It was my third time at Hill of a Race, and I have to say that those ski hills don't get any easier!
This year, the race fell on Easter Sunday. Usually we'd be winter camping over Easter weekend, but with a weekend in Jasper coming up, followed by two weeks holiday with a friend visiting in May, we opted to stay at home and do a few things around the house instead.
I find it hard having time off from work and just being stuck at home. Time is so precious and I don't like wasting it, and with nothing else planned, I found myself registering for the race just a month or so out from race day. I wasn't exactly in hill running shape, and I have been feeling terribly slow and unfit after a winter of ups and downs with the weather, so my plan was to just go out there, spend a few hours amongst friends, and hopefully get in at least 10 laps of the ski hills in the six hour period.
Andy dropped me off at Rabbit Hill on race day morning, and thankfully there was still some snow lying around. It was a rather cool morning but it was expected to warm up, with a high of around four degrees in the forecast. I knew I'd likely get too warm in those kind of temperatures despite the snow, so I was sure to wear light layers that would keep me cool but not cold. I was also wearing my Icebugs this year and has taken my polls - last year it had been terribly icy, and I slipped and slided on the first lap, losing valuable time and adding extra distance to my race.
Having collected my race bib, I hovered around inside where it was a little warmer and quietly waited for the race to start. When we were finally called to the start, the first thing I noticed was the lower numbers compared to previous years. Being Easter Sunday, some of the regulars were unable to make it which made things a little quieter than usual. There were still around 40 or 50 registered for the All Day Buffet, and the excitement and anticipation was still there, along with the "what the hell have I got myself into?" from the first timers. I stood chatting to a couple of friends and as the clock approached 9am, the countdown started and then we were off.
I'm always surprised at how quickly people start this race, and within the first hundred yards, I found myself close to the back of the field whilst the lead runners were already powering up the first hill. The footing was good - a little crunchy with some ice underneath, but nothing like previous years from what I recalled.
I found myself surrounded by quite a few runners as we started to ascend the first climb, poles helping to propel people up the hill, sometimes clipping other runners when trying to.pass or getting too close. Everybody was making good progress and I found myself towards the back, but I knew that come the midway point, I would likely pass some oof them as they realised just how tough the event and realise their earlier enthusiasm was perhaps a little premature.
Hitting the crest of the hill, the views were wonderful - the frozen North Saskatchewan River to the left with the Edmonton skyline in the distance. In the other direction were the farmers' fields, some still covered in snow whilst others were already brown and sodden from the melted snow.
Although a cool morning, it wasn't really cold, and things were already starting to warm up, especially when the sun broke through the cloud. There was also quite a brisk wind which was most welcome during the sunnier spots, but definitely chilly when the skies became overcast.
The downhills saw an increase in pace as we recovered from the first climb, and I certainly made sure to take advantage of the downs. I tried not to go too fast though as I knew that running too hard on the downhills could still cause fatigue, as well as terribly sore quads the next day.
Having done the race before, I knew that the next two ups and downs were much steeper, and past experience has shown that they also tended to be far more slippery as a result. We were all still quite bunched up at this point, and as we hit the bend and started to climb once again, a line of runners was now hiking up the hill, snaking some 400m or so up the incline.
Things were still a little icy in spots and I found myself relying on the strength in my legs and trusting the grip on my shoes to enable me to move upwards. A few others were taking steps only to find themselves slipping backwards as they too pushed on up the hill as best they could. The climbing was relentless, the gradient steep, but eventually we crested the second summit, followed immediately by the next downhill.
The downhill at the midway point on the loop is the steepest and the most slippy, and it's usually the one where the more adventurous drop down on their backsides and slide. Sometimes the sliding can be quicker than trying to run down the hill, and it certainly takes the pressure off battering the quads in favour of bruised or achy buttocks the next day instead. At previous events, I've tried to slide but haven't got very far and ended up running, or I've slid too far much too quickly and ended up going a hundred metres or do off course when I've been unable to control the slide and been unable to steer in the right direction.
Today I did ok and managed to control things, although there were some impressive runners that came flying past on their feet, maintaining their speed and balance with great skill, and making up lots of ground.
Another sharp turn at the bottom of the hill, and it was up once again, this time for what seemed a slightly longer, steeper and tougher climb. At this point, I wasn't really passing anybody on the climbs, but I knew that later on, that would likely change if past experience was anything to go by.
I've done this race three times now which means I've ran the loop around 30+ times, and yet today for some reason I took a wrong turn, merrily following another runner down the wrong slope. A right turn at the top of the final hill should have taken us back down to the start and finish area, yet I found myself considering another bum slide down a steep hill between the trees. I couldn't recall it being this steep, not could i remember there being quite so many trees, but carried on regardless. Thankfully, a couple of runners behind me called me back, and once back on course, I'd probably added an unnecessary 100m extra to my race.
The long, steep but perfectly runnable final downhill took us to the transition area and the aid station. It was already warming up, so I grabbed a drink as I passed through, and continued doing do every lap for the entire six hours.
That first lap took me around 22 to 23 minutes which put me well on track to hit my minimum 10 goal assuming I could keep things going. Other than being a little warm already, I was feeling great, happy to be amongst friends and other like-minded people, and doing the thing I loved to do.
For the next few hours, things continued in a similar vein. I ran up, town and around those slopes, got sunburnt, got a little chilled, chatted with friends, and was happily eating and drinking without too much effort, making sure I stayed fuelled for the entire duration. Bananas, quesadillas, jelly sweets, crisps, cookies, coke, tailwind and ginger ale all kept me going, and I was feeling great. I lost count of my laps after the first hour, but looking back, I maintained a time if approximately 22 to 25 minutes each time, which included fuel stops, view stops, and chatting stops. I was doing ok. I didn't slip or fall at any point, although my poels decided to give way on me in the final hour, and I had to rely on my own balance rather than using the poles to stop me hurtling down the hills.
Some of the other runners were relentless with their efforts, not least the leading lady who went onto finish with an incredible 18 laps. She passed me at least three times during the event, looking smooth, strong and happy every single time which was very inspiring and fantastic to see.
Having gone through five hours, I'm not sure what number I was on but I knew it was either 13 or 14 laps completed. I had around 35 minutes on the clock and whilst in previous years of have gone for another two, I knew I wasn't quite as strong not fit as I used to be. My final lap saw me finish with 13 minutes remaining, for a total of 14 laps completed - less than previous years but still far more than I'd anticipated.
This year, everybody seemed to finish their final lap with minutes to spare, and that same excitement of watching people sprinting down the final hill to get in under the bell wasn't there. But the event was still a huge success in my eyes, and I was so happy to have been a part of it again.
The burger afterwards was greatly appreciated, along with the cold can of pop. I hadn't realised how hungry I was, but I guess having ran through lunch time without a proper meal, and having covered 20.ish miles and 7,000ft of climbing, it does give you an appetite, and I scoffed that burger down like there was no tomorrow.
After a chat with friends and a thank you to the race organisers and volunteers, it was time to head off home. It had been a great day on the ski slopes, even without the skis, but in all honesty, I'm ready for spring now. The ice, snow and colder temperatures can go anytime they like - I'm ready for lush green fields, vibrant flowers, blue skies, and some warmer temperatures. The racing season is on the horizon - let's do this!
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