I was runner #12 for team Get off My Pass in the Rocky Mountain Epic Relay last weekend: 2 vans, 12 runners and 200 miles of Rocky Mountain running.
Having signed up for this event almost a year ago, I kept putting it in the back of my mind as I spent most weekends this spring and summer training for the Barr Trail Mountain Race and the Pikes Peak Ascent. And having never participated in anything like this before, I had no idea what to expect! So I entered the unknown with a bit of nervousness, a little trepidation and much excitement…embarking on a new adventure with my husband, three of my girlfriends and a brave girl who joined us sight unseen – and who we all enjoyed getting to know over the next 200 miles!
what an adventure it turned out to be…
Get off My Pass at the start
day 1, Friday morning
Since we were van #2, we were scheduled to start running once van 1 completed running all 6 of their legs …sometime after 12:00 p.m. in Canon City. So after sending off van #1′s runner #1, we decided to eat some real food at Adams Mountain Cafe before heading to our van exchange. This turned out to be a wise decision as it would be more than 30 hours before we saw any semblance of real food again!
Fueled, carbed-up and ready to go, we headed to Canon City and our first runner (runner 7) began preparing for her leg. The heat was oppressive.. even standing outside felt overwhelming. Despite the heat, our runner finished her run in good spirits and we sent off runner 8, then 9 – all completed in unbelievably hot temps. I am truly impressed with my team members and their ability to hang in there and finish those difficult, uphill routes in what felt like a sauna (or maybe hell)!
we had fun with our van art
As runner #12… the very last runner, my anticipation/nerves were building all day. A rattlesnake warning around the time runner 10 took off added to my anxiety and the revelation that my 9.25 mile leg was going off road after only 4 miles, pushed me a bit over the edge. After an easy, rolling 4 miles, I ran 5 miles along an ATV trail that really didn’t seem to be designed for foot traffic – but somehow I got it done and our van was able to cruise on over to Salida… we were all anticipating some sleep. Unfortunately, we were sleepless in Salida as by the time we got there and settled in a little bit, it was time to run again. It was time for our night runs!
the air was hot and heat was coming up from the asphalt... unforgiving heat!
me and Mark
day 2, Saturday around 12 a.m.
The nighttime was as cool as the day was hot. Our van had routes that varied in distance from 2.4 miles to almost 7 miles. To keep us safe, we ran in reflective vests and blinking LED lights. We were all showing the first signs of no-sleep and fatigue. I think our true loopy-ness started about now. We had some funny moments with runners from other vans that we’d started to get to know along the route. My night leg was short (only 2.4) and my husband ran with me. In hindsight, I probably could’ve.. and should’ve run it on my own as it ended up being a well -lit route.
We had another van exchange after my leg was completed at 4 a.m. and then an adventurous drive over Cottonwood Pass in a full passenger van with sleepy passengers, a sleepy driver and serious hair pin turns. I was a sleepy passenger – all I can say is thank you to my driver and copilot for getting us over that pass!
trying to catch some zzzz's in the van. the temps were freezing outside!
Our next van exchange was in Gunnison … we arrived at a beautiful reservoir just as the sun was coming up. I think we all managed about 1 hour of sleep. We had the reservoir management knocking on the the windows asking us to move and the sun rising up in the sky (not to mention we were all sleeping in the van because it was cold outside!).
We were all sleep-deprived, tired, and weary as we started our final runs the following morning. We hadn’t had any real food and were primarily subsisting on Mix 1 drinks and fritos.
Fortunately, these final legs of the run were very scenic. We all tried to enjoy the moment, enjoy the beauty of the run and ignore our achy, tired, sleepy bodies!
beautiful views during our final legs into Crested Butte
My final run into Crested Butte seemed never ending as the route was changed and the 5.34 mile run turned into 6.5+ miles up a very long, big final hill. I sang along to my iPod pushing those final miles.. running, walking and shuffling to the finish!
final runner (me) headed into Crested Butte to finish this thing!
- sweet finish.
completely done!
Saturday night found us eating some pizza while struggling to keep our eyelids open.. . most of our van members were in bed and dead asleep by 7:40 p.m.! We did have a little time to enjoy the charming town of Crested Butte the next morning before heading back to Colorado Springs. On the way home, we happened upon a little Epic souvenir:
we loved to hate this sign
It’s easy to sum up the Epic in a few words – what we did, where we ran, where we slept or didn’t sleep. It’s harder to really capture the experience. The funny and silly moments, the camaraderie and teamwork, the admiration for our fellow runners. It’s hard to describe the sheer strength and willpower it took to get through some of the tougher moments and the feeling after we’d completed the 200 mile journey.
All I can say is that it was truly an amazing experience with an incredible group of runners.
and to all my team, I dedicate this tune that I will always listen to with a smile on my face, thinking of our epic adventure:
♪ ♫ ♬ Booty Man ♪ ♫ ♬
