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
