Kyle and I drove up to Rossland together for the Broken Goat 50k on July 16, which also has 25 km and 12 km race distance options. We hadn’t booked accommodations but luckily there was a large dirt parking area where runners were allowed to camp.
After a long drive there we pulled into the camping area just before dinner time. We were pleasantly surprised to find Dikesh (Brown Dude in a Forest) car camping next to us. We picked up our race packages, which included an awesome Broken Goat branded t-shirt and growler, and then the three of us headed over to a nearby pub to grab a quick bite before the evening’s race briefing.
The weather was crappy and the forecast called for thunderstorms so we opted to sleep in the car rather than set up a tent. With the back seats folded down, there was just enough room in the Tesla for the two of us to stretch out. My sleep was restless and I had been suffering from a bad chest cold. I made sure to let everyone know how terrible I was feeling.
As we boarded the shuttle bus to the start location, the skies were grey and looked ready to dump rain on us in a moments notice. The man seated next to me tried to make pleasant small talk but I wasn’t very receptive (sorry). A short drive later, we unloaded at the start line and went through the mandatory gear check.
Every part of my being did not want to run as we huddled around waiting to start. I felt like sh*t. To make things worse, the first aid station wasn’t until 25 km into the race so there would be no way to drop out before that. I knew I would hate myself if I quit before I even started so I begrudgingly began the race.
Kyle hung out with me for a while but I was slow and miserable so I told him he should go ahead. My lungs felt like they were on fire but I was moving decently and the Tylenol cold medication I had taken suppressed any coughing. I was pleasantly surprised to find amazing course marshals during the first 25 km that had woken up super early and hiked out there to cheer us runners on. This made me feel 1000x better about being out there.
We had beautiful views from the first summit and I could see a looming huge mountain. We couldn’t possibly be going up that one, could we?? I thought about asking another runner but feared that I wouldn’t like their answer. Sure enough we curved around and approached it from the other side. It wasn’t as bad as I thought and it felt amazing to reach the top. I stood there for a moment to take it all in and then carried on back down the same route.
When I got back to the junction of this out-and-back, the 25 km racers were coming through. I saw a couple friends as they ran by, moving way quicker than I was.
Eventually I reached the 25 km aid station – the aid station I told myself all I had to do was get there and then I could re-evaluate. To my surprise, Kyle was there! I was so happy to see him. From this point the aid stations weren’t more than 10 km apart so I decided to take it one aid station at the time. Besides it looked like another lady was trying to drop and I’m not sure if you even could here. Kyle and I ran the rest of the race together.
Thunderstorms rolled in after we summited the next peak. I was worried they would call the race off after all I had been through, but they didn’t. We reached the bottom almost to the finish line and we got directed right back up a mountain. Of course. At least we had been warned about this so we could be mentally prepared.
The skies cleared as we climbed the last summit, Red Mountain – a short, steep section similar to the Grouse Grind. Once at the top, it was about 10 km of smooth sailing back down to the finish line. As we descended back down, we thought we could make it before 9 hours. However, we had a rude awakening when we got to the aid station with our watches reading 48 km and found out we still had 4 km to go. Damnit ultras, you get me with this every time!
Kyle cursed Rene, the race director, with every step we took. He was furious when he could see the lot his car was parked in but we proceeded to enter trails and head the other direction. Eventually we made it to the finish line and I was so relieved to be done! Our friend Kate snapped a shot of us running in together and Rene gave us a hug. I sat down and someone brought me a Coke.
Upon returning to Kyle’s car (AKA our home for the weekend) we found a note from Dikesh, a note from a local Tesla owner that Kyle had talked to about chargers, and a business card from the Mayor of Rossland (Tesla guy’s wife). We felt like big shots.
Our friends who had a cabin invited us to use their shower (thank god) and even sleep there that night. After getting cleaned up, Kyle and I and another lady went for dinner in town to a Thai joint the Tesla guy recommended. He was kind enough to let Kyle charge his car at his house and drop us off at the restaurant.
We walked most of the way back to the house but my lungs were killing me and I was feeling a little light headed so I stopped to sit on the ground for a moment. Tesla guy and the Mayor drove by and gave us a lift the rest of the way to their house so we could get Kyle’s car.
I slept soundly on the couch that night in the cabin with the others while Kyle slept in his car. We drove back home in the morning and stopped everywhere for food along the way.
Even though I was miserable at the time, I look back on this race fondly. It was a great experience to run in the alpine, challenge myself, and visit a new town. Registration opens on November 15 for the 2017 edition of the race. I strongly suggest checking it out! pacetrailseries.com/broken-goat
