08/22/2022
We did it! to all of my individual donors and corporate contributors, my fundraising goal was exceeded! You raised $11,000.00 directed towards by Alberta Cancer Foundation .
Core Network Solutions Inc. , Hitek Urethane Global Ltd., Johnston Builders Ltd , Angus Watt Advisory Group , Lift Legal and Global Pet Foods - Sherwood Park .
So how did my go? Not as planned, but fantastic! I made some mistakes that significantly impacted my performance, however I walked away with some lessons learned. First the positive, I finished and walked away with zero injuries. I have no blisters, no lost toenails, no cuts, no knee issues and my ankle performed without any issues. My ankle was of most concern after a significant injury in May this year. Despite the injury, my training was able to keep up to a reasonable level. This was evident on the first leg of 16km when I charged to the top of the mountain and back down. I was feeling great and was making good time.
My struggle started halfway through leg two. I had been careful to test my hydration / fuel mixture on a few longer runs prior to the event. The weather was cooler than predicted, we even had a sprinkle of rain. This meant I should have no issues consuming the calories in my mix, for the nerds out there there is a break down. Carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose), Sodium, Branched-chain amino acids, Taurine, Beta-alanine. 500 calories per 2L of water, this usually lasts me about 20km (I drink lots).
I premix my solution in a one litre container and then mix with the remaining litre in my hydration bladder. Expecting 32 Celsius, I gave the okay to Laura Johnson to add some ice into my bladder for my second leg. This wouldn’t do much to cool me, but would provide some short term comfort. I think I ended up with over half the bladder full of ice, this would have been okay if the temp hit 32 degrees…. It didn’t.
Making my way through the next 8.3km something started brew. I started to experience what felt like a number of punches to the gut. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I thought if I could make it to the next aid station, I could dump my liquid and pull the extra electrolyte/fuel power I was carrying and remix. When I arrived at the second aid station (CP2) I discovered an error was made, my extra powder never made it into my pack. I was left with just hydration tabs to mix with water.
About a kilometer after I left the aid station the cramps increased, I assumed it was the change to a different electrolyte. In reality the change to a straight electrolyte was a good thing. I popped a few salt sticks and started making my way back down the mountain with my next stop in 10Km. It was an uncomfortable 10Km as I started having additional cramping. While I was making my way down from CP2, Laura Johnson received a note from someone with knowledge about and how to adapt . The advice, more salt, less calories. Once back at the transition point I tried to eat a few snacks, but my stomach just wouldn’t have it. Laura Johnson asked if I wanted to switch my hydration to straight electrolytes, I suggested we stick with my original electrolyte/fuel mixture as I suspected the main issue was the result of the electrolyte I switched to at CP2. I was made aware of the more salt less calories suggestion, but stuck to my guns on the program. I left my last transition with the same situation in my pack as when I left the first transition.
About 3km into the next leg, the light flickered. Holy cow, the ice didn’t melt fast enough and my solution if off….. I am in fact taking in way too many calories. The increase in sodium is not an issue, but taking in a huge amount of sugars is.
The human body under load absorbs carbohydrates differently, however there are some general rules most people follow. High heat requires a lower intake of calories per hour, for me about 150 calories. Lower temperatures can allow me to boost my intake, as I get fitter this will drop. So let’s assume about 250 calories per hour at the temperature I was working in. When the ice was introduced, the volume of H2O was lowered in comparison to the pre-mixed solution. So the result was the ingestion of 500 calories in the span of about thirty minutes. Imagine eating two Snickers bars in thirty minutes while working your way up a mountain. All I could do was adapt.
I lowered my liquid intake to ¼ of what normally was consumed and started using the balance of liquid to spray my hat and provide cooling. After about 9Km my stomach stared to settle a bit. I developed a plan to dump any remaining hydration solution at the last checkpoint and remix with just electrolyte. I re-mixed and headed back up the mountain for the remaining 9.4km of the race.
With just 6Km left I started to feel better, but I had one more surprise in store. I had stopped taking in my normal calories about 15km prior, I burned up what I had taken in and I suspect my glycogen stores were depleted. With just 3km remaining after some big climbs I hit a wall. All I could muster was a 10:21, 13:01 followed by a 10:10. Not a pace I wanted to finish the race with, but I had drained the tank.
With a final descent from my mountain adventure, I heard my cheering. My son Jeff was holding up a sign he had made for me, they pushed me forward.
I crossed the line.
And that was it, I had completed the challenge. 54Km and 2230 vertical meters.
Am I disappointed with my performance, a little. I was doing well on my first leg and then my error caused a breakdown. I know I can do better, but what a great opportunity to learn firsthand how adapt and overcome a problem. I’ll be out again, maybe sooner than even I thought.
to everyone that supported me in so many different ways along this journey. It helped move me forward!
