[688] DC Peaks 50 – Utah (dnf)

Uffdah Utah, Another DNF — a did not finish race, but it was a blessing in disguised.

My 50 mile DC Peaks race in Salt Lake City ended as soon as I started after 10-ish into it at the first aid station, due to hypothermia.  I wanted to continue but the staff noticed my uncontrollable shivering and decided to pull me out of the race. There is no arguing for a medical reason. We never argue with volunteers since that would be an automatic DNF and ban from all future races. We always treat volunteers well. 

At the time, I was debating inside me if to continue or not before being pulled. The staff made the decision easier for me.  There was no more ifs, only obey and accept the outcome. The decision was then out of my hand. I was shivering uncontrollably even long after getting back to the hotel and after changing into my warm and dry clothes.  It was always the right call to be cut for health reason.  And I was glad I did not continue. Who knows what would have happened if I did not get warm and dry and were out on the trail for another few hours before I get to the next aid station.  It would likely have ended in a medical emergency or worse. So it was definitely a right call though the decision was not for me to make at the time.

The race was originally to be started at 5, and I originally planned for an even earlier start at 4 am (which was an option at this race).  Due to the wet weather condition, the course was rerouted to a lower elevation and thus should have been an “easier” course and the start time was pushed back to 6 am for everyone (in the 50 miler). 

I showed up, and felt I was appropriately dressed for the occasion with layered clothes and 3 rain jackets with me.  I only had one on at the time, with the other two packed away.  Wind was blowing but I felt warm enough and a bit hot as I started running.  I incorrectly believed that soon the sun would be up and temperature would continue to rise and it would have been enough and even with a little rain added, it was not anything I could not handle as I have done this many times in the past.  That proved wrong real fast as the rain and cold wind started to beat down on us.

The rain started when I was about a mile in.  It was a light rain at first and I had on a light rain jacket.  It was still sufficient at the time.  Then the wind blew on my wet clothes.  The thing is running in the rain would get us wet regardless what we wear.  Pretty soon, what I wore was insufficient to keep the cold draft from getting in. 

Our route for the first 10 miles was an out and back lollipop with some rolling hills and one major climb near the turn around.  It was nothing too technical.  Most of the time, we were on the exposed side of the ridge overlooking houses below, with occasionally dipped under treelines and into tree covers.  Those time were great, being sheltered away from the rain and wind.  But the sheltered portions of the course were short and few in between.  At the end of the outbound, morning came and we climbed our first mountain (pass) maybe about couple thousands of feet upward with the gray sky above.  It was not too hard.  But we were met with the really cold rain, and it might have been sleets or freezing rain, plus the wind blowing at us constantly and we had nowhere to hide.  My temperature started to drop and to me it was no longer fun.

Our pace was slow on the ascent.  Soon, in my mind I was thinking how much longer before we get back and was wishing to be back in a sheltered place.  My hands though had both mitten and glove on were soaked and cold.  The gloves were not waterproof. How I wished I had them someway somehow, even if they were kitcken sink gloves (as a friend of mine wore them in a race at the Reverse Ring before and how ridiculous he looks I thought and now I could not be happier if I had those on), just something to keep my hands dry and warm. My pants too were not waterproof either.  Legs were of a lesser concern. Still, they were losing heat and having them covered and keeping them warm would have done me much good.  At the time, I knew my shirts were wet.  Running in the rain, you get wet regardless what you wear.  The key is having clothing that could still provide warmth even when they are wet. I was longing for my fleece jacket even a puffy jacket would have be good but I did not have those with me.  They were in the car, back at home. After a few hours plastered by my icy wet shirt, my body no longer could maintain its core temperature.

  At the time, I did not know the actual temperature, but when I was rescued and on my way back to the hotel, the car temperature reading was 42F at 10:30 AM.  So, around 6-7 AM, the windchill and wet temperature was probably around 32-35 F. I did not have much winter gear on.  I was running as if it were spring or cooler summer night.  The temperature might have been even lower at the pass or top of the ridge. I was really lucky, my body did not give out even earlier on.

I got into the aid station at mile 10-12-ish.  Seeing the two blazing fire bins was a welcome sight.  Rain seemed to pour harder as we huddled under the aid station’s canopy.  Nobody wanted to leave the comfortable aid station and get back into the rain.  Everyone was staying close.  My first order of business was to eat something and to stand next to the fire for some warmth. However, after 10-15 minutes there, I was not getting any warmer.  Volunteers helped me with my hydration vest and clothes. I was asking around who would be quitting there.  Everyone was saying hell no, but none wanted to leave either.  Some eventually left and continued on with their races. But most of us were just standing there hunching over the fire. 

It was not a crew aid station, so no friends or families were around.  How I wish my crew and friend would be there anyhow, so at least I could go inside a car, which is generally a no no too, a ground for DQ (disqualification).  The next best thing was to put on some of drier clothes I had brought along, like the rain poncho.  I had to get my hydration vest off first that is under my rain jacket to reach my poncho that was stored in one of the pockets. So I had to put off the jacket before taking off my hydration vest.  From the vest, I got out the rain poncho. It all crumpled up into a small pod and it had to be expanded and fluffed out.  This was taking a bit long time to do since my hands no longer obeying me. Everything was wet and sticking and it was hard to take things off or put on.

It was a bit too late to put on a rain poncho, but I felt I might give/trap more heat if I have it on.  I did pack a hodini in my hydration vest, but again it was too late for that.  I did not bother with it.  If I had that on earlier, it might have saved my race. So because I was wet and cold and was getting colder every minute. It took me maybe half an hour or so to put everything back on at the aid station even with couple people around me helping.  I think the staff realized by then, I was in no condition to go back out onto the trail and thus they pulled me a few minutes after checking on me.  

At the time, I think they also were talking about calling S-R (search and rescue) for some runners they had not accounted for.  So they did not want to risk me going back out either.

I was shaken like leaves from head to toes and was miserable.  The words from the aid station captain was a welcome relieved to me.

I was grateful they also asked someone to put me in a van afterward and turned the heat on high while I called and waited for my crew and friend to pick me up.  I was shivering the whole time during the wait.  Even talking was hard.  I pretty much continue shaking even hours later.

There were others who came in with me and who did not leave the aid station either.  I think they later ended up dropping there.  They were not as cold as I was, but the weather was not great.  Throughout the day, the rain continued.  The temperature did rise to around 52-53 by noon before dropping back down to low 40s. It would have been a very long miserable day even if I could continue on had I not been pulled from the race or suffered from hypothermia.

Lesson learned, dress warmly especially when it is winter/fall rain.  I brought rain pants but at the last minute before the race start, I decided not to use it since they were baggy and would get in the way of running. 

I could have put on more layers early in the race.  I knew it was going to rain, and I should have put on the rain poncho at the start or soon after the rain started instead of waiting till I got to the aid station when it was already too late.  Again, not saying whether the outcome might have been any different, but definitely would have increased the odds of me remaining in the race.  It is what it is.

Did the altitude limit my running?  I think it did.  After 5 miles, people started running on the downhills on the way back to the aid station at the start, I found myself unable to run and keep up with them even though I did not think they were moving very fast, which was very rare for me not to be able to keep up.  It was definitely a sign something was wrong. I think the altitude was affecting my ability to run.  Another explantion was I was already worned out from the rain, wind and the cold temperature and my body had overspent all its energy.  

So it was a very short race for me.

The positive outcome was I got out of the rain before many other runners.  I was back at the hotel for a good rest and then a good long meal.  We did go back to the course to one of the aid stations to pick up my drop bag.  It was good to see some runners were still running/moving strong.

For lunch, we got to try a Korean hot soup in Salt Lake City’s Chinatown and Galbi (flavored grilled meat).   Then we went for some good tea and dessert at a bakery next door named 85C, I like anything hot that day.  Too bad they did not served hot ginger tea. Finally we spent a nice evening to unwind at a friend’s house before flying home very early the next morning. In all, it was a running trip became a vacation.  If not for me dropping out, none of those would have happened.

As for the trip, all was not lost, since I went out to Salt Lake couple days before the race, I was able to hike some of trails on Thrusday afternoon after we landed.   That was all worth it.  As for Friday, I we did not do much other than having lunch at the Rooster (got to try Utah beer) with a local friend and went for bib pickup. 

The slower pace of life rather than the DC rush-rush was refreshing.  I have an intense schedule for the rest of the month ahead, and so the 10 mile run actually put me in a good position for some later uncoming races.  It definitely would prepare me for a winter race I want to do in February (The Reverse Ring and possibly a Massanutten’s Revenge) in term what kind of clothes I needed to wear.

I do want to go back again.  There are so many other races on my schedule, I am not sure if I would be able to do so next year.  From this race, I was introduced to Goat Rattler (Ogden 100), which was either hosted by the same race organization or related.  I wanted to attempt it in the future, possible be next year if the stars aligned.  September though is a very busy month for racing. They say it is harder than the Bear or Wasatch 100.  So, the reason I was in Utah I miss those big mountains in the west when I was first encountered them last year at Wasatch 100. Definitely, I want to be back in Utah for more.