DNF

Representing Boston.  

Zane Grey officially marks my first Did Not Finish.  It is somewhat of a shock to me.  I always thought 50 miles was a distance that I could finish no matter what.  It fell apart quickly for me and I called it a day at around mile 24.

I've had off and on problems with my ankles for over a year now.  After Leadville they really blew up. I took some time off after that but recovery has not been complete.  It's been hard for me to find that fresh and free feeling during my training the last few months.  Training is not supposed to be easy.  I am supposed to feel tired, sore and fatigued but the past few months has been different.  I can recall one run this past month where I ran freely.  I was able to run down hill with speed, bounce and freedom.  It was wonderful.  It was a vivid reminder of why I love to run.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of my runs have not been this enjoyable.  Some are better than others but the one constant is the stiffness I get in my ankle.  Sometimes it is from the start and it will shake out after a mile but it will creep back after my run.  Usually it is present constantly warning me not to go push it.  It is always stiff after a run and I usually end up dragging my left foot a bit.  This has been going on at various degrees for some time.

First climb.

Beautiful morning.

I'm stubborn or in denial.  I thought I could keep pushing through this and when it's all on the line I'll push through it some more.  Zane Grey was probably not the best race to put this theory to test.  There are claims that it is one of the hardest 50's in the lower 48.  There are stories of about how there are rocks, rocks and more rocks on the course and when you get through those rocks you will run on some rocks.  I didn't pay much respect to the lore of the race.  It seemed like a bunch of hype.

Zane Grey is all it is hyped up to be.  The course weaves up and down the mountains in the Tonto National Forest at the base of the Mogollan Rim.  The Mogollan Rim is a 200 mile long escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau.  The course traces a sadistic little trail littered with rocks.  Almost every step requires your absolute concentration.  I took a pretty good fall at mile 14.  It wasn't a rock.  It was a root or stick that got me.

Morning trail.

There are rocky climbs and rocky descents.  There are parts of the trail that disappear.  There are grassy patches that lure you in thinking it is safe only to find that they are covering more rocks.  It's actually kind of fun but is is frustrating and it takes it toll.  You will roll your ankle many times.  There is no way around it.  You will fall.  You will curse the sun.

I wasn't feeling great when I started but I got in a nice rhythm.  I never had a moment when I felt fresh.  The only other race this happened to me was the Aspen Backcountry Marathon.  I had run the Pike Peak Marathon the weekend before so that was understandable.  I felt OK through the first 17 miles.

Nice section of trail.

Mongolian Rim

I was leading a 3 person train for about 5 miles when I took my digger.  It could have been worse.  I got into the aid station at mile 17.5.  I had 16 miles to go until I would reach the next crewed aid station.  I sat down and applied sun screen, ate, drank and reloaded my pack from my drop bag.  I was there for over 9 minutes.  I set out and my ankle was already stiff.  This changed my stride and the stiffness moved up to my hips.  I also left my handheld of Heed behind.  I carried on and the stiffness subsided a bit.  I actually got into a pretty good rhythm again but around mile 21 my ankle was stiff to the point of being worthless.  I was  really dragging my leg at this point and my energy was tanking.  I knew right away that I wasn't going to make it through this one.  I could gut out the rest of the race but I thought there was a good chance I'd seriously hurt my ankle if I continued and I wasn't about to push through like this just to finish.  It was a hard realization.

trail

I fought with this feeling for a while.  Before I reached the next aid station another runner and I came to a stop when we heard a loud rattle.  We looked a foot off the trail and saw a large coiled rattle snake looking pretty pissed.  We got out of there in a hurry.

This is the trail.  Rocks under grass.

I told myself I'd make it to mile 33 where the next crewed station was.  There was an aid station at mile 24.  I stalled there for about 13 minutes.  I was dwelling my options.  I knew that if I made it to mile 33 I might change my mind and continue.  Maybe things would get better.  I reloaded and headed up the trail.  I got about 100 yards up the hill from the aid station but I was dragging my left leg too much.  I turned around an called it quits.  My last 3.5 miles had taken 1 hour and 20 minutes.  23.6 miles, 4,933 vertical feet, 6:07.

I want to go back and get this thing.  I didn't feel this way yesterday but today I feel beaten.  I know the course didn't see my best.  I'm pissed.  My legs feel great today except for the ankle which I'm dragging around.

I need to figure this thing out.  I know if I go to a doctor he will tell me to stop running for a few weeks.    I haven't wanted to hear those words so I haven't gone.  I'm going to give it a few days rest and push it hard this weekend.  I will try a legit tape job.  The Rim to Rim to Rim is just 3 weeks away.  I need to know if my ankles will hold up.

This is what a DNF looks like.