Over the years I have done some pretty sick things.....and by sick things I mean really, really, ridiculuously cool things. None however, even approach the same stratasphere as what I'll attempt this Saturday. Oddly enough the good Lord blessed me with the ability to run, but limited how far I could take it by also giving me a rare form of anemia (Iron deficiency in the blood....it prevents oxygen flow to starving muscles....its complicated) Anyway, because of that small detail, I never competed in anything longer than a 10k. Five years ago I started getting bored with just running and I thought I'd try my hand in triathlons. I was successful with that but soon decided to boycott the overly priced races in search of something else. Nothing sparked my interest so I took a break from competition for a year or so until an idea was tossed around to do a 110 mile bike race...cold turkey...no training whatsoever. The idea appealed to me on the level of: "I'm not sure my body is even physically capable of achieving that?" So naturally I was in. It turned out to be a neat experience, and due to the life lessons and fortitude I gained from the adventure, I decided to do more of that type of thing, that is, testing my body past the point in which I feel comfortable or capable. This Saturday I will be running a 50k (31 mi.) cross country race in Moab. I have run a combined 16 miles total in the past month, leading up to the race, (I recommend much more than that) and the farthest I have ever run in my life is 22 miles. I am not concerned about the distance, it is the terrain that is going to be the challenge. The course climbs 6,000 feet of vertical elevation and at one point in the course there is a 1,000 foot elevation gain in just over a miles distance. To make matters worse, I have been suffering from the flu and an upper respitory infection. Below is Some footage of one of the sections of the course we will run....just to give you an idea of what the race will be like. This should be absolutely gnarly!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
WOW Chris! I have always loved to watch you compete! Your competitive nature along with your natural talent make you a fierce competitor....whooo hoooo for completing this! Wish I could have been there to cheer you on. I always get emotional watching you run because I know how much you love to do it and I knew at some point your body would give because of the iron deficiency thing...usually always at the end of the race. I Love you and am so proud of your accomplishments!
Post a Comment