We got dressed, camelback ready, gear ready, time for a bit of food. Peanut butter, banana sandwich, some coffee and some light fun in the morning, as we made our way to the start, packet pick up, about 4 blocks away. After securing our numbers, we made our way across the railroad tracks for the start. Today was amazing, sunny, fresh, crisp air....good friends, good fun to be had, and I had a smile on my face as the race start was announced and we all started moving forward. the first few miles would be a straight climb, gradual, but noticeable.
My plan was to not check my gps until the first aid station. I ran with Nacheux and we kept each other company, as I got used to the thinner air, and the uphill battle. Spirits were high, and this is what I was expecting. So we pulled forward, lightly talking, but making forward progress all the time.
Some stats, before I go further.
Start elevation: 7,400 feet above sea level.
Peak: 9,100 feet above sea level.
Terrain: trail, rocky, uneven, snow, mud, water. :D
Finish time: 6 hour 47 min.
The group photo before the race started: myself, Nacheux, Kerri, Matt, Katie, Brownie and Gordon. Couldn't have asked for a more spectacular day to run in.
We climbed further and further, on the fire roads, so the going was good. Just making tracks on smooth even surface. We hit the first aid station, and it was about mile 3.9 or so. no biggie, 22 miles to go. :D got some water, and remembered to get some salt in me, as I tend to sweat out a lot of salt on my runs. lesson learned in Thailand where I bonked hard. The further up we went past the aid station that had the cut off to the trails, the more mud we encountered. At this point I didn't care what we ran through, I was making tracks. I was not so winded unless I went over my limit, so I kept an even and steady pace throughout.
I noticed I was able to recover quite easily, so I had that going for me. The nervouseness had worn off, and now it was about accomplishment. I would finish this race. No matter what.
I can't say enough good things about the trail, it was really cool. I do prefer to run trail races, as they present more of a challenge, and this race was proving to be the most difficult challenge I had to date. Even more so than my first Ultra marathon. Nacheux and I kept each others spirits high, snapping pics, and moving along. I don't think I stopped but 2 times, briefly, for photos, the rest of the time, it was non-stop movement forward. Otherwise, I would have gotten too comfortable and probably stopped for too long. With the sun out, a lot of the snow was turning to slush and mud. And with roughly 90 people trudging through here before me, it was messy.
Nacheux and I made it to Turret, Co. for the turnaround, and downed some much needed gatorade and some snacks. The way back was a climb out of Turret. When we made the aid station at about mile 18, they had PBR, so what did we do? We drank a PBR of course. hahaha
It was at this aid station that we were cutting off onto a rather small trail, which had thankfully been run with snow cats to get the snow packed and make it easier to traverse. I was using a lot of energy to stay upright in the thin ruts. And it was taking it's toll. I was tired, legs were burning, but surprisingly, I was not out of breath. I had to motivate hard to run the downhills, and then I would let gravity take over, and run at a good clip down the trail. The last 4 miles or so were almost all downhill, so Nacheux and I started to run a lot. I do well on the downhills, and that's usually where I make up time. I have to work on the uphills, hence a lot more hill repeats, as I want better movement up the trails.
About 1.5 miles from the end, one of the race coordinators was on his mtn bike and told us that we were 1.5 miles from the end, and had 17 minutes to finish, so we would have to run the last 1.5 miles. WTF?!?! for real? this was a blow to me, even though I knew I had to do it, it was going to be hard. I would run the downhills, and walk hard on the flats, but kept making myself run as much as I could, with the help of Nacheux encouraging me, and both of us helping each other.
When we finally hit the flat spot along the rail road tracks, I could see the end, and was just making time. Feeling like puking, I figured it was now or never. Run mofo, run!!!! I could faintly hear the others yelling at us from the other side of the river to run!!!! Trust me, I was doing the most running I could. hahahaha
We went over the tracks, and I think I yelled at Nacheux "where the f*ck is the finish line?"
hahahaha because we had to go under this bridge (below) and then around to the finish line.
I hear brownie yelling to power up and run it in, and so I did. I had just enough to sprint (I think) across the finish line. I forgot to click off my gps, but when I did, it said 6:58. hahahaha beat the cutoff by 2 minutes. The time would later be ammended to reflect where we actually came in, at 6:47, I think I was one stride in front of Nacheux at the finish line.
This was us running it in, and the photo finish at the line. I was beat, breathing hard, and about ready to collapse. and I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!! It was the greatest event I've done so far, and absolutely the hardest so far. I needed it, it has recharged me, and reminded me what it's like to push my body and to have fun along the way. I don't take these events so seriously, that I lose sight of the fun to be had. I don't have aspirations of being competitive, but hell, I love that I can finish it, spend time with friends and drink a ton of PBR. :D
Congrats to Brownie for his 12 place finish. And congrats to Katie for thrashing me, and yes, I paid up on our bet, and bought her a beer.
A much deserved PBR at the end. My appetite was shot, and I couldn't stomach food. It took me about 40 min to be able to eat some of the soup that they had. The hot food felt really good going into my stomach. After recooping a bit, I was able to walk back to the hostel with the rest of the group, to get cleaned up, as we had a pub crawl to go to....matter of fact, I was the hare. LOL
A much deserved PBR at the end. My appetite was shot, and I couldn't stomach food. It took me about 40 min to be able to eat some of the soup that they had. The hot food felt really good going into my stomach. After recooping a bit, I was able to walk back to the hostel with the rest of the group, to get cleaned up, as we had a pub crawl to go to....matter of fact, I was the hare. LOL 
Taking a breather after the run, mud caked shoes are no longer new. haha
The course map outlined via gps and google earth. Take a look and let me know what y'all think.
My one and only special and most favorite of photos. HAHAHAHA Me running in front of Brownie. Yes, it happened, and yes, there is photographic proof. I think I'll have this one enlarged and framed and put in the center of the "Gaylord is awesome" Room. :D
My one and only special and most favorite of photos. HAHAHAHA Me running in front of Brownie. Yes, it happened, and yes, there is photographic proof. I think I'll have this one enlarged and framed and put in the center of the "Gaylord is awesome" Room. :D
Overall thoughts:
I need to log more miles. I have worked out a good plan to get more strength in my hill climbs, and am working on that. I have made the decision to sign up for the Avalon 50 miler in January 2011, and that is my goal at the moment.
I have signed up for some other races, including the New Orleans marathon in February 2011. It will be a good recovery run.
I have also decided I will run another 30 miler, or two in the bay area. Unfortunately the skyline 50k which would be a great run, falls on the dates that I am out of town in Texas.
I need to schedule 2 50km races before the end of the year. That is the short term goal.
on on
thank you Colorado.
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