Cowlitz Valley Runners - View topic - Timberline Marathon - A place where undesirables gather... - Free Message Board Hosting by FreePowerBoards.com

What an adventure. Dave Hunter, Nick Abbott, Cathy Slater, Bill and myself along with our support crew of Jenn Abbott and Becky Hunter ventured out Friday evening for the Timberline Marathon. We met for dinner at the Olive Garden in Vancouver to carbo load for our race then we headed to Government Camp to stay the night at the Huckleberry Inn. Our room was spacious and the beds were pretty comfortable, or at least mine was.

Bill and I shared the loft with Nick and Jenn, we took the queen bed they took the bunkbeds. The Hunters took a pull out bed on the main floor and Cathy took the other. It was an interesting night to say the least, whether it be prerace nerves or Nick usual obnoxious self, he was succumbed by an infectious case of the giggles which Bill managed to catch. I am not sure when exactly I finally went to sleep but it was late. I don't think Nick slept at all. Not to mention the late night revelers down the hall that woke us as they staggered to their room. It always seems my race nights in a hotel end up like that, I suppose I should just accept it.

I went into this race not feeling topnotch. My stomach was upset 2 days prior and was still upset the night before so I didn't eat much at dinner. I hated that I felt bad. I tried not to focus it hoping maybe it was a severe case of race nerves but I highly doubted it. I forced myself to eat part of my pasta at dinner and a few bites of my oatmeal in the morning but not much. I was concerned I hadn't fueled my body well enough to carry me through the race but by start time I had no choice but to put my worries aside and just give my best effort.

We all piled into the Hunter's Suburban and Becky drove us to the start line at Timberline Lodge. The temperature at Inn was pretty chilly and had me wondering if I'd chosen the right clothes but when we got out up at the lodge the temperature was a bit warmer, still chilly but bearable. The race was started in waves. Runners started in the projected time they expected to finish, the fastest going out first. Cathy talked me into starting with 5hour starters however I knew I was closer to 5 1/2 to 6 hours. The way they started the runners was pretty slick, we were single file and as we approached the start line they punched in our race numbers and we were off. So no matter when we started our times would be true.

The run down the mountain was pretty eventful for me. I felt pretty confident on this section because I'd run it a year ago with Bill on his 50miler so I knew what to expect. It is like running downhill on the beach in many sections. I was thankful for my gaiters. I stuck with Cathy for a little while but then let her go knowing I couldn't maintain her pace. About mile 2 is when I hit the treeline, I was cruising along in a group of runners when I stepped on a rock and twisted my knee, I managed to catch myself before it slipped completely out. Uh oh.. Is this the beginning of the end and the race has only begun?? Not 5 minutes later we ran through a bunch of mad yellow jackets and I got stung on the very knee I had just twisted. Several other people behind me were stung as well, it was chain of cursing for while.

My knee was throbbing. I told myself to hang on to the aid station and survey the damage when I got there. So I didn't stop , I stuck it out trying to take my mind off it by listening to the trail chatter. At the Aid Station (mile 5.5) I stopped to check out my knee and pop some Ibuprofen. There was bit of blood where I'd been bit and my knee was swelling to the size of a baseball. Many of the runners coming in behind me were complaining of bites as well. The pain in my knee was bearable but I knew if I had one more wrong step and twisted it again it would be all over. So I filled my water bottle grabbed some hammer gel and headed out again more determined then ever to finish.

The section between the first Aid Station and the second (Frog Lake) was a difficult one. This section I knew the least about and was unfamiliar with the terrain however I was prepared for the uphill as I had overheard a runner talking about the 1.5 miles of uphill in this section. It was slow and arduous but I ran about half of the hills and walked half. About a mile and half out from the Frog Lake Aid station I spotted a photographer. Woo hoo, I thought I am almost to mile 10. I thought this of course because photographers don't usually hike out very far to take pics. Well this one did, I ran and ran and ran no aid station. I was duped! Finally I arrived at frog lake. The pain in my knee was subsiding but still swollen. I filled my bottle, took a swig of gatorade and headed out again. I was greeted on the other side of the road by Jenn and Becky cheering. It was nice to see familiar faces. I stopped to chat for minute and headed off.

The section between these aid stations was one of the hardest for me, miles 10-16. I questioned my sanity a bit as I always seem to do in difficult races. I had some low points where my body hurt and stomach rolled but I knew it would pass. So I allowed myself to feel bad and slow down during these times as I knew I would come out it and begin to feel better eventually. The Aid Stations only had water, gatorade and hammer gel. I sure could have used some salty potato chips instead. I was tired of the sweetness of the gel and craved some salt. I had a granola bar in my pack but couldn't stomach to eat it as it was sweet too. I forced myself to continue drinking my water, taking my electrolytes and hitting the gel. I picked up a Tropical flavored one at the aid station....YUCK! It was awful.

There were many sections of uphill after Frog lake but most were runnable. Eventually I passed the second Forest service road were there is always and aid station for the 50 miler Bill runs. Cool, I knew where I was and how far I had left to go. Trail runs are unlike road races, the miles are not marked. The course was well marked with signs but no mile markers. The aid station workers always seem to know how far the next one aid station is anyway and this is enough for me.

Finally I came to the 3rd aid station. I was excited to see it thinking I was at mile 18. Nope, they'd moved the aid station from where it was on the map to mile 16. Oh well. After this aid station the next one wasn't until mile 23. I personally think this is the prettiest part of the trail but it was also the longest section and felt even longer then it was. About 2.5 miles past the aid station Timothy Lake appeared to my right. I was familiar with some of this section from a camping trip a few years back, we'd hiked part of it. I felt pretty good through here and settled in to enjoy the scenery. What a great course it was. Timothy Lake seems to go on forever. I began getting tired and my water supply was diminishing. I fought the urge to go jump in the lake, it sounded so good. However getting back out would have been a chore. Smile

The trail by the lake was very rooty and rocky. I kicked several rocks running through this section, my legs were getting tired and I wasn't picking my feet up very far. Finally the lake was no longer in sight. Not long after that Bill rounded the corner like I knew he would in fine ultra runner form. He'd finished and was coming back out to run in with me. I welcomed his company. He cracked open a can of Pepsi he'd carried out with him and handed it to me. It tasted great, I was tired of gel and my water bottle was almost empty. He told me I had about another mile left to the last aid station. Thank goodness. Even with his company that was a long mile.

Finally we reached the aid station across Skyline Road. 3 miles left to go. I vowed to run it all. That was short lived. My legs were tired, my joints were screaming. I ran about half of it and power walked the rest. This part of the course was uninspiring, it was very flat and dusty. Bill's company on this section was greatly appreciated.

As I came up out of the trail onto the road for the final 100 yards or so, I dug deep and picked up the pace for a strong finish. The cheering spectators where a great help. Especially Nick cheering "Go Coach Keli"!! I finished in 5:38. Which was a time I was happy with. I would definitely do this race again.

I'd like say congrats to all who ran the race. Everyone did a fantastic job and represented our club in fine form. I am proud of you all!! I had a great time and enjoyed everyone's company.

Timberline Marathon from Nicks rose colored glasses point of view.
I hope nobody checks this race report for grammar or spelling. Friday afternoon driving to Portland to pick up packets stomach tying itself in knots, beads of sweat pouring into my eyes thinking what have I gotten myself into. The lady handing out packets greats me with a American Left hello. I pick up the packets and head to The Olive Garden to meet with the rest of the Motley Fools oops I mean runners, As we pole into the parking lot I see people standing outside it almost appears there is some form of peace rally, nope sure wasn’t those were the people waiting for tables. Ok I think I can throw getting a good 8 hours of sleep straight out the window. We meet with Cathy, The Hunters, and The Davenports, and then suddenly my wife was swept away to adult establishment for entertainment, while Bill, Dave and I were left in the parking lot after dark in the cold with reckless drivers passing at high rates of speed dangerously close to us. Hours later the boys are allowed to enter this great restaurant, same old same old here, appetizers dinner yada yada, great food, and great people. Onto the Huckleberry Inn, wow what a nice place, cabin like, everybody heads to the room, I think between us Bill and I made roughly 36 trips to the room packing STUFF. It didn’t take long to get settled in, everybody got there choice of beds and I was told where to sleep. It was the top bunk upstairs in place that was more sauna like than cabin like, it was overlooking about a 20 ft drop off, if I rolled over and to the right 1 and 1/2 times I would have a abrupt wake up call, on the way down my head would attempt to break a piece of 1x10 pine and my legs would land on a bed that appears as if it had been beat into submission more than one time, my head would then come to a sudden stop on a hard piece of carpet with no pad, I have never woke up this way before but have a good eye for the future and figured that it would be a rough day to wake up like this. Everybody said there good nights and I said my prayers. As I lay peaceful and quiet, people start giggling and laughing, I keep telling every to keep it down, nobody listens, I keep to myself. I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep. A large group of people apparently decided it was time to start a large exercise program on the way home from closing time at a local watering hole, good for them, BUT, I wish they wouldn’t have start there workout by running repeats on the 2 flights of stairs outside of our room, they could have been chanting cadence also but I could not confirm that for sure. Some drunk had a small problem with the outside wall, that was kinda loud. The dripping faucet that was annoying. Well if I cant sleep I had might as well get up. I wake my wife up like a good trophy husband should; I smacked her in the face with a pillow. We walk down and have breakfast in a cafe and run into Bill, he was done eating but watched us eat and we all chatted and shared a few laughs from the night. Back to the room. I think I might have accidently woke everybody up when I got back. OOPS. Showers and start getting ready. That was a nice night, I take load after load back to the car, wow look at that I could have saved some energy and left 90% of this stuff in the car since it didn’t get used in the room, but at least if we needed it we would have had it. On to the suburban. Timberline lodge here come the Cowlitz Valley Runners. I am really starting to get nervous. I look at this map of the trail I am handed, I don’t know how to fold a map or read one. I pretty much just really need someone to hold my hand and tell me where to go, and most of the time there is plenty of people to tell me where to go. I hear some announcer guy say 5 minutes till the start of the marathon that brings my shoes to the forefront of my mind. Oh yea I was going to ask Bill why the tongues always fall down, 4 minutes to go till the start of the marathon I am sitting in the parking with no shoes on my feet and taking laces out of one, with Dave’s help I get my shoes back on and am ready to go. My wave starts up the hill, I pray on the way up, people start running. Down hill across a creek, I start thinking that this is a dumb idea to run a marathon. I feel as if I am running on the moon. Why is there sand on the side of a mountain? I am not very good with mileage either, so into a wooded section people are screaming, WASP WASP, the gentlemen in front of me is screaming like a girl so I think to myself I should run fast, a few wasp bounce off my legs and head I made it threw without getting stung, good thing I prayed. Down the trail I go, boy don’t fall to the right I think pretty big drop off to some highway. Into an aid station I fill my water bottle and hit a gel. There is a gentlemen sitting to the left with blood pouring out of his nose, I hear him say it happens all the time, I think to myself better he gets the bloody nose than me. Down some more trail I am chugging along pretty well but all that down has my calves tighter than (I let you ad lib here). I stop and try to stretch, I don’t feel any different so I just keep chugging. On and on tree here tree there. I think I am about 10 miles in and I am still feeling very good but my calves are getting any looser. I here people and I mean real people not the ones in my head, I must be close to an aid station I tell myself that I am over dressed and need to get rid of one of my shirts. Hey there Becky and my wife, I stand behind a few people who are filling large camel backs, finally I get a chance a fill my small water bottle, I am a little frustrated right now because I feel really good and just want to go. I pose a couple of times for the camera and am on my way, about a mile down the trail I remember that I was going to give them one of my shirts oh well I will give it to them next time I see them. Crater Lake here I come wow lots of cow poop and horse poop and it sure is fragrant. I pass a couple of hikers who look like dead heads and they make all the poop I am passing smell awfully good. I think these hikers might be hiking the whole PCT, without showering. I come to another aid station dang it nobody is there, I was hoping this time that I could stand in line behind at least a dozen people filling camel backs so that I could rest, but no chance. I fill my water bottle and take off. My calves are getting tighter, jumping over rocks is really starting to be painful and running is starting to become quite a chore. Around mile 20 I decide I had better walk for a while to try to loosen these things up. Dang this isn’t working. Oh sweet I hear people must be an aid station, I fill water bottle. The kind lady says American Left and off I go running actually. I run for a while and then walk. I am walking and checking out the sites. Here comes a lady that writes a fabulous blog, Run More Talk Less, its Olga, I figure we have about 3 miles to go and she is running but slow. I tell her I want to cross the finish line with a star. Off we go. It was great running with her she has a great accent, drink she would say, walk this hill, run now, drink, she says she might collapse and I try to be a stud and tell her I will carry her if she goes down, but there is no way I could heck I was struggling carrying my own fat butt. On to the pavement finish line in site. Becky, Dave and Jenn on the corner cheering me on as if I was some form of champion. Round the corner and I get my first glimpse of the time clock. That thing was a site for sore eyes. I did it. I did it. 5 months into my running career I actually finished a marathon. Olga comes over gives me a big hug and calls me baby. Nice. I due my best impression of a cripple and walk down to the suburban to get off these sweaty clothes and shoes. One small blister on my foot not bad. Dry clothes and flip flops, I feel no better. I stand at the finish and wait and cheer for everyone that comes in. I am so proud of everyone who finishes. Dave, Bill, Cathy, Keli you are all warriors. Becky and Jenn words can’t explain what a great job you did. Why would you go out of your way to follow us motley fools around. Thanks. I hope in the future and with this club growing that I will be able to share some moments like this with some of the new members. For people who run and never thought you would run a marathon I hope you do run one and I hope I am there to share in your sense of accomplishment because the sense of accomplishment i fill is beyond words. Oh yea I know this is a bit wordy I am sorry. TRAIL JOKE AAAHHHH MARJ. DU CAP