I came, I ran, I conqured

This past Saturday our team was scheduled to run at Lake Chabot. Specifically, I was scheduled to run 12-14 miles there. The thing is... Lake Chabot and I are like water and oil. We just don't mix well. Lake Chabot is a very hilly course around a very pretty lake. Before last weekend, I had 2 failed attempts to "Do the Damn Thing" there which failed. Miserably.

During Spring season last year, we ran there when I was only just getting over a cold. After 3 short miles I almost passed out and had to sit in my car with my head between my legs to keep from fainting.

During Fall season... well... I happened to miss the Lake Chabot run ;)

Then, this season one of our early runs was there. I think I was supposed to run 8-10 miles... but alas, only completed 4, 2 of which I had to walk because I was having bad knee problems.

So, you can imagine I was not to excited to take on Lake Chabot on Saturday. I assumed it was a cursed place that I was never ever meant to try to run again. And to top off the fear of the course, my trusty weather.com told me it was going to be hot on Saturday. BARF.

Hot + Lizzie = BAD
Hills + Lizzie = BAD
Lake Chabot + Lizzie = BAD
Hot + Hills + Lake Chabot + Lizzie = ????

So, thankfully upon arriving to the course bright and early on Saturday, we were notified that because of the impending heat, we should run 10-12 miles instead of 12-14.

Ok, so I knew I had the first 4 miles down. I had done them before. Nothing new to throw me for a loop. The water stop was manned by Rod and Besty, 2 team members who were racing the next day. Their support was AWESOME. Loved the cowbell. So after the 2 miles out, and 2 miles back, I started to run through uncharted territory... IT WAS GORGEOUS! I finally figured out why Mama Lisa always raves about Lake Chabot. The next 2 miles were shaded, there were waterfalls, I saw a banana slug... and again another awesome water stop manned by Lisa, Lupita and Kim!

Then came the extreme hills. OH DAMN. I really did not think we could run any higher and then I turned a corner and more uphill! It was killer, and I won't lie, I walked some of the uphills. Then I came to a fork in the road. Go right if you are running 8 miles, left if you are running 10. I went left. That's when I hit the worst of the trail. It was all these crazy up and down hills. Up. Down. Up. Down. UGH. My mental toughness was wearing on me especially since it was really starting to heat up outside. But of course TNT always comes through just when you need them. I ran into a bunch of the team coming back from the water stop and we all cheered each other on. It was just the boost I needed to get me to the water stop. And Lori was there! YAY! So we chatted a bit. I chugged a bunch of gatorade and ate some pretzels. Then it was back to the run. And those damn hills. I have to say, when I got back to the fork in the road I was wishing I had gone right from the beginning. Because then there was more uphill. At this point I was starting to hate running in general. To top it off, the song that was stuck in my head was "If you seek Amy." UGH.

BUT, finally, FINALLY, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. DOWNHILL! Yes, the last 2 miles was all downhill. It was glorious. Running downhill even created a bit of a fake breeze that helped combat the blaring heat from above. And the views were phenominal. It was at this point that I realized the Seattle Marathon was going to be A-OK. Because 1) it shouldnt be so dang hot there and 2) they recently changed the course at the end so the last 6 miles are flat/downhill, just like these were. SWEET. By the time I got to the end of the run I was ready for it to be over. But, in the back of my head I knew I probably could have gone for a few more miles were it not so hot out.

So, that is right folks. While half of the run was awful and makes me never want to run Lake Chabot again, I still came, I ran, and I did the damn thing. Then I put my feet in the kiddy pool and ate a bunch of Rebecca's ooey gooey PB&J's. Heaven.