Le Teton

feelin' the love of 45:18

2008-07-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Here I sit, feet propped up, gleaming buckle up on the mantle, and teacup at my elbow.

The 2008 Badwater Ultramarathon was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be. I had three goals: 1) Finish under 48 hours. 2) Have love and harmony happening in the crew vans. 3) Have lots of fun on this mega classic adventure. Okay, I will admit to reducing this list to only one goal on my way to the start Monday morning.

It simply became, "Don't embarrass myself or my crew."

We accomplished all three of my goals in grand style. I can't emphasize enough how important it was to me that our little Badwater Family of 7 come away from this shared time together completely supported and empowered by one another. If we had failed in that respect, this shiny buckle would be a constant reproach and a reminder that the team did not flourish. I loved the hilarity, silliness, seriousness, attention to detail, creativity, and willingness my crew embodied. Because of their care, I finished this race in better shape than I have finished any of my other 100's. Wow! My husband couldn't believe I was going up and down the stairs in our home without that awkward post-race "hobble and grab the handrails with a groan" I usually display. Yeah!!!

Thank you, Anthony, Eddie, Meredith, Mike, Paul, and Peggy.

It was a privilege to follow in the footsteps of the Badwater Greats. Though I am and always will be a climber first, I love 100's because of the character they reveal to each individual who submits to the layers of personal challenge they present.

A special thank you to Lisa Smith-Batchen & Denise Jones. I am feelin' the love, girls!

It's Christmas in summer!

2008-07-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Nike ACG sent me a HUGE box of running shoes!

And Drymax has sent me lots of their awesome socks!

My feet are in heaven. The shoes I will be running in are white with a canary yellow swoosh. Talk about happy feet.......There are also some stylish camo/ultra light weight beauties in there, too. Hope I can find a happy yellow skirt to complete the fashion statement. : )

I am also excited to torture my Drymax socks on the Badwater course. These socks are extremely durable and have been keeping my feet drier than they have ever been. The company is even sending some for my lucky crew.

Honestly, it is wonderful to have their support for this adventure. Thank you so very much.

food is good!

2008-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

I have just finished reading three excellent books about food.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters

It seems to be a straight forward subject. Until you consider what big business and big government have done to our food supply. We have wandered far from the time when we could pick up a stick of simple unadulterated butter. Now that stick labeled "butter" can contain plenty of things that aren't even listed on the ingredients. We feed ruminants grain! They evolved to digest grass. No wonder our cows get sick and need antibiotics. It seems I shop for what isn't in a food.

In the late 80's, I invested in a remarkable company, Seeds of Change. Lost every penny of my investment. Yet, it was very satisfying to make the effort to protect the diversity of our food. Each of us actively participate in the drama unfolding around this mass experiment with the integrity of our bodies. Choose your food carefully. Keep in mind the long term potential of each purchase. Time for a glass of organic beer.

Life is a Shared Experiment

2008-04-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am very fortunate to have extraordinary friends who give so freely of themselves and their hard won knowledge! This morning, I spent some time on the phone going over Badwater fashion tips with Lisa Smith-Batchen. We chatted about shirts, pants, skirts, compression shorts, socks, hats, packs, bottles, food strategy, mojo and being a girl in the middle of the desert in July. It is so wonderful to share the fun and worry of preparing for this amazing event. Isn't it true that each foray into the unknown is so much richer when it is shared?

The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs

2008-04-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

On April 1st, I was notified that my name was not selected in the Nike Women's Marathon Lottery. This is the second year in a row that I have been denied entry into the race. Ironically, within the same notice, I was informed that I could still enter the race through the Team In Training Program.

For 2007 & 2008, Western States 100 Mile Endurance Race has also returned my race entry check.

I don't race. I am a participant. However, that doesn't make these rejections easy to tolerate. With WS 100, I know I will get to run in 2009. It is their "third time you are in" policy. As long as I qualify, I get to run in 2009. Yippie! It gives an average Jane like me access to the extraordinary. I am less forgiving of the Nike Women's Marathon. They are holding the event hostage to a corporate fundraising machine. Now, before I get tons of hate email, think about this.

When did charitable giving become a mandate? That is what it is if its the only way to gain entry. I have nothing against helping others. I most often give anonymously. It is a great joy to help others. Yet, I completely reject the idea that participation in an event be limited or severely restricted to those who fundraise for the sponsored cause.

That brings me to Badwater. When I applied, I wanted to honor the race by also fundraising for its charity, Challenged Athletes Foundation. Badwater Ultramarathon doesn't require fundraising of its runners. It does offer encouragement and support. This month I have been fortunate to have some very frank conversations with potential sponsors. It brings to mind Aesop's fable of The Goose Who Laid The Golden Eggs. What I have learned is this. The unending solicitations that businesses are subjected to aren't sustainable. How can we help the organizations doing the work we believe in? I donate my time and my own money. I share with others my interest in a particular cause. But I won't ask others to give money in my name so that I can enter a race.

Crewing A Badwater Runner

2008-04-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

I put this short video together to give folks an idea of how to approach crewing a runner on the move in Death Valley. It isn't perfect but I hope it is useful.

Some beautiful things.

2006-07-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

"Some beautiful things are more impressive when left imperfect than when too highly finished." -Francois de La Rochefoucauld

I finished my adventure on Mt. Langley's summit. It was a lovely day amongst the alpine flowers, trees, rocks, marmots, and clouds.
It felt good to be hiking. To discover another 14er. I am still obsessing about Mt. Williamson. Time to let it go. Time to go home.
Strange to feel the familiar difference inside.
Start: 8:48 am
Summit: 2:17 pm
Car to car: 10 hrs 8 mins

Thank you to everyone who encouraged, believed, funded, sponsored, strategized, drove, climbed, and supported my dream.
It has been such fun!

14 - 14ers in 9 1/2 days! Hans quickie

2006-07-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

I bet Jacqueline is typing away right now or eating breakfast in Bishop. Just in case it's the later, I'm putting in this quick post for her. - SHE DID ALL 14 and is done with this adventure! She finished up with Langley yesterday, Monday, topping out at 14:15 and getting back to Lone Pine around 19:00 for food and a beer. Way to go incredi-wife/lover/mom/adventurer!

Linkage!!!

2006-07-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger Peter Coward reporting on Sunday's climbing. The goal was to do Russell, then Whitney, then Muir. Jacki set a fast pace from the trailhead, avoided getting lost in the devious lower section of the North Creek trail, and had us at the Whitney-Russell col around 7:30am. GI distress (mine) delayed us for a few minutes before we stashed our packs and set out for Russell. An hour of the usual loose scree and steep sand had us at the base of a short but cool 3rd class section, and shortly thereafter the summit. We retraced our steps back to the packs, I dealt with an additional bout of GI turbulence and we headed for the N. Face of Whitney. After yet more delays on my part, Jacki, wearing crampons, kicked steps up a reasonably steep snow field and I followed in my running shoes armed with ridiculously ineffective instep crampons and our only ice axe. An exciting exit onto rock, 200 feet of somewhat interesting 3rd class and we were on top. Muir was next, and we celebrated our third 14er tick with a Chile Verde GU (dinner leftovers squeezed out of a ziploc bag). After yet another brief delay in open view of the trail, we set off down the Whitney Trail to Whitney Portal and beer, burgers and fries. An all-time day in the mountains and Jacki's 11th, 12th and 13th 14ers this week. Only Langley is left......

Final stats:
Start @ 4:05am
Summit Russell 9:36am (5:31 elapsed)
Summit Whitney 1:03 pm (8:58 elapsed)
Summit Muir 2:12 pm (10:07 elapsed)
Finish at 6:17 pm (14:12 elapsed)

Peter & Jacki's excellent adventure.

2006-07-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today, Peter and I summitted Middle Palisade in 6 hours 1 minute. He actually got to the top about 5 minutes ahead of me but, this is all about me so..... : )
Our round trip time was 11 hours 8 minutes. Great weather, snow, mountain and partner. I'd call this a mega classic day. I have an awesome photo of Peter's 6'6" frame stretched out in the back of my truck murmuring something that sounded like, "Bivy here now." He has somewhat revived after a Negro Modello (sp?), chilli verdi, and Cherry Garcia ice cream. Tomorrow we go after Russell, Whitney, and Muir in a push. The forecast is good and we are psyched!

Hans has his revenge.

2006-07-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hans had his revenge. I got completely worked from our jaunt into the Palisades. Five 14,000' mountain summits in 14 hours 49 minutes. Today I am really resting. Legs are feeling a little stiff and my feet are pretty fluffy. It was all worth it. There is nothing like some Sierra peak bagging! Yeah! The weather was perfect. Nice and still on the summits. Total car to car time was 21 hours 39 minutes. I have never been so tired. On the descent, there was a point where I was lying face down on the snow.
My friend, Peter Coward, has just showed up. He is going to do Middle Palisade with me tomorrow. After that we plan on going for Russell, Whitney, & Muir in a day. Hans is on his way home tomorrow to take care of our babies. Maybe he got a bit tired, too.

Mr. Florine needs a rest day!

2006-07-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I wore Hans out on Split Mountain. The man was begging me for a rest day. So , I relented and spent the day organizing, doing laundry, and swimming. Hans slept.
Tomorrow is a big day. We will be doing Thunderbolt, Starlight, N. Palisade, Polemonium, & Mt. Sill. I am feeling very strong. No damage yet. Just a wee bit of swelling in the feet. (The approach to Split is looooong and steep!) My stategy to minimize the accumulated damage from day after day of hiking and climbing has been to power walk (not run) all of the downs, no matter how easy things seem. Hopefully, I'll finish feeling great!

Get Ready!

2006-07-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Miracles have occured, again!
Last Saturday, I found someone I trust to take care of my precious babies for 4 days and 2 half days. Thank you so very much, Barb. Because of you, this is all possible. That gives me Hans, the ultimate guide, for 4 full days.
Then, I got home this morning and opened my mail. A sponsor sent me $500! It was from my mother-in-law, Maryann!
In her note she writes, "I'm very proud of you as a wonderful wife to Hans and mother of my grandchildren. I have the utmost respect for your training, running, and climbing accomplishments." Thank you Maryann! Wow! And that covers my kid care costs. : )
All of the last minute preparations cut into my training time in the mountains. But, I managed a bit of training at altitude this Fourth of July weekend.
Yosemite Valley to Clouds Rest: accumulated elevation gain of 5785, max elevation of 9930. 21 miles in 8 hours, 16 minutes. Training weight 20 lbs.
Glacier Point Road to Ostrander Lake: accumulated elevation gain of 1645, max elevation of 8560. 12.4 miles in 4 hours 19 minutes. Training weight out bound 18 lbs. Training weight in bound 35-40 (estimate). I helped an injured hiker by carrying her packweight to the trailhead.

So far, there seems to be lots of snow in the Sierras and clear forecast.
The start date: 7/8 on Mt. Shasta. My best boyfriend, Mike Ayon, will meet me in Bishop at 11 pm, Friday for the drive up to Shasta. This allows for a 8-9 am start up the mountain on Saturday. Then he will drive me back down to Bishop (8-9 hour drive) to start Tyndall/Williamson or Langley. Yes, I am gonna be tired! : )
From now on, I plan on doing some pool recovery, rest, eating, packing, and trail conditions research.

I can't resist thinking about the CA 14ers!

2006-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

I have decided to quit this project about 8 times, so far.
Sometimes, it seems that there are too many obstacles to surmount.
But, I can't resist thinking about the CA 14ers!

walking in my husbands footsteps

2006-07-05T16:04:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you how I came to take up this adventure.
In 2003, my husband did all of California's 14,000 foot mountains (except for Mt. Williamson, which was closed to protect the big horn sheep breeding season).
This record setting feat took 3 days, 12 hours, and 11 minutes. I was at home with our newborn son and our 2 1/2 year old daughter.
Hans would call me from the summit of each climb so that I could share in the adventure.
I got so caught up in the excitement of his amazing quest that on the final day, I packed up my two little ones for a blitz up to the trailhead of Mt. Shasta, his final peak!!
We made it just in time to see Papa run to the support car! He was sooooo surprised!
Luckily, my children weren't too abused by the long through drive! : )

My husband is an elite athlete. But, I didn't let that fact deter me from dreaming of doing the same thing.
I am proud to walk in his footsteps! Even if at a substantially slower pace! : )
This July 8th, I will be setting the women's speed record on all of the 14ers, including Mt. Williamson. (I plan on doing it before the closing on July 15th.)
I have allowed 9 days.
I just have one question for everyone, "Will you grind for it?!!!"
I am saying,"YES!"

Love to you all,
Jacki