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| Photo by Sweet M Images |
It's 11:36pm on October 31st, a date most would reference as Halloween.
I gather all of my things and quickly escape the madness that is my work; a dive bar on Hollywood Blvd. Just finishing up an 8 hour shift as I walk, hobble at best, quickly out before the last strings of my sanity snap.
An eight hour shift here is not ideal, it's definitely a longer shift than normal and despite carrying miles in the hills, right now my feet beg for a minute's rest. Fatigues, sore, restless- my poor body screams for recovery time that I have stolen from it. You see, dear friends, in order to have the time off to run in the desert I had to be available to work on Halloween only the day after hopefully completing 100 miles. Boo. No really, boohoo.
An agreement I made just three weeks prior when I finally signed up for Javelina.
Was it worth it?
An answer I haven't quite confirmed as of yet.
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| A short tease of the Trail Running Film Festival the night before the race. |
It's almost 4pm on Saturday, October 29th and I'm running into Coyote Camp aid station.
I instantly spot several friends; Raul, Carlos, Dean and Howie yet all I can focus on is:
DO NOT PASS OUT before the ice bucket.
My eyes fixate on it.
Despite leaving Jeadquarters just a few miles earlier fully drenched, my body packed with ice, I am now bone dry and feel as though my skin is melting.
Strike that, maybe my skin really IS melting.
I need ice and I need it fast.
Quickly mumbling my hellos to the gang I try to reset.
At every aid station they have buckets of ice water with sponges and I soak my entire body.
My body shivering in shock.
I start to regain mental stability as I talk to my friend Howie who is out supporting and photographing all our friends who are running this toasty desert race.
"It's so hot!!" is the first thing that comes out of my mouth.
A statement made countless times throughout the day in this TRIPLE digit heat.
I spent a significant amount of time at this aid attempting to reset my over-exhausted body and prepare myself until next aid at Jackass, six and a half miles ahead.
As I begin running from the aid station any happiness regained from the ice refresher quickly escaped as I try to mentally prepare myself for my least favorable section.
This heat is unbearable.
I try to stay close to the man with the blue compression socks.
As weird as that sounds I'm awfully tired of running alone.
Quickly agreeing with whatever pace he keeps I continue my quest forward.
One step in front of the other.
Avoiding any loose rocks that may further hurt my right ankle, this next section is the most technical .
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| photo by Howie Stern |
My body screams with fatigue.
My mind fights off my will to stop.
Within each step I feel the tightness of my legs and the shooting pain in my ankle and I beg myeslf to make it end.
Any mental strength I had escaped me long ago.
Why am I putting myself through this?
A question I asked myself countless times throughout the day.
Slowly everything starts to fade.
The vibrant desert color turns into shades of grey.
From the split ends of my crisping braided hair to the aching pain in my toe nails every molecule of my being envelopes this darkness.
It's 4am on Friday October 28th and I've woken up 20 minutes before my alarm.
Accepting the earlier rising time I quickly call Juniper over for a quick snuggle before the morning madness begins.
I'm in the guest bedroom of my parents house- where my sweet angel child will be staying over the weekend.
We snuggle for a minute longer and I quickly assess what needs to be done before driving to Sierra Madre and then to Arizona.
My dad makes me coffee the way I like it,
hints of coconut oil and almond milk in a very dark roast gives off the perfect taste.
Walking out to my car I notice there was a guest appearance of rain at some point in the night.
Yawning, I start my car and wave to my dad who never leaves the side walk until I'm out of sight.
I'm so grateful to have my parents so close.
If it was up to Juniper- she'd never leave their house.
She's definitely spoiled with love their and for that I am forever grateful.
The drive to Arizona was uneventful.
The closer we got the more anxious I became.
I felt like a puppy- in the back seat filled with so much excitement I could stick my head out the window as drool escaped my open mouth sun kissing my face.
This year's race invited several friends from all parts of the country and I was eager to share this experience with them.
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| Hoping my Frida Kahlo costume would win this years costume contest (ran with a drawn in unibrown and mustache and still didnt win) |
The 15th Annual Javelina Jundred will take place October 29 – 30, 2016 staged out of the Four Peaks Staging Area at McDowell Mountain Regional Park north of Fountain Hills, Arizona. The 100 Mile distance will be comprised of one 22.3 mile loop that incorporates the Escondido Trail on the far East Side of the park and four 19.45 mile loops on the popular Pemberton, Shallmo, and Cinch Trails.
A weekend I constantly explain as one of the best weekends of my life.
Making new friends on the trail and feeling strong the entire race.
I couldn't wait to come back!
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| Photo by Howie Stern |
It's been twenty minutes since I left Coyote Camp aid station.
I'm 46 miles into Javelina Jundred and I've embraced every negative thought possible.
As I continue to leap frog with the man in the blue compression socks I plan my inevitable end to this race.
Do I trip myself and fall?
Do I blame my rolled ankle?
Should I throw my leg against a cactus?
My dnf is inevitable- there is absolutely no way I will continue to torture myself.
Why did I think I could do this?
Why didn't I train properly?
Why didn't I heat train?
Why did I spend so much time in the mountains when this is far from a mountain course?
So many questions flood my mind.
Regret weighing heavy in my heart.
Three days prior I held a number 46, waiting for my food after running the Feet Feet Halloween pub run.
I jokingly knocked on wood stating that there's no doubt that I'll make it past 46 miles.
But here I am.
Mile 46 and planning my demise.
The sun beats down on my body, pushing my body closer toward a DNF acceptance.
I take a sip out of my nathan handheld.
The large chuncks of ice have quickly melted into small bits.
My skin is crisping, already several shades darker than just this morning.
Feeling the pain, I wonder how I'll survive a full day a work in a mere two days.
I moan to myself.
My body aches.
I recall every twist and turn that is made from Coyote Camp to Jackass and I feverishly await it to be over.
Walking hurts more than to run so I pace myself into an ultra shuffle.
Trying to keep any resembles of structure in my form as I count down the seconds till the next ice bucket bath.
100k is a good distance I assure myself.
There is no need to continue forward when the option to stop dangles right infront of me so teasingly.
This is not fun.
Not fun at all.
I continue to dig myself deeper into the pain cave.
Hating myself for putting myself into this situation.
The man in blue and I pass several people standing on the side of the trail.
Bent over, hands on knees, salt crystals glistening from their forehead as they mutter that their ok.
Countless people are overheating, exhausted and just plain wiped by this heat.
Myself included.
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| Meet Frida Kahlo- my chosen Halloween Costume |
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| By the second loop I changed into my Boa chilli pepper shorts. I'm also wearing unmatching Stance socks- apparently I only own one sock in every color now. |
We eagerly sign up for these races and push our bodies in order to train for the distance.
The races are always difficult.
Pain is inevitable.
It's supposed to be hard.
If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.
During every race I run, I promise myself to take a break from this taxing activity.
Yet once I finish, I've already broken that promise and begin searching for the next opportunity to put myself through that pain again.
Pain is, nevertheless, a prominent aspect of this sport.
It's something that needs to be overcome.
We run in discomfort, we put ourselves in this situation.
Discomfort is what we seek.
I find myself embracing the feeling and looking forward to that second, third, or forth wind during each race that I know will inevitably happen.
At least I hope it comes.
Not today though.
I have yet to establish any ounce of momentum.
That first wind never happened, any thoughts that any second or third escape my mind.
My body never seemed to accept what I was doing.
Despite the discomfort and definite unhappiness I continue running forward finally arriving at Jackass Junction.
That ice bucket my target.
I am quickly enveloped in a hug by Uncle J who asks me if I'm sick and that I do not look well.
Uncle J is known for his perceptive abilities. An ultra psychic?
Um... duh!
I don't feel well.
I'm hot.
I'm unhappy.
My body hurts.
The complaining continues in my head but I'll I can manage to say is I'm great.
You're a liar Sawna.
Liar liar and you're pants are on fire.
Well, pretty much.
The next section is quite possibly my favorite, energized or not.
A simple glimpse of hope- a slight downhill toward the next aid and then Jeadquarters.
But Sawna, you're legs hurt remember!
You're neausus.
Your ankles hurt.
Your right foot is shooting pain upwards.
and don't forget you're overheating.
Reminders going through my head that yes, constantly go through but despite that I run.
I begin to pick up speed.
Everything hurts- EVERYTHING!
But as I gain momentum, everything starts to hurt less and I continue forward.
Step by step.
At this point in the day the sun is slowly setting offering a slight rest from the heat.
Instead of 100 degrees, it may be in the high 80's at this point.
Still warm but bearable.
I continue forward and Egan passing people.
Man in blue WHERE ARE YOU?
I believe he was still at the aid station when I left.
We may have barely spoken a few sentences to each other but it was comforting to know someone was around.
I'm overwhelmed by lonieless.
At this point I see Jimmy.
And my heart almost explodes with happiness.
A friendly face.
If I actually had fluids to support tear production I would've started crying there and then.
I was overwhelmed, to say the least.
We ran together for a bit and I shared my fears and how my body felt.
He didn't say too much, suffering on his own level I bet, but what he did say was encouraging and motivating.
A man I hold so much respect for that any words he said I held onto.
Stay positive, Sawna he repeated.
You look strong, he added.
And you know what- deep down inside this machine of a body I've been given, things started to look up.
I continued forward, faster.
A thought pops in my head that hasn't been there all day.
I can do this.
I can.
I start reciting the mantra from last years race.
I am cool.
I am calm.
I am powerful.
I am a machine.
I AM A FUQUIN MACHINE
A memory quickly pops into my mind.
Going for a run the day after a leg circuit at crossfit ganbatte where I did pistol squats for the first time.
My body was wrecked- but I still ran through the pain.
And today- my legs didn't feel half as bad.
So I ran harder.
From Jackass to Rattlesnake ranch I clock in a 9-10 minute pace- body slowly feeling better.
At the aid station I finally pee for the second time (the first being at mile 52).
I realized my mistake of intaking too much sodium and was currently trying to render the problem.
I eat another handful of dates, pickles and a few potatoes- the only things that look slightly appetizing for me in my current state.
This year the aid stations are not stocked with avocados, to my dismay.
I, however, brought plenty.
Leaving the aid station, coke in hand, I strike up a conversation with a fellow and we begin to run together.
We chat a bit but mostly just run.
Running felt weirdly good.
And forward we went.
Step by step.
Until we were in a a parking lot, obviously not on course.
Shit.
My heart drops.
We turn around and run back the way we come and notice a hard right we missed.
Only a couple minutes were lost and before you know it we are back to a good speed- toward Jeadquarters.
You can do this!
You can do this Sawna.
I AM A FUQUIN MACHINE
The idea of dropping never phased me again.
Being able to pick up Colton as my pacer gave me hope and I was plain out excited to have a running partner.
Colton, if you know him- you love him.
If you don't know him- you should.
Just being in his presence made my heart sing.
His positivity radiated and was contagious.
We shuffled along and talked about nearly everything all while picking up tons of trash along the way.
(Shocking how much trash was left on course).
Time flew by and about 100 I'm sorries later we were back at Jeadquarters and I picked up Peter.
(I kept apologizing for wining, going ultra slow and/or for just really breathing too loud- I would say I'm sorry alot).
Picking up Peter went smoothly.
And as soon as I got to Jeadquarters it seemed as though I was already on my way out with him in tow.
Peter flew in from Denver, Colorado the night before and I was extremely thankful he offered to run a loop with me.
Just a few months ago roles were reversed as he completed Angeles Crest 100 in sub 24 hours- an amazing accomplishment.
We continued in a forward motion.
My body seriously drained and I reminded Peter that every, I don't know, every few minutes or maybe seconds.
From Rasttlesnake ranch to Jackass- my least favorite section (incase you've forgotten).
Unfortunately during this leg of the section, I ran out of water about three miles out.
All day long, running with one handheld and then two- never did I run out of water.
Yet around midnight when you think it wouldve been nice and cold.
It was still HOT!
This is probably when I felt the worst and going the slowest.
But Peter kept me positive and prepped me for what I needed at the aidstation.
Seeing Jackass Junction sent a bolt of happiness through my veins- getting fluids in me was a top priority!
I chugged many liquids; gatorade, water and then left with coke.
Recharging I kept walking and with a ping of excitment I remind myself:
You CAN do this.
Sawna you ARE doing this.
YOURE A FAQUIN MACHINE!
I begin running- well what resembled running at mile 92.
And I ran over 4 miles of the section before I decided we should be at the next aid already.
The last few miles were a blur.
But what I do know is we continued ran.
I picked up speed as I could see the light of Jeadquarders getting closer.
I never want to do this again I thought.
Fighting back tears I remembered the feeling that I never for a second thought I'd be here.
Mile 99 and running after the torture that was today.
Pushing ones physical limits and pain barrier need not, however, be everyone's goal.
Not normally mine.
But there is a part of me that wants to see how far I can go.
We exercise for several reasons and to me- I don't see this as exercise.
I see this as an adventure- a quest that I must take.
I gain more speed as I enter the headquarters and sprint to the finish where Peter and Consuela wait.
I fight back the tears as I walk straight to the Coyote tent and crash into the nearest chair without even the slightest idea of what time I finished.
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| 66 seconds slower than last years finish. |
I quickly remember mile 46 and how negative I was- how much I put myself down, my stregth, my ability to accomplish this goal and any goal for that matter.
I'm stronger than that.
I fight back the tears while I look back at the last 22+ hours.
That was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done.
But I did it.
22 hours
34 minutes
04 seconds
66 seconds short of last years time.
I could be upset that I didn't PR but the fact that I finished is more that satisfactory.
I'm still shocked.
As I attempt to complete this blog post, as difficult as it may be as I sit here on the beach in Tulum Mexico,
(It really is hard to post photos, link and tag things on ones phone) I try to think of what I would do different to better prepare myself for this race.
(Also, since I'm on my phone please excuse the word vomit and lack of editing).
Firstly I completely avoided training for this race.
Running flat is not my forte nor do I consider it fun.
Despite signing up for this race I still found myself in the local mountains of Los Angeles enjoying my normal "training day".
If I was really interested in racing I should've focused on preparing myself for the heat and the inevitable miles and time I would be spending on my feet.
I SHOULD and still should be spending more time on mobility work and strength training.
One thing I noticed during the race is how much stronger I feel when I've put time into strength training, something I haven't been able to focus on these last few months since I sprained my ankle.
I definitely felt the missing strength during the race.
Having a strong body is vital when putting forth so much effort during a race and with the help of JP and the rest of Crossfit Ganbatte these last two years I know what my body needs to excel.
I just need to actually go!
Not only putting in the time to strength train but to ensure you are doing it properly is just as important!
I guess I can say there is so many things I could've done, would've done to properly train for this race.
Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.
It was a learning lesson to say the least.
An experience.
I can not say whether I'll return to Javelina Jundred again but I can say that I will never forget every moment of the 22 hours and 34 minutes.
Till next time,
Peace, love and happiness.