Peades d'Aigua - A Short Day at the Office
I nearly DNS’d PDA – it turned out to be a DNF instead
Some acronyms:
DNS - Did Not Start
DNF - Did Not Finish
I nearly DNS’d PDA – it turned out to be a DNF instead.
Three main factors that led to the decision to drop out:
Overheating - I was wearing a Sugoi Piston long-sleeved base layer, my Running Room balaclava jacket, shorts, and BALEAF lightweight capris. The weather forecast called for scattered rain, thunderstorms, and plenty of cloud cover. It was cold and windy at the start line and I was actually shivering so I felt good about my clothing. About ten minutes into the race I had to peel off my jacket and wanted to take off the capris. When the gradient started to pick up I knew I was overdressed. This is a rookie mistake but I was so sure that the mountains would be chilly and damp and cold. I forgot the part about ascents making me heat up and sweat hard. This was so much like my first attempt at Golden Ultra in 2016.
In 2016 the mountains of Golden told me I wasn’t prepared enough. Overexertion - During Mozart I didn’t use my poles until around the 15km mark. I learned my lesson then and decided that I would use my poles earlier for PDA and save myself the extra effort of unassisted ascents. Note: I never trained with poles. (Insert “Nothing new on race day!!!” shouts from all runners here.) As I used the poles, my left shoulder felt like a nerve was being pinched and that radiated all the way down to the left side of my tailbone. This is a known trouble/sore spot and did not make me feel good at all.
Sweepers in sight - I could tell that the race sweepers – designated to be at the back of all runners and proceeding at the minimum speed required to complete the race at cutoff – were only a few minutes behind me. This did not bode well for my mental wellbeing. PDA reminded me of Golden Ultra when I first attempted Sweat, Blood, Tears in 2016 when I was also swept off the 60km course. As I entered the first aid station, I asked if there would be a bus that could take me back to Vielha at the next aid station, which was 15km away and on some of the more challenging terrain of the race, and I was told there would be none. I decided to drop out then. I was already pacing below minimum and the steeper ascents were up ahead.
How I’m feeling about my decision
At peace - I gave it a fighting chance. I know pre-race jitters can disproportionately impact how I experience the early stages of the race, but my heart rate was still hovering above 155 most of the time and my poor sleep didn’t help either. Years of racing and I can tell in my heart when I have what the race is asking for. I didn’t today, and while that’s heartbreaking, it’s okay.
Disappointed - I haven’t run an ultra since 2017 but I still hold on to the identity of an ultrarunner. I couldn’t put it together today, but I know I can. I have a few times before, but not at this altitude, total elevation gain, or so close to another race. I have so much to learn, so much distance to cover. The ultra distance doesn’t easily hand itself over, and it never will for me.
Pragmatic - I’m registered for a much longer race in September and as soon as I made the decision to stop, I knew I had to downgrade the distance. My mind may be willing but I must honour my fitness, and it simply isn’t there yet.
Val d’Aran is an incredibly breathtaking (literally and figuratively) place. After I dropped out, I was sent back to Vielha where I decided to go on a hike. That was more suited to my pace and current fitness and I was able to process what just happened. I’m so grateful to have made this journey, to witness the beauty of this region, and to have shared the mountain with so many gifted runners, many of whom are pushing through in what has become a surprisingly brightly sunny day.
There was something about Vielha that reminded me of my trip to Golden in 2016. I DNF’d the 60km stage in my first attempt back then – I returned in 2017, completed the whole race, and made my peace with the mountains. Similarly, I think the Vielha chapter of my story isn’t done yet.
