Going into this running year and planning my training for the BIG race, Javelina Jundred, I knew every race I signed up for would have a purpose. No novelty just-for-the-heck-of-it races are on my agenda, so you won’t see me signing up for a “Run for Churros 5K” or a “Taco Taco 10K.” Wait, do those exist?
Unless they’re long distances, forgettaboutit. One race I put at the top of my list was the Leona Divide 50K.
If I have a backstory to running the Ray Miller 50K, then I definitely have a backstory to Leona Divide. It’s the race of my first DNF (Did Not Finish) and my first introduction into what it feels like to have my ass handed to me. As much as I’d like to think I was trained for it, I wasn’t. Going in thinking “Hey I just ran the LA Marathon and I can totally do this. What’s 5 more miles, right?” was seriously dumb of me because road marathons and trail ultra marathons, are NOT the same thing. They are two completely different species. Even though I had spent a little time on trails (little, being the operative word here), I was COMPLETELY unprepared for the tough course and brutal weather (100+ degree Fahrenheit heat) and mentally, I wasn’t ready. That got me in trouble and ended my race early.
Truthfully, I didn’t respect the distance, or the mountains enough to earn that first ultra marathon medal back then. I thought I could skirt around training for it and come out on the other side with a victory. Wrong! That surely didn’t happen. But I’m sure there are plenty of people who can do that, but then maybe I start to question their reasons for attempting an ultra in the first place. I mean, why did I even want to sign up for one? Because I wanted to challenge myself more. I wanted to see what I am physically capable of doing beyond 26.2 miles. Leona proved to me I wasn’t ready for any of that.
Leona Divide in 2013 was a blessing for me. Receiving and accepting that first DNF was definitely a gift and I’m grateful it happened. It woke me up. It slapped me across the face and said, “You need to take this seriously if you really want to do this.”
And that’s exactly what I did.
I did my homework and scoured the internet, YouTube, and books for information. I didn’t have anyone I could go to, but I’m usually a “see if I can figure it out on my own first” before going to anyone else. It’s called Google. I didn’t know what a drop bag was. I Googled it. What do I put in drop bags? I Googled it. And I’m still “Googling” things. I read every inch of the race website. I don’t depend on anyone else to get me the information unless I have absolutely no clue and can’t find it myself.
If I need somebody to hold my hand throughout the whole process, I have no business running ultras.
Leona is very much a challenging race and I don’t know what’s in store for this course knowing it was changed since my version of it. Initially, Leona was not my “A” race. Miwok certainly is and right now, I don’t feel confident going into it. Luckily, I still have a few strong weeks of training remaining. But with that in mind, I want to run as hard as I possibly can at Leona because I am making Leona Divide an “A” race.
This 50K will not be a stroll or a leisurely hike in the mountains. That is not my goal or focus. My focus is to make Leona a strong hard training run AND finish.
The game plan for tomorrow’s race:
1. Don’t die
This is always a given.
2. Don’t get injured.
Again. Always a given. I tend to be a cautious runner anyways and with a bigger race coming up in a few weeks, I can’t afford to risk too much of anything at this stage in training.
3. Have fun and support others.
I’ll have a few friends running this race as well so I’m sure I’ll see them at some point.
4. Don’t stay in the aid stations long.
Take what I need and get out of there quickly.
5. Run at every opportunity and power hike the rest.
Pushing myself at this one as much as possible.
6. Believe in myself.
This is always a difficult one, but I know I put in time on the trails.
7. Give thanks and gratitude to the mountains and trails and the opportunity to be on them.
Today, I feel stronger, and wiser, and more prepared for Leona this time around. I can honestly say experience is a wonderful thing. However, experience doesn’t necessarily equate with having a great race. There are still many factors associated with that. But knowing I gave it my all is what matters, despite any outcome.
I am ready for the Leona Divide 50K. I am ready for that finish. I am ready for that medal. I am ready to do the work. I’m ready to settle a score.
Thanks for reading and Happy Running!