Spoiler alert,
I ran Sinister 7 100 miler in 18:37. Faster than any woman so far, and by a
fair bit. 2 hours 34 minutes actually, and faster than the old 148km course
too. In less than ideal conditions. I know…I’m just as surprised as you are.
And you might say I’m lucky. I wouldn’t disagree, I’m always saying that too.
But when I say that it’s because I really just dislike the notion of having bad
luck and I believe in being positive. So…here is how I set some big scary goals
to be the first place female at my one of my very favourite races and to break
the women’s course record. Oh and I crushed those goals. And in truth luck
really had nothing to do with it.
My day started
out calm. Waking up was easy, breakfast of muesli, almond milk, and banana was
simple and I washed it down with a coffee and a coke. I was relaxed and joking
all morning, as I had been all week. In the past I’ve struggled with pretty
severe anxiety before and even after races, to the point that I get anxious
about getting anxious. Maybe it’s the support system I’ve built up around me,
or a familiarity that’s settled in over my short little racing “career” I’m not
sure. But I think it’s a confidence thing, I’m learning to trust my training,
my planning, and my abilities.
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| The start…hey there’s my buddy Eric in the yellow! |
·
I didn’t feel
overly chatty at the start line. So I didn’t give myself much time just to
stand around, I got there just in time. The crowd started moving and we set off
for the first section of easy ditch and road. Effortless floaty kilometers. Not
thinking about anything but the freshness in the air. I settled in and chatted
easily with a few runners. My usual teasing and making plans for beers at the
finish line. A little trash talking, I couldn’t help myself! I want to publicly
apologize to the random relay runner who I asked if he minded being chicked by
a soloist. I’m sorry, sometimes I think I’m funnier than I actually am. And I
really did like your tights I wasn’t being sarcastic. Actually, maybe I wasn’t
as sorry as I say because I then did it again to my good friend Steve Baker on
Leg 2. Sigh. Sorry Steve.
I had my eye on my watch and the spot I knew
the 1st transition would be as we worked our way up into single
track and trees. Still effortless, I didn’t walk a step on Leg 1. I popped out
at the transition a minute or so ahead of my planned pace. My one man crew,
Ryne Melcher was the first and kind of the only person I really saw there, he
switched out my soft flask filled with Vitargo. I had met Ryne earlier that
spring in France when I’d ran the World Trail Championships in Annecy. Despite
my somewhat mediocre performance there I was beyond excited when he offered to
come out and crew me at Sinister 7. He’s a very accomplished runner and has more
experience crewing than anyone I know. I knew his personality and style of
crewing would suit me and I could learn a lot from him and trust his judgement.
Although I had laughed at him when earlier that week he told me he thought I
could run the race in 18:45. I also admit to rolling my eyes a few times when
he kept telling me to eat but he was so great all day. I have to start off by
giving him a huge amount of credit for making me look good in the transitions
and keeping me on track, it was a game changer.
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| Leg 2 |
Leg 3 was where
I expected it to get warm, and it did. According to my Suunto it reached over
31 on the most exposed section. Before I’d even had a chance to get there
though I felt like I was working, for the first time all day. Nothing
specifically wrong, just a bit tired, almost lightheaded. I don’t know when it
lifted but when I ran passed a handful of relay runners that were walking on
the climbs I knew I was back. So I let myself go and I started to have fun
again. I got to chat with an amazing runner friend, Kendall Barber, and
something about our short conversation made me realize that I was out here in
my element, this is exactly where I belong. It was time to work again. Up the
climb I spotted a few of the male soloists ahead, Eric Reyes, Timo Meyer, &
Ian MacNairn. I realized I still had my hand on the pulse of the front race. I only
mildly questioned what the hell I was doing up there with these big guys but
I’d worry about that later if I needed to. I was taking this one leg at a time
and I was sternly cutting short any thoughts that went past the end of the leg
that I was on. Focus on the present.
As I cruised
into the transition I felt great, like I’d just snuck through hell and made it
though unscathed. Leg 3 is notorious for crushing soloists. I mentioned I had a
bit of a soft spot on that section but I was fine, ready to go. “I took in
around 900 calories on that leg” I proudly announced as I tossed all my empty
gel packets on the ground as proof. Ryne didn’t exactly stop to congratulate
me, he acknowledged it and stuffed more gels in my pack. Okay fine. Time to go.
We went over times and quick updates on what was going on in the field. Only
two men ahead of me and no pressure from the women’s field. I heard it but
didn’t feel any sort of reaction to the news. I felt completely independent.
I was grateful
for the climb up the ski hill at the beginning of the leg. Climbing felt good,
it felt like I was chipping away at some of the elevation on the course while
settling in to a good pace. And somehow it felt restful. I was ready to run
again when the opportunity came. I slowly caught up to Eric Reyes, the 2nd
place soloist. I was happy to see him and we chatted briefly. I told him he was
2nd and he didn’t believe me, said he had ran in with the other guys
and they’d surely gone out ahead. We ran into a water station and while I was
sponging water over my head I asked the volunteers about how many soloists
they’d seen come by. “Just Dave Proctor”, the lady told me. To which I
immediately replied “Oh well no one cares about Dave anyways”. Luckily they
laughed. But Dave, I really meant that at the time!
“See, you are
in second!” I told Eric as I started heading out. “No, now you are!” he shot
back as he followed behind. We went back and forth with each other until the
end of the leg, which was mostly open and runnable from that point. A few kms
before the transition we caught up to a girl not moving well. As I passed I
asked her if she was okay and if she needed anything. “Can you help me with my
shoes? If I bend down I won’t get back up, I’m cramping too bad.” So Eric took
one foot and I the other and we loosened her shoes for her. She was a relay
runner and I was mildly amused that two soloists were down on the ground for
her but it could’ve happened to anyone, we didn’t think twice about being able
to help her. We wished her luck and kept going. Thunder had been a constant
background noise by this point and Crowsnest Mountain was tucked deep into dark
blue grey clouds that just kept getting thicker. That was exactly where we were
headed. This day might change drastically, I thought and I made a note to pick
up a second jacket at the transition.
Like every leg
I had a nice downhill to come into transition so I put a little extra crispness
into my movements, zoomed through, and we got to work. I mentioned the jacket
but Ryne said the rain wouldn’t last, I’d probably be okay. Despite a little
clunkiness in my stride due to my hip flexors tightening up I was still moving
really well and was comfortable with his prediction. The air was still warm and
I had my emergency gear. Sometimes it was just better to get wet. I was out and
running in under two minutes.
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| Leg 5 |
·
END OF LEG 5
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| Ryne at work-Always keeping me on track |
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| End of leg 5 |
·
ON TO LEG 6
Leg 6. I was
ready for it. I’d ran Leg 6 the Sunday before the race and I was glad I did. I
knew exactly what to expect, it was now all just doused in water and heading
into darkness. That was okay, I was focused. Someone mentioned I’d gained time
on Dave on Leg 5 and I guess I wasn’t surprised. But right then I was focused
on chasing the light. I knew I wanted to get over the high point on the course
and down the washed out rock garden of descent before I needed my lamp. I had
ground to cover. Ryne gave me my time goal and I immediately thought it was too
generous but reminded myself that it was ugly out there and 36km is still a
long way. Still, I had it in my mind to better it.
I put work into
the first 10km, ran like I was being chased. The first half of the leg has
pretty much all of the 1100m of climbing on the leg and plenty of rocky wash
outs. Knowing it was going to get colder I was pushing in the calories and
eyeing my pace constantly. It’s giving me a headache recalling the focus I had
through this section! But once I crested that ridge at the highest point in the
course I let out another whoop. It was still light enough to see the
spectacular view and the gnarly downhill just ahead. I felt like I could relax
a little. Still moving well, I ate up the rest of that leg. The slippery
conditions required some patience so I focused on taking care of myself before
the final push. I came in 52 minutes ahead of Ryne’s projected leg time.
 |
| On to leg 6 |
On the surface
I felt calm arriving at the transition for the last time. But my eyes felt a
little too wide, there was an energy and emotion that was threatening to bubble
over and I didn’t know if it would manifest in tears or laughter if I let it
out. The crowd was amazing and overwhelming, I kept hearing that Dave was only
minutes ahead of me. I was surprised…but I kind of wasn’t. I cracked a sugar
free redbull and downed half of it, giggling for no reason. I had to go. Last
year’s winner, Vincent Bouchard, had been close by the transitions all day. He
was crewing for Eric. “Vincent!” I yelled, “I just crushed your time on Leg 6!”
How do I have any friends left?
Ryne gave me 90
minutes to go and said he’d see me at the finish. I knew exactly what was out
there, I’d done this leg a handful of times before. Never in the dark but I
didn’t even notice that anymore. I started the climb, noticing a headlamp and
thinking maybe it could be Dave’s. It was high up on the hill and I felt I had a
lot of work to do to get there. The climb felt good, just longer than expected.
I was passed by a relay runner or two, they were kind enough to offer
encouragement and congratulations. I recognized the turn that ended the climb
and was relieved to start running again. And then immediately regretted it.
It’s not a good race report without some physical struggle, so this short part
was mine. The rocks seemed like impossible obstacles and the grade was too
steep for my body to take at that point. I was openly crying, cursing, knowing
I was slowing on this section, stumbling over every rock. The gritty mud I’d
been carrying from Leg 5&6 dug into my ankles and suddenly my toes were
banged up to the point that I knew I had blood pooling under the nails. I tried
to calm myself, knowing I was reacting too strongly and needed to stay calm, it
would soon get gentler. I could walk it in at this point if I had to. Almost
there, deep breath. I started to pick it back up on the smoother single track
and by the gravel road to the halfway point I was back in rhythm. Another
welcome climb to take the pressure off my hips and feet and I knew the way from
there. Lovely single track. The first sign of town and the turn down onto the
road. Accelerate. Stay smooth. A light bobbed down the road and as I passed it
I realized it was Ryne. I tried to hold back an emotional sob. He recognized me
and started shouting encouragement. I felt the words but they fell without any
real meaning. Eyes ahead. Smooth downhill and a few turns to the finish. I saw
nothing. I felt so much, mostly relief. Definitely pride. I’d accomplished more
than I thought possible that day. I dared to put down some goals that scared
the hell out of me and then trusted myself when I woke up that morning and knew
that day was going to be something special.
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| This picture makes me cringe a bit, it was such a personal moment, I forgot everyone was watching |
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| With my dad and brother at the end. As a born and raised Southern Alberta girl this race was pretty special to me |
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| Finally caught the bugger! |
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| 2015 Canadian 100 mile champions at the awards ceremony |
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