A Bust

Not Every One Is The Best One

The original plan for the day was to travel to Leadville. A friend of mine would be competing in the Leadville Trail  100 Endurance Race. The 100 stands for 100 miles (and you think I’m crazy!). Competitors follow a series of roads and trails through the mountains around Leadville, the nation’s highest city at 10,152 feet. It is one of several renowned 100 mile races standing with the Hardrock 100 in Silverton, Colorado,  the Western States 100 in California, and the Wasatch Front 100 near Salt Lake City as one of the most difficult physical challeneges around. I’d be playing the role of a pacer, runner/helpers that basically try to keep their companion from dying during the course of the race. When I called another member of the support team to find out about my friend’s progress, I ended up talking directly to my friend. He had dropped out of the race at 40 miles after running 23 miles with crippling foot pain from a case of plantar fasciitis. He was eating pizza and beer. I felt sorry for my friend but a little relieved for myself. I still determined to head out for a run and it went terribly. I left the hotel with the intent to go for a couple hours to the trails that connect Gunnison to Crested Butte. From the beginning my feet felt heavier, my shoes felt thinner, my knees felt achey-er and my lungs felt weaker. Then my mind felt weary too. All the worst questions filled my head. Why are you doing this? What if you’re hurting your self? Will it matter if you stop now? It was late, my plans for the whole day had changed, and I decided to give myself a break. I turned around early and padded back to the hotel. I was disappointed that the run didn’t go as planned, but I knew that the next day would be a fresh start and there was still plenty of time until race day. The next time this happens though I’ll have a new plan. Just lower my head and keep going…