Running Free: Team Diablo rocks at AC

Friday, September 19, 2008

Team Diablo rocks at AC

Last weekend I had the honor of pacing Tamara Johnson at the AC 100. The race starts in Wrightwood, California and ends in Pasadena. The race is run through the San Gabriel Mts. AC is a hard 100. There is 21,610 ft. of climbing and 26, 700 ft. of descent. The course is as beautiful as it is tough. It is well run and course markings are everywhere. I would say that if you are looking for a challenging 100, AC is for you.

Suz, Jeff, Ken, and I crewed and paced during the race. Crewing and pacing are almost more tiring than running the thing! We had a great time and Team Diablo kicked butt! Of the 7 Team Diablo runners, all 7 finished strong. Troy Howard came in 2nd with a screaming time of 19:25:04. Tamara Johnson wanted to finish under 28 hours but she is happy with a finishing time of 28:28:28! It was an honor to crew and pace for Team Diablo. They are not only amazing runners, but great people too. Thankyou Team Diablo for welcoming me into your group. Congrats to Dan, Wally, Tamara, Dennis, Dave, Mac, and Troy for a job well done. You all ran strong, despite some tough issues that some of you faced. You are all winners in my book.

I paced 42 miles wearing Drymax socks on steep technical trails with no blisters! I love my new socks!

7 comments:

Rick Gaston said...: Wow this is the second time I've read about Drymax socks in as many days. I'm wearing the ones Olga gave me for the Skyline to the Sea 50k tomorrow. I'll see how they hold up.

Is Team Diablo a big group. Ran with a guy named Ben at TRT100, he had a Team Diablo shirt on, nice guy. Young and it was his first start at a 100.; September 19, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Marcy said...: There are "easy" 100's ROFLMAO! Ohhh girl you ultra peeps are just too much for me ;-)

Thanks for stopping by ;D; September 21, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Anonymous said...: Thank You Kelly! I could not have made it to the finish without you!! Your the best! See you on Friday! : ) Tamara; September 22, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Mr Trail Safety said...: Hi Kelly:

Great seeing you at the AC100 finish line. If you haven't seen the photos, check them out at: http://larrygassan.com/08_AC100/AC100-08_foto-list.htm; September 23, 2008 at 8:32 AM
kelly said...: Well, well, well, Mr. Trail safety. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm anxious to read your's too. I heard you were political, but WOW!! Just kidding, it was great to see you again. I will check out the pics and as usual, I know they will tell a story. Take good care.; September 23, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Doodlestreet said...: I'm always so amazed when I stop by your blog and read about all this adventure running you do! It's just incredible...
I'm gearing up for The Race for the Cure this weekend...it's a 5K (which for me is something I have to work at, but for you, it must be a quick two minute run down the street!!) haha.. but even though my runs are on the small scale, you really inspire me to keep at it. Thank you for that! Sunday should be interesting..my goal is to stay keep pace with the 97 year old! ;o); September 24, 2008 at 1:06 PM
kelly said...: Good luck, Doodlestreet at the 5K. You are braver than I. Running fast for a 5K sounds scary to me. Have fun on Sunday. You better beat that 97 year old!!; September 26, 2008 at 5:16 PM

Not Even Lupus Can Slow Ridgway

NOT EVEN LUPUS CAN SLOW RIDGWAY Published on June 26, 2004 © 2004- The Press Democrat BYLINE: BRUCE MEADOWS Three years ago when she was diagnosed with lupus, Kelly Ridgway didn't take much time plotting her course. ``I figured I could lay on the couch and be a drug-seeker for pain or I could choose to be as healthy as I can be,'' said Ridgway, 46, an outpatient surgery nurse at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Ridgway, defying the odds, is entered in the Western States 100 Endurance Run, which starts at the base of Squaw Valley at 5 this morning and ends 100 miles away in Auburn. ``I see people at the hospital in horrible shape because of lupus, but I realized I had a choice how to deal with it,'' Ridgway said. Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease affecting mainly women. The immune system attacks the body's own tissues as a foreign substance, producing antibodies to fight it. The cause of the disease is unknown although research has shown it occurs when a specific set of susceptible genes is exposed to a combination of environmental factors such as infectious agents, certain drugs, excessive ultraviolet light, physical trauma or emotional stress. Ridgway said she has been a ``serious runner'' for 14 years and has also competed in 50- and 100-mile events on horseback. She started running to get in shape after the last of her three children -- Caleb (18), Chelsea (16) and Courtney (14) -- were born. ``I've found I really love ultras,'' said Ridgway, a single mother who graduated from Montgomery High, then earned a nursing degree from Santa Rosa JC. Dr. Lisa Kremer, Ridgway's rheumatologist said, fatigue is the most universal symptom of lupus. ``For somebody to run 100 miles with an auto-immune disease is incredible.'' Ridgway first experienced flu-like symptoms, then fatigue. ``But when I started having problems with cognitive stuff, I knew there was something more to it.'' She was having trouble doing simple math or even finding her way around town. ``I thought of all sorts of things, including a brain tumor,'' said Ridgway. Ridgway has been training with Santa Rosan Karen Hanke, 42, and Suzanna Bon, 39 of Sonoma. This is the second Western States for Hanke, who finished last year in 29 hours, 47 minutes, running the last 70 miles on severely blistered feet. It is the first Western States for Ridgway and Bon. Because of the glut of applicants -- more than 1,000 annually apply for 400 spots -- runners must not only qualify with an acceptable 50-mile run time but also get lucky by having their name drawn by lot. Bon, whose goal is ``just to finish although I'd love to do it in under 24 hours,'' is impressed with Ridgway's effort. ``Kelly is strong and smart about training,'' said Bon. ``We'll run at our own pace this weekend, not together, but we want to do the best we can.'' Ridgway sees herself as a runner who happens to have lupus. ``My case is relatively minor and medication has really helped,'' said Ridgway, who logs 75 miles a week. ``But I don't know anybody with lupus who runs as much as I do.'' She has bouts of fatigue and deals with them. ``There are days I am really tired and need to come home and rest for a while,'' she said. But this weekend there will no place to rest. ``I'm not the type to quit,'' she said. ``I will persevere.'' Kremer said people with lupus react differently to the disease. ``Some have a real tough time with it and others take it as a challenge,'' said the doctor. ``In general, a disease like lupus provokes self-evaluation ... some patients look at it as a way to straighten out their lives, physically and socially.'' Kremer said most lupus patients with a positive outlook exercise to some degree. ``For them, making an effort is a personal victory.'' Ridgway, who left for Squaw Valley Thursday, has been on the Western States course before, having competed in the Tevis Cup horse race and also working the run the past two years as a medical helper. ``It's beautiful ... I fell in love with the trail,'' she said. ``I'm excited but not nervous.'' Ridgway will be tested following the race to determine how running 100 miles affects a lupus patient. ``I know I am capable of doing this.'' She likes to run, even 100 miles, because it makes her feel healthy and alive. ``Maybe in some ways this will speak to people who are trying to make choices,'' she said. ``You can push ahead and take charge of your life.''