Kessel Run Race Report

The Kessel Run 60k was unlike any other Ultra that I have done. For starters, I was in Fruita with a group of about 20 of my friends all running different distances.  It was a true Racecation! We were there celebrating Rey and Brett's birthdays. Rey was turning 60; so naturally he was looking for a 60k to run. We had a small group of friends who always went to the Kessel Run because our friend Amy’s last name is Kessel. We learned the event had a 60k so that became our goal race for the year.

The Kessel Run was also unlike any other Ultra that I have done because of the 15 months prior to the event. June of 2023 two big life events happened: 1 - I adopted an 8 week old puppy and started to raise it by myself with her 12-year-old dog sister. 2 - I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the middle of my tibia.  Unfortunately it did not heal in the normal amount of time for a stress fracture.   I stopped all physical activity until November. The follow-up x-ray showed some progress but it was not healed. We decided to start with extremely light walks/jogs (as long as there was zero pain) with the hopes that it would help promote healing. Sadly, it continued to show up on x-rays with slow progress through the new year and into the spring. During this time I walked/jogged holiday 5ks but that was it for time on feet. I had to focus on bike and strength training.   It was infuriating and grew very heavy on my heart.  It was not until July 25 (13 months after my initial diagnosis) that I got an MRI and went to see a specialist at CU Sports Medicine.  I was finally cleared but with the warning of a high recurrence rate.  Naturally I decided this gave me juuuuuust enough time to train for the 60k while staying within the prescribed 10% increase rule.  There was lots of low impact cross training and strength training.  

Shake Out Run

With all that said and done, race weekend arrived quickly. Five of us caravaned up on Thursday to beat the bulk of the snowstorm and give ourselves an extra day. Friday was super chill for us. We had a ShakeOut run, grocery run and surprise birthday cake baking. Friday midday, the day before the race, the rest of our crew arrived and we got the very unfortunate email from the race directors saying due to the weather, they would have to change the 50 mile and 60k courses. We were no longer able to go up on the Mesa. We would have to do loops of the 20 mile course. This turned our 37 mile race into roughly 42 miles. I was mortified because going into this race I felt trained well for a 50k and expected my extreme stubbornness and experience would get me through the last 10K. With the course change I would have to somehow make it another 5 miles… within the same time cutoff.  I was super nervous. 

sunrise

Saturday morning my alarm went off at 4:15am. I was already awake. The nervous excited energy in the house was palpable. We left the VRBO at 5:15 wanting to arrive by 5:30 for a 6:00 start.  Brett’s car had left earlier to go to the other house to pick up Erin who was running the 60k as well. By total chance and sheer luck we ended up parking next to each other at the race. This was super fun because we were able to call each other and speak on speakerphone despite the rolled up windows keeping the rain out. Julie had brought extra Pancho's and shared with a few people in our car. She passed them through the windows like we were at a drive-thru ordering fries and a chocolate shake. After a quick trip to the porta potties, it was time to drop off our drop bags and head to the start. We barely got in a picture before it was time to begin. Paula, Erin and I headed up the road together trying not to get caught up in the speedy start of adrenaline.  About a half mile up the road, Erin wished us luck and took off while Paula and I stuck together. Paula's hip was bothering her. We decided to walk the road (Rey would be proud of our power walk!). 

Start Selfie

We made the first turn and headed down the first zippy trail.  It was super fun and zippy and then  veered off  to the west to start the big loop.  The 20 mile course that we would be doing twice was basically a very wonky horizontal figure eight. My favorite section of the race was the south and west side of the western loop.  I had a lot of fun.  However this high was very quickly followed by my lowest of the low.  My least favorite section was what I renamed: The Rolling Torture Peaks.  Going through the first time we were blissfully unaware of what was to come. So after the first and hardest climb we came upon a beautiful and super fun ridgeline.  At the top, we CA-CAWed to see if any of our run buddies could hear us and guess what!?!?! We got a faint CAW CAW in return.  It made us soooooo happy. We literally giggled and jumped up and down. We learned later that it was Rey!

the ridge

Running along that ridge was so beautiful that early in the morning. Pictures just do not do it justice. At the end of the ridge, we made a hard turn and a very steep downhill… and then began the ups and downs from hell. The climbs and descents were so steep that we just couldn't get going. The average incline was about 16% and topped out at 34%.  We joked that we didn't know how we were going to do it on tired legs later that afternoon. We made it through eventually and headed back to the start finish to drop our raincoats and head out on the other loop. 

wondering how this uphill is real life

aide station on the hill

The other loop headed east in a strangely flat line with these random sharp downs and ups through mini river beds. This stretch of the course ended at an aide station which was situated at the top of a hill on a dirt road. The hill was so steep that I was able to put my hands down! However, one of the aide station volunteers had beautiful eyes so it was worth it. After some soda we asked which direction on the road we were heading and they said nope you are turning around and going right back down. Seriously?!?!?  So we headed down (paused for a pic) and made the hard turn north and ran away up through a ravine. It was beautiful and sandy but we did wonder what would happen if there was a flash flood (nothing good ). We were chit-chatting and having a good time and suddenly I was on the ground. Paula's reaction was hysterical. I was okay but needed a moment to regroup. Once I was ready, Paula helped me up and we continued on our way.  I have no idea what I tripped on but by the time we made it  back to the start/finish aide station my knees were bloody.  

At the halfway point (start/finish line)  we were greeted by Shad, Venus, AJ and Kessel! I inhaled Pringles and grabbed our poles…ok full disclosure-I ate three mini pringles containers in the span of about four minutes.  Our first cut off time was at the 50k mark. We had just enough time to make it but we had to move quickly. As we headed up the road we ran into David Edwards who was finishing his ten miler.  We were SO excited to see him.  We walked the road like the first time and then headed down the zippy trail.  We could tell our legs were more tired but we were ok. At this point Paula and I were constantly scanning the trails hoping to see Brett.  Also super fun, my nephew texted me about this time cheering me on.  It put a huge smile on my face! 

My favorite section went by really fast. We headed into the Rolling Torture Peaks with fierce determination.  On our way up the first incline to the ridge, some mountain bikers were hiking their bikes up.  It was super impressive and gave me the motivation to just keep going.  At the top we didn’t dilly dally as we really had to keep going to make the cutoff.  Up and down the ridiculous section we went.  Thank goodness we had our poles because I am honestly not sure how we would have made it without them.  It was about this time when my left achilles, which usually holds off being pissed until the day after, decided to make things complicated.  It was angry and I could tell so going up the steep inclines was extremely challenging and painful.  I was trying to compensate while also trying to not piss off anything else! At the base of each steep uphill I would look up and just yell, “F*CK OFF!”  Was it a bit inappropriate? Yup. Did it help? Yep. So that became my routine.  Once Paula started laughing at each exclamation, I only yelled louder.  It got us through it.  

We made the cutoff with about 20 minutes to spare and headed out for our last ten miles.  We were both exhausted but intensely determined to finish.  As we headed out, I realized we were both in a dark place.  Now up until this point we had both taken a turn or two with struggling but the other was ok and helped out.  This time we were both dark. So, I pulled out the big guns.  When preparing my drop bag I like to include some favorite candies and since I have experience being at the back of the pack, I also know that sometimes aide stations run out of savory snacks as they are extremely popular.  So, in my drop bag I included some chips and a small bag of Oh Snap! Pickles.  While passing through the last time I grabbed the pickles and stashed them in my vest in case of emergency. (I am also really happy about having them because none of the aide stations had pickles or bacon…both of which I have come to be staples at ultra aide stations including at Mad Moose events.)   Anyway…to make a long story just a tiny bit shorter, I decided that this was the moment to pull out the emergency pickles.  Paula and I passed that bag of pickles back and forth while running and laughing- it was glorious.  Bazinga! We were back in the game! 

The last ten miles are really just a blur of determined miles and laughter.  We hit the last aide station up on the ridiculous hill.  Mr. Dazzle Eyes asked for our numbers to check in and we drank soda again.  Turning around we stumbled back down and headed up the ravine.  This time I did not fall but we did come upon a group of dirt bike riders. Another hilarious reaction from Paula.  I am pretty sure she was ready to fight them off with her bare hands… or really I think maybe she was planning on kicking them. HA! I almost peed myself laughing. 

the sunset that was the gift that kept giving

finish line vibes

We climbed up the trail and out of the ravine at the first sign of the sun heading to the horizon. Paula was in gear eager to finish. Both of us no longer had music so we were lost in our heads.  We plowed towards the finish line as the sun was setting, exhausted and determined.  It was the most amazing sunset and it just kept going and going. Not a mile out from the finish our friends must have caught sight of us because they started cheering. We were giddy on the edge of tears just fighting to get to that finish line.  Paula finished right before me and when I crossed the finish line I was so exhausted and relieved to have finished that I burst into tears. The entire group was there cheering and hugging us.  I was so overwhelmed with joy.  The hardest fought finish lines are the most rewarding and being surrounded by my BRFs made it so special.

That evening after the race we all had a spaghetti dinner complete with birthday cakes and lots of laughter. 

The whole gang!

Ok, this last pic is of AJ hugging Alyssa with Rey finishing in the background.  I wasn't there to witness this but I just love it because it exemplifies the support and love of this group of run friends. I am lucky.