Bull Dog 50k Ultra August 23, 2008

It’s Masters Day!

The last time I visited Malibu Creek State Park I was 12 years old. As I ran through the park race morning I tried to recall the trails hiked with my mom and siblings. I vividly remembered visiting the MASH film set which has since burned down. I remembered scrambling up a few steep climbs and have a picture of myself with my mom atop a very high peak. But that was the best of my recollection.

I arrived that morning with my very best friend of 25 years Dyan who had never experienced an ultra event. She enjoyed watching athletes go through the process of bib pickup, drop bag organization and line-up for the pre- race briefing. Race Director Nancy Devin dedicated the race to a good friend who recently passed away and had been instrumental in coaching her through some tough ultra events.

I didn’t expect to lead the race for the women. I mean, I’m 40 now, for some reason I keep anticipating the disintegration of my joints and muscle tissue because I’ve entered a new decade. The race is a 25k double loop course with a significant climb known as Bull Dog Mountain on the front end and a couple of short but steep climbs in the middle and back end. The course is mostly exposed fire trails with a bit of single track to keep things interesting. I knew the key to doing well would be getting through the first loop with enough gas in the tank to complete the second and before the heat of the day could catch up to me. Luckily, the temperatures remained manageable. As I completed my first loop, I realized I had run my fastest 25k split of 2:13 and it was then that I knew I needed to maintain an aggressive pace in order to stay ahead of favored local runner Diana Rush. I caught a glimpse of Rush on the first descent as I made my way to the start/finish of my second loop. It was only after I completed the race that I came to realize just how close Rush had been. My finish time was 4:57:45 and hers was 5:00:43.

The highlight of this race was seeing my mom Lillian, daughter Summer and Dyan with her husband and two daughters at the finish. My mom could hardly contain her enthusiasm as she watched her 40-year-old daughter, who years ago was scrambling up a park peak on all fours, win the 50k race. She yelled, “That’s my girl!” Funny how, no matter how old you get, there’s nothing like having your mom cheer you to the finish line.
During the awards ceremony Nancy announced that for the first time ever, both the Male/Female Open Champions were also the Master’s Champions. Jose Ortiz (47) and I Bree Lambert (40) had won both divisions. I thought that was pretty cool. You know, I think the 40’s are going to be a great time for running ultras. I’m looking forward to my next one.
Until next time... Live Well. Finish Strong. ---Bree

TRT 50 Miler, July 19, 2008

It was a Push to the Finish!

I have heard the phrase, “My biscuits are toast”! I can now say, “I know what that means.” This year’s Tahoe Rim 50 mile race turned out to be the most painful finish of my ultra running career to date. It started out with a way-to-stinking’ early wake up call of 3am…after sleeping only three hours the night before. Despite my nerves being a bit on edge because of the level of talent I was running with, I was off to a confident start, feeling well prepared physically, understanding what my split-times should be after placing well the previous year. This year’s race was significant to me for a couple of reasons. I turned 40 years old a few days before and was excited to be running with close friends Joel Shoffner (running his first 50miler) and Liz Altermatt (running her first 50k) , both of whom I’d been coaching over the last few months.

At the start of the race, I went out with the lead runners which included Mark Tanaka. Mark has been racing well all season and was not looking to break any records with this event. He expressed the challenge of running at high elevation and proceeded to wish me luck as I pulled away and headed toward Marlett Lake. For the first 8 miles or so I was the only woman leading both the 50m/50k distances. I had decided to set a more aggressive pace going out at the beginning and then settle in to something more comfortable mid-way. It wasn’t until Suzanna Bon showed up shortly before the Tunnel Creek aid station running toward the Red House Loop, that I began to pick up my pace. We exchanged greetings as we wove our way up and down switchbacks, jumping over large boulders and then finally descending down toward the Red House.
At some point soon after the descent I made a conscious decision to slow down remembering the oh-so-painful climb back out to Tunnel Creek. Once I arrived back at Tunnel Creek aid station I checked in with volunteers to ask how far Suzanna was ahead. The reply was, “Less than six minutes”. I thought, “I still have a chance to catch her.” Well I didn’t see her until the turn around at Mt. Rose. She was on her way back out as I was running into get aid. Once I entered the aid station I saw my buddy Joel (aka Mr. Salty). He looked very tired and very done. I had a few encouraging words for him as I grabbed my replacement fuel belt and a couple of pb&j sandwich squares. “Get some salt capsules, drink some coke and get going!” He didn’t look like he cared what I had to say which is completely understandable. As I left the aid station I held up just enough to see Joel follow behind and then I proceeded to pick up my pace. Needless to say that didn’t last long. Once I hit the next major climb I was walking. It was pretty much run, walk, run, walk, slog up, run down, slog up, and jog for the rest of the race. Once I reached the highest peak of the whole race, fondly called “Snow Valley Peak”, I was ready to be done. With approximately 11 miles to the finish and 6 miles till I would meet my pacer, I determined I still had a guaranteed 2nd place finish for the women as long as no other 50 mile woman passed.
Here’s where the story gets good….
So there I am running to meet my pacer and race adviser Mark Lewis (aka boyfriend), who had been running up and down waiting for me to appear at roughly 5 miles from the finish. Once we connected he proceeded to “crack the whip” and motivate me to move at a pace that was challenging but necessary if I expected to beat my previous finish time.
For those of you who know how it feels like to run on very tired legs, there’s this tendency to become very grouchy when your pacer is prodding you along. Mark informed me that I was in 8th place overall and still 2nd woman as long as I kept moving. He also reminded me that I would be very ticked off if some other woman passed me in the last few miles of the race. No sooner had he said this, when Molly Zurn, previous TRT 50 mile champion in 2006 and TRT 100 mile Champion in 2007, comes passing me on my left with a glance down to check my bib color. My circuits were suddenly fried. You have to be kidding…I have to now “race” to keep my 2nd place finish. This was not part of the plan!!! Mark’s next comment to me was, “ Okay Bree this is your Tour de France, think Pyrenees.” At that point Mark became my domestique, ala George Hincapie pulling Lance Armstrong (me) up the final climb toward a stage victory. With less than two miles to the finish, I had to dig deeper than any other race if I was going to secure my 2nd place finish and beat last year’s finish time.
Long story short…
I accelerated my pace and sprinted toward the finish (or at least it felt like a sprint). The only time I looked back to see if Molly was on my heels, came after I crossed over the foot bridge and made my way around the marsh. As I crossed the finish and was met by race volunteers who offered me an ice cold beer. Mark and my friend Liz were there to offer congratulations on my 2nd place female finish and 1st place female master’s win. Within a few minutes, I began to feel the effects of my “big push”. So I hit the medic tent and enjoyed a cup of chicken broth along with ice cold liquids. I was definitely “toast”. To sum it all up, it was a great race. My finish time was (9:41:01), Molly in (9:41:44). I didn’t get a chance to talk to Molly after our race. But if I had I would have thanked her for giving me an opportunity to test the limits of my mental toughness and threshold for pain at a time when I didn’t expect it. She’s a fine athlete and I look forward to catching up with her at a future event.
Until Next Time…Live Well. Finish Strong. --Bree