This blog post promises to be quite long. You see, this event was quite something. So much has happened and the story has to be told as is. A lot of lessons were learned from this event and they are all worth sharing.
The Preparation and Lead Up...
A couple weeks ago, I nervously registered for the first race of the Ontario Ultra Series - the Seaton Trail 50M. I had other choices. I could have volunteered, or I could have run the 52K. After some pep talk from some of my friends and evaluating how far I have come with my running since finally recovering from the flu, I decided that I was not going to sell myself short and go for the big one. I have the experience, the strength, and mental toughness - just go for it!
For the week leading up to the race, I had my eyes glued to the Weather Network - both the English site, and Météo Média (the French site). Each day, rain was in the forecast and it was not letting up. 100% chance of precipitation each time. Damn... I tried to use the Laws of Attraction to change the forecast but it was fruitless.
A bunch of us spent the days leading up to the race bantering on how to be prepared for the elements. This went on and on through every social medium known to man - Facebook, texting, and BlackBerry Messenger. Gerry, Diane, and I decided we weren't going to wear tights because of the water crossing. Maryka had adjustable tights that she was going to wear. All of us had rain coats. Thanks to Cheryl's watchful eye, Gerry and I scored lightweight waterproof jackets from Gears Bike shop. The coat is actually a cycling jacket but it was awesome for running. Thanks Sugoi!
Friday was spent home from work. Now, I am usually with the crew marking the trails on this day. However, I decided that I was going to cut out the excess and go to the Yoga Conference and Show instead. After making some treats - Date Bliss Balls and Raw Cashew Dreamcake - and packing some of my gear, I got myself together and headed downtown to the show. It was great to just wander around the exhibits and reconnect with people from the yoga community that I have not seen in awhile. I left the show just in time to catch the train after quickly saying hi to Manley on the train that I would usually take if I didn't park at another station. I headed over to Power Yoga Canada for a practise with Susan. I received lots of pep talk from the girls as I was leaving. It was really nice to feel the love from the community and I am always happy to inspire someone one step at a time. After I arrived home, I packed some last minute gear, wrote a note to myself, laid out my clothes, and went to sleep.
Race Day - Before the Start...
Saturday morning... 4h30 wake up call. The goal was to be out of the house by 5h15. I was bang on. Writing that note really does wonders because I was able to follow my plan with no problems at all. For the items I did forget, I was able to improvise with what was already in the car. Before heading out the door, I messaged Cheryl to let her and Gerry know that I was on the road and that I would see them there. The drive went by with no real incident, other than the heavy rain that was falling. By the time I got into Pickering, there were only a few sprinkles falling and I was silently praying that it would remain that way for a long time.
Upon arrival at the venue, I greeted my fellow Mud Puppies and proceeded inside to registration. Jane was on her own with registration at the time. With no hesitation, I hopped behind the table and assisted with handing out the race kits and bibs. This went on for about 20 minutes before I was finally relieved by another volunteer and allowed to prep my stuff before the start. I continued to greet all the other runners who I hadn't seen since last season and reconnect with them. Dirty Girl Diane approached me wearing a running skirt and declared that I was a traitor. You see, my original plan was to wear a running skirt with compression leg sleeves for warmth because of the rain and the water crossing. I quickly aborted that plan and wore capris with leg sleeves. The capris were worn not only for extra warmth, but also for the fact that no matter how much anti-chafing cream I wear, I will be severely chafed due to wet conditions. After Cheryl took our pictures and bid us good luck, the announcements were made by Howie and the race started.
First Loop...
The race start was pretty quick. I tried to stick with Gerry as long as possible but he had a really fast start. I soon found myself peeling back and trying to find my pace. I shot the breeze with several runners as we ran along. We soon approached the first water crossing. So far so good, the crossing was ankle to calf deep. We traversed that with no problems. For the next little while until we got to the turnaround point at 14.5K, the trails were in decent conditions except for some mud in different spots. Foreststream Aid Station came and went and I just wanted to maintain the pace. Whitevale was the next stop. After taking some salt and eating a banana, I was off. I was joined by Marcel at that point. He ended up catching up to me because I was ahead of him to begin with. For the rest of the loop, we ran together mostly in silence. We were both fighting the elements and were in our own heads. Marcel was registered for the 52K and I silently envied the fact that he would be finished long before I did. After taking a couple muddy spills, I got to the turnaround point where I was greeted by Gordo and Rick. I was quickly introduced to Rick's wife, Linda Rose, as I filled up and quickly left the aid station. At that point, Marcel had already taken off and I wanted to catch up to him.
It didn't take me long to catch up to him. Once I did catch up to him, I stayed with him as much as possible for this loop. There were times when one of us would pull ahead of the other and run for a bit, but we stuck together for the most part - running mainly in silence. Along the trail, I noticed a lot of improvements that were made. For one thing, there were many new bridges built over parts of the trail that were chronically muddy or had bad footing. There were also stairs built into some of the hills that would have been treacherous for the average hiker. I remember pointing out some of the trail changes to Marcel at one point. I'm not sure whether or not he heard what I was saying though.
We made it through Whitevale (where I begged Howie to please give him a hard time on my behalf) and Foreststream on our way back to the start/finish. The rain started falling harder and harder, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. Our hands were frozen in our gloves and we had a hard time handling bottles and snacks. Parts of the trail that were decent on the way out now became either extremely slick and muddy, or flooded. The water was frigid. With every crossing, my feet became numb and took a long time to warm up. This contributed to the drop in body temperature which would lead to hypothermia. We got to the water crossing. At this point, it was past my knees and the current was moving a bit quicker. Ted and Sandi were manning the crossing and took some pictures of me making the crossing. The only thing I could do since my feet were numb and cold was to keep moving to keep the blood flowing. Jogging it out was the only option. Marcel pointed out that if I was going for time, I was going to have a really sad day. On the way in, I quickly took a tally of who we DID NOT see heading back out. I was worried at that point. I was worried because most of the people who did not head back out were people who have never DNF'd a race by choice. We got to the school, finishing 29K in more than 4.5 hours. Drats, so much for the cut off...
I quickly rooted through my cooler and had a couple date bliss balls and a drink. I had to get the aid station workers to open my boating bag because my fingers wouldn't work. All I wanted out of there was a pair of dry gloves. I thought my shirt would last for this second loop. Diane informed me that her, Maryka, and Steve all bailed. I declared that I was going back out there for round two. I quickly set off behind Marcel.
Second Loop - Trials, Tribulations, and Drawing the Line...
When I caught up to him, I had trouble getting my gloves on my hands. I couldn't understand why. Marcel gracefully helped me with getting them on, even though his fingers were really cold. We kept our running pace up as much as possible. Along the way, we discussed the fact that making the cut off for the 50 miler is a long shot now. The course conditions were deteriorating and everything was left up to chance. At first, I thought I was going to do the full 29K loop and turn around. At this point, the water crossing was behind us and it was higher. The currents had also increased in velocity. When we were in the water, I remember Marcel calling out to Ted and Sandi asking for a bar or soap. That got me laughing for a bit. We discussed the danger of doing that water crossing alone - with or without a marshall. He also called me out on stopping in the water - it is dangerous to freeze up in the water and stall during the crossing when the temperature is low. Our physical states started deteriorating. I was well aware of the signs of hypothermia and I knew I was headed that way. I didn't want to use it as an excuse though. I wanted to show that I was tough and could handle it.
It turns out that I was fooling no one. Runners who passed and asked me how I was doing got one response from me - "cold". In fact, cold became my mantra for much of this loop. When we got to Foreststream, I could barely talk as my speech was slightly slurred. Linda and Mike took a quick assessment of me and noted that I was shivering. There were no warm liquids at the aid station - something I craved. After getting a peanut butter sandwich (something that I cannot eat but had to in order to keep up my reserves), Marcel and I set off. Marcel stepped up and called the shots at this point. He told me that he was not going to leave me to complete the entire 29K loop on my own - I am to turn back with him at Whitevale and only do the 52K distance. He sensed that if I continued on my own, I would further jeopardise my health and safety, especially with very few runners left on the trail at this point. He also knows that I will try to push well beyond my edge with no regards to consequences at the time - characteristics of the Type A personality that is often spoken about by Baron Baptiste. I was relieved by that decision. I did not want to entertain the idea of being alone in such extreme conditions while he would be finished and warmed up before I got there. In fact, the truth is that none of us wanted to run and be without the other at this point...
We could barely hold a conversation. Much of our energy was diverted to moving forward and trying to warm up. The cover from the woods heading towards Whitevale was enough to keep the body temperature from falling further. With the help of some of the wooden bridges, we were able to run for much of that stretch. We got to Whitevale. Howie saw that defeated look on my face and quickly guessed that I was going to turn back. Lukewarm chicken broth was there. Now, being predominantly vegetarian (only eating meats - preferrably fish - if it was the only thing available to give me the protein needed), I would normally steer away from it. However, with survival on the mind, there was no room for ignorance so I grabbed a cup saying "Dammit, it's warm! Warm is what I want!" After fueling up, we headed back on our way back home.
The trails conditions continued to deteriorate. Sliding was a regular thing now. In fact, there was a close call. We were running close to the side of a cliff. At one point, the trail takes a little dip in a couple spots. On one of the dips, Marcel took a slider as I stood at the top. He lost all his Fuel Belt bottles in the fall. When he got up to stand, I realised something quite astounding. As soon as he got his wits back, I had him turn around. He was standing a mere four or five feet from the edge of the cliff. If his momentum was any quicker, and if the angle was slightly different, the unthinkable would have happened...
Marcel gave up on the Fuel Belt bottles and decided to ditch them on the trail. Both of us had hands that were not functioning properly to put them back onto the belt and each fall meant another dropped bottle. We continued on, struggling in our own way. I was given heck for bypassing some of the stairs in favour of sliding on some of the hills. I was too tired, wet, and cold to argue with the man. Once we returned to Foreststream, Linda had thoughts of pulling me off the course as I was absolutely soaked and freezing. After using the porta-potty and eating some date squares, Linda determined that I was coherent enough to continue on.
The final stretch was pretty much like the previous stretch. We saw Laurie McGrath and the third 50M finisher on our way in as they were on their way out to complete the final spur. They looked strong in their own way. Keep moving as much as possible and do not falter... The swamped areas were the most difficult for me because the water was freezing and my feet were numb. This also caused my core temperature to drop some. I had no choice but to keep moving. Can-Do-It hill was slippery but good enough for me to jog down. I think Marcel may have struggled on this hill because I was ahead of him. Once I made it to the bottom, I slowed my pace down so that he can catch up to me before the water crossing.
The water crossing... It is what it is... And trust me, it was! This final crossing proved to be a real test for us. The water level was way up and the current was moving fast. The rocks were all submerged and there was no way of finding our way through it. On top of that, part of the bank broke off and was swept downstream. We stuck together on this one. Marcel grabbed my arm to keep me from falling in, which almost happened numerous times, and kept telling me to keep moving and don't stop. Once we reached the other side and we jogged the last mile or so to the school, he apologised for yelling at me. He was yelling? I had no idea. There was way too much noise for me to notice this. Oh well... We kept jogging along. I was even tempted to sling some mud at him for splashing me as he ran through a muddy puddle and dirtying my brand new white rain coat... LOL.
Once we saw the field at the edge of the woods, we knew we were finally home. I took off and started sprinting towards the finish. The battle was over, a finish for him and a DNF for me at 52K. The battle lasted 9.5 hours, our worst time ever for that distance. I don't even recall being that slow slogging it in Haliburton. The organisers for the race and the Ultra Series had decided that anyone who toed the line and did not finish would get series points for mileage only. It could have been 58K if I had completed the entire loop but at this stage, 52K is good enough.
Post Race Wrap Up...
After taking a hot shower and changing, I joined Ron and Theresa in the cafeteria for some food as we waited for Laurie to finish, which she did - with a time of roughly 10:30 (official results still have not been posted). The parking lot was practically empty. I later learned that earlier on, the cafeteria was full and the battle stories were being shared. Marcel left immediately after showering. I forgot to tell him that there was food being served in the cafeteria. The three of us shared our DNF battle stories and decided that we were actually pretty smart. We also bantered with the race organisers and received our medals. I made sure I got one for Marcel as well. I asked Howie why the water crossing was still included even though the forecast called for what we got. There is a bypass for that water crossing that should have been used in this case. Apparently there was a miscommunication between them and the water crossing was kept in as a result.
We all departed shortly after the last runner finished - just under the 12 hour wire. I checked my phone and saw that there were several messages waiting for me, not to mention the DNF statuses and stories on Facebook. Of the 47 runners registered for the 50M run, only three finished. The drive home was uneventful, save for my feet which were still cold. The heat was on full blast as I drove. I was absolutely tired when I arrived home. I could not decide what I wanted from what I did not want. I just wanted to sleep but my mind was racing to the day's events, as well as the next day's plans to hobble around the Yoga Conference. I finally fell asleep with a heavy pair of socks on and three blankets after sampling some of my cashew dreamcake (which I did not get to share with my friends) with some hot cocoa.
The Aftermath...
As I type this, I am still feeling the effects of the past weekend. I did get to go to the Yoga Conference and take Seane Corn's Detox Flow class, thanks to Robin who gave me her extra session hours for this. Seane Corn is an amazing teacher who speaks from the heart. Her class gave me some tips and motivation as a teacher - both on and off the mat. I was definitely feeling more limber after that class. After chatting with some of the other girls from the studio who I knew, I walked around the show floor and met up with Susan and Monica for lunch. When I told them the story from the race, they were amazed at what had transpired. They were also happy to see that I was safe and with them. I continued to wander around the show floor where I splurged on a set of the egg-shaped blocks, and the Accuball kit. The Accuball kit was amazing for releasing some of the tension from the previous day. My hips definitely needed that release. It turns out that I was seeing most of my friends that day. A great - but tiring - day was had for sure.
Yesterday, I decided to do an early evening hot practise. It turns out that while I am not hobbling or overly stiff, my body still had that inflamed, heavy feeling. Flowing was definitely not fluid. I also started having food cravings and the cool breeze sets me off into a chill. I had brought my running clothes with me but Jenna did not have hers so I was happy for the break for a change.
Today... still tired... severely so... There will be no workouts planned for this evening. This is my evening to do 30 minutes of maintenance at home, goal setting exercises and planning, and then (hopefully) relax and catch up on some sleep.
Lessons Learned...
No matter how prepared you are, there comes a point where you have to draw the line. I thought I had it together. I had dry clothes laid out in my bag and the cooler with snacks and drinks to sustain me for the 50M ride. However, the elements and the trail conditions had other ideas and like most runners, I had to recognise when to pull the plug. The conditions got progressively worse, making it unsafe. In fact, it was not fun at all.
The second lesson learned was the value of appreciating and acknowledging people for who they are, despite any flaws in their character. You see, there was a breakdown in communication between Marcel and I awhile back which we still need to somehow resolve. While we did not get to the heart of the matter while running, there was a sense of comfort knowing that one was not far from the other. We were looking out for each other at all times from the moment we started running this trail together. I saw him for who he was, and continues to be. As a team, we both pitched in to ensure that we both made it back to the finish line. Acknowledgement is key here. I am acknowledging him for continuing to be the caring, wonderful individual that I have always known him to be. I am grateful for the fact that we got to share this run together, albeit mostly in silence. Marcel, I have your medal and I will get it to you :-)
The third lesson learned is one that I will always hold near and dear to me. The fact that I have friends on my side. From the race organisers and volunteers who I have worked with, to the runners I enjoy having fun with - the ones who were there, and the ones who were elsewhere - to the people at Power Yoga Canada who wished me luck and watched for my update, and listened to my stories, my trials and tribulations. I vow to always keep this close to me.
Now... The outcome from this run will no doubt have an impact on the decision I make for Sulphur Springs. To play safe for 50M or go for the big 100M... Hmm...
The Preparation and Lead Up...
A couple weeks ago, I nervously registered for the first race of the Ontario Ultra Series - the Seaton Trail 50M. I had other choices. I could have volunteered, or I could have run the 52K. After some pep talk from some of my friends and evaluating how far I have come with my running since finally recovering from the flu, I decided that I was not going to sell myself short and go for the big one. I have the experience, the strength, and mental toughness - just go for it!
For the week leading up to the race, I had my eyes glued to the Weather Network - both the English site, and Météo Média (the French site). Each day, rain was in the forecast and it was not letting up. 100% chance of precipitation each time. Damn... I tried to use the Laws of Attraction to change the forecast but it was fruitless.
A bunch of us spent the days leading up to the race bantering on how to be prepared for the elements. This went on and on through every social medium known to man - Facebook, texting, and BlackBerry Messenger. Gerry, Diane, and I decided we weren't going to wear tights because of the water crossing. Maryka had adjustable tights that she was going to wear. All of us had rain coats. Thanks to Cheryl's watchful eye, Gerry and I scored lightweight waterproof jackets from Gears Bike shop. The coat is actually a cycling jacket but it was awesome for running. Thanks Sugoi!
Friday was spent home from work. Now, I am usually with the crew marking the trails on this day. However, I decided that I was going to cut out the excess and go to the Yoga Conference and Show instead. After making some treats - Date Bliss Balls and Raw Cashew Dreamcake - and packing some of my gear, I got myself together and headed downtown to the show. It was great to just wander around the exhibits and reconnect with people from the yoga community that I have not seen in awhile. I left the show just in time to catch the train after quickly saying hi to Manley on the train that I would usually take if I didn't park at another station. I headed over to Power Yoga Canada for a practise with Susan. I received lots of pep talk from the girls as I was leaving. It was really nice to feel the love from the community and I am always happy to inspire someone one step at a time. After I arrived home, I packed some last minute gear, wrote a note to myself, laid out my clothes, and went to sleep.
Race Day - Before the Start...
Saturday morning... 4h30 wake up call. The goal was to be out of the house by 5h15. I was bang on. Writing that note really does wonders because I was able to follow my plan with no problems at all. For the items I did forget, I was able to improvise with what was already in the car. Before heading out the door, I messaged Cheryl to let her and Gerry know that I was on the road and that I would see them there. The drive went by with no real incident, other than the heavy rain that was falling. By the time I got into Pickering, there were only a few sprinkles falling and I was silently praying that it would remain that way for a long time.
Upon arrival at the venue, I greeted my fellow Mud Puppies and proceeded inside to registration. Jane was on her own with registration at the time. With no hesitation, I hopped behind the table and assisted with handing out the race kits and bibs. This went on for about 20 minutes before I was finally relieved by another volunteer and allowed to prep my stuff before the start. I continued to greet all the other runners who I hadn't seen since last season and reconnect with them. Dirty Girl Diane approached me wearing a running skirt and declared that I was a traitor. You see, my original plan was to wear a running skirt with compression leg sleeves for warmth because of the rain and the water crossing. I quickly aborted that plan and wore capris with leg sleeves. The capris were worn not only for extra warmth, but also for the fact that no matter how much anti-chafing cream I wear, I will be severely chafed due to wet conditions. After Cheryl took our pictures and bid us good luck, the announcements were made by Howie and the race started.
First Loop...
The race start was pretty quick. I tried to stick with Gerry as long as possible but he had a really fast start. I soon found myself peeling back and trying to find my pace. I shot the breeze with several runners as we ran along. We soon approached the first water crossing. So far so good, the crossing was ankle to calf deep. We traversed that with no problems. For the next little while until we got to the turnaround point at 14.5K, the trails were in decent conditions except for some mud in different spots. Foreststream Aid Station came and went and I just wanted to maintain the pace. Whitevale was the next stop. After taking some salt and eating a banana, I was off. I was joined by Marcel at that point. He ended up catching up to me because I was ahead of him to begin with. For the rest of the loop, we ran together mostly in silence. We were both fighting the elements and were in our own heads. Marcel was registered for the 52K and I silently envied the fact that he would be finished long before I did. After taking a couple muddy spills, I got to the turnaround point where I was greeted by Gordo and Rick. I was quickly introduced to Rick's wife, Linda Rose, as I filled up and quickly left the aid station. At that point, Marcel had already taken off and I wanted to catch up to him.
It didn't take me long to catch up to him. Once I did catch up to him, I stayed with him as much as possible for this loop. There were times when one of us would pull ahead of the other and run for a bit, but we stuck together for the most part - running mainly in silence. Along the trail, I noticed a lot of improvements that were made. For one thing, there were many new bridges built over parts of the trail that were chronically muddy or had bad footing. There were also stairs built into some of the hills that would have been treacherous for the average hiker. I remember pointing out some of the trail changes to Marcel at one point. I'm not sure whether or not he heard what I was saying though.
We made it through Whitevale (where I begged Howie to please give him a hard time on my behalf) and Foreststream on our way back to the start/finish. The rain started falling harder and harder, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. Our hands were frozen in our gloves and we had a hard time handling bottles and snacks. Parts of the trail that were decent on the way out now became either extremely slick and muddy, or flooded. The water was frigid. With every crossing, my feet became numb and took a long time to warm up. This contributed to the drop in body temperature which would lead to hypothermia. We got to the water crossing. At this point, it was past my knees and the current was moving a bit quicker. Ted and Sandi were manning the crossing and took some pictures of me making the crossing. The only thing I could do since my feet were numb and cold was to keep moving to keep the blood flowing. Jogging it out was the only option. Marcel pointed out that if I was going for time, I was going to have a really sad day. On the way in, I quickly took a tally of who we DID NOT see heading back out. I was worried at that point. I was worried because most of the people who did not head back out were people who have never DNF'd a race by choice. We got to the school, finishing 29K in more than 4.5 hours. Drats, so much for the cut off...
I quickly rooted through my cooler and had a couple date bliss balls and a drink. I had to get the aid station workers to open my boating bag because my fingers wouldn't work. All I wanted out of there was a pair of dry gloves. I thought my shirt would last for this second loop. Diane informed me that her, Maryka, and Steve all bailed. I declared that I was going back out there for round two. I quickly set off behind Marcel.
Second Loop - Trials, Tribulations, and Drawing the Line...
When I caught up to him, I had trouble getting my gloves on my hands. I couldn't understand why. Marcel gracefully helped me with getting them on, even though his fingers were really cold. We kept our running pace up as much as possible. Along the way, we discussed the fact that making the cut off for the 50 miler is a long shot now. The course conditions were deteriorating and everything was left up to chance. At first, I thought I was going to do the full 29K loop and turn around. At this point, the water crossing was behind us and it was higher. The currents had also increased in velocity. When we were in the water, I remember Marcel calling out to Ted and Sandi asking for a bar or soap. That got me laughing for a bit. We discussed the danger of doing that water crossing alone - with or without a marshall. He also called me out on stopping in the water - it is dangerous to freeze up in the water and stall during the crossing when the temperature is low. Our physical states started deteriorating. I was well aware of the signs of hypothermia and I knew I was headed that way. I didn't want to use it as an excuse though. I wanted to show that I was tough and could handle it.
It turns out that I was fooling no one. Runners who passed and asked me how I was doing got one response from me - "cold". In fact, cold became my mantra for much of this loop. When we got to Foreststream, I could barely talk as my speech was slightly slurred. Linda and Mike took a quick assessment of me and noted that I was shivering. There were no warm liquids at the aid station - something I craved. After getting a peanut butter sandwich (something that I cannot eat but had to in order to keep up my reserves), Marcel and I set off. Marcel stepped up and called the shots at this point. He told me that he was not going to leave me to complete the entire 29K loop on my own - I am to turn back with him at Whitevale and only do the 52K distance. He sensed that if I continued on my own, I would further jeopardise my health and safety, especially with very few runners left on the trail at this point. He also knows that I will try to push well beyond my edge with no regards to consequences at the time - characteristics of the Type A personality that is often spoken about by Baron Baptiste. I was relieved by that decision. I did not want to entertain the idea of being alone in such extreme conditions while he would be finished and warmed up before I got there. In fact, the truth is that none of us wanted to run and be without the other at this point...
We could barely hold a conversation. Much of our energy was diverted to moving forward and trying to warm up. The cover from the woods heading towards Whitevale was enough to keep the body temperature from falling further. With the help of some of the wooden bridges, we were able to run for much of that stretch. We got to Whitevale. Howie saw that defeated look on my face and quickly guessed that I was going to turn back. Lukewarm chicken broth was there. Now, being predominantly vegetarian (only eating meats - preferrably fish - if it was the only thing available to give me the protein needed), I would normally steer away from it. However, with survival on the mind, there was no room for ignorance so I grabbed a cup saying "Dammit, it's warm! Warm is what I want!" After fueling up, we headed back on our way back home.
The trails conditions continued to deteriorate. Sliding was a regular thing now. In fact, there was a close call. We were running close to the side of a cliff. At one point, the trail takes a little dip in a couple spots. On one of the dips, Marcel took a slider as I stood at the top. He lost all his Fuel Belt bottles in the fall. When he got up to stand, I realised something quite astounding. As soon as he got his wits back, I had him turn around. He was standing a mere four or five feet from the edge of the cliff. If his momentum was any quicker, and if the angle was slightly different, the unthinkable would have happened...
Marcel gave up on the Fuel Belt bottles and decided to ditch them on the trail. Both of us had hands that were not functioning properly to put them back onto the belt and each fall meant another dropped bottle. We continued on, struggling in our own way. I was given heck for bypassing some of the stairs in favour of sliding on some of the hills. I was too tired, wet, and cold to argue with the man. Once we returned to Foreststream, Linda had thoughts of pulling me off the course as I was absolutely soaked and freezing. After using the porta-potty and eating some date squares, Linda determined that I was coherent enough to continue on.
The final stretch was pretty much like the previous stretch. We saw Laurie McGrath and the third 50M finisher on our way in as they were on their way out to complete the final spur. They looked strong in their own way. Keep moving as much as possible and do not falter... The swamped areas were the most difficult for me because the water was freezing and my feet were numb. This also caused my core temperature to drop some. I had no choice but to keep moving. Can-Do-It hill was slippery but good enough for me to jog down. I think Marcel may have struggled on this hill because I was ahead of him. Once I made it to the bottom, I slowed my pace down so that he can catch up to me before the water crossing.
The water crossing... It is what it is... And trust me, it was! This final crossing proved to be a real test for us. The water level was way up and the current was moving fast. The rocks were all submerged and there was no way of finding our way through it. On top of that, part of the bank broke off and was swept downstream. We stuck together on this one. Marcel grabbed my arm to keep me from falling in, which almost happened numerous times, and kept telling me to keep moving and don't stop. Once we reached the other side and we jogged the last mile or so to the school, he apologised for yelling at me. He was yelling? I had no idea. There was way too much noise for me to notice this. Oh well... We kept jogging along. I was even tempted to sling some mud at him for splashing me as he ran through a muddy puddle and dirtying my brand new white rain coat... LOL.
Once we saw the field at the edge of the woods, we knew we were finally home. I took off and started sprinting towards the finish. The battle was over, a finish for him and a DNF for me at 52K. The battle lasted 9.5 hours, our worst time ever for that distance. I don't even recall being that slow slogging it in Haliburton. The organisers for the race and the Ultra Series had decided that anyone who toed the line and did not finish would get series points for mileage only. It could have been 58K if I had completed the entire loop but at this stage, 52K is good enough.
Post Race Wrap Up...
After taking a hot shower and changing, I joined Ron and Theresa in the cafeteria for some food as we waited for Laurie to finish, which she did - with a time of roughly 10:30 (official results still have not been posted). The parking lot was practically empty. I later learned that earlier on, the cafeteria was full and the battle stories were being shared. Marcel left immediately after showering. I forgot to tell him that there was food being served in the cafeteria. The three of us shared our DNF battle stories and decided that we were actually pretty smart. We also bantered with the race organisers and received our medals. I made sure I got one for Marcel as well. I asked Howie why the water crossing was still included even though the forecast called for what we got. There is a bypass for that water crossing that should have been used in this case. Apparently there was a miscommunication between them and the water crossing was kept in as a result.
We all departed shortly after the last runner finished - just under the 12 hour wire. I checked my phone and saw that there were several messages waiting for me, not to mention the DNF statuses and stories on Facebook. Of the 47 runners registered for the 50M run, only three finished. The drive home was uneventful, save for my feet which were still cold. The heat was on full blast as I drove. I was absolutely tired when I arrived home. I could not decide what I wanted from what I did not want. I just wanted to sleep but my mind was racing to the day's events, as well as the next day's plans to hobble around the Yoga Conference. I finally fell asleep with a heavy pair of socks on and three blankets after sampling some of my cashew dreamcake (which I did not get to share with my friends) with some hot cocoa.
The Aftermath...
As I type this, I am still feeling the effects of the past weekend. I did get to go to the Yoga Conference and take Seane Corn's Detox Flow class, thanks to Robin who gave me her extra session hours for this. Seane Corn is an amazing teacher who speaks from the heart. Her class gave me some tips and motivation as a teacher - both on and off the mat. I was definitely feeling more limber after that class. After chatting with some of the other girls from the studio who I knew, I walked around the show floor and met up with Susan and Monica for lunch. When I told them the story from the race, they were amazed at what had transpired. They were also happy to see that I was safe and with them. I continued to wander around the show floor where I splurged on a set of the egg-shaped blocks, and the Accuball kit. The Accuball kit was amazing for releasing some of the tension from the previous day. My hips definitely needed that release. It turns out that I was seeing most of my friends that day. A great - but tiring - day was had for sure.
Yesterday, I decided to do an early evening hot practise. It turns out that while I am not hobbling or overly stiff, my body still had that inflamed, heavy feeling. Flowing was definitely not fluid. I also started having food cravings and the cool breeze sets me off into a chill. I had brought my running clothes with me but Jenna did not have hers so I was happy for the break for a change.
Today... still tired... severely so... There will be no workouts planned for this evening. This is my evening to do 30 minutes of maintenance at home, goal setting exercises and planning, and then (hopefully) relax and catch up on some sleep.
Lessons Learned...
No matter how prepared you are, there comes a point where you have to draw the line. I thought I had it together. I had dry clothes laid out in my bag and the cooler with snacks and drinks to sustain me for the 50M ride. However, the elements and the trail conditions had other ideas and like most runners, I had to recognise when to pull the plug. The conditions got progressively worse, making it unsafe. In fact, it was not fun at all.
The second lesson learned was the value of appreciating and acknowledging people for who they are, despite any flaws in their character. You see, there was a breakdown in communication between Marcel and I awhile back which we still need to somehow resolve. While we did not get to the heart of the matter while running, there was a sense of comfort knowing that one was not far from the other. We were looking out for each other at all times from the moment we started running this trail together. I saw him for who he was, and continues to be. As a team, we both pitched in to ensure that we both made it back to the finish line. Acknowledgement is key here. I am acknowledging him for continuing to be the caring, wonderful individual that I have always known him to be. I am grateful for the fact that we got to share this run together, albeit mostly in silence. Marcel, I have your medal and I will get it to you :-)
The third lesson learned is one that I will always hold near and dear to me. The fact that I have friends on my side. From the race organisers and volunteers who I have worked with, to the runners I enjoy having fun with - the ones who were there, and the ones who were elsewhere - to the people at Power Yoga Canada who wished me luck and watched for my update, and listened to my stories, my trials and tribulations. I vow to always keep this close to me.
Now... The outcome from this run will no doubt have an impact on the decision I make for Sulphur Springs. To play safe for 50M or go for the big 100M... Hmm...
way to persevere. It was really tough out there.
ReplyDeleteSupposively these kinds of things build character.
I think these kind of things build hypothermia!