Race Recap Gorge Waterfall 100K ā DNF
Not the day I was hoping for, but thatās part of the game.
3:30am alarm ā breakfast ā drive ā warm-up ā 5am start line.
Standing there chatting with other runners in the dark, I suddenly realized I was at the front with all the pros (and the photographer which explains that šø with the
@headsortrails buff on
@daybreakracing social mediaš
).
The first kms were fast (as always), but I kept myself in check, staying patient and saving energy for later. Letting a big group taking the lead and leaving me in the dust.
The course delivered exactly what it promises: insane waterfalls, running behind them, unreal views the whole way.
At the 20K I rolled my ankle but it settled quickly. After seeing great runners already dropping from ankle issues, I got hyper-focused on not letting it happen again. Maybe a little too focused.
At around 22K, I tweaked my knee and felt an immediate sharp pain. I told myself it would loosen up if I kept moving. Sometimes that works⦠this time it didnāt.
I kept pushing all the way to 55K, into my first crewed aid station, but before I even told
@the.endurance.dietitian what was going on, she knew. The way down to the aid station, she saw me moving in a way I shouldnāt have.
But like any solid crew and wife would, she told me to push through the pain to the next aid and see assess there.
I left⦠made it about 100 meters⦠took three big steps into the next climb⦠and I knew it was over.
So I turned around and went back.
That decision wasn't a fun one. I have been training for months, I showed up ready to fight mentally to get to that finish line in sub 10hr but everything ended at that 55k aid station.
Am I disappointed? Yeah.
But thereās a difference between quitting and making the call that protects the rest of the season. Turns out it was the right decision. During that tweak, I put a tear in my meniscus.
I still have
@qcmegatrail 80k,
@squamish50 50/50,
@kodiak_ultramarathons 100k and trips with friends that I want to be in good shape for.
Iām super grateful for the training, the lessons, and especially the crew out there with me
@ohjimme @monteith.tj šš»
šø
@somerrunner @jamesholk