Loon - DNF

 

Loon Mountain race – This was my 14^th time heading up to Loon and I was looking forward to kicking off a week of vacation time with the race then heading over to New York for some running with Richard Bolt and Eric Morse bagging a bunch of fire towers.  Loon was part of the USATF NE all-terrain series (which I was taking part in) and a good opportunity to do another mountain race as the World Masters championships are in Ireland at the beginning of September.

Richard and I hit the road at 4:30 a.m. after catching a sighting of the International Space Station.  It never ceases to amaze!  We got to the mountain with plenty of time in hand…and I’d need it.  The mountain required a signed waiver (as did the race) but you couldn’t get your number until you picked up your hospital style bracelet from the waiver line.  I’d signed the waiver online but somehow was not on the list.  I do not have a smart phone so fixing this issue was something of a problem.  I was not the only one having issues and many were frustrated (especially those waiting in the number line for 10-15 minutes to find they needed to be in the other line first!).  After resolving my issue, and I was never told what the problem was they did have my waiver.  I met up with teammate Paul Bazanchuk for a nice 3 mile warm-up. The cold morning (40s!) was warming up a bit but would be fantastic for racing.  I quickly changed into race gear and did another mile before getting to the start line.

The start was a bit crazy with people absolutely sprinting out.  I kept to the side of the trail and out of trouble.  It was still wild with people hammering the first tough hill up the cat-track (200’ in the first ¼ mile).  I locked onto teammate Kevin Tilton as we started the longer climb up to the XC ski trail section of the race (300’ of climb in ½ mile).  That got us to the mile and now we’d have a “mild” run over 2 miles on the ski trail part.  I’ve never liked this part of the race, basically it was added to give the race the “proper distance” although we’d get 300’ of climb we’d drop about the same and exit the trail only 30’ higher than we’d started.  Typically this trail is muddy and footing is suspect.  This year it was bone dry and that meant quick running.  It was my fastest recorded time (per Strava) for the loop.  I had also moved up a few places during this stretch (not to mention the 20+ people I passed on the climb right before this).  I exited the trail with Kevin about 10-20 seconds ahead and could see a 50+ runner not too far ahead of him.  The race was just starting!  The half-mile climb on the cat track was tough and I started reeling people in.  We were finally getting to terrain I am a bit better at (long grinds).  That ½ mile climbed another 400’ on rough cat track, great for slowing people down.  Some were even walking and we weren’t even to the really tough stuff yet.  We then hit the crazy downhill of “Bear Pause” a grassy .2 stretch that dropped 200’.  The grass made it hard to see where you were stepping and I was cautious.  I could see the turn where we’d start the first long serious climb of the day and I was chomping at the bit.  I’d closed to a step behind Kevin and the 50+ guy was just ahead.  Right at the turn I caught my toes in a pothole and jammed my foot down hyperextending it and a loud POP and stabbing pain in my calf had me on the ground in agony.  After a lot of cursing I tried to get up and found that was not going to work.  A couple of ladies stopped and were kind enough to phone for rescue.  They also insisted on staying with me despite my telling them to carry on with the race.  I knew my race was over, my vacation was over, my fitness gained since coming back from surgery would be lost.  The big questions for me were “is it fully ruptured or just a bad tear” and “will I be able to go to the World Mountain champs in 6 weeks”.  That would have to wait as the rest of the field of 400 went by with many asking if I was okay.  What do you say to that?

Eventually I was hauled off the mountain by the ski patrol and brought to the medical area.  I got some ice and was hauled over to my car.  I could not stand on the painful and swollen leg.  Luckily it was left leg (and I no longer have a car with a clutch) so I would be able to drive.  Really the only good news of the day.  I met up with Richard (and Nancy Hobbs tried to cheer me up) and he helped me set up an appointment with Urgent Care.  I ended up being told by them that they couldn’t help me and I need to go to the ER.  I felt stupid going to the ER for what wasn’t technically an emergency, unless it was fully torn.  They were pretty sure it wasn’t torn and gave me crutches and sent me on my way.  I went to Access Sports on Monday for a further assessment and then Pinnacle Physical Therapy to start my way back.  Fortunately although I couldn’t walk without limping I could bike with just some minor tightness, so I put in just under 21 hours in my first week of down-time.  I was helped a bit by not going to work at all that week and switching my vacation time over to sick leave.  Hopefully I’ll get back for Ireland and then maybe use my vacation time in the Fall and finally get to hit the mountains of New York!