And dogs were allowed to run, so Sadie participated in her first "official" 50k. (Vancouver is such a dog-friendly city!) Streams and creeks were plentiful and Sadie dove in whenever she had the chance. It makes me happy seeing her run.
It was a fun event with some great trails and beautiful views. This event was unique because there were no course markings on the trails. You either knew the course, or you had to print and carry several pages of turn-by-turn instructions. I only got lost twice. It was an out-and-back course, so navigation on the way back was much easier.
The climbs and rocks and roots and mud and scenic views made for a fun day:
Pre-race stretching.
Sadie's inexperience showing as she wanted to stay with the leaders early on.
Steep climbs.
Wet, rocky climbs.
Capilano Lake was one of the many highlights of the course.
Sadie enjoyed all the water.
Sweet single track.
Amazing views.
These rooty sections were fun.
On the home stretch.
Sadie celebrating her 1st place finish in the canine division.
We finished in 6:26:00. (results)
I've had a fun year racing so far. However, with the Atacama Crossing (and Boston) on the horizon, I'm going to try my hardest to minimize my racing and traveling expenses for the rest of the year. In other words, I'm not sure if I'll sign up for any new events at this time. For me, this will be a true test of will. But I do have at least two more events this year that I've already registered for and plan on attending - the Foot Traffic Flat Marathon on July 4th, and the Goblin Valley Ultra on October 23rd with my dad and sister(s).
So, looks like Sadie and I have some big running to do on our own near home this summer. Should be fun. :)
Keep running!
-Scott
