Well that is done and dusted. I won't lie....it was tough....so tough. But I finished it upright and smiling, a little bit faster than my "easy" training run I did of the course a few weeks ago and enjoyed the friendly comraderie of the other slower runners today.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy - I've been struggling quite a bit the last few months mentally and physically and had decided to make a doctor's appointment to get some things ruled out but wasn't able to get in until after my race. Then the icing on the cake was coming down with a cold this week - my appetite hasn't been great, my head is congested, I've been coughing lots and my energy is in the tank. I tried to not take any cold meds this morning but the phlegm/snot was so heavy, I broke down and took it. I'm not sure if it was a good or bad idea because I ended up lightheaded for most of the run with a tight chest and rough breathing. That was my cue to scale it back and just try to finish, which I did.
I purposely started at the back of the pack which meant I was stuck in a huge bottle neck at the beginning. There was a lot more walking here than I normally would do but while in the past I would've passed sooner to get ahead, today I enjoyed the snail pace and just went with the flow. I did pass a few people but was a lot more strategic in whether the energy required to pass was worth it. I was feeling pretty good for the first 6k or so given this slow pace and was "that" racer chatting with everyone and just loving life. Then we got to the third major hill at 8k and the long climb began. I was noticing my toes starting to cramp but felt not terrible at the aid station so grabbed a banana chunk and carried on, making the conscious decision to try and drink more Tailwind. This is a flat stretch I would normally run, but I was fading fast and the group I was cat &mousing with was hiking a fair bit, so we ran, we hiked, we ran, we chatted, we passed, got passed, climbed a couple more hills, grimaced for the cameraman perched on one of the sidehills....you get the drift.
Then we reached the Spring-fed coulee that is normally incredibly muddy even when it is dry. Well, we've had rain every day this week, stopping Thursday night. Mud is an understatement! I normally try to skirt around the mud a bit but with the 300 runners ahead of me and all the moisture, there was no avoiding....so I trudged on through the first mud pit. It completely covered my right foot with black sludge 😖, I could feel it squishing between my toes even with the toe socks. I was having issues with my poles since the second hill where they didn't seem to fully extend, but I couldn't figure out why they were so short so I just lengthened the adjustable shaft. Then I hit the mud and it became all to clear. With every step planting my pole in the thick mud, my poles would pull apart as I pulled it out of the mud. Initially I thought maybe the plastic sheath inside was stretched, then I realized that the top portion of the z pole was stuck so they weren't fully extended locking into place. I stopped and messed around with them but was only able to get one fully open. Oh well, one is better than none. I repositioned the other pole to try and get them closer to the same length and started the second to last climb.
This was where I made the decision that I would take next year off from racing and volunteer instead to work an aid station. I'm not a good racer but love the running and found training this year solo less enjoyable as the distances got longer. I like the hills but struggle big time on the climbs so that I'm moving at a crawl and would often stop to "catch my breath". At the top of this hill when I started to run on the flat, my left calf started to cramp. Hmmm. Definitely not my day, so I walked, I ran short spurts trying not to aggravate my cramping toes and calf. I got to the final aid station and I saw pickles and probably should've tried it, but was worried it would not agree with my very sensitive stomach so grabbed 2 orange slices and prepared for the final climb.
I know this climb very well and know how hard it is when I'm running well, so I walked, and I walked, and I walked some more watching the group get further and further ahead. Oh well. I slowly climbed the final side hill, made it to the ridge I normally love to run and tried a few short little runs, but just didn't have it in me. So I walked. I got to the final descent, saw the lovely lady that I was chatting with previously slowly making her way down this crazy hill. I packed up my poles and started running knowing how to navigate this section very well. I passed her and called out to her that we were on the homeward stretch and to enjoy her final km. We high-fived and she thanked me for being another smiley happy face out there. That felt so good! In my everyday life, I am not a smiley easy go lucky person and can be very hard on myself but running these trails has tested that and has made me accept my limitations and just enjoy what I can do. I went in to today knowing it wouldn't be a fast one and had resigned myself to just go with the flow and enjoy it....and I really did...and I guess it showed. Another bonus!
I crossed the finish line smiling, arms in the air, ecstatic to be done. Then I got very, very dizzy so I held onto hubby while they took off my timing chip, gave me my bling (a lovely stainless steel beer glass and badge) and made our way to the car. He fixed my pole, I took off all my gear and we headed to the beer garden for my complimentary beer and poutine. I told him I wasn't racing next year and the 50k was off my bucket list now. He was very supportive because he would love to run the trails with me but doesn't want to run long distance (and thinks the 50k is just crazy). But of course, once I was refuelled I was already thinking maybe I should run the 20k again next year🤔. I just need to get stronger legs - more glute work, more hill repeats, more strength training.....but a break would probably be good. I guess I'll decide when February rolls around.
We made our way to the 43k Aid station where my injured training partner was working, got some hugs and watched some of the amazing 50kers come through. I told her and her husband how I took the 50k off my bucket list and her hubby flat out told me nope, not allowed. We're all doing it for our 50 (of course he just placed 3rd in the 10k masters division and didn't run at all this year)....so maybe we'll plan to hike it and take the full 10 1/2 hours, but I don't think I could run it.....but at least there is a few more years before that decision needs to be made 😅.
Now time for a little break, some doctoring, and some short little runs for fun with hubby when I feel recovered enough.
Race report mid sussex marathon
...and another HU10 race report
Fission 2023 race report.