a new chapter begins...part one

there was a day just about a year ago that mike and i headed out for an easy run at buffalo park. we didn't make it far...less than two miles into our run we both had to walk. we were both down on our luck, unmotivated, out of shape and searching. it was pretty disappointing making the slow walk back that day, pathetic really. we were far from seeing the light at that moment but we did offer each other a glimpse of hope that one day in the future we'd look back and remember that very place and that very time and be amazed at how far we'd come.

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transrockies crew
transrockies was like nothing i'd experienced before. the organization was exceptional...think of the logistics of running a 6-day, 113-mile event visiting numerous mountain towns in the heart of the rocky mountains, feeding over 300 athletes and volunteers, assembly and disassembly of over 150 tents each day, the permits, the checkpoint and feed stations at the top of mountains, etc, etc. there were never any lines or waiting, meals began on schedule and stages went off on time every day. the transrockies organizers pulled it off flawlessly all the while remaining so welcoming and hospitable...simply amazing and highly recommended.

training and prep
there's not a whole lot i'd change in our training and prep for this race. i found a good balance between getting the work done and not allowing it to dominate my life at the same time. the nine runs across the colorado river at the bottom of the grand canyon proved invaluable in preparing my legs for the many thousands of feet of steep descents during the race, and the psychological impact of those runs were some of the most powerful i've experienced as a runner...both the high's and low's provided new glimpses into the depths of my physical and mental strengths and weaknesses.

i think we hit four 2-day efforts and one 3-day effort to prepare ourselves for the day to day rigors of the race, and i'd probably keep it just about there in the future. they're an absolute necessity to be competitive at TR but at the same time they're awfully tough on the body and the risk of injury skyrockets every time they're attempted.

i ran four tempo workouts in the mid to low 5-minute range in the two months leading up to the race and that seemed sufficient to feel very relaxed running in the 6-minute range over some of the flatter sections of the race.

if there's one thing i may change if we were to run TR next year it would be to begin focused training another four weeks earlier. the first six weeks of training this year were pretty intense and somewhat rushed that i often felt i was running and living close to the edge and just a small nudge could have pushed me over. a more gradual buildup would be smarter, safer and much more productive in the long run.

the race
unbelievable really...awesome mountains, beautiful meadows, incredible vistas, thin air and a good amount of blood mix in with the sweat. to say the course was challenging wouldn't nearly do it justice, from insanely steep grinds, 10+ mile climbs, steep technical 5+ mile descents, 12600' air, river crossings that instantly turned the feet into frozen blocks, it had it all.

my back had seized up the tuesday before the race began and i didn't run a step the four days leading up to the start. mike and i briefly entertained the thought of not even heading to colorado but came to our senses shortly after. it was a little nerve wracking the night before in buena vista not knowing if we'd get more than a few steps past the starting line. thus was the routine for the next 6 days, there wasn't a single morning we didn't wonder if my body would allow me to do what it was supposed to. it was a confusing range of symptoms revolving from intense pain in the hip to my hip flexor locking up to my back seizing up and finally going into spasms on the final stage. each morning mike would hang back a bit and watch in horror as i hobbled through the first few miles until i loosened up a bit and slowly began to settle into a more acceptable running stride. it was disappointing to have been held back so much from injury as opposed to fatigue and soreness from blasting a solid run.

mike and i were both in monster shape heading into this race but i could never find my proper stride and ended up holding mike up just about every day. he ran with the pack all 113 miles and carried the fluids for the majority. not once did he complain, ask me to pick it up or show frustration with the pace. he knew i was doing everything in my power to keep moving the legs as quickly as possible under the circumstances and offered only encouragement and positive words throughout the six stages. incredible patience, really amazing and another show of what a quality person mike is.

there were a number of other teams from flag at the race and their excitement and encouragement was awesome. it was such a positive atmosphere each evening at the dinner and awards amongst everyone there, it kept me smiling and feeling good about the next day. everyone ran tough and it was fun to share stories of the days trials and tribulations each evening. our friends and family back home were excited to keep up with the results each day and their words of encouragement were so valuable as well! i'm proud to call flagstaff home and it was a privilege to represent flag at TR.

thinking outside the box
mike and i broke just about every training "rule" we knew of training for transrockies and it was almost liberating to throw those rules out the window and start from scratch. we didn't place any limits on ourselves. from dropping into the canyon to the long runs day after day, i knocked down so many self imposed walls that existed before this experience. i discovered new levels of what i'm physically and mentally capable of and now find myself wondering what the next level might be like.

i won't forget transrockies...i was inspired by each and every runner out there. it was a tough week but i felt a certain amount of comfort and peace knowing i was surrounded by amazing people who were loving the challenge and experiencing the same highs and lows as i. i feel pretty fortunate to have had the opportunity to share the experience and run amongst so many other amazing people.

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mike, you remember that day at buffalo? we did it brother! till our next adventure...

rob