August 14, 2021 Chelmult, OR
How a Mid-Pack Runner won FIRST PLACE OVERALL FEMALE at the Crater Lake Marathon…
Way back in 2018, I registered for a marathon that made the list of “top 15 toughest marathons in the world” according to a weather channel article.
Although I was fairly new to running, I had completed the Lake Tahoe Marathon (which is a similar course) twice and thought traveling to a new region of the US sounded fun. Hubby and I made several attempts in vain to book a room at the Crater Lake Lodge, but soon realized that rooms sell out months, if not a year in advance. The Lodge being the only hotel in Crater Lake National Park is the ideal place to stay if you’re running the rim. Camping in the park is another option but tends to follow the sell-out trend as well. So, in 2018, we booked our accommodations at Shiloh Inn, a host hotel located in Klamath Falls (60 miles from the lodge!). Buses were scheduled to leave Klamath at 4:45am to trek runners into the National Park for a $20 fee.
My training went well for a novice and as time drew closer, I was really looking forward to the trip. However, a week before the marathon, life delivered a family emergency that prevented our travel plans. Quickly, I contacted the race director who graciously agreed to allow a deferral to the following year. As the year passed, life sorted itself out and we again looked forward to seeing Oregon. However, extreme weather (snow, sleet, rain, and lightning) wreaked havoc in the PNW causing half of the registered runners, myself included, to skip the 2019 event. Then, when 2020 arrived with its own troubles, you can guess what happened, the entire event was canceled! Again, the RD deferred my spot, which lead us to 2021! Finally! We were more than READY! We booked our lodge room in the middle of a pandemic, a year in advance to secure our plans. What could possibly go wrong this time?!
By 2021, I had progressed as a runner. I had run a marathon two months prior in Washington state and got a personal record of 4:06. And since that race I was even stronger and faster, training on the baby hills around the neighborhood. I was as ready as I’d ever be for Crater Lake! The course itself starts at Watchman’s Overlook, 7,500 feet above sea level, and boasts 2,200 feet of elevation gain and 4,000 feet of descending on long steep grades. Not easy! My goal was to finish the race without getting injured, do my best, and add another state to my repertoire. I’d be happy with any time under 5 hours. Before I knew it, the training cycle was nearly done. Race day was two weeks away but I hadn’t received any information from event organizers despite my repeated requests. Probably because of my deferral history, my name wasn’t on the main contact list. When my race bib failed to arrive by mail, I had to make a nuisance of myself until they promised to send it out that day. It arrived with 5 days to spare! What a relief!
Everything was in order. Taper week was here and I could relax while getting packed for the 6 hour car ride north. Then, the winds literally changed direction! It’s wildfire season in California and Oregon and there’s been several large ones burning since June. The air quality at Crater Lake, however, had been spared as the winds blew much of the heavy smoke East. Just a few days before we were scheduled to leave, the wind turned on us. The AQI readings in the National Park and for hundreds of miles in the surrounding areas went through the roof. At this point, I just had to laugh! It would be a miracle if I ever run this course. And, the night before we left I went to sleep thinking there’s no way the race will take place. I slept like a baby, just excited to have a fun, adventurous trip with hubby, even if it was a smoky one.
We backed out of the driveway at dawn, on Friday, the 13th, and weren’t on the road a half an hour before the haze turned the sky gray and the sun pink. The further we drove, the thicker the smoke. By the time we got to the border, visibility was low.
It wasn’t until we actually entered the park that conditions improved. We stopped to admire Annie Falls and have a little picnic when I noticed the smoke didn’t seem as bad. Wait just a minute! I may actually run 26.2 miles in the morning! From that point on, my focus shifted to running the marathon and preparing for it mentally. Hubby and I agreed that I shouldn’t push too hard because of the smoke, so it was just going to be a fun run.
We checked into our accommodations, enjoyed a mile hike, and talked to other runners on the patio of the lodge overlooking the lake.
We enjoyed a fabulous buffet dinner in the old dining room of the 1915 lodge complete with many pre-race, runner-friendly food options. There were signs posted inside the hotel cautioning guests of road closures the following morning due to the race! Wow, this was actually going to happen!
We retired to our room after dessert and turned on our floor fan, windows open wide (yes, even in poor air quality) since the historic lodge was not equipped with air conditioning or tv for that matter. Even the room key felt like a relic. (see photo). The room was stuffy and warm, but that fan lulled me right to sleep and I slept like a rock as the breeze cooled the room overnight.
Since we were so close to the start line, bus pick up time was at the luxurious hour of 6:30am. As soon as I woke up on race morning, I checked the air quality. The AQI reported surprisingly better at around 120 although I could still smell distant smoke from the pitch black darkness outside the windows. I leisurely made coffee, got into my race gear, laced up, and prepared my drop bag. I was more excited than nervous. Excited to finally see this course. The wait was almost over! Time to go!
The short bus ride from Rim Village to Watchman Overlook was 3.7 miles, and provided views of the pink sunrise over sheer cliffs. Start time was 7:30am which gave us about 45 minutes of relaxation time in the start area watching the sunrise over the caldera. Even in the haze, it was truly breathtaking. I can only imagine what it’s like on a clear day!
I enjoyed my banana and Honey Stinger waffle, washing it down with an entire bottle of water. The air was so dry at this elevation. There were plenty of porta-potties, no waiting at all! The forecast was for above average temperatures so this year‘s start line was about 60 degrees rather than the usual 45 degrees it averages. I was comfortable without a jacket and that worried me a little. I dropped my bag in the back of the “marathon finish“ SUV, warmed up, and walked to the starting line.
There were three races taking place: the 6.7 mile, 13 mile, and the full marathon. We all started at the same time when the RD gave a countdown on his bullhorn. There was no timing mat at the start.
Starting on an incline at altitude can really make you question your life choices! I reminded myself to keep things easy and take the first 10 miles as a warm up. Ha! The first mile was a blur and so was mile 2. But, then came the third mile. Two hundred feet straight up! I told myself to go easy but here I was huffing and puffing, my legs felt like lead, and I decided to take a walk break. ALREADY! I was having issues with my headphones as well but I think that was caused by the spotty service in the mountains. Some people were passing me, others were walking as I finally got my music connected. I felt a little discouraged but still overall ok. It was still early and I didn’t want to wear myself out. At the top of the hill, I was rewarded with several downhill miles in a row which felt relaxed and fast.
When we reached the 6.7 mile race finish, I watch several people I was running with veer off to collect their medals. I glanced at my watch and it said 56:00 minutes. I couldn’t believe I was an hour into the race already. Still, keeping it easy was my plan. Stick to the plan! And I knew starting at mile 10 there was a significant amount of climbing that would last 5 solid miles. By this point, I’d been running next to a few other runners consistently. One of them had a small sign on his back that read “100th marathon”, he seemed strong and steady paced. Three others were friends and I seemed to pass them, then they’d pass me in a game of tag that lasted four miles or so. One of them asked me how I was feeling. I told her I felt great for the mile I was in (mile 9) and that I was taking it easy because I knew the big hills were coming. Also, I mentioned to “ask me again in 10 miles”! The three of them all looked at me and said, “oh, you’re running the full?!” I confirmed it to them and the guy in front said, “wow, you’re killing it for the full!” I thought to myself, “am I?”. Well, whether or not it was true, it brightened my day. It turned out that they were doing the 13 mile run. I was in a positive space, retreating to pick up a lucky penny, singing songs, stretching my arms over my head mid-run in time with the music. They seemed like they were struggling a bit running their 13 mile race. But I was breezing along enjoying my “fun run”, thinking of those 40 half marathons I completed last year for fun. LOL
I passed them one last time, then passed the halfway mark at about 2:11:00, where I found myself all alone. Where did everyone go? Was I that far behind all the other marathon runners?
I pressed on, knowing I had 2 more miles of uphill, then it would be downhill for awhile. Each of these miles were the kind where you pick a spot and run to it, then take a walk break. Uphill climbing at it‘s best! It was warming up by this point too and I took full advantage of the aid stations which were plentiful. As I started mile 14, I realized this section was an out and back. There were others running in front of me that had reached the top and were cheering me on as they descended back down. I continued my walk/run method to the top of Cloud Cap, the turnaround point. There I found another aid station at mile 14.5, quickly grabbed a water, and gulped it down. This is where everything changed! I thanked the volunteers and a woman shouted out, “FIRST FEMALE!” “Wait, what?! Was she shouting to me? “Really?!” “Me???” I responded in total disbelief, “That’s great!” then I quickly headed out to ponder this new intel. I wasn’t sure if she was correct because I thought I saw an older woman with ponytails coming down when I was still ascending. But I let myself believe it just for a little while. Wow, first female! Me! Then, as I headed back down that mile stretch I saw several other women not far behind me. If I was in first place, they’d for sure be passing me soon. The downhill was fast and steep! Miles 15-17 flew by with some of the most dramatically scenic views I’ve ever laid eyes on! Stay focused! Keep going but keep it loose. Keep your steps light or your feet and quads will never make it to the finish. Thankfully, there was a little reprieve of the descent around mile 16 as the road curved around and flattened out. Wow, I am still in the lead at mile 16! I wonder how far I can make it until I get passed! Don’t look back, the other women are sure to be coming right behind you! Just then I heard a car pulling up beside me. What’s this now? I glanced over. It was the RD asking if I’d like a water bottle since it was getting really warm on course. I accepted and he mentioned there was an aid station just up the road as well. Wow! Being first is fun! I could see the next aid station from about a quarter mile away. When they saw me coming, huge cheers!! First FEMALE!! First Female!! It WAS me! I almost started to cry! This is crazy! I’m a mid-pack runner but I felt like Shalane Flannigan! Ok, check yourself. You’ve still got a long way to go. Mile 18, Mile 19. Another car passed with a young guy smiling and giving me the “hang loose” sign. If I can just get to mile 20 and still be in first then I’ll be able to say I made it that far. Wouldn’t that be something!! The downhill was taking its toll. I walked at times to rest my quads, lifting my knees high to stretch my legs. Mile 20! Oh my goodness! A park ranger gave me a shout, “You’re almost there!” Ha! Obviously he wasn’t a runner but I appreciated the encouragement. I was drinking a ton of water, never missing a chance to stop and gulp a full cup at each aid station. My fueling was also steady, just like in training-a GU ENERGY gel every 5 miles. It was hot now! 80 degrees and I was sweaty and salty but felt good for being so far along in this mountainous race. The sun was shining bright and I was glad I remembered to apply sunblock. It was also a good sign because it meant the smoke wasn’t thick enough to block the rays. In fact, I barely noticed it anymore. Mile 21! Ok, this section of the course was slightly downhill and poker straight. You could look ahead and behind to size up the terrain and the competition. For the first time, I allowed myself to look back. I had, up until this point, kept telling myself to push forward or they’re going to pass you. Try to push ahead just a little longer. The longer you keep going the better off you’ll be later and the better your chances will be at winning the overall female spot. Just run! 20 seconds more, count to 20! When I looked back, I couldn’t believe it, I saw nobody! Ok, rest a bit, then pick up the pace again. Walk with purpose, then run. Every aid station gave me an added burst of adrenaline with their cheers for first female. Sure, I trained hard for this, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever be in this position at mile 23! What if I actually could do this? I looked back again. Did I see someone way off in the distance? Maybe. Or was the heat getting to me? I kept going focusing instead on the course. I had memorized the elevation map and knew at mile 24 there was supposed to be a turn onto a dirt path featuring a steep upgrade. I was sure to loose quite a bit of my banked time there. I passed mile marker 24 and kept looking ahead for the turn. Where was it? At 24.3, there was an aid station with a cone in the middle of the road. Was this a turn around? Weird. Where was the dirt path? I went past the cone until someone yelled, “come back”. It was a turnaround! The course had been updated. I hurried back and started back in the direction I had just come. Almost immediately I saw another woman working her way to the turnaround! My heart sank but my legs said, “let’s go!” I had 2 miles to go, all uphill in the heat! She’s going to pass me! Just do your best! I felt a twinge in my calf. My right foot seized. Ok, walk a bit then give it another go. Little by little. My heart was pounding in excitement and fear! Remember your training, you’ve got this! My Garmin chimed, mile 25! Yes, just one more to go. I be finishing soon either way. Don’t look back. What’s that cone up ahead? Ugh, mile 25. I thought I reached that 5 minutes ago! Ok, look back. Here she comes around the bend! Run! My calves betrayed me as they seized but I kept going, not able to fully feel my steps. Half a mile left, I think! She’s still back quite a bit! This hill can’t last forever! Is that a cone? Mile 26!!! I’m going to make it! The volunteers shouted, “one more minute! Turn left after the school bus and you’ll see the finish line!” I put it in gear and ran to the multicolored flags that lead me down the finish shoot and to the line drawn in the dirt marking the finish! Omg! I freaking did it! The timing clock read 4:33:08 which confirmed the number on my paused watch. A volunteer placed a medal around my neck and led me over to the table where a huge and HEAVY trophy was waiting for me. She also gave me a prize for winning my age group (40-49)!
One minute and 16 seconds later the 2nd woman came across the finish line. She called over to me, “You did great!!!” And I thanked her for pushing me. I collected my drop bag and got on the return bus. There was quite a wait before we headed back to Rim Village and I made lots of new running friends while we waited. One woman asked me how many marathons I had won. Ha! I was like, “Ummm, NONE before today!” I repeatedly tried to contact hubby to relay my good news but there was no service in the thick forest. When I finally texted him that I won, he replied, “won what? The whole race?” And when I stepped off the school bus and proudly showed him my trophies he read the plaque, “First Place Female Overall”. Wow! He was so proud of me that he then proceeded to tell anyone that would listen that I won the race!
I kept saying that the only reason I came in first is because less people ran. I didn’t have any stats yet from the race and almost felt like a phony. Let’s face it! 4:33:08 (my official time) is not fast! I walked a lot! How can a mid-pack runner claim this win? Well, hubby and everyone that we found to listen agreed that it didn’t matter. So how did it happen? I gave my best effort in training and showed up to race. And I suppose sometimes just showing up results in a win. The official times posted and my stats came in as follows:
15th Overall (out of 47)
First Place Overall Female (out of 13)
First Place Age Group (40-49) (out of ?)
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the lake, including making the drive around the 33 mile loop. However, the smoke had settled into the area by this time making the blue water barely visible. So we relaxed in the porch rockers lamenting the day’s events with runners from all over the country. I carried my winnings along with me everywhere in case a photo opportunity revealed itself.
The next morning we enjoyed coffee on the deck while deer munched on their breakfast. Feeling refreshed, I took some medal shots before we started back home to California.
As we left the National Park, I couldn’t help but think of the journey it took to get there. Not only this weekend but the years of training and the events that led me to the finish line in this particular year, 2021! I had an incredible, magical race that came in it’s own perfect time.
If you have ever dreamed of running a special race, dream on! Keep pushing towards it, and just show up! You never know what will happen if you do!
