Deep thoughts from the braided - back of the pack marmot. To sacrifice your race or not, that is the question.

I knew going into the half marathon Summer Roundup at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on July 8th I would be cutting the 3 ½ hour cut off very close. It’s a beautiful course with some nice hills and not so nice hills. I had been on the course the previous two weekends so I knew exactly where to hit it and where to power hike plus it’s one of my favorite parks to run in. I work hard on my training but I never know what body will show up on race day. July 8th I felt awesome with no back or hamstring issues – it was going to be an awesome day on the trails. I felt great on the Blackmer Loop and headed out for the Talons.

Being a back of the packer gives you a lot of time to think to yourself and do math – I do a lot of math on runs! I think about why I sign up for races that I know I’ll be pushing the cut off. I like to be tested but being out of commission for 12 weeks really messed with my training and my head. Going up the Talons I felt really great. Doing the math of how many miles and time I had left, I knew I’d be close but would make the cutoff. As I was cruising down I ran into a friend that was hobbling very cautiously. I always carry mustard and pickle juice for cramping. She wasn’t cramping she thought she broke her foot. What would you do? I’m a back of the packer that will barely make the cutoff – I stopped and walked down a couple of miles with her. Her and another injured runner were brought down by the park folks in their mule. I knew helping her would take me over cutoff but it really didn’t hit me until the volunteers at the last aid station said I could take the shorter route because the finish line was already packed up. I took the regular race route and was pretty wound up by the time I finished. I made a choice to stay with an injured runner and then got upset because I came in over cutoff. I never looked at results, I think I have a DNF but I’m more upset with myself for having a minor breakdown at the finish line and acting like an ass because of a choice I made. I have since apologized to the finish line folks but that was a definite low moment.

I was going to make the Barr Trail Mountain Race the following weekend my race this year. I had DNF’d the BTMR the previous two years by 14 minutes and then 3 minutes. It sucks to DNF a race that you push yourself through. I thought this would be the year I finally officially finished the race. After the Summer Roundup I decided I would volunteer this year – no last minute sign up. Guess what - I had a blast. I wasn’t a nervous wreck and I sat at the finish line with Luann entering races bib numbers and cheering my friends on.
Another thought – the mountains and trails are my happy place, it’s where I decompress. If I’m going to get so worked up at a race then I need to rewind and go back to why I do this. Training for fun and volunteering at more races is in my future. Best of both worlds. I can still  train with my friends on the mountains but then be out there cheering them on at races.

I have two big races coming up; last leg of the Triple Crown – Pikes Peak Ascent and then Imogene Pass in September. After that it will be more time on the bike for more duathlons and working on my swimming to possibly do a tri. So many adventures not enough time. Sometimes a little breakdown is what’s needed to re-think what you really enjoy.