Warning: Another long read--I want to be able to remember races
like this. I don't know where to start! Official results say 4th
place, but they told me I was third and I only counted two 50K women in
front of me but it could have been a chip time thing. Anyways, I got
roped into this thing by my buddy Carlos, so, despite being dismally
undertrained I got up at 3:30 in the morning and caravaned up to Lake
Wyandotte. It was cold, really cold, at the start. 9 degrees with -6
degree windchill. Not too much fanfare at the starting line and we were
off. This course consists of 3 x 10ish mile loops. Someone had let the
horses out in the mud and then it had frozen, and we were immediately
in frozen, rock hard, holes. This went for a few miles but gradually
lessened of once we hit the triangle section in the middle of the loop.
I was doing good here, had one 50K gal in front of me but she was
running crazy fast and I knew there was no way I was going to stay with
her. My water bottle spout had frozen shut and my gatorade was a
slushy, so I ditched it at the next aid station. I swallowed a gatorade
at each aid station the first loop and felt pretty good coming into
loop 2. Only one fall in loop 1 when I got a little out of control on a
downhill. I started loop 2 a little more conservatively, power-hiking
rather than running the steep uphills. The ground was still basically
frozen at this point. Had 2 falls. One was towards the end and
wrenched my right ankle and the right side of my foot pretty good, but
once I got up and started moving again I seemed to be able to jog it
off. I took two chocolate gu's and some pretzels during this loop and
downed more gatorade. I also did one potty stop in the portaloo at mile
15, the first time I have ever done such a thing during a race. As I
finished the loop rolled into the main aid station my ankle was starting
to bark more and I was definitely feeling fatigued, and not entirely
stoked to be running another loop. Over the next 10 miles I proceeded
to completely fall apart. By the time I hit the aid station in the
triangle my ankle had reduced me to a limpy gait and my gut was
protesting. I quickly gained a lot of appreciation for the expertise of
the aid station volunteers. They quickly prescribed an S-cap, banana,
and coke for my stomach and they were right on. The cocktail eased my
nausea and increased my energy levels. From here on out I made up my
mind to celebrate every mile as it clicked off on my garmin, because
each one was slower and more painful than the last. I actually welcomed
the uphills since they were easier on my ankle than going down, which
was excruciating. I forced myself to plod along and made the rule that
there would be absolutely no stopping. The ground had heated up so
there was a bit of mud here and there. With my shuffly gait I wasn't
picking my feet up well anymore so I fell a lot during this loop. The
last two miles were the hardest. I got passed by another 50K woman and
she looked great, was moving right along. I couldn't do anything but
shout encouragement and keep plodding forward. I admit I got a little
wimpy and had tears spring to my eyes a few times because I was tired
and in pain but I don't think any actually fell. I definitely did the
victory arms in the air when crossing the finish line! What a great,
great feeling! It was so good to see familiar faces--Fernando, who
rocked the course, was quick to offer any help I needed. Later on I saw
Kevin S. looking good and was happy to see my friend Carlos cross the
line with a big smile. Wichita and GoRun had great representation
today. I got handed a 75 dollar check for being one of 9 women to ever
break 6 hours on the course and got some clothing and a medal too. Wow,
great prizes! Another volunteer wrapped my ankle and gave me motrin
which was spectacular--it helped keep the swelling down and made the
drive home bearable. Today I am sore. wow. Still limping on the ankle
but the swelling is down and I think a few weeks of babying it and it
will be fine. Motrin is the wonder drug so I will be able to walk! I
know lots of people have some sore ankles today, the way the course was
chewed up! Trail running is a different animal--brutal! As always, I
have a lot of respect and admiration for those who do it well. I can't
imagine 100 miles of trail. Y'all people who do that are NUTS!
