Well, I accomplished the D goal. The D goal is to finish. Maybe it ought to be called the F goal given the nature of it. So, yeah, I finished, in a new personal worst on the hill: 5:22 off a 3:15 up and 2:07 down.
Early, even coming out of the Ws, I felt like I was backing off to keep in control more than I should have (but I needed to), and then shortly after that, the twinges of cramps came. I deal with cramps ever year at this race. I get them starting in the back of the knee, climbing into the ball of the hammie, and then wrapping up into the front of the leg as they climb. Typically I will get them toward the top of the climb. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I might not have to deal with them until No Name Creek on the way down. This time they were starting to fire before I got to No Name Creek on the up. Today, whenever I would try to drive, running or hiking hard even, I’d get that seize in the back of the leg going. Mostly in the right leg, but in the left too.
So I underperformed. Disappointing of course as I am pretty confident that my fitness is a helluva lot better than 5:22 (40 minutes slower than last year). But that is what the clock said when I crossed the line. That said, I would not trade a step of the journey for the last 15 weeks for some imagined different result.
… the D goal. Sometimes that is all I got (and sometimes not even that). I’d like to be that guy that has his A game every time, but I have long proven that I am not that reliable. I am gonna go have a beer, let this settle some and muse on what is next. Pikes will of course be a part of that. I did have a thought for a moment that maybe since I laid such a big egg at Pikes this year, maybe it was time for Leadville but I have too much of a love affair with this race’s simple challenge. Go up, come down. As fast as you can.
Hat (beer?) tip to all the folks that had races at Pikes, Leadville – great, good, mediocre or something else. You know how I feel about that Side note, I was going to stay for the awards assembly to recognize those who did well. However I had earned a bit of a pass by not earning an award, and my family had unexpectedly came down to watch the finish (and they waited a bit longer than expected), so I headed to lunch and back to Broomyville with them.
More to come … no doubt I will key out a ton of analysis (perhaps to the point of paralysis on this).
Again my friend, it is days like this that make you a true endurance athlete, not an amateur, but one who completely understands what it means to persevere. Your celebration of good days are short-lived, but you also know how to deal with bad days and move on. At the end of the day you take an honest look at your performance. Bad days bother you, but not for long. You have too much to do. You need to prepare for next time. Like you just told me, the mountain will be there when you return.
ReplyDeleteYup. Just a piece of rock and anything it is above that is what I make it to be. Jim - understand the timing for you stinks on this race but would love to see you out here again. Thanks for the kind words.
DeleteCongrats, George. Character and determination come through adversity. If everything went peachy keen all the time, we'd all get lazy! You've had many awesome performances at PPM and you'll have more in the future. This year fell a bit short of your goals but that's OK. You lived the gift.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, seems there was something in the water this weekend. Everyone I talk to had major cramping issues in their race--me included on Hope Pass.
Wyatt
Just read your report Wyatt. Sorry to hear that you did not have the day you had hoped for, but I hope you landing the big buckle is all the sweeter in light of that.
DeleteLiving the gift - love that.
Congratulations on getting to the finish line. I'm giving you an A for the consistent training and overall dedication to the sport. Rest well. I look forward to reading about the next adventure.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lize! Get that foot well!
DeleteChalk it up to that pair of tights.
ReplyDeleteJV and Homie were clear in that thought as well post race. They clearly said it was now time to retire those tights and if they never saw me in them again, it would still be too soon.
DeleteAgree w/Wyatt. My hamstring started pinging 45 min into Leadville and I was a giant sack of cramps for the rest of the race. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the day - I enjoy your perspective on running and life - because it helps me keep mine. That mental battle is tough when the body ain't working right.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell? 45 minutes? What is that about?
DeleteReally, I didn't have anything like this all year -- except a small sniff of them at BTMR on the down (and nearly done).
You inspire me every day with your commitment to fitness. You're far more committed than I could ever be. Many times "the commit" translates to the results you want. Sometimes you have to celebrate the commit itself. Being all-in matters ... and finishing totally counts. I'm no less impressed by your D goal than your desired goal.
ReplyDeleteIt is tough to accept that the D goal was all I was going to get. Even at the top I was wondering, can I break 5. Then 5:10. Then 5:15. Then 5:30. I can't say that was fun.
DeleteThe good news at Pikes is it is really hard to just quit. Other than the top there is no real way out of there. Thanks for the kind words.
Your "D goal" still better than my PR (that sucks). Don't overanalyze it too much. Maybe it's a sign you should run Leadville next year.
ReplyDeleteI considered Leadville for a bit. But then I hear of the mass confusion with the number of runners, some of the poor organization at aid stations (running out of cups), the zoo of cars ... frankly I have a good date in August ...
DeleteI am not plugged into that whole scene, but it sure seems like Leadville has turned into an easy way for the event folks to make tons of money while selling chances for people to qualify for the Hardrock lottery.
DeleteTraffic flying on the interwebs today that they will go to a lottery next year. I am not sure how that changes the growth problems they have if they lottery in for the same number of people.
DeleteFrankly as long as people continue to line up, pay, and go do the race, LF is getting a message that they are producing a product that people want. This is the case with most races out there ... people grip they are not getting the service they want, or it costs too much or whatever ... but they keep going. Leadville won't really change because they don't need to.
Sorry to hear... but still a good day on the mountain.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter!
DeleteLOL @ Justin's comment.
ReplyDeleteIn situations like this, I think to those 12 year old girls that spend 8 hours a day their entire life to make the Olympic Gymnastic Team, only to lose out during the trials. That's all they've done their whole life, and now life probably feels wasted.
You are lucky that you were healthy enough to get your D goal doing something that is only one small part of your life. Finishing is a lot harder when you know at the very beginning of your day all your other goals are unattainable.
That said, I can bet it burns to hit a time that you could have probably done during a training run last week. Running is crazy how it can be so damned variable like that.
Time to go sign up for some marathons, 50ks, and 50 milers!
mmm ... this morning's breakfast was about getting back to the mile. Sub 5 in the marathon at Pikes and sub 5 in the mile might be a tall order in 2014.
DeleteYeah, it burns a bit ... the weather was so perfect too. But ... moping ain't gonna get me anywhere.
bummer! i was pulling for you. not that it's any consolation, but i'll be looking forward to reading your in-depth analysis of the race. "learning more from failures than successes" by proxy, i guess. take'er easy.
ReplyDeleteP - where you gonna live? If it is in CO, it is time for a beverage.
DeleteThis stings. Though I was happy to FINALLY finish ahead of you, I waited, eagerly anticipating your arrival, hoping that you blazed the descent and would be close behind to fill that last available Masters spot. Was really hoping we could share that podium for the third year in a row. This was not definitely not the scenario I envisioned either and we missed your company yesterday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI know that you will spin this toward the positive, as you have a great perspective on the big picture. You have had some performances on the hill that most of us can only dream of and I know you will have more. This was just a speed bump along the way.
Well, I got sight of those trophies and decided it didn't match my home's decor so I figured it was time to pass. ;)
DeleteGimme a couple of days Jeff and we can get back on Green. I think I need 55 to wrap the 100 for the year.
A huge ton of respect to you GZ - way to finish and not quit. Recover well - you have 364 days to go till the gun goes off again.
ReplyDeleteCraig - awesome run yesterday man. Get that bile thing taken care of once through your pacing obligations and lace em up again!
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