Deciding to Drop

This past weekend I traveled to Willamette Pass Ski Resort in Oregon to run in the Where’s Waldo 100k. An eight hour drive of sage brush counting provided ample time for final thoughts on race strategy. Reflecting back on my White River 50 performance three weeks prior, my plan was pretty simple. Don’t re-injure the broken rib I suffered at White River, give 100% on the course, and make this race a great 62 mile training run for a final push before the Grand Teton 50. The icing on the cake would be a top ten finish, considering that this years Waldo was the USATF 100k Masters Championship. The field was going to be a tough one!
Starting conservatively, I made it through the Mt Ray aid station (#3) at mile 20.5 in fourth place. I was running well and feeling great, although probably moving slightly too quick. It was then that I noticed a problem. The range of motion in my right knee was quickly deteriorating. The pain growing worse with each foot strike, especially the down hills. The bad thoughts slowly started to trickle into my thought process. What is this going to feel like in another 40 miles? What is this going to do to my plans for the Teton race? Then things really turned. Approaching an intersection with the PCT I noticed no markings leading up to the intersection. Another runner was standing there and asked me if I knew which way to go? I looked around, saw ribbons going right, so I replied “ribbons to the right, see ya, have a good run”. As I continued along the single track, running solo, I rounded a corner to find a small group of runners standing in the trail. My first reaction was an animal blocking the way. I then notice that one of the runners is Lewis Taylor who was running second. I asked what the problem was; they said they believed we were off course. John Ticer arrived shortly after me and he confirmed the same bad news. We all turned to head back in the direction we came. At least 2.5 miles in the wrong direction. We arrived at the PCT intersection, fixed the markings and continued on. We were now about 45 minutes behind. As it turned out, the course markings had been moved by an unknown person(s). Not only in this spot but further down trail at another intersection with the PCT.
We continued, now on course, pissing and moaning about the type of person that would do such a thing and how it had completely screwed our race. For me, aside from being angry (I had already been the victim of mismarkings earlier this summer at Squaw Peak 50), the pain in my knee was not getting any better. The reality of the 62 mile run turning into a likely 67-70 mile run was starting to set in. We made it through the Twins 1 Aid station at mile 27.1. News had traveled that the course had been vandalized. We moved on toward Charlton Aid station (#5), mile 32 (or roughly 37 for us). My knee growing worse and now running with Mark Lantz, we were discussing how best to continue. I told him of my knee and that I was going to evaluate at Charlton.
Charlton came fairly quick, as I came in and squatted down to open my “drop cooler”, I fell over. I could no longer flex to the point of squatting. I picked myself up, grabbed my goodies and was going to move on. John Ticer came in behind, met his wife and decided he was going to drop. The wrong turn had probably cost John the National Championship. Mark Lantz was in the process of moving on and I told Mark I would see him out there. I then proceeded with a few running steps and lots of pain in my knee, a little bit of walking, still lots of pain in the knee. Thoughts of major joint damage came to mind and the possibility that if I continue the Teton race was probably not going to happen. It was then that I made the extremely tough decision to “drop”. I turned back, wished some of my fellow “wrong turn runners” luck and then check myself out. I tracked down John Ticer and asked if I could catch a ride back to the start.
Spending the rest of the afternoon at the finish area soaking up the sun, getting a massage and constantly think about the decision to drop made for a long day. But soon enough we started to get updates of who the front runners were. Mark Lantz, who had taken the wrong turn like so many of us, had picked away at the field and was running in second place. Hearing news like that made my decision even harder to bear. I wondered if I would have been able to stick in there and pick away at the front runners or if my knee would have finally exploded. Mark would finish third overall and the 2007 Masters Champion. A job well done.
My decision to drop was something I never thought I would have to make so early in my ultra running career. It is a decision that we may all face at some point. For me, I think it comes down to being truly honest with yourself. By continuing do you risk permanent damage or serious health risks where you may not run another day or are you dropping for fear of what may lie ahead? As the afternoon turned into evening I feel I made the right decision. We’ll see how the Teton race turns out! As for Waldo – I’ll be back next year!