THOU SHALT BE A COMEBACK

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!