I guess to give this story some context, I need to go back to the beginning of the year when I was asked if pacing at the Mammoth 200 sounded like something I would like to do…………..I was on a call with none other than Roxanne Vogel, PhD and legendary mountain athlete. She is a nutrition scientist and physiologist that was working with one of my athletes that I coach, Serena Gordon. We had all been working together for over a year on some of Serena’s goals, but mostly Unbound XL. After finishing 2nd at Unbound XL Serena found herself proud of what she had accomplished and curious about what other challenges awaited her…. naturally I started to suggest trail running and that is why Serena was going through a battery of tests in a lab run by Roxanne, not as a cyclist but as a runner. During these tests and phone calls is when I got asked if I would want to pace Roxanne…and I suppose this is the kick off point of what has turned out to be quite a journey.

Upon being asked, I Immediately said yes. I said “yes” because I always say “yes” and this ticked a box that didnt involve me racing. ( something I had been and kinda still struggle with ). Pacing duties sounded great, a reason to be at the race and not have to commit to racing (or training) but still be part of the community, this team and Roxanne’s journey. Winter wrapped up and spring was ripping by. I never really committed myself to any consistent training, I just dabbled. I had the idea in my head that I didnt need to be really “that fit” to pace and never found myself building anything. Somewhere around April I decided I wanted to run the local 50 miler that would fall essentially on my 53 birthday, a worthy reason to get after it I thought. So I got to work, and of course, I got injured and I spiraled. I am too old, I am too lazy, I am blah blah blah. Not a fun space. I didnt do the race. I tried to keep running consistently and manage my injury the best I could, but I didnt feel like I was making gains. I needed something to work towards as I toiled… and Roxanne struck again. On a zoom call with her discussing Serena’s training and nutrition, Roxy asked my if I had ever done the Enchantment Traverse in Leavenworth, Washington, she and 2 friends were planning on doing it in June….I had not but I had heard cool things about it and I promptly invited myself on her trip! haha. Her response was priceless, “that could work, you could pick me up at the airport.” This trip would come at the end of June and it kept me motivated. In addition, It got me to sign up for the White River 50km near Enumclaw, Washington. This race offers Stout vert and beautiful terrain… I got excited and started to find some work/ training balance.

The Enchantments trip came fast, and somehow we managed to thread the needle of hot weather and smoke from all the fires… we really lucked out to be honest

Super fun trip and Mountain GOATS!!!!! This traverse gave me confidence that I would be able to help Roxy at Mammoth. We were moving well together and having a blast… So with a little momentum I turned my attention to the 50km. Roughly 4 weeks went by and it was race day. Again, I lucked out with weather and smoke, the day was pretty much ideal. For some reason, I really couldnt push on the climbs and I found myself needing to back way off, normally I dont do that I just grind myself into the ground until I explode…but knowing the only way back was to finish, I changed my strategy and took care of myself. It kind of worked. I didnt have any stomach issues and I ended up 7th overall, ( but almost an hour behind the fast kids.) I walked away satisfied, but a little confused…but Mammoth shouldnt be a problem for me. More confidence in my bucket.

While in the Enchantments, Roxy had mentioned that she wanted to get the whole team together in Mammoth and do a little training camp…how fun does that sound. Running around the Mammoth area getting to know some of the course we would be pacing? Count me in. Fast Forward 4 weeks and we arrived (even though the travel was ridiculous) in Mammoth

Let’s just say, while the environment and the people were great, I quickly realized, like on the first run, that I might not be the best person to be on the team. The altitude was killing me…. like I was in the box… my floor was my ceiling. Embarrassing to say the least, old guy cant hang, is how I left Mammoth.

I expressed this to the team, and if I had to guess, Amy and Serena probably agreed, I was the wrong guy for the team…but for some reason, Roxanne said, “nope, you will be fine”

Knowing that I had an altitude tent, Roxanne wrote me a 30-day acclimatization program, and knowing how important this goal was to Roxanne, I committed to the tent. I have never really enjoyed sleeping in the tent, and I had never spent more than 3 weeks in one…but to be honest, it went pretty well. And I was able to train and recover pretty normally. Well worth it. I was ready for Mammoth 200 pacing duties. Being a member of this team definitely got me out of a funk.

Part 2, Mammoth 200 event and experience words coming soon