The Leadville Silver Rush 50 Trail Race (2013) - Part Two

The 2014 Silver Rush Trail Race takes place this weekend and I realized that I had not finished my race report from last year.  Memory fades and my reports are too wordy anyway so I will try to make it brief.

Once I recovered from the fall I resumed a slow run.  I was talked to a few runners as we started the first big climb.  I was able to run with the amazing Oza for a few miles.

I often encounter many Ironman triathletes at ultra-marathons and I talked to a few that day.  The ultra-marathon seems to be the next challenge triathletes feel they need to overcome.  I have not yet encountered an ultra-marathon runner that feels the need to complete a triathlon.  Many trail ultra-marathoners look forward to a river crossing but they abhor the thought of actually swimming.

At 10 miles from the start you reach 12,000 feet.  After a gradual 4 mile run on a paved road you reach the Printer Boy aid station.  I visited the medical tent and they did not seem too impressed with my thumb so I continued on.  The trail continues down into a valley and then it starts another climb back up to 12,000 feet.  Before I had reached 20 miles the winner of the race passes me on his way back.  He was moving so fast and he looked so strong.  He led the race wire to wire, it was not even close.

After I reached the top I could see that the descent looked pretty steep and I was right.  I remember thinking this was going to suck on the way back and I was right.  On the way down to the turn around I saw many friends starting on their way back up.  It lifted my spirits to see so many familiar faces but it also reminded me how far behind I was.

After descending for an hour I reached the turn around aid station.  I was so happy to see Julie.  I told her about my fall.  She at least seemed impressed with my purple thumb.  I grabbed my drop bag and a sandwich.  A wonderful volunteer helped me with my pack and drop bag since my thumb was still throbbing and I was tired.  I moved as quickly as I could out of the aid station.  I much needed kiss from Julie and a hug from Sara and I was on my way.  Our dog Oreo gave me a tentative wag and a look that seemed to show how little she thought of the sleet that started.

A few miles later the sleet stopped and I was climbing back up the mountain.  It was so steep and I was so tired and sore.  I don't remember any altitude issues and my stomach seemed fine but I may not have been eating enough.  I hiked on since running seemed out of the question.  After I reached the top I was able to alternate jogging and walking.  It was starting to cloud up which made running more comfortable.  Down the valley and up the other side.  My friend Trevor caught me at the aid station between the peaks and we ran together for a bit.  He ran on as I slowed to a walk again.  Just goes to show how much better prepared he was for this run.

I continued to run/walk on.  I hoped to see my family again at Printer Boy and sure enough there they were.  My daughter actually jumped up and down as I staggered in.  I was elated to see them.  I grabbed some water and a volunteer made it a point to make sure I had a jacket since it might rain.  The four mile gradual descent on the way out became a soul destroying gradual climb.  It seemed like I would never reach the top.  It was not especially steep but it seemed like I never got any closer.  This was the worst stretch of the race.

Eventually I reached the top of the hill.  This was the last climb.  From here it was 10 miles downhill to the finish.  It looked like I would make the cut off if I just kept moving.  A light rain started and I was a little concerned about the footing.  The intensity of the rain increased but the pitch of the trail decreased so I grew less concerned about the footing.

I continued walking at a brisk pace as the rain grew worse and worse.  I was exerting enough effort to stay warm with the waterproof jacket I wore  All I thought about was finishing ahead of the cut off.  When I reached the last aid station I had 6 miles to go.  A number of people were huddling under the tents.  I knew if I stopped for even an instant my race was over.  I simply grabbed some cookies and moved on.  Thunder crashed overhead and the rain grew worse.  I tried to avoid the stream and deeper puddles.  I started to look for pairs of animals.  The rain flowed into a stream bed a few yards below me.  Eventually, it seemed that the entire area was becoming a giant puddle.

At one point Ken Clouber drove by and asked some other runners and I if we wanted a ride.  We politely refused and trudged on.  Fortunately I have the Garmin 910 which was designed for use in Ironman triathlons.  It was waterproof and it had a 20 hour battery life.  I looked at my watch and ran the calculations.  I would probably make it but it would be close.  The sun started to come out and the rain started to let up.  I could hear the announcer at the finish line.  He saw me and yelled that I had to hurry.  My family saw me too.  I summoned the effort to run down the hill, across the floating red carpet and under the arch.  I was done!

I finished in 13:39, 21 minutes under the cut off.  They ran out of medals but they gave me a travel mug.  Julie led me to a HazMat truck someone had the inspiration to bring.  The truck had a large chamber filled with warm air and shivering finishers.  I took a few moments to recover and my daughter drove me back to our condo.

It was a long, tough day but it will be one of my favorite races of all time because of the scenery and the sense of accomplishment.  I am sometimes asked what I would do differently and I say, "Train better".  I hope to do more trail ultras in the near future and I am working to build my strength and fitness through consistency and training with Revolution Running.