AKA the Nyquil 10 Miler
I will be the first one to admit that Nyquil and running long distance seem to be unlikely partners but when you have a bad cold…what are you going to do?
I had come down with a nasty cold on Friday. This is the transitional time of year in Colorado after the first frost and before the weather gets cold. We enjoy unseasonably high temperatures and things are seemingly lovely. Unless you have allergies, then this two to three week period is a spinning hell. It is windy, there is smoke in the air from various forest fires and the temperatures can fluctuate fifty to sixty degrees in a day. For whatever reason this plays hell with my immune system and I turn into a sneezy, red eyed zombie…if I am lucky. As it turns out this year I ended up with a whopper of a cold. A multiple kleenex box cold that even the best drugs Walmart had to offer couldn’t put a dent in my misery.
With a race the next day we can look at this two ways. I can take the easy way out and no one would blame me. After all it is common sense, right?
On the other hand, Spartan common sense says that if you sign up for a race you show up and do your best regardless of how you feel. From my perspective, this wasn’t a bad thing but a challenge from the running gods to see what I was made of.
Note: The traditional rules of exercise are pretty clear about situations like this. If your symptoms are below the neck, such as joint aches, fever and peeing blood you should probably sit the race out.
However, if the symptoms are above the neck, congestion, headaches and sinus pressure, then you will probably be okay. It may suck for you but it won’t kill you.
You Never Know How a Race Will Go Until You Do It.
The Great Trailhead Race of 2019 turned out to be one of my most enjoyable races of the year. I was still slow but I felt really good. Start time the temperature was 37 degrees with occasional wind that seemed a lot colder than it actually was. Usually it takes me about half a mile to get my core temperature up. Saturday it took about two miles. Eventually my nose opened up and I could actually breathe. Pretty cool.
The smartest move of the day may have been taking Nyquil instead of Dayquil. Dayquil seems the obvious choice but it has a decongestant in it. Yes it wouldn’t have made me tired but my runny nose would have gotten worse. With Nyquil I took the risk of falling asleep in the bushes but at least I wasn’t sneezing all over myself like some sort of savage.
The brain has a unique way of dealing with adversity. Once it realized I was going to run ten miles regardless of how I felt, my brain, for once, decided to cooperate with me and help out.
Or maybe it was just the Nyquil.
Regardless, I felt loose, happy and really enjoyed the run. I did have to stop and pee every ten minutes but heavy doses of cold medication will make you do that.
Designs by Zazz, the official clothing store of M Factor Fitness brings you race inspired gear for your next adventure. Check out all my designs at https://teespring.com/stores/inspirational-running-store
Why you should do this race next year.
The Great Trailhead Foot race never came up on my radar. For whatever reason, this is the first year I had heard of it. I loved it and I am definitely doing it next year. Here are six reasons you should too.
Reason 1
It is in Bear Creek State Park, one of the best places for trail running in the Denver area. This is where I do the Bear Chase and Chase the Bear races. The Trailhead race is very beginner friendly. The trails they choose are wide and not very technical. Anyone who can do a 10K could do this run. I am not sure you even need trail shoes.
Reason 2
Stream crossings. Who doesn’t love a good stream crossing? The ten miler had four of them. It was an out an back course so you hit both streams twice. This was the good one, the other was a little puny.
What surprised me is that they gave you an option on this. Go through the stream or go around. Very nice on the half of 3W races. I wouldn’t have given you an option. Stream crossings are a blast.
Reason 3
Not a lot of elevation gain. When you are hopped up on Nyquil and never know when your energy is going to run out this is a bonus. This is just a very fun course to run.
Reason 4
This is a small race, not a lot of people to deal with. That makes parking easy and it lets the runners spread out on the course.
Reason 5
Awesome views of the Front Range from different perspectives. The park is laid out in such a way that the nearby roads are disguised and you feel like you are farther away from civilization than you actually are.
Reason 6
Pretty cool swag. Let’s be honest about this. No one signs up for a race until they look at the swag. I have a bunch of shirts already so this was a nice surprise.
This is a quality cap and a quality coffee mug. As soon as I feel a little better I can assure you that there will be something other than coffee in it!
