Words won't do justice to my disappointment for not toeing the start line on Saturday for my first ever Pikes Peak Ascent, a giant among giants on my list of physical accomplishments.

Here's a timeline of how I didn't get there:

Thursday, August 13th at 7:00am, 48 hours from go-time, I wrestled with the alarm and staggered to work. I actually felt like I was going to fall asleep on my very short drive to the office. Between two meetings I literally laid down in my office floor and shut my eyes for ten minutes. I was swept by fatigue. My stomach felt weird.

By 6:30pm when I sat down for dinner I felt off. I chalked it up to nerves, which were legit at that point. I ate part of a delicious meal my wife had prepared and put the rest in the fridge, promising I'd finish it later. (I'm a two or three helpings girl, for the record!!). I whisked downtown to get my race number and missed them by minutes as thunder and lightening took over what looked like a rad festival. 

When I got home, I threw up what little dinner I'd eaten, but that was it. Still pinned it up to nerves and tried to rest.

It was all I could do to pull myself out of bed Friday morning, August 14th, with 24 hours until the gun went off for my FIRST ASCENT! I was swept with worry of how I was going to bounce back and make good of this race. I took the morning slowly and cautiously. I hydrated a lot, but had no appetite. I forced myself to eat a few snow peas and a fruit leather, but nothing hearty sounded appealing. Even coffee sounded bad (a tell-tale sign)

Around 1pm I went to get my race number and bag. In all truth, I was a bundle of nerves. Thinking everyone's calves were poppier than mine! Assuming everyone had prepared better than me. 

Around 3p, with 16 hours to go, I got some pasta, chicken and veggies in me. I continued to hydrate. 

From 5p-8p I wrangled a toddler and then laid down at 8pm with everything ready to go for the following morning. I got our daughter to sleep just before my wife got home from work. Erika tried to get me to eat more, but I just couldn't fathom it and was willing to risk not having enough fuel over how I was feeling about food. 

At midnight all the pain and rumbling in my stomach broke loose. It was awful!!!!!!!! LOTS and LOTS of fluid - I mean, I had hydrated very well. Every thirty minutes from midnight to 3am. Long enough to rest between explosions. 

At 3am, 4 hours until race start, I emailed Papa Marmot, Mr. Tim Bergsten, to say this isn't looking so good.  Around 4am I fell asleep and abruptly woke at 5:30a thinking I'd overslept. I went to start getting dressed and my wife rolled over and said, "You aren't seriously still considering starting are you?!" 

It's funny, because I was still considering it.

I had focused SO BLOODY MUCH mental/physical preparation on this event. Pushed through the Summer Roundup with a cold to ensure I qualified for this event. Gahhh!!! I had to do it! No. Matter. What.

Now, don't get me wrong I've learned a lot and grown in character from this complete miss. I'm not in control of everything that I'd like to be. However, on Saturday as others slayed Pikes Peak, I watched Kill Bill and I'm pretty sure Uma Thurman would have still raced, shitting her pants as she went. Damn her!! 

In closing, two things: 

Thanks to an amazing 2015 Mighty Marmot Triple Crown Runners team. You guys and gals had THE BEST attitudes and support of any group of people I can imagine. (This includes Tim and Ron!!) xoxo

Secondly, I was purposely posting lots of beer pictures in hopes of wowing everyone with my performance on America's Mountain. It's an old trick I learned in high school. Talk about how badly you think you did on a test and then slam an A+ down on the dining room table!! That backfired in this case, but nonetheless.

Here's to next year because the big Marmot in the sky knows I have to do this race now.

With utmost respect to those of you who run and make running events happen,

Musick, 2015 Double Crown Runner