Well that didn't end well

Me and Andy at race start

It's 6am Saturday morning in Steamboat Springs CO and instead of running the home stretch of Run Rabbit Run 100M race I'm lying here in the Yampa Valley Medical Center being tested for chest pain and after passing out only 2.5 miles out of the gate in yesterday's race start. The gun rang at noon announcing the start of the RRR100M and immediately started the trudge up Mt Werner. Within minutes I felt like I was working harder than what I should be. I blamed this on the feeling of a tickle in my throat I felt the day before, maybe coming down with a cold. I pressed on hoping I'd fall into a groove. Around 2 miles my pace started dropping and I found the effort I expended was way too high for this climb given it was this early in the race. Only a half a mile later my chest began to hurt coupled with a significant back pain. I remember dropping down to my knee and many runners stopping to assist me. Being my usual self I
told all the racers don't worry about me and run on. A concerned friend who happens to be a doctor Andy Reed had stopped. I nearly needed to beat him off with a stick to get him to move forward and go on with his own race. Shortly after that all I remember was waking up on my back with someone holding my feet in the air and the Race Director (RD) standing overtop of me. If there was one positive at least it happened there and not some distant secluded portion of the course. The RD Paul was extremely helpful and concerned. Next I remember the mountain patrol staff arriving and arranging a transit vehicle to rush me down to the gondola where an ambulance awaited. Thank you to everyone involved for your concern and swift actions I am very grateful. Super disappointed and embarrassed but mostly concerned about my health of course. I've had the most comprehensive exams here at the hospital headed by Cardiologist Dr. Saef. So far he is confused as most tests have returned negative and show a healthy heart. My blood work repeatedly showed a heightened enzyme called Triptonin indicating there was trauma in the heart organ.

I'm labeled a "fall risk" :(

I'm a father of three and that is the most important thing in my life by far, so I need to do the responsible thing by playing safe and have everything checked out. So as it stands now I'll compile all the data we've discovered here and continue the journey with our doctors in Canada to try to unravel what happened or maybe it was just a one off. I will keep running without too much strain and effort until I feel comfortable to pick things up again. It just wasn't my day for Run Rabbit Run...

Pre Run Rabbit Run

Sleeping in a Hypoxico tent the past
month getting acclimated ...sorry Sharon

This time next week I'll be in Steamboat, Colorado running the Run Rabbit Run 100 miler. It's not my first hundo but it'll be my first big American hundo and that means stiffer competition, more of a spotlight and a whopping 50G purse. To be honest the latter of the two mean very little to me but the thought of running against some of the best hundred mile trail runners in the States really turns my crank. Since December, on two separate occasions when forced to push later past the hundred mile mark I surprised myself by how well I did. The common denominator in both those races was being pressured by competitors to find that extra gear. Turns out I'm one competitive mo-fo with significant control issues.

So my play next weekend is to go out with the lead pack and stick it. One of two scenarios will play out, either crash and burn realizing I am so totally out of my league or a damn successful race. Either way this will hurt worse than a kick in the junk but as odd as that sounds, I'm cool with that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think a top ten placement is very doable but if all my ducks line up in a row a top 5 placement isn't a stretch and if doubters would like to warn me how strong the American runners are I'd like to remind them I was the top North or South American at the World 24 hour championships earlier this year in Italy. As my son Sam would say "Booya!"

The race starts at noon on Friday September 18.  My progress can be tracked HERE bib #54