ADDISON'S SUPPORT ADVOCACY BLOG

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Yet another failure. Wasatch.

Jeff, Dennis, me, Tony

The start

Yes, yet another DNF and ridiculously early in the race as well. Here's what happened...This is probably the best I've been prepared race wise as far as knowing what to expect, what I had packed, realistic pacing chart and medicine preparation. I got to SLC a day early so I was not rushed, confused and tired. My running preparation was nice, nothing too spectacular or hardcore. I had a good summer with some incredible trail runs. I found running sneakers that I love and with Drymax socks, not a blister all summer. The race started and I walked and trotted with Jeff for the first 13.5 miles. At 13.5 miles, yes, the stomach started going despite or perhaps because of the medicine preparations I had made. I ran for two minutes, walked for one for as long as I could and that wasn't long. I took Zofran like it was going out of style. The nausea was overwhelming. I dropped at 28.5.

Regardless, I enjoyed everything but the nausea. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones is always AWESOME! The third of the course that I saw was gorgeous. The volunteers were incredible. As a matter of fact, I was given a great "you did great and quitting was the right choice" speech from a really good looking former second place finisher of Wasatch. It was great to catch up with Jeff during the time we spent together on the trail. At the end Niels, was so, so kind to me and my sorry ass. He walked down the trail with me, rubbed my back while I threatened to dry heave and made me laugh. Niels, if you read this, thank you so much.

What went wrong? I got sick much, much earlier than I ever do when I run alone and when I'm not racing. The nausea was NOT a result of under training. I'm definitely thinking that it was either too much HC, too much salt and too little water or some combination of the three.

Will I attempt another 100? Yes, I hope so. This was my most depressing DNF. I was as prepared as I could be. I DID SOMETHING to create the nausea, very sad. Very preventable. I can't let Addison's get the best of me. I can't allow adjusting medicines on my own to be a barrier to what I want to do. Come on Ancient Oaks 100 acceptance!

John B goes down hard

Jeff eating the breakfast of champions, gas station donuts

SLC from Chinscraper

Paul Bunyon's balls

Jeff doing awesome!

Beauty everywhere

Paul Bunyon's balls from a few miles away

So pretty!

For more pics from Wasatch 100: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.491628696770.271596.727986770&l=abf60b2e6b&type=1

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Hi all, I'm down in Salt Lake City "camping" at the KOA. Tomorrow morning at 5 am, I start Wasatch!

I signed up for this race in January, I was accepted via lottery in early February. It's so easy to think you can complete something like this in February when September is so far off. Elise got in too and since February she's had a broken foot and gotten squished by a horse and had some chest trauma. Unfortunately, she's just getting her grove back and won't be joining me. I'm doing this whole thing solo and I'm really nervous!! I came down a day early which has been wonderful and less stressful than the usual drive down, hit the meeting, pin the number on, sleep and get up to do the race.

Any how, I'm feeling sick and excited about this. It's like when you know you're going to go out and really, really tie one on. There are going to be some awesome, memorable moments, great pictures and "I love you Man!" Then, on the flip side, you know you're going to end up vomiting and you know your body will ache from a night on the bathroom floor. The pictures of the bender could be great and put in the scrapbook or you might burn them. It all depends on how the night progresses.

I'm hoping for a 36 hour finish.

Here's my pathetic pacing chart.
You can compare this to my actual and computer projected times here:

http://wasatch100.com/RESULTS2011/Runner/Position

"Camping" Water, electric, internet, showers, hot tub. Not exactly roughing it!

Sleeping in the back of the car (to avoid tent and tent set up) watching the Big Bang Theory.

Prerace meeting at Sugar Hill Park

The Capitol building

Paul patiently models the hat I will wear.

TTFN, more pictures next week!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Aspen Trail and me

I've lived here in Teton Valley, Idaho for 16 years. In those 16 years, so much has changed in the Valley, in my life and in the world. One thing that has mostly remained the same is Aspen Trail. Because we are moving from here soon, every trail I've been on this summer, I think, "This could be the last time I'm here!" Usually this thought fills me with a little spark of happiness. Yesterday on Aspen Trail, I cried a little bit.

This post is a departure from my usual posts. Probably lots of rambling words.

Aspen Trail was the first trail I really explored when I came to the Valley. It's close to town and, unlike most trails around here, it's not very steep with only 1,400 feet of vertical elevation gain and 1,400 feet of vertical loss in its 4.2 mile length. True to its name, Aspen Trail has lots of Aspens.

Spring

Summer

Fall

I took cute, chubby Zane up there in a backpack when he was 2 and a half. I remember struggling with his weight on the hills and struggling with the (very justified) fear of bears. We turned around after less than a mile. Now that chubby two year old is seventeen and could probably carry me right up the hill with no trouble if he wanted to.

Me, McKenzie and Zane

While on Aspen Trail, I've run, biked, snow shoed, hiked mostly alone but sometimes with friends, my son, a Terry executive who laughed at me for wearing a skirt!, husbands, a potential boyfriend who turned into husband. I done it with Allison over a decade, trudged through waist deep snow and rolled on our bellies with Meara.

Snowshoeing with Allison

Big group!

Paul ripping downhill past the horse and rider. The lady on the horse was impressed!

My fitness and health have changed so much over the years. There have been times that going up every hill was a challenge. Sometimes, lately, every hill is bliss. There were times I kicked guys asses going downhill on a mountain bike. There were times that I wished I could run the whole thing from start to finish. I progressed to easily running it from start to finish and then went about my day like it was no big deal, at points, it was a HUGE deal. Once, I ran it in Croc's because of a pain in my foot that turned out to be a broken hip.

This looked like a spot where a doglike creature slept. A wolf perhaps?

One of the biggest piles of shit I've ever seen.

Because the print has no kidney bean shape and the toes are almost straight across, I'm thinking these were from a grizz.

I've seen the seasons change from summer to fall to winter to spring. I've laughed and cried and sometimes not thought about much at all while on the trail. I can run it as fast as I can ride it. I admire the change of seasons. I've seen bear tracks, cat tracks, wolf tracks and a wolf bed, moose, deer, grouse, hawks and an ultralight flying overhead. Aspen Trail was my first and only night run that wasn't in a race. There was a light coating of snow, it was silent and peaceful and not too cold.

Aspen Trail is beautiful. I will miss it.

The changes that are coming up are good. They are scary. They are exciting. You can be sure when I come back to Teton Valley, I will visit Aspen Trail and love it as much as I did the first time I was on it.

End of my rambling. Lots and lots and lots of pictures to follow.