alas

Last Saturday I attempted to run the 1st Cap'n Karl's race of the season.   It was at Pedernales S.P. and I was entered in the 30k.  What makes the Cap'n Karl's races different is the mid evening start times.  The 30k started at 7:15pm.  The first part of the course was a bush hogged swath of field that was grown over what felt like deep horse hoof prints.  It felt really strange and uneven to run on.  Just a few minutes into the race I rolled my right (good) ankle just a little.  That was supposed to be the wake up call to be extra careful until we got to actual trail.  Apparently my right ankle didn't get the message over to my left to be careful because at the 13 minute mark I rolled my left (bad) ankle pretty severely.  I couldn't believe it!!  There I was just over a mile into a 4+ hour 18.6 mile race and my ankle was already on shaky ground!!  And, over half the race would be in the dark!!

Oh well, I had to keep moving along.  I don't think I even stopped running although I was definitely limping for a little while.  After a little while it started feeling better.  It's a strange thing starting a run within a few hours of what is your normal bedtime.  It takes a while longer to get in a groove.  I hit the 1st aid station (4.7 miles) in 52 minutes, not too shabby considering everything.  I left the aid station feeling pretty good about things and was rolling along nicely, until exactly one hour into the race.  I rolled my left ankle really badly.....again.  That was it.  That was the end of the race for me.  There was nothing to do but walk/ hobble to the next aid station, which was 2-3 miles away and was listed as unmanned with only water.  Lovely situation to be in.  I walked along gingerly surrendering the trail numerous times for people actually running.  The sun went down, I got my hand light out and continued on.  Not sure what the actual distance was but it took me 1:15 to get to the water station.  I had really been hoping they might have at least a single aid station worker there but alas.  I walked on over to the road and sat down at the edge and waited.  The first car to come by slowed, rolled their window down and asked if I needed help but the car following them was really close to them so they continued on.  A bunch of other cars drove by and slowed but none stopped until a suburban drove past, slowed and backed up.  They asked if I needed help.  I asked if they were associated with the race and they said yes, and I said yes, that I rolled my ankle and needed a ride back to the start/ finish.  Man 'o man, I had been sitting there on the side of the road about 40 minutes!!  I was so relieved for this mini nightmare to be almost over.  Now, to get this ankle rehabbed so I can start training for a the Rocky Raccoon 50k in November!!