Running Free: Lake Sonoma 50 mile

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Lake Sonoma 50 mile

Yesterday I ran in the second annual Lake Sonoma 5o mile race in Healdsburg, Ca. It was a beautiful day for a run, despite the temps being in the 80's. I was wondering how I would do, as I have only run one 25 miler, a 20 miler, and a few 3 hour runs since TCC. 50 miles is a long way, so I tried to be conservative out on the course. I enjoyed running and talking with Luanne Park for several miles. We hadn't seen each other since TRT last year. Kevin Sawchuck filled me in with all kinds of interesting things he does when he fast packs on the John Muir trail and my ipod filled my head with all kinds of different songs from rap to John Denver.

My goal for this race was to finish faster than last year. I finished 2nd woman last year with a time of 9:53. This year I finished 4th woman with a time of 9:22! I was 19th overall. I am happy with my time and I felt that I did the best that I could do for the training that I had. I had some issues with my left IT band and I had some cramping in my feet, so I tried to keep on top of that by taking Succeed and keeping hydrated. I did run out of water at the last aid station and ran the last five miles without any water. I was suffering big time because I was so thirsty. It was a stupid mistake in that I didn't check my hydration pack to see how much water I had left. My bad.

The swag was wonderful. I got a nice Brooks jacket, a Brooks skirt, a running shirt and lots of other goodies in my bag. For being the first oldest goat across the finish line, I also won a HUGE bottle of wine! See, getting old ain't so bad! Well, it has a few advantages!

Today I am wiped out and feeling the effects of a long day on the trail. Thanks to Stan Jensen for the above photo taken at his aid station.

7 comments:

Peter Lubbers said...: Awesome run, Kelly!
30 minutes faster on very little training--nice!; March 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Mechelle said...: Great job Kelly! Although the heat was more than you desired we can't seem to get out of the 30's here in Michigan so send a bit this way :); March 30, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Drs. Cynthia and David said...: Way to break your own record! And the heat and dehydration must have been tough too.

Happy recovering!

Cynthia; April 1, 2009 at 2:20 AM
Olga said...: What a great run, Kelly, there is nothing slowing you down ever, just makes you faster every day!; April 1, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Mark Tanaka (Ultrailnakaman) said...: Great job, Kelly, congrats on the wine, and great seeing you again. I should've snapped a photo of you and ?Luanne?-- will have to catch you next time.; April 1, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Victoria said...: Yay! Good for you! Enjoy your bottle of wine-- you earned it...; April 2, 2009 at 8:37 AM
kelly said...: Thanks everyone! Lake Sonoma 50 miler is a great race. It's tough, but beautiful. It can kick your butt if you are not ready for it.; April 2, 2009 at 12:15 PM

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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.''