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Mono Cliffs Five Peaks Trail Race
Discipline: Trail Running
Distance: 11.2km
Date: Saturday August 12 , 2007
Venue: Mono Cliffs, Conservation Area
Contact Info.: www.5peaks.com
It was an extrememly hot day and I was sweating hard even before the start of the race. My stomach wasn’t doing too well with the heat. I had already made several trips to the bathroom on the way up! Getting there early to help out with the race organization was good for the nerves, but as the race got closer I was worried my stomach wasn’t going to make it.
This race was organized in age category wave starts, but I decided to start in the wave infront of mine as I was running the enduro race and wanted to start with the faster enduro racers. As I had helped mark the course the day before I knew the course fairly well. I knew to pace myself early on as there was a good climb after the 1km marker. I had pushed the stoller up this hill the day before and knew it was a killer!
The heat was crazy at the top of the hill as the trail opened up in to a meadow. Seeing the photo taken of myself after the race during this part I realized just how bad I must have been feeling. The look of concentration on my face was intense. All I can remember is thinking to myself, “this is going to be a long, hard race.” By 4kms I had lost sight of the racer I usually pace with. This was really demotivating and I started to let the negative thoughts creep in.
Back in to the forest the shade was a relief. I had marked only part of this section so I didn’t know how hard to push with the little I felt I had left. I had realized long before this was one of those “off” days. Those days where things just aren’t going the way you thought they would. The heat was definetly playing a huge role, but I think I just was exhausted. I have never done well in the heat, and I think knowing this set me up from the start to not race well.
I totally missed the lakes that had the special prize bottles in them. This was unique to the race. Racers had the opportunty to dive in shallow ponds and retrieve plastic bottles that contained prize vouchures. I also totally missed several markers and had no idea what kilometre I was at when my stomach could not take it anymore and let go! I stopped briefly to throw up, then seized the opportunity to grab a blackberry to wash the “lovely” taste from my mouth. Back on the trail I felt a bit better but knew the feeling would be short lived.
I was told there were a series of switchbacks in the last kilometre of the race. I thought that I had to go up these switchbacks. To my relief when I hit these switchbacks I found they were downhill! I usually let my legs go on the downhills, and pour on the speed, but I must not have been feeling myself, as I sat back and slowed the pace down the switchbacks. There was a man infront of me that I was unable to pass. I had to swing on the trees to slow myself down.
After the switchbacks the course was completely downhill. After crossing the finish line I did not stop for long to chat with family, but instead headed off to the bathroom to be sick again. Although I knew I was first in my age category I was very disappointed in my finish. After placing so well at Durham Forest, I didn’t even want to see my overall finishing positon. I quickly got in to the shaded barn and tried to cool off. It is a great course, and without the heat I think I would have had a more successful race. 1st in my age group. 56mins.
