So this is my 50th year and suddenly it’s going to be one of my most epic athletic years yet. I was blessed to have some pretty full years back in 1999 to 2003 when I did expedition adventure racing in many countries and some ultra running thrown in.
I’m happy to be able to balance my real estate career and endurance coaching with my love of ultra endurance events.
It’s March already and my schedule for this 2013 has seemed to just recently fallen into place starting with the acceptance into Badwater 135 Ultra Run (BW) this July. Badwater was a thought in 2004 but with a new career of real estate, the timing was not right.
In late 2011 I started back on my venture to set out to do BW and saw their qualification requirements were even higher and my 2 Eco Challenge Adventure Races, 6 other expedition races and Western States 100 mile run would not get a person in now. So, in September 2011 I decided to build my resume in time for application deadline in February. The next 2 months, December and January, I ran 2 x 100 Milers, 1 of them I managed to win. I sent my application in but I only received back a ‘regrets’ email. Wow, I didn’t get in. What was it going to take? Now I was on a mission.
I re read their website and saw that if a runner had completed a race called Brazil 135, that would fit as another qualifier. Adventure Corps (BW race company) also state that preference often is given to those who have experience crewing another racer. After crewing I see why, it’s a tough and grueling event that requires a lot of training and preparation that you must really see first hand. By crewing, either you’ll experience the event and say ‘no way!’ or you’ll be chomping at the bit to do it. Crewing was an incredible experience and I think racing will be incredible as well.
I took a look at the Brazil 135’s website, just to see what it was all about. Next thing I know, I’m registering. Brasil 135’s race director and associates review each resume before inviting them in and he welcomed me with open arms.
Fast forward to February 2013 and application time for BW 2013. I have a packed full resume of almost everything I imagine will be enough to finally prove to them that I am capable of finishing their event. hmmm, seems like I must really want to do this! To give you an idea of their ultra requirements they don’t even consider Ironman as significant but look at double, triple and deca iron distance races. Running 3 100 Mile running races barely qualifies one. Resumes of racers include summiting Everest, running across the US or the Sahara Desert, 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days and so much more that I can’t list it all.
I spent nearly 3 hours completing the application full of essay questions that allowed up to 1000 word answers. I jokingly picture the 5 or 6 selected people who are reviewing all the applications as drinking beer and flipping quarters. I understand though that they have a precise point system to rank all the amazing applicants. I really imagine that they are sitting around intently reading surveys and torn over the ones that are on the fence. It must be hard to turn so many away.
At last, February 22nd comes around and I get a ‘congratulations’ email this time! Now I can finally work on my training, race and work calendar for the year. I’m happy to say that only 2 weeks later I have my calendar 95% set. Whew, it’s a big and busy year ahead with a fairly epic race almost every month.
Brazil 135 Ultramarathon, Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 18-20, Done!
Cheaha 50k, North Georgia Mtns, February 23, Done!
Publix Marathon, Atlanta, GA, March 17, Done!
100 Mile Run, North Georgia Mtns, April 13-14
250 Mile timed brevet ride through North Georgia, May 3-4
Florida Keys 100 mile run, May 18-19
Badwater 135, Death Valley, July 14-15
Ironman Montremblant, Quebec, Canada, August 18
MS 150 Mile Bike, Callaway Gardens, GA, September 14-15
Georgia Jewel 100 Mile trail run, North Georgia Mtns, September 21-22
Furnace Creek 508, Death Valley, October 5-6
Beach 2 Battleship Half Iron Triathlon, Wilmington, NC, October 26
Pinhoti 100 Mile trail run, North Georgia Mtns, November 2
I think that if a dream or goal scares us and excites us at the same time, by attempting it we will challenge ourselves to grow. This year of 2013 and my 50th year, there are 3 big goals that scare and excite me.
1st Goal: finally taking the big goal to fundraise for Schools for Niger. I have a big heart for these kids in Niger and I set a goal of raising $15,000 to go to building a school. With no idea where to start, this scares me but I am determined to help. The numbers are staggering that less than half of the children in this region do not live to age of 15 due to starvation or HIV. If we can do this together, it will help educate the kids and slow down the famine and disease. I visualize going there and being able to post pictures of the school doors opening with kids running in to learn.
2nd Goal: Badwater 135, I just feel plain ol’ excited for this race. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or not that I’m not that nervous about it. I love to run and typically just go slow and steady and I’ll be able to keep going. The heat is the biggest issue that I’m concerned about.
The 135 mile run starts in Death Valley, in the middle of July with temperatures up to 130 degrees, then goes up 3 mountain ranges ending at Mt Whitney Portal at about 8400 feet. The race used to end on the top of Mt Whitney, at approximately 14,500 feet, going from the lowest elevation to the highest elevation in the continental US. I’ll feel my journey is not complete if I don’t go from the lowest to the highest. When I finish BW, I’ll go down to the base town and take a nap, drive back to the Portal and then hike the 11 miles with 6,000’ of elevation gain. I’ll be tired, sore, hungry but when I get back down from the summit after finishing Badwater, I’ll have completed what shall be an epic journey with my team.
3rd Goal: Furnace Creek 508. Because of the time commitment of training, this scares me enough that I’ve been on the fence about doing it. This is a non stop 508 mile bike race starting in Santa Clarita, going through Southern California, along the BW course in Death Valley, ending at Joshua Tree. By completing this as well as BW in the same year, I would be one of a few who have completed The Death Valley Cup, which seems like a crazy challenge for me right now. I am an ultra runner, and by no means does that make me an ultra cyclist. When I’m on the bike, I like to lollygag and take it easy. With a 48 hour cut off to ride these 508 mountainous miles I have some serious training ahead and not much more taking it easy. I have a LOT of training to cram in between now and Badwater and then Furnace Creek 11 weeks later.
The best of all for this year is that Mike and I got engaged. Now we just have to find a free weekend between all our events so we can get married. 😉
Stay tuned for future updates!
Sandy Geisel
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