DNF. Short version: Ok day for 30-ish miles, then the stomach slowly started turning and my calorie intake dwindled. By the mid-way aid station (Hyak), I wasn't able to stomach anything. Instead of sticking around and trying to fix the nutrition situation, I headed out on a long road climb to Keechelus Ridge Aid Station (~ 8 miles), bonked badly, and arrived at the aid station ready to drop. 75 minutes in the aid station chair wrapped in blankets sipping chicken broth and the nausea receeded but by then the body started stiffening up. Because the aid station wasn't "drop friendly", I made one final go of it on a downhill 7.5 mile stretch to Lake Kachees. Fast walking was ok but any jog induced painful stomach cramps. Mentally gone, knowing that Lake Kachese was the last friendly drop aid station on the course, and facing a portion of the course that was pretty brutal, I dropped.
Not terribly happy about the way things turned out but it is what it is. I have *got* to figure out this whole running-nausea issue.....I wasn't able to really eat anything substantial until late Sunday, nearly 15 hours after dropping. Having said that, I really enjoyed portions of the race, got to meet some new runners, chatted with a couple for several miles and throughly enjoyed quite a bit of my time on the course. I'll definitely be back.
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