Rocky Raccoon 100 Race Recap

I am going to keep this one short since it didn’t turn out that well for me.  No need to rehash bad things, right? 

Race morning it rained its ass off.  The trails were very muddy in a lot of sections.  It produced the kind of mud that tries to pull your shoes off as you run/walk through it. My first 3 loops were fairly uneventful.  I was making good time while keeping a very slow pace.  My HR was in the 165-180 range, high, but expected.  

I picked up Runlong as my pacer for the 4th and 5th laps at mile 60.  Just shortly after that I hit a low point were I started walking a lot.  And by walking, I mean a very slow 25+ minute mile pace, but I was still moving forward.   After about a mile or so of that, I snapped out of it and started running again.  I ran all the downs and most of the flats, leaving the walking to the up hills.  

We hit the 72 mile aid station just before 3am.  I ran most of the mile going into this aid station feeling strong. Little did I know.  We preplanned what needed to be done to get in and out of the aid station quickly.  More water for the pack, nuun, and new batteries for all the lights.  After all task had been completed, we started to head out.  That is when everything came undone.  I started to get dizzy.  I felt like I was going to pass out.  I started to breath erratically. I was breathing very fast and not able to catch my breath which was strange since we had been standing around getting our shit together for about 5-10 minutes. It looked like some kind of asthma attack.  I have never had asthma in my entire life!  I have been told that the pneumonia most likely was the cause of it.  I proceded to sit down at the aid station to catch my breath.  It took me two hours to get my breathing under control.  I even got to spend some time in the medical tent. That was the end of my race. 

I hated that I didn’t make it, but I will be back and stronger than ever!!  I will get that buckle! 

I would like to thank lifewithkim, runlong, runwithrach, and Hannah for a wonderful weekend!  And congrats to Kim and Rach on their first Ultra!! 

39 Notes/ Hide

  1. theyellowgatejourney said: Great job, knowledge gained for the next attack at this distance. Dude you pushed through so much adversity to even start, most people would have bowed out at the start (including me).
  2. moremuscles said: Great job, nonetheless, and excited to see what’s to come in the future!
  3. pattidoestris said: You made the right call. Glad you’re ok.
  4. swimbikeren said: So proud of you for knowing your limits and pushing when you could. There’s always another race and you’ll crush the next one. It was awesome to get to meet you as well!
  5. hinukshines said: You did great… and you had to stop, which was harder than keeping going, but it was definitely the right thing to do :)
  6. arestlessmind said: Even if you didn’t make it, you came so far!!! I know that sans illness you will definitely be able to make it next time!
  7. robbsrunning said: Damn though, so inspirational. The thought of going 100 miles for me seems so far away, but despite the hardship and trials, I look up to you and want to push myself as far as I can go. You did awesome, and yes one day you will get that buckle!!
  8. lostweightgainedlove said: What you did is nothing short of amazing.
  9. sleeplessinokc said: Glad you’re ok! You’ll get it next year! :) we’ll all be cheering you on! :)
  10. lifechangeneededaisle3 said: Great job!! Next year will be your year!
  11. lifewithkim reblogged this from livelongtrainhard and added:
    saw livelongtrainhard, he...help his lungs any. He made
  12. brooksylite said: I have no doubt you’ll get that buckle, pneumonia doesn’t just go away.
  13. livelongtrainhard posted this