#28: Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run Recap

Originally, I signed up to run Tahoe Rim’s 50-miler as a training run for my 100-mile trail run set for August. However, since I have been coping with various illnesses and hip tendonitis, I decided to cancel my 100-miler in order to allow my body time to heal. My trip to Tahoe was already booked and paid for, so I decided to still run, but opted to switch to their 55k (which turned out to be 36 miles).
The race began with a 4,200 ft climb to mile 9 and it was a great way to wake up my legs, lungs and lower back. The views of Lake Tahoe and Marlette Lake were incredibly scenic from up high; but wow, was it also hot. 

After the rest stop at mile 9, I went on to the next rest stop at mile 18 and then 23.  At mile 23, I texted Steve and told him the trail was difficult. The course was itself very challenging (straight uphill for the first several miles). But it was also my first time running on a trail in two years. While I felt strong, it was still an adjustment.  

At mile 23, the volunteer warned us that the next rest stop would not be until mile 30, and that there would be no shade. I loaded up on water and off I went.  Unfortunately, when I made it to mile 30 there was no rest stop! So, I had to continue forward: uphill, in the sand and heat while completely out of water.  Around mile 30.5 I fell… hard! I was bleeding a lot but managed to stand back up. I told myself to keep going until I got to the next rest stop. Fortunately, mile 31 had the rest stop; unfortunately, they did not have much to offer. But I knew I only had 4-5 miles left to the finish and told myself I could do it. I had a gel and filled up my bottles with water. Every other bottle I would fill up with electrolytes and at every stop I ate potatoes with salt. 
After leaving the rest stop at mile 31, I headed out onto a single dirt track and about a half mile into the trail both my legs started to spasm.  Again, I fell onto the dirt. While on the ground, my stomach muscles also began to spasm, and I became sick to my stomach.  A fellow runner approached me as I was on the ground suffering from muscle spasms and told me I needed electrolytes; however, neither of us had any. Before she continued on, she called for a medic to assist me. I continued to lay on the ground, unable to stand or escape the heat of the intense sun. Another runner came by and again diagnosed my problem as lack of electrolytes. She shared a salt tab with me and told me I needed to get up and move because I was only going to get worse lying on the trail in the heat.  I asked her to help me up and I would try to walk.  I couldn’t believe it, the muscle spasms went away, and I was able to walk/slowly jog. However, I quickly ran out of the small water supply shared with me. 

 A third runner came up to me and offered me his water. I told him no, however he insisted. I told him I would take half a cup, refusing to take his entire supply. I was able to continue forward, grateful to be up and moving when not long ago I had no control over my body or ability to stand. When I got to about mile 34, the medic finally found me. I was given and quickly drank two containers of coconut water (a natural electrolyte) and filled up my water bottle. I was strong enough to continue towards the finish line, and the volunteers stayed with me until I completed the race. Once across the finish, I drank two more cartons of coconut water and then went to the medical tent to get the blood and sand off me from the hard fall I took at mile 30. 

Every experience is an opportunity to learn, and I learned so much from this one. One takeaway from this race–a glimpse of heaven, a taste of hell-is that I should have packed salt tabs. The heat, 9,000 feet elevation, winds, AND my hot flashes threw off my body’s ability to regulate sodium and electrolytes. While the rest stops all had sodium tabs, I did not take them and moving forward I will be mindful about keeping tabs on me. My second takeaway is an appreciation for how amazing our bodies truly are. I cannot believe after lying on the ground with my body spasming, that I would be able to get up and finish. I believe in listening to your body, so when I tried to get up I wanted to see IF my body could continue. If I would have struggled badly, I wouldn’t have pushed it. But I was open to seeing what my body could do, and wow, am I still in shock at how quickly my body recovered! My next takeaway is that people are good, kind and generous. Each runner who passed me stopped to check in and helped me in some way. We get through challenges with help from others and people are willing to help us in the ways they can! My final takeaway is how amazing it felt to be back on the trails and has me itching to register for another! 

“Run when you can, walk when you have to, and crawl if you must, just never give up!” -Dean Karnazes

​Until Next Monday...