Golden Ultra – ‘Full Pint’

The Golden Ultra – A 3 day day stage race with the options of a longer distance ‘Full Pint’, a shorter distance ‘Half Pint’ or a 120km ultra (new for 2019). Participants can enter the 3 day stage race or, they can pick and choose their own events.

I’d had my eye on the Golden Ultra since 2016. It was a race that someone jokingly said ‘Golden’s next…’ after I completed my first 50km. Since then a couple of years have passed and I have become familiar with the beautiful single track out there. So it goes without saying really that The Golden Ultra and it’s prestige was on my mind.

Last year (2018) I was there for the half marathon event only & it destroyed me! I was run down, exhausted & quite honestly I only signed up because Chris was racing the Full Pint and I wanted to do something other than spectate. Looking back I should have just crewed for the full weekend but, I learnt a lesson that day, don’t get race symbols in your eyes purely for the fear of missing out. Good ol FOMO.  Ask me if I’ve truly learnt that lesson… (Gets offered an entry into Grizzly 6 days prior and jumps at it) One day I’ll learn…

Anyway, 2019 rolled around and I felt I wanted to go back and not only run the half but also knock off the other days too. If I was there, I might as well do it and do it right.
I figured with a solid summer of training under my belt & completing the Death Race that this would feel like a piece of cake and a great way to spend time in the forest during Fall (My absolute favorite time of the year!).

I only had 6 weeks post Death Race to train and once you counter in the 2 weeks of active recovery, the 1 week of ‘Vacationing’ in Sunpeaks (downhill mountain biking), I really only had 3 weeks left to train. But, I was motivated and enthusiastic as ever to get on with the schedule my coach had prepared for me. 4 days in on one of my scheduled long runs I accidentally rolled my ankle and was rather certain I wouldn’t be racing (let alone running) for the foreseeable future. In fact, I was so sure of it I’d happily accepted it! Joking around that I’d need a miracle to happen to be on that start line. My ankle was a swollen bruised mess and it hurt!

The 3 week ‘ankle recovery’. Note: it’s permanently looked like the bottom left picture since racing. Can’t get the swelling to go down. The bottom right was a couple of days leading up to the race, such an improvement. Also, I have nasty black toenails mmmmm

It’s not the first time I’ve rolled my ankle and when I did it (2 years ago) I won’t lie, I got into a bad head space. I was devastated my summer was ‘ruined’ and I think it negatively impacted the healing process. I would talk sh*t, I would think sh*t, I would act sh*t (drunkingly hobbling around on crutches) and my body clearly reflected my sh*t situation. It felt like it took FOREVER to heal, who’d have figured? This time round tho I was positive. ‘So I can’t race?’ Perfect! ‘It’s Fall and I can enjoy my downtime’. ‘So I can’t run?’ ‘Great, I have adulting I’ve been putting off all summer, let me get right to my to-do list’…

2 weeks went by and I had a second appointment with my physio. He got me to do a handful of exercises and ‘tests’ and sure enough to mine (& his surprise) my ankle had improved, significantly (even though it still hurt). Tom basically left it in my own hands to make up my mind if I wanted to race. I definitely hummed and ahhhh’d about it but I finally said yes, I won’t ‘race’ but I will run and I will enjoy every. single. moment! (hahaha…)

Day 1 – Friday – ‘Blood’ – 4.5 km / 1050m
Time: 1:09:30 (6th female)

I was most anxious about this first event ‘Blood’ also known as the ‘Vertical KM’. This style of race consists of people marching up the side of a mountain in full power mode. You can’t really run because its too steep so all you can do is hike, ferociously and hope it goes by quick!

The race was set to start at 3pm so after spending the morning packing, traveling and waiting around I just wanted to get going. Soon enough the countdown was on and the weekend began. I placed myself towards the back of the pack because like I said, I wasn’t there to race although, after 2 minutes, I pretty much ate my words as I could definitely taste blood. I was pushing physically but my heart rate showed I wasn’t at my max. I was reserving myself (unintentionally) but still giving it a good go and it felt great. My ankle was happy. My heart was even happier and I kept thinking DAYMN I am so glad to be here!!

At first, the trail was wide open so it was easy to pass people with speed (minus dodging swinging poles) but, soon enough it turned into vertical single track and not the nice single track you’re imagining. I am talking about a line of people power hiking up the face of Kicking Horse mountain. I kept thinking how hilarious this is. Like WHY? WHY do I do this? WHY do other people do this? It’s not even fun but at the same time IT’S SO MUCH FUN!!! We’re all huffing, puffing, tasting blood, sweating, cramping yet we’re out there just having the best time.

Soon enough the vertical single track of people actually turned into a regular single track which was a lot less steep and a lot more runnable. I started to pass people who were doing the 3km vertical race (they started further up the mountain) and I knew I must be close. My mantra was to keep my head down, move fast and only look up if I thought I was close to the top. I didn’t even look at my watch. I didn’t want to know I still had 600m+ left or something painfully de-motivating. But, as I was passing more people I realized I had to be very nearly there.

One guy spectating told me to turn around and I am SO glad he did. There was a huge rainbow behind me and the sky was an incredible shade of blue. I can’t thank him enough because if I carried on with my head down I would never have looked back. A great reminder to enjoy the process and don’t focus solely on the outcome. Such a cliche but a very true cliche at that.

Soon enough more people started to appear at the top of the mountain, cowbells were in the distance and BOOM I crossed the finish line. Day 1 was done. Finally, I can relax. My most feared event was over with and I just finished 6th female. Not bad, not bad especially for someone ‘not racing’.

Day 1 done!

Beautiful!

That night was pretty relaxed. Chris & I went to the taco fest (mainly so he could claim his podium prize). He destroyed the Vertical KM and came in 2nd!!!! So proud. Congrats boooooiiiii. After filling our bellies it was time for beer, bed and a whole lot of ice. My ankle was feeling fine but it was a balloon and I had to get that swelling down to attempt Day 2.

Chris taking 2nd place. PC: Laura Szanto

Those views!!!! PC: Laura Szanto

Day 2 – Saturday – 55km / 3500m
Time: 07:48:22 (2nd female in stage race, 14th female overall) 

I woke up nice and early. Chris & I grabbed breakfast at a local cafe and made our way to the start line. I was most excited about this event because I love distance. I love running slow, for hours. It’s my jam.

After about several trips to the toilet (my bowel was not co-operating) the race started and we were off. I promised myself I wouldn’t get caught up with the speed demons. I wouldn’t sprint away from the start line and I didn’t. But, I didn’t exactly go slow either. I was caught somewhere between Usain Bolt starting a 100m race and someone with thick clay stuck to their shoes. But I was definitely giving it, my HR was hiiiiighhhh.

The start of Day 2

Just before my watch read 10km I came into the first aid station. This was too early tho. Something was up with the course but I didn’t want to stick around to find out. If the course was shorter than anticipated, so be it! The next 10 km’s went by quickly and just before my watch ticked over to 18 km a few guys stopped dead ahead ‘Must be a bear’ I thought. Turns out the flagging had been tampered with at a junction and no one knew which way to go. Soon enough 30 + people had joined. A couple of people got on the phone right away to the course director and told her the predicament we were in. Luckily we were told what way to go and only got delayed by 5 minutes or so (For that I was grateful, I actually wanted to rest and to get some nutrition in too). Unfortunately, the lead group took the wrong turn and actually ended up behind everyone. Brutal! (I learnt another valuable lesson, always download the course onto my watch. If this was a longer run, in the middle of the night and I was alone I probably would have cried & been eaten by a cougar).

Soon enough I was in aid station 2 and I felt destroyed. Chris asked how I was doing & I was already moaning that I’d pushed too hard and it was only 20+ km’s in.  I still had a long way to go and a HUGE climb ahead of me. Now I remember why I prefer the long, slooooow races. Chris put my bladder in my pack and away I went. 10 minutes from the aid station I couldn’t believe how much I was sweating. My back was soaked and I felt cold. Later on I started to feel water hitting my calves and I realized my water bladder wasn’t attached to my hose properly! The water was leaking out and had me drenched. Another lesson learnt (don’t solely rely on your crew, check your own bladder & hose) but at the same time it was also a god send. Losing water meant a lighter pack at a moment I was feeling like pooooooooo.

3/4 of the way up Mount Seven (which for the record is stunning). Yes, its in the forest but every now and then there’s a break in the trees that over looks the valley and the views  are 100%!! Anyhow, 3/4 of the way up the sun was shining through the trees and it felt like I was climbing towards the light (a slight exaggeration) but I was definitely finding humor in it. Sure enough, I wasn’t the only one thinking it as a guy ahead shouted down ‘Is this the end, is this the light’. I nearly peed from laughing (Maybe, I did? I was drenched from my water bladder leaking anyway LOL 😉

‘Is this the light?’

Once at the top of Mount Seven I jogged across the ridge and enjoyed every single moment of the views. I just worked my ass off and I wanted to take it all in before I started descending. Unlike the Death Race when descents had become my new best friend I was dreading them at Golden due to my ankle predicament. But once again I surprised myself and people started to let me pass as I cruised downhill with speed. Yeeeeeew. I pretty much ran this whole section of descent alone and although I was following the flagged course I honestly thought I’d taken a wrong turn because NO ONE was around. I also started to scare myself considering I wasn’t carrying bear spray and this looked like prime territory. I wasn’t alone for long and after 20 mins or so I could hear the crowds as I rocked up to Aid Station 3. Halllleeelluuujahhh, people!

Running along the ridge

The views from the top!

Heading down

Chris wasn’t meant to be at this aid station but he was and had all of my snacks laid out in the back of his car. I hadn’t been eating that well so I shoved a handful of gummies down my neck and chugged a bottle of coke. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the flat coke he’d shaken for me and I only realized this as I was speeding down the descent, belching every 10 minutes from all of the gas mixed in with an occasional fart. #sorrynotsorry.

The downhill felt great. I was running on a ladies heels who kept asking if I wanted to pass but she had a decent stride and I liked sticking with her. We chatted and it was really nice to be running with ease. At some point though I got complacent with my footing and super-manned, crashing to the floor. She stopped and asked if I was okay (Thanks!!) but I was fine, just a couple of bruises and a reminder to watch where I was going. I caught back up to her and we carried on at a good pace. We finally came up behind 2 guys, she over took and I stayed with them. This was a lonnnng descent and I was starting to feel it in my IT bands. I was happy to maintain a pace but I didn’t want to go hard any more. I shared about 30 mins with those guys, chatting, it was really nice and they were destroying their first ultra! Soon enough, they took off and I was alone for a while battling my thoughts of ‘why go off so fast to feel like shit now Faye, blah blah blaaaah’ until I caught up with a group ahead. I won’t lie it felt nice to overtake. I hadn’t done much of that this race and having been left by the runners I latched onto, this was a nice boost of encouragement.

The next aid station was in site. I didn’t hang around for too long though. I just wanted to be done. Apparently everyone else who had gone ahead or over took decided to hang around so now I was ahead of them (I only found this out after the 2 guys I ran with seen me at the end of the race and was like ‘you’re a beast’).

Smile or grit? lol

The next 2 legs dragged. I did get some motivation back in my step and ran despite both IT bands screaming at me but hey, my ankle was okay so that’s something. I finally came to the last 4 km’s & I knew exactly how this ended as it was the same course as the half marathon last year. I picked up my pace and I started putting a solid effort in. I could see a few ladies ahead of me and I didn’t know if they were part of the stage race or not but I told myself they were and that I could catch them. One by one I picked them off just in time to cross the finish line SPENT & SO glad to be done. I’d also  just scored myself a 2nd place finish for the stage race (Note, this was mainly due to the lead pack doing that extra loop) but hey, I was 2nd, I will take it (anddddd none of those ladies I passed were even competition but it made for a strong finish, thanks galz)!!!!! 😉

PC: Bryan Peters

Day 3 – Sunday – 20km / 350m
Time: 2:11:45 (4th female in stage race, 7th female overall)

I had a very restless sleep. My body ached. My ankle twinged. I woke up and felt like a crippled old lady. Every step hurt. I went for breakfast and felt like I was going to vomit. I just didn’t feel well at all. Chris kept reassuring me I was fine but he also did that after the Death Race and I legit ended up in hospital soooooo, I was kinda listening to myself more. I warmed up. It got easier but I was still feeling pain with every step. I swallowed a salt pill. I gagged it back up. ‘TODAY IS GOING TO BE ROUGH’…

I got into the start line with the mentality that I didn’t give a flying fudge. I just wanted to not feel like sh*t. All’s I had to do was get a half marathon out the way and I was freeeeeeee. Free to go home, get into bed & drown my exhausted body in beer. The best recovery lol. Soon enough the race started and I have no idea what happened but I was running. Not shuffling. Running! and I was going faster than I expected. 5km’s passed and my body was like ‘Okay, were doing this, we’re reallllllly doing this so lets, DO THIS!’.

I was enjoying it. I was having fun. I had built up in my mind that with my experience from last years half and how my body was feeling when I woke up that this race was going to be torture but it actually wasn’t bad. The first half flew by and I spent a good majority enjoying the rolling single track and actually feeling a little sad that it was going to be over soon. I was running a lot of this race by myself and it felt fantastic. Half way through Jamie (a local friend and crusher!) came up behind me and overtook. He was cruising and I was stoked for him. I tried to stay with him but that pace was a little too ambitious for me. A couple of other guys and a gal over took but I was okay with it. I was enjoying this and my ‘race mentality to push’ wasn’t there today. I was just having fun, this is what it’s about!

PC: Bruno Long

There were 2 aid stations for this distance one at 5km & one at 15km. Chris was there cheering me on at the second but I knew I only had 5km’s left and I was done. The singletrack was beautiful. This was becoming my favorite day of the weekend. I was running comfortably and I was having an excellent time.

The end of the singletrack arrived and it was a few km’s on the road to the finish. Cars were lined up and a train was off in the distance. ‘Farrrrrrrrrrkkkkk’. Turns out there’s an option to crawl under a bridge. ‘Mind your head’ the volunteer shouts out, BANG, the guy behind me bashes his head. Poor guy. ‘Well, that was exhausting’ I thought to myself but at least it’s better than standing, waiting and stiffening up. I pushed as hard as I could for the finish line and finished strong. BOOOOOOM. 4th lady for the Full Pint Stage Race. HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?!

I’m absolutely amazed by my body and mind and what they’re capable of. I can honestly say that this has probably been the most difficult race I’ve ever done. It just required so much grit. I am glad I persevered.  This was my first taste of stage races and I won’t lie they’re hard but, that’s also the reason I do it. I want to be challenged. I want to see what my limit is and considering I finished 4th female and I didn’t hit rock bottom I know I still have more to give. But then again, what is my limit? Is a ‘DNF’ my limit? How do I define it? Do I need to physically crawl across a finish line?  So many questions and so much self discovery to be had. I didn’t figure it out this race season so maybe I will next season? One things for sure, I am still loving this ultra journey!!!

PC: Bryan Peters

AND, if you haven’t added the Golden ultra to your list of bucket list races do it, do it now! I’d like to be back next year especially as they alternate which side of the valley they’ll do their races on making every year different and exciting. Or perhaps I’ll be back next year to do the 120km combining both sides of the valley. Daymn, there’s just so many races to choose from. This weekend definitely ranks high in my eyes. Not to mention the aid station snacks are 100% (well they looked it, I’m still dealing with a few nutritional running issues but I’ll come to that another time).

Earnt my ‘Full Pint’