Race Report – Point Mariah Trail Marathon

Article by Pamela Sinclair, DPMR Member

Introduction

Point Mariah now has a special place in my heart. The ridgelines, the sweeping views, the cool morning air before the granite starts radiating heat so hot that your feet might swell. My decision to run my first trail marathon came in the most DPMR way possible: a raffle prize swap. My friend Leslie, won the race entry but didn’t want to run a full marathon; I won a pair of shoes and offered her a trade. She accepted, and suddenly I was training for 26 miles.

No one was surprised that I had raffle winnings to barter with. Plenty of people were surprised that I traded away new shoes for a marathon entry. Classic Pam move.

It also felt right that my longest race would be one put on by the Donner Party Mountain Runners. The community that has supported, encouraged, and laughed with me through weekly socials, long weekend runs, volunteering at races, beers, and tacos.

My goal wasn’t to win or run fast. It was simple: finish before the time cap, push myself farther than I ever have, and have fun doing it. Trail running only works for me when joy is part of the equation, and DPMR has made joy easy to find.

Training & Lead-Up

Training for a trail marathon is a different kind of commitment. It’s not just miles. It’s terrain, elevation, weather, time on feet, mental health, physical health, and learning to be comfortable with discomfort. I promised myself I’d only do it if I was genuinely enjoying the process, and thanks to the club, I did.

About halfway through training, I had a flare up of tight psoas and lower back pain that sent me to physical therapy for some soft tissue work and mobility rehabilitation. I was quickly back on track within 2 weeks.

One of my favorite parts of training was where I would invite a group member to join me on a long run and then not be able to say much more than a few words while suffering on the trails. I have gotten to know so many members of the club by hearing their stories as they joined me on long runs and then they get to hear all my stories at lunch afterward when I was not struggling to move forward uphill.

Group runs, shared stories, encouragement from people who had done this and other long races before made the idea of 26 miles on rugged terrain feel less intimidating and more like a challenge I wanted to rise to. And by race week, I felt ready.

Race Morning

The morning of August 1 was a cool mountain morning, however, it was going to get hot and it did. Seeing familiar faces at the start line was a very settling feeling. I had nerves around the fact that I did everything that I was supposed to do to get to the starting line and all I had left to do was a marathon to get to the finish line.

The Course

Point Mariah is stunning. The course winds through the alpine forest of Tahoe, climbs to views that make you pause (even when you’re supposed to be running), and dips into shaded trails that feel like a reward on such a hot day. It was beautifully marked by beautiful volunteers with only a few spots of second-guessing if I’d missed a turn before determining that I was just getting tired and just needed to pay better attention.

The aid station was incredible. Fresh breakfast foods early on, lunch foods later, volunteers cooking and cheering, and tables stocked with everything you could possibly need. Many of the volunteers were people I knew from the club and offered me support along with a blueberry pancake and Coca Cola. After every stop at the aid station, I left with my hands full of food to start the next leg.

The Highs & Lows

The first half felt smooth. I settled into a comfortable rhythm, taking in the scenery and enjoying the energy of the runners around me.

Around halfway, though, things shifted. My feet started swelling (something I hadn’t dealt with in training) and I could feel every step more than I wanted to. I slowed down, adjusted my expectations, and focused on staying steady. It wasn’t the race I imagined, but it was the race I had, and I was determined to finish it.

The second half became a mental game: keep moving, stay patient, trust that slowing down didn’t mean giving up. Seeing local friends on the course gave me little bursts of energy and helped me with the mind game I was now in with my feet telling me to just take the shuttle back.

The Finish

Leslie was volunteering near the finish line, calling in racer numbers as we came through. Yes, the same Leslie who traded raffle prizes with me and unintentionally launched this whole adventure.

Crossing the finish line was a bit dramatic, just the way I wanted it, with my requested song (“Work Bitch” by Britney Spears) blasting. I got a hug from Steve and Dana, a hamburger from Ryan, and an ice bucket for my feet from Adam.

Then came the post-race medical tent advice: instructions from Isaiah on how to drill holes in my toenails to relieve the pressure. He didn’t think I’d actually do it. I did. I had to.

Throughout the day, I was getting messages from Bruna, Oleg, Kelly, and Ross asking for updates on my progress.

Every one of them is part of the DPMR community that shows up for each other, and their support meant a lot as I wrapped up the biggest race I’ve ever done.

Reflections

Point Mariah is beautiful, challenging and put on by wonderful people. Even with swollen feet and a slower second half, the day was everything I hoped it would be.

I’m proud of the finish, grateful for the support, and already thinking about what adventure will come next…maybe a 50k? I’ll sign up once all my toenails grow back!