Siena: My 1st Trail Run

Conclusion of the weekend: I make stupid decisions about future running events at the conclusion of a running event. Well, maybe not stupid but the sense of accomplishment combined with endorphines, encouragement from others, and just having fun in Italy really messes with my decision making process.

Katie's decisions of the weekend? Oh I'm running a 1/2 marathon from Rome to Ostia in late February and then running the Rome Marathon in late March. Why not? When in Rome- right?  But yes, if I'm really doing those races that probably has you thinking that this weekend's trail 10K went well and you're 100% correct!

Super early (like 0615 early on a Saturday) I met up with other members of Le Piume Nere and the packed bus and several filled cars made our way up to Siena for the weekend filled with sightseeing, pasta, and yes, running events (42K, 18K, and 10Ks- for us "losers").

After a typical Italian lunch complete with more wine than even the group could consume it was time to hit Siena for a short sightseeing trip. We walked through the main entrance to the city, the inscription above us of Cor magis tibi Siena pandit proved true- Siena's heart was wider than the gate. Once again I saw images in front of me that more closely matched what I had envisioned my  new home in Naples would be- dang movies set in Italy. The streets of Siena were very cute winding within the wall remaining from many (many) years ago. We visited the main square where twice  a year (June and August) 10 of the neighborhoods within the city race their horse against the other neighborhoods. Nope, not all the horses get to compete- this is all very serious. Just how serious? The horses get blessed by the priests and they put padding on the corners of the buildings to protect the horses. Sounds like the kind of races this SB should be part of...

As the sun set the city a-glowing in a shade of California gold with a touch of Tuscan red the bus took us back to the tiny town we were staying in the night before the race. Given a short time to ditch our bags in the rooms and throw on another layer, it was time to head back onto the bus for round two of pasta. Standing in the line waiting to eat we were outside freezing but the time was passed laughing about suggesting we'd be served the same thing for dinner as we had for lunch.

The joke was on us as we walked through the door and saw the same spread: sliced meats, cheese, bread, pasta, and pork. The pesto pasta was an addition from lunch, as were the green beans that I couldn't get enough of. As shirts, race bibs, and instructions were passed out our 10K group realized that not only were we not getting shirts (eh, let the marathon runners and 18Kers have those) but no bib either. Although not thrilled about this, since really all I ask for is a race bib if I'm running in an event- I want to look official, we starting talking about making our own numbers. Turns out that we did have cards that were supposed to be on our person. A 5x7 green cardstock weight "card" with our name, event, club affiliation, but no official number. This realization further our talks of our Loser 10K Club and sparked the L gang sign.

Although there was the opportunity to run the 18K instead, Stanley opted out. Yes. I have to make these decisions with my knee. We decided that although the miles were possible...the terrain was less than ideal despite what we were told. (More on that in a minute.)

Race day we woke up and moved out bundled in more layers than are needed even at 0500 in Monterey. While on the bus the conclusion came that a) we needed L's to identify us as 10Kers (since the green cards weren't enough) and b) that we were going to write our own numbers on the cards. We did both. A small "L" in eye liner branded each of us a 10K loser for the day...talk about team building! Around this time we kicked off the real runners (well maybe it was time for them to leave, but I'm telling this story) and the bus took us 10K away from the finish line to our starting point. It was our turn to leave the warmth of the bus and whatever gear we didn't want to carry with us along the finish line- like our jackets. Brrrr.

Packed in the streets and small court yard with other participants I couldn't help but notice some of the hiking poles in the hands of older people.

Really?

I (now) knew this was a trail run but I haven't seen anything of David Ave or even Pt. Lobos status.

Distracted by the movement of the crowd pushing us out towards the start we were once again distracted by the view of vineyards and hills with the sun not too high in the sky. Where the race actually started, I still can't tell you. You know how it is, a ton of people too dense to really move around? Yeah. Add dogs and those hiking poles to a gravel road winding down a hill and you see 4 Americans, 2 Germans, and an Italian offroading it. As if that doesn't sound entertaining let me mention that one of the Americans was in jeans and carrying a camera taking pictures of the others. Andrew opted out run the morning of, but being the good sport he is still traveled the course as our paparazzi capturing a million pictures. 

The course was tough. Trail running in this case translated into running on gravel roads through vineyards with the occasional paved driveway and dirt paths. Mind you there were several “ant hills” as described by another member of LPN. Yep, a delusional member. At the conclusion of the race we all referred to it as the mountains of death. Around the 8K mark, after a downhill stretch) it was hike in the woods time on a serious incline. Walk it? Yep!

The last stretch was fabulous, mainly because it was on paved road, but I was also jamming out to “Heard it through the grape vine” while running among grape vines. One of the families told me that they were cheering for me but I was clearly in the zone. Hey, if I can’t sing at the gym you better believe I’ll be rocking out while running outside. 

I finished the event right around an hour and 11 minutes…not bad considering the break I took for the uphill hike. I had to turn in my card, but they gave me a pasta party ticket. The same food for a 3rd serving of the same food? No thanks. We waited for the rest of our club and luckily they had the same sentiments that we did regarding the pasta party so we found a pizza place. A pizza place with beer. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around the town and just hanging out laughing way too much but having a great time.