Stormy~50 Miles in Verse

Disappointed, but so so proud.
Straight-legged limp, under the banner, into the crowd.

It started at dawn,
On a campground type lawn.

We left to the left after a loud go!
What was to come nobody could know.

Filled up with hope and happy,
Under the bridge up to Perth was so snappy.

7.7 km, I was right on time,
8 k to go 'fore Dreschel and my first taste of Sublime (Guu)

Down the hatch went the coco mango,
And off I went, Man, GO!

Up the steep ashphalt and past Alice lake,
Letchford floated by, he was indeed on the make.

Bob MacIntosh, Dead End Loop, Rob's and Cliff's, Track's from Hell,
How was I doing?, I felt incredibly well.

Pickles under a forested Edith lake tent,
Turned the wrong way, what had it meant?

Was this an Omen? No way!

Mike's Loop up and up and down and down,
softy, loamy ground of brown.

Roller Coaster and back to Perth,
Looking for Lara who was to be waiting with our birth.

Arrived spot on a planned nine,
This plan I had, was definitely mine.

I planned to run half at 10k per hour,
And the final 40 k were mine to devour.

Below Quest and 'long the mulch up G'baldi Road,
A nice slow tick, turnin' over in easy, auto-mode.

Past Aid 5 the road's a kick in the face,
I knew to expect this from a Stormy-type race.

Ouch, I thought, my knee!,
Road running...it just isn't me.

The first signs of pain on my right,
I edged by Mr. Weins on Pseudo Tsuga, but not out of sight.

Nipples felt raw by here,
But away went the pain with everyone's cheer.

Trail Mix team was just up ahead,
Helping me they were, by supplying my med (Body glide and IBU)

with the Powerhouse came a second wind,
I'd seen some happy faces and the gas pedal I pinned.

Run, run, run - outta' liquid by tower,
Expected an aid station, ended up in a glower.

My thirsty head to the ground,
Creek to my left I heard a strange sound (the sounds of Eric Lorenz' melodic voice)

One foot,
two foot,
Three foot,
Four

Lava flow Lookout,

My knee wanted no more.

Straight-legged jog, Ring Creek was no rip,
On my way down, feeling like a crip.

Make it down the plunge, I thought, to catch a ride in a car,
No god dam way, I'd come far, far too far.

A walk in the woods, how nice.
Screw this, I was mad, it just would not suffice.

I had a goal and now it was shot,
Quitting the race though, would not be so hot.

Powerhouse two and my knees were positively blown,
Grab another hand-held and off with a moan.

Through Crumpit Woods they go by me, one by one,
Morale was so low, I was frustrated and done.

At least I'll finish I say all proud,
Deeper inside another voice shouts out more loud,

It's so disappointed in me.
It's not the image I imaged would be.

I struggle and struggle and struggle and struggle...
Down on the flats and then run again.

It get's flat after the climbers car park.
I'd finish under 9, it would not be dark.

Disappointed, but so so proud.
Straight-legged limp, under the finish banner, into the crowd.

A proud moment at 8:59
I crossed over that campground lawn finish line.

For me it might be awhile,
but for sure, I'll tackle another 50 Mile.

I.T. is what it is

Just a quick recap of my Stormy experience yesterday. The whole story to come.

I had planned to run 10k an hour to the half way and turn it up from there. I did exactly that and it was perfect. I couldn't believe how perfect. I was strong everywhere and felt amazing. I was very, very ready for this. I ran everything with a nice even pace and as I crested Lava Flow hill, at about the 6 hours 20 mark, the outsides of my knees felt a bit tight, maybe about 62 km's. The Ring Creek Rip was tough, but manageable, until the Powerhouse Plunge. There was no way in hell my right knee was going to let me run this thing. Having screamed down the Plunge on a mountain bike during Test of Metal several times, I was extremely frustrated to have to move so slowly. Once at the bottom I began a slow straight-legged jog to the Powerhouse where I considered pulling out and riding back to the finish with Lara and my little girl. I hit that point at 7 hours 6 minutes and knew I couldn't quit after coming 69 km's already, even if it meant walking the last 11 km. I actually thought I might be able to run it in closer to eight hours, but quickly I knew sub-nine hours was more realistic.

I walked all of Crumpit Woods, Three Virgins, Seven Stitches, and Summer's Eve with the company of a good friend and struggled to watch so many 50 milers pass me by. It hurt a lot. Once I hit the climbers parking lot I was off and running with the straight legs again. I had 12 minutes to finish under nine hours. I was moving relatively quickly and rolled under the finish banner at 8:59: 30.

Today my I.T. is tight, my legs feel great, and it won't be long before I run again. Trans Rockies is in two weeks and I am so ready. On another note, so is my teammate, Duncan Coo, who, along with the rest of his relay team, broke the course record for Stormy. Amazing performance Trail Mix.

Stormy Pre-Cap

T - 2 days 21 hours.

Stormy has finally started knocking on my door step and the question comes...

Am I ready?

I feel ready. I've put in the time. I know the course. I know my pacing. I know my nutrition. I have Katie D., the Princess in Training , crewing for me, and the Lazy Trail Runner thinks he'll be awake to drive me up to Squamish Sunday morning.

So, am I really ready? I really have no idea. Who ever does until the race begins and ends? It's a whole lot easier to ask later, "was I ready?"

All I can do now is give myself the pep talk I'd otherwise give someone else had I been on the sidelines.

I'd say...

• Go get'em son!
  
• This ones yours.
  
• You've trained for this and your ready to face the miles, the adversity, and the competition.
• It's your day.
  
• Have fun out there and enjoy the seconds, minutes, and hours - good or bad.
  
• There will be tough times, but dig deep.
  
• Know it's a finite process, and that it will eventually be over.
  
• Embrace the highs and minimize the lows by reminding yourself of all the shitty things you've overcome in the past. If that doesn't work, be glad you didn't register for the 100 miler.

I do have a race plan and goal times, but I'm not really one to talk about it before hand. It's not like a secret weapon or something, it's just more of a fluid concept that is difficult to describe in detail and commit to 100%. I suppose if I have to describe the plan I'd say...

RUN NOW!

P.S. Now accepting last minute advice or topics to ponder while I'm on my feet.