I Hit the Wall

Whew, at age 59, a completely new experience in running! This was yesterday:

Headed out for a long run 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning with my friend Richard, the accomplished ultra trail runner, the plan was to cover the half-marathon distance, 21K, and throw in some climbing/altitude gain.

Setting out, I'm not feeling great, but I recall that last week we ran 10 miles and I lagged at the start, yet we went on to a vigorous, quick and very fun run. So I have faith that things will improve.

Our run starts in town at 5000 feet, and after running gradual inclines through the San Felipe del Agua neighborhood, we hit the Libramiento road that marks the shift to serious climbing. Up we go, mixing running with walking. I feel okay, but unsure about my ability of the day to keep going up.

Covering rocky trails, enjoying the cool rainy season morning and gorgeous vistas, the flora changes to pine trees and we approach the 7000 foot mark, and I'm done! I mention that I can't climb more, and should turn back. Richard, who works as a coach, implores me "Don't bail on me now". Silently, I continue up up up.

It's stunning up here, I'm seeing the local mountains from a thrilling new perspective. It's magical, tobala agave are everywhere, the prized wild agave variety that makes sublime mezcal when distilled. I'm in a world of near exhaustion, beyond what a tough race brings, doggedly putting one foot in front of the other. Stuck between determined and resigned.

We hit a wide trail, actually a dirt road, on a high ridge that runs up from the town/region of San Pablo Etla, which we've run into. We're at about 8200 feet in altitude! More than 2500 meters up, a gain in our run/hike of over 3000 feet.

Richard suggests running for a kilometer out and back on the ridge road. Sure, why not? We're here so let's go. My friend is in his element, this is his favorite mountain route and he's delighted to show it to me! This is ultra running nirvana, a wholly different world, but a mere 11 kilometers from Oaxaca City!

Ridge-top out and back loop complete, we return to the pitched trail and begin walking/running down as the terrain allows. I'm doing OK, sort of, and I'm happy to be heading back. But after about 20 minutes, I am aware of a tingling in my solar plexus, it extends slowly to my ears, my hands. Slow down, keep moving, I think.

Very quickly, my entire body humming, vibrating. I feel like I ate a load of magic mushrooms--a few moments of piercing clarity give way to exhaustion. Sit down now!

I breathe deeply and listen to my heart, it's pounding but sounds OK. I'm buzzing and humming, waiting for oxygen equilibrium. Richard comes back and observes I look a bit peaked! I visualize candy bars and feel very stupid for not having any fuel, a banana or apple?

Discussing the situation, he laughs and observes he probably can't carry me down. We agree that on a trek like this, we need to bring a few bites of appropriate food, and that I'm out of fuel as well as altitude sick. At least we had some water!

I've never run a marathon; I've always been curious about this idea of hitting the wall. Now that I've experienced it, I'll say I've learned something--actually a few things!

1. Running more that 2 hours? Bring fuel/food!
2. Trust yourself. If you think you should stop, slow down, or turn around, do it.
3. Don't feel good on a given day? Scale back your workout plan, or take the day off.

After a 10-minute sit, I get enough oxygen in my system and we begin walking down. We pass below 6500 feet, I'm able to resume running. Hitting San Felipe del Agua, we stop in a corner store and knock down a few sips of coke. Thus fueled, a bit of life returns to my legs and we cover the final 2 miles back to town.

What with the hiking, altitude gain (and sitting) thrown in, it's taken 3.5 hours to cover 22 kilometers. I've never run more that 2 hours 5 minutes before. A most interesting day on the run! I think I'll take today off.