I didn't know much about this race heading into it since it was a last minute decision. I was originally scheduled to run the Black Canyon 50k being put on by Aravaipa Running but my grandma passed away and I was unable to attend the BC50k. It just so happened that Aravaipa Running was putting on the Elephant Mountain Trail Run 50k at Cave Creek, AZ the very next weekend. I did what any runner who was all trained up with nowhere to go does...I signed up.
I was emotionally drained from my grandma passing away yet strangely at the same time I felt that I needed to go to this race. I knew that it was what my grandma would have wanted. She was always very supportive of my running and races. For whatever reason, I did not show up at this starting line with any time or place goals. This race had become a training run for my upcoming 50 miler and a test to see how my IT bands were holding up now that I have been doing consistent strength training. (Some of you might remember that my IT bands gave me hell at McDowell Frenzy.) I planned on running race pace for the first 3/4 of the race and then kicking it up notch for the last 1/4 of the race.
I had a chance to visit with my friend, Amanda, before I warmed up. It is always so nice to see her!! At 7:00 a.m. sharp the air horn sounded and off we went. The trails were very runnable for the first 5 miles or so. After that as we headed towards Spurs Cross they became more technical but not horrible. Everywhere I looked the view was absolutely stunning. Hill after hill of Saguaro Cacti and all kinds of desert vegetation. The sky was beautiful with a light cloud cover and there was a light breeze. That cloud cover and breeze were a blessing throughout the day as it warmed up.
I was trying out a new strategy with my hydration during a race and it was working beautifully. I was in and out of the aid stations within 30 seconds. I was almost to the Spurs Cross aid station at mile 10.7 when the lead runners started passing us on the out and back. I was loving this part of the course because it was similar to what I train on. Moderately technical with hills and I was able to maintain a steady strong pace.
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One of the many beautiful views. Photo Credit: Aravaipa Running |
At mile 15 I was cruising along eating my snack when all of a sudden I was airborne. Literally. I couldn't stop myself from falling so I braced for impact, hit the ground and skidded along the trail on my hands, belly and knees. I laid there stunned for a second and did a quick systems check. Then I started laughing until I realized that I had dropped my snack. Now I was mad!! It was on like Donkey Kong if I couldn't find my snack! Thankfully I was able to locate it, dust it off and started gnawing on it again as I motored on. I did have to stop once to tend to my bloody knees and hands but nothing too bad.
Around mile 20, something I had eaten wasn't settling well with my stomach...at all. I felt like someone was punching me in the gut and I was becoming more and more nauseated. I took some Tums and focused on making it to the next aid station to figure out my next move. I continued along until I made it to the Start/Finish aid station. I was still making good time but my stomach was hurting so bad. I grabbed a cup of Ginger Ale, a few pieces of ginger, and sat down to figure out my next move. I had three options.
1. Quit? Nope.
2. Proceed with my original plan of pushing hard on that last 12km and risk blowing chunks and having to walk a long miserable walk to the finish line and potentially finish with a finish time that I would be displeased with. And for what?
3. Continue on at a conservative pace and finish with a time that I would be okay with.
I chose #3. I waited about 10 minutes until my belly felt good enough to get moving again and I made my way out onto my last loop. I ended up running with some other runners, Krista and Kevin, for that last loop. I had a great time out there with them. It was a fun way to finish the race. I finished with a time of 6:34:26 which is a time that I am okay with. I really enjoyed this course and I would like to come back again next year.
After the race I spent the rest of the afternoon cheering in the remaining runners with my mom who was volunteering at the finish line. I LOVE having my mom there. She is so kind to everyone and her smile is contagious. When I had come into the Start/Finish area with my stomach issues before my last loop she knew to let me figure out what I wanted to do on my own but also made sure that I knew that she was there if I needed her. The thing is...I think that she made every single runner that she had any kind of interaction with that day feel special. She is cool like that.
Positives from the race:
-beautiful course
-everyone is so supportive of each other out there
-met some nice people
-IT bands and legs felt great
-got my first bad fall out of the way
-was able to calmly figure out how to deal with the stomach issue and move on
Negative from the race:
-a rock is still embedded in my hand
There really is no negative. It was a great day!!
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My playground for the day. |
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