Leaky Toes and Frankensteinien Walk

I did it. I completed my first 50 mile trail race in a relaxing 9 hours and 21 minutes. It has now been over three days since the run and my body is still recovering. Although I had a serious frankenstienien like walk and whole body tiredness the day after the run, I felt like I might be able to start running again within a day or two. Then I went to cut my toenails. Immediately after cutting my two large toenails, blood and fluid seeped out from under the nails. Three days later my toes are still in pretty bad shape! I hope my body starts healing quickly. I want to get out and go running!

The race was amazing (and hard). Everything was going well up until mile 18 or so. The sky was a brilliant blue and Mt. Rainier was watching over as we climbed to Corral Pass and then turned around and began descending from the ridge. It was at the first steep descent where I tripped and fell face forward, sliding at least 10 feet down the trail. Another runner was nearly to me before I got up. He made some comment about the joys of trail running and continued down the trail. I got up and found that my race number was torn off and my entire front torso and legs were caked in dirt. What was worse was that my handheld water bottles were covered in dirt. I was so angry about falling that I just re-attached my race bib and started back down the trail.

Within a few miles of my fall I started to suffer from acid reflux. I think it was the GU2O drink which caused my stomach to go on the fritz, but I don't really know. The reflux continued throughout the remainder of the race. It was really annoying and definitely slowed me down, but fortunately it did not keep me from finishing the race. To be honest, the reflux and the slow recovery are dampening my enthusiasm to run another 50 plus miles, but I am starting to think about trying the Western States 100 mile next summer!!

I met some great people at the race finish, including David Horton who is currently attempting a new speed record for the Pacific Crest Trail. Although running ultra-distances seems relatively normal to me, what Mr. Horton is attempting seems downright crazy. He is on schedule to complete the entire PCT, all 2650 miles of it, in under 63 days!! He run/hikes on average 40 miles a day! for weeks! He says that he plans on being done, at the Canadian border, by August 9. Good luck and god-speed (or should I say bear-speed)!