Collegiate Peaks 25 - A mental kick in the...

Before I get into any details surrounding the race, I've got to hand to all those who help make this race happen. From my perspective, the event ran flawlessly and the volunteers out there were awesome.

What this race lacks in single track, huge climbs and alpine terrain easily makes up for with stunning views of a snow capped Mt Princeton and a constant up and down course. I've run more difficult courses, but this course has variety of terrain that is thrown at you for most of the day. Just a fun course to run on and I had blast out there.

Within 15 minutes of arriving to the start line, I got the pleasure of catching up with WA and from there I bumped into, was introduced to or chatted with so many fine people. That list includes, Todd G, Brian F, Darcy A, Leila D, GZ, JT, MH, and numerous others whose names I have unfortunately forgotten but made the day that much more enjoyable.

As for the race, well let's just say mentally I wasn't all that into it.

I love keeping my life simple. However you mix 4 weeks of in-laws living with us, 12 to 16 hour work shifts for weeks at a time and it's impact on family time and training and well....I'm pretty much left mentally deflated come race day.

Departed Denver Friday afternoon with my mom tagging along for the road trip. While she's visited me a few times over the years, she's never been to the mountains and I thought this would be a nice distraction for her as she's spent the past week locked up in the house baby sitting. Arrived to Buena in time to pick up race pack and check into the Thunder Lodge. Not the nicest place in town but with a kitchenette and a respectable nightly fee, it really couldn't be beat.

Saturday morning I was awake early and ran to the start line from the lodge. It was only a mile plus away and wasn't about to make my mom walk that distance. Even at 5:30am, the temps in the Arkansas Valley were comfortable. My pace was a shuffle at 9:30 minute pace and right off the bat I could tell two things: 1) My body felt great and 2) I had no interest in racing. So I quickly got my mind set that today would be a nice slow long run in which I enjoyed every facet of race day without actually racing.

The first few miles of the race were chilly but them sun rays wasted no time warming you up once they broke thru. The first 15 miles of the race just cruised by. Conversation with many and the accompanying views were simply fantastic. The pace very comfortable. Hydration and fueling were extremely solid.

Then the #3 aid station at Mile 15 came along. I was chugging my water bottle and didn't bother to stop for a refill. I remember running thru not really caring even though I knew the last big climb of the day was in front of me.

I got to the base of the last climb with no water and at that point I simply didn't have the drive to push myself like I normally do during races. I walked, maybe half?, of the hill for no real reason. I ran portions of the climb but then I would stop just for the hell of it. I had the energy to run but just didn't care too. Remember getting to Aid #4 around mile 19, grabbing a handful of chips and a few gulps of water and ran off. My bottle still empty.

I proceeded to walk small bits of the downhill and bigger portions of the flat. Got to Aid #5 and jogged right thru it. Still no water refill.

Couldn't tell you a damn thing about the last few miles other then all dozen or so 50 mile folks looking fantastic on the return trip. A few years ago, I bumped into one 50 miler before finishing. At the bridge just before the finish and that was AK.

Finish line came and went at something like 4 hours 4 minutes and the effects of not drinking water over the past hour plus had hit me hard and put me in a nice state of dehydration. Rest of the body felt fine. Figured that would be the case with all that walking and comfortable paced running.

(The finish/turn-around area that was so confusing to folks)

I have to say it's very hard for me to be disappointed about the time and effort posted on Saturday. Life has simply been hectic and I've done my best in balancing all things important to me over the past month. I could have easily said the hell with this race and stayed home but to me that would have been the true disappointment.