Running with Julia: July 2016

I love every chance I get to run with Calico Racing out of Las Vegas. When I lived there from 2006-2011, I would be a part of every event with them. Most people would question why anyone would want to run in the Las Vegas heat the end of June. While I will admit it is hotter than most would like (and usually under high humidity for the desert since it is quickly approaching monsoon season), I will take the dry desert heat over the humidity of the south any day of the week.

Running with the Devil is usually run at Lake Mead. After taking a couple of year off from this race, 2016 would be the reincarnation of this event, this time at Lovelle Canyon (about 30 minutes west of Las Vegas on Blue Diamond). This venue is typically the home of Labor of Love so I have been out here many times over my running career. I typically will run a shorter distance and them stick around and take over an aide station to help out with the longer distance runners when I am with Calico Racing. This event was no different. And this time around the event had a 100 miler, so I would be able to run both Saturday and Sunday (10k both days).

My weekend started off early with a 5:30 check-in so I could help with packet pickup. This is always a favorite of mine as it often allows me the only time I get to see some of my running family. My race would start at 8:00 both days. Saturday would also bring time to work the aide station at the 10k turn around for all of the full marathon, 50 mile and 100 mile runners. We had a bit of a bee issue so it made for some excitement for this runner/volunteer.

Sunday was even more exciting as I was able to be at the finish line to witness one of two finishers coming across the finish line of the 100 miler. This guy was amazing. Geffory Foote with a 24:12;28 finish time. This guy killed the course and was a sight to see for sure. Scott Gilson also finished with 26:32:00, the second runner to stick with the whole 100 mile course. Both amazing men to watch out on the course, and inspiring to see.

As always, I just feel blessed to finish these things. My training has fallen to the side and has swung wide of my path the last year of life. I took this weekend as a time to celebrate with friends and get back into things. Saturday stats: 1:53:11 to earn 2nd in AG (there there 2 other ladies in my AG that scored in the top 3 overall). There were 31 total runners on Saturday. Sunday stats: 2nd in AG again (please note there were only 9 runners today total, making me 5th female overall).

I am proud to call myself a finisher of Running with the Devil 2016. Now here are some of the amazing faces both on the course as runners and as volunteers (with our personal selfie stalker of a race photographer).

On a side note: I am just glad all of the runners and volunteers were able to finish and leave the course safely on Sunday before the fire department had to close the area due to a fire. Saturday was difficult with all of the smoke from some of the Southern California fires. You could almost see it like coastal fog while you were out on the course. I have never had to use my inhaler so often during any event as I did over these two days.

Please visit www.calicoracing.com for future race information!

SATURDAY