Coldwater Rumble 52K

When I think about my venture into ultra running, the Coldwater Rumble has a significant chapter in that story. I finished off 2012 with a PR at the Tucson Marathon in a time of 02:54:01. I had worked so hard for that time and I was burned out. I wanted to run in the mountains. I wanted to soak in the scenery. For the love of God, I wanted to run on some dirt!!

I had heard about Aravaipa Running. I had heard the stories of the Coury brothers putting on quality races in the Phoenix area. So I went to the web and looked them up. I was blown away by the website and all of the races that were on the schedule. "Damn, this looks like a lot of fun right here.." I thought to myself.

The race I decided on was the Coldwater Rumble 50K. I had one 50 mile race under my belt and was excited to try out a new distance. The race didn't disappoint. I was astounded by the organization of the event(s) and I had a blast racing on some good ol' fashioned DIRT!

I wound up coming in 5th place and it was at that moment that I realized that I wanted to put marathons on the back burner and focus on running ultras.

Last year I decided that Coldwater was going to be a regular event for me and I managed a 3rd place finish. I had an absolute blast battling with Bret Sarnquist and Michael Carson and was honored to share a podium finish with those beasts.

I have been fortunate to acquire some sponsors for 2015, none of which I am more excited about than being chosen as a member of the Aravaipa Racing Team.

As I set my sights on this years edition of the race, I began to think, "Wouldn't that be rad to win it. Win an Aravaipa event in my first race representing Aravaipa. That would be TITS!"

I mean, this was the race that propelled me into becoming an ultra runner. This was the race that gave me the motivation to do what I love and forget all the bullshit.

This was that race!

So I figured I was going to give it hell and worry about the repercussions later. I wanted to win the damn race.

My training went great until I decided to bash the side of my left foot on a rock the week before the race (Thanks for the invite, Gabe!). I think I may have suffered some nerve damage but that's neither here nor there.

After spending the entire week leading up to the race explaining in precise detail the origin of my foot pain to Kristi, we headed off to the Estrella Mountains. It was race day!

I hadn't noticed anyone that was crazy fast on the entrants list, but that rarely means anything. I figured there was going to be someone that was going to push the pace and I was excited for the suffering that was in store.

Time quickly ticked by and after a few pre-race pics it was time to line up. I laced up my Pearl Izumi N2's as Jamil went over the course directions. Giddy with excitement, we all hopped up and down like Chris Christie in the Cowboy's press box. Except less awkward. And minus the fondling of Jerry Jones, but you get the idea.

The countdown commenced and it was time to RUN!

My Aravaipa teammate, Michael Carson, shot some video as we all sprinted out of the gate. I much prefer getting filmed by him than racing him! I took the lead as a group of us hit the trail. I wanted to put myself in the front and build a decent lead from the beginning. Then I would relax and settle in. That was my plan.

There seemed to be some flaws in my plan from the very start. There was somebody behind me and he was getting closer. I was pushing a pretty hard pace. Too hard. Too early.

"I know I'm being an idiot right now.." I sadly thought, "I should pull on the reigns a little.."

So I backed off a bit and the runner behind me quickly caught up.

We ran side by side for a mile or so in complete silence.

"I feel like garbage already.." I thought to myself, "This dude looks like he's on a Sunday stroll.."

"Hey... You do a lot of ultras? I asked, breaking up the heavy panting.

"I've done a few. This is just a stepping stone to something else." He responded.

"A stepping stone to what? What is this guy talking about? Who is this guy?" I pondered

"How about you?" He asked

"Yeah... I've done a few." I responded, "I'm Sion.."

"What?"

"Sion. That's my name. Sion."

"Harold."

It was pretty clear that Harold was a man of few words and we quickly went back to sharing only the sound of our running.

Soon after passing through the Coldwater AS, I decided to let Harold take the lead. He was floating along the trail and making it look effortless. I let him pull away a bit for the next mile and focused on my breathing. Eventually, I worked through a rough patch and was back on his heels.

I could tell that his pace had already slowed and I was beginning to feel much better.

"Now is the time.." I thought.

I made my move and passed Harold. I put some pressure on the gas pedal and created a little gap. Ultra running is so much strategy. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I was taking that risk.

The next several miles were pretty flat but the wind was beginning to whip around quite a bit. I was cruising around a 6:45 pace and feeling outstanding. During every race, I remind myself to take in the beauty that surrounds us. I made sure to look into the distance and soak in the scenery.

The trail went up and down, in and out of washes. Rocks upon rocks and wind that continued to get more severe. I kept my pace locked-in despite the conditions. I couldn't see Harold behind me any longer. I figured that I was extending my lead, but as soon as I reached a high point, I looked back and there he was!

"What in the... This dude is for real." I mumbled.

The next segment of the race was filled with soft sand. The sand combined with the wind was sucking the life out of me.

"Dude is gonna catch up.." I began to think.

I made it to the Pedersen AS, refilled my handheld, stuffed a bean burrito in my mouth and bolted out of there.

Overall, I felt pretty good. It was knowing that Harold was close behind that kept me running an uncomfortable pace.

I decided not to fill my handheld at the Coldwater AS for fear Harold was closing in.

"I may regret this." I thought as I ran right past it..

I had four and a half miles to go before I got back to Rumble Headquarters. I had to milk that bottle.

I was getting excited to see Kristi at the turn around, so I punched the pace. As I neared the turnaround, Carson popped up as if straight out of a bush and began shooting some more film.

"Anyone else close?" He asked.

"There's been some dude on my tail the whole time.." I replied.

Well, you're good. You're running a smart race.." He encouraged me.

"Smart race?" I thought to myself, "I've run a terrible race so far.."

Soon I made the final decent into Rumble Headquarters. I swapped handhelds out and grabbed some more Honey Stinger chews from Kristi. I made quick work of my time there and galloped off, beginning the smaller loop.

In my mind, I had built a good lead. In my mind, I had several minutes on Harold. In my mind, I was wrong. Harold and I crossed paths as he made his way into the turnaround. I only had about a minute on the guy.

"Are you kidding me?!" I said aloud, "Who the hell is this guy??"

The beginning of the second loop had quite a bit of climbing for the first few miles. I pushed past the pain and hammered away as best I could. I put my game face on and focused all of my attention on breathing and maintaining a consistent pace.

"This is why you train, Sion." I told myself, "This is what you work for.."

I hadn't payed much attention to my time but I was clearly on pace to set the course record. On I went.

I passed through the Coldwater AS and kept on trucking. I had really fell into a groove. I knew that the final few miles were going to hurt. I was ready to embrace the pain. Embrace the suffering! Feed me! Feed my desire to feel pain!!

Then it happened. In a split second, it happened. And when it happened, I was quite sure that there would be no course record for me on this day..

I felt my legs buckle with cramps that would kill a small child. I screamed in agony. I was forced to a complete stop. My eyes welled up with tears from the shear pain I was enduring.

"For the love of everything sacred on this earth, make it stop!!!!" I cried.

I felt my right hamstring and there was a bulge the size of a softball beating like a heart. I slowly began limping forward and the left hamstring seized up, forcing me to collapse to the ground.

I lay there looking up at the beautiful blue sky, wishing I could just go a few more miles.

I forced myself up, back on my feet. I staggered forward a few steps. The pain was incredible. It was so intense. It felt like the muscles in my legs were literally going to rip right through my skin!

"Oh God.." I moaned.

I looked up and there were a few people on horseback coming my way.

"You alright?" one of them asked.

"Yeah, just some cramps. I'm almost finished.." I said, as if everything was peachy keen.

"Okay.. How far have you gone?"

I looked down at my Garmin. "Thirty two miles.."

As I said that, I realized that I was almost done. Surprisingly, I was still in first place. It was time to run regardless of the cramps!!

I slowly started jogging and the cramps remained stagnant, but ready to pounce. I put my mind elsewhere. I thought of laying on a soft bed. I thought of a good meal. I love my life and I love where I am going. In the distance I saw the finish. I pushed the pace as I made the final descent into Rumble Headquarters.

I shot through the finish line in a time of 04:30:23, good for first place and the win!! For a course that is just shy of 33 miles on a windy day and some gruesome cramps, I am very satisfied with the result. Despite missing the course record.

Kristi was there, as always, smiling and telling me how proud she was. I gave her a kiss and smiled. I was happy that it was over.

"How do you feel?" She asked.

"I feel like shit.."

And I did. And I wouldn't have it any other way!!



                                       
                                     
                ~Check out this awesome video Michael Carson put together!

                           

Putting the game face on. Photo by Kristi McCauley

Team Aravaipa 2015! Photo by Kristi McCauley

I'm very professional when it comes to racing. Photo by Kristi McCauley

Get some grit!! Photo by Bret Sarnquist 

Wrapping up the first loop, asking myself; Why do I do this silly sport? Photo by Kristi McCauley 

To the victor go the spoils. Photo by Aravaipa Running

                                        "Running an ultra always seems like a brilliant idea,

                                                    until you are running said ultra."

                                                                      ~Yours Truly