Well I was unsure whether to write anything at all after DNF'ing at Highlands Sky this weekend, but I decided to do something brief to share the experience. One thing's for sure, there is no sure-proof formula I've found yet to do these ultras right every time! I'm still learning. After overanalyzing the whole experience for the zillionth time since I dropped, here's what I think happened.
On the physical front, the humidity was really high so I was sweating a ton and working what felt way too hard for much of the 2300' climb to AS#2 (mile 10.6). We came in about 10 minutes slower than last year which started to bum me out. I was looking forward to the downhill on our way to AS#3 but dreading that next uphill section. When we got to that uphill, again I felt really low energy and that I was working way too hard. After I made it up the hardest part of that uphill section, Lorrin was waiting for me at the top, at this point I told her she better go on, I was really dragging and needed to walk and recover a bit.
As you can probably tell, the mental part of my race was not going so well. I was afraid I'd make her miss the cut off so I told her to go on; I also told her I thought I'd drop at AS#3. Lorrin was the voice of encouragement, trying to keep me positive, but I wasn't buying it! I walked a lot of the slightly uphill railroad grade until the stream crossing. I hung out in the stream a few minutes enjoying the cold, cold water and wishing I could just lie down. Then I decided I wanted to at least come into AS#3 under the cutoff so I tried to walk/shuffle to get there asap. I got there about 20 minutes under the cutoff. Megan, Bill, Joe, Jennifer, Hollis, baby Daniel, Pam, etc were all there encouraging me to rest and get some fuel but also to go on if I could. I talked with Jennifer about what I had eaten so far (1 hammergel, 1 package of luna moons, 1/2 package of clif shot blocks and a pb&j quarter at AS#2). I'd also been drinking lots and lots of water and taking an endurolyte about once every 30 minutes. Jennifer surmised I was feeling wiped out because I hadn't been taking in enough calories. She also convinced me I'd feel a lot better about dropping if I at least made it to the next AS at about mile 20 (that's the crazy wisdom of another ultrarunner talking, thanks Jennifer!).
Somewhere during this visit to AS#3, I found myself eating several pieces of banana and some cheese-its and refilling my water. Next thing you know, I'm trudging out of AS#3 up the still climbing hill. It finally topped out and I found myself running (well shuffling really). I ran everything that was runnable in that section and made it 10 minutes under the cutoff to AS#4. I felt a lot better in this section and decided Jennifer was right.
I now realize that because of the heat/humidity, I didn't really want food so I wasn't eating enough. Also, on the mental side, I did pretty much everything you're not supposed to do. I didn't really have a realistic goal, I was looking at my splits from last year when I was running generally everything faster than I have been this year. I really should have just been planning to run just under the cutoffs, like I've done SEVERAL other races this year and been fine with. But somehow aiming for those faster times and missing them was demoralizing for me. I couldn't seem to stay focused on the successful strategy that's gotten me through a bunch of other races; run AS to AS, don't think about the whole race. That led me to think about how far I still needed to run, including the dreaded road section, and my spirits went lower. So by the time I got to AS#4, my spririts had recovered somewhat, but I was still thinking I was only half-way there and I REALLY did not want to run on that darn road.
In hindsight, I realize that I actually ran the section for AS#3-4 just 2-3 minutes slower than last year. I also think I had forgotten how much more the heat/humidity takes out of me AND that I know how to run through it anyway. I've run Rattlesnake and Catoctin under pretty trying weather conditions and still made it. Losing track of my fueling was bad, not keeping a positive mental attitude was pretty much what ended my race.
I'm actually sad I missed sharing some of the second half highlights Lorrin shared: dodging lightning bolts through the boulder section of the course, climbing the ski slope, descending the buttslide on slick mud she described as being worse than Bull Run 2006, etc. But I did have fun hanging out at the finish line and seeing all the finishers. It's inspiring that's for sure!
Some other highlights include:
- seeing Amanda finish in 8:47, taking 50 minutes off her time from last year, wow
- getting to see Mark finish his first Highland Sky
- watching Lorrin finish 10 minutes faster that last year
- hanging out at the finish line helping hand out finisher shirts
- enjoying great beer from Mountain State Brewing compliments of Willie Lehmann
- chatting with many fellow ultrarunners about HS and future adventures (Cheat Mountain!)
So one way or the other, I'll be back to HS next year, it's a great race whether you're volunteering or running. I know I'll be there either way!
