It wasn't pretty, but .... Peterson Ridge Rumble (almost) 40 miler

Last year, I fell in love with the Peterson Ridge Rumble 40 miler.  I had such a great race there and was on a great runner's high for quite a while afterwards.  When I was finally given the okay to go back to running by my Physical Therapist (in mid-November), I made a quick calculation and decided that sure, Peterson would be doable this year.  Four months would be plenty of time to train.

For the most part, my knee has been feeling pretty good.  Not 100%, but not bad enough for me to get worried.  On the other hand, I've had a few other issues pop up, which limited my training some, but I had a few good 4 hour runs in the woods, and Peterson is an "easy" 40, so last Sunday I found myself once again starting down the dirt trails and roads near Sisters High School.  I normally have three goals for a race - the great day (in this case, matching my previous PRR time of 6:43, about 10 minutes per mile), the good day (under 7 hours), and the hey, at least I came out here and finished day.

The first five miles were flat and a bit uphill.  I was running with Mac Smith.  It was his first 40 and he wanted to run at about the pace I ran last year.  We were definitely running faster.  I tried to slow up a bit, but was feeling good, and my heart rate seemed fine, so I thought that I'd just go with it.  ...and then I hit the first downhill.  Not even a significant downhill, but enough that both quads cramped up until they felt like tiny little knotted balls.  Well, this wouldn't do.

I pulled off the trail, stretched a bit.  Yep, still hurt.  A lot.  Shuffled a bit more, pulled off the trail, stretched.  Yep, still cramped, still in pain.  ugh.  At the first aid station I grabbed an S-cap and piece of banana, then slowly jogged forward.   By the time I made it to the next aid station (mile 9ish?  another S-cap and piece of orange) the quads had started to relax and I was able to run a bit more normally.  I'd lost a lot of time by now, but figured if I kept up with the calories and salt, I should be able to come in at about 7 hours.

The day was gorgeous.  Blue skies, high 60's (maybe low 70's?).  Amazing views of the Cascades.  I kept trying to relax into the run, enjoy the views, breathe in the wonderful pines, enjoy the simplicity of putting one foot in front of another.  I did have moments like that -- but unfortunately this was a race more about perseverance. 

I felt the first wave of nausea around mile 18  - or 19?  - maybe 20?  (the awesome volunteers working the aid stations weren't entirely sure what distance they were at, and everyone's Garmins were giving different readings).  I could not figure out what was wrong with me.  Sure, I was a bit undertrained, but I didn't expect it to affect me this way.  Maybe not enough calories for breakfast?  ...but I had some gel from my flask every 30 minutes and was eating decently at the aid stations - amazing how good peanut M and Ms, fritos, pb and j, and cold boiled potatoes dipped in salt (which I now understand the appeal of) can taste - so seemed to be getting in quite a few calories.  I was drinking regularly from my pack (Nuun), taking S-caps, and had at least one if not a few small cups of Coke at each aid station, but maybe I still wasn't getting enough water and electrolytes? 

So, instead of focusing on finishing 40 miles, I thought about getting to the next aid station.  Then the next, ....  and then it wouldn't be too long until I got to the finish, right?  I was so happy to see Caballo, Osito, and Jan at the second-to-last aid station.  So grateful for not just the Nuun refill, cups of coke, and S-caps, but the smiles and encouragement.  Just about everyone around me was suffering a bit, so there was camaraderie around that.  I finally hit the long, mostly downhill stretch to the finish and managed to pick up my pace a bit.  Sooner than I expected, I saw the trail sign marking 1 mile to the High School, then was 'running' through the parking lot and unto the track.  Amazingly, the man who finished just ahead of me actually jumped the hurdle in the middle of the track.  I almost tripped just watching him.  I crossed the finish line in 6:53:28.  Okay, slower than last year, but still under 7:00.  ....and then Ardilla pointed out that the course was actually short - only 37.5 miles.  oh.  Well, hey, that's still 11 minutes/mile on average.  Not too bad considering last September I thought I may have to go under the knife.

Many thanks to all my friends who made me smile despite the suffering, especially Locadork (who was the 1st place woman!) for looking after me at the end and Ardilla for sending her after me in the locker room with a can of soda.

Next up, the Mac 50km in May.  Then Siskiyou Out-Back 50km in July, Where's Waldo 100km in August, then - I'm getting married!  It's going to be a good summer.