I had two thoughts as I waited patiently for the start of the Elk Valley Ultra. One: It’s going to be a long day. Two: Am I really ready for this? Of course, it’s going to be a LONG day. My computer ate my blog post on last year’s race so you won’t be able to compare notes. Remember this: It was long.
I wasn’t worried about the hiking bits. After all I have been doing a lot of hiking for several months. I was slightly worried about my running volume. I had been barely getting in 50 to 60 kilometres a week since March. Sad really. Sure I wanted to beat last year’s time (Spoiler: I did) but I also wanted to feel stronger.
As I began to trot along the first few kilometres, I shifted my thinking. I knew I could finish within the allotted 13-hour time limit. I tried to drown out the noise of the people around me worrying about cut offs. Who needs other people’s anxiety? I have my own race to worry about.
The first leg of the Elk Valley Ultra is 20.5 kilometres with 1,460 elevation gain. We start climbing around 2.5 kilometres. I knew this was coming so I trotted along trying to calm my nerves and wake up. (Did I mention the race started at 6 a.m.?)
I was overdressed – of course – so I stopped to take off clothing and to catch my breath. I felt pretty good on the first climb through the forest. I won’t lie, it was challenging. But once I got out of the trees and I could see something other than roots, I was rejuvenated.
I chatted quite a bit with a woman from Pincher Creek, who was part of a team. I think this really helped my mental game. When you have someone suffering alongside you on the climbs, it doesn’t seem as bad.
I finished the first leg feeling pretty good. I was about 20 minutes faster than last year. With that being said, I know I can make better time on this leg. I am just thrilled that I was able to shave off some time.
Leg 2 – 16.5 kilometres and 720 metres
I was a little too chatty on this leg. I talked to cyclists, hikers and other races. Not necessarily a bad thing but I think it made the leg feel a lot longer than it should have been.
It’s always tough for me to start running after I go through an aid station. After I took a few minutes at the aid station, I started on this leg. There was no one ahead of me. Pure silence. I seem to do well when I have someone in my sights. I think I walked for a good 10 minutes – and it was very runnable. Oops.
Doug from Lacombe caught up with me and we chatted a bit before he took off on a climb. (I had interviewed him years ago for a story in the paper about a race.) There was a lot more climbing than I remembered from last year on this leg. My legs were OK with it but I felt like I was going so slow.
I was really, really happy to get to the down section. I ran strong down the hills over trees, roots and the what not. I am so pleased that I did not trip and fall once. That’s a big win.
By this time my running poles were annoying the hell out of me. My shoulders were aching from carrying them and switching between hands. Try as I might, I could not collapse them. I was ready to toss them into the woods.
Thankfully at the next aid station, a volunteer graciously helped take them down and stuff them into my hydration pack. Take that, poles.
Leg 3 – 6 kilometres (not sure of the vertical)
I didn’t need the poles for this short leg. It was a loop – so hike up run down sort of thing. I remember last year being freaked out by the Bears in Area signs. Guess what? It’s B.C. there’s bears everywhere.
I hiked and ran strong this short leg. Before I started the leg, I poured some water over my chest. Big mistake. I was starting to chafe under my arms. I would have to deal with it at the next aid station.
I finished Leg 2 in good spirits. I was ready to finish this darn thing. I was starting to feel pretty proud of myself. I wanted to cry. Honestly I didn’t think I would last this long (43 kms) with the amount of running that I had been doing in recent months. I felt like I had already won.
The home stretch – 7 kilometres but really 9 kilometres
I always ask the volunteers at the aid station about the upcoming leg. I needed to mentally prepare for the next bit. I foolishly thought I would be done in about an hour and a bit. It was only 7K with a little climb.
I have to laugh at my racer brain. There was no way I was done in an hour. I think it was more like 1 hour and a half. The last three kilometres TOOK forever. There was a little more climbing than I remembered (again) but I accepted the challenge. It was the last one or two kilometres on that gravel road that kicked me in the butt.
I was feeling pretty good. I had just passed a few people (OK one woman) and I was charging to the finish line. Until I wasn’t.
I dragged my butt across the finish line! I was so happy to be finished. (Did I mention I got my period the day before and I was dealing with cramps and severe bloating the entire race?) I finished in 11 hours, shaving off 30+ minutes from last year.
Can I brag a little without sounding like an idiot? (Can you brag without winning or placing in a race?) I feel so happy with myself – reaching a goal. I have to tell you though. Another racer at the finish line made me pause a bit. He said, you’re just coming in now? I don’t know how you guys stay out there so long.
I’m confident he didn’t mean it as an insult but I felt like I was slapped. I was feeling really good and now I felt stupid. Passing it off as a joke, I said “we back of the pack runners” are trying just as hard as anyone else and left it at that …. I can’t wait to go back next year.
Read more about Elk Valley Ultra in glorious Fernie right here.