Starting with the CP25....ending with a Cigar

The week leading into the Collegiate Peaks 25 didn't go exactly like planned (but does it ever?).  I caught a nice cold, mixed in a few long work days and ran thru snow/20 degree temps to start out May.  Instead of being at 55 miles for the week to start the race, I was closer to 48ish.  Regardless, 73ish miles was a solid week of running.

As noted in my prior post, I would gauge this race on how well I hydrated and fueled.

Goal:
70 to 90 ounces of water
900 calories
3:45 to 4:00 completion time (an arbitrary time I randomly threw out there)

Actual:
90 ounces of water
700 calories
3:33 completion time

My only hiccup was my calorie intake.  At the second aid station (mile 11.7) I took in a gel but it went down the wrong hole.  My lungs loved being coated in Vanilla Honey Stinger and I proceeded to cough like some old smoking hag for the next 4 miles.  I intended to take in a gel at aid station 3 (mile 14.6) but was still trying to get gel substance out of my lungs.

As for the race, I took it really easy for the first 15.  One thing I noticed right away was my legs were ready to climb.  Too bad I wasn't on the Quad Rock course instead.  Regardless, I walked a lot of the small early climbs during the first 15 miles.  Just to keep the pace easy.  Upon leaving aid station #3, one is greeted with the longest sustained climb of the day.  I didn't run the section hard, but damn did I run strong.  Passed some 15 runners in this stretch.  Got to the top (aid station #3 mile18) and felt fresh.  Sat up there for a good minute plus taking in a gel, drinking water and knowing I could just cruise it in for the day in comfortable fashion.

The last person I passed on the climbed got to the aid station a minute after I did.  We fist bumped each other on a job well done on the climb and proceeded to the finish line together.  I had never met the guy from Boulder before, but conversation was really good and pace was solid.  Around 2 miles before the finish, we caught up to some slacker which made for more good conversation.  That slacker bumped me near the end to edge me out at the finish line by 0.1 seconds.  The last 6 miles may have been faster then I intended for but conversation was had a huge majority of the stretch so I know I still had a lot left effort in me.

Ended the race feeling fantastic.  Reinforces my training as of late that I'm doing the right thing and that quality over quantity will always be better for me.    

Instead of heading to Eddylines for a beer, we stuck it out for the awards ceremony to cheer on my friends 2nd place overall women's finish in the 25M.  That a girl Hillary!

So what does one do after that?  Well I bombed it to Denver with a quick stop to Macy's to pick up a wedding gift.  By 4:00pm I was in a suit and tie (damn I was looking good) and off to a dear friends wedding.  Fast forward to midnight and there I was smoking a cigar with the groom and a dozen other friends celebrating an amazing & beautiful wedding celebration.

What a great weekend spent with so many friends on the trails and at the wedding.  Damn does my life not suck one little bit!