On Saturday, November 2, I ran Rim Rock Marathon for a second time. 🙂
As this race was my first ever marathon last year, I was inspired to run this beautiful course once again. And just like last year, the weather for this race was picture perfect: sunny and blue skies.
About the course: located on Colorado’s Western Slope, Rim Rock Marathon follows up and along 23 mile Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument, just outside Grand Junction and Fruita. The course gains more than 2000 ft. over the first 6 miles, flattens somewhat, then drops 2000+ ft. for the last few miles. Views from the Monument are superb: red rock canyons, the Grand Valley, Grand Mesa, and the Book Cliffs. The race starts just outside the park’s east entrance, by Grand Junction, and concludes at Fruita’s Circle Park.
Quite obviously, not the easiest course! For an idea of the course and views, watch the video I made of driving Rim Rock, post race day 2018.
Pretty intense, huh? What is also neat about this event is that “[p]roceeds benefit scholarships for Colorado Mesa University Track and Cross Country student-athletes and the Greater Grand Junction Sports Commission,” according to the race website http://rimrockrun.grandjunctionsports.org/. A proud CMU student-athlete alumna myself, I heartily approve of this. 🙂
Training wise, I did not run quite as much as last year, as I focused more on incorporating strength training (going to the gym about 3 times a week). Whenever I did run however, I ran more downhill as to be prepared. Rim Rock is a road race, so I transitioned off trails to street surfaces. The longest distance I ran was 16 miles; in September I ran a total of 70 miles, then tapered down to 43 miles total in October. There is a common misconsception that one must run a 26.2 training race, but not so; with the cumulative effect of training and added adrenaline of race day, save the long run for the actual event.
Per tradition, the night before the race I carbo loaded at Enzo’s Italian restaurant: I highly recommend their spaghetti. 🙂 Later that evening, I prepped all my racing apparel and gear. Before sun rise, my friend Jamie drove me to Fruita Community Center for the pre-race meeting; runners were on the buses by 7 AM and transported to the starting line just a mile outside the east entrance of Colorado National Monument.
This time around, the buses remained for about a half hour, so runners didn’t have to wait out the pre-dawn cold—last year we shivered outside for about 45 minutes, waiting for the start. Apparel wise, I took the same approach as last year, wearing a tank top and arm sleeves under my light shell jacket. For bottoms I wore my running shorts under my trusty Mesa State tennis sweats—I like the option of being able to shed layers. I wore the same running vest I’ve used on my other marathons, the pockets filled with GUs, waffles, and gels.
With my time chip secured to my shoes, Mizuno Wave Inspire 15, I joined the racers at the starting line. At 8 o’clock sharp, the race began. Last year, I cruised easily uphill; I’m not being sarcastic when I say I love running uphill. Perhaps to my detriment, I expelled too much energy on the uphill last year, and had too little in the tank for the loooong descent. This time around, I forced myself to go at a slightly slower pace uphill, the idea being I’d reserve energy to blaze downhill the last few miles. Now that I have my Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, for this race I could monitor my pace.
The uphill climb I found once again to be easy, and I kept myself in check so I wouldn’t go too fast. Last year I hit Cold Shivers Point, mile 4.5, in about 45 minutes; this time I arrived 2 minutes later, so I was certainly pacing myself. Once the course topped out around mile 6, I picked up the pace a bit. The sun had since risen, and it was a beautiful, cloudless morning with no wind.
My anticipation, and actual participation, in the last year’s Rim Rock was unbridled. I truly was excited to run my first ever marathon on such a beautiful course. Being my first marathon, I felt no pressure. This being my third, I (understandably) wanted to PR…however, I just wasn’t feeling quite the fire on this run. Cardio wise, I could run all day. My Garmin calculated my VO2 max at 51, or superior, which is the top 5% for my age and gender. Mentally, however, I could already feel burnout creeping in: not from this race alone, but running overall. Running is my primary sport, and when you do it so intensely and so consistently, burnout is not only normal, but expected. This was my second marathon in 6 months, so yeah, the training load on my body was a lot this year.
Despite feeling that lack of fire, I continued. I had no doubt I would finish and enjoy this race. Getting to run the Monument is an absolute privilege. What other course affords you such magnificent views, where some spots you are literally running along the edge of a 1000 ft. cliff? Driving along Rim Rock Drive never fails to impress, and I’ve driven this road plenty of times before. But getting to experience it entirely on foot? Quite unforgettable.
Despite the mental lag, energy wise I felt great. I made sure to grab water at every aid station, set along every 3 miles or so. I wore my wireless Trekz Afteshokz headphones, which are astounding: they lasted the whole duration of my race. Using bone conduction to transport sound, these headphones sit outside your ear, so you can still hear your surroundings as you exercise. Super lightweight, they do not bounce and provide quality sound. I HIGHLY recommend them.
Despite my training, my left IT band began to whine again, just like in my other marathons. The dull ache on the outside of my left knee flared around mile 15, and soon was a sharp, tingly pain. As much as I naturally overpronate (my ankles roll in), I did not experience any ankle pain this race. Nope, once again it was that IT band, and did it hurt. Gritting my teeth, I steeled myself for the agony of the long descent on the highly cambered, or sloped, road. Looking at my watch, I knew would be unable to PR this race: my finish time would be over 5 hours, whereas last year I finished just under 5.
Along several spots on the course I slowed to a walk due to the pain, especially on the downhill. At one point another runner caught up to me and, determined not to let her pass, I resumed running. We kept pace for well over 2 miles, finally arriving at the west entrance and very bottom of the Monument. The last 3 miles into town are still downhill, though much more gradual. But at this point, my left leg was trashed; my right leg was fatigued but felt no pain. Like last year’s race, these last 3 miles are in their own way the most grueling; you just want to be done at this point!
During the race Jamie texted me encouragement, and I let her know my course location. Knowing my adventure tribe—Jamie, Yoli, Cate, Trish, and Kale—would be at the finish line to cheer me on, I somehow churned out the last 2 miles. Crossing the bridge over the Colorado River, a bald eagle soared overhead, giving me inspiration to run the last incline up and over I-70, and onto the straightaway toward Circle Park. Approaching the finish, I spotted the girls to my left, shouting my name and ringing a cowbell. With one last burst of speed, I crossed the finish, completing Rim Rock Marathon for a second time.
I hobbled to a stop, and a race volunteer removed my time chip. I received my finisher’s medal, a striking medallion featuring Independence Monument. My friends hugged and congratulated me. As they have for my other races, they basically take care of me post run: they remove and hold onto my race vest, jacket, and sweats, and usher me over to the massage tent. Pointing to my left knee and quad, the PT gave a me free 5 minute massage on those spots: immediately I felt better.
For several minutes afterward I cheered on runners to the finish. My race time was 5.5 hours…oof. Damn that IT band, I cursed in my head. Yet despite the disappointment of not PRing, I reminded myself that I had just run Rim Rock for a SECOND time. I may have not been in the “flow zone” like last year’s race, but I had yet again completed another marathon. And of course, the best part is having my friends’ encouragement in my running endeavors. Having my support crew, and seeing them at the finish line, is by far one of the best things about running, hands down. Ladies: THANK YOU!!!
Shortly afterward, Jamie, Yoli, and I headed to nearby Hot Tomato. Like last year, I ordered a whole pizza for myself and ate half of it. The rest I scarfed down the next day as I walked around downtown Grand Junction.
After a shower and a long nap, it was time to celebrate! Last year we ladies attended a Halloween party, and this year was no different. That evening Jamie, Yoli, and I went to Warehouse 25 Sixty-Five. With live music and plenty of folks in costume, it was a lively evening. Somehow, I managed (barely) in my heels, after 26.2 miles on my body.
The next morning, Jamie surprised me with a lovely homemade breakfast: an oatmeal bake and omelets. And not only that, she baked several batches of cookies with my all-time favorite ingredient, white chocolate–you see why I absolutely LOVE my support crew? Jamie is one amazing cook, and I devoured plenty and still had leftovers. 😊
This marathon weekend was incredibly fun. I may not have PRed, but it doesn’t matter. I completed a race in one of the most scenic areas in the world, with my friends to cheer me on and spoil me with delicious food, and celebrated Halloween. Doesn’t get any better than that! To my friends and family on both sides of the Divide, much love and gratitude for your continual support in my running journeys. 🙂 For those interested in running a challenging course, I strongly recommend Rim Rock. Featuring marathon, marathon relay, half marathon relay, and newly added 12k, take your pick. 2020 Registration is now open at http://rimrockrun.grandjunctionsports.org/. Hope to see you there!
~LMC
