The Tale of a Samurai Sailtoad

Once upon a time there was a chubby little girl in 5th grade who wanted so badly to be on the track team at Canyon Creek Elementary School.  She joined and she wanted to run.  But at every track meet, all she was allowed to do was slip on the team t-shirt and sit on the bleachers and cheer her team on.

Fast forward 32 years, and this same little girl doused herself in sun screen, made sure her laces on her running shoes were tied properly, strapped on her hydration belt and topped it all off with her version of a Samurai Sailtod sun visor.   She was ready for the race of her life!  There would be no sitting on the bleachers this day.   When that starting gun goes off, she will be running with 2500 of her closest friends up the Aldape Summit and back down to Robie Creek.  The Race to Robie Creek is a half marathon that is 8.5 miles up a steep hill and the remainder is down a steep hill. This race is billed as “The Toughest Race in the Northwest”, and this particular day promised to be a blistering 80 degrees in the canyon. It was supposed to be so hot, that the race organizers were sending out heat warnings. Yikes!

Martha had trained for this race for months now. She trained running up the same canyon she was to race in.  She trained on the local hills by her house. She trained in the mornings.  She trained in the afternoons.  She trained on her favorite steep hiking trail.  She had done everything she could possibly do to be ready for this race, and now it was here!  Standing at the starting line with the masses of runners, she noticed they were all ages, all sizes, and all very excited. The Buddhist priest said his prayer, ending in, “Now Run Like Hell!”  and the Japanese drummers started drumming. The energy built until finally they stopped and the crowd started moving forward through the gates while “good luck” origami art was raining down on the racers.

Around the park and finally on the street that would take us up to the summit, the crowd had formed.  People standing on cars, on the curbs, up on the hill side…all of them cheering for her, the little girl who wasn’t allowed to run as part of the team in the 5th grade.  Along the street, there were little children with their hands held out, waiting for someone to run by and give them “high fives”. No one did. Martha darted through the crowds and gave them what they had been waiting for….recognition and appreciation.   (One day these kids might want to run this crazy race, and they need to remember how much fun the runners were having!)   Further along the course, the assisted living home had brought out some of their residents.  They too were all smiles and clapping. Martha jumped up on the curb onto the sidewalk to reach these amazing elders and gave them “high fives” and thanked them for their support.  Without these people cheering the runners on and providing the much needed energy, the races would be so much harder.  The smiles on their faces were so worth the extra bit of energy it took to get over there and show her appreciation.

Then Martha came to a group of 6  “too cool for school” teenage boys.  They didn’t have their hands out to be slapped, but there were out there smiling and watching. She ran over to them yelling, “You guys rock!”  And the welcome she got from these boys was incredible!  “We love your visor! You are the coolest one out here!”  “Great job!”

One foot in front of the other, Martha continued to run until the climb got a bit steeper.  It was hot and she knew just how much harder this race was going to get.  She needed to save her legs for hardest part so she started to power walk.   As she continued up the twisting turning road through the last subdivision of the run, she thanked those who stood on the sides of the roads cheering the racers on. She continued giving “high fives” to the little ones who stood along the road. She even stopped to let the kids with squirt guns shoot her down as they squealed with delight.

Up and up she went and she came across another set of little girls handing out slices of oranges to the runners.  These were not your regular aid station helpers; these were just people who lived along the course.    They were out there to support the runners who braved this run who were running towards the title of Samurai Sailtoad!  Martha gratefully grabbed and orange with a “You girls rock!” and kept on walking.   Martha was getting close to the end of the houses; soon it would be nothing but Rocky Canyon and the supported aid stations along the run.  But up ahead was one last treat from a home owner.   He was out with his water hose spraying people down!  Martha watched as one runner stopped and danced in the hose and saw the joy on her face as she played in the water.  Then Martha reached the hose and couldn’t resist the opportunity to stop face the hose dead on and take a picture of this special gift of fun and joy before the hard work really began!

Saying goodbye to all the people along the subdivision was bitter-sweet, but if there is going to be any enlightenment or any growth, if Martha was to become a Samurai, then she needed to head to the desert. She needed to head into the canyon and face her biggest challenge yet!    As she left the subdivision, there was one last down hill stretch into the canyon, and Martha took off running. There is nothing like the feel of running down hill, but it was short-lived.  Soon, it was back up again.

Runners had become walkers. Martha began her serious power walk up and up. She passed people along the way and watched as others ran past her.  She even caught up to one of her running buddies who was walking due to an injury.   Back and forth Martha and her friend Michelle exchanged leads and for a couple of miles Martha used Michelle’s lead as a rabbit to chase. “Keep her in your sites and just keep moving.” But sometimes, along this trail, Martha found herself stopping. Pictures must be taken.  Flute players were up on the cliff side playing beautiful music for the runners enjoyment.  Signs were posted along the way that spoke volumes in just a few lines; pictures must be taken.  There is always time to take pictures and capture the memories forever!

  

Finally Martha passed her friend Michelle and kept on going.  She was at the hardest part of the trail now.  4×4 first aid vehicles would pass by with runners who couldn’t make it to the top and Martha thought, “Wow!  They couldn’t do it, but I can?  Yes, I can!” And she kept going.  The incline was so steep that even the power walking was painful now. One woman would walk 10 feet then double over trying to catch her breath and then do it all over again.  Martha stopped to check on her, but the lady kept insisted she was alright.  She came across another lady who was having a hard time walking. Again, Martha stopped to check on her, but the lady insisted she was alright. (Later, at the finish line, Martha saw this same woman being lifted into an ambulance.)  Martha kept pushing.    The standard posture of the people for the last 1/2 miles to the summit was with their hands on their waists just willing their feet to keep moving.  Stopping just really wasn’t an option because to start again was too difficult! Just keep moving!  Thighs burning. Lungs gasping for each breath. Sweat dripping.  This was no easy task!

Finally, the summit was within view.  Support crew members came to meet runners at the last turn up to the summit to cheer the runners on.    High fives were being given.    The hardest part of this race, at least for Martha was just about over! Reaching the summit meant that the rest was down hill and mostly shaded!  Once at the summit, Martha took a banana and it never tasted so good!    She began her trek down. She ran into her friend Michelle again, who must have passed her during Martha’s last Kodak moment.  With an “I love you, Michelle”, Martha took off running down the hill in the beautiful cool shade with a smile on her face. Now is the time to make up her speed and catch up on her goal time!  Down and down she ran.

Upon reaching mile 11, Martha’s legs were beginning to feel a bit heavy.  She stopped to walk, but inside she heard the voice, “Martha, you can do this!  It is time!  Run!!  Run!!!  Run for that little girl who couldn’t in 5th grade!  Run for the ones who can’t!  With each step, run with love and send love!” (April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and her favorite radio DJ is staying awake for 175 hours to bring awareness had dedicated her race to children who need the love and support she needed when she was a kid.)  And she kept running.   Mile 12..just one more mile!   Mile 13, just .1 more miles!  RUN, MARTHA RUN!!!!!!!

Having no idea she had it in her, her feet began to sprint! She almost didn’t see her husband on the sidelines taking pictures.   She just kept sprinting and the crowds began to thicken again.  The announcer announced her name, “And Martha Spiva from Boise, Idaho is finishing strong!”  And her pace picked up.  She heard, “Come on, Martha!  Keep running!” “Finish strong!” “Woohooo Martha!”  She had no idea who these people were, but there they were cheering for her and her alone!  Finally she crossed the finish line and she heard her dear friend’s voice and she looked up to the left, up on the cliff side was Kimberlee cheering Martha’s name. Martha stopped for a picture.  Then exhausted and disoriented, a volunteer said, “Just keep walking straight, Martha.”  She kept walking straight and sobs escaped her tired body and tears began to flow.

Martha crossed that finish line.  She ran the toughest race in the Northwest in 3 hours and 30 minutes (or round about there) and she gave and received love all along the way, which was her biggest goal.  She honored the mountain she climbed. She endured the pain.  She completed the transformation from the little girl in 5th grade who was told she could be part of team but was too slow to run to a Samurai Sailtoad and she lives to race another day!     

The end…… or is it just the beginning……..