If you
want to know about the Mogollon Monster 100 Mile Trail Race look here. In short, it's one hell of
a tough race and in its 5-year history, only a few men have gone sub 24 hours
whilst ladies course record stands at a little over 26 hours. An old friend of
mine that's a keen mountaineer and has done some crazy adventures in their
lives tackled it a couple of years ago - even they described it as “a tough one”
where the terrain is “ridiculously
steep and loose-rock-kind-of technical”
So why on
earth would I even entertain the idea of something so difficult, especially
when my running strengths don't include climbs?
It's that
thousand-dollar question .... why?! Running Friends will know why - we like to
challenge ourselves, we like to see what we're capable of, we want to know how
far we can push ourselves both mentally and physically. I know I can run 100
miles, I know I can run for 24 hours, but would I be able to do it on what's
considered to be one of the hardest 100-mile courses in the US? How would I
cope with over 22,000 ft of steep 35 to 45% graded ups and downs that are so
rocky, you can't really run them? How would it feel running at almost 8,000 ft
on the Mogollon Rim? How would I cope running through the forest at night with
minimal marking and trusting my judgement as to which way I should go when the
trail seems to disappear on the rocky terrain? More importantly, would I freak
out if I saw a big, furry sasquatch lurking in the trees waiting to pounce on
some poor, unsuspecting runner passing by?
For me
personally, the appeal of these types of races is addictive and I know that if
I can get through it in one piece, it'll make me a stronger person in the real
world.
Before the Race
Back in
January, I was invited back onto the Aravaipa Running Racing Team. It is such
an honour to wear their shirt and to promote trail running in both the Phoenix
area and further afield. I hadn't really planned my racing calendar at the time
but I knew for sure that the Mogollon Monster would be an A Race for me - with
9 months preparation time, even in the Phoenix heat, I felt it was ample time
to get into the best shape possible for what I hoped would be a good race.
Leading
up to the Mog 100, I had some good race results including a decent marathon in
San Diego and unlike last year, I was coping with the desert heat and training
was going well. Knowing the Mog 100 was hilly and technical, I tried to run as
many hilly and rocky trails as possible in and around Phoenix to help me to
prepare for the race. My climbing was getting stronger, and whilst I was never
anywhere close to a female version of a Killian Journet, through the wonders of
Strava I could see myself improving on the climbs in the local area.
A month
before the race, we took some vacation. Andy's parents were visiting the US for
a month and we were taking some time off to head to Wyoming for the eclipse
before doing the personal grand tour of the Western USA. We saw some amazing
sights and they were truly blown away by the sheer beauty and variety of
landscape in America. 6 states and over 5000 miles later, and they'd still only
seen a small portion of this wonderful country!
Being so
close to my main A race, it was vital that I kept up with my training. Sitting
in a car travelling for near on 3 weeks did cause some weakness in my back,
hips and glutes but thanks to the wonderful Mackenzie and her most excellent
sports massages, the creams and groans from the road were ironed out and I was
feeling pretty good.
I did
some amazing runs whilst out in Utah and even got to spend some run miles with
my favourite furry boy Wilson, and when I could, I was still running the hills
in preparation for Mogollon.
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| Running in Utah |
 |
| Running in Utah |
But the
lead up wasn't without some hiccups. During an early morning smoky run in
Visalia CA 2 weeks before race day, I took a tumble on the road resulting in
scratched and bruised arms and yet another injury to my right knee. The knee
would start to heal, but then the dogs would knock the scab off and for the
next week it bled and weeped on and off whilst trying to heal.
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| Another nasty fall on the right knee! |
In
addition, my crew extraordinaire Andy tripped and hurt his ankle quite badly
and then popped his back just a couple of days before. Would he be ok to crew
me for over 24 hours in that state?
My two
wonderful pacers also worried me. My coach Adam had once again offered to pace
me, but he had ran a 12 hour race a couple of weeks earlier, covering 67 miles
which meant those miles were still in his legs. Then my friend Kristina came
down with a knee injury a few days prior which put doubt on her availability -
it looked like I'd be crewing myself and relying on my own motivational words
in my head for the vast duration of the race. I'd done plenty of races under my
own steam and I was pretty sure I would be ok this time if folks couldn't make
it - my biggest concern was getting lost in the night hours. I'd been up to the
Rim on training runs and got lost in broad daylight - gawd help me if I ended
up on my own in the dark!
As it
turned out, Andy's back behaved itself, Kristina' s knee caused no problems,
Adam recovered remarkably quickly, and we had the added bonus of our friends
Leo and Scott joining us from Calgary for the adventure. Fingers crossed, it
was going to be an awesome weekend :)
RACE DAY
Usually I
hate early starts for running but a 6am start time seemed far more reasonable
for this race, especially as we'd rented a house just 5 minutes from the start
line.
I was up
at 5am and managed to eat a full bowl if porridge and a banana as well as
downing some tea and coffee. Oddly enough, I wasn't feeling nervous and I
didn't know why. In all honesty, I think it was because I felt like the underdog.
I knew there was competition and figured that a top 5 finish in around 28 hours
seemed possible - anything quicker or higher up the field was a bonus.
I had
looked at the entry list and already knew the ones to watch. A lady in her 20's
had entered the race and she was based in Colorado which brought with it the
benefits of youth, gorgeous mountains and altitude. I'd also done a little bit
of internet stalking - she was fast!
Then
there was fellow team mate Suzy Kramer. Suzy had ran the Bigfoot 200 a month
earlier where she placed 2nd, and whilst one could argue that she may not have
recovered, I believed that the training for Bigfoot had put her in perfect
stead for a good race half that distance. Suzy is also a much better climber
than I am - add to that her years of experience and her intimate knowledge of
the Mogollon course (she's done this race twice before), she was also on my top
3 list as ones to watch.
Then
there was Constance and Honey both of which I met on a couple of the race
training runs. They may not have been as fast but they are consistent and were
very good climbers - I always believe than a consistent pace wins the race and
they too were on my look out list.
So, I
guess to some degree I did and didn't feel pressure - some folks thought the
race was mine before we had even started which brings that pressure of
expectation from others. The good news was that I had no pressure from myself. Sure,
I had a goal time, but I didn't know the course (I'd seen just 30 miles of it)
and had no idea how steep or rocky the climbs were and therefore no idea how to
pace myself. My main goal was to just keep moving forward and to keep eating
and drinking - if I got that right, then anything could happen.
The other
thing that kind if helped was that due to having visitors for the past month, I
hadn't really been able to get into my own headspace to overthink things too
much. I'd done a tough race plan a few days earlier, I'd prepared my drop bags
on the Thursday evening without much if a strategy, a d I turned up on race day
feeling physically prepared but in some ways totally disorganized. I even forgot
to check-in on race morning because I was still trying to figure out how I was
going to tackle things - thankfully Jubilee and Hayley checked I was there
within minutes if the start and I felt a right plonker forgetting to do it!
But I was
there, and as the national anthem played before the start, I got that familiar
feeling of anticipation and was starting to get a little emotional.
As it
ended, I gave Andy a huge hug and commented to him once again that I had no
idea how to tackle this and to just keep me fuelled and keep me moving whenever
he saw me. I told him to expect me when he sees me and that whatever happened,
I would be ok.
On that
note, we were off and the Mogollon Monster 100 miler had begun.
START TO DICKERSON FLATS - 5.6 miles
The sun
was just coming up as we made our way up the trail and the temperature was just
perfect. I was surprised at how quickly some folks had set off - there were
lots of miles and lots of hills ahead, yet some had gone off at what seemed
like a 10k pace rather than a hundred miler!
I had no
intentions of going off too fast, and although I saw Suzy and her friend Brad
disappearing up the trail together, I was careful not to get sucked into the
race this early on.
I'd made
the decision to keep my breathing easy and my heart rate low rather than trying
to stick to a specific pace. The terrain would dictate my pace and I wasn't
prepared to burn myself out by trying to run 10-minute miles when I knew there
was a pretty good rocky climb coming up in the next couple of miles.
This section
of the course I was familiar with - the training run back in July had taken in
this segment and I knew exactly what was coming. Right from the get go the
trail was climbing, steady at first as it wound through the trees, then
gradually more steeply as we approached Donahue before we made a left turn to
follow the steep, windy, rocky trail that would take us to our first climb up
the Rim.
 |
| The first of many climbs up the Mogollon Rim ! |
It was
early in the race but I was feeling ok and although quite a few people overtook
me I was making steady progress up the climb. In the distance, we could
hear the elk bugling to each other across the forest - it was such an Erie
sound but also quite beautiful, and I found myself beaming as I listened to
their call and took in the views around me.
Before I
knew it, we were running down the dirt forest road and the first aid station at
Dickerson Flats. Even though we were only 6 miles into the race, I stopped
briefly to take a gel and consumed some oranges before saying a cheery goodbye
to the volunteers and making my way to Turkey Springs.
There was
no sign of Suzie and no sign of any other ladies close by. It had taken around
1 and a quarter hour to get here, I was feeling good and feeling relaxed.
DICKERSON
TO GERONIMO - 4.4 miles, 10.3 miles total
As I left
the aid station, I immediately saw the wooden sign for Turkey Springs. Back in
August during the training run, I had missed this turning so hadn't yet had the
pleasure of experiencing the joy of running down here. I'd heard that it was
steep and extremely rocky, not runnable in the slightest unless you're feeling
reckless or suicidal, so I didn't really know what to expect.
Leo and I
had by now caught up with each other and as we headed out on the trail through
the trees, it didn't seem too bad.
We were
running without too many issues but then a half mile later or so, the trees
cleared a d we were greeted by the most amazing views of the Mogollon Rim.
The trail
started to descend and as it did so it became far rockier and much steeper. Low
brush was all around us and although the course was flagged, there were
sections where it was difficult to identify the trail and we took a wrong
turn. I'm usually a reckless downhill runner but I found myself walking and
with every step, my feet would slide and I wouldn't have a proper grip. Leo
offered me a pole to help with my balance but I'm a stubborn old fool and like
to do things the hard way.
I've no
idea how long it took us to pick our way down Turkey Springs - the trail would
smooth out only to turn rocky again a few strides later, but eventually we
seemed to hit the forest floor and after a couple of stream crossings and some
far gentler ups and downs, we ran into Geronimo Aid Station where Andy would be
waiting.
GERONIMO
TO WASHINGTON PARK - 9.8 Miles segment, 20.1 miles total
Shortly
before approaching Geronimo Aid Station, a runner passed me and said hello. It
looked like a man from behind - politically correct or not, he had very hairy
legs and the build of a man - except when they had said hello, they had sounded
like a lady as they moved swiftly away from me on the trail.
Coming
into Geronimo, the first thing I did was scout the gathering of people to see
if I could spot Andy. He was there, and I promptly started to refuel on some
jelly sweets and a coffee as well as a few other bits and bobs to keep my
energy levels up. Mr or Mrs was just across the way from me, and I stared and
them with absolutely no shame trying to figure out whether there really was
another lady alongside me. The more I stared and the more I listened, I
realised that it was a man and the relief I felt was immense. Considering we
were only 10 miles into the race, it was a silly reaction but if nothing else
it proved that I was feeling competitive and was unwilling to relinquish my
current position easily.
Andy was
fantastic in making sure I ate and drank but didn't faff around too much, and
after around 5 minutes I was already making my way up the Highline Trail which
would take me to Washington Park where I would once again see Andy.
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Geronimo Aid Station and Andy making sure I was eating and drinking
PC: Scott |
The
Highline Trail is very pretty and was a pleasure to run in the daylight. The
views were exceptional and although there were some rocky sections that were
impossible to run at a decent pace, there were also smoother sections where I
could make up some time.
A few of
the guys had started up the trail at the same time, but after a couple of miles
we'd split and I found myself running on my own. I was still feeling pretty
good especially after a good feed at the aid station, but I was starting to
feel some bruising in my big toes from the ups and downs and I found I was
altering my gait to compensate. I was also starting to tighten a little bit in
my glutes which was affecting my stride and I felt the need to have a good
stretch to loosen things up again.
The Elk
were still calling to each other in the distance and the temperature had
started to rise - some sections of the Highline Trail were quite exposed and as
we ran over the red rocks, I could feel the heat intensifying. I was taking a
gel now and then to keep the energy levels up but now it felt like I needed to
drink more. I was sweating like crazy and so took a salt pill just to keep
cramps and other issues at bay.
I was
really enjoying my run along this trail and with each step I knew I was making
steady progress.
I'd spent
a considerable length of time running on my own but within a couple of miles of
the aid station at Washington Park, I saw a lady ahead of me skipping over the
rocks and looking good.
There was only one lady it could be - it was Suzy
and she was looking good. It was far too early in the race to start the chase
so I settled back and tried to maintain my composure and kept my pace
consistent.
Around 10
or 15 mins later, I'd caught her up and I felt awful going past. We said a
friendly hello to each other and as I focused on the trail ahead, I started to
move away and open a gap. My big toes were my now very sore and every little
downhill was causing me some discomfort. Trying to control the minor pain and
contemplating whether I should change my shoes at the next aid station or not
took my mind off the running and shortly afterwards, I couldn't see Suzie and
seemed to be motoring.
Another
painful, rocky downhill ensued and then we hit a dirt road. There was no sight
or sound of the aid station but I knew it must be close. I started down the
road, spotted a sign for Washington Park and caught up another chap. But
something didn't seem right. We'd ran down the road for a couple of minutes
when we realised we'd missed the trail turning we'd been warned not to miss.
Bollocks! We now had to run back up the road and find the correct route. I was
stupidly frustrated. I'd taken the lead only to lose it a few minutes later
because of my mistake - how dumb could I be?!
We headed
back up when the other guy said we were going the wrong way again but my gut
instinct said no and I stubbornly told him he was wrong. He turned around again
to head in the opposite direction whilst I hesitated - nope, this time I was
following my instinct - back up I went and sure enough I spotted the black and
red polka dot tape on a bush alongside a fence.
I knew by
now that I had slipped back into second place. It was ok though - we were only
20 miles in. Had it been at 80 or 90 miles I would have crumbled but I still
had a long way to go and I was sure not to panic or let it get to me.
The last
couple of miles into Washington Park seemed to go on forever. The trail
followed a little ridge and just seemed to veer away from where I thought the
aid station should be. I was eager to get into the aid station - I needed fuel
and I wanted to change my shoes - another 80 miles of my big toes being bashed
with every step was an absolute no no, and I was hoping that Andy would be
there to help me out.
The single-track
trail finally ended and after a half mile or so on a wider track and a couple
of stream crossing, I finally ran in to the aid station and thankfully Andy was
there.
 |
Where's Andy??!!
PC: Scott |
Washington
Park to Houston Brothers - 6.5 miles, 26.6 miles total
Andy was
quick to give me food when I landed at Washington Park and I guzzled down some
onion crisps, Jaffa Cakes, Jelly Sweets and some porridge. I hadn't realised
how hungry I was and it all tasted amazing. I also downed a coffee and some
ginger ale, determined to get as many calories inside of me as possible.
My toes
and feet were quite sore by now from the rocky terrain and I desperately needed
to change my shoes. I was gutted about this - my Saucony Peregrines were the
most comfy, cushioned, snug fitting trail shoes I had ever worn and were ideal
for the race, but I needed some space around my big toes and so grudgingly
swapped them out for my Inov8s. Andy's back was still giving him grief and he'd
left my spares in the truck a couple of minutes down the road so Norm ran
down to fetch them for me whilst I refilled my bladder and covered my toes with
some new skin to stop them blistering any further.
Suzie had
been at the aid station as I ran in and asked how she had ended up in the aid
station before me. I briefly explained my error and she gave me a huge
reassuring hug - that was the last I saw of Suzie for quite some time after
that.
Heading
out of Washington Park, I knew once again what was coming - the dreaded climb
up the powerlines which was something like a 45% grade and completely
unrunnable due to how technical it was. It was also about a mile or so long and
was relentless! As I made my way up that hill, everybody seemed to be on their
hands and knees, going two steps forward and three back with every step they
took.
 |
| That climb!!!! |
It seemed
to take forever before I crested the summit and hit the forest road which we
would now follow for 4 miles or so to Houston Brothers. Even the forest road
was far from flat but it did give a smoother surface and a good opportunity to
make up for some lost time. I ran pretty much most of that dirt road, taking in
lung fulls of dust every time a car drove by and coughing like I was on 20
ciggies a day! The views from up here were amazing and with the lack of shade,
it was getting a little toasty. You could still see some of the fire damage
caused a few months ago but otherwise there were pine trees everywhere and it
really was gorgeous.
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| Houston Brothers Turning |
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| Beautiful Rim Country |
It didn't
take too long before we reached Houston Brothers and made a left turn into the
forest and shortly after we were greeted by the cheerful volunteers at the aid
station.
Houston
Brothers to Pinchot Cabin - 7.5 miles, 34.1 miles in total
I fuelled
up once again at Houston Brothers making use of the goodies available at the aid
station which included bean wraps, jelly sweets and some orange and watermelon.
I was trying to get solids in me as much as possible but trying to avoid the
vomiting which usually occurred during these kinds of races. Thankfully as yet,
I had not experienced any nausea and I was eating well although it wasn't
really settling my hunger.
I really
like the Houston Brothers Trail. It starts with some ups and downs through the
trees, some sections of which are overgrown with lush, green grass which felt
quite refreshing on the legs. After a while, it flattens out and opens up
before passing through some beautiful meadows. For this entire section, I was
running well and making good progress and I was kind of hoping that with the
pace I was doing, I would catch Suzie again before we arrived back at
Washington Park where I would be picking up my first pacer, my good friend
Kristina.
I was
getting a little tight and some mild cramping in my glutes at this stage - the
steep climbs and dodging rocks were starting to take their toll, but I put the
discomfort to the back of my mind and pushed onwards, taking in the beauty of
the forest around me. The next time I passed through here, it would be dark so
I wanted to take in what I could about the course whilst I had the change.
I was
still knocking out some good, consistent pacing at this point and I was still
on target for my average 4 miles an hour that I was hoping to maintain if
possible. Sure, I was starting to feel some tiredness but it was now that I
needed to focus on getting some food inside of me. My stomach was starting to
cramp and I knew that I needed to eat - if I didn't, it would balloon profusely
and be a discomfort within the next hour or so.
I made substantial
progress on this section and before I knew it, I'd arrived at the forest trail
that would take us to the next aid station. The problem was there was a guy
just ahead of me and when we reached the trail junction, there were flags in
both directions. He went straight ahead and once again I hesitated. I was pretty
sure that we were meant to go left so I quickly grabbed the race directions out
of my backpack to check. I was right, but by the time I realised, he was too
far away and I was unable to call him back.
Feeling a
little guilty at not being able to call the guy back, I made my way up the
small hill and in to the next aid station - Pinchot Cabin. There were drop bags
here and I couldn't wait to grab some of my own food. I was so hungry that my
tummy was rumbling and I knew that if I didn't eat, it wouldn't be long before
I was flaking out.
The aid
station staff were fabulous, refilling my bladder and making sure that I had
everything that I needed. I think it was at this point that Leo caught me again
and we ended up leaving the aid station pretty much together. It was good to
see Leo and I was glad to see that he was having what appeared to be a great
race so far, but for me I still had a job to do - I didn't know how far ahead
Suzie was, nor did I know how close behind the chasing lady could be. I had
everything to run for and I just had to keep going.
Pinchot
Cabin to Washing Park - 9.2 miles, 43.3 miles in total
Heading
out on the Fred Haught Trail, the food I had just eaten was already starting to
digest and I was getting serious cramping in my stomach. I didn't feel sick but
I could feel all the trapped gas building up with nowhere to go. Whenever I
tried to run, the pressure on my stomach was intense and I found that I had to
release the strap on my backpack to allow space for my stomach to expand.
I was
running with Leo for a couple of miles and he was moving well, and although my
mind and legs were willing to keep up, my tummy was having other ideas. There
was no way I could stick with him - my stomach now looked like it had a
football inside and it was causing me intense pain, and I watched Leo disappear
into the distance, his poles clicking away on the ground as he did so.
I
resorted to walking and running, thankful that my walk is quite quick, but I
was also extremely frustrated that I couldn't run. I again knew this section of
the course and I knew that it was perfectly runnable and an excellent place to
make up some time, but I was in agony. It was also a pretty trail and back in
August, we'd had several stream crossings to contend with. It was much drier
today though and with the missing streams, it looked different and unfamiliar
but certainly no less beautiful.
 |
| No water on race day! |
Despite my walking, the time passed by quickly and I realised that I would
shortly be arriving at the General Springs Cabin - just a little more flatter
running along the fern lined trail before a slight climb and then I'd be pretty
much at the powerlines again. My stomach was still feeling bad but I had by now
started to pass wind and at one point, I felt relieved to dive in a bush and do
what I needed to do. I'd been feeling a little sorry for myself up until then
and having seen a couple walking along the trail with their two small dogs, I
got all emotional. I asked if their dogs were friendly and then spent 5 minutes
snuggling those dogs and having a cry. The elderly couple were wonderful and
they gave me lots of encouragement which got me going again - they even asked
if they could take a picture because they thought I looked amazing!
Oddly enough, they gave me the boost I needed and I started to motor again. I
started the rocky climb up to General Springs and I was surprised to see that
Leo was just ahead of me on the switchbacks. I had run/walked so much that I
thought by now he would have been miles ahead so I was pleasantly surprised and
somewhat encouraged by the fact that I had gained on him again.
Hitting the powerlines again, I had somehow got back into my groove. Yes, I was
hurting, yes, I was tired, but I was all set to go and determined to keep
pushing. My stomach was no longer giving me jip and I was feeling relatively
good. I also felt enlightened because I knew that at my next pass through
Washington Park, I would be picking up Kristina and from then onwards to the finish
line, I would have company.
If running up the powerlines was hard, running down was even worse. No matter
where you put your feet, the ground moves and with the gradient it was so easy
to slide down the hill further than intended and end up with some injury. I
picked my way down tentatively - at this stage I really didn't want to fall as
I felt like my race was about to start properly, and I wanted to give it
everything I had.
As I was heading down, a couple of guys on the up commented that the leading
lady was only a few minutes ahead of me - had I really closed the gap on Suzie
again? I hadn't seen her for what seemed like hours and I had mixed feelings
about catching her now - as soon as I made that move to the front, the pressure
was on me to maintain it. It was an exciting but daunting prospect - could I
really be in with a chance of winning the Mogollon Monster 100 miler? I tried
not to get carried away with the thought but there was a glimmer of hope that
maybe, if I could just hold things together, I could just do it.
Washington Park to Houston Brothers - 6.3 miles, 49.6 miles overall
It was
awesome running into Washington Park and seeing not just Andy, but also
Kristina and Norman. They rallied round me, making sure I ate and drank and
refuelled as much as possible. I was thankful that my stomach had now gone back
to a reasonable size - I was hungry and needed to eat! I think I had some
cheesy noodles at this stage and boy was I ready for them!
My instructions to Kristina prior to the race were to be hard on me, don't let
me dilly dally in the aid stations, and to keep me moving. From the very point
of seeing her, she did exactly as I asked and I was so grateful. Suzie hadn't
long since left the aid station and now the chase really was on - we both
believed that we would catch her in the next section if I just focused and got
moving again quickly.
Much as I
was looking forward to running with a pacer, I was not looking forward to that
climb back up the powerlines. I desperately wanted to walk at times but
Kristina wouldn't let me and I was glad that she pushed me like she did. As the
rocky ascent began, we could see Suzie approximately 200 to 300 yards ahead. It
may not have seemed much, but the climb that stood between us was intense and
it took all my will power to get up that hill as quick as possible. We knew
that as soon as we hit the forest road at the top, it gave way to 4 miles of
good runnable terrain and we didn't want Suzie disappearing into the sunset
just yet. She was still moving well and catching her wasn't going to be easy.
 |
Having fun and feeling good
PC SweetMImages |
As
Kristina and I hit the top, I was still trying to run as much as possible but
my legs were tired from all the climbs. I was still in good spirits though and
willing to work hard. We started to run the road section, stopping occasionally
to give my legs chance to recover a little, and little by little, we were
starting to close the gap on the lead. A mile or so later, I made my move and I
knew that I was now the rabbit, I was now the one that the other ladies would
be gunning for.
The
forest road seemed longer this time and it got to the point where I would pick
out landmarks that I would run to, or I would say I would the next half mile
before I had a walk break. It was now becoming a mental game as much as
physical. My tummy had also started to get very windy again and for the next
couple of hours I was passing wind like there was no tomorrow. I'm not sure how
Kristina tolerated me - it was noisy and stinky and I felt so embarrassed but I
was so glad that Kristina didn't judge too harshly!
I had
become so focused on keeping moving that we arrived at the aid station in no
time - we were at the half way point and I just had to keep it going.
Houston
Brothers to Buck Springs - 6.7 miles, 56.3 miles in total
We ran in
to Houston Brothers and were very efficient in refueling and getting out again
as quickly as possible. I'd taken a cup of noodles with me that would give me
some vital calories as well as some salt and I ate them as we ran/walked along
the trails. I'd also taken a couple of bean wraps and some pop to make sure I
had the calories. I was really pleased with my fueling strategy so far - sure,
my tummy had gone gassy but there had not yet been any vomiting. Even now,
having downed a full cup of noodles, my stomach felt ok and I was able to keep
moving without regurgitating everything over the forest floor.
The run to Buck Springs started well. It was still daylight although dusk was
falling and we left it as long as possible before we turned on our headlamps.
One minute we could see well, the next the forest would become so dense that we
could barely see the trail ahead of us.
Up until that point, the trail had been relatively easy to find, but now that
darkness was falling, we realised how few flags there were, how few reflective
markers there were, and how easy it would be for us to wander off course.
I'd left the aid station before any other runners had arrived and I figured
that if I was struggling to find the way in the dark, they would be too. I had
the advantage of having Kristina with me - two headlamps and two sets of eyes
looking out for markers. We were doing great as a team, and although I was by
now mostly walking very, very fast, we were making timely progress.
As darkness fell properly, we couldn't see anything around us. It really was
pitch black and there was no light coming from either the moon or the stars. My
legs were tiring and whenever we hit a climb, it felt like I was going
backwards. So many occasions I wanted to stop and have a breather, but so many
times Kristina told me to just keep moving. She was amazing! Even when I was
shuffling, she didn't get impatient or angry, she would talk to me and take my
mind off things, make me laugh, anything. She would take the lead up the hills
and when it flattened out she would let me know and I would focus on her to get
me to the top. It really was effective team work and I was so grateful she was
there.
It was
only 6 or 7 miles for this segment but it seemed never ending. I was starting
to let the negative thoughts creep in, I started to ask how much further every
100 yards, I was starting to swear every time we started to climb up yet
another hill, I was getting frustrated at myself, but Kristina kept me going.
I don't
recall how long it took us to get to Buck Springs, but I was never happier when
Kristina yelled back to me that she could see the lights at the aid station
just ahead, and we made our run in.
I hadn't
realised but this aid station was being run by the AZ Traileggers and it was so
nice to see so many familiar faces there. Thank you guys - you are truly
awesome!
I
refuelled again, my stomach still tolerating food with no problems at all, and
I managed yet another cup of noodles as well as some munchies from my drop bag.
I downed a coffee and some jelly sweets and I felt like a million dollars! I
was back on track - I was feeling energised again and ready to tackle the next
section back to Pinchot Cabin for my second visit. We once again left the aid
station before any other runners came in - it was reassuring that I was still
maintaining my lead, but I knew that I had to keep it going. It was hard, but
it was doable.
Buck
Springs to Pinchot Cabin - 8.2 miles, 64.5 miles overall
Oh my
gosh! 8.2 miles never felt so long and it must have taken nearly 3 hours to get
there. Kristina and I maintained our momentum but it was a tough section for me
where the climbs kept coming, albeit shorter by now, and we wandered off course
a couple of times and had to correct ourselves. I was still managing to job the
flatter less technical sections, but otherwise my power hiking practice was
certainly coming in useful right now. My stomach was still full of gas, and
once again I had to jump in a bush to empty myself. The thought of a big hairy
sasquatch laughing out loud at my bare backside really didn't bother me - if he
wanted to get me, I wouldn't have been able to put up much of a fight! I was
also starting to get a blister on the sole of my foot which was causing me to
run at a funny angle.
This segment
was once again an unknown which made it even worse in the dark. We ran through
the trees up and down some pretty technical trails, and then we ended up
running through knee tall grass where we couldn't see what was on the ground. A
couple of times, my headtorch reflected in water and I would jump to avoid
getting wet feet but completely misjudge it and get soggy feet anyway.
Apart
from the inevitable moaning of how much further, I think I was still in good
spirits and feeling relatively good. Kristina and I had been chatting as we
ran, wondering how much of a lead I actually had. I had a feeling that Suzie
probably wouldn't catch me now, but I knew that the lady from Colorado had been
running well, and I was convinced that she would catch me if Suzie didn't.
It's so
hard in such a long race to know when to race your competitors - too early and
you run out of steam, too late and you could end up in a sprint finish after
100 miles of crazy running. Kristina was fantastic in keeping focused and
keeping me pushing onwards. I didn't know what the rest of the course held for
me in terms of terrain so I just wanted to keep as far ahead as possible for as
long as possible. I was hurting like crazy, but I had already said that if
those chasing ladies wanted the win, I was going to make them work for it. I
was giving it everything I possibly could and I wasn't about to give up just
yet.
My
headtorch started to fade and we spent some minutes changing the batteries as I
really couldn't see the trail ahead of me. Those precious minutes of lost time
caused me to look behind me for the next couple of miles, checking for lights
appearing in the dark and making sure they were men catching me and not ladies.
After
what seemed another eternity, Kristina and I made our way up the same small
hill that I'd ran up with no problems earlier in the day - now it felt like a
mountain and I was gently cursing as I made the climb. Relieved to finally
reach the aid station, I replaced my spare batteries, grabbed more food and
refilled my bladder. I meant to take some gels with me from my drop bag at that
stage - I felt like I needed some intermittent energy to get me back to Houston
Brothers again and eventually Washington Park but as I was about to go out to
my drop bag, Leo arrived with Scott and we had a quick chat.
Conscious
that every minute counted to me if not to Leo, I was eager to leave the aid
station and in my haste, forgot to grab some gels. without looking at the
flavour, I grabbed one off the table along with a slice of watermelon. I really
felt like I needed more food at that point, but the distractions meant I had
already wasted far too much time and so I left without what I really needed,
for which I would pay for over the next couple of hours.
Kristina
and I said a cheerful totty bye to the aid station volunteers and continued our
way. I was feeling a little more energised again but knew that I would need
food in the next hour and I regretted not taking more with me, it was too late
now though - we had already started on our way back to Houston Brothers - I'd
made my bed and would have to lie in it.
Pinchot
Cabin to Houston Brothers - 7.6-mile segment, 72.1 miles
I was
quite excited about this next section of the race. We were heading back out to
Houston Brothers on the same trail as earlier in the day, except it would be in
reverse. Even though we were coming at it from the opposite direction, I could
still visualise the course and knew what was coming which made things easier to
handle. I also knew that after this, it was a quick run down the forest road
back to Washington Park where I would only have 22 miles to go and I would pick
up my other pacer, Adam. Getting to that point was critical for me from a
mental perspective - if I got to 78 miles and I was still in the lead, I was
99% certain that I would hold onto the lead to the finish.
But I had
to get through the next 13 miles first and anything could happen in the next 2
or 3 hours as I made my way back to the rest of my support team.
Kristina
continued to do an outstanding job on leading me through the forests and
keeping me on track. The ups and downs were still tough for me, but with every
step I was getting more and more determined to push on to the finish. There was
never any doubt that I would finish and as things stood, I was still on track
for around about 27 hours for a finish time. That would be the second fastest
time on the course and I would be very happy with that.
A half
hour after leaving Pinchot Cabin, I felt the urge for some sugar and so opened
the gel I'd taken in place of my own. I hadn't realised but it was Mocha
flavour and as I tore the top off, it oozed out like tar. I tried to eat it
like I would do normally, but the smell, taste and texture was absolutely
disgusting. I took a mouthful of the thick gook and spat it out straight away.
It was awful! I had a couple of jelly sweets that had melted in my backpack
pocket but they didn't really give me the valuable energy that I desperately
needed. I knew I needed food again but we still had a way to go before we were
anywhere close to Houston Brothers again.
Kristina continued
to motivate me and kept me moving. I felt awful that such a talented athlete
was having to walk and go so slow for me, but she was so patient and never once
complained.
Despite
my flaying energy levels, I was enjoying this section. The forest had more
shrubbery than on other parts, and I loved the single track that took us up and
downs the hills which even in the dark made things interesting. I remembered that
we would have a few of these ups and downs and then as we hit the junction
where we'd turned for Buck Springs just a few hours earlier, I got excited at
the thought of being so close.
That last
stretch from the Buck Springs junction to the aid station seemed endless but we
persevered and finally we arrived at Houston Brothers for the third time that
day. The volunteers remembered us from earlier and were once again very
accommodating in meeting my needs. For some reason, I thought we had drop bags
here and I was looking forward to grabbing something of my own out of it, but
it wasn't to be so I made use of the what was available.
The
temperature up on the Rim had been up and down and it was weird as we were
running along. At one point, I was wishing I had a spare jacket and gloves with
me, then the next I would be so warm. There seemed to be pockets of warm and
cool air in the forest and at this point, we were in a cool spot. My hands were
cold and I was feeling a little chilled, so I opted to have a hot chocolate
again followed by some noodles. They had been working this far and figured it
would be best to stick with it.
I took
some fruit and other nibbles too and had a drink of coke before we set off on
the trail again. We were being very efficient at the aid stations, for me
anyway, and due to doing so much walking right now, I took the noodles with me.
100 yards
later, I took a spoonful of the noodles and they went down no problem, but then
when I tried a little jog, my body started its usual reaction and I was
vomiting everything back up. It looked like the bulk of it was the horrid gel I
had attempted to consume earlier, mixed in with hot chocolate and a few
noodles. It took 5 or 6 attempts before my body finally decided that it had
finished - some of them were drive heaves where nothing was coming up, but I
was retching anyway. My diaphragm now felt extremely tender from the force but
I had no time to mess around. Kristina was very concerned but I assured her
that I felt much better for it and was ready to get to Washington asap.
Houston
Brothers to Washington Park - 6.3 miles, 78.4 miles in total
We hit
the forest road again shortly after my vomiting session, and I tried
desperately to run as much as possible. Kristina quite rightly said that if the
girls behind were still running, then this is where they would once again make
up some time, so I needed to run as much as possible here too.
It wasn't
easy. My legs were sore, the blister on my foot was getting bigger, and having
just been sick, all the nutrition I had hoped would give me some fuel injection
had been taken from me. I tried to break the road up into chunks, run 200
yards, walk 200 yards, but I was finding it difficult. The motivation and
willingness were there, but the body was refusing to do what I asked of it.
We still
managed a good, efficient walk but I was once again frustrated that I wasn't running
and making best use of the road section. A couple of cars came through despite
the late night which threw up dust and played havoc with my lungs, and we
passed some folks that had set camp up in the wood probably expecting a quiet
night but having runners trundling past them all night/
I was
getting somewhat concerned about the blister by now. I could really feel it
burning on my foot and I didn't want to lose my lead by not paying attention to
it - if I didn't fix it now, I was sure to slow down and allow myself to be
caught. I sat down in the road, stars shining overhead and everything deathly
quiet and attempted to put a plaster on my sore foot. Kristina offered to help
but my feet were just gross and I really wouldn't have wanted her to touch them.
She directed me to where to put the plaster and whilst it didn't really fix the
problem, it did provide some cushioning which allowed me to run a little better
and in my natural position.
I knew
that there was quite a good downhill coming towards the end of the road before
we went back down the powerlines, but even that was a long time in coming. I
was getting so impatient now - I wanted to get out on the Highline Trail again
as I knew that once we made it there, I was in the final stages of the race.
My watch
had died by now so I was running blind with regards to time and distance. I had
no idea what pace I was running, no idea how much further to the aid stations.
I wanted to ask but I feared the answer - running in the dark feels like you have
covered more ground than you actually have so I waited to be told how far we
had to go, sometimes feeling deflated, sometimes relieved that we were nearly
there.
The good
news is that having checked in with the radio crew at the top of the powerlines,
I knew it was only a couple of miles downhill into Washington Park. It was not
an easy downhill by far - running down that hill in daylight was bad enough,
and now we had to do it in the dark with just our headtorch for guidance. A
couple of times I felt my feet going in the loose rocks and had to steady
myself, muscles and tendons pinging in pain as I strained them even further to
stay upright. But both Kristina and I made it safely to the bottom and had a
steady but painful run/walk/hobble into Washington Park. Thank goodness for
that!
Washington
Park to Geronimo - 9.6 miles, 88 miles in total
Kristina
had done an awesome job covering 35 miles with me out on the course, and I
really don't feel like I had the opportunity to say thank you. But now the real
race started, and with my coach Adam now taking over the reins and leading me
into the finish, I knew things were about to get even harder.
I was so
touched to see all these amazing people helping and supporting me, not just my
crew, but all the folks at the aid station as I passed through. Andy had some
Macaroni Cheese ready for me and I guzzled it down like I was starved. Despite
my sickness just an hour or so earlier, it hit the spot perfectly and was just
what I needed. I was surprised as usually after I'm sick in a race, I am unable
to eat for hours, yet here I was munching on pasta and cheese as well as
drinking coffee and a variety of other things.
As I ate
and others refilled my bladder again, I was chatting to Adam and the others
about how things were going. There was another chap listening in on the
conversation and I realised it was the husband/boyfriend of the lady from
Colorado, no doubt gathering information to relate back to her on how I was
feeling and how I was doing. The good news is that despite feeling tired, I was
still doing good and I think he got that message if nothing else, He also saw
that I was eating well and still refueling - it's all psychological warfare at
this stage! I made a comment to him and asked jokingly if he was listening in
on her behalf - he got all embarrassed and walked away which I find mildly
amusing.
Once I'd
refuelled and replenished my supplies, I rang the final lap bell and Adam led
me out of the aid station on our way to Geronimo. No other runners had come
through the aid station whilst I was there, and we didn't see any as we set off
towards the HIghline Trail. This of course didn't mean we were in the clear,
and Adam set a monstrous pace that had me struggling to keep up despite my
determination to do so.
It would
be 10 miles before we hit another aid station, and with half an hour or so,
with no idea of how far we had gone, I was already starting to feel weak again.
I wasn't sure if I was just tired or if I needed to take in more fuel, but
either way I was struggling. At one point, I was convinced that we must have
done at least 3 or 4 miles already, but when I asked how much further, Adam
informed me another 8 miles or something. This was getting hard but I had no
choice but to keep moving.
The
Highline Trail seemed far harder in the dark. Earlier in the day, I had run well,
but now it felt tough and I kept stumbling. There were some narrow sections
that were on a slope and I found it difficult to keep my balance with the
gradient. There were also blades of grass that caused shadows in my headlamp
and I kept thinking they were snakes slithered across the path as they moved
about in the evening breeze.
I knew I
wasn't moving as fast now despite Adam's attempts to keep me going at a good
pace, and I was feeling so bad for him. I so desperately wanted to please him
and do my best, but already I felt I was lagging and not giving 100%. I tried
to run but my hips wouldn't allow me, the blister on my foot seemed to have
flared up again, and despite my best efforts to maintain that positive outlook,
it was hard.
I kept
looking behind me to check for lights in the distance. I'd see a light up on
the Rim and convince myself it was another runner chasing me down, but then I'd
realise it was just a car headlight. There was nobody nearby, the night was
silent, the moon and stars looked amazing - the only sound was Adam and I
making our way along this crazy track and some nearby elk having a bugling
session again.
I started
to wish that I had brought some more nibbles with me as these 10 miles was
taking a long time and the hunger and light headedness was setting in again. I
was still making sure I was drinking but the water was warm and tasted horrid
and the only nibbles I had were some melted jelly sweets again.
I think
Adam knew how much I was struggling my now, but he was so encouraging and tried
his best to get me running. Every time I managed a painful jog, he would start
to clap which made me smile, and when I was walking on the smoother sections,
he would convince me that I needed to run. Every step I ran, it opened a gap on
those behind, every step I walked, they would undoubtedly get closer.
I was
still hoping to make the finish in 27 hours but with no idea of time of day, I
didn't know how close I was to that, it still seemed feasible but I had no idea
what the closing stages of the course held for me. Had I known, I would perhaps
have been more generous in my estimations, but then I guess sometimes ignorance
is bliss!
I have no
idea how long it took us to do that 10 miles in the dark, but finally we
arrived once again at Geronimo. It seemed like days ago that I was last here
and yet it had only been yesterday morning - it felt like I'd been on the
Mogollon Rim for days!
Andy was
at the aid station again and he made up some porridge for me and I had some
coffee. I felt invigorated straight away, and rather than stand around eating,
I took the porridge with me up the trail with the intention of eating it whilst
on the move.
We spend
just 3 minutes at Geronimo - a record for me at an aid station and it showed
that maybe I am getting more efficient at getting through them. With another 12
miles or so to go, I could now smell the finish line and I was raring to go.
Geronimo
to Donahue - 4.9 miles, 92.9 miles in total
I feel so
sorry for Adam. I left Geronimo in pretty good spirits, was excited to see the
beautiful sunrise and hear the birds singing their morning chorus, and even
though Adam had told me that there was now a bit of a climb up to Donahue, I
could never have imagined how ridiculously steep it could be.
West
Webber Trail was stupidly steep and rocky. I thought we had done the climbing
but as we continued going higher, I stupidly asked if it was going to take us
to the top of the Rim again. I swear Adam was trying to let me down gently and
I admire him for not laughing out loud at my naivety. He informed me that there
might be a bit of a climb up to Donahue, that maybe it took us half way up.
Admittedly
the trail was picturesque. Now that daylight had arrived again, I could see how
lush this area was and had I not been so tired I'm sure I would have enjoyed it
even more. But my legs were dead and we were still climbing. I had thought it
was a steady climb at first, but then we started at the switchbacks, and with
each turn the gradient got even more intense. Tree trunks were blocking the
trail in places and whilst Adam nimbly skipped over them, I hauled myself over
like a hippo that couldn't even pick my legs up. The thin ones were ok, but the
thicker ones were challenging work and I couldn't quite swing my legs over
without cramping or just sitting there trying to will my body to follow the
instructions coming from my brain.
The climb
continued and I started to act like a child - are we nearly there, are we
nearly there, are we nearly there. Endless switchbacks getting steeper and
steeper, and Adam repeatedly saying just a couple more, just a couple more,
just a couple more. My legs refused to go up and I would stop, but Adam would
shout down to me to just keep moving. It worked, I moved, but it was very slow
and very painful. The joy had gone out of the event for me at this point and I
really didn't care about anything. Other than Adam, the only other thing that
kept me going was the thought of being caught in the last few miles and losing
out on the win,
I heard
voices below and was convinced it was women - it wasn’t but the two guys caught
us up and I asked if they had seen any other ladies. They told me they had
passed the second lady before Geronimo and she was struggling - whether they
were saying it to make me feel better or not didn’t matter - I was glad that
somebody else was suffering like me which meant less chance of them catching me
anytime soon.
Onwards
and upwards we went - it was only a flipping mile, but at 92 miles in a race,
and with a 40% or more grade, whoever included this hill was not a very nice
person! Adam tried to get me to eat but I really didn't want anything. I wanted
this to be over, I didn't want food. I wanted a nice, warm, comfy bed and a hot
bath - not burning quads and glutes that were cramping up, not hips that were
telling me my age and sore feet that were saying enough is enough.
Just a
few more switchbacks he said, he can see the tree line he said, but on and on
and on it went. If ever I was going to quit, it would have been there, but with
Adam coaxing me to keep going, I followed his lead and finally made it to the
top.
Seeing
the Donahue aid station was the most amazing sight ever and I tried to take on
board some food and drink but was so hungry that I didn't really know what I
fancied. The volunteers were wonderful once again but when they said I was the
second lady, my heart sank and I nearly cried. Thankfully one of the chaps
confirmed that I was the only lady he had seen come through - phew! 7 miles to
go - NOW I had absolutely everything to race for.
Donahue
to Pine and the Finish Line - 7.1 miles, 100 miles in total
I won't
deny it - heading out of Donahue and knowing that I would shortly be finishing
gave me a huge boost. My legs and body were still in denial, but I mustered
every ounce of energy I had to jog whenever I could. Adam was still doing an
amazing job in keeping me going and I felt bad at my rejection of his offers of
Jaffa Cakes, Snickers Bars and oat bars. When he offered me the Snickers bar,
had he been closer I would have snatched his arm off as it sounded like the
most amazing thing - but I hadn't the breath nor energy to say give it to me
now!
The
Donahue Trail heading back down to where we had started the previous day was
another stupidly technical and completely unnecessary section for us to run on
- at least at that moment in time it was. It was so rocky, narrow and steep in
parts that I was muttering to myself that these race organisers really are
taking the piss. But it was downhill and so I tried my best to keep hobbling as
best I could - there was still no sight of any ladies but I still needed to
keep going as I still had no idea how far behind they were.
The
morning sun was now burning strong and I could feel the burn on my back and
shoulder - it sure was heating up and I was glad to be finishing the race soon.
As we
headed down the trail, a load of other runners were heading up and I realised
that it was the .35km race that had started that morning. I spotted Kori
running strongly along with a few other familiar faces powering up the trail
and seeing them made me realise how close I must be to the finish. I put in a little
surge - it was barely visible but it made me feel better.
Adam was
powering down the trail in the reckless manner that I would normally take and I
was somewhat envious that he was having so much fun heading down. But I
couldn't help but smile - as thing stood, it looked like I may be heading to
victory - I just had to hold it together for the next 3 or 4 miles.
We came
into the parking lot at the trail head and I got lots of support from hikers
and other runners, cheering me along and clapping. It helped and I tried to
pick things up a bit but I was so tired. I had thought it was only half a mile
into town and looking at the clock on my phone, we were on 27 hours and 10
minutes - my gosh, I could even go sub 27.30!
That made
me try to run a little faster, legs crying in pain, my face wincing with agony,
but still trying to keep it going. We passed under the main road, surprised a
police officer by saying we'd ran 100 miles when he asked how far we'd been,
and as we followed the cones down to where we thought the community centre was,
I started to get emotional, it was looking like 27.27 finishing time - I was so
elated!
We ran
into the field looking for the finish gantry .... except it wasn't there. Where
the ...??!! We couldn't see any other flags, and as I waited on the road
getting frustrated and seeing my sub 27.30 slipping away, a good 5 minutes
passed before we finally spotted more of the flags in the distance up the road.
Bloody hell! There was still another mile or still to go! I found it very hard
to get running at that point. My mind and body had thought they had finished,
they had gone into shutdown, and now I was asking them to wake up and move
again. There were a couple of runners approaching quickly from behind and I
squinted to see if they were ladies - no, we were good.
I walked
as fast as I could back up to the main road and made that left turn, Adam still
leading the way and trying to encourage me every step. We saw another runner
from behind and Adam thought it was a lady. I turned to look and realised it
was Leo - thank god for that! I didn't care if Leo passed me, so long as no
ladies did.
I really
couldn't muster any energy, Leo caught me, and then I had both him and Adam
yelling at me to run. I seriously couldn't but then when Kristina came running
down the road to me, and I finally saw the finish gantry and Andy at the finish
line, finally my legs broke in to a pathetic run to the finish line.
Leo and I
crossed the line together even though he could quite easily have out a couple
of minutes between us, but 27 hours and 45 minutes after starting and after
22,000 feet of climbing, we finally finished the Mogollon Monster 100 miler.
 |
| Friendly hugs at the finish :-) |
After the
Race
Looking
back at this race, I still find it a bit surreal that I won. I never in a
million years thought that I would come away with the trophy but there it is,
sitting on a table in our living room, watching us and making sure we don't get
into mischief.
When
Jamil handed me that trophy, I was taken aback by the size. It is by far the
largest award I have ever received and I still can't quite believe that it's
mine to keep.
 |
| He's a big bugger int he?! |
The
reception I received straight after the race and in the days since has been
extremely humbling. I have received so many lovely comments and so much support
that I haven't really known how to deal with it but I just want to say thank
you to everybody.
The
Mogollon Monster certainly isn't a race to be taken lightly. It is tough, it is
a beast, a monster, call it what you will. There are probably around 30 or 40
miles of the course that are runnable - the others are very steep and rocky and
hard on the legs and feet. If that isn't enough, the 22,000 ft of ascent is
tough, especially for somebody like me that doesn't really run enough hills and
they certainly aren't my strength. But if nothing else, I hope that my
finishing and winning the Monster proves that anything is possible if you are
willing to fight and put your heart and soul into things.
The
Mogollon Monster was one of my A races for the year, and everything has been
geared towards this. Now that it's over, it feels strange not to be talking
about it and making plans.
I've said
many times that I couldn't do these events without the love and support of
others.
My
husband Andy got up with me at 5am on the Saturday and was awake with the 3
pups until 4pm on the Sunday, looking after me and making sure my race went as
I had hoped it would. There aren't many partners that would be willing to do
this, but Andy does it every time and sometimes I don't think I appreciate it
enough. This time he had a bad back but he was determined to still be there
despite his own pain, and as ever, he did an amazing job. I love you Andy and
you mean the world to me - thank you!
Adam -
what can I say? This time last year I was doubting my ability and future as a
runner and then I approached you to see if you would coach me. You helped me to
get back on track, your training plans have got me in perfect shape to race the
best I can, and along the way I've achieved far more than I ever thought
possible. My win in the Mogollon Monster is as much for me as it is for you.
Thanks for getting my training right, thank you for believing in me, thanks for
being patient and so encouraging when I'm sulking like a big child, and more
than anything, thank you for bringing out the best in me.
Kristina,
what can I say? You are such an amazing athlete and yet you were willing to
slow down and pace me at the Monster. Your support and encouragement when I hit
my lowest points in the race were so greatly appreciated, and I can't thank you
enough for keeping me going. Thank you for those training runs up Ord and the
surrounds, thank you too for believing in me and helping me to run to victory.
You helped me to take the lead, and you never let me look back.
Leo,
Scott and Norm - Thanks you guys! Leo for all your humour, Scott for just being
there and Norm, for the small things like running to fetch my spare shoes when
Andy couldn't and refilling my bladder. It's those little things that make the
greatest difference at the most crucial times.
To
Aravaipa Running - thank you for having me on your racing team. Being a member
of a team motivates you to do well and I am always honoured and proud to wear
the Aravaipa shirt and fly the flag on your behalf. Your events are second to
none - always slick, always well organised, always lots of fun. You have a
fabulous team behind the scenes that not everybody sees, but I am truly
grateful to all of you.
Volunteers,
runners, spectators and the running community in general - without you guys,
none of this would be possible. You are all amazing and I can't thank you
enough for all the help and support you provide for the duration of the race
and beyond. I always try to say thank you in person but sometimes I may forget or
be too grumpy or too tired, so just in case, thank you to each and every one of
you!
So, on
that note, what happens now? It's been a fantastic year for me running wise and
in all honesty, I hadn't really thought much beyond Mogollon. I know that in
December there will be a few lotteries to enter and we will away the outcome of
those to see what the next massive thing will be. But aside from that, I am
hoping to go back to Across the Years and have another go at the 24 hours. I
have a goal and a target and this time I am hoping to get closer if everything
goes to plan.
In the
meantime, happy trails my friends, love to all of you, and thank you once again
from the bottom of my heart.
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| Big Foot and erm ... Big Foot ? |
