Training Log Archive: Mrs.Gally

Finally!!!!! After going blind in 2008, finding out I was pregant a week before the 2009 race Hellgate had some special meaning this year!!
Race started 12:01 with reciting the lords prayer which made me feel as if I was part of David Horton's clan. First mountain range was just as I remember it long and lots of climbing. I took Dee's advice this time and tried to run some of the hills early to make time and it definitely helped but was nervous to push too hard as just did not want to over do it too early. The temperature was much warmer than it was two years ago but I still kept my squash goggles on and had no issues with my eyes!! After getting the first part of the race completed and making the cut off with an hour to spare I felt more and more confident that I would get through this. The course was long and some technical parts but much easier to handle when you can clearly see what you are running in! The thing that kept running through my mind was how I did any of these middle sections of the race half blind....I finally got to see Jamie and Jerrick at Bearwallow gap which is the second time cut off which I made with an hour to spare. It was great to see them as they were told to not attempt the drive on many of the first checkpoints as the roads were too dangerous. The last miles of the race become a huge mental game more than anything and just had to keep my sights on the end result. I kept remembering Harpers comments after he did this race two years ago and not understanding how we could really "enjoy" this type of racing which kept me chuckling as I entered the last 3 mile climb up and 3 mile climb to the finish which I had been thinking about all day. I had some good energy in the tank at this point and actually started passing people in this section and got some good "you go girl..." comments from the yanks! I passed a man that Jamie and I ate dinner with who had kind of smirked that I was doing this race after having a baby - and boy did that feel good!!! As I was enjoying the final decent to the finish and actually taking in the beautiful scenary that I was not able to see two years ago I heard some one charging down the hill at me ...same girl I had passed going up last climb.I heard her yelling at me let's go!!! I remember Harper also saying that he had an American guy challenge him to race to finish and at this point I was just sooooo happy to know that I was going to finish this race unless of course a cougar was to take me out in the final mile that I wanted to enjoy this moment and not worry about chasing down the yankie. I let her go and enjoyed the final km which David clearly marks for you.At the finish David Horton gave me a huge hug and said the "Blind Canuck finally did it!!" Someone told me course is actually 103 not 100 km and I believe it!
I had a HUGE smile on my face for the remainder of the day as I hobbled around and can't think of a better way off ending my very limited racing season for 2010 especially having my very supportive hubby there with our newest family member!

C • Awesome! 14

taught upper body and stretch class

last taper run before Hellgate - seems goggles will fog up no matter what I do so will need to re apply anti fog a few times during race

C • Hellgate 7

taught class