2021 Never Summer Very Done - Part II

 

Do any of you sleep well before a race?  I hadn't slept well for the entire vacation.  I certainly didn't start the night before.  Sigh.  I even had a classic dream about being unprepared.  I never have anything remotely like a normal dream so this was particularly odd for me, but it did mean I slept at least that long.

I had the little coffee maker in the room set so just needed to press on.  I dressed while the precious fluid dripped into the tiny carafe.  I grabbed the PBJs from the fridge.  One went into my pack, one I gave to Rick to bring to whatever crew stop, and one I ate with the coffee.  I took my bladder and soft flasks, filled with tailwind, out of the fridge and loaded my vest.  Then I ate a Spring Energy Oatmeal.  That must have been at least 600 calories, maybe more, definitely way more than my usual pre-race breakfast.

We were driving Bucky to the start and had told him it was in the car by 4:XX.  I really have no idea any more what the plans were.  Wow.  I usually don't forget too much (except where I put my cellphone, credit card, keys, etc and you know what goes here).  Well, he was all ready, waiting for us in the death room.  Did we talk on the way up?  Knowing me and Bucky, most definitely, but I also don't remember that.  I was looking at the sky.  Did I see any stars or hint of moon?  No.  Weather still was calling for rain.

Holy shit!  I don't remember much about the pre-race wait.  I do remember when Steve, PT, and Brian showed up!!  Steve and PT didn't look too beat up from yesterday.  Yay, you guys!!  I think one or more of them asked me where my headlamp was.  Well, I never needed one the previous years.  It was always light enough by 5:30.  This year, with the clouds, it was much darker, but I felt pretty comfortable.  Everyone else had a light.  I'd be able to see until I didn't need theirs.

I couldn't hear the pre-race instructions from the RD.  People were not listening (sigh.  they never do) and his PA system wasn't very clear.  Good luck to Bucky and Brent then find my way towards the back of the pack.  And we're off!!  I love catching sight of Rick, Brian, PT and Steve.  Feels good to know some of the cheers are for me :)

I know I'll see Rick and Brian in 17 miles.  I've done these 17 miles three times before.  The first 2.5 are fairly flat leading to the base of the mountains.  I struggled to keep my own pace.  I hate being in a crowd.  Finally, it thinned out.  I seemed to be with fairly similarly paced runners.  

Oh, yup, the climbing.  I'm still better than most, I take that back, I am better than most of the people of my pace at up.  I steadily passed many folks.  I don't seem to have a slower pace so instead would step off if I needed to breath, but would quickly reclaim my place over any that passed.  Of course when we got to the down, everyone passed me.  I'm slightly better than the first time I tried NS, but still the downs are a weakness.  At one point, we were on a steeper down with lots of rocks.  Someone said something about being thankful for the down.  I said that I was better on ups.  He was incredulous.  How can you like up better???  I emphasized that I said I was better at ups, not that I necessarily like them better (but, of course I do...I'm better at them!).

I'm starting to learn some stuff about my new friends.  There's the Alabama guy that has been traveling around the country doing races since he can work remotely now.  There's CA dude.  He doesn't like to do any race more than once.  He did Bear the same year Ian, Chad, Zak, and Brian did it.  There's the oldest guy.  Turns out he knows Marlin, the guy who was oldest for the 2019 race, and helped me get through the Diamond adventure.  There are a few more that I would recognize anywhere now and forever.  Slogging it out with folks is very bonding.

I ate a Picky Bar somewhere in the first 8 or so miles.  I even grabbed a few PBJ quarters at the first aid station.  I felt like I was keeping up with my hydration and was trying to get as many calories as I could take early.  My stomach is famous for going south.  I'd really stock up when I saw the guys at mile 17.

I ran in to the first crew aid station as fast as I could.  I wanted to give them a visual that I was good.  I was good.  Wow, I was maybe the most tended to athlete at the event.  Not only were Brian and Rick there, but PT and Steve hadn't left yet.  My bladder was refilled, my body was sunscreened, I had another couple of PBJ quarters, my cup runneth over (good heart emoji here).  I was about to leave when I saw the cutest dog. I had a quick visit but was shooed out!  I guess there are too many dogs.  I need to forget one of my "P"s.  No paying attention to puppies! See you in 12ish!!!

CA dude and I were talking races and just general stuff when he spotted a dead cow!!  I told him to go on, I'll see you later. I just had to get some pics.  It was a dead cow somewhere above 10,000 to 11,000'.  It was full on belly up. It took restraint on my part not to walk off the course to get a better shot.  Is it bad to say when someone asked me about highlights from my run, I immediately thought of this poor dead cow?  Oh well, I did.

 

So, I think I mentioned the race would not be going up Diamond because of the SAR team and the weather forecast.  When I first learned that, I was pretty bummed.  As we turned away from that climb, I can't say it made me sad.  Been there, done that.  All the folks running were doing today's course.

When I got to the guys, just Brian and Rick, at the next aid station, they got me in and out pretty fast.  I turned around...."Rick!  I saw a dead cow!!!!"  Ok, lets get going.  I needed to get to Brian and then we'd grind out the rest together.  

So, when I wasn't chatting or listening to my leapfrogging new friends, I was already planning a blog post.  I couldn't  get past one thing.  I needed to be sure to tell everyone if a doctor ever offers deadening a nerve as an option, take it.  Do not go for the safer way first.  When I wasn't distracted, I was reminded of my foot.  During the year, it had progressively gotten worse.  My right foot seemed to have had the same thing, but had been soothed, then healed by my Chocos Chillos.  Seriously, they seemed like miracle sandals.  When my left foot started to get worse, I assumed the Chillos would help. Ask Jason and Bucky about the time we were running our 31k for New Years Eve.  They thought they were hearing ducks, but it was my pain leaking from my lips with every down hill step.   It progressed to where I was limping walking.  My gait was being altered.  I tried to get an appointment with and ortho.  I did, but it was a long way off.  I was afraid of what my altered running stride and walking would do to the rest of me.  I could get an appointment with a podiatrist pretty much right away.  Done.  He was great.  He immediately knew what I was dealing with.  For whatever reason, I had seriously aggravated a nerve.  I loved his confidence and knowledge of my foot.  I liked just talking athletics with him.  This was going to work.

When he said we could deaden the nerve, I should have just said, "Fuck yeah!".  Instead, I waited to hear his entire spiel.  The nerve deadening would take about six mos.  Hmmm.  Ok.  There is a very good chance it will respond to cortisone shots.  I would have relief much quicker.  Sigh.  I opted for the shot.  I told him I was leaving to do a 20 mile run.  He didn't have a problem with that.  I liked him even more.  Of course there was some novocaine in with the cortisone.  It should feel fine for a few hours.

Well, it felt way better than it had, but I was back in two weeks for another shot, and then in another month for my last.  Turns out, even though it wasn't in a tendon or anything like that, I couldn't get any more for a year.  Well, I was very runnable, but definitely not painfree.  I have never quacked again at least!

Heading down the long, long, long fairly steep down (new to me since I never headed into Ruby Jewel this way before), my feet yelled at me.  Well, at least I'm familiar with it and it was stopping me from feeling anything else.  I knew my quads were probably suffering and did feel some ab pain.  But soon I'd have Brian!!!

 Finally, I got to Ruby Jewel!!  Rick says I was good.  They tended to me and Brian and I got going.  I don't remember.  Wow, I am still amazed at what I don't remember (don't laugh, I know this is longer than it should be already and you know the emoji).  I know I needed to pee right off.  Then I needed to visit the woods (my code word for more than peeing) not to far in.  I got off, the trail, but CA dude wasn't far behind.  Eyes ahead dude.  Sigh.  I know I started to complain to Brian about the need for Butt Paste.  This wasn't my first trip into the woods. I had applied before the race and hadn't needed reapplicatons in years.  After enough complaining, Brian miraculously found he had a signal and got word to Rick to bring it to Canadian.  Next time we passed CA dude he made some comment about seeing me with my pants around my knees.  Whatever.

I think we did okay for a while, but then I started to have the dry heaves.  At this point, I don't believe it was my normal stomach issues, but the stupid dry air (believe me, I'm longing for no humidity as I type) had made some horrible collection of dried shit at the back of my throat.  Every time I tried to clear it, I would gag.  I will run soon Brian, as soon as I'm not going to hurl....It really was very runnable terrain.  There was two way traffic on this trail, new due to the course changes.  We saw Brent!!!  He looked so good.  It was a definite boost!  When would we see Bucky?

By the time we finally got into Clear Lake 1, my stomach was really feeling its normal bad self.  Nothing they wanted to offer me sounded like it would do anything other than make me hurl.  Brian found my blankets.  My chair neighbors looked in similar states.  How about ginger ale?  I'll try it.  Ugh.  It did bring on a huge belch.  Brian leaned in caringly.  "That might feel better."  Or something like that.  Then he followed that he felt like he was talking to one of his girls when they were little (all the emojis, mostly the laughing ones).  We do end up pretty childlike.  Ok, I needed to get serious.  My shivering was starting.  My drop bag here was very well stocked.  I decided I should change out of my very wet shirt and sports bra into dry long sleeve and new sports bra.  Where?  Brian suggested behind that tent.

.... a reality break.  We all know I finished.  I'm not going to get less verbose.  Just like something, quote something, or say way to go.  I'll never know.  Meanwhile, I need to get this down.....

 Ok, I've been at this aid station 4 times before, but it doesn't look the same.  They moved it a little closer to Kelly lake.  It used to be right at the base of the trail out and back to Clear Lake.  Oh!  The tent Brian suggested changing behind is the med tent.  I've been there before.  Knock, knock.  I peek in.  Just a shivering woman in a cot next to a big black garbage bag and an older woman in a chair.  Can I change in here?  Of course.  I'm gonna get pretty naked.  The woman on the cot is pretty incoherent.  The other woman said something like, I'm the EMT, I've seen it all.  Fine with me.  Previous years I changed under blankets (sort of) in front of guys who were probably incoherent.  

Much better.  Brian brings my hot chocolate. It's something that the 2018 NS taught me me stomach could handle and my sole embraced.  I had a good long conversation with the EMT.  We talked about how utlras present EMTs with situations they've never seen.  I told her how we've brought our EMTs at Riverlands along.  She was smart enough to ask the experienced aid station crew about behavior and symptoms.  I was an instant fan.  Finally, I realized it was time for me to leave.  I was good.  She asked that I'd check in on my way back from Clear Lake.  Of course!!!

Brian and I got on our way.  My stomach seemed to have settled after 2 or 3 hot chocolates.  Someone also had given me a Pepto Bismol.  That didn't go down well, but could have helped in the long run.  I don't know; I give full credit to the hot chocolate.  I told him it was a sucky up.  Not super hard, but just sort of rotten at this point.  I think the point of doing an out and back to this lake was it was supposed to be so beautiful. After the first time I saw it in daylight, I was totally unimpressed.  We say way more spectacular lakes during the day.  In fact, Agnes, the first one was dissed by me today and I felt remorseful.  Barnabus was stopped looking at Agnes.  I was all, yeah isn't it sad...he struggled to understand what I was saying because he was appreciating her beauty.  If I hadn't seen her 3 other times in non-draught, great snow fall years, I might have thought she was beautiful.  I felt really bad after saying it was a disappointment.

Oh, yeah, Brian and I are going up this thing.  I told him I remembered it being steeper and muddier.  Well, we'd get there.  And then we ran into Bucky on his way down!!!!!!!!!!!  So much love.  He was looking great, but stayed to visit and get a pic of Brian and me.  It was definitely a high point.  Brian and I discussed that Bucky should be so much further ahead, but he looked great!  Go Bucky!!!  All the hearts here.

This is the pic Bucky stopped to take.  I love it for so many reasons.  We both commented on how good Bucky looked.  He definitely put his altitude demons to rest and put the pedal to them metal from this point on.  

I loved that Brian took a pic of Clear Lake once we got up there.  I don't know if it's my prejudice against the fucker, but I just don't think it's worth the out and back to see.  I hope no NS race people read this and take offense.  It's so not Agnes or Kelly.

The great part was to hit Kelly with so much daylight.  I hadn't even put my headlamp in my pack so it's good we got back to Clear Lake II in the daylight.  Hey!  Bearded dude is in the same chair.  Oh, he's been out to Clear Lake and back, but we cheer each other.  Brian gets me more hot chocolate.    I see EMT lady and we both celebrate.  Brian, I'm too hot to wear pants, but Rick will kill me if I don't this time.  I so needed them the last time.  Just put them in your pack.  Ah.....I'll drop the rain jacket I've been putting on and off and add the pants instead.  The other rain jacket is fresh.  Perfect!

We headed off for Canadian.  I'm going to break here.  I thought I'd push through to the finish, but it's super hot and humid so I'll put the last 20ish miles for tomorrow.