Run the Rocks day 1,2,3 all in one extravaganza

Well that was interesting......

I meant to do a post everyday, but poor Jeffy got SOOO tired. Please set some time aside and enjoy.  Here it is in all its bloggyness:

I slept near the start/finish  area but got there in the dark. I am sure we have all done it but when I woke I was stunned with where I was. Shear faces of red rock topped with white boulders. Overcast and chilly so I erred on the side of too many clothes. 

Quick recap-

Day 1- In over my head

20 km.

I felt nausea at the start? Took 4 km to get over that but then was behind on water and fuel. Next 8km were soul searching, demon slaying horrible. 2nd aid station took on water and grabbed 2 gels. Coaxed 1 down started to go, with 2km left had the other, gross. 

Whole different world of tactics and strategies in running that i need to learn.  Also, took 600ml in a bladder and ended up dumping it on the ground. Don't need that much between aid stations. 

I really did prove I can run down hill though so take that for a bonus.

I felt shattered so did what Coach Jeff recommends, Sip and Snack.

I feel that when you challenge yourself in whatever you do physically your engine runs lean and jamming liters of water and calories in right after your stop is not the most best for you.

Yes of course I take a few good cups of water and live the PBJ sandwiches,  but then I will intentionally drink slow and nibble on things. The RTR food table is a sight to behold, a bit of everything even gluten free yummies.  I stayed in "ChilleVille" for about 45min until I knew i had a Good start on my recovery. 

Ok, Chillville was a bit of a shock to the MTB guy. Near 100 people hanging out chatting, drinking beers, laughing, enjoying the scene with fire puts and chairs at the ready. Apparently Kevin, Houda, MacDonald has worked hard to create this vibe. 

I tried to figure this conundrum out with Erin and Ryan Bell. 

I would be interested to hear why you think there is a difference?

40km tomorrow,  survival mode is in the back pocket, Literally.  More calories, caffeine gels and 1 extra water flask. 

Until then....

Ok it is then. 

Day 2-I ruined a perfectly good set of legs !

I have actually ridden some of the course in the Moab Rocks so knew a bit of what it was going to be like. But that didn't prepare me for running it 😏

I felt good off the start and found myself with a good group with a good pace. I passed a few on the downhill to be caught on the flats and uphill. I had lots of gels, water, M&Ms, chews, and 2 PBJ rollups. Ever try eating PBJ rollups in the desert when you cant catch our breathe??? They went back in the pack and stayed there until the finish, where I could sit back and enjoy the gooey mess. 

The scenery was wild but the slick rock was tough. It is like running on cracked and uneven concrete sidewalks. You really have to watch your step, so I looked up when I could and took it in. 

This ended up being the longest run I have ever done time wise and about 2.5km less than my 2010 Vancouver Marathon. I was doing good but the legs got sore, the body got tired and I think I was hallucinating about dinosaurs and Cow Girls ?????

The thing with the volunteers is they are really enjoying it. The " great job" , "you are awesome", are not lost on me and I wish I was articulate and coherent enough to let them know how it helps. Instead it comes out as breathless grunts and hand gestures. I think they get it though????

The last push to the finish was a long up then downhill, I love when the end on a downhill......usually. Usually as in, I am usually on a bike. Wow can 2.5km with a slight downhill grade make you mentally tough. I can see the finish, I hear the announcer, I even think I can hear the cans of beer being opened but are my legs going faster, nah, still plod, plod, plod. 

Chillville was a welcome oasis today with the sun shining, the Muskoka, I mean Adirondack, lawn chairs?? ah hell somewhere to plop my ass down and soak it in. I had a running buddy today for a bit Adam from Calgary. Good strong runner with a graceful form. He didn't comment on my form and that is why he is my buddy. 

Day 3-Who's legs did I borrow today

I had a good nights sleep and ate the left over Kraft dinner and tuna for breakfast. Now don't go judging, it was yummers and must have contained jet fuel cuz....I didn't even warm up cuz my legs were so sore and thought I might mail it in (not sure if that is the right context??) but BOOM I was with the speedy kids and holding my own, then I passed a few, then I thought I had passed Steve, the guy in front of me in the GC. Could I pull it off?? 

Mantras are very important to me and I have a few I have used and still use depending on the situation. In road riding it was "my world is the wheel, keep the wheel", some MTB events " yes, yes, good, good". I don't just bring these out at races, I practice the while training, I make them believable, I create a pathway from my thoughts to my mind to my body to be able to push. 

2024 is " best effort"

This is helping me keep moving forward and going a bit easier on myself. Sometimes "best effort" is not doing the 2x10min tempo run but just getting out for an easy 5km and not even enjoying it. If that is all I have the bandwidth for then that IS my best effort for that day. Best effort is what racing is about for me. I have signed up and said I will be there to give my best effort that day, is it my maximum potential, F@$^ NO. Not many could ever say that and when we do, boy we will remember those unicorn days. 

Best effort is realizing your hamstring hurts so you will go slower, that your kid was up all night yelling the technicolor rainbow so you feel terrible, your work stress has kept you from training sessions, but you still go and you still try hard, in fact you give it your Best Effort. 

I wasn't going to take off the extra layer, or eat the gel, or slow jog the hill, but then I repeated, best effort, best effort and did those things so that when I crossed the finish line I wouldn't think back on things I could have changed. 

I stayed in front of Steve, I pegged it with the best effort I could muster, I caught Adam and he paced me for a while, I told him I may be in 3rd, he was full of positivity and support. Steve was getting closer, with 3 km to go I absolutely buried myself, I held him and with 1km to go I put my best effort kick in and made it. Steve came across right after me, but it wasn't Steve. It was a guy I thought was Steve, It was Josh. he is in a different category, Bloody hell!!! Even better he thought I was in his category and was killing himself to catch me. OMG did we have so many laughs, he said I was his ghost and vice versa. 

Did I beat Steve, nope, Steve actually won the day, weird how it works out. Weird to think that if I didn't give it my best effort I wouldn't know what I was capable of and have this asinine story to tell. 

Was it worth 3 days of travel, 38 hours of driving, sleeping in the truck, you know the answer and if you don't come and join me next year and find out. 

Thanks for reading and today maybe text or call someone you haven't spoken to but have thought of and let them know that. You may help them out of a dark spot but at a minimum will put a smile on their face.