Pikes Peak Ascent ~ 2014

I knew it would be hard.

Really hard.

But seriously. How hard can a hike be?

This began as any other race. Race day nerves. No big deal. I mean, I'm climbing Pikes Peak! The race started in downtown Manitou Springs. Runners from all over the world were here to claim the prize; the same prize I wanted. Badly. The first 1.65 miles was uphill. No big deal. I knew it would be tough. I think I managed running about a mile of it. I kept up with the crowd as much as I could. And then it became a hike with everyone else.

We joined Barr Trail in Pike National Forest at the 1.65 mile marker where the first station was. Where we waited...and waited...and waited. The trail bottlenecked and we had to wait. Wait for our turn to continue. People were getting upset. We had deadlines or cut-off points that we had to meet.

People started talking, and I listened. Drink when you're not thirsty, one says. Run when you can another person says.

But, Just.
Don't.
Stop.

I was told to enjoy the view. But I couldn't look up. The terrain was nothing like I've ever ran before. I've been on a few trails. But nothing like this. I do remember looking up at the 2.8 mile marker where I saw the Rocky Mountains. Wow. Look how far I've gotten.

I kept to myself. I didn't want to talk. I wanted to save my energy. As the trail got tougher the elevation increased. Someone said, the first three miles is the worst. It has the most elevation gain. I already had a disadvantage. Hooper has an elevation of 1320 feet. At the start of the race, 6,300 feet was already against me. Remember my view of the Rockies? 7,700 feet.

 

 

Surprisingly, I didn't feel that winded. I never got dizzy and I never got a headache. That was motivating and encouraging enough. I did stop once, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. That was enough to keep going. I couldn't feel it when I was walking. It kinda scared me. So I kept going. The terrain continued. My hips were starting to hurt more than anything. The constant step ups was tiring. So tiring. I thought about quitting but I noticed that I never stopped. I just kept going.

 

The elevation continued. 8,800 feet arrived when we crossed No Name Creek. That wasn't fun. The slippery rocks slowed us down. I'm a clumsy bird so I didn't want to fall. It's funny that I don't remember Bob's Road ~ elevation 9,350'.  I do remember finally looking at my watch and realizing at this moment, that I wasn't going to make it in time to Barr Camp; the first cut off. That's all I wanted. To make it to Barr Camp by the 3 hour mark.

 

Gwen was a life savor. I knew Karen would go. She is such a faster runner than me. Gwen stayed with me. She often looked back as I did for her. She kept telling me to go ahead of her. But I knew that I needed somebody. I didn't want to do this alone.

 

She gave one more final...Go. Make the cut off. I could hear people talking. And I went. I left her. That was so hard for me. What if I did make it and she didn't. I needed SOMEONE. I knew I couldn't do this alone.

 

I made it to Barr Camp ~ 7.6 miles at 10,200'. A volunteer put her arm around me. I looked at her, "Did I make the cut off?" And she looked at me. The same way the vet looked at me when my dog was dying. And I lost it. I cried. I cry writing this. It is still so raw. Like a dagger in my chest cutting my lungs; at 10,200 feet. The one thing I didn't want was to fail. And at that moment, I did. I felt like such a failure.

 

And another volunteer ripped my bottom bib and took my number. And there I was listed. As a DNF.

 

Did.

Not.

Finish.

 



I kept hearing, "I'm so sorry. You did so good". I missed the cut off by 3 minutes. Maybe I shouldn't have looked at the Rockies. Why did I stop to hear my heart beat? Should I had run across the slippery rocks and risked slipping? I sat there on that bench and cried. Someone brought me food. Someone helped me put my long-sleeved shirt back on to keep warm. And I continued to watch others cross. I felt so bad for us. All of us.

 

Gwen. Where is Gwen? I asked for her. No one saw her. And I finally saw her. And it hit again. Disappoint not just for me, but for us. Us flatlanders. That's what they call us ~ FLATLANDERS. Those flatlanders.

 

Well, this flatlander is going back. We all are. And I'm conquering that beast. We have unfinished business. At least I know I do.

 

FYI: Karen did make it. Hearing her story was amazing. She made the next cut off at A-frame (11,950') at the 4:15 hour mark. EXACTLY the time she needed. She made the final finish at 6:26. Just 3 minutes before the cut off.

 

Next time? I need to be at the beginning of the start. Get ahead of the bottleneck and walk hard. Jog on the downhill's and straightaways. Continue to drink. And stay quiet. Train on trails. Do squats. Build endurance. It can happen. I believe it.

 

 



Race Review: Dizzy Goat 12 hr. Run

It has been 72 hours since the Runner's Redundant Run aka The Dizzy Goat. I never thought that a 3.25 mile loop could be so much work. But when it's ran over, and over, and over again...it became the toughest challenge in my short running career.

The day actually started out pretty nice! There was thick cloud cover and cool air. Cool enough air to make this adventure worthwhile. I actually thought about not even coming. The projected forecast was calling for clear, HOT skies in the mid 90's. I actually thought...maybe that weather man was finally wrong!

We started out right at 7 am. Scott, the race director, gave a quick explanation of the rules to the Dizzy Goat.  We started out with a pink bracket signifying the loop we were on. Flags outlined the course. One side was lined with pink flags (clockwise), the other side was green (counterclockwise). After each loop was completed, runners were to check in and exchange their braclet.

The first loop went pretty easy. I was done in roughly 41 min. Second loop...came pretty easy too. I had finished the third loop (9.75 miles) around 9:30 am...2 1/2 hours into the day. I actually thought this was going to be easy. I might actually get 30 miles out of this!

I decided to walk my fourth loop. The hills were getting tougher and tougher. The runners were all so nice. I came here by myself, with no running partner. Laurie actually stopped in the middle of the trail, shook my hand and introduced herself. It was conforting to know that everyone was looking out for each other. I'd here, "Hey, there's 66!" It was nice knowing that afterall,  I really wasn't alone. I must have said, "Good Job" about a hundred times.

The race staff was amazing! After that long 4th lap, I decided I needed to eat something. The volunteers did everything for us. I didn't even have to take the cap off my water bottle. What service! Honestly, I tried too...but I was just too tired. I decided to eat a hamburger and drink some GU Brew. It was around 11:40 am now...I decided to take a break and eat. I took my shoes off, put my feet up and watched as runners kept going, and going, and going. It was amazing watching these people just keep on trucking. I was in awe of their determination and eagerness to succeed.

The next group of runners were getting ready to head out on the 6 hr. stent, so I decided to head out on my 5th lap before they began. (It's now 12:45 pm) I felt good so I started running again. My knees didn't hurt anymore, nor did my hips. Things were going good. I started taking some pictures of all the cool signs that were up. They made me laugh! Here are a few...

Actually, I didn't pay for this! But the sign sure is funny :)

I really wanted to take a nap...

No one was around to take a picture of me hugging the tree.

It was starting to get really hot out now. The sun was in full force and the hills were getting tougher and tougher. I was walking 70 min loops now. For how many times I was running/walking that same exact trail, it was NEVER THE SAME! I kept thinking, why can't I remember this...must be the dizziness in me. There were a few things I could remember. The three bridges, the tall grass and the animal poop with flies I had to step over. And how could I forget THE SNAKE!!!

Then came the fun...I took a flying leep into the woods; tripped on a root. I didn't know I had superwoman powers! I was running downhill and just didn't pick up my feet I guess. A runner wasn't far behind me. He asked if I had twisted anything and helped me up. He even followed behind me to make sure I got out of the trail okay. I wish I could remember who that was, but thanks for helping me :)

This picture does NO justice on this hill. A 150' ascent up...a 150' descent down. I have ran some hills in my time. But this hill doesn't even compare to my country hills here at home. I met a couple of guys running the Raider Run in September too! They asked about the hills and I warmed them; they aren't fun, but this hill is WORSE then all the LV hills combined!

The day was ending...I couldn't even remember how many laps I had run. I was just spent. I decided to take one last loop. What the heck, right? I left around 5:45pm and ascending up that HILL. Phew...I made it. The next thing I hear..."Hey, it's 66!" That put a smile on my face :) I made it around the loop and I could see the home stretch. I actually kinda lost it. I put my head down and the next thing I knew, Scott was there walking me to the end. It was VERY encouraging...because I felt so defeated. He asked if I had anymore in me, and I said no. I felt like I had given up. I even started crying...who cries while running! But it was enough to earn a hug from Scott! Best finish ever. I have never gotten a hug from a race director before :)

With a few breaks in between, I had been going for 11 hours and 02 minutes. I have never ran past 13.1 miles. I have never ran on trails. I had gotten 8 loops in for a total of 26 miles. I don't feel defeated anymore. I'm superwoman, with a few battle wounds along the way. 


So...will I do it again? Maybe. I'd have to bring a friend or two. If there is a next time, I'm shooting for 10 laps. So... it looks like there will be a next time. See ya next year, Dizzy Goat.

PROS: Volunteers, food assortment, availability of refreshments, awesome morale

CONS: Heat (which no one can change), tall itchy grass, SNAKES

Megan's thumb wanted to be in the picture too.

Are you curious about the 12 hour winner??? Well, the male completed 62 miles (19 laps)!
Female: 55.25 miles (17 laps). They both were amazing!