Mt Sneffels Marathon

Published August 11, 2018

Bib pickup, quick swing thru Downtown, pricey fish dish at Ouray’s Bon Ton. Marathon ready.

Welcomed the cool high-altitude temps at Saturday’s Start – that’d save me the first 2 hours. Ridgway to Ouray ‘n back. Wide-open dirt road course, evergreen-lush first couple miles, sun-exposed as elevation climbed. Topped out near 8000ft.

If one can manage the constant steady UP, some of Colorado’s finest alpine scenes. Little Switzerland.

Trail road peaked 9 miles in, big valley descent next 4 miles into Ouray Hot Springs Park (marathon return). Day’s race elites ran the Half. African men & women pushed fast on-the-left, closely followed by the area’s best college runners.

Took electrolytes early & often but stomach-emptied at mile 10. Tough GI day. Negotiated the course turnaround, headed back UP to Ridgway, dropped to a walk after 15 miles. Disheartening for the entire field to pass one-by-one on the return trek back.

Sun, altitude. Dizzy-staggered next hour. Drop, notta option ‘til mile 21 – dirt trail void, people AND vehicles.

Aid at 21 doused [me] with ice, refilled my hydration pak. Sucky day – only 5 miles more. These are the days I question why? How? Courage stripped, frustrated. Nerves raw, stomach pulsing/throbbing, throat dry from vomit charades. Push thru the pain. Anything is POSSIBLE. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Infommercial mantras no longer working. Physical struggle.

Ultimately I’d finish; new PW end time [Personal Worst].

Dehydrated, chilled, body shaky. Paralysis right side of my face. TIA, medic says. Don’t know the term. IV bag, long drive home tomorrow. Virtually INSTA-BETTER Sunday – 80%. Full motion before work Monday. Unexpected, crazy scary.

When blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time, also called transient ischemic attack (TIA), it can mimic stroke-like symptoms. These symptoms appear and last less than 24 hours before disappearing.

Ok. Breathe, exhale – one step at a time. Doc visit, blood work, endoscopy in 2 weeks. Relapse? STOP, let it go.

Airport pickup at 5pm; Stephen’s local thru Saturday. It’s Birthday Week – MY birthday 😊