Journalist

The 6th South African Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon

In October, I’m off to South Africa to participate in the sixth annual South African Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon; a six-stage, 150-mile foot race across the Kalahari Desert as an assignment for Runner’s World magazine. I will run between 16 to 51 miles per day over rocky trails, active vineyards, rutted outcrops and no surprise, sand. The mercury will soar to 105-degrees during the day and plummet into the 40s at night. Competitors must carry all their provisions – including food, clothing and safety equipment needed for the journey, meaning my pack will weigh about 20-pounds at the beginning of the race. It will get lighter each day as I chomp down PowerBars, Ramen Noodles and Macadamia nuts – perhaps the most efficient calorie-to-weight food ever. 

There will, of course be wine tasting book-ending my trip. It would be a sin to miss exploring South Africa’s fledging wine country and fascinating culture.

www.extrememarathons.com

à Runner’s World magazine article in January 2006 issue

Western States 100!

I finally got to Western States 100. Not as a racer, but as a pacer. On June 25, 2005, I paced Bev Anderson Abs for the last 22-miles of this county's most grueling 100-mile trail running race. A racer from France, who I affectionately called “Flower Boy,” for the purple wild flower peppering his hair, joined our paceline zig-zagging through the eerie darkness. Bev not only got her prestigious belt buckle for finishing the quad-pumping steep, rutted route in less than 24-hours, she took second place for the women – finishing 15^th overall.

www.ws100.com

Wurtsboro 30K Mountain Run Race – April 9, 2005

This was my first race since the Coastal Challenge and I woke at 4:30am that morning feeling like a schoolgirl going on a field trip. Following a light breakfast, I packed my bags and headed upstate.

It was a gorgeous NY spring morning. I passed my hometown of Suffern on my hour and half drive from NYC to the tiny Catskill town of Wurtsboro (on Rt. 17, near Ellenville), for the Wurtsburo 30K Mountain Run Road Race. Seeing exit 14B brought back long-ago memories of running cross country at Suffern Jr. High school. Back then, I didn’t know the meaning of ITB, PowerGel or Coolmax, for that matter.

Despite a leisurely drive up, my eager departure got me to the race start at Emma elementary school an hour and a half early. When I checked in and picked up my race number, #340, the “early starters” were warming up. The 30-kilometer race course began on a grueling 3.5 mile steep climb, so participants had the option of beginning an hour before the 9:00am official start.

Sixty-four of us spread across the service road in front of the school. The ages ranged from 20-something to 60-something and about a third of the field was women. I shivered in the morning chill and like a cat, searched out pockets of sunshine peering through the bare tree branches.

One of the Sullivan Strider race staff shouted “go!” and we were off. Mike and Stephan, two sinewy runner-type dudes strode effortlessly –high stepping up the long ascent. I was in third. With no chance of hanging onto their hot pace, I steadied my breathing and stride and settled into a rhythm. The harsh winter left the dull grey asphalt uneven and sandy. I warmed up quickly in my tights and longsleev Coolmax top and wished I’d worn shorts like most everyone else. Too late.

About half way up, a blonde guy in his 30s huffed and puffed up to me. We plodded together to top. He stopped at the 5K water station and I didn’t see him again until the finish. I wasn’t alone for long.

Running down a quad-pound 7% grade that swept along a rushing river, I felt someone on me. It was a local runner Jim, 50, who was moving smoothly and swiftly. He passed by with a friendly “hi” and I tagged onto his heels. We ran together, trading off pulls. The pace was a little too fast for comfort and several times I thought it was going to be “adios amigo.”

The course continued winding through the country hillside; the last 10K packed with short power climbs and steep descents. By about mile 14, my mega-miles from Costa Rica kicked in; while Jim’s knee surgery from last summer dampened his get-up and go. The hills took their toll and Jim back off with 5K left. I was alone again, but knew George, Jim’s local racing nemesis, had been chasing us all morning. Determined to keep my placing, but feeling leg-heavy, I struggled to keep up the pace. Exhausted and elated, I crossed the finish line nailing 3rd place. George motored in a mere 40 seconds later.

Race Article: http://www.sc-democrat.com/sports/04April/12/30k.htm

Next up:

• Grand Canyon Double Rim Run: May 15, 2005.  Eight of us - friends from around the U.S. and Canada -- will run from the top of the South Rim, across inner basin to top of North Rim, back down and across inner basin to the top of South Rim. Approximately 48 miles, nonstop.
• Western States 100 - No, not racing it! But will pace Bev Anderson Abs for the last portion of this county's most grueling 100 Trail Running Race for the last 20 miles: June 25th 2005.  Goal: Get Bev her belt buckle for finishing the grueling trail run in less than 24-hours www.ws100.com

Media Update

My first person narrative about our Tibet Climbing Blind expedition will air on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday - with Scott Simon” in March. Date TBD. Will post.   

The February 2005 “Climbing” magazine features my Climbing Blind article – Off the Wall section.

Check out the April 2005 issue of “Conde Naste Traveler” for my Urban Paddling piece – Word of Mouth section.

My Coastal Challenge piece will be featured in the May 2005 issue of “Runner’s World” magazine – Racing Report section.

The Coastal Challenge Update

Race Dates: January 16-22, 2005
I’m back and finally recovered from The Coastal Challenge (www.thecoastalchallenge.com) seven day, 150-mile expedition run down the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica. It was terrific – and tough.

The first day shifted from beach to road; road to beach – which got softer and steeper as the tide came in. I broke away with the lead group of five runners, but the heightening pace got too hot for comfort (knowing, I had a week of racing ahead) and I backed off. Four and half hours later, I crossed the music-booming finish line in Garza exhausted and elated. Bev Anderson-Abs, an adventure racer-turned ultra runner, from California won by three minutes. Charles Bedley, a marathon from Toronto took first for the men. The race was on. Just six more days!

Starting at 6:00 AM on a dusty road, stage two’s 52 kilometers was a real quad burner. The main ingredients: off-camber beach and super steep hills. As I followed the orange arrow out the second aid station, my trot slowed to a power walk. Pressing my sweaty palm against my trashed thighs for a little help, I slugged up a gigantic hill reminiscent of climbs in the Tour d’ France. The view was spectacular. Across the treetops, green mountains drained into the glistening ocean. But what goes up … My mashed quads yelped pounding down the hill and shuffling to the finish in the beach town of San Miguel. 

I crawled out of my tent at 4:00 the next morning feeling like I was hit by a truck; wondering how I’d complete the 43 kilometer stage ….

The remainder of the race can be read about in the May 2005 “Runner’s World” magazine.

The Coastal Challenge - January 14-22, 2005

My next adventure is The Coastal Challenge (www.thecoastalchallenge.com), January 14-22, 2005 in Costa Rica. A seven days running stage race, it routes 150 miles along the Pacific coastline. I will be one of 100 competitors hoofing 19-23 miles a day along white beaches, topical jungle forests, over stunning canopies -- including eight zip-lines over four waterfalls -- and through the wonderfully preserved Corcovado National Park.

We'll sleep under the stars on mildly breezy beaches at night and wake to do it all over again the next morning. The race starts 10 degrees north of Equator in the tiny coastal town of Marabella, in the Province of Guanecaste. Seven days and 150 miles later, it ends at 8.5 degrees north of the equator for the big celebration party! Sure will be a big change from running in Central Park.

I will be writing a first person article about my race experience that will appear in Runner's World Magazine; May 2005 issue.