I decided to celebrate my birthday a bit early bit by running
34ish miles on tough trails at the end of July.
I sure know how to spoil myself!
2 years ago I DNFed this race around mile 19 a few weeks
after getting Lyme disease. I was
looking forward to getting this one done and checking it off. I wasn’t in the best of shape going into this
race, and my training was a bit light, but I figured it would be good enough
for a halfway decent finish. I ended up having a rough day out there, and
pretty much everything that could go wrong went wrong. I had to dig way too deep, but I managed to
get ’er done and check this one off.
Race day was cooler than average with temps in the 70s and
low 80s, but it was incredibly humid. All
in all, not too bad. After catching up
with a few friends, we were off. I
rolled along enjoying the early miles and kept the pace fairly
conservative. I had two handhelds with
me and blew through the first 2 aid stations at miles 6 and 9.
Pretty soon though I started to feel terrible. It was that sinking feeling that has led me
to so many DNFs in the past. My stomach
was turning, I had no energy, I felt woozy, and my legs were dead. Not good.
About 2 hours in I figured I was likely dehydrated, though I had
drinking as much as I usually do. I also
started cramping in my side, which might have been I was also low on
electrolytes. I started gulping down
HEED, took an S-cap for electrolytes, and hoped with all my might that I wouldn’t
throw up.
My buddy Greg runs and unofficial aid station 2 miles before
the turnaround point. I felt like crap
at this point, but it was great to see him.
I wanted nothing more than to hang with him for a bit, but pushed on and
planned on stopping for a bit on the way back.
I felt terrible on the long downhill to the turnaround, and I was on the
verge of throwing up. I barely got myself across the river cross to
the aid station and had no idea how I was going to finish this mother. I was only halfway through and had to find a
way to run another 17 miles, starting with a 2 mile climb. I was also fighting
mental demons with my prior DNF and felt like I had a mental block on going
past that mile 19 aid station. In my
mind all I wanted to do was get there so I could stop.
So it all seemed impossible, but what can you do? The aid station volunteer asked me what was
wrong, which I assume meant that I was not looking so hot. I gulped some ginger ale and filled one
bottle with Coke and one with water. I
had drained the better part of two 20 oz bottles over the last 4 miles, and I
nearly emptied them again on the 2 mile climb.
This was highly unusual for me and way more than I typically drink. The side cramps started again, so I took
another S-cap.
I was trudging up the mountain at a pretty pitiful pace and
getting passed left and right. I was
still exhausted and my legs were shot, but hey … at least I hadn’t thrown
up! I took that to mean I was probably
dehydrated and kept on drinking. I
somehow managed to switch mental gears on the way up. I stopped thinking about how I would
physically cover the remaining miles and went into a mode of just moving
forward. I ran out in 2:50, so I had all
the time in the world to cover the back half.
I just had to do one thing first.
My wife and I have a baby boy due in 4 weeks, and I was not so thrilled
at the idea of slowly walking down a trail for hours on end while she was in
labor. I borrowed Greg’s phone and
confirmed there was not a baby popping out.
Game on!
I decided to spend a bit of time at Greg’s Catoctin Oasis
because I certainly needed some help and who better to hang out with?! I put a bunch of ice in my hat and drank some
water. I ate some tasty grapes. And most importantly, I drank some Red Stripe. Now we’re talking! Greg really brings alive the race’s motto of “have
fun”, and now I was ready for action.
I got back on the trail and started a slow jog. I felt …. not terrible. I’ll take it!
I can’t say I ever felt much better than “not terrible” for the rest of
the race (and felt worse in spots), but it was definitely a turning point. The ice in my hat was working for me, I took
another S-cap, and I was drinking a ton.
For the first 30 minutes out of the aid station I felt pretty solid, and
then I pushed through another 30 minutes to get to the mile 25 aid station.
I didn’t feel great on the next stretch, but it was only 3
miles. My side cramps never went away,
which was strange. I was also drinking
about 40 ounces an hour, which is unheard for me and way more than I can even
process normally. I still am not sure
what happened during this race, but I was managing to keep it together. On this stretch I had a new fun challenge, as
my left calf started seizing and cramping when I pushed too hard. Well it was a good thing I didn’t have
another 6 mile stretch with big monster climbs!
Oh wait …
I stocked up at the last aid station at mile 28 and pushed
on to get this thing down. I actually
passed a few people over the last stretch and was starting to pick up some
carnage. I was a hurting turkey, but I
was resolved to finish this race. A long
downhill caused my side to hurt even more, and my calf would cramp up on the
rockier sections. I was actually
relieved to hit the uphill section so that I could start hiking. That was fine for a while, but it was a
looong uphill. Whenever I tried to jog
on the flatter stretches, I had to be careful or I would cramp up.
I crested the top saw a runner up ahead on the way down when
we were about 2 miles from the end. I
ended up passing about 4 runners in this last stretch, which gave me something to
focus on and motivate me. My legs were
just shot at this point, and both legs were cramping now. Finally the end was near, but there is one
last cruel uphill that swing wide around the finish and comes back up from the
other side of the mountain.
I was for some reason determined not to give up the four
places I just picked up, but I was also red-lining. It made for a pretty hilarious sight. I would push hard for a few strides, and then
my calf would cramp and I would lurch to a halt. People can see you from the finish line up
top and cheer you on as you approach the finish. I don’t think they knew what to make of
me. I looked like those zombies in 28
days later!
Finally I crested the ridge and approached the paved homestretch
for the last few dozen yards to the finish line. I tried to run it in but kept cramping every
few strides and continued my hilarious gait.
I finished in 6:32, which was much better than I would have expected
when I was at my low point in the middle of the race.
I was happy to finish this race and very happy to bring it
back from the brink of despair for a decently good run. The post race BBQ was awesome, and Greg
provided some more excellent beer and good company. The race ended up being way too hard, but I
am glad I did it. Now we will have to
see if I go back next year!
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