December is usually the month when I declare my racing season
over, and I tend to ease back a bit to allow my batteries to recharge as I start
thinking about and preparing for my running goals the following year. Despite
easing back, I do still keep things ticking over, and in the past couple of
years I have set myself challenges to get me through the festive period, those
challenges included The Snow Queen Ultra, the Advent Run Streak, and last year,
I decided to do The Dark 24-hour event at the last minute, which saw me racing
in early December and hitting 100 miles give or take during the race. This year
was no exception, although I didn’t feel fit enough nor focused enough to
compete in an ultra. Instead, I found myself registering for “Racing Dusk”, a
20 mile trail race in West Bragg Creek, located in K-Country just outside of
Calgary. This year it would be taking place on the Winter Solstice, and I
thought it would be a perfect way to finish off my year of running.
The race itself is organised by Jamie Knott who owns and
organises Iron Legs Mountain Races that take place in August each year. I love these
races as they are grass roots events that offer great value for money, but
still have some great swag to help you to hold on to the memories for years to
come. The course is a little over 20 miles and consists of three loops which
can be completed in whatever order you like, the longest being the Merlin Loop
at almost 9 miles, and the other two – Ranger Summit and Telephone Loop – both at
around 10km each. Although I used to run on these trails several years ago when
living in Calgary, I really couldn’t remember them and with not having done the
race before, I didn’t really have much of a strategy, but in hindsight, I would
definitely have completed them in a different order that I did.
A 9am start meant that we didn’t have to get up stupid
early, and with around 100 competitors, there was quite the atmosphere at the start
line despite being a low key race in the depths of a Canadian winter. It was so
nice to see a few familiar faces on the start line, but having been away from the
Calgary trail running community for well over 10 years now, there were lots of
new faces that I didn’t know, but that just provided the perfect opportunity to
get to know other people and to share some fun times on the trails with them
for the next few hours.
At -1°c, it was a surprisingly mild morning for the race, much warmer than back home in Leduc where that same morning, several cars had ended up in the ditch due to freezing rain. In Bragg Creek, the sun was starting to break through, and in addition to the milder conditions, there was barely any snow in the ground when compared to back home too. I tend to run warm so I ummed and ahhed over what to wear for the race, not wanting to be too overdressed for the conditions, but neither did I want to be cold, especially with being in a more mountainous area where weather could change quickly. I eventually opted for the EarthGroove medium thickness running tights and a thermal top, but even these turned out to be far too warm by the time I finished. When it came to running shoes, it was a no brainer for me, and I slipped into my old faithful Salomon Spikecross - I'd been told there was a mix of dry dirt, packed down snow, and some really icy stretches out on the course, and the Spikecross turned out to be a good choice on the day.
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| Start of Racing Dusk |
At bang on 9am, the race started and it sure was weird seeing folks heading off in different directions as they worked out their own strategy. I'd decided to complete the Merlin loop first, a distance of around 9 miles and the one with the most vert. Quite alot of the runners headed up the same trail, and we were bunched up for the first couple of miles as we all tried to find out own pace and rhythm. I somehow always end up leading a small group in these races, nobody willing to go past me, but me feeling like I'm being pushed to go faster than I intended. So many times I've moved over to let folks past, only to be told ," oh, you're fine. You're maintaining a good pace, so I'll just tuck in behind you if that's ok" - in all honesty, it drives me nuts, but that makes me sound like a bad sport!
Anyhow, back to Racing Dusk .....
Merlin Loop wasn't so bad. I ran the downs and the rolling sections, but I definitely struggled in the climbs - the hill strength just wasn't there, and hill repeats are definitely something I need to do more of if I want to achieve my goals next year. Although we'd been told there were some dry dirt sections, I wasn't expecting there to be quite so much, especially in December on the Winter Solstice! I tend to do winter races to experience the more extreme cold and snowy conditions, but on Saturday I didn't mind too much - I was running on different trails than I have gone recently, and the lack of snow certainly made things feel easier. But then when we hit the icy sections, some of them were lethal! What made it worse was that the ice was mostly on the bends and on the steeper downhill stretches, the sections where normally I'd be able to make up some time. Everybody was dealing with the same conditions though, so it would ultimately come down to who was the least fearful of taking a tumble - I was reckless, but perhaps not quite as much as I would normally be, and I ran over the ice with some degree of caution, but then really striding out and going for it when the trails cleared a little.
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| Beautiful morning on Merlin |
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| Views on Merlin loop |
I'd said to Andy that it would likely take me 1 hour 45 mins to do Merlin loop, and sure enough, I came into the aid station and the end of the first loop in around 1.42 - gosh, I'm so good at predicting my times sometimes!
I'd warmed up quite considerably since starting the race and had drank a significant amount of fluids, so Andy handed me fresh bottles of water and Gatorade before I headed out for my second lap.
I still hadn't decided on a race strategy at this point, and as I was facing towards Ranger Summit when chatting to Andy, I decided to go that loop next. Unlike the previous loop which had started off on single track, Ranger was a wider trail on compact snow and minimal ice, at least for the first mile or so. Then the climbing started again, weaving up through the trees towards the summit. It wasn't necessarily steep, but the switchbacks did ascend for quite some time, and I found that I'd slipped back to 13 minute miles as I walked/jogged my way up. There was nobody else on this loop with me, and when I spotted what looked like bear prints and scratch marks in the snow, I became far more aware of my surroundings. Yes, it was December, yes, bears hibernate, and yes, those marks looked old and were already frozen as opposed to fresh markings, but given the warmer temperatures and the fact that bears don't hibernate 100%, I was half expecting to see a big furry critter trying to find a snack whilst I ran through those trees! It was extremely quiet out there, and there was no indication that other runners were in the vicinity, even though I knew there would be somebody close by even if I couldn't see them.
This loop was only 6 miles and before I knew it, I'd reached the summit. Whilst running Merlin just a couple of hours earlier, I hadn't realised that we needed to collect a wristband on each loop to prove we'd completed it - thankfully, another runner asked if I'd picked one up, which I hadn't so doubled back about 100 yards to take one from the bag hanging on a fence post. I wasn't about to make the same mistake, and having spotted a chap sitting on a rock at the top, I also noticed the bag hanging nearby that contained the bands. I collected my pink band, and then almost squealed when turning back to head down the trail as a large black furry critter ran excitedly towards me. Thankfully it was just a very friendly dog that belonged to the chap sitting there, and I made a huge fuss of it before continuing on my way.
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| Don't forget the wristband! |
The next couple of miles were downhill with good footing, and I found myself running sub 9 minute miles again which helped to claw back some time. With the hills, I'd said to Andy that I should be back in around 75 minutes this time, and so far, I was still on schedule. I was now squealing with joy as I ran back down the hillside, feeling happy and feeling strong. The bare dirt started to turn into compact snow again, but footing was still good, and I was running well as I headed back into the denser treed area where the trail narrowed, and visibility wasn't quite as good as we twisted and turned around the bends. I was getting hungry by now - I'd been running for a good three hours and it was approaching lunch time. I'd been carrying a mars bar and dome wine gums, both of which had frozen solid in my backpack, do I'd stuffed them into my tights pockets, hoping the heat from my legs would defrost them a bit - not only did they defrost, but the mars bar melted and the wine gums were now very squishy, both perfect for eating :)
Other than a couple of other hikers/runners and the dog at the summit, I'd not seen nor heard anything else out on Ranger, but then as I turned a bend, I spotted our good friend Alan Lam just ahead taking race day photos. I haven't seen Alan in an age and I was do nice to see him :)
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Heading down from Ranger Summit -
Picture thanks to Alan Lam |
Shortly afterwards, I became aware of approaching footsteps behind me, and I turned to see a male racer quickly gaining on me. I stopped to let him pass, and then hitting a widened trail once again, I could hear the aid station just ahead.
Running into the transition area, I was feeling great, especially with just 6 miles or so to go. Alan had told me that my final loop - Telephone loop - was 10 miles! That concerned me at the time as it meant the race would be 26 miles rather than 20 based on my watch, but having checked the map before I headed off out again, it was actually around 10k which is what I thought. I'd now been on the moved for 3 hours and I anticipated the final loop would take me 75 to 80 minutes, bringing me in well under my target time of 4.30. Feeling confident, I said as much to Andy after refilling my drinks bottles, and told him I'd see him again in a little over an hour.
Starting my final loop, I was feeling so good! I had a spring in my step, and other than a rumbling tummy that couldn't be quietened my a mars bar and wine gums, everything was feeling great.
I think I was so caught up in how great I was feeling that I went and made a mistake. I was running up some quite steep switchbacks, and noticed both green and pink flagging, but things didn't feel right. I knew I was meant to be following the green flags this time, but things looked familiar and I had a sense that I'd gone too far up the trail and had started Merlin loop again. I recalled us runners splitting earlier on at the start, and the Telephone loopers had carried on as we'd turned left up Merlin, yet there was no fork in the trail ahead. As the climb became even steeper, I was even more convinced that if gone wrong and hesitated about turning back. I spotted a lady running towards me with a race bib, and asked her if this was Telephone loop - she didn't know. I stood there for about minute before another female racer came down the hill. She was adamant I'd gone wrong, so I turned around and headed back down again, having already gone over half a mile up the hill.
Sure enough when I emerged at he bottom by the parking lot, I spotted a green flag that guided me up a different trail - I should have gone straight on instead of turning, and I was do frustrated at the oversight! I checked my watch and saw that I'd wasted well over 12 minutes already and added over a mile to my race - I STILL had 6 miles to go, I knew there was more climbing, and the 4.15 finish was looking unlikely with even sub 4.30 looking in doubt.
I started to run much harder now, and even though Telephone loop started with a bit of a climb, I made myself run it, my legs and lungs complaining as I made my way up. I overtook my friend Karen from Calgary and we spoke briefly, but I needed to push on, and I felt awful just leaving her behind even though she too was having a great run.
The first couple of miles were on wide, undulating trail, and with more compact snow rather than ice, I was able to get a good pace going. A few hikers were now out on the trails, and I passed a couple of runners, but otherwise the trail was mine again. I was impressed that I was now running pretty much all of the uphills, although when turning off and hitting the single track, I started to struggle again. The patchy icy sections were now annoying me - I needed to run faster but the ice was becoming a hindrance, and the higher I climbed, the more technical and rocky the trail became. I was also starting to feel a little bit lightheaded and trying to focus on the rocky trail was becoming difficult as I stumbled along and tried not to fall over. I'd had the dizziness before and it was likely due to not having eaten or drank enough - add to that the exertion and altitude, my body just isn't used to it.
I eventually reached what seemed like the top of the hill and things opened up a little, providing views of the surrounding mountains. I enjoyed those views,still surprised at the lack of snow out here, and then getting frustrated as I started the long downhill to the finish whilst mastering yet more tricky, icy downhills and trying to stay on my feet..
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Gorgeous views and happy, despite the
mistake! |
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| Top of the hill on Telephone |
A few hikers were heading down too, and whilst most if them made way for me to pass, a couple of them were quite rude and ignorant, deliberately standing in my way, grudgingly moving when I said "excuse me", and not even uttering a hello. I never understand why some people are like this and seem to have a sense of superiority over others, but hey it's Christmas, so live and let live :)
The icy downhill went on for some time, and checking my watch, I guessed that I still had a couple of miles to go with 20 minutes available if I wanted that sub 4.30. In normal conditions, I can run a 10 minute mile even on the trails and especially if flat or downhill, but the ice was so bad, and despite wearing spikes, there were parts where I just wasn't getting the grip I needed to run confidently and I found myself clinging to tree trunks when negotiating so one of those switchback.
Shortly afterwards, I rejoined the Merlin loop, and the pink and green flags reunited to lead me back to the finish. My watch was reading 4.25, but I reckoned there was still a mile to go. I speeded up, dodging the ice where I could, and was relieved when the dry dirt appeared again and I was able to stride out. I could hear the finish line music playing, and as I came out of the woods and hit the final snowy section around the parking lot, I picked up my pace to run strongly to the finish line.
I ran across the line smiling - 4.32.15 I think it was, missing my goal by just over 2 minutes and still grumbling at myself for the mistake. But it didn't matter - if finished, I'd finished strong, and Andy was waiting for me at the finish line, ready to feed me and grab me a drink - cinnamon buns and hot chocolate was definitely most welcome!
So on that note, Racing Dusk has concluded my racing year, and I'm happy to have finished it on a high note. It's not been a bad year of running for me, but neither has it been good, but I'm not going to dwell on things that didn't go as planned. I'll do a year end post at some point, but for now, I'm going to enjoy Christmas with our little family, and start planning for some big goals for 2025. Happy Christmas all!
