It has been a busy year. I am still trying to process the race I just ran. I am ok with the DNF. It was a good run but I did not reach the finish or even got to where I hope, Skytop and beyond.
The good part. I felt this year, I ran it better than last year. I was more relaxed. My pace while a bit slower was smooth. I came into Hyner 15 minutes behind last year pace, but left there 45 minutes after. I was 30 minutes behind at Tomb Flats compared to last year, meaning, I was running faster after the Hyner station.
Last year, I was struggling even during the first few miles and stumbling earlier on rocks and was the last few in the back. This year, I was slow but I had a bunch of slower runners around and that might created an impression I was doing fine. I did not stumble and I had the flow almost the whole day until night time, even then, I felt I was moving fine.
I hit the first climb and having learned from last year, dialed back. So I was able to reach the top without feeling dizzy or blackout. I did the same for other climbs.
It was wonderful to come back a second time to run into friends or people I ran with last year. Kathleen, the mother and daughter team I ran with last year came back for a second try. I was encouraged to see them again. This year we only leapfrogged each other a few times.
I crossed path with other runners early such as Scott, Jeremy, and Bern. Bern was the guy I met in the middle of the night as we race for the cutoff last year to Tomb Flats.
I made new friends Martinez and Renae. We were in one big group trying to make the cutoff.
Unfortunately, this year I was cut early on at mile 64, Tomb Flats. I somehow mistakenly thought the cutoff was 4 AM instead of 3, so was not rushing to leave some earlier aid stations such as Hyner Run. It came back to bite me.
I had Randy to pace me in the night because that where I struggled with last year from Tomb Flats to morning. At Hyner, my friend, Jeremy, has dropped. So I borrowed his pacer, Wayne, to go with me for the earlier night portion.
It was about a 20 mile segment. I was moving fine in the first 10 miles. Then after midnight, it got hard for me. I was low in energy. The climb got hard. When one problem popped up, other issues too showed up. My feet started getting blisters. They were fine for whole day until then. Same with chaefing. All suddenly, things that normally did not bother me did. Moving was painful. I tried eating, then I had a belly ache and wanted to find a place to poop. I did not want to poop on the trail so, I was going to do it when I reached Tomb Flats. It was hard to run when everything seemed to go wrong. Going downhills was supposed to be easy, but the few miles left before Tomb Flats became tough. A group of runners passed us. I was not aware of the cutoff and was still thinking I had time. I usually had a good six sense to when to pick up the pace to meet the cutoff. Their frantic pace should have set off bells in my head.
The heat, and humidity bothered a lot of runners this year, it did not effect me as much. I was drenched the whole time. My feet were wet. Still, I believed I was adapting well. I think, what got to me, was being behind on electrolytes and salt. This realization came when Jeremy told me afterward, I might need more salt seeing me being stiffed. I was stiffened during the last 5-6 miles, which made going downhill hard. If I had carried salt tabletes, I might have been able to pull it through.
Thinking back, even if I were aware of it, I was too beaten up by the trail by then to continue and still had a good chance to finish. When I came into Tomb Flats, they gave me the news I did not make it. It was both a disappointment and a relief.
It is still hard to think of why I did not do as well as last year and what I can do better next time. I could train better with climbing the hills. I could improve my endurance, especially on the runnable sections during the afternoon after the Dutchmen aid station. Yes, I could be more efficient at aid stations. I stayed over 30 minutes at Hyners. Plus, 5-10 mintutes at other later stations that ate into the clock.
Thank you to my team and people who helped me, Randy, Wayne, Charleen, John, and Jeremy. They responded to the fast changing conditions. They were there to support me to the end. My pacer and race chief, Randy, he spent more time planning and squaring everything away more than I did. He was there at every crew stations and he drove me back after I was timed out. A big shoutout to Wayne for last minute to jump in to pace me to Tomb Flats.
Thank you for the volunteers and race officials.
In awe 
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