Griffith Park 1/2 Marathon

Last year in 2013 I ran the Griffith Park 10k and I was definitely in for a surprise, because I had only been trail running for 2 months prior to race day. That was my first ever trail race, and after finishing in 1:25 I was hooked to the sport and wanted to run more races. That same year I volunteered for the ½ marathon to get an inside on what goes on in a trail race before I tackle the 10k the next day. I had lots of fun and I had to definitely run it the following year.

I run and train in Griffith Park all the time, it is my home course so I knew I had to run the Half Marathon at least once, to get a taste of racing in it. There are a couple of tough climbs in the park, and it so happened that some of those climbs are in the race. Hogback trail, Charlie Churner(back to Dante’s view), and of course coming back up from the Bronson Caves. That was definitely the biggest climb of the race.

8:00 am start, by that time my tan was getting a tan. It was extremely HOT! I remember watching the weather forecast on Monday before going to school and seeing it was going to up in the mid 90’s. The first thing that came out of my mouth was SH*T! I don’t really like to train in hot weather conditions for one reason, rattlesnakes, but the show must go on. You have to keep the machine flowing somehow.

Gathering at the startline I began to wish all my friends that were racing good luck. One quote that I always keep in mind is “Run Relentless, and think Unbreakable.” No matter how hot it was going to get, how much I was going to suffer getting through the toughest climbs I was going to get through it. Finally, Keira Henninger(Race Director) does the countdown of the last 10 seconds and before I knew it, I was on the trail getting through the first climb.

The first climb is of course Hogback Trail, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Yeah, right! It was extremely expose to heat, but luckily I was able to hike it super hard. The first “descent” is at about 2 miles into the race going around Mt.Bell before join with the road. I knew I was already one of the last runners so I start ripping down that downhill to the aid station. After getting of the trail, I begin to run the couple of meters to the aid station as hard as I could to catch up to a couple of runners. At the turn to the aid station I was greeted by my friend Miguel who was encouraging me to keep going and to not stop. I really needed that push. I get to the aid station and my plan was to get in and out. Thankfully it was all familiar faces so I the cheering and motivation made me want to continue running.

And I was off to continue to with the race. The next couple of miles were flat with a huge descent down to the Bronson Caves. It was good being able to see more runners on the course since I was far behind. By then the sun was hitting hard! It felt a little over 100 to me. I might sound crazy for that, but it was HOT! This is where I take advantage to try to catch up to some runners, and I did, not to many though. I hear my name from a distance, “GO FERNANDO,” it was my friend Monica from Team Cruda. That made me run even faster to get to the aid station manned by more familiar faces. I get there, and get my bottles filled and take one of my Powerbar gels to give me a little boost. And off I went to the caves for the turn around and then back up that long ascent.

The entire time I’m going up I was suffering pretty badly. It was such a long and heavy climb. I tried not to focus on it and just do it. I put my bottle in my shorts and start hiking hands on knees as hard as I could. Although, it was hot and there wasn’t much shade, I didn’t let it get to my head. I was going to finish this race, not DNF like I did at Billy Goat ½ Marathon. I reach the top and there was a couple meters to the aid station where I took my next gel and filled my bottles. My friend Miguel ran from the aid station to the beginning of the trail with me, in fact he was speeding up on purpose so I can keep pace and not stop, I didn’t.

The climb around Mt.Bell is tough especial after the heavy climb coming out of the Bronson Caves, but I fought through it. I make it to Dante’s View where my friend Paul is directing runners in the proper direction greets me and fills up my bottle fast enough so I can get on my way to the Griffith Park Observatory. This was the first decent that was hard for me to run, because for the first time I suffered from blisters. It made it hard for me to take a step, but I made it happen and kept going. The aid station was before getting the parking lot near the observatory, so you were able to get greeted by tourist or hikers. It was nice to get motivation from people you don’t know. On my way back I tried running whatever I could, even if it was half of a mile I did it.

The moment I got to Dante’s View I knew I was less than a mile to go. All the pain and suffering was almost over. No matter how much the blister bothered me, I was going to run down Hogback trail. At about half way down the trail I notice a lady runner stretching hoping she didn’t have cramps that close to the finish line. Thank goodness she didn’t. I ask if she needed any help or assistance, but she didn’t, and said to continue my race.

With less than half of a mile to go, I began to get mini flashbacks of when I ran Leona Divide 50k this past April, where the last mile was on pavement and it was all downhill. Hearing people cheering me on, me knowing I was about to finish my first ultra marathon. It was such a euphoric moment that I would never forget. That was exactly how I felt during the that last decent. Making the turn out of the trail and onto the road I began to hear cheering, and the medal that was waiting for me.

Crossing the finish line at 4:19:57, runner #251 out of 262 runners, and first in age group. Although it was the worst I’ve ever felt during a trail race, I loved every moment of it. “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” well I’m alive, and ready to continue running. I will continue to face challenges while trail running, but it’s that what makes me a better runner. I can look back at the race days later and say, yeah it was hard, but I had fun. Who else can say they had fun while torturing themselves running in 100 degree weather.

I will return next year to better my time, to get a sub 3 hour. I know I can do it. Anything is possible, if you set your mind to it.

-Fernando Anaya

Relentless and Unbreak

Billy Goat Hill Climb

The Billy Goat Hill Climb ½ Marathon was a tough one. This race was definitely one of the toughest trail courses I have ever done. It was a lesson learned.

Waking up bright and early getting ready for this monstrous course I was about to run in the next 2 hours, I thought to myself, what will the terrain be like? How will the temperature be in Corona? Will I beat the cut-off? These questions were haunting me as myself and my friend Luisa were driving to the race location.

Arriving to the location and right away spotting my friend Michelle Barton(Badwater 135 finisher, 6x Transrockies finisher), and I felt a little more confident that this will not be too bad. But, I was wrong. The heat started to hit pretty strong. It reached up to almost 100 degrees. It was awfully hot. When you get to the start of an Old Goat race, the start line has a banner that reads “Moderation has its place, it ain’t here”. That could only mean one thing, it’s going to be f*cking hard.

10 minutes till start and the man of the hour talks about the race, course, etc. Also did I mention it was his birthday celebration? No, well I just did. All I could think of was “birthday = cake”(which I didn’t have any). Feeling pretty nervous about the 6 miles that stand in front of me, oh and that “one hill” as they say. Just think Relentless and Unbreakable. “Go” says Steve, and the race starts.

    The first couple of meters of the race were flat. Then the climbing starts, and immediately I start cursing in my head, “Shi*t this is f*cking hard”, but the show must go on. Me and my friend Luisa decide to stick together for the first couple miles of the race, or at least till the first aid station which was at mile 3.5, but felt like more. I was really struggling keeping up with her. I was in such bad shape, and felt like I really couldn’t keep up with her. So I told her to take off, and I will TRY to catch up. So she did. As I’m going up, I kept wondering where is this dang aid station, I want some watermelon and ice cold water. The climb was ridiculous. For some reason I felt like it was getting steeper and steeper as I’m trying to get to the aid station. I get to the aid station, and first thing I noticed is I’m the last runner. No worries, I’m having fun(yeah right), time to fight it and keep going.

    As soon as I left the aid station, as I’m walking up the climb taking a breather, the first male passes me. I’m only at mile 3.5 and he’s at mile 10. How did that happen? I was amazed at how fast this guy was running, because this was crazy steep. By that time I was starting to suffer really bad, I just wished I could fly to the turn around. I kept singing “I need a hero” by Bonnie Tyler. I really needed one. The heat started to hit stronger and stronger as I hit higher elevation. Majority of the course was exposed to heat. I kept praying for a patch of shade to take a break. Still climbing I start seeing runners coming down one by one. All giving me support and tell me to keep going. So I kept going. I climb and I finally reached some gentle downhill and started to pick up the pace, until the climbing began again, and I was only half of a mile from the aid station. As I’m going, I see a truck, and I’m thinking, okay it’s probably one of the cars that are headed to the top or so. But no, it was the aid station guys, who were not packed and ready to head back down to the start/finish area. Luckily, I was able to refill my handheld then head down to the finish.

    I start tearing down the trail trying to beat the cut off, but it was extremely hot and my water was running low. I was struggling pretty bad. I kept trying to survive the last couple of miles trying to get to the first aid station with very little water. The trail coming down was very steep. Even to run down was a little hard. But, I gave it my best. Trying not to let the truck behind me catch up. At about mile 8.5 I started to really think to myself “It’s getting really hot, I still have about 4 miles to go, can I continue?” I went on to continue, even if I was running slow I managed to push myself.

    I finally reached the aid station, and try to refill my handheld again, and pour some on my head to cool off. And of the aid station guys tells me that there is no possible way the I will be able to beat the cut off if I tried to continue. I said I’ll give it my best to get as far as I can. So I take off pretty fast to the finish. And right behind me the aid station guys pull up behind me to tell me that I can’t continue to run anymore. The course has to be shut down. So I hitch a ride back to the finish line. The finish line I could have crossed if I wouldn’t have let my poor mentality take over my body.

    There were moments in the race where I felt like I wasn’t racing against the other runners, more like I was racing against myself. I let myself down. Didn’t think I’d ever DNF(did not finish) a race. A race in which I’ve pushed myself 200% to finish.  I’m not disappointed I didn’t finish the entire course, but I can say that I pushed myself to the fullest extend to get through 10 miles in scorching heat. Not going to complain, and definitely push myself 300% next time.

    I’m very happy about this experience and thanks Steve for the DFL(Dead Fucking Last) awards. Definitely was the icing on the cake. I am running this race again next year, and earning that medal. No way in hell I’m letting a cut off beat me.  

- Fernando Anaya

Relentless and Unbreakable

Myself and the Old Goat himself Steve.

 My DFL award.

LA Marathon 2014!

Let me start of by saying congratulations to all that finished the 2014 LA Marathon. This years LA Marathon really made me give it my all. It was the first time in a race of any distance where I felt like I wasn’t “racing” against other runners, but racing against myself I felt like I wasn’t running up to my potential. Despite the smiles and laughs along the course deep down inside I was in excruciating pain. All I wanted to do was get to mile 11 where my family was waiting for me to take an electrolyte boost drink to see if that would give me strength to continue on the rest of the course. Beginning on mile 7, well at least for me, is where the sun decided to play peek-a-boo with me. The heat wasn’t really a wow factor for me considering I’ve been doing some heat training for my first Ultra Marathon “Leona Divide 50k”. So I was able to manage the heat pretty well doing what all runners do splash a cup of water on the face and pour some over the head to cool down.

Getting to mile 15 and finally seeing a bunch of familiar faces it definitely made me feel a lot better with such a warm welcome. Hanging out with everyone have a talk with my friend Donna C, on how difficult this race is for me. Then I realized I still have 11 more miles, I should really get going.

The road to mile 20 which is where I was going to give up, where some tears were shed and some things were said that I shouldn’t mention. It was tough. I felt useless to continue to run, I sat down and realized that this wasn’t going pretty if I continued to run, or walk. I was walking the entire time debating whether to give up or continue, I have my head down and notice a penny and the floor. I bent over to pick up and to get a closer look and see that it’s heads up. For of those of you who don’t know. Whenever I find a penny heads up, I picture my cousin, may he rest in peace, who passed away at the age of 1, saying hello to me. The moment I picked it up and realized it was heads up a tear came out of my eye. I told myself “Is this a sign?”. “Does he want me to continue no matter the circumstances?” I held the penny in my hand squeezed it tight looked up to the sky and said “Yes!”. I was not going to give up, not now. I came this far to give up.  

Chanting in my head “Relentless and Unbreakable” I kept going. Whether I was walking, jogging, or even just taking step by step I didn’t give up. Finally getting to mile 25, I could already taste victory. Looked at the time and I knew from the start I wasn’t going to get a PR or even under 7 hours. Running as fast as I could, which was like a 15 minute pace I did not stop. Keeping my cousin in my thoughts I kept pushing forward. Hearing the cheers from finishers and spectators and I reach the finish I just couldn’t get it to my head that I finally made it to Santa Monica 8 hours and 6 minutes later! Never thought I’d be able to finish what to me has to be the toughest race I’ve ever done. Crossing the finish line, receiving my medal proud I look up to the sky and thank my cousin for pushing me forward.

Something as simple as a penny can mean so much to a person. In my case it gave the strength to finish the last 10 kilometers of a marathon. If I wouldn’t of have found that penny I think I would have called it a day, and dropped out. Yes I’m ashamed of my time, but I’m proud that I finish. Never give up for any reason, push yourself to finish.

    See you all in 2015! :)

-Fernando Anaya