2015 EMERALD BAY TRAIL RACE (BAY TO BLISS)

Another weekend, another race! 🙂 Actually, the race I ran this past weekend is one of my absolute favorites. Big Blue Adventure’s Emerald Bay Trail Run (formerly called Bay to Bliss) has a huge place in my heart. In our house, we call it, Squeaker’s Race.

3 month old Squeaker 2011
3 month old Squeaker circa 2011

When I first ran this race in 2010, I was pregnant with Squeaker but did not know it (hence our name for it).

My Peanut in 2010 - little did she know she'd be a big sister here
My Peanut in 2010 – little did she know she’d be a big sister here

When I ran it in 2011, Squeaker was 3 months old. In 2012, she was 15 months old … and already getting into mischief.

Double Trouble in 2012
Double Trouble in 2012

2013 I skipped the race as I had ankle surgery a few weeks prior. 2014 I came back with some girlfriends, scored a PR, a 3rd place age group award and a free entry into the 2015 race.

While 2014 was a great day spent with friends, I missed my family. This race is all about my family. They know this race inside and out and they LOVE the beach finish.

2015 same double trouble
2015 same double trouble

This year, I had low expectations for my performance. Having just run the Headlands Marathon the week before, my legs were not in Tahoe racing shape.

When we took off running UP the paved hill to the trail head, my body was thinking, “Why?!”

Hey family!
Hey family!

But then I see my family cheering for me at the trail head and I remember why I do this race.

It is gorgeous. It is only a 12K race but the views of Emerald Bay are beyond anything you will ever see. It is also technical and every year, without fail, I see someone fall and usually fall hard.

On Saturday, I told myself to run as many of the ups as I could muster but that when it came to the spots with stairs (yes stairs), I could walk. Any downhill though had to be run. Hard.

I honestly didn’t think anything about my pace. I refused to look at my watch as I didn’t want to be disappointed. I also let quite a few male runners pass as I was tired of being their leader (I was also losing steam).

Finally I came to the spot where I could see the beach and finish area. I knew I was close. When the race dumps you out onto the pavement is where I always start my sprint. You get thrown back onto a small trail section and then end on a steep paved downhill.

I rounded the corner and saw my family. Vans was right there yelling “PR! PR! GO GO GO!” Huh?! What did he say? Did he say PR? That’s when I looked at the race clock and realized “Holy crap, I am super close to losing a PR!?” So I flew as fast as my tired legs could muster!

PR PR PR GO GO GO
PR PR PR GO GO GO
RUN RUN JUMP RUN RUN
RUN RUN JUMP RUN RUN
Whew! I did it! I got a 1 minute PR!
Whew! I did it! I got a 1 minute PR!

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I was pretty excited as I was not expecting that at all. Keep in mind, this is a small SMALL race with a low number of participants but to me, it is huge because it is our race.

I also scored 2nd place in my Age Group and won another pint glass! Score!
I also scored 2nd place in my Age Group and won another pint glass! Score!

While waiting for the awards, the girls played in the sand, Vans had a free Sierra Nevada (the real reason he loves that I do this race) and I just enjoyed the amazing views of Lake Tahoe.

I know I didn’t go into a huge detailed recap of this race but if you are interested in reading my previous race reports (that DO tell more about the course/race) you can do so by clicking on these links:

Click here to read my 2014 Race Report

Click here to read my 2012 Race Report

Click here to read my 2011 Race Report

Click here to read my 2010 Race Report

Otherwise, you’ll just have to deal with me reminiscing through some old photos of our time at this race. 🙂

Down the Stairs in 2010 - totally clueless that I was pregnant
Down the Stairs in 2010 – totally clueless that I was pregnant – and clearly not understanding how to run down stairs!
Down the stairs in 2011 - the Peanut was waiting for me!
Down the stairs in 2011 – the Peanut was waiting for me!
2012 the girls waiting for me....
2012 the girls watching me….Vans missed the stair shot 🙂
2015 Getting fancy
2015 Getting fancy
2011 my own cheering section
2011 my own cheering section
2011 - Just me and my girls!
2011 – Just me and my girls!
2015 - Just me and my CRAZY girls
2015 – Just me and my CRAZY girls

Man, just looking at these old photos melts my heart. My kids have practically grown up on this beach watching this race unfold. When I crossed the finish line this year, I told Vans that next year, 2016, it may be time for him to run this course. He deserves to see what I see on these trails. He needs to run our family race and then who knows, if I get my wish come true, maybe all four of us will run this together some day.

Now that would be a race report. 🙂

Lake Tahoe post race ice bath
Lake Tahoe post race ice bath

 Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

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