Race #2- Skyline Ridge Trail
Half-Marathon, April 21
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Team JaS followed up their first
foot race of the season at the Napa Valley Marathon with a tough trail
half-marathon put on by Envirosports.
This race production company offers some of the most adventurous and exciting
grassroots events from running and swimming to multi-sports races spanning locations
like Death Valley to |
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We scoped out the trails a few
weekends before the race and were amazed at not only the beauty of the course
but also how grueling 13.1 miles could be on top of Skyline Ridge. The layout
consisted of two out-and-back loops: the north loop traveled up via rocky single-track
to return back to the start. The south loop innocently started off flat near
a serene pond but then rudely switched up a wooded mountain trail with
sections even steeper than the north loop. The final turn-around came at what
seemed to be the highest point of the course. |
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Sherwick 1:52:12, 1st
age-group, 2nd overall men |
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“I tried to be conservative within
the lead pack of 5 or 6 runners but soon realized how hard everyone was
willing to push. I was at 98% max heart rate but wasn’t about to give in
before anyone else” said Sherwick. “Soon three guys dropped off the back and
there were only three of us left – the lead guy was long gone being some
military dude who seemed to relish pain and oxygen debt! I was in second place
with third just a whiff downwind. He eventually passed me on the return trip
of the north loop and as I was regrouping for the south loop, some guy from
behind came out of nowhere to rip past me! He was going so fast I thought he
was running in the 10k race (which started just after us); I later found out
that he actually started the race near Jami and worked his way up through the
field! By the turn-around on the south loop,
I had almost made my way back to him and could see the spread between 1st
and 2nd place (huge gap), between 2nd and 3rd
place (medium gap) and between 3rd and myself (small gap). After
the turn-around I bridged to 3rd as he was reduced to a fast walk
on one of the last few hills. However just as I went by him, he found the
energy to run and to my amazement, passed me back! I was determined more than
ever now to make the podium. I knew there was one last hill
about 2 miles from the finish and as he briefly slowed to catch his breath, I
dug deep. I mouthed some encouragement
to him even though it was tough to breathe let alone talk (this was to make
it seem to him that I had plenty left…some psychology I learned from Troy Soares). I pushed hard up the
ascent and even harder down the descent. Good thing I knew the course! I was thinking,
‘out of sight, out of mind’ as I ran at the edge of control down the steep
slope towards the finish in (what I thought was) 3rd place overall.
I hung onto my position and managed to even put a minute-and-a-half on him in
the last few miles! As it turned out the guy in 2nd place took a
wrong turn and was DQ’ed! I’ll take 2nd, thank you!” |
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Sherwick on his way back from the
first loop |
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Jami 1:57:00, 1st
age-group, 1st overall women |
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“I started off with the boys up
front, not because I thought I was that fast, but because I knew the
single-track trails would make passing nearly impossible so I wanted to be up
front. A handful took off fast in front of me- silly boys! Haven’t they heard
about the concept of pacing? The northern loop was somewhat forgiving as the
undulating trail wound its way around the open space ridge. Still, I could
feel my heart beating at redline because I was running in 1st among
the women. I felt like I was being chased the entire time and was just
waiting for another woman to sneak up on me. I steadied myself as I went up
each hill, but then heard footsteps keeping beat with my own. They didn’t
seem to close in but just lingered behind me, lurking. I decided to see what
they had and pushed a little harder. After a moment, I listened for their
footsteps through the noise of my own labored breathing. Were they gone?
Nope! I thought to myself, ‘this may be harder than I thought’. So, I adopted
a different tactic where I stayed within myself, even slowing at times, tempting
them to pass so I could conserve energy and later pounce back. They just
stayed behind me until we entered the southern loop and he- yes HE- passed me
with a vengeance. I was still in the lead among the women though! I never felt under control throughout
the race- sort of like one of those bobbing toys people put on their dashes
that sway around while they are driving. I finally reached the turn-around at
mile 9 expecting for competitors to be closing in on me fast. As it turned out,
the closest competitor was more than 1.5 minutes behind which was a relief because
by mile 10 I began to fade. Uphills became a major challenge while downhills
became my specialty! As I neared the finish line and I didn’t
dare look back. Instead, I asked a spectator whether I had company. He said I
was home free so I took my time crossing the finish line. In fact, I thought
I had won the race when the race director informed me that I had a few feet
more. After that I was truly home free!” said Jami. |
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Jami ahead of the boys |
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Enjoy the ride! –- Team JaS
Special thanks to: |
