The Banshee vs. the Baker

I ran my first 50 mile ultra yesterday and it was amazing! The Baker website doesn't do this race justice at all. It is a run in three sections over the course of three years. Each 50 mile section holds its own charms and obstacles (and medals)! This year I faced the North section which is almost entirely trail. There is about 6 miles of road and 8 miles of rails-to-trails. I couldn't wait to earn the first piece of the three piece medal! I think it is just the neatest idea ever!



I am thanking my lucky stars that my running buddies and I did some training runs on the trail. You may remember my previous post about the training run where we got lost three or four different times, running out of water along the way. Because of those practice runs and tough lessons I was much more cautious about following the blazes and I never strayed off course, even correcting a few runners before they got too far away. Nothing like good trail karma!





I spent the night before with Danielle, her husband, Eric, and another girlfriend, Kathie. The ladies were taking part in the relay and my friend's husband and I were competing in the full ultra. We topped off our race day reserves with brats, baked beans, tortilla chips with salsa, and marshmellows toasted in the fire (chased down with cosmos, of course). It was a great way to relax and keep the pre-race jitters at bay!





The next morning we took a bus from the Brookville YMCA (finish line) to the starting line in Cook's Forest just in time for the 6:30AM start. It was a bumpy, uncomfortable ride but we made the best of it!



At the starting line I was pleasantly surprised to see my Team reGen teammate, Tom, as well as another old running buddy of mine, also named Tom! I was introduced to many other running friends and the crisp morning air had everyone in fine spirits.



We ran about a quarter mile up the road and made a right turn into the woods. Dannielle was running the first and last legs of the relay so I was glad to have her company for the first 12 miles! We set out at a good clip and I tried to just hang on while I got warmed up. The first 10 miles or so are fairly good running with only a few rocks and roots so I may have gone a little too fast on these miles while enjoying my trail time with my BFF. My splits for the first twelve miles were 14:01 (bottleneck at the trailhead), 11:58, 11:31, 12:11, 14:22, 14:45, 14:18, 13:00, 14:23, 11:37, 12:34, and 14:29. The 14 minute miles were uphill! ;)

At the second aid station (mile 11.8) I bid fairwell to Dannielle and struck out on my own. It was the first really steep climb of the course. It's been groomed to be gigantic dirt stairs and the scenery is really gorgeous. A cyclonic storm knocked down a lot of the huge trees so there's giant skeleton trunks everywhere amid the new growth. It was only 3 miles to the next aid station at the fire tower and I slowed down to enjoy it (17:49, 17:41, 16:08). Coming out of the fire tower there is a steep downhill with lots of rocks and roots as well as more than enough switchbacks to last me a month! It slowed me down quite a bit as I tried not to blow my quads this early in the game. From there it was another 3 mile jaunt to the next aid station and I was feeling pretty good (16:08, 17:49, 20:48). That last split tells me I lingered a bit too long at the aid station!



It was 4.4 miles and a REALLY steep climb to the next aid station where I also had my drop bag stashed. I started out with a SPIbelt and an Ultimate Direction handheld and thought I would pick up my Nathan hydration vest at this aid station. I felt so good I decided to stick with the handheld and all I picked up was my iPod (15:43, 17:00, 17:06, 19:00) as I congratulated myself on being almost to the halfway point only 3 miles away. It gave me a much needed mental boost and my next splits showed it (11:45, 14:07, 14:18).

Heading out of the halfway aid station I was enjoying myself and thinking that at the 30 mark I would be 60% done! I could barely believe it! It was a steep downhill for the most part again and I walked more than I should have to the next aid station (18:39, 19:15, 13:54). It was at this aid station that I hit the 30 mile mark and really started to feel the strain I was placing on my body. Right at the 50k mark was another short but very steep climb and I think I overtaxed myself passing a couple people who paused halfway up. My splits to the 35 mile aid station were 14:07, 17:29, 15:49, 21:10, 20:04, 21:38, and 16:48. Those 20 minute miles were nothing but walking and they really gave me a mental kick in the gut. I told myself I just needed to get to the next aid station at 41 miles and pull myself together. I tried to stick the guys in front of my as best I could but I eventually lost them (20:46, 18:39, 18:48, 18:39, 18:09, and 21:05).

At the 41 mile aid station I picked up some new company, a man named Donnie who was doing his second year of the Baker. He was also having a rough time and we decided to stick it out together. We started out by trying to run a half mile at a time before walking. It really helped us both as we approached the 44 mile aid station (15:32, 15:52, 18:19). We spent a couple minutes using the Port-a-potty (YAY!) and getting rehydrated for the next push to the 47 mile aid station. My Garmin died during this section so my last split for mile 45 was 20:32. After that we relied on Donnie's Garmin and resorted to running a quarter mile at a time. We used the facilities at the last aid station and I ate a Reese's peanutbutter cup. I think that was just the magic I needed!

I started to feel good. We could walk 20 minute miles and still finish under the cutoff. My hopes and my spirits rose and we started to pick people off with our running spurts. We started to run more and walk less and every step was like a weight off my shoulders. A mile from the finish we were walking up a short hill and a race volunteer started yelling at us to 'step it up' and 'you're not going to make it'! Donnie and I freaked out. We hauled ass to the bottom of the short uphill that leads to the finish line. We recognized the courthouse that is less than a block away from the YMCA where we would finish. I asked Donnie what his watch said and he told me we had almost 40 minutes to make it about a quarter mile. I laughed about it but that volunteer scaring us like that left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was the only bad experience of my entire race.



We walked up the hill, made a right turn down an alley, then a left up a hill, and a quick right to the finish line! I had made it! The race director, Steve, scanned my tag for the final time and handed me a medal! Dannielle snuck up from behind me and about tackled me! It was better than getting any other award so far. Official time was 13:31:14 and 60/66 finishers. There were 7 DNF's.



Dannielle and Eric treated me like royalty. They had been done for hours but hung around just to see me finish. They put together food and brought me soda and water (and reGen!). Eric even took my drop bags to my car and brought me back my finish line bag so I could shower and change at the Y's facilities. I've never been so grateful to my friend's in my life. They really made this race experience amazing!




To top it off I called my husband to let him know that I was alive and would be headed home shortly. It turned out that he'd decided to race a 5k that morning and had taken first place in his age group and 30th overall! He got a picture with one of our congressmen and a really nice trophy. I was so proud of him! What a great team we make!



I was very pleased to learn that my fellow reGen runner, Tom, had finished 30th overall with a time of 11:48. Dannielle's husband, Eric, finished around 11:30 and my good friend, Tom, finished 10th overall with a time of 10:24! Dannielle and Kathie's relay team came in 4th out of 7 with a time of 10:20! I'm surrounded by awesomesauce!

Switching Teams

No this post isn't about anything to do with my personal life!

Now that I've got that out of the way I can get on with my report of the Run for Hunger 4 Mile Trail Race. My Team reGen teammate, Tom, is the director for this race and he sure knows how to put on a great event. My husband decided to participate in his first trail race which made the day even better.

We barely made it to the start on time (2PM). My husband underestimated the drive time but thankfully I'm a lead-foot. We pulled into Birdsfoot Golf Club and parked on a steep hillside (thank you Jeep!). Shane ran over to the tent to register while I gathered our gear and donations. I made it to the table to sign my waiver right as Tom was leading the group of runners to the starting line. We did a quick introduction and left it at that for now.

At the starting line I missed the instructions in my rush to use the Port-o-john. Shane filled me in right as Tom blew the airhorn and we were off! We started up a golf cart road that was curving and first up then down. About a quarter mile in the grade increased sharply and I decided to slow down a bit. A young girl and a woman passed me so I was now third overall woman and it didn't seem like there was anyone close behind as we made a turn into the woods. The trail was very technical single track and I was concentrating hard on not twisting my ankle when I heard heavy breathing behind me. I looked back and it was a woman who appeared to be in her 30's. I almost let her pass because she wasn't in my age group but since I was in third place overall I decided to try to outpace her. Less than a mile into a race that probably wasn't the best idea.


At the 1 mile mark we came into a field and at this point the woman overtook me. We made a left turn back into the woods and I tried to stick to her but the voices in my head were telling me I was asking for an injury that would prevent me from running the Baker 50 mile next weekend. I started to let her pull away and hoped she would slow more than I would in the next 3 miles.



The trail met an access road and the race course turned to follow it. The access road then met a dirt road and we turned onto that. This was the one and only water stop and I was glad that I had chosen to carry a handheld on such a hot day. I thanked the volunteers and then turned left to follow the blazes into the woods again. The trail became even more technical and we were travelling uphill once again. It was at this point that I lost the woman who had passed me, just before the two mile mark. I was by myself now and was cautiously trying to follow the switchbacks up the hill without slowing too much.



At the top of the ridgeline we made a turn down the other side. Instead of switchbacks the downhill was a straight-on attack and it was covered with loose rocks and larger, immobile rocks and roots. I started to really worry about getting hurt here but I pushed on. I could hear people on the switchbacks behind me and it wasn't long before two men and a woman overtook me.

There were 4 stream crossings at the bottom of the hill. We criss-crossed Buffalo Creek and at first I tried to stay dry. While I was tiptoeing through the first crossing another woman caught me. I realized I would have to throw caution to the wind if I was going to maintain my position. I splashed through the next 3 crossings and kept a slight lead on the other woman. Somewhere in this patch my Garmin beeped out the 3 mile mark.



After the water crossings we started up the biggest climb of the race. I walked most of it and started chatting up the woman behind me, partially to entertain us both and partially to keep her from passing me. I learned it was her first trail race and she was wearing Vibram Fivefingers. Can you say ouch?! I could feel the rocks and roots through the rock plate in my trail shoes! Thankfully it leveled out at the top and I got back up to a jog and kept my lead. There were many, many downed trees and logs in this area and they slowed me down quite a bit. I scraped my thigh up quite a bit trying to cross over one of the ones that didn't have the bark removed. It slowed me enough that I heard footsteps again and I looked back to see two women moving swiftly up. I tried to stay ahead of them but I knew it was futile. Just as my watch beeped 4 miles I heard, "excuse me" from behind and stepped aside. I couldn't believe how well they were moving and it wasn't until after I finished that I realized they were half marathoners from the 1PM start and this was their finishing push. Then I didn't feel so bad about them passing me anymore.



I started to wonder if I had missed a turn as my Garmin read 4.1 then 4.2 and then 4.3. Finally I came out of the woods at the top of the golf cart road. I was about to run down it when I realized there were more pink flags leading runners back into the woods. I sighed deeply and then pushed on. Another quarter mile of switchbacks brought us back out of the woods and onto the golf course. I gave it all I had down the hill and then it began to rise again. I could see the finish line at the top and the clock read 59:50. I didn't think I could make it in under an hour but I gave my all and managed to get an official time of 59:57 and a Garmin distance of 4.8 miles.

I located my husband and enjoyed just sitting in the perfectly manicured grass for awhile. We chatted with some others and cheered in the next few runners. Tom came over and asked what we thought of his race and we agreed that it was much more technical than we had expected but enjoyable nonetheless. He told us food, a raffle, and awards would be happening in half an hour back at the tent so we headed down to get some fluids while we waited.

The event was catered by Fivestar Catering and the spaghetti and salad were excellent! Each runner was given 5 tickets to put in the bags for the chinese auction which included CEP arm coolers, technical socks, gift certificates to the local running store, handheld water bottles, a Brooks hat, and vegetable baskets from a local farm. Shane and I didn't win anything but it was still fun to hope!

When the results print out went up I couldn't find my name and I started to worry that I'd gotten missed. However, it turned out I was looking too far down! I'm used to being in the bottom 50% and this time I was 18th overall! I was beyond thrilled when I realized I'd taken 1st place in my age group. I was 6th woman overall. My husband finished in 52:28, 7th overall, and 2nd in his age group. It was a very good day for Team Brunazzi!





After all was said and done we thanked Tom for his hospitality and I slipped into my reGen shirt to snap some pics with him. (This is where the switching teams comes into play!) His daughter ran the 4 mile race as well and got 3rd in the 1-14 age group. She's going to give my daughter some stiff competition when we finally get them into a race together! We promised to catch eachother at another race soon and then my husband and I headed home.



Overall, I am very pleased with this race, our performances, and meeting a fellow teammate. I hope that next year we'll be able to do it again and hopefully place even better!

High Mileage Magic

When you think of the key elements of success what do you think of? Discipline, goal setting, pregmatism, etc.? I've been avoiding taking a good hard look at my running for some time now but living in my own denial had gotten the better of me. I was jealous of everybody else and beginning to hate my own running. Finishing a marathon? Not a 'real' accomplishment because it was 'too slow'. Attempting a hundred miles? Not a success because I didn't finish. I couldn't smile when my husband hit a new 5k PR and I winced every time my running partner talked about her 4:30 marathon or sub-2 half. I didn't like being the jealous and unsupportive person I was becoming so I was forced to look at myself.



All around me people were saying, "If you just run higher mileage you'll get faster." And I was replying, "If I was faster I'd have time to run higher mileage!" People were telling me, "Add speedwork and you'll get faster." And again, the excuse, "If I add speedwork I'll just get hurt!" I was stuck in my safe little routine of running 10, 15, or 20 miles a week at around the same paces every run. Maybe I'd throw in a shorter run and get a 10 minute mile average pace and think for a split second "I must be improving". All the while I was really just deluding myself into believing I was 'just built slow' or 'all slow twitch muscle' or whatever else I could come up with to excuse my laziness.



Well, something changed since I took a look at myself. I started building my mileage up. In the last five weeks I've run 27, 30, 26, 25, and 40 miles. I've become good friends with speedwork every Wednesday, sometimes on the highschool track and sometimes on the trail. One week it might be 400 meter repeats and the next it might be a ladder but I always do something. A friend suggested I start using the fancy heart rate monitor that came with my Garmin Forerunner. A couple test runs later I know my heart rate zones and what pace I can run to keep my heart rate in a particular zone. Thanks to that I can now judge my running pace better based on effort level alone and I can look at my Garmin less.

I'm sure right now you're wondering where all this is going so I'll get to the point. My husband has been bugging me to run another 5k with him. My jealousy had kept getting the best of me and it wasn't fun anymore. I'd miss a PR by 30 seconds and he'd get a new PR by almost a minute. It had become routine for me to miss an age group award by a small margin and then the whole ride home I'd stew about how it sucked that I'd never be 'good enough'. Well after 6 weeks of higher mileage and incorporating speedwork I finally decided to go ahead and give it another try at the Pleasant Hills Community Days 5k.

I left my Garmin at home and ran by feel. The course was hilly which messed with my perceived exertion level. I was sure I was off my goal pace (roughly 9:10/mile) and I gave up hopes of a PR early on as the hills took their toll. I made a new goal of just running the whole thing at my goal exertion level (80-85% of my max heart rate). As I reached the turn around my husband was just heading back. I felt a faint hope because he's normally SO far ahead of me. Then I caught up and realized he was just having a REALLY bad day. I gave him a pat on the back and carried on. Thankfully we've always given eachother the freedom to run our own race. I would feel awful if I held him back and I hope he felt the same when I left him on this day.

As I neared he finish I decided to try to pick off the nearest 3 people. I really wanted to pass someone for once! But it wasn't to be. As I picked up my pace they increased theirs and I never gained on even one of them. However, it gave me something to strive for and focus on besides the rasping of my breath in my throat and the burning in my lungs. As I neared the finish line I saw the clock just turning over to 27 minutes. I was sure my eyes were playing tricks on me so I picked up the pace to get a closer look. It wasn't a hallucination! I began to choke up knowing that PR was mine even if I walked across the line at this point. I pulled myself together and a spectator shouted that it was time to pick it up and go. I put the hammer down and tried to reach the finish shoot by the 27:40 mark. It was a little farther than I originally thought and I ended up finishing in 27:46! It was all I could do to stumble to a bare patch of asphalt and lay down but I've never been so happy in my life!

As I said earlier, I rarely get an age group award and when I have it's always been third place. I didn't have much hope even with a 1:30 improvement on my old PR but my husband agreed to wait with me to find out the official placings and I'm so glad he did! I got second place in my age group (only missed first place by 23 seconds!) and was awarded a gigantic trophy which is proudly displayed next to the TV in the gym now! I was so high on endorphins that I came home and ran another 11 miles to celebrate.



I just can't believe I never gave myself a chance before. If I had believed in myself a little more and berated myself a little less I would have saved everyone in my house a lot of grief. I am really excited to see how much I can improve now and I'm even dreaming of a sub-25 minute 5k next year. Maybe I'll get my sub-2 hour half marathon and maybe, just maybe I'll get that sub-4 hour marathon I've always dreamed of. All I know is that I'm not about to turn back now.

And thanks to Heather over at I have another chance to prove myself at the marathon distance. I was the lucky winner of her Race and Relax weekend giveaway! And if you would like to be the next lucky winner you can head over to her blog and enter for your chance to win a Fairy Dust for a Cure package. All of the proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the goodies are well worth a small donation!

So believe in yourself, train hard (and smart!), and put out some good karma by supporting Heather's Team In Training fundraising and the LLS. It will come back to you!

Starting Over

It's been awhile since I posted but I have a good reason for it! I feel like I've been in limbo, just a holding pattern of inactivity. By inactivity I don't mean being lazy physically but instead I haven't been able to DO anything to move my life forward. My job laid me off and I've been sitting on my butt at home with two kids pretty much 24 hours a day because I'm afraid to spend money on fun things until I know what's going to happen. I had two job interviews and I was even offered one of them. Of course it was the one I didn't want and I turned it down in hopes I would also be offered the other one. That may have been a mistake.

However, I also decided to do something about my inability to find a career that will last me a lifetime. I applied to California University of Pennsylvania for a BS in Sports Management: Wellness and Fitness. I got the news yesterday that I've been accepted. Now I have three years of schooling ahead of me instead of the year or so I had left on my degree in Business Administration. I'm nervous and scared and, well, terrified! But I'm also excited! Before I turn 30 I could have a career doing something that I love and changing other people's lives as well! What could be better than that?

I'm starting to feel like it's okay to look forward again and I'm hopeful that my upcoming challenges (50 mile and 100k race, school, job search!) will all turn out okay. To ice the cake (pardon the pun!) my littlest girl is turning one on Sunday! I can't believe it's already been a year since I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and thrown into the hospital only to have the most perfect baby ever (since my first of course)! I'm sure I'll gain 20 pounds with all the food we're making for the party but it will definitely be worth it!



So here's to taking obstacles and making them into ladders; ladders to the future, to better things, and to a brighter outlook. I'm going to jump in head first and hope for the best! And I can't wait to share all the knowledge I'm going to gain over the next few months with everyone who wants to make a change for themselves too! We can do it!