My Javalina Jundred DNF: The good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good:
I have been building milelage all year and I felt like my training was spot on for this race. I was healthy coming into it and didn't even have any niggles that we runners often get. I was able to get in some really long runs, that all went well and even practiced my race day nutrition and hydration on most all of my runs. My taper went well and I was confident, I was going to have a great race day. I even got a good nights rest the night before the race and then woke up feeling good. Blake went down to the race with me and helped me set up my spot that I could stop at and reload after each lap. It was about 60 degrees and the race started without incident. The trails were great, nice and runnable, and way easier than the trails I usually run on. I knew it was going to be hot, so I started putting ice in my cap and on my body from the first aid stations. I was cruising at a nice pace and sticking to my hydration and nutrition plan. The first lap is longer than the rest and near the end it started getting hot. I was still feeling great though, but I made the decision to slow down a bit to try and stay cool. I finished up the first lap a little faster than I had planned, but feeling good although hot. I hydrated and cooled off a little extra at the turn around aid station, then headed back out at a slower pace due to the heat.
The Bad:
I could tell the heat was starting to affect me pretty early on in the second lap, so I tried to drink a little extra and go slower. This is one thing I had not trained for. Although I live in the desert, I do almost all my running in the early morning. I figured by staying hydrated with the electrolyte drink I had practiced with, taking my S-Caps as planned, and keeping ice in my cap and down my shirt at all times I would be fine. I was wrong.
The Ugly:
At mile 28 I puked everything up that was in my stomach and felt a bit dizzy. I was 3 miles from the next aid staiton, so I figured I'd just walk into the next aid station and feel recovered by the time I got there. Unfortunately a mile latter I puked the little bit left in my stomach and was so dizzy I was going to fall down, so I had to sit down right then and there. I crawled over to a bush that gave me some shade and just sat there. As runners came by they would ask if I was OK. At first I said yes, thinking that if I sat there a while I'd start feeling better, then I realized after I puked again that I needed help, so I gave them my bib number and told them to tell the people at the next aid station. At this point, I couldn't even sit, so I just layed down. My runners stopped and offered help. One, Pat from Washington state, stopped and would'nt go on. I told him to continue on that I had sent for help, but he remained. There were 2 ladies who were safety patrol for the race that came by shortly and were of great assistance. Both of them and Pat stayed with me for at least half an hour until the medics came. The medics gave me an IV right there on the course. I was at that spot for over an hour until I felt good enough to walk out. It was about a 10 minute walk to there truck staight through the desert, not on trails. I was still throwing up about every 15 minutes, but I made it to the truck before losing it again. They drove me to the nearest aid staion where I was given a second IV before being transvered back to race head quarters. It head quarters I was given 2 more liters of IV before they let Blake take me back to our hotel. He was a trooper and really helped me a lot to get out of there. Unfortunately to puking continued about every 20 to 30 minutes until about 9 pm, so I had been throwining up for about 9 hours. I was miserable but very grateful to all who helped me out throughout the day.
What did I learn from this experience? I suck at running in the heat and never want to run another hot race in my life. Runners are amazing people who are so kind and helpful and willing to sacrifice even their own race to help another. As I layed in the med tent I heard countless strories of runners helping other runners.
Hopefully I can find some other race to put this high level of fitness I have built up to good use. I really feel like I am in the best shape I have been in since I set most of my PRs in 2010.
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