A Tale of Two 10k's: Race Reports - Dirty Legs Quicksilver and Cinderella Trail

I am a little behind so here is a two-fer. Two race reports for the price of one, which is free, so quit yer bitchin' already.


Dirty Legs Quicksilver Trail 10k - August 8, 2010

I planned to run this with Katie A. and PunkRockRunner (Ron). It is the second in the South Valley Endurance Summer Trail Series. The first one was the Dirty Legs Trail Run at Nisene Marks that Katie A. and I ran last month. These are small, inexpensive, very well run, races. I am officially a fan.

When I drove up, the first thing I saw is Ms. Lilly! Ms. Lilly is Katie A.'s dog who is as adorable as a dog can be that is not already my dog Lucy (who, IMHO, is the most adorable dog in all the land).

Katie and Ms. Lilly after the race

Katie, Ron and I decided we would run our own races for this 10k (translation: they dropped me like a used condom about 20 yards into the race)

About 20 yards in to the race, do you see Ron and Katie? No? Neither do I.

The run started with brutal 1 mile/~600ft elevation gain climb, but after that the course was very runnable and since it was not hot, a really beautiful run. I met up with a gal, Jill, that was about my pace and we ran together, chatting it up and enjoying the scenery.

Elevation chart for the race

At about mile 5.5 we came a cross a runner that was down and clearly in pain. He was with one of the course photographers. We asked if they needed anything, but they said help was coming and they were fine.

About half a mile later we saw the "help" in the form of a very unhappy EMT hiking up the steep, single track carrying a 40 pound gear bag and a back board. She was gasping for air and could not even respond to us when we asked her if she needed help. She just immediately handed me the gear bag and Jill the back board, so we took that as a 'yes'. I gave her my water bottle and we started the trek back to the downed runner.

Jill carrying the back board. That sucker was heavy, like hiking with a goddamn surf board. The bag was no picnic either.

We got back to the runner, and after the EMT's evaluation, we got him strapped on the back board and started to haul him out. He was in a lot of pain. Shaking and shocky. After about half a mile he deemed it was way too painful to stay on the board. After more evaluation, the EMT said that his femur was most likely not broken (our best guess based on the pain level and the awkward look of his thigh is that he detached part of his quadricep muscle), so the photographer and the race director acted as crutches and helped him down the trail (Jill, the EMT, and I were WAY too short to do this).

At this point, Jill and I were not needed except to pack the gear bag to the aide station where the EMT's truck was waiting. After dropping off the bag we were able to run the 0.1 miles left to the finish. We actually had been on pace for about 1:25-1:30 prior to all of this, but ended up finishing about 2:30 and covering at total of 7.75 miles.

The other race director, Stacey, was at the finish and was very grateful and sweet. They even gave us medals and free entry to one of their races.

Jill and I, post race (thanks, Ron for the pictures)

Ron and Katie were sweet enough to wait for me even though they had finished long ago. They both won real medals for their age group awards.

The two age group winners and the pity award recipient

Cinderella Trail 10K - August 14, 2010

I had originally planned to do the half marathon at this race, but LA Run Buddy wanted to go with me so we decided to do the 10K. It was held at the Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland. I had run here before doing the Woodminster 9 miler and remember it as a tough course, but this was a different part of the park and was very runnable while being just as gorgeous.

Profile for the Cinderella Trail 10K

At mile 4, I felt a familiar pinch.

"FUCKING HELL!! Fucking yellowjacket!!"

Yes, I got stung AGAIN. This time right on my sizeable ass.

Sure, yellowjacket, you chicken shit, take the easy target.

About half a mile later I got stung again, this time by a bee, and frankly, meh. After a yellowjacket sting a bee sting is hardly worth mentioning, but it still ellicted another 'FUCKING HELL!' outburst on the trail.

Rosie, trail dog extraordinare. Too damn cute to not snap a photo of, but as you can tell she was not super thrilled about her photo op.

After that the run was pretty uneventful. I could tell my sting was starting to swell, and get hot. Since I have had quite a few yellowjacket stings at this point I react pretty strongly anymore, so I am back on the Benadryl which turns me into a semi-conscious drooling idiot for most of the day. And half of my ass looks like I was a very, very bad girl. (Leave it, G. Too easy, even for you)

The return loop was much more technical than the way out and LA Run Buddy who will never be mistaken for a nature girl, was a wee bit unhappy and made me promise we would go get pancakes after the run. Ouch, ouch, twist my arm. Ok, pancakes it is!

LA Run Buddy and I back at the car headed out for pancakes!