Gysel Parajon (MM8995, DA3751, HF18751)-HAPPY MEDAL MONDAY!! Each and every single one is special to me but this past Saturday I earned an extra special one!
On Saturday, 5/18/2024, I embarked on an epic foot journey on the trails NW of Reno to test my endurance to race again on Tahoe Rim Trail in a couple months. It was my first time running the 50K distance, the shortest of all ultras. I knew this course was not going to be easy but I didn’t expect it to be as challenging as it was. I ran, hiked, hobbled, and at times dragged my right foot to complete the journey of the Silver State 50/50.
I started the race late, 11 minutes due to issues but luckily the symptoms did not persist beyond the morning. I ran my heart out until the heat got me so I had to hike. After stopping at the second aid station I felt immensely better. I consumed some food, carbs, loaded my hat with ice as well as the back and front of my bra. On I went and hiked to the highest point on the course, Peavine Summit, rather swiftly. I passed a handful of people, stopped at the aid station momentarily, and then charged down this crazy, gnarly descent through a rock covered trail. Of course a mile before reaching the third aid station my right pinky toe gave me all the indications that it had grown a blister. I had preemptively wrapped my pinky toes in bandaids to prevent this from happening but it backfired. I stopped to tend to it, and kept on going, albeit slower. Of course I was passed by everyone I had passed.
I took a break at the next aid station before heading back to the Peavine Summit aid station again. I was at this point 7 hours into the race feeling tired and sore, but I was committed to running as much as possible. I kept going, feeling mostly good until that same blister decided to let me know how angry it was. Despite the pain I persisted until I decided to run down another hill. And the pain at that moment was indescribable.
The sweeper who had caught up to me again, he was with me earlier, somewhere around 7-8 miles to the finish was truly a godsend. It became apparent that my shoe needed to be cut, although my shoes were fairly unused, but it needed to happen, and he cut it! And what a relief it was! I made it to the finish, hobbling my way there, but I made it!! I was DFL within my distance but I too earned that spot!
Thank you to the RD, volunteers, my family, and the sweeper, @grandparunsalot!
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