Ghost Runner, the EC, and the Quest to beat Kris
Welcome to my run blog, where I write my random and off-colour thoughts on running and races. The EC is not my usual audience, so if you'd like to know more about me, feel free to scroll through the bowels of the internet (and my blog), and check it out, it won't be wasted time on the toilet.
I have a deep love of the EC. It was my first trail race many years ago, up the old mount Roman. Much has changed (Much hasn't...looking at you Kris Swanson). The biggest change, is the size. It started with 50ish poor souls running in the woods for no apparent reason, and has grown to 1000 not to bright individuals running in the mountains for no apparent reason. Also, the t-shirts. They used to be a plain....t-shirt. Cotton. Durable. Now, I feel like I'm in an early 90's rap music video, or all the colours had a civil war, and they all won. You could see this race from space.
One thing hasn't changed. This race is most people's 'goal' race. They train all year for it. It's tough. So pat yourself on the back for attempting it.
Now the recap.
I arrived the night before, and stayed at the luxurious Tumbler Ridge Hotel, aka the Ritz Carlton of the Peace Region. Did my usual pre-race ritual, which involves beer, and making sure my digestive system is empty, and went to bed. I wasn't planning on going out hard, and was contemplating using my racing sandals. I'd solo'd the Death Race the week before, and my training runs the week after were not stellar. Life was good.
The morning of, we had breakfast at the only restaurant serving coffee at 7am, the gas station. Drove out to the core lodge (seriously people, put your lights on, that dust cloud was epic), and got ready to go for a run. This is the moment where most people get their adrenaline rush, anxiety rush, one last good poop rush. The outhouse lines were a testament to this. Thank god for the bushes.
The race began like it always does. Kris and a few others took off, and the rest of us followed. The trail winds up a road, and we begin a 10km hill climb. This is my only strength in running. I am the guy in the club with one dance move, the 'dice', and people assume I can dance as long as they don't look too long. I am sure if this was a 20km uphill race, I could win it (hyperbole people, Kris is safe!). I finish the road at the entrance to boulder gardens, where the amazing volunteers are giving us free food (win!), and begin the forest run.
The next 7km to the summit solicit some choice language from the adults I'm running with. But we all have to grind it out if we want to get the good views...of more smoke, at the summit. By the time I get to the false summit, I can see Kris in the distance, about 4 minutes ahead, and the next guy is in the dip, about 2 minute back, I am inspired. I was not wanting to run hard today, but by golly, I've never seen Kris before on the course! I pick up the pace. I am a berserker. I must catch Kris.
This leads me to the back half of the race. I got to the aid station to find out, Kris is 4 minutes ahead of me. So I run like an insane person. The summit is shale, but I don't care about foot placement. Must. Catch. Kris. I'm running sub 4 minute Kilometers. I don't like to run like this. Next aid station, they tell me he's now 5 minutes ahead! Can someone trip him please (he'd still win!). I hit the spot on the course where we see the runners going up the hill while we are going down, and I feel super good vibes. I can still catch him. Dropping into what can only be described as a wounded deer run, I make it into the next aid station. Kris is now 6 minutes ahead.
Then, the spot all runners wait for, the road! I now look completely insane, blood shot eyes, flailing arms. Sub 6 minute miles here. Kris is mine. The next aid station (and final one) Kris is now 8 minutes ahead. At this point, I have to imagine he is actually already done the race, and barring no one stopping him at gunpoint (*hint *hint), he's won it. At this point, I'm happy to just get it done, and enjoy the festivities. I sprint in the last 2km to finish in 1:39, and then do what all runners do after a hard work out and morning coffee. Head to the loo.
I truly love this race, and it's awesome to find something like this in the area. Next week I head to Kimberley, BC for the Blackspur 108k mountain Ultra, and I will take all the fond memories of the race today with me. EC is definitely a good vibes race, and I have to sermonize for one minute, bear with me. I can count on one hand the number of good races I've felt I've had. usually it's just gutting it out and trusting in my training. So whether you got your goal, or not, keep it mind this is just a one day snap shot of your fitness journey. Most people wouldn't sign up, or even attempt this kind of thing. Good on you, and hold your head up. This race is no joke.
A little more serious than I usually write, but this race always brings out the emotion in me as it was my first race ever.
Crush your goals,
The Ever Sexy Canadian Ghost Runner
For all things running related, Find me on;
strava 'Canadian Ghost Runner'
Twitter @CanGhostRunner
Instagram canadianghostrunner
I have a deep love of the EC. It was my first trail race many years ago, up the old mount Roman. Much has changed (Much hasn't...looking at you Kris Swanson). The biggest change, is the size. It started with 50ish poor souls running in the woods for no apparent reason, and has grown to 1000 not to bright individuals running in the mountains for no apparent reason. Also, the t-shirts. They used to be a plain....t-shirt. Cotton. Durable. Now, I feel like I'm in an early 90's rap music video, or all the colours had a civil war, and they all won. You could see this race from space.
One thing hasn't changed. This race is most people's 'goal' race. They train all year for it. It's tough. So pat yourself on the back for attempting it.
Now the recap.
I arrived the night before, and stayed at the luxurious Tumbler Ridge Hotel, aka the Ritz Carlton of the Peace Region. Did my usual pre-race ritual, which involves beer, and making sure my digestive system is empty, and went to bed. I wasn't planning on going out hard, and was contemplating using my racing sandals. I'd solo'd the Death Race the week before, and my training runs the week after were not stellar. Life was good.
The morning of, we had breakfast at the only restaurant serving coffee at 7am, the gas station. Drove out to the core lodge (seriously people, put your lights on, that dust cloud was epic), and got ready to go for a run. This is the moment where most people get their adrenaline rush, anxiety rush, one last good poop rush. The outhouse lines were a testament to this. Thank god for the bushes.
The race began like it always does. Kris and a few others took off, and the rest of us followed. The trail winds up a road, and we begin a 10km hill climb. This is my only strength in running. I am the guy in the club with one dance move, the 'dice', and people assume I can dance as long as they don't look too long. I am sure if this was a 20km uphill race, I could win it (hyperbole people, Kris is safe!). I finish the road at the entrance to boulder gardens, where the amazing volunteers are giving us free food (win!), and begin the forest run.
The next 7km to the summit solicit some choice language from the adults I'm running with. But we all have to grind it out if we want to get the good views...of more smoke, at the summit. By the time I get to the false summit, I can see Kris in the distance, about 4 minutes ahead, and the next guy is in the dip, about 2 minute back, I am inspired. I was not wanting to run hard today, but by golly, I've never seen Kris before on the course! I pick up the pace. I am a berserker. I must catch Kris.
This leads me to the back half of the race. I got to the aid station to find out, Kris is 4 minutes ahead of me. So I run like an insane person. The summit is shale, but I don't care about foot placement. Must. Catch. Kris. I'm running sub 4 minute Kilometers. I don't like to run like this. Next aid station, they tell me he's now 5 minutes ahead! Can someone trip him please (he'd still win!). I hit the spot on the course where we see the runners going up the hill while we are going down, and I feel super good vibes. I can still catch him. Dropping into what can only be described as a wounded deer run, I make it into the next aid station. Kris is now 6 minutes ahead.
Then, the spot all runners wait for, the road! I now look completely insane, blood shot eyes, flailing arms. Sub 6 minute miles here. Kris is mine. The next aid station (and final one) Kris is now 8 minutes ahead. At this point, I have to imagine he is actually already done the race, and barring no one stopping him at gunpoint (*hint *hint), he's won it. At this point, I'm happy to just get it done, and enjoy the festivities. I sprint in the last 2km to finish in 1:39, and then do what all runners do after a hard work out and morning coffee. Head to the loo.
I truly love this race, and it's awesome to find something like this in the area. Next week I head to Kimberley, BC for the Blackspur 108k mountain Ultra, and I will take all the fond memories of the race today with me. EC is definitely a good vibes race, and I have to sermonize for one minute, bear with me. I can count on one hand the number of good races I've felt I've had. usually it's just gutting it out and trusting in my training. So whether you got your goal, or not, keep it mind this is just a one day snap shot of your fitness journey. Most people wouldn't sign up, or even attempt this kind of thing. Good on you, and hold your head up. This race is no joke.
A little more serious than I usually write, but this race always brings out the emotion in me as it was my first race ever.
Crush your goals,
The Ever Sexy Canadian Ghost Runner
For all things running related, Find me on;
strava 'Canadian Ghost Runner'
Twitter @CanGhostRunner
Instagram canadianghostrunner
"So whether you got your goal, or not, keep it mind this is just a one day snap shot of your fitness journey. Most people wouldn't sign up, or even attempt this kind of thing. Good on you, and hold your head up. This race is no joke."
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, I was quite upset that I finished 15 minutes slower than last year. I was dealing with some overtraining issues, live and learn I guess.
I've had more trouble with half marathons, than with 100k trail races in the mountains! You never know what your body will give you each run. Keep hammering!
Delete