I love to travel to other parts of the country, run races, and experience different race directors and their courses. I have a small bucket list of races I’d like to run and TRT was definitely on my list. It has a reputation for being a great race, very beautiful and tough, all the things that attract me to a race. TRT is definitely a race to consider adding to your bucket list. They also offer a 50 mile and a 55K option.
Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed meeting many new friends at races. When ultra running, if we spend a few miles together or sit together on a shuttle bus, we become fast friends. When I signed up for TRT I didn’t know anyone in the race, but I was confident I’d make new friends once again on the trails. I actually did end up knowing a couple of friends running the race, and looked forward to seeing them again.
Getting to hi to Maia at packet pick up
I feel like I’m getting more and more comfortable taking care of myself at races, but I enjoy travelling and having friends with me. I’d prefer to have a pacer or friend to run with because I’m more of a social person and runner. I can do solo, but prefer company. I got my friend Sherri Harvey on board to travel, crew and pace me, and we bought our airline tickets shortly after I got into the race. A month or so before the race, Russ Johnson offered to come help crew and pace me. Russ has run the race previously, so that was a huge relief to have his experience on my team.
I heard over and over that George Ruiz does a great job as race director, and that the course is very challenging. It definitely lived up to that reputation from the moment I arrived in Carson City and went to an impromptu meet and greet. I met runners there that would be friends after the race. From beginning to end, the entire race had such positive vibes and excellent volunteers.
On race morning, I left my hotel room to walk across the street and catch a shuttle to the start. And yes, I sat by someone on the shuttle who I would end up spending some miles with, and my crew would hang out (unknowingly at the time) with her boyfriend who was there to crew her. The race started promptly at 5:00 a.m. and just before the start I would get to say hello to my friend, Janette Maas, also from Georgia, running the 55K. Familiar faces are always fun to see!
I started out the race with my new friend from the shuttle, Rusty. We enjoyed each other’s pace as we got to see the sun come up and get our first views of the lake. The first and second aid stations came quickly and I saw my crew at the second. They hiked several miles and thousands of feet to see me at my first and second pass through the Tunnel Creek aid station. They brought my poles just in case I wanted them, and sure enough my Piriformis was being cranky, so I definitely wanted them. It was very nice and a huge boost to see them.
Seeing Sherri and Russ was always the best!
Rusty and I soon caught up to each other again and enjoyed more miles together running into the mile 30 aid station where I would see not only my crew but my coach, as well. I had to ask if Rusty was a nickname. Inquiring minds want to know these things! She told me it was a nickname, and how she got it was a long story, as if we didn’t have a lot of time on our hands. All she said was it had to do with a drink called the Rusty Nail, she didn’t remember anything, but the nickname stuck.
We came into the Diamond Creek aid station together. I got some food and cold drinks and was encouraged to head out and tackle the Diamond Peak climb ahead of me. Meghan, my coach, didn’t want me to sit too long, so after she gave me a quick word of her belief in me, I was off. It would be another 20 miles before I would see my crew again, but then I would pick up Sherri as my first pacer.
Getting some much needed encouragement from my Coach, Meghan Laws before heading out to climb Diamond Peak
Although I felt like I was doing well eating and drinking, I began to bonk after coming out of the 35 mile aid station and hitting another long grinding climb. I took in some Spring Energy to give me a boost. Then rounding another switchback or two and still feeling a little low on energy, I was greeted by a female runner sitting on a rock looking like she was catching her breath. It took me a second to realize it was one of just a few runners I knew at the race, my friend Lucia, who I had met at the Zion 100 the year before. In our chats leading up to the race, I knew she had just been cleared by her doctor to run the race due to some health issues. She wasn’t looking too good and I sat next to her for just a few minutes, sharing her rock and the views. Looking back, they were probably some of my favorite moments in the race. Of all the runners who could have been sitting on that rock, it was my friend. We got moving again and covered the miles together into the next aid station. She dropped back just before getting to the aid station and I knew her race was probably over. I was ready to head out when she came in and confirmed that she was going to drop. I gave her a hug goodbye and took off. I was on a mission to get to my crew at mile 50. I still had lots of climbing ahead and then a long descent. I once again came across my friend, Janette, who was running the 55K. I greeted her and kept going.
The views were incredible
I finally got back to my crew and was in much better spirits, as if I’d just gotten off the struggle bus. I knew I’d now have someone to push me and keep me moving. I tried to take in some food and put on a warm shirt, as the night was approaching. We had great weather so far, but it can get cold at night on the ridges and we needed to be prepared. Sherri and I took off for the second loop of the course. Unfortunately, it got dark before Sherri could see much of the course. We hadn’t gone far when we once again came across my new friend, Rusty. She was struggling with her borrowed headlamp. Sherri and I hoped she’d be able to stick with us and run off our lights but she just wasn’t able to keep up. Rusty and her boyfriend had driven down from Canada and arrived at Carson City late the night before and she had not gotten much sleep. We then figured out that Rusty’s boyfriend is who Sherri and Russ had been hanging out with at the aid stations.
Sherri and I pressed on. She kept me moving and running on the good runnable sections. The climbs were still tough for me and it seemed like I wasn’t able to run too well in the dark. Luckily, it gets light early in this part of the country, and we were soon headed into the mile 80 aid station to meet Russ. I was starting to worry that my time on the struggle bus was going to cost me and I wouldn’t make cutoffs but we got to Russ with plenty of time to spare. I ate more food and changed out my contacts, which were bothered by the dust. A fresh pair felt great in my eyes. It was daylight again and I had 20 more miles to the finish.
Russ paced me the last 20 miles and his knowledge of the course was very helpful to me. He removed any stress I had by assuring me I was doing well and had plenty of time. We ran the sections where I wasn’t climbing. Russ made sure I got a strawberry Ensure smoothie at the Hobart aid station and then sorbet at the Snow Valley aid station. Both were refreshing and tasty, and I was ready to run the final 7 miles to the finish. It was a long 7 miles but we came upon some horse riders and enjoyed views that were unbelievable. Russ called Sherri from the final water stop to let her know we were just over a mile out.
Everyone said the view if you look back on the Diamond Peak climb are some of the best
You can hear and see the finish from about a mile away. It’s a long mile as you circle around Spooner Lake to the finish line. Russ took my poles so I could run it in, and one of the first people who greeted me with a high five was my friend, Lucia, who had to drop! That was so sweet for her to come out to see me, as well as her friends, finish.
Lucia captured this picture of me coming into the finish
We waited with Rusty’s boyfriend to see if she would finish, and we were so happy to cheer for her as she crossed the finish line. The finish area was a huge party, in what they called the “Ultra Lounge,” as runners waited for the award ceremony to receive their buckles and awards. It was a great finish, hanging out with many of my friends old and new. I was blessed to share miles with so many of them, and have the support of some great friends, Russ and Sherri, to help me reach my goal. I hugged my friends goodbye and before I left I asked Rusty if she was on Facebook. I asked what name to search under, and of course she replied “Rusty Nail!” You gotta love ultrarunning and making friends along the way!
Rusty Nail and I before the race already friends
Trail Running 100 