My new motto. I came to a realization this weekend. I work out and work out and keep myself in check if I miss a work out or feel that I have not worked hard enough. I set goals, which in my case, are events that I pay for to compete or participate in. These goals help me maintain and improve my health status. But in my mind, I never work hard enough. I can always do better. Go faster. Lift more. Carry heavier things. Do more reps. And so on.
Pre-start team photo.
This weekend I participated in the Grand Teton Relay with my favourite group of adventure-driven people- Team RWB. I had never been to the Grand Tetons and heard they were utterly breath-taking and worth a visit. The race started in Ashton, ID, just outside of West Yellowstone (the West entrance to Yellowstone NP). Our team was made up of 12 members, each of us running three separate legs for a total of ~179mi, thus ending in Jackson, WY (i.e. Jackson Hole, the ski/winter resort). Six people in two “vans” starting early Friday morning and were given roughly 36 hours to get to the finish line. The 36h starts when the first wave goes at 0530h on Fri. We started at 0800 and thus had three less hours to get to the finish line than those that started earlier. I ran legs 12, 24, and 36 (the last leg). According to the race course map, I ran:
· 12: Robinson Creek (4.2mi)- moderate
· 24: Targee Upper (3.2mi)- very hard
· 36: Paradise City (4.9mi)- easy
· Total: 12.3mi
http://www.grandtetonrelay.com/course.php
Van 2 shenanigans!
We left immediately after I worked an entire shift at work on Thurs and drove through the night in a Chevy Suburban packed with eight people and all their gear and the needed supplies for the next two days. Needless to say, the drive over was terribly uncomfortable and not good for morale. It did not help that my uterus was having a battle inside me, spewing forth its vomitus menses and making my hormonal level make a sine curve look mild. We arrived late/early and had shit for sleep outside Ashton High School. I ended up waiting almost 14h before I ran my first leg, somewhere in the mountains on a trail, at night in the pitch dark mostly alone. Granted, the van we were in was considered a support vehicle, stopping along the way with the runners providing provisions (water, electrolytes, etc.), this was not very possible on my leg of the run on the narrow dirt road. Did I mention it rained/poured earlier, so the trail was like running through sludgy snot?
I bet that road would be breath-taking during the daylight. From what I could tell, I was running on a ridgeline. To my right was thick forest. To my left it seemed to drop off to a void. I went mostly down at a slight grade for the first half, crossed a bridge and then up for the last half. Let me tell you, trying to run in sludge is not easy. And then you throw in mist from the recent rains and your breath condensing in the cold air in front of you, causing your little head light view to be blurry is not an easy thing to do. Now add in not just one, but two cattle guard crossings…at night, running, and wet and not maintained, makes for an interesting run. It was possibly one of the most spiritual things I have ever done. I could not see the stars due to my headlight. But I saw them before I started. Running in the dark at night by yourself in a place with creatures that put you on the food chain (I was supposed to carry bear spray with me) and pushing yourself to do as best you can is a wonderful experience. I think everyone should try it. Once I saw the “1 mile left” sign, I decided that I would run as hard as I could to get to the finish. I nearly threw up when I passed on my GTR snap wrist band to the next runner. Whew! I did it!....now only 2 legs left, wooo!
Just before leg 1 for me. 
Sunrise before leg 2 for me.I got about 2h of sleep in the Chevy after that before we were up again going through our legs. I got to see the sun set and the sun rise in/at the mountains on Fri to Sat. Watching the sun rise over the Tetons with my teammates running carrying the American Flag is a great thing to behold. I am so proud of them. Each transition had at least one port-a-potty at it. I made use of each and every transition for the most part to make sure I was empty by the time I go to my turn to run. Few things are as bad as needing to poo while running in a race. I did not have time to buy food before the race due to work, so my teammates generously let me eat theirs. By the time I got to my second leg, the combination of irregular eating and sleeping and nerves, I got diaheria(sp) and a terrible stomach ache. My teammate stood there with me while I waited for our other teammate to arrive to pass on the bracelet to me. This leg was to be the hardest run I have ever done: 3.2 miles going up Ski Hill Road to Grand Targhee with an elevation increase of roughly 780’. This was a leg where the van could not support me. I had to carry all my own supplies.
The run was beautiful. The higher I went, the better the scenery. Gorgeous! I could see for miles all around. My goal was to finish in an hour. I told my teammate since I felt so terrible, I would probably walk most of it. Well, once I got started, I just could not simply give in and walk. So I started to run. And I did not stop…much. A few times my legs simply could not go on. I had to slow a bit to recoop my energy. But never for long. I thought my breathing would be rough, especially due to the higher altitude I was running at, but it was my legs that kept tiring out. My calves were tightening up. I got to the “1 mile left” sign and decided to push it for all I had worth. But the road kept curving and I kept expecting the finish to appear at some point. I had to walk a few more times. THEN I SAW IT! THE FINISH!!!! I was so happy. I was so tired. No, beyond tired, I was exhausted. I sprinted for it. And then, in all my excitement to see and get to the finish, I started to cry and began to hyperventilate. I collapsed. Yup. I fell to my hands and knees. The volunteer ran to me as I began to crawl on my hands and knees to the finish. I would be damned if I was not going to finish that hellaciously hard leg. My teammates ran to me. They helped pick me up as I was sobbing and hyperventilating. BUT I DID IT! I CROSSED THAT GODDAMNED FINISH LINE!!! Thanks to my teammates for cheering and helping me along. I sat and tried to get my breath. Someone threw a fur coat on my shoulders. And then it happened. My teammate told me my time. I was prepared for one hour or more. But nope. IT WAS 49 MINUTES!!! I ran that fucker in only 49minutes!! It was one of the happiest most satisfying moments of my life. I got my breath back. Hugged my teammates who were the main reason I ran so hard. I did not want to disappoint them. I wanted to run for them. And I did. I ran for them and myself. I could not be happier with my “performance.”
Then we got a brief break. Ate our first real meal in almost 1.5 days. Napped in a city park. And attempted to relax as best we could before our last legs of the race. Due to the time it took us to run the race so far, we had to cut short some of our runs for this last part in order to make it to the finish line in time. The two hardest legs of the entire race ran straight up WY Hwy 22 at a 10% grade. My teammate that did this carried the American flag with him. I was so proud of him. I watched him doing this and felt my chest swell with pride for Team RWB and him for making such a sacrifice. So many bystanders and participants asked us about Team RWB and thanked us for carrying the flag. I am glad to have found such a great group of people to spend time with and accomplish awesome adventures alongside. When he got to the top, the next ones ran down that 10% for 5.8mi. Ho. Lee. Shyte! Beast mode!!
Then I ran some with the next runner, while eating cheese. We got to use a flushing toilet before that. Our first one in almost 2 days! It was glorious. Then it was go time. I got to run along a greenbelt carrying the American flag for the last leg of our momentous journey. People went by me and thanked me. Cars drove by and honked and waved. I was carrying the flag. I was so tired. I wanted to walk. There was no shade. But I was not giving up. I could do it. I was representing something to be thankful and hopeful for. I was going to be the best representative I could be. I was not giving in! My teammate joined me. Then it was time for the entire team to join us so we could cross the finish line together. I was in front, carrying the flag high. I sprinted that shit. My chest swelled with pride. People were cheering us on. We did it!!! 179 miles done! FUCK YES!
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/feb/28/joy-of-six-triathlon
Thank you Team RWB and Grand Teton Relay race organisers for such a wonderful event. It was monumental. I will never forget it. I accomplished things I never thought possible. I surpassed my very expectations. I am better than I give myself credit for. And my teammates are more beastly than I thought possible. They are such a kind and caring group of people that truly know the meaning of teamwork. Thank you Van 2 teammates! And thanks Teammate for the Julie Moss comparison. Not quite, my friend. But I am flattered nonetheless. J
I may or may not be on here much in the next few weeks. My hysterectomy is this week. We shall see how I feel and how lucid I am afterward.
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