Figured it be fun to learn and be amused by other’s…I’ll start here’s mine and it’s a bit long.
It happened in 1998 during my first marathon training program. I was following the Galloway book to the letter for a goal marathon time of 2:50. Anyway about a month out from my event(Portland), I was supposed to run a 30 miler. A bunch of my running buddies from the Bay Area wanted me to come do the Lake Tahoe relay run the Saturday before my scheduled 30 miler. I figured a little tempo at elevation never hurt no one and I’d just do my 30 miler when I got back. We ran on Saturday and I ran a 10 mile leg. I flew home on Sunday so I decided to leave work a little early on Monday and start my run at 3:30pm. It was 90 degrees and my route was a planned out-n-back on the Springwater trail in Portland. Since it was hot, I went shirtless. I also decided to carry a 12 oz throw-away bottle of water and 1 gel for fuel since there was no water on the trail. At the time, I was 27 years old and weighed 135. I loved running in the heat so no figured no big deal. I had no idea of any sort of water bottle carrier at the time. I had no real concept of nutrition either.
Because of the plane ride on Sunday, racing at elevation on Saturday, I’m sure I was heading into that run already slightly dehydrated.
I started the run and about 10 miles in I was just hating carrying the bottle. The trail was pretty empty so I decided to stash it next to the trail without even first taking a drink. I figured I’d pick it up on the way back and drink the water while taking my single gel. Can you say IDIOT!!
I felt pretty good at the turn-around point(15 miles) and started making my way back. I was getting thirsty and really looking forward to the water. Well, I couldn’t find it. I kept looking around where I thought I had left it and it wasn’t there. To this day I don’t know if someone picked up being a courteous trail walker/runner to throw away or if I totally spaced out on where I had left it.
I was starting to suffer and was feeling really low on energy so I took the gel hoping it wouldn’t be so bad. WRONG!! Serious stomach cramping and didn’t really feel any energy either. I was a hot mess and still had probably 8 miles to go. I started walking and knew I had to try my best to get back home before dark. I had told my girlfriend that I was doing the run but not where I was doing it and that I’d be home before dinner. I knew she’d really start worry if I was late so I was just trying to make it home before dark.
After a few miles of walking, I felt like DEATH. I decided if I just laid down for a bit maybe I’d feel better or maybe the suffering would stop and I’d die. So shirtless, sweaty, I laid down right on the paved trail. Actually someone walked by and didn’t even bother me like this was just normal. I just laughed at how pathetic I must’ve looked.
The sun was setting and I just had to keep going. I changed my goal from getting home to getting to this small store at the end of the trail. I knew it had a payphone. I had about mile to go so I stumbled on and just kept thinking to myself about getting to use 1-800-COLLECT. Those commercials were everywhere and luckily they were because that was about the only coherent thought I could manage. I laid down on the cool pavement a few more times in that mile and finally saw the lights of the store. Such elation that I’ve never felt before. Basically, knowing that I wouldn’t die was such a relief.
I got to the phone called my girlfriend collect and told her where I was. I just sat outside the store on the cement. The rest of the evening was a blur but I remember drinking lots and lots of gatorade and being wrapped in numerous blankets but still shivering uncontrollably. Luckily, I convinced my girlfriend not to take me to the hospital. I recovered enough and ran the next day.
