I Met MY Maker on September 1st

World Class Trail in a World Class Location - Meet Your Maker (Whistler, BC)

Meet Your Maker 50 miler is an amazing event in brilliant terrain under management of the best in the business. They've spent themselves in creating an event of truly epic proportions. There's no place like Whistler and when the weather comes together with people of such caliber you can't avoid having one of the best days you've ever had. 

#1 In Your Hearts

It's three weeks later and I'm finally starting to forget the mental anguish I suffered after the 65 km mark. I hated every step of that beautiful rolling section. I cursed aloud as I delved deep into a mind numbing walk-run finish. Anything I climbed that day was hell but the thought of quitting never entered my mind. I know I was trained well and I know ate and drank well because my stomach was in good condition all day and I recovered within two days. Stairs were a non-issue by Monday night. I blame jet lag for a serious state of fatigue but still loved every moment. You runners know how it is to love something you hate momentarily. We covet some level of suffering and hurt. 

Without getting into the details of every turn, every step, every high and every low, I finished 84 km in 10:07 feeling overwhelmingly satisfied. That said, 50 miles is a long bloody way and is currently at the bottom of my "things to do soon" list. I won't be pinning a Meet Your Maker solo bib to my shorts anytime soon but would love to relay in 2014.

Darby Kai Standrick got me through large chunks of the day and I can't say thank you enough. It was a pleasure to run with someone in such a mentally strong place. It's just the beginning for her. Keep an eye that. She's an animal.

Perhaps the most inspiring and nerve racking portion of the day was waiting for James Marshal to finish. I've never know someone to want something so bad as James wanted to finish this thing. Rumors flew that he'd dropped up top but no such luck. He started down Blackcomb and was met by a bike bound Mike Murphy. Just the pick me up he needed to be prodded onward and coached in. Twitter was hard at work with the buzz of James Marshals arrival at the finish line. A little over 14 hours and he arrived. People screaming. His mom crying. Champagne in his hand. It was brilliant. What a fight!

GEAR OF THE DAY

Although I was kitted head to toe in amazing Salomon gear, the Salomon Sense Ultra exceeded all my expectations. The form fitted inner (Endofit) kept my foot snug and comfortable while the sole couldn't falter.  Light as bare feet for climbing and dancing through technical rocky sections and scrub, but also grippy enough and confidence building on the  rocky descents of Whistler.