No build up to what happened over the weekend, the title says it
all, so you can stop read now.
If you are still reading, you
are probably interested in the details of what happened, let's
started off with what I said in last week's post. I said I'd reveal
why I decided to run Knee Knacker and since things didn't go as planned this
weekend, I might as well let the cat out of the bag. If you
completed Knee Knacker, Broken Goat & Buckin Hell you get a shirt
that said Buck Me This Goat is Knackered. Things I do just for a shirt. As you can tell my the
title of this post, I missed the cutoff at Broken Goat at the 38k by
2 minutes.
The weekend started on Friday morning, I left home just before nine to make the six-ish hour journey to Red Mountain. I don't have much to say about the drive but Crazy D (thanks Chang for that name) may or may not have came out to play, only some of you have met Crazy D, if you've never meet him consider yourself lucky.
I got in early with lots of time to relax and finish converting the donkey into the toy-camper. I pick up my race kit and got ready to relax when I see I Tesla pull into the camp and I figured there is only one ultra runner I know with that car. Kyle & Brie pulled up next to me and set up their camp. After the race meeting we all called it an early night.
Saturday morning, trouble started right at the beginning where I couldn't go number two before the race, I did not like that feeling and to be honest I really didn't have my heart in the race at this moment. We were bused to the start line and we had a long time before start and I was glad I picked my heavier jacket to keep me warn until the start. I was still very lightweight, only 2 hand-helds and my waist pack. The race started and of course I placed myself at the very back, jacket came off very quickly as I started to heat up. My first hour was just getting the body and mind warmed up for the day ahead. And about hour and a half I got the call of nature and made my way off the trail, instantly I felt better and lighter.
I have to say the trails very runnable but I power hiked most of trails. I enjoyed the scenery thinking I wish I had my camera on me. I was making good estimates on times to get to the different peaks and got into the first aid-station probably about 15-20 minutes before my very rough plan. From here it was a 6k out and back before almost all downhill to the 38k mark for the 2PM cutoff. I think I did the out and back in around 1:15 and was getting ready for the downhill. I think this is where things started to go wrong for me, I probably spent a little too much time at the aid-station. It was a short climb up to the next peak before a downhill similar like Mountain Hwy and I started off strong but by the time the thunder & hail hit, I felt like a winy little baby in my head and by the time it cleared by right ankle and both knees were beginning to hurt. I don't think it was real pain but just mentally sort of giving up. Lucky for me Francine caught up to me and let me chase her all the way to the base of Red Mountain. I might have been able to push a little harder on the downhill but I liked the company and already decided whatever happens will happen now. As we both were keeping an eye on the time, we got into the aid-station asking if we'd made the cut off. Nope sorry 2 minutes over. I made the case that I'm running all 3 races with hopes to continue because I'm pretty sure I'd be able to the last 12k in less then 3 hours but was rejected. At the end I felt it was bitter-sweet ending to my Buck Me This Goat is Knackered attempt because I felt I didn't want it bad enough to make the cut off and was slightly happy to be heading home early for tomorrow's adventure.
I got back to the car, finally got to use my DIY shower to rinse myself off, had some food, left a note for Kyle & Brie and headed home. And yes it was a fun drive home. I was home by 9:30ish and had the car completely unloaded within 30 minutes, laundry loaded and ordered some Boston Pizza, wings & a flat-bread. I was in bed by mid-night with my alarm set for 5AM to run Club FatAss's Free Knicker, and I had points to earn so I couldn't miss it.
Sunday morning, I was up just after five and feeling good, packed a full pack with all bad weather Fat Dog gear with enough food for a 12-13 hour day. I have to thank Sean for allowing me to do an early start because I figured it's going to be a long day. I was on the trail about 15 minutes before 7 and got into a slow but steady hike up to Black Mountain.
My plan was simple, I was planning on staying ahead of everyone as long as possible and cutting sections of the trail out, like the dreaded section between Grouse & Skyline, as well as some of the Baden Powell around Quarry Rock, using Cove Runner to miss most of the tourists. As I was getting closer to the boulder field just below Eagle Bluffs, I came across the Donut Rock trail that I have always wanted to take. I think on the map it showed I'd cut a couple kms from the route so I figured I'd get a huge lead on the rest of the gang. Well it might have been less distance but time wise it took me much longer then if I stayed on the Baden Powell.
It started off okay but quickly because a vertical climb, with some route finding. I made one wrong turn that cost me about 15-20 minutes, a hard river crossing (I was trying to keep my shoes dry, and was successful) all before it became a very narrow and steep trail. At a couple points I had to throw my poles over to the top, hope they didn't fall back down and go into four wheel drive mode. I also bashed my shins a few times and hit my head on some logs. By the time I connected again with Baden Powell I figured I wouldn't be finished until well after 9 and was ready to throw in the towel and head back, but I at least wanted finally bag Black for the Bagger Challenge, which I am not doing well in. I got to Black and let Nancy (who was nice enough to set up an aid-station at Cleveland Dam) know my plan, I had a rest and was getting ready to head back down when I hear familiar voices. Kyndra, Meg, Eric and Sean were all just getting to Black, and I got to enjoy the fruits of the first cache with them and decided to follow them down to Cleveland Dam before calling it quits. After we were on Hollyburn, wherever they took a break I keep moving in hopes not to slow them down too much and I got into Cleveland Dam 7 hours after I started.
Even though the weekend didn't turn out as planned I couldn't have been happier with the day and decision to take Donut Rock since it was a new trail and an adventure. I am slightly disappointed with my performance at Broken Goat, if only I ran a bit more of the course. But at the end of the weekend I had fun and it's that's what it's all about. I still managed over half my attempted distance and elevation gain, 61k with a little over 3000m of gain, target was 90-95k with 4800m. And hopefully I got this year's DNF in the bag so the next few races go well.
On a side note, for those who have been wondering about my Fat Dog attempt, I made the heart breaking decision on Monday to drop down to the 70miler, knowing that I don't have the climbing ability I had last time I attempted it I thought this was the wise decision.
The weekend started on Friday morning, I left home just before nine to make the six-ish hour journey to Red Mountain. I don't have much to say about the drive but Crazy D (thanks Chang for that name) may or may not have came out to play, only some of you have met Crazy D, if you've never meet him consider yourself lucky.
I got in early with lots of time to relax and finish converting the donkey into the toy-camper. I pick up my race kit and got ready to relax when I see I Tesla pull into the camp and I figured there is only one ultra runner I know with that car. Kyle & Brie pulled up next to me and set up their camp. After the race meeting we all called it an early night.
Saturday morning, trouble started right at the beginning where I couldn't go number two before the race, I did not like that feeling and to be honest I really didn't have my heart in the race at this moment. We were bused to the start line and we had a long time before start and I was glad I picked my heavier jacket to keep me warn until the start. I was still very lightweight, only 2 hand-helds and my waist pack. The race started and of course I placed myself at the very back, jacket came off very quickly as I started to heat up. My first hour was just getting the body and mind warmed up for the day ahead. And about hour and a half I got the call of nature and made my way off the trail, instantly I felt better and lighter.
I have to say the trails very runnable but I power hiked most of trails. I enjoyed the scenery thinking I wish I had my camera on me. I was making good estimates on times to get to the different peaks and got into the first aid-station probably about 15-20 minutes before my very rough plan. From here it was a 6k out and back before almost all downhill to the 38k mark for the 2PM cutoff. I think I did the out and back in around 1:15 and was getting ready for the downhill. I think this is where things started to go wrong for me, I probably spent a little too much time at the aid-station. It was a short climb up to the next peak before a downhill similar like Mountain Hwy and I started off strong but by the time the thunder & hail hit, I felt like a winy little baby in my head and by the time it cleared by right ankle and both knees were beginning to hurt. I don't think it was real pain but just mentally sort of giving up. Lucky for me Francine caught up to me and let me chase her all the way to the base of Red Mountain. I might have been able to push a little harder on the downhill but I liked the company and already decided whatever happens will happen now. As we both were keeping an eye on the time, we got into the aid-station asking if we'd made the cut off. Nope sorry 2 minutes over. I made the case that I'm running all 3 races with hopes to continue because I'm pretty sure I'd be able to the last 12k in less then 3 hours but was rejected. At the end I felt it was bitter-sweet ending to my Buck Me This Goat is Knackered attempt because I felt I didn't want it bad enough to make the cut off and was slightly happy to be heading home early for tomorrow's adventure.
I got back to the car, finally got to use my DIY shower to rinse myself off, had some food, left a note for Kyle & Brie and headed home. And yes it was a fun drive home. I was home by 9:30ish and had the car completely unloaded within 30 minutes, laundry loaded and ordered some Boston Pizza, wings & a flat-bread. I was in bed by mid-night with my alarm set for 5AM to run Club FatAss's Free Knicker, and I had points to earn so I couldn't miss it.
Sunday morning, I was up just after five and feeling good, packed a full pack with all bad weather Fat Dog gear with enough food for a 12-13 hour day. I have to thank Sean for allowing me to do an early start because I figured it's going to be a long day. I was on the trail about 15 minutes before 7 and got into a slow but steady hike up to Black Mountain.
My plan was simple, I was planning on staying ahead of everyone as long as possible and cutting sections of the trail out, like the dreaded section between Grouse & Skyline, as well as some of the Baden Powell around Quarry Rock, using Cove Runner to miss most of the tourists. As I was getting closer to the boulder field just below Eagle Bluffs, I came across the Donut Rock trail that I have always wanted to take. I think on the map it showed I'd cut a couple kms from the route so I figured I'd get a huge lead on the rest of the gang. Well it might have been less distance but time wise it took me much longer then if I stayed on the Baden Powell.
It started off okay but quickly because a vertical climb, with some route finding. I made one wrong turn that cost me about 15-20 minutes, a hard river crossing (I was trying to keep my shoes dry, and was successful) all before it became a very narrow and steep trail. At a couple points I had to throw my poles over to the top, hope they didn't fall back down and go into four wheel drive mode. I also bashed my shins a few times and hit my head on some logs. By the time I connected again with Baden Powell I figured I wouldn't be finished until well after 9 and was ready to throw in the towel and head back, but I at least wanted finally bag Black for the Bagger Challenge, which I am not doing well in. I got to Black and let Nancy (who was nice enough to set up an aid-station at Cleveland Dam) know my plan, I had a rest and was getting ready to head back down when I hear familiar voices. Kyndra, Meg, Eric and Sean were all just getting to Black, and I got to enjoy the fruits of the first cache with them and decided to follow them down to Cleveland Dam before calling it quits. After we were on Hollyburn, wherever they took a break I keep moving in hopes not to slow them down too much and I got into Cleveland Dam 7 hours after I started.
Even though the weekend didn't turn out as planned I couldn't have been happier with the day and decision to take Donut Rock since it was a new trail and an adventure. I am slightly disappointed with my performance at Broken Goat, if only I ran a bit more of the course. But at the end of the weekend I had fun and it's that's what it's all about. I still managed over half my attempted distance and elevation gain, 61k with a little over 3000m of gain, target was 90-95k with 4800m. And hopefully I got this year's DNF in the bag so the next few races go well.
On a side note, for those who have been wondering about my Fat Dog attempt, I made the heart breaking decision on Monday to drop down to the 70miler, knowing that I don't have the climbing ability I had last time I attempted it I thought this was the wise decision.
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