started to notice the positive effects of training harder and higher mileage recently during my training runs and workouts. I’m planning some pretty fun races this year. This is what I have so far:
Feb: Twin Peaks 50 Miler
March: Malibu Creek 50k
April: America River 50 Miler
May: Miwok 100k
June: San Diego 100 Miler
August: Pikes Peak
October: Oil Creek 100??
Yesterday I ran in the Boney Mountain Half Xterra race and surprised myself with a 1st place age group finish. It was a really fun run and I had the benefit of previewing the course last weekend when I ran it with the Coyotes. There are some good climbs in that course which I really enjoyed. My downhill running has improved tremendously over the past few months as well. I used to be pretty tentative and slow in the downhills. Now, I’m sure if I fall I’ll go tumbling down the mountain, but I’m really enjoying the downhill running more and find I’m becoming more natural at handing more technical sections of trails.
At the start of Boney Mountain (I'm far right)
Moeben Love (Bev Carpenter, Me, Erin Chavin)
Team Top to Top/Creative Citizen/Coyotes. All of us placed in our age group. Daniel Weissauer (left) and Dominic Grossman (right)
1st place Women 20-24
I’ve also started running in the New Balance Trail 100’s (WT100) and I LOVE them. Especially coming from a heavier brand like Salomon, the 100’s feel incredible and light, but still possess some essential features of a trail shoe as far as grip and protection goes.
Daniel Weissauer and I both breaking in our New Balance Trail 100's out at Boney Mountain
Yesterday was also the kickoff for my brother’s trail racing series, Forge Racing, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m so proud of him for putting this series together. It’s really great to see people come together and get the city of Baton Rouge spending more time outside and being active. Love it.
This week I head to Boston to visit some old haunts before flying to Denver for a few shows and the Parks and Recreation Showcase to try and book some shows through the summer and fall. If I’m lucky I’ll get some good altitude training in and try not to feel left out while my buddies get ready for Rocky Raccoon! It’s okay, many more races to come…
I’m not really sure why it has taken me so long to give some sort of race report on Javelina Jundred, my first 100 mile race. Maybe the idea of reporting a 100 mile adventure seems a little much to take on in writing. You go through an incredible range of physical and psychological conditions during the course of a 100 mile run, especially if it takes you over 30 hours to complete. The thought of sitting down and doing a full recap is exhausting.
I also believe that I have many more hundred mile races in my future. This is not the epic event of my running career. It is merely a first glimpse into the world of 100 mile running. I have learned that I am tougher than I think and running brings me a peace that I have found no where else in my life.
My sister and I spoke during the days leading up to the Javelina Jundred. I told her that running makes me present. It pushes me so much into the present moment that I can manage to completely turn my mind off and just enjoy the silence of the trails, the smell of the woods, the company of another runner, appreciate the strength and power that is my body, and not be interrupted by the chaos that can be my mind. It is similar to the feeling I get when writing or performing music, only without the melancholy.
So as for a full race report on Javelina, I don’t think it is necessary. I will say it was one of the most fun 30 hours of my entire life. I learned that my will is stronger than my feet and my legs were built for distance. Running in the desert made me believe that a cactus can have an emotion, coca cola might be the greatest thing ever invented, and dragons really do exist. I got to witness the power of incredible friendship and crewing and see the largest moving Halloween party on the planet. What an adventure.
Three ultra-kates before the race (Katie DeSplinter, me, Kate Martini Freeman)
My number
Having ALL the fun
Me and my bro-in-law Fred Knapp rocking our Salomons.
Party in the desert!!
Still smiling!
Me and Coach Jimmy
Sun is setting...
Blister crew working the night shift
...and into the next morning
last 10 miles...
Finished at last
Sleep at last
Feet before...
Feet after
Thanksgiving weekend I went up to San Francisco with Brian Krogmann to watch/crew for the Quad Dipsea. On Thanksgiving morning Brian and I went out with friend Rick Gaston and some of his running friends to run a double Dipsea. One time through the trail is just over 7 miles and kicks off with somewhere around 650-700 stairs. Twice through was enough for me. Watching the quad 2 days later was incredible.
Me (in all black) on the Dipsea trail
5 weeks after my finish at Javelina I raced the Ridgecrest 50k on December 6th. This was my first ever trail run and ultra marathon last year. Our weather was chilly with headwinds on the climbs reaching 20-30 MPH. In spite of all of this, I beat my time from last year by almost an hour, finishing in 5:14. I was hoping for a sub-5 hour time, but I am incredibly happy and proud with the way I finished that race. I felt strong and recovery time was none. This race has boosted my confidence in what I can take on and accomplish in my races of 2010.
I’d also like to take a moment here and say how much I love my Moeben sleeves after last week’s race. I can’t stand being overdressed for running, but without my sleeves I would have been absolutely freezing in that wind. My Wigwam sleeves don’t hold a candle to them. If you’re looking into running sleeves, check Moeben out. They’re stylish and warm and there’s certainly nothing wrong with supporting a small business.
with Brian Krogmann at Ridgecrest 50k, both rocking our Moeben sleeves
On the music front, I have had a string of excellent shows during this past stay in Los Angeles. I played to a full room at Genghis Cohen the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. It was encouraging to see so many people come out to a 10:00 show on a Tuesday. This is the first L.A. show I’ve played where I got to take home door money. Things are coming along. I also played at The Joint this past Tuesday (Dec. 8th) and also had a great turn out. Again, I got a share of the venue’s door money and sold some CD’s as well. I am so grateful for the support of my friends and followers in the Los Angeles area. I rarely play shows out here that encourage me in the least, but those two shows gave me quite a lift.
playing at Genghis Cohen
On Thursday (Dec. 10th) I accompanied Nina Storey at Hotel Café’ where Sara Barielles sat in the audience as we opened for my new favorite band, The Rescues. What a night. Playing with Nina always trips me out a little bit because of how badly I wanted to be just like Jeremy Lawton (her former keyboard player) when I was a teenager.
me with Nina Storey (right) and Nicole Latorre (left)
Now I’m sitting in the Las Vegas Airport en route to Baton Rouge for the holidays. I hope the next couple weeks will serve as a little bit of a break for me to get some writing done and book some more winter/spring shows. I’ll also be deciding which ultra I’ll be doing the first 4-6 weeks of the New Year. Suggestions are certainly welcome.
A written update will follow soon. What an incredible experience.
This Saturday, October 31st, is my first 100 mile ultra-marathon. I’m feeling overall pretty good, though a little nervous. I’ll be running in the desert just outside of Phoenix.
The race starts at 6am on Saturday morning. If I have cell reception, I’ll be tweeting updates throughout the day. You can follow me here – http://twitter.com/KatelynBenton
Or you can track me at the race website. I’m number 534. http://www.javelinajundred.com/webcast/live_results.html
Wish me luck.
As of right now, the forecast for next Saturday in Phoenix is a high of 73 and a chance of showers. PERFECT.
* crosses fingers *
I am less than two weeks away from running my first 100 mile length ultra-marathon. I’m feeling good about the last 6 or 7 weeks of training and if I handle my taper right, I should be going into Javelina without injuries and eager to run.
I’m trying not to concentrate on the things that are worrying me about the race. I have a list of concerns, but all I can do is try and stay positive and take care/listen to my body.
I just got back from a 3 week stay in Los Angeles and am now in Colorado until I fly to Phoenix for the race next weekend. The back and forth leaves me a bit disoriented. I’m not sure who exactly I am or what I’m doing and this race seems to be the only thing in my life right now that I am feeling in control over. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel when this race is over. I hope I can find my North soon and start to feel a little more balanced.
Speaking of balance, I got this Power Balance bracelet this last weekend that makes me feel like I have super powers. It made me nauseous the first half hour I wore it, but I did notice an immediate improvement in my balance.
