When I said I planned on writing more in 2013, I really wasn’t planning on taking another 3-month hiatus from it. I meant to post this entry back in April (or early May the
latest), but life of work and play happened and this post never got done. Well, welcome to blog post #3 for the year. Woohoo!
First, I should play catch-up with a little race news first:
On March 17th I completed my 7th LA Marathon and 20th marathon overall. It wasn’t a great race for me because somewhere around mile 14 my left knee decided it had enough and didn’t want to run anymore. Besides that, I pretty much wreaked my feet with a few blisters I had no idea I was creating as I wobbled my way through the streets of Los Angeles. My feet have since healed nicely thank you very much.
The weather was absolutely perfect so I was seriously thankful for that. Of course, I managed to finish with my second worst marathon time ever and even though I didn’t have the best race, I still had a lot fun. I ate so much food along the course! I had some strawberries my running club offered up and a boatload of oranges that were seriously so sweet and delicious.
Normally in marathons I don’t take advantage of such offerings because unlike some people, I don’t have an iron stomach, but as I strolled along, this fruit was too good to resist.
20th marathon finito with unhappy feet!
A few short weeks later, I tackled (or at least tried to) the Hollywood Half Marathon and my
left knee was still very unhappy. It didn’t want to run at all. I was trying to force it but it was having none of it. I managed to finish with my worst half marathon time ever. But once again the weather was great! However, little did I know my luck with great weather was about to run out.
This brings me to the Leona Divide 50K that took place at the end of April. This was supposed
to be my first ultramarathon but it became the 50K that wasn’t. After the Hollywood Half Marathon, I had 3 weeks until Leona, and my left knee was still giving me trouble. I knew I had the endurance to complete the race so I wasn’t going to worry so much about getting another long run in before race day. For those 3 weeks, I mainly focused on strengthening and stretching; running up until the point I felt any discomfort. Turns out my knee was the least of my concerns.
As I always do, I monitored the weather for that weekend and as we got closer to race day, the temperature crept up and up. It started out as a chilly morning but I knew that wasn’t going to last for long since the day’s high called for 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Ha ha, yeah right.
Before the race started, I picked up my bib, goodie bag, and chatted with my friendly baseball nemesis Doyle for a few minutes who was also completing his first ultra distance. Soon afterwards, we were ushered to the other side of the start line so we could get going.
After getting a little motivating speech from Head Coyote Jimmy Dean Freeman, we were off! And we quickly started our upward climb.
I started out slow (as if I have any other speed) because I wanted to take it easy early on. I knew it was going to be a hot day and it wasn’t long before the sun showed it’s ugly head and the heat quickly turned on.
Here comes the sun…you ready for it? Uh, no.
Also, it wasn’t long before I felt like I was the only person out on the trail. I couldn’t see, or hear anyone ahead of me, or behind me at all! Hellooooo. Is anybody out therrrrre?
Me. In happier times during Leona Divide.
The course itself was challenging. I think all trail races are challenging simply because there really are no flat mountains. If anybody finds one, let me know. The course was marked well. Although I felt at times, I didn’t see any markings for miles. I would have a Oh shit, did I miss a turn? moment and then I would see a pink flag and relax until the next Oh shit, did I miss a turn? moment.
Yay! I’m not lost. Yet.
The photo below is the last known photo of me on the mountain during the race. Soon after I took it, I really started to feel the heat and so I just focused on running, hydrating, and not getting lost. I listened to music at the beginning, which helped, but after I made it onto the single track, there was no way I was going to pay attention to any music.
It’s getting quite toasty out here.
Of course, once I stopped listening to music, I was really able to pay attention to how hot it was getting. I kept taking sips of my water and ate some salted potatoes, and a few Jolly Ranchers. These work well with me. When I got to the second aid station, I drank a little ice cold Coca-Cola and it was seriously so refreshing. I needed a little more sugar so I gulped it and chased it with more water. I felt so energized!
Once I made it to aid station #3, I was feeling not so great, but I thought I could continue. This time I drank a little bit of Coca-Cola and ate a strawberry along with some water. I was there for a few minutes before deciding to start walking the 4 mile upward climb to the turn-around. I got out of the shade and into the sun and as I started to hike up the hill, I suddenly felt sick. Seriously sick. I stopped where I was and just stood there a few minutes. I continued to walk up and a nice gentlemen who was there to cheer on his friend, asked me how I was feeling. I told him “not so great.”
I decided to walk on and after a few feet, I decided to walk back down the hill. I did not feel good at all. I felt so nauseous and light-headed. I seriously felt like throwing up. I was very, very close to. I didn’t. I walked past the man and got into some shade and stood there for awhile. I waited until I felt most of the nausea pass and then I started walking back up the mountain – verrrry slowly. I got a little further and suddenly I got very upset because I knew I felt so sick. I wanted to finish so badly. As I started to cry, I called my sister who was waiting for me at the finish line and told her I didn’t think I could finish. I also didn’t think I could get reception either so I was thankful for that. She encouraged me to continue, but told me my health was too important to compromise. She told me about people coming in who didn’t finish due to the heat. I just kept saying, “but I want to finish!” I turned around and made the slow walk back down the mountain.
As I was walking down, I came across three lovely ladies who immediately asked me how I was. “Are you okay? Do you need anything? Would you like some water? I have salt. Here is a PayDay.” One thing I love about trail running (and trail races for that matter) is the runners look out for each other. That’s one thing for sure that doesn’t happen much in road races. I think I mentioned that in another post but I don’t know which one. But these ladies were wonderful. They kept telling me, “it’s really hot out here, don’t push yourself. The aid station isn’t far from here.” After a few minutes, we parted and as they made their way up the mountain, I walked back down and was greeted by the gentleman who was waiting for his friend. He walked up the mountain to meet me and asked me how I was feeling. I told him not good. He said “come sit in this shade. I won’t put you in poison oak.” Thanks I appreciate that. I didn’t feel like sitting so I stood there with him for probably 10 or 15 minutes. And then…I decided to give it another go. So back up the mountain I went.
Yes, this was my third attempt at this darn mountain. I called my sister to tell her I was going to try again. She just kept asking, “are you sure?” I said “yeah.” I tried and made it even further. But I could just feel this intense heat and I was still very light-headed and nauseous. I stopped and before I took another step, I saw one of the three ladies walking back down the mountain towards me. She comes up to me and says, “It gets worse and worse. This heat it just awful. It really isn’t worth it.” I knew in my heart she was right. It was then, after 18 miles, my attempt at my first ultra distance was over.
I slowly walked back down the mountain, but this time, the gentleman wasn’t there to greet me again. I got to the aid station and checked in at the medical tent and got treated by the paramedic. As I sat there waiting for a ride back to the start/finish line, I saw a few more people come in for heat-related issues. Their race was over as well.
When I made it back to the start/finish area, I checked in at the timing table to get my first DNF. I just felt sadness and disappointment. I wanted to finish this race so badly. But it just wasn’t my day. Later I found out the temperature on the mountain reached somewhere between 100 to 104 degrees.
As days passed, I reflected on that race. Initially I was heartbroken, but this was just one race, and if I continued on and pushed myself I may not have the opportunity to do any other race ever again. I knew my body was telling me something, and if I didn’t listen, the outcome could have been much different and more dire. I was proud of myself for making it through 18 miles on that hot day in April. I’m proud of my running baseball buddy Doyle for completing it. Now, I’m looking at other 50K races to do — preferably in the fall or winter. 🙂
Thanks for reading and Happy Running!
