From July 13, 2006, Post Knee Knacker Stress Syndrome:
"What do I do now?"
This was really more of a rhetorical question. I was thinking in terms of sacrifice for
training for KK, I had to give up a lot. Time spent on my feet logging the miles meant less
time for family, friends and ... relationships. So focused was my goal of Knee Knacker that
given a choice of happiness with what I thought was my soul mate and putting another five
hour effort on the trails...I chose Knee Knacker. One heart ripping phone call later and the
relationship was over.
July 12: I get an e-mail for an invite to my friend's 30th birthday on July 28, I start to
confirm when I see who else is on the guest list. Her. I stop the confirmation.
July 13 (two hours after I post my Knee Knacker blog): I get an e-mail from Don who saw me tearing down Hollyburn Chute where he was race marshalling. He commented on my performance and how much fun I seemed to be having. He mentioned he had a free entry to White River 50 mile on July 29. July 28 would be a travel day and I would have to miss my friend's 30th.
It all comes down to choice, doesn't it?
On the one hand, I was still recovering physically from KK and I was getting chubby making
Vancouver safe from the threat of BBQ ribs, one rack at a time. On the other hand, there was no way I could handle seeing her again with all the conflicting emotions bubbling to the
surface.
In the end, it wasn't that hard of a choice.
I only had one training run - Bill's Great Peak Ascent, and even then that was cut short due
to my neglecting to lock Elke's car, but it did pay off during the race which I'll get to a
little later on.
Friday: Crossed the border without incident, usually the US Border guards are perplexed that
anybody would want to run anywhere, much less 50 miles of trails. Using Mapquest, made it to Crystal Mountain via Enumclaw with minimal difficulties (trying to find a really good coffee
shop). As Don had booked the chalet under his name, I decided to check out race package
pickup where I met Andy Nicol. (who would go on to do quite well at WR50)
Don finally gets here at 5pm with Jackie, Matt Sessions and Carrie. Check my gear in their
place and ooh, there's a bunk bed available!
Now when Don said he had a free entry, he meant that it was really his, but since he
couldn't run due to injury, I could take his place. I confirmed with race HQ that entries
were transferable as long as I got my application in (for logistical/safety purposes). While
I didn't pay for the race entry, I still paid for the pasta and the post race BBQ (don't
want to upset the karma gods too much) and also received a dandy tech shirt, socks and a
water bottle.
As we settled down to partake in the pasta pig out, Tim Wiens, Glenn Pace, Colin Freeland
and their respective families showed up late (apparently they misjudged the border wait
times). All right, CFA would be well represented tomorrow. Scott McCoubrey gave the trail
briefing after the meal and gave helpful suggestions for aid purposes and trail etiquette as
this was USATF championship and $7500.00 US was up for grabs. Of course, the Canadian
contingent wouldn't be seeing any of that.
Armed with this knowledge and sufficiently stuffed by the spaghetti, I waddled back to the
chalet for my race preparation, filling bottles, making chicken noodle soup (no garlic,
dammit), filling my drop bags with strategic items and drinking beers for hydration, yeah,
that's the ticket.
I didn't really have any time goals for this race. I was under zero pressure and had no
expectations due to being under trained although I had my base from KK which was tougher due to the technical nature of the course and the total elevation being 16,000 feet over 30
miles versus groomed trails and 17,000 feet over 50 miles for this race. My last long run
was 8:25 for KK three weeks ago.
Saturday, Race morning, 6:25am
I had woken up early and got my stuff readied to drive down to Buck Creek but still wound up getting to the start late as is my usual custom. The race start was packed and I had to park my car on the outskirts by the landing strip and haul ass to drop off my drop bags for
Corral Pass 17mi, Fawn Ridge 32 mi and Skookum Flats 43 mi.
The first thing I notice is that I'm really hungover from the two Mirror Pond Pale Ales I
had the night before, but the second thing I notice is that a few runners are wearing arm
warmers and gloves, but I'm the only one with Dirty Girl Gaiters. Hmmm, I'm forgetting
something here.
I line up with all the CFA's at the back of the pack and spy Rod Hatfull who was supposed to
be doing this but was injured by an SUV, I thought he was held up at the border trying to
smuggle milk and burgers. 5,4,3,2,what the hell did I get into? Race!
White River starts by running across the airfield for a mile then heads into the woods for
some cool singletrack trail. This stuff is really easy and I'm wondering if I overdid it by
taking two ankle braces. Nice easy pace for the first 3 miles, finally we leave the Buck
Creek campground over the bridge and sharp left onto some more singletrack. Camp Sheppard comes at 45 minutes and I'm the poster boy of relaxation. Oops, I just remembered what I forgot to do, where's the nearest portapotty? A mile ahead. Ooh, I don't know if I can wait that long, fortunately it's less than that. Salvation came in a green box, a knock on the door and I hear my name asking for more TP, I finish and open up and see Jeff Trigg, it's a small world after all.
Considerably lightened, I break like the wind and head down the trail where I meet and will
play leapfrog with two fellow racers for the next 11 hours. Brian and Mary ask me if I want
to pass, no, it's OK. We make light conversation, then we hit switchbacks and start the
first climb which is over 8 miles long. I'm walking. Brian speeds off ahead, Mary moves to
the side to let me pass. 2:45 I hit Ranger Creek, water only, I'm wearing my 3L camelback so I'm good, thanks.
The higher up, it's starts to cool down and my hands are freezing. I neglected to bring
gloves, cause gee, it's summer, but I really suffer and trying anything to warm up my hands, under my shirt, under my armpits, down my shorts (this got quite a few looks from the female competitors, but they weren't offering to warm me up so I had to make do) I couldnt get into a kind of rhythm running because my hands would lose feeling and I had to walk to get warm over and over again. This was really stupid and I'm starting to sweat BUCKETS. Another thing about this race was due to the singletrack and the USATF championships, you had get out of the way, which meant standing off to the side and letting those that had already hit the turnaround at Corral Pass come first. First and second place may be the result of someone getting in the way and there's prize money up for grabs, you should let them pass. I know, so you stop for 15 seconds, big deal, well, 15 seconds times 120 people running towards you, that's 1800 seconds. That's 30 minutes.
I finally hit the crest of the hill and make my way towards Corral Pass, I'm starving, I
haven't eat a thing for 3.5 hours and it's starting to take its toll. I spot Marie Boucher
from Coquitlam who said I'm close to the food and there's a lot of it. Yay.
Corral Pass: 4:00. I'm loading up on chips, watermelon, jelly bellys, dump my camelback for
two handhelds and a waistpack.
Don, Jacquie, Carrie and Lisa are at the aid station, providing helpful advice and key
photography. Meanwhile I'm wasting time and all the other runners have checked in and gone out. William Emerson is at the aid station bundled up in a down filled jacket and I'm
freezing in my sweat soaked tshirt. William hands me a PROBAR (380 calories, vegan trailmix) I change into my Blue CFA shirt which is ironic, because I now have to catch everybody cause I'm the last runner. I know I'm the last because the sweeper is coming towards me. I'm starting to get worried, but the sweeper assures me that I'm still ahead of the cutoff and will make up time on the downhill. Slowly the calories consumed translate into more energy and I'm running with a purpose - I don't want to be last! I reload my bottles after passing Mary at Ranger Creek and head towards Buck Creek.
Of course it wouldn't be a Baldwin race report, if I didn't fall at least once and sure
enough on the third switchback I spy another runner but in my eagerness to pick him off I
didn't see the root and wipe out not on the switchback, but across it. I go down with a
yell, taking most of it on my left elbow, knee and groin, my handhelds protected me from the impact as I Superman down the hill, roll on my back down the scree, both waterbottles go flying, sunglasses too and my right calf cramps. And things were going so well too at the 25 mile mark. Don, the guy I was trying to catch, said "Are you okay?", as I trying to scramble back up the hill. He said, just slide down but I didn't want to get DQ'd by shortcutting the course however unintentionally it may have seemed. Plus I had to retrieve my bottles, glasses and my dignity, I used the adrenaline from the fall to my advantage, seeking medical attention at Buck Creek and settled in to a somewhat easier pace when I kicked my right foot on an exposed rock, gonna miss that toenail. (Author note, after turning black, it fell out today in the shower)
I pull into Buck Creek 6:15:13 and immediately get some much needed first aid, Carrie Graham (who took all these photos btw) was concerned about my injuries, but they were surface stuff, of greater concern was the bruise I took near the groin. 3 inches to the right and this report may be written in a hospital bed. I'm not feeling all that great and am
considering dropping, when I spy Brian who has caught up to me and looks like he just
dropped out. Don said I'm now 40 minutes under the cutoff (At WR50 enforced cutoffs take
place after Buck Creek, he also hands me a double handful of Succeed caps. These are some serious electrolyte pills, one caps holds 300 mg of sodium and a very powerful lactic acid buffer, normally I don't try anything new in a race, especially those that are 50 miles long but I stashed them in my waist pack for emergency use. I get my bottles refilled, I'm still not eating enough and hoping it's not going to hurt me. I pay my respects to Rod and Kelsey Trigg who are just content to loiter and under the advice of Don who said,"As long as you don't @#$! around at the aid stations and maintain your pace, you should be able to finish. So stop @#$%ing around and move!"
And with that I was off and running for 8 minutes as I enjoyed the shade of the singletrack
but soon slowed down from the exposed sections before the last hill which only lasted 8.5
miles. Fortunately there was an aid station at 32 miles as Marie Boucher from Coquitlam
would say "just to break up the monogamy of the trail" I start climbing and my pace is
pathetic, I'm being passed by twos and threes, I start to get lightheaded from the elevation
climb, I've burned off 5000 calories but only 900 and soon I'm in last place again. I
trudged forward, I'm really dehydrated, my testosterone levels are just shooting off the
scale. Feelings of self doubt, hopelessness, fear of DNFing flood my being and I'm starting
to hallucinate. All of my fears, the voices in my head has just manifested itself in the
form of my ex-girlfriend who's telling me to drop out. Just quit. You weren't prepared, you
haven't recovered from KK, you're a failure.
Just this once, I'm glad I'm in last place so no one has to see me arguing with thin air. I
know she's not really here, that it's my subconscious mind voicing my own fears through her
face, but it's so good to see her. I'm losing it on a colossal level, I just want to lose
myself, but I know if I give in, I'll give up. In case of emergency take a cap, hell, take
'em all! I force myself to start climbing, she's pleading me to stop. She's telling me to choose again, I tell her and I tell myself, I choose to move forward, to continue. I keep going, slowly her voice fades away and she's gone. I pause briefly and with renewed purpose I make it to Fawn Ridge in 7:40:08, it's 2:10pm and I'm still 40 minutes under the cutoff.
The nice thing about being in last place is when you get to an aid station, you are treated
like royalty. There's no one to fight over that last wedge of watermelon, you're not
competing with who can fill their bottles the fastest and there's a nice comfy lawn chair
with your name on it. I plop down, get my 2nd drop bag and my big ass thermos of chicken
noodle soup. I'm content to pour in a cup and drink it down, but my greed for all things hot
and salty overtakes me and I'm chugging it. I look to my left and I see a guy sitting down
under a blanket, he's whiter than his tank top. (Scott McCoubrey, the RD, said that Fawn
Ridge was the part where most runners drop out. There's movement to my right, a couple that I was chasing through most of the day had come back to the aid station. He was fine, but she couldn't continue. She takes the chair next to Blanket guy, okay I'm outta here, but first, change into a dress shirt, cap with bandana, foreign legion style and proceed to consume half of the aid station by myself. Mmmmm, PBJ wraps, watermelon wedges, coke and mountain dew, ohohohohohhhhh. More Succeed caps, another probar: I'm bringing ziploc bags for takeout next time.
The food kicks in with the caps and the coke and I'm making good time up the last 3 miles of uphill, a brief 1 mile downhill a road crossing and another 1 mile climb and I hit Suntop 37 miles in 9:40, still 40 minutes under the cutoff. The folks at Suntop were great, hawaiian
skirts,happy to refill my bottles, grabbed a few gels. I do a quick wardrobe adjustment and
run down the longest hill ever. 6.4 mile downhill on a fire road. Sound familiar? Big thanks
to Bill Dagg and Ean Jackson for Great Peak Ascent and Mountain Hwy madness. Woohoo! I'm flying down this hill and popping caps like crazy, the GU20 mix was a little too strong. I'm running 8:30 pace and I easily pass 10 people who may have taken it too hard on the uphill and burned themselves out for the downhill. I'm running so hard that my water bottle has popped out of my waist pack! Normally on a downhill of this magnitude, I'd be worried about cramping on my quad or my calf, but the Succeed Caps worked like a charm, for the first time I was having fun, unfortunately the downhill ended and there was a 1 mile flat stretch to the Skookum flats aid station. I was having problems now: The dual ankle braces I was wearing was sheer overkill. This course was fairly groomed for the first half and got even easier in the second half. Don't believe me? There's a competitor who's wearing flip-flops, not trail sandals, or BITEs with the reinforced toe guard, we're talking flip-flops!
I was also having the worst chafing issue on my bum and didn't know what it was from. (In the shower that night, I found the culprit: Pine needles. Lots of them. I was bleeding in places I didn't know I had) Fortunately the dust bandana doubled as an emergency wipe, which I won't be using that again.
Ahem, so, Skookum Flats, 43.5 miles. last drop bag. Made a decision, dumped my waistpack which really wasn't much use, plus it chafed into my back. Just the two handhelds from now on, which I asked the good folks to dump half out and add water. Went with the black CFA and red bandana, this last section was the most technical part of the course and by technical I mean running through the Varley trail. Of course, after 44 miles, every exposed root, rock and rolling hill is magnified by a factor of 10. Still, if you had the legs and didn't burn yourself on the downhill this is a lot of fun to run. I had a blast, no cramping at all and I didn't want to get passed by anybody and managed to catch two more who were on survival mode. Finally I burst out out of the singletrack and make my way to the finish, they've taken down the clock, I ditch my bottles for a last burst of speed and welcome the roar of the crowd as they announce my name: Lee Baldwin, I mean Baldwin Lee in 12:20:45! Yep, I'm three for three, maybe I should have it changed and get it over with.
Baldwin running faster than the speed of a digital camera
Hoo boy, I take a moment to reflect on how my race went, but Don soon tells me that they got free beer and after the day I've had, I could use a drink or twelve.
Big thanks goes out to my personal crew of Don, Jacquie and Carrie.
What do I now? I hear rumblings of CFA at Stormy and while 40 miles of Squamish trails does sound appealing, I'll think I'll sit this one out, but if you are doing it I'll be there in
spirit and offering spirits at Powerhouse Aid Station!
See you on the trails, I'll be the guy handing out cups of chicken soup with tons of garlic!
