The Other Side
"Before I continue, you should know that being a pacer is an honor; it's a selfless act. It is an intimate experience shared between two extraordinary people in a moment of vulnerability." (As previously stated in my blog Kodiak 100)
Shortly after I finished my 100 miler, I received a message, an opportunity to be on the other side.
On August 24, 2022, that message was from Izzy,
"...Interested in pacing any miles?"
Still recovering from my race, I quickly responded,
"I'm here for you! I want you to succeed if it's a pacer you need - I am at your service."
I met Isabella "Izzy" last year volunteering at The Moab 240 Endurance Run. A California girl with a sensational sense of humor, spunky, and a love for craft beer. To be clear, I did not know Izzy very well after we parted ways from fulfilling volunteering duties in 2021; our form of communication was on Instagram. We'd send emojis and congratulate each other on races and life events.
So you can imagine the surprise I felt when asked to be one of her pacers. Moab 240 is a huge event, and you want to build your team with some savvy, committed people.
I followed her training all year via social media,
I was esteemed knowing I’d be pacing her for 50 miles; I told myself,
"Don't fuck this up."
Thursday evening before the race, Michelle, myself and Izzy
Friday, October 7, 2021; Race Day
Once night fell, Kyle (Izzy's husband) and I opened the line of communication. Then, back and forth, tracking Isabella, trying to decide when we would make our way to the Indian Creek Aid station, mile 71.3. The Indian Creek Aid station would be the start of our journey together.
We made our way to the aid station on Saturday, October 8, at 5:00 AM. I went through a mental checklist making sure I had all the mandatory gear for the 50-mile trek.
Headlamp and extra headlamp with extra batteries, emergency bivy and poncho, gloves, jacket, insulating long sleeve, pants, battery packs, cell phone, GPX file of the route, and extra emergency calories.
Indian Creek, Mile 71.3 - What's the matter, Queen?
Kyle and I had our backs turned for a moment, chatting with a friend of mine, and the moment we turned around, Izzy appeared at Vinny The Van. I won't forget the look on her face; I reacted the only way I knew how and hugged her. She said, "Did you hear what happened? They ran out of water at Lockhart" (Lockhart is water only aid station at mile 37.3). My girl conserved water for 22 miles til she reached the next aid station; the weather was hot, and temperatures were in the high 80s.
Kyle and I quickly went into crew mode. Izzy says,
"My crew got to work on me, and Melissa had so much energy it pumped me up. She massaged my legs, cleaned my feet, and changed my socks."
A crew is responsible for doing all the dirty and icky things; there is no time for a soft stomach or picking and choosing responsibilities. The only responsibility is getting the runner geared, refreshed, and encouraged to keep going.
After a 45-minute nap, Izzy refreshed, smiling, and pumped.
"We were on our way. It was going to be another hot one in the desert, but I was fueled, hydrated, and ready to continue," said Isabella.
Izzy and I at Indian Creek
Next stop - The Island Aid Station, mile 87.1
As nervous as I felt the days preceding, once we started going, it felt natural. The conversation between us was organic and genuine. The desert was filled with plenty of laughter.
The sun was warm; the landscape was rich in colors. A spectacle of yellow, orange, brown, and red filled the desert.
We shuffled on the runnable terrain, taking advantage. Some sections were tricky. And one could easily get frustrated as per:
"This was a "graduate level" race, after all."
Izzy jokingly said. But she was not kidding; being without service and learning to utilize offline maps is a must! So it's pretty easy to get turned around, primarily due to the distance between course markers.
Once we arrived to the Island, I took Izzy's pack, refilled her bottles, and got her some goodies (aid station fuel) as she got her feet worked on for the next 15-mile trek.
One of the many tricky sections we navigated
Trail Naps - Bridger Jack mile 102.6
More shuffling, yes, I was firm and made her shuffle. We shuffled to bushes and fallen branches. I stopped asking her, "are you ready?" and began telling her, "we are shuffling now." I was mindful of how she and her body felt, reminding her to eat and sip. I scouted surfaces along the trail that would be great for a trail nap, and yes, I napped along with her. These trail naps felt amazing, the sun's warmth, packed dirt, and our packs as pillows. It was refreshing and reenergizing.
We arrived at the aid station at night; there were fire pits and runners wrapped in blankets. I went to work as Izzy rested; feet were the priority. I refilled her bottles, charged her headlamp, moved nutrition to reachable pockets, and brought her warm food. All of this was happening so fast, but every time I looked up at Izzy, she was smiling, laughing, interacting with runners around her, and in good spirits. Her joy was reviving.
New Friends - Shay Mountain mile 121.6
Confession, I looked at the elevation profile of the 50-mile stretch, but I did not read up on the specificity of the terrain of that stretch. I knew nothing about Shay Mountain; If you ever have an opportunity to pace do not neglect the details.
"Since the next section was the infamous Shay Mountain. The rumor was that this was the hardest part of the race and that you are golden if you can make it to the top of Shay. Whether this was true or not, I kept this thought in my head," said Isabella.
I just knew I needed to get her there; the crew and a warm bed would be there at Shay.
We didn't leave Bridger Jack alone; Callie and Francis joined us. Isabella describes it best;
"The 4 of us stuck together and kept each other motivated to get through more unmarked areas, multiple creek crossings that had us cussing for hours and super steep climbs. We knew there was a "false" summit, so we were prepared mentally, but physically our bodies were exhausted."
I continued to navigate, allowed for timed breaks, and felt the weight of responsibility as my one runner became plus two. I could not let this tribe down. I wanted them to succeed and would do all I could to help them reach Shay safely.
Francis, Callie & Izzy on a timed break
The moon was full and gorgeous as it lit our path. We laughed, told stories, and I sang songs I didn't know the words to. It began to get colder; Izzy expressed she was sleepy, and I said, "me too." I knew we could not sleep here; we had to keep moving. The last 2-miles were slower, a gradual climb up.
"A total mind-fuck. I started to break down and slowed my pace," says Izzy.
I did all I could to keep her going; the morning sky began to grace us with its presents. I pointed out to her that all that mattered now was her ability to keep moving. And she did just that; at 6:47 AM, we made it. Shay Mountain, mile 121.6 Kyle, Heather, and Gabe made up her crew, and there they were, greeting us with smiles and blankets. My job was done. She was in skillful hands moving forward.
I will admit I felt a little sad after we parted ways, not being able to be there for her stung.
Izzy earned her buckle, finishing the Moab 240 in 108:43:58.
Reflecting on our journey together (a whopping 21 hours), she left me encouraged; she reminded me of how incredible the human spirit is. No matter how bloody the journey is, smile, keep shuffling and know your why.
Congratulations again, Izzy, on your incredible feat; you are a CABRONA!
You Can keep up with Izzy and her shenanigans here: Ultra_izzyb
Happy Trails!
Quote of the Week: "Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very end." ― Christina Rossetti
Song of the Week: It's fitting that this week’s song is Izzy’s Walk-Up Song
