RRR - The Redemption Tour - part II

Does anyone sleep good the night before an ultra? Well, not this someone, not ever, so I wasn't too worried about it. I just hoped I did flop too much that Rick was able to get some sleep. It's very hard on him to have me out there. 

I had bought a cheeseburger on my way home (back to the Shack) the night before. It's my go-to breakfast before a long run. I didn't realize it had onions (lots). I pealed them of but it still was strongly flavored. I was able to get probably two thirds down before I tossed it. I did eat another piece of whole wheat bread.

I dressed, made sure my hydration vest was packed correctly and drank coffee until it was time to head over to the start. Rick was going to drop Tanya, Patrick, and me then drive the car back to the condo and walk over to see us go. 

Last year, the early start was probably twice or even three times that of this year. Including Patrick, I think we were under 10. One of the other runners was amazed that I had a pacer; they hadn't read the race info. Sigh, very few do. It's a frustration for race directors.  I told Fred, the race director, that Patrick was going to pace for 100 miles. Without a second's hesitation, Fred said, "If he does that, I'll give him a buckle!" Whoohoo!!!!

Did I mention the weather yet? All week it looked like there could be the isolated t-storms and hail again like last year.  I wasn't looking forward to it but felt like I had packed better for what we experienced. Mute point; the weather was perfect! Bright sunshine and in the 40s. Of course that's how we started last year, but this would hold. I'm pretty sure I was pushing down my sleeves before I reached the halfway point of the first climb. Going up generates lots of warm.

At the first aid station, Patrick showed that he was a great pacer even if it was his first time. He had asked what I needed as we approached. He skillfully retrieved and filled my empty flasks from the back of my vest while I had the front ones that I used on the climb topped off. There were pancakes! I grabbed two halves and downed them with some water. Thanks, Tammy, for the cup since I left mine at home. Turns out most aid stations weren't cupless, but I was happy to save a cup where I could.

The next 5ish miles should have been very familiar, but I saw them last year in heavy hail and mist. The trails were definitely new to me and so much more runnable. When we got to the turn off to Fish Creek Falls, I reminded him one of the the caveats to pacing me was that he couldn't laugh at me (outwardly) on this down. I remembered it as treacherous. I'd almost lost one of my poles over the edge last year. Well, I might have still been awkward and funny in this stretch, but without the wetness from the rain, it was definitely easier to handle. Also the rocky treacherous stretch wasn't the entire down like I remembered.

We were happy that Bucky hadn't caught us yet. The plan was for him to slowly real us in, maybe by Long Lake, 24 miles in. I felt good running into Fish Creek aid station. Our people were there but I didn't want anything more than Tailwind. Hell yeah!  Heading back out and up.

It wasn't long till we ran into Bucky. Hey, slow down!! He assured us he was doing good and was to plan. We accepted that and continued with a smile. Patrick was with me for all the good miles!  He'd never been to Colorado before so all the cool running miles were fun to see through his eyes, but he also is a climber. As he eyed the terrain, I learned about the different kinds of climbing and saw the terrain through his climbing eyes.

We ran on, sometimes power walking through terrain that I thought would make me fall. Patrick would tell me each mile where we banked lots of time. We were doing good. After we left Summit aid station, we started to wonder when Bucky would catch us. We were starting to worry about him. Patrick tried to text Bucky and then call. Nothing. It could be his phone was in air plane mode or not getting a signal. We decided we'd wait a little longer and try again. Nothing. I decided to try Rick. I think we both finally got through around the same time. Bucky was not good, not at all. We were both so sad for him. And then, I realized that would mean no buckle for Patrick. He said that didn't matter at all; he was here for Bucky, after all.

Did I call Mindy or she me? She suggested that Patrick just keep going with me when we get to Dry Lake instead of me picking her up. No. She and Tanya should not come all this way again and not get to pace. We did reach a compromise; I'd keep Patrick to Olympian instead of Dry Lake to give him 50 miles. Squirrel would do 50 to 70, where Tanya would take over as planned.

Periodically, Patrick or I would sigh about Bucky, but we were still enjoying our run. We both said it was all type 1 fun! When we pulled into Dry Lake, both Rick and Mindy said they'd never seen me look so good this far into a race before (well, it was just mile 44). Still, that was good to hear even though I sort of knew it. I chose to stay in my shorts, tee, and sleeves. This may also have been the aid station where Tammy and I would start leap frogging each other. I think she was doing the segments slightly faster than me, but I was in the aid station for less time. At least that's what I think I remember.

Olympian is a different kind of aid station. It's right in town and inside a building. Only the runner and pacer can go in. Crew can see you outside, but they don't feel it's a big enough space for everyone to be in. I had a fairly well-stocked drop bag here and the stuff Rick brought in my portable drop bag. Seems to me, first time through, I didn't change much. It was also right around then I started to get grumpy. Patrick had happy me; Mindy got bitchy me. Is that because I knew could be bitchy with Mindy or was it just that time?

We joined Tammy and Kenny (she picked him up for the Olympian Loop) on the climb out of Olympian. We'd heard from Jedi, Craig, and PT what a bitch it was. I'm pretty sure that was due to the slippery, wet conditions that year. This was just a drag since it wasn't pretty (in the dark) and just a long up on a pretty stupid dirt road. Tammy and Kenny were moving well. We probably could have stayed with them longer, but I felt like truly doing my own pace and not spreading my grump. I'd save that all for Mindy. lol. 

She swears I wasn't as bad as I remember. She did her best to chatter and cheer. I think shortly after the climb I started to get cold. Shit. Why didn't I put on warm stuff? Well, I had my rain jacket and some gloves with latex gloves inside. That helped. It was somewhere in here that my lower right side of my back first complained. Then I complained to Mindy about my stomach. She said it was her fault for talking about pizza, but soon I was doing some hurling. It was pretty much all liquid. I had been sticking with almost all tailwind since food sounded horrible. Oh, and of course, having hot chocolate any place I could get it.

I don't think it was Mindy mentioning pizza. The tailwind had been very inconsistently mixed over the course. Some was super concentrated and some had me wondering if they'd given me water by accident. I think on this stretch, it was a mix that wasn't absorbing like it should so I just needed to purge some of the liquid hanging out in my stomach. After 3 or 4 pukes, I seemed to reset just fine. But I was freezing!! Mindy helped me get into  my space poncho (space blanket material made into a poncho). Ask Mindy about the headlamp on the poncho hood. I guess I was a sight. It did the trick though. I warmed fairly fast. The only issue was the long straws from my hydration flasks were getting wrapped up in the mylar.  It became very hard to get sips. Sigh. 

We came back to Olympian, but found the course very confusing and poorly marked trying to get back to the aid station. We added a little distance, but finally got it figured out. Mindy may or may not have spoken sternly to another runner who led us astray at first.

One nice feature of this aid station was that I could head to the ladies' room to change. I retrieved my warm tights, my long sleeved TMR shirt and a heavy Sports Hill top to go over that. I also made sure to pick up my new Walmart mittens (it seems a last minute walmart purchase is necessary for every ultra). All changed, we looked for food I might want. Hot chocolate!!! Hmm, saltines, that sounded smart and promising.

We sat next to Tammy. Was it here that she really started complaining about her feet? The trails were very mean to feet. I commiserated. Was it here that Tammy said that she wanted to drop, but Kenny wouldn't let her. Kenny's an asshole. This made me smile because I can't imagine anyone telling Tammy what she can and cannot do. But it worked for her; she was continuing. 

Rick was standing at the window looking in. He looked a little lost somehow. I wished he could come in, but I was being taken care of. I think it might have been now that Mindy tried to get me to take an Advil. I think I was complaining about my back more. I said after I ate more saltines. She tried to suggest, too. Her methods cracked Tammy up. It was like she was my pusher. One will be fine.

I'm not sure if we left first or Tammy, but we'd be with her again at Dry Lake either way. Just about 7 miles to Dry Lake. We'd have the coldest temperatures of the race, but we'd also get the sunrise! Mindy said she no longer had bitchy me. I do remember my spirits rising after leaving Olympian and rising even more with the sun. Somehow, the 60 miles are never my friend.

This is a good place for a break.  More to come.