I recall the afternoon sun shining and the chill of the wind nipping at me. I gazed around – nothing but mountain peaks and a nasty little incline awaiting me, luring me to test my fitness level. My breathing seemed laboured for just standing still. There is something to be said about being 2,200 feet above sea level. I was calm but there was also a tingling, flutter inside me. I heard the announcement, “team 105 a mile out.” That was my queue to get ready for my first live running race since November 2019. Ten kilometers of down hill awaited – plus an up hill start and nasty up hill finish.
Eric running into the transition while Lesie Ann holds onto her bear spray.
“I’m hoping that gravity will be my friend,” I joked to a seasoned-looking runner standing beside me. He eyes met mine. His eye brows raised. His chin dipped. It was my younger sister’s “as if” look, if truth be told. A few moments later, I noticed the neon green shirt of my team mate pushing through the end of gruelling leg 5 of the famous Kananaksis 100-mile relay. We exchanged the timing chip quickly and I was off. That hill was not really a hill, but in the thin air of Highwood Pass, Canada’s highest paved pass, getting to the crest of the pass’s peak was monumental. I mostly walked up that hill, already short of breath. Before I knew it, I crested the peak and assumed it would be smooth sailing down hill. My teammates cheered me on throughout the stage. By kilometre 8 my quads were still working hard and surprisingly not minding the pounding of each step. The bottoms of my feet were tender though, noticing each landing as I decended. I could hear some old tunes blasting from Stephanie’s truck – songs with great beats we all selected to help us run fast, and perhaps to remind us of our younger speedier days.
The Kananaskis 100-mile relay had been on my bucket list of races to do due to its breath-taking beauty in Canada’s Rockies. In 2019 I started recruiting running friends to take up this 10-stage race with me. It is not for the faint at heart – 5 legs of climbing and 5 legs of decent into Kananakis/Nakiska’s stunning Rocky Mountains. The event is usually scheduled for the end of June to take advantage of the longest days of sunlight. No one needs reminding that 2020 wasn’t usual. COVID had other things in mind for our team. The June event turned to an August event and then postponed to 2021. Surely COVID would be “done” by then. Who knew? With multiple date and year changes, our team members dropped out and more were added but by July 2021, we were down to three members. I may be crazy, but there is no way we would split 160km between three people – more than 50km each, no way. After plans B, C and D didn’t pan out, Plan E did. Our team merged with a local team also lacking sufficient runners and voila, “How the West was Run” emerged.
With two vets, two nurses, two CPAs, a CFA, a teacher and an array of talents, we had a team. Stephanie, part nurse, part rancher, and mother of three became the team captain of this motley crew. We dined on BBQ’d steaks and burgers and other potluck goodies the night before on the porch of her ranch. Andy and I brought the mother of all chocolate cakes as our contribution, made by a local German bakery. Did it really take three of us to carry it? The evening meal on a ranch really set the mood for a truly Albertan experience. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet our team members. I’d like to say it was also a time for us to strategize on our race the following day. But what the heck. None of us had been racing for nearly two years. We were all grateful to have a live race waiting for us the following day. As we chowed down, no mention was made of running, at least that I recall. And, before Stephanie could race, her 4 and 6 year old boys were doing the mutton rodeo just down the street when we parted ways around 6:30pm. Her day was not over.
So, back to the race, as the early afternoon wore on, I was treated with peak after peak of Canada’s Rockies. I breathed in the fresh crips air. I could feel the bottom of my lungs. For much of my race, I enjoyed the solitude of running, breathing and feeling lucky to be there. Many of the peaks in my view were barren grey rock – simply above the treeline. My legs felt great pounding down the slopes. My lungs and heart had other ideas such as “why was I doing this again?” at each breath. I chose a run-walk rhythm to keep my breathing at bay, but to also take advantage of fresh legs the were egging me on down the slopes. I was unused to carrying bear spray in my hand but it was a requirement for the park. I was surprised at how quickly I got accustomed to carrying it as I ran. Andy and my long-time friend, Dave supported me with water breaks & cheering, and Stephanie’s crew provided music at various points. Thanks to a great team, I crossed the transition line ten minutes shy of the forced start cut off for our leg 7 runner, fully aware of the tune of Rocky theme song – Gonna Fly Now blasting from the van – a personal best time for 2021. Whew!
My adventure wouldn’t be complete without introducing our amazing team. We couldn’t have done it without each other.
I think back to our starter, Rob. New to wheelchair racing, our man-in-motion, Rob chugged along nearly 20km up hill, grinning. It was impressive to see him rolling along in a standard wheelchair, navigating potholes and the uneven elements of old asphalt. Dave, running leg two looked tired early on and commented about his slim training plan as we clapped and supplied water. By km ten, Dave was rolling along in his old form and enjoying the moments. Steve, our third runner was our veteran. He’s tackled this challenge multiple times before but was coming off injury. He pushed hard. The day was getting hot as he tackled incline upon incline. Andy was a Speedy Gonzalez as he tackled a more technical climb and didn’t seem to break a sweat. He was inspired by the views and kept a fast pace to hand off to Eric, for the gruelling, relentless climb up the Highwood Pass. Katrena joined the team from Saskatchewan, and took leg 7, a long down hill section. We all enjoyed her awesome sprint to the finish to our cheers, overdoing it a bit for herself. Our ladies were impressively fast. Mariana had leg 8 and clocked a 5:13 pace over 16km. Ashley, new to running, and Stephanie took the cross-country trail sections. Stephanie rocked the last leg at a 4 minute pace and change, to bring home our team – 14 hour 39 minutes. Rumour had it that there was bear activity on the trails but our ladies were too fast for the bears, apparently! We all finished in one piece.
Grinning as I write this piece, it was an adventure I’ll never forget. I’m already thinking about next year.
What a fabulous experience! Your recap really shows what can be done with desire. Thanks for sharing,