Following quite closely on the heels of the Scotiabank Half was the second event of the 5 Peaks racing series for 2008. Originally scheduled for a different location, this event was instead held at Golden Ears, as the original location still had far to much snow (yes snow in June) for the event to be safe.
Once again, Greg and Clara ventured out to the wilds of Vancouver's suburbia. It was a beautiful day, with bright sun and temperatures that were climbing into the mid 20's. That might have been a problem for a road race, but for a trail race through such dense forest as is available at Golden Ears, there is very little direct heat. Unlike our first Golden Ears outing earlier this year, we arrived with plenty of time to spare. Clara set up at a picnic bench and I found my way to the starting line. Clara was able to snap a few pics of the start of the race as well as some nice views of Alouette Lake while I was out hoofing. I will be popping a link into this blog to those pics once I get a chance to do so.
The race started well and by now the route was feeling a bit familiar! The path was fairly gentle at first but when we crossed the road that leads into the park, things got steeper. For several kilometres I ended up running next to a British lady who seemed to be keeping a good pace. We even did a bit of chatting while leaping over rocks and roots. We parted when the course split between Enduro and Sport, and I was VERY CONFIDENT this time that I selected the correct route. I wished my companion well on her Sport run. She in turn marveled at the type of people who would volunteer to run the extra distance.
Some nice up and down bits came next, so I was bobbing along the path at a good pace, noticing that though the forest may keep the air temperature a few degrees cooler than would be otherwise in direct sun, the humidity levels were a bit much. The air felt close and heavy, which is not a pleasant sensation. I noticed that there were not nearly as many flying bugs to swallow along the way as there are on some of the trails I have run for training, so that was a relief. Swallowing bugs is a great way to supplement your protein intake and it surely takes your mind off of any stress or strain the run may be having on your lower body.
Then I got to the Incline Trail, and as its name implies, it sorta kinda goes up. Very steeply up. After the race I learned that many folks end up walking this bit, at least the very last bit of it, but I was walking for most of the way. Only one other person passed me on the ascent, so that felt kinda good. At the top of this trail the sun was blazing through a break in the trees so we were greeted with warm air and two course marshalls who assured us that the remaining distance was mostly downhill.
Then I went downhill. Here is where I have some problems. A lot of trail runners just let loose and all but tumble down any descent. I have this deep inhibition against doing that. Maybe I just haven't learned to let go, but I just cannot let myself just fly down a trail. The good bit of this is that the chances to do a face plant are reduced. The bad bit of this is that I end up going fairly slowly and get passed by a lot of people. Now I do not mind if I get passed by people, but I want to find a reasonably safe bit to either step out onto as they pass or squish to the right when the path opens up a bit so that they can pass on the left. Unfortunately, not everyone is patient enough to wait for those golden opportunities. So on my way down from the top of the Incline Trail, I did a lot of squishing and stepping aside as the route is quite rough and twisty. If there is anything I need to work on in trail running, it is this aversion to down.
Eventually the course flattened out and led back across the road to where the race finish area is. The course took a longer route than outbound, so it took a while to complete this part. I came across one lady (very fit and trim!) being attended to by a first aid person and from the glimpses I had it looked like she had twisted her ankle badly enough to stop racing. The look of pain on her face was not a comforting site; however, the fact that she was being attended by someone with first aid equipment WAS comforting.
Now this should have been an omen.
I was running the last 2 kilometres of the event when I came across a very flat, wide and even section of the trail. Well, finally, a place where I can look ahead instead of down. A moment or two to collect thoughts and prepare for the final section of the race.
The tranquility was shattered as my left ankle collapsed into the smallest of sinkholes possible in the fine gravelly covering of the path, my forward momentum carrying me onto my right foot and lifting my twisted left ankle up and away. Somehow, and this is really something that should have been caught on video, I managed to hop three or four steps on my right foot as the following went through my mind:
- @#!!#*$
- wow, this has just got to be my first sports injury ever. Cool!
- frick, I just got my first sports injury ever
- I wonder how I will get back to the finish line
- I'm glad I saw a first aid person nearby
- what is the wife going to say about this
in roughly that order. I tentatively set down my left foot and was surprised to find that it would bear weight. Phew! I could stand on both legs. Then a took a very hesitant step. The left ankle registered some displeasure at this but it was bearable. What was I to do next? Of course, finish the race.
I walked about half a kilometre with no ill effect. A few folks passed by me and offered encouragement but I was not about to engage them in a discussion of ankle management so I just said thanks. Then I figured what the heck, I'll try a gentle run. So I ran very slowly for a while, but it was clear that this was not the best therapy for the ankle. Deciding that I should save the running bits for the last few 100 metres, I walked most of the way to the finish line, taking on a half decent pace for the last bit. I crossed the finish line and saw to my amazement that I had completed the 16 km course in just over 2 hours. Not bad for being injured and for what was officially my first enduro length trail race. Once I stopped forward movement however, it was clear that my ankle was telling me that enough was enough. I walked over to Clara and informed her of my misadventure and we both inspected the swollen ankle - time for some icing! I went over to the medical tent, pointed to my ankle and said "Ow." The first aid person wrapped an ice pack around my ankle and secured it with some tape. Nothing poking through and nothing too bruised or purple (yet), so things could have been worse. I then hopped over to the food tent to get some fruit and water to snack on. As I was wandering around munching I noticed my name was listed on the results board with about 10 other people. I looked closely at the list and saw that the names were the winners of the random draw. Figuring I had won maybe a t-shirt or a few gels, I hopped over to the announcer's tent and told the folks there that my name was on the random draw list. After some looking about I was presented with a small white box. The box was labeled with the Suunto logo. I had won a heart rate monitor.
So through no skill of my own and while injured I managed to score a great prize at one of my first trail races. I thanked the folks at the tent and hopped back to Clara to show her my new toy. We unpacked the box to find a shiny new, umm, pink, HRM and chest strap. So, here was the dilemma. Do I go back and ask for a more macho version of the HRM or, being quite happy with my Polar HRM and its footpod distance measuring attachment, perhaps this could end up being an excellent pressie for pace bunny (Clara said that she had no need for an HRM)! Figuring that it is always better to err on the positive side of karma, I selected the latter option.
Lessons learned at this trail race
- No matter how straight, wide and flat the trail appears, NEVER take your eyes off the trail
- Always check the random draw list for your name
- Even pink HRMs have their uses
Pace bunny was very surprised and delighted with her pink pressie when I gave it to her a few days after the race.
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