Tahoe 2014

We just got back from Tahoe last night late after making that terrible drive of 9 hours (however, the destination and run are worth it).  Shauna and I ran the DeCelle Memorial 2014 Relay with friends and family.  We had an awesome time and awesome running weather.  We stayed in John and Sandra's cabin again (thanks John and Sandra) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Last year the temperature was in the 80's and this year it was in the 60's--perfect running weather.  Our team was:

Jen - Leg 1
Paul - Leg 2
Blake - Leg 3
John - Leg 4
Griselda - Leg 5
Shauna - Leg 6
Geri - Leg 7

This is the first year we had a legitimate mixed team with four girls and 3 guys.  Jen was a new member to our team this year and a friend of Geri's who was speedy and started off the race with good time.  I had leg 2 this year which is a pretty gnarly run at elevation.  This was a good test to see how I would run hills at elevation.  I felt good coming out of the gate and felt strong most of the run until about mile three of the up hill where I started to feel the elevation (7,000 ft.) and fatigue getting to me.  Blake ran the 3rd leg (in his first organized race) and did just fine and looked strong doing it.  John ran leg 4 and passed a bunch of people putting us in good position in the top third of the teams.  John handed off to Griselda and she made her way through one of the afternoon courses that wear you down.  She handed off to Shauna who was not feeling her best, but managed to take on one of the toughest legs of the course going up his for 600 feet the last mile and a half.  Geri finished off the course strong with leg 7 giving us a total time of 10 hours and 22 minutes.  We placed 54th over all.

Now I know I have to train a little harder at elevation for the GT Relay in August.  The climbs and elevation are more extreme so I will have to make some modifications to my running schedule to boost my endurance there.

With the good weather this year, we had some time to go on some hikes and see some sites.  This year Blake and Aubrey found the old railroad that runs along the north side of Donner lake.  Union Pacific still owns the road but has torn out all of the rail and ties leaving a nice flat trail that runs through tunnels carved out of the mountain as well as tunnels built out of prefab concrete slabs.  These run for miles and are fascinating and eerie.  There are great views at certain spots also.

We also got to hang out with my brother John and his family one night at a cabin they had rented for Jill's family reunion.  It was a huge cabin at Northstar Ski resort.  It was fun for all of the cousins and friends to get together and play.

Finally, we did the emerald bay hike and spent some more time at the beach at the bottom surrounded by geese, chipmunks, blue jays and ducks while eating lunch.