It was one wild ride. Grab a beverage & have a seat, we’re going on a journey. A journey of 100 miles one step at a time.

A little background before diving in - Western States is considered the oldest and most prestigious 100 mile trail race in the country. Because of the high demand of entry & limited number of racers allowed, a lottery system is used to choose runners for the event. The requirement for the lottery is a qualifying 100 mile race finish. For every year you qualify you get another ticket & they multiply exponentially over the years. So in theory the more years you put in the more likely you are to get drawn.

My name was drawn for the 2020 event, I had 6 years in the lottery. I was stoked to finally get to run this event of a lifetime. Then 2020 happened & everything was postponed a year.

So here we are June 2021, and I’m finally sharing the story of my Western States adventure. It’s been a long road to get here, so let’s get started….

PRE-RACE

Thursday afternoon I picked up my crew & off to the airport we went.

Chris, Alisha & Kelly were my crew & we were meeting my friend, Alli, there on race morning. These 4 amazing women made up “Team Pocket Pickles.” (You’ll have to ask me for that story in person sometime!)

Our direct flight to Sacramento didn’t leave until 6:45pm, it was going to be a long evening, given the flight time, 2 hr time difference & 2 hour drive to Tahoe City once we got there. The idea of “no sleep ‘til Auburn” was already becoming real!

We got our rental car & made our way to Tahoe City and the Airbnb. It was midnight local time when we arrived.

Friday morning I needed to be at the race start by 9am because I was taking part in a medical research study on bone density. They were doing blood draws, genetic testing & dexa scans on volunteer runners. I was excited to be a part of it! All in the name of science!!

That morning we all hopped into the SUV & made our way to Olympic Valley (aka Squaw Valley ski resort home of the 1960 Olympics.) The girls took off for a run & I went looking for the research study location.

I got my tests finished, picked up all my race swag & found a spot to hang out while my friends finished their run. It was so neat to seel the elites and other athletes milling around. I met a couple of the other runners from Minnesota as well.

When my friends finished their run, we grabbed some lunch & hung out for the pre-race meeting. Once the pre-race meeting was over we made our way back to the Airbnb for final race preparations & an early dinner.

18 hours + until go time! The race starts here at the bottom of the ski area & starts by going UP the mountain!

RACE DAY

Saturday morning started with a 3am alarm. I slept remarkably well & woke up calm & ready to tackle this adventure. My pre-race routine involves coffee, a light breakfast, plenty of trips to the bathroom & making sure I have lubed all the high friction areas…. Chafing over 100 miles is a real issue, so I use special products to save my skin & KT tape on my back where my pack hits my bra to prevent it.

Soon Team Pocket Pickles is piling into the SUV to head to Olympic Valley. The song “Whatever it takes” by Imagine Dragons pumping thru the speakers.

Once at the race start I pick up my bib & connect with Alli, who will be helping crew with the rest of Team Pocket Pickles. It’s not long now!!

Hugs & a few pre-race photos are in order & soon enough I’m lined up with 315 of my new friends for the journey to Auburn.

Race morning! 50* at the start line felt refreshing! It was going to get hot though!

Crew selfies are the best!!! Thank goodness for these amazing women!!!

At the crack of 5am the starting gun goes off & we make our way up the Escarpment - 2500 feet of climbing in 4.5 miles from the base Olympic Valley to the highest point on the course. This is what I have spent the last 2 years training for. Those long incline workouts on the treadmill before work, hill repeats at Hyland Hills, squats in the gym, it’s time to put it all to the test.

In these first few miles, I try to stay relaxed. I chatted some with fellow runners & soaked in the moon setting over the mountains & the sun rising behind us. It was a gorgeous morning & I wanted to enjoy it fully.

I had my phone on airplane mode in my pack & snapped a few photos along the way in those early miles. The last push to the very top was thrilling. All the people who had hiked up there in the dark & pre-dawn hours coupled with the sunrise over Lake Tahoe & the excitement of the day ahead was truly magical.

Looking back at Olympic Valley & Lake Tahoe in the distance.

Almost to the top of the escarpment! So much energy up here!!! It was amazing!

I crested the mountain & descended into what’s considered the high country section of the course. From here to mile 30 would all be new to me.

I had participated in the Training Camp over Memorial Day weekend a month prior & had the chance to run the final 70 miles of the course over 3 days, but these first 30 miles I hadn’t seen yet.

The high country is my favorite section of this course. Slightly technical trails & amazing views of the surrounding mountains filled my soul. I found myself staying at a comfortable pace & running with a heart full of joy. I kept thinking “this is going to be a great day!”

At 24 miles you descend into Duncan Canyon & this is the first chance to see my crew. Chris, Alisha & Kelly had taken the harrowing mountain roads to meet me here & then would meet me again at mile 38, Dusty Corners. It was a thrill rolling into that aid station & I announced to them “TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY!!”

I flew thru here, refilling my pack, making some minor clothing adjustments & getting hosed down by volunteers. It was heating up already.

Taking full advantage of the cold water spray!

It was 6 miles to Robinson Flat. I would meet Alli there. I knew there was a big climb to get there but that was all I knew about this section. A bit more downhill out of Duncan Canyon & then we started climbing. And climbing we did. This is where the heat started to get real & I could tell people were hurting. I was heating up as well, but still feeling ok.

The climb to Robinson Flat took me down a peg, but seeing Alli & getting into the aid station put the spring back in my step. From here on out I knew what the course held (kind of…) and I was still excited for the day ahead.

Again, I rolled thru this aid station pretty quickly. Some sunscreen, hosing off my arm sleeves, filling my bandana with ice & I was off. The next 8 miles would be a lot of downhill with one aid station about half way before meeting Kelly, Chris & Alisha at Dusty Corners.

Moving through Robinson Flat with Alli’s help.

I arrived at Dusty Corners needing to change shoes as I was having a significant amount of pain across the top of my right foot & needing a mini reset before the next section.

Alisha asked me what I wanted to eat here, I didn’t have a good answer and nothing sounded good…. First red flag. I got some food in, shoes changed, more sunscreen, more ice & off I went. The next time I would see crew would be Michigan Bluff at mile 55. This next section was going to kick my ass.

The 5 miles to Last Chance aid station went ok, and when I got there I used the bathroom, had a few bites of food, more ice, water & sports drink. From here it was 2 miles downhill & 3 miles up to Devils Thumb. Devils Thumb might be the hardest climb on the course.

The 2 miles downhill weren’t easy, as that constant descending made my feet hurt & I got to worrying about rattlesnakes. I much prefer climbing, so I knew that I would be happier once I got to the big climb. Except for the fact that my ice had all melted and the heat was real by then. I was climbing, but not at all like I knew I could. I met up with other runners on the climb up Devils Thumb & we all were fighting the good fight. Things were getting real.

Slowly we made it to the top & the aid station. I knew I needed a little time here. Except right away I got stung by a bee on my arm. Dang. There were so many bees! I had a popsicle, and sat for a moment. Volunteers refilled my ice bandana, water bladder & electrolyte drink. I had a couple bites of pb&j. But the bees were swarming & I didn’t want to get stung again. I headed out….

Another big decent & a big climb were ahead before seeing Team Pocket Pickles at Michigan Bluff.

Out of Devils Thumb I descended into El Dorado Canyon. It was early evening by now. The sun was shining directly on the canyon wall & shade was sparse. If there was a breeze it was not getting into the canyon. It felt like an oven. I was baking in the full sun. My thighs & calves were fully broken out in heat rash, my ice was gone & I had an unquenchable thirst. I had been drinking well, taking salt tabs & using my electrolyte drink throughout the day, but I was thirsty. It was all I could think about. I was not moving well & getting passed by folks moving more nimbly down the canyon. And I was still worried about rattlesnakes. This was where I had nearly stepped on one during training camp. Things were going south fast in my world. I felt myself starting to cry. I would talk myself out of it. But as soon as someone passed me I would tear up again. I had been running alone for most of the day & it felt like there was a long time before I’d get a pacer.

Eventually I arrived at El Dorado aid station at the bottom of the canyon. It was after 7:15pm. I asked to talk to medical because I was so incredibly thirsty, even though I had consumed nearly 2 liters of water and almost all of my electrolyte drink in the prior 5 miles. I sat in the bed of a truck while a medical volunteer took my heart rate & blood pressure. All were fine. I drank some broth & sat for a long time. The aid station captain said he recorded temps of 106 there today. It had to have been close to that even that late in the day.

I knew cut offs were going to be an issue, and at the least, I needed to get to Michigan Bluff. I knew my crew was worried. I wasn’t confident if I’d get any further than that, but I had to get that far. I left El Dorado feeling slightly better than I had when I got there.

2.8 miles uphill to Michigan Bluff, I anticipated it taking me an hour. It was close to 7:45 when I left El Dorado.

If you arrive at Michigan Bluff after 8pm, you can have a pacer here. Otherwise it is mile 62 before you can get a pacer. My Plan A was picking up my first pacer at mile 62. I knew if I came into Michigan Bluff after 8, I was in trouble. My crew & I had talked thru all the scenarios so we had a plan B, just in case.

I hiked up to Michigan Bluff feeling very sorry for myself, I knew that I’d have a pacer from here on out if I was going to finish. I honestly was not sure if I could go on.

I was scared. I was so thirsty again & I couldn’t walk in a straight line. Things were not right.

I made it to Michigan Bluff & Alisha gave me a giant hug as I started to cry.

This is where having an experienced crew is invaluable. These ladies used their super powers to put the wheels back on this bus.

I sat in a chair, got a dry shirt, lights & my pack refilled. Alisha talked me off the ledge. Kelly poured me a cup of pickle juice, someone brought me chips & broth. The pit crew working their magic. Cut offs were looming & I needed to get to Foresthill, mile 62. We could reassess there.

The crew worked their magic at Michigan Bluff, mile 55.

Chris was ready to roll & off into the darkness we went. I still wasn’t confident I could finish, but I needed to get to Foresthill. In these next miles, a switch flipped & I started to feel better. And let’s be clear better still isn’t great, but my confidence was returning & I was not nearly as thirsty.

We made it to Foresthill & the crew was back in action helping me get back out there.

Moving through the Foresthill Aid Station, mile 62.

Kelly was on deck to join me for the next 16 miles to the river crossing. I was about 30 min ahead of the cut offs. I tried to run as much as I could with the descents and the darkness. We stayed on pace thru this section and each aid station we were out of before the 30 min cut off horn.

Arriving at Rucky Chucky aid station, another flurry of pack refilling, clothing adjustments & pacer change. Alisha was up next for another 16 miles including the river crossing.

Right at Rucky Chucky, you cross the American River. This was probably the second most awesome thing (after climbing the Escarpment at sunrise). The volunteers had a rope strung across the river to hold on to & pointed out the best rocks to step on. The water was cold & about hip deep in places, but it felt amazing.

Arriving at Rucky Chucky Aid Station, Mile 78.

Crossing the American River. Those volunteers were fantastic!

From the river it is 2 miles uphill to Green Gate. Alisha kept me moving thru the Green Gate aid station (brief stop here for dry socks.) But there was no time to waste.

I was 20-30 min ahead of aid station cut offs, but there was no time to spare. I knew there was still some climbing to contend with. And while there wasn’t sun, it sure didn’t cool down much overnight. I was moving as efficiently as I thought I could.

The sun came up and we kept clicking off the miles. I was a mess though. Mentally I was getting to the end of my rope. Tears, over thinking, the weight of my own expectations weighing on my mind. I knew I had to finish. But it was not guaranteed. I had to keep staying ahead of the cut offs. I could not take my foot of the gas. But yet I still had a long way to go.

After a very hot climb up to Pointed Rocks aid station, Chris was ready to run me to the finish. I had less than 6 miles. The 20 min horn blew. My cut off window was closing quickly.

Leaving the Pointed Rocks aid station. 5.7 miles to the finish.

The sun was up and it temps were rising. My legs were fully inflamed with heat rash & the sun on them made them feel like they were literally on fire. We ran down to No Hands Bridge, I had 3 miles to go. I knew the climb up Robie Point was long & exposed. Once I got to Robie Point, my crew could all join me for the 1+ mile thru town to the finish line at the Placer High School track. But I had to get to Robie Point before the cut off. Chris was pulling me along & encouraging me to move faster. I was pushing harder than I ever have.

I spotted a race sweeper - he told me I had 10 min to get to the top…. I checked my watch. It didn’t make sense, how could I be so close to the cut off now??!!! I had been pushing. I never took my foot off the gas, but here I was on the verge of missing a cut off 1 mile from the finish line.

Chris pushed me harder. I swore at her & dug deeper. Every switchback I was hoping for the top. Where was it??? One more turn and I could see it. Volunteers were yelling 2 MINUTES!!!!!! Could I get there in 2 min?? I had to. I dug down again, Chris kept pushing. She had to. Tough love. We were all in this together. This truly isn’t a solo effort.

I was running. Uphill at mile 98.5, in 90+ degrees after 29 hours of constant motion, tasting metal in my mouth, barely getting enough air.

I made the right turn onto the pavement. I beat the cut off!! Alli along with all the volunteers & spectators were screaming encouragement. I was going to finish. I was going to make it to the track & get my bronze buckle.

This last 1.2 miles was my moment. I ran some, I walked some. I saw the elites cheering us in. Alli FaceTimed Matt, so even he was able to join me. All of TPP were by my side. There were tears. Lots of tears.

And there was the gate to the track. Friends on the infield cheering & running next to me! The energy! The joy! I can’t even begin to explain it.

It was a moment I won’t soon forget.

This sport is special. From the outside it looks like an individual effort, but it is most certainly not. This community is so unbelievable. Thank you the race director, all the volunteers, my crew & my so incredibly supportive husband, for allowing me this experience. I am very lucky - I get to “pick my hard,” and do these things that force me to grow & find new levels, while there are many folks out there who are fighting battles we may never know, I hope to inspire them to keep moving forward, even when things get hard.