<p><strong>Short version:</strong></p>
<ul><li>First trail race</li>
<li>Not only the hardest race I've ever done...one of the hardest things I've ever done</li>
<li>Beautiful course with spectacular views</li>
<li>Awesome people - racers and volunteers alike. Aid station volunteers were just incredible.</li>
<li>Fantastic small, low key race...300 people, the start was "ready, set, go!" and the sound system was someone's boom box</li>
<li>Finish time was 6:26 and change</li>
<li>Edited: Results just posted 11/23 AG</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<p><strong>Long version:</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I got sucked into this by my cousin (aka super cousin) who has done it now 4 times. I can still hear her words: "It's the hardest marathon you'll ever love."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pre-race: Took the boat over Friday night with Mr. Otter. He proposed to me there in February 1999, so it holds a special place in my heart and I'm so glad he was there with me. Picked up the bib and chip, had some dinner, and settled in for the night. Race morning, woke up at 6, bagel, fluids, and got ready for the 8am start (they start later to allow for people to take a 6:15am boat from the mainland).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First 4 miles were at 1500 ft climb. Yikes. I've never seen so many people walking at mile 2...myself included. But once we got past that, it just rolled for quite a while. Ran with some really nice people - a lot doing their first marathon, a lot doing this one for the first time. Got into some really fun single track areas - kinda difficult terrain, but it was really fun!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Aid stations were about 2-3 miles apart - so different than a road race. These had CANDY!!! Oh jellybeans, sweet jellybeans. A nice treat. Glad I ate some of those and a few pretzels early on...my stomach took a turn for the worse. I trained with pretzels and jellybeans, so I was glad the aid stations had at least one of my treats!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Around mile 12 (I think), hit another big climb. The hill was a 90 degree angle. Ok, so it wasn't but it looked that way from the bottom. Around this time, the heat really started getting bad. Most of the course is exposed, and with temps in the 80's and very dry air, my body just started kind of shutting down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just past the half way point, we entered the hottest, driest section of the course. I tried to eat - I'd only had a handful of pretzels and jellybeans because I got a little nauseated around mile 11. I was able to still get Gatorade down, thank goodness. But food...it just made me want to puke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I approached the aid station at mile 15.5, for the first time in a race, I wanted to stop. I started crying as I approached the station, and had decided I was done. I just couldn't see how I was going to do over 10 more miles of this. But, I've never DNF'd, and all I could think was that Mr. Otter was going to be waiting at the finish, and I wasn't going to show up in a shuttle. So, on I went...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Leading up to mile 19 is the "Catalina Crush" - it's one heck of a hill, and I truly don't know how someone could run up the darn thing. But at the top is the most amazing view, and again, a fully loaded aid station with warm, wonderful people. I managed to eat three grapes and a sip of Cactus Cooler (interestingly, it sounded and tasted great!) and pressed on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until mile 23 was rolling, another decent climb around mile 21, ran with more super nice people. I was still nauseated but kept taking in Gatorade to get in some calories. Finally, at mile 23, we started the downhill descent to the finish...on the most technical, steepest part of the course. My legs were trashed, my body was depleted, but I knew only 3 miles separated me from the finish line. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once off the trail just past mile 25, there was a stretch on road to the finish line. Admittedly, I cried for most of it. I don't ever remember wanting a race to be done so badly. Making that final turn to the finish, I could hear the crowd (it was small, but loud!) and tried to pick it up a little. Totally sobbed when I saw Mr. Otter, crossed the finish line, and landed in the arms of Super Cousin, (who cried right along with me). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was an amazing experience...one I will probably repeat next year. Definitely the hardest marathon I'll ever love.</p>
<ul><li>First trail race</li>
<li>Not only the hardest race I've ever done...one of the hardest things I've ever done</li>
<li>Beautiful course with spectacular views</li>
<li>Awesome people - racers and volunteers alike. Aid station volunteers were just incredible.</li>
<li>Fantastic small, low key race...300 people, the start was "ready, set, go!" and the sound system was someone's boom box</li>
<li>Finish time was 6:26 and change</li>
<li>Edited: Results just posted 11/23 AG</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<p><strong>Long version:</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I got sucked into this by my cousin (aka super cousin) who has done it now 4 times. I can still hear her words: "It's the hardest marathon you'll ever love."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pre-race: Took the boat over Friday night with Mr. Otter. He proposed to me there in February 1999, so it holds a special place in my heart and I'm so glad he was there with me. Picked up the bib and chip, had some dinner, and settled in for the night. Race morning, woke up at 6, bagel, fluids, and got ready for the 8am start (they start later to allow for people to take a 6:15am boat from the mainland).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>First 4 miles were at 1500 ft climb. Yikes. I've never seen so many people walking at mile 2...myself included. But once we got past that, it just rolled for quite a while. Ran with some really nice people - a lot doing their first marathon, a lot doing this one for the first time. Got into some really fun single track areas - kinda difficult terrain, but it was really fun!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Aid stations were about 2-3 miles apart - so different than a road race. These had CANDY!!! Oh jellybeans, sweet jellybeans. A nice treat. Glad I ate some of those and a few pretzels early on...my stomach took a turn for the worse. I trained with pretzels and jellybeans, so I was glad the aid stations had at least one of my treats!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Around mile 12 (I think), hit another big climb. The hill was a 90 degree angle. Ok, so it wasn't but it looked that way from the bottom. Around this time, the heat really started getting bad. Most of the course is exposed, and with temps in the 80's and very dry air, my body just started kind of shutting down.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just past the half way point, we entered the hottest, driest section of the course. I tried to eat - I'd only had a handful of pretzels and jellybeans because I got a little nauseated around mile 11. I was able to still get Gatorade down, thank goodness. But food...it just made me want to puke.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I approached the aid station at mile 15.5, for the first time in a race, I wanted to stop. I started crying as I approached the station, and had decided I was done. I just couldn't see how I was going to do over 10 more miles of this. But, I've never DNF'd, and all I could think was that Mr. Otter was going to be waiting at the finish, and I wasn't going to show up in a shuttle. So, on I went...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Leading up to mile 19 is the "Catalina Crush" - it's one heck of a hill, and I truly don't know how someone could run up the darn thing. But at the top is the most amazing view, and again, a fully loaded aid station with warm, wonderful people. I managed to eat three grapes and a sip of Cactus Cooler (interestingly, it sounded and tasted great!) and pressed on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until mile 23 was rolling, another decent climb around mile 21, ran with more super nice people. I was still nauseated but kept taking in Gatorade to get in some calories. Finally, at mile 23, we started the downhill descent to the finish...on the most technical, steepest part of the course. My legs were trashed, my body was depleted, but I knew only 3 miles separated me from the finish line. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once off the trail just past mile 25, there was a stretch on road to the finish line. Admittedly, I cried for most of it. I don't ever remember wanting a race to be done so badly. Making that final turn to the finish, I could hear the crowd (it was small, but loud!) and tried to pick it up a little. Totally sobbed when I saw Mr. Otter, crossed the finish line, and landed in the arms of Super Cousin, (who cried right along with me). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was an amazing experience...one I will probably repeat next year. Definitely the hardest marathon I'll ever love.</p>
</p>
