Leona Divide 50 Mile - "Joy in the suffering"

LEONA DIVIDE 50 MILE

APRIL 16, 2016

Finding joy and contentment in ALL things is a tall task.  Lately I’ve been striving to do just that.  Life certainly throws curve balls and is tough, but choosing joy over sadness and contentment over envy is a choice.

As in life, my running has been a struggle at times.  Sure, I’m dedicated as ever to go out 6-7 days a week but each time is a mental hurdle.  Why?  I’m in the best shape of my life but why does it still hurt?  Maybe because suffering is just part of it.  Some suffer more than others and some, like me, choose it.

Such is the case with my latest race, the Leona Divide 50 mile.  Over the years, I’ve heard of Leona but it never fit into my schedule.  Thankfully, the timing was right this year and thankfully, I chose to sign-up.

My training leading up to Leona was very good.  After the LA Marathon in February, I took a short, very short, break and then got back to it.  My coach, Chris Vargo, prepared a great plan which I followed nearly 100%.  By April 16^th, I was more than ready.  My goal was to break 9 hours.  My previous best at the 50 mile distance was 9:59:11 at Sean O’Brien in 2014 (I did run a 9:59:21 at the Bighorn 52 mile last June but technically not a 50 mile).  The goal was lofty but attainable given my conditioning and mental growth.

After a sleepless night on April 15^th, the morning of April 16^th came very early.  I woke up at 3 am to get prepared to leave at 4.  The race started at 6 in Green Valley which is a little over an hour from Pasadena just outside of Santa Clarita.  Rob, my running buddy, picked me up in the dark and we were on our way.  Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous.  I’ve heard Leona is not as difficult as Sean O’Brien and I was in way better shape now.  Probably, the wrong frame of mind to be in.  Every race, especially an ultra, is difficult.  A healthy dose of nervousness is good.  As soon as you think you have it all figured out, the DNF bug will bite you.

We arrived just after 5 am and headed over to get our bib and race t-shirt.  I was bib 72.  It was a bit cold out, probably low 50’s, but the forecast had the temps rising to the mid-70’s which is really hot for trail running.  Runners were in tank tops and short sleeved shirts but I hate the cold and wore my Patagonia Houdini jacket.  I’m a total wimp when it comes to weather.

Since the start line was surrounded by homes, the race was a “quiet start”.  Meaning no gun just a quiet countdown from 5-4-3-2-1.  We were off a few minutes after 6 am.  It was still dark but the sun was coming.  Preparing for the race, Rob told me the first few miles were uphill on an asphalt road.  Rob said that if I wanted a good time, I should run fast to get in front of the crowd before the road veered off to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the single track where majority of the race would be held.  I did as Rob suggested and started off quicker than I would normally do for an ultra.

After a few miles, the pack was off the road and onto a fire road.  I felt great and was just off the lead group.  Just before 3 miles, a small aid station appeared and the PCT started at the crest of the hill.  Nobody stopped and we were off downhill.  It was nice to finally open the stride after 25 minutes of uphill running.  At the crest, the wind picked up and I was glad I wore the jacket.  In fact, I wouldn’t take the jacket off until mile 17.5.  The PCT is a great trail.  Not too technical and incredible views from every direction.  The trail seemed to be all downhill at this section.  Before I knew it, the next aid station appeared at mile 8.6.  It was the turnaround for the 30k and 50k runners.  Prior to this point, I didn’t know who was a 30k, 50k or 50 mile runner.  With 3 distances, the race was very large (probably 500+).  After a quick refueling and short break (I hadn’t stopped running since the start), I crossed the road and the amount of runners really thinned out.  The trail here also seemed to go mostly downhill and being a newby, I had no idea where the trail was headed.  After an hour or so, I finally realized the trail was out and back.  I saw the lead runner and then 2^nd place, 3^rd place, and so on.  In my estimation, I was in 10^th place and made it to mile 17.5 about 2 hours 51 minutes after I started.  This was the turnaround point for this section.  The next aid station was 9 miles away and 4,200 feet of climbing.  All the downhill to get here meant the exact opposite.  It was 9 am and still brisk but very windy. In fact, my hat blew off a few times. I refueled my bottles and picked at salted potatoes and chips before heading out. 

The course courtesy of my Suunto watch

I left the aid station in 10^th place but quickly dropped to 11^th when the eventual ladies winner, Rachel Ragona, passed me.  I talked with her a bit but she was on a mission.  I was so impressed with her climbing ability.  I was power hiking up the first section and so was she until a 2^nd lady passed us on the way down to the aid station.  She looked at her watch and said I have a 1 minute lead.  At that point, she was off like a rocket. I never saw her again. 

Eventually, I would be passed by 7 other runners along the course.  I’m competitive but in a race as long as a 50 miler, you have to run your own race.  If you get caught up in the “racing” and run beyond your capabilities, the last 10-20 miles will be a suffer fest.  Thankfully, I’m mature enough to know my abilities and kept plugging away.

I finally made it to mile 26 and just over halfway in 4 hours 30 minutes.  I was the only one at the aid station which is always a good feeling.  I also had on my Angeles Crest 100 Finisher shirt and a few of the volunteers were complimenting me on the finish.  It was an instant boost to my confidence.

After this aid station, the trail continued its climb up to the crest where the PCT started early on in the morning.  I passed quite a few runners along this section but they were going down as I was going up.  This would be the trend all day.  As I mentioned previously, with 500+ runners along the same basic route, the trail was crowded at times.  Not a huge deal but I must have said “Good Job” 100+ times.  Ultrarunners are very friendly and if you don’t encourage others along the way, it’s bad form.  Plus, I was able to see Rob a few times which was a huge positive.

Again, being new to Leona, I didn’t know where I was.  After the infamous Leona Divide sign and bench, the trail opened up and I could see exactly where I was headed; up, up, and up then down, down, and down.  Sadly, it was another out and back section.  I saw the eventual men’s winner, Jesse Haynes, pass me as I was headed up.  He was many miles ahead and running fast.  It was just past 12 noon and starting to get hot.  The trail was exposed, dusty, and full of runners.  I finally made it to the bottom and mile 38 in just under 7 hours.  There were several 50k runners at the aid station but no 50 milers.  I spent about 1 minute refueling, then quickly left.  I was tired and exhausted and knew if I waited any longer, it would be tough to get going again.  I grabbed 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and started the climb back up.  I finally saw another 50 mile runner after 10 minutes of climbing.  I knew at that point that whatever place I was in was the place I was going to finish.  I was right.  I never saw another 50 mile runner until the finish line. 

It was slow going up the hill (i.e., 20 minute per mile pace) but eventually, I made it to the top and started to run again only to reach the bottom and then up to another crest.  So many 30k and 50k runners here.  It was constant shuffling and moving back and forth.  Again, I passed the Leona Divide sign and up and over rolling hills to the final aid station.  Yes, the same station I saw at mile 3, 31, and now 46.  There were a ton of runners here at this point.  It was festive but very hot.  It was about 2:20 pm.  Great news is I was only 3+ miles away from finishing my 10^th ultra and even greater news, it was mostly downhill.  I ran hard here knowing the end was just a 5k or one loop around the Rose Bowl away.

Finally, the asphalt road.  It had been over 8 ½ hours since I veered off this to the PCT. 

After 8:48:28, I crossed the finish line in 19^th place.  It never gets old finishing a race especially an ultramarathon.  It also never gets old when you accomplish your goal.  I set out to break 9 hours and did so with 12 minutes to spare. 

Turns out Leona Divide is not that easy with almost 9,000 feet of climbing.  I should’ve given it more respect and was humbled multiple times along the way.  I wanted to stop but kept telling myself it will be worth it.  One step at a time.  Don’t look ahead.  Don’t complain.  Yada, yada, yada.

Thankfully, I didn’t give in and the finish line never felt better.  Of course, I was physically a mess and bee lined it to the nearest bench but my soul and heart were fulfilled.  It was a great day in the mountains. 

There is great joy in the suffering.  Maturity, growth, sense of accomplishment, greater self-esteem, are all there for the taking.  Be content in the moment.  Be thankful for whatever life is dealing.  Choose joy.