TUESDAY 090922

This is Daniela's account of her race at Imogen:

Well, it was an amazing adventure!  I am proud to say I finished, although my time was nothing to brag about.  It started at 7:30 in the town of Ouray; there were about 900 participants (it's open to 1500).  We had to make the "Upper Bird Camp" which was 7 miles in by 10Am to continue the race.  I made it at 9:55!!!  The first part of the race is uphill like normal people would imagine...like regular hiking with ups and downs.  The landscape was forest but then it opened up into canyons and sheer rock walls with pines and Aspen everywhere.  The leaves were just starting to change, mostly on the plants, so there was a lot of yellow and orange mixed with the greens of the trees and the different shades of pink, red and gray of the rocks and mountains.  There were little waterfalls and creeks that were flowing.  It got steeper and steeper.  The race started at 7,800 feet elevation, and by the time we reached the Upper Bird Camp we were at 11,200 ft.  After a break, the next 2.5 miles take you to the summit at 13,120ft.  Those were the most agonizing 2.5 miles of my life.  It was so steep, and the air was so thin.  I was obviously at the back of the pack, but all the other people in my group were all walking like a death march in single file up this mountain.  The trees were long gone, and it was just barren rock with some little plants growing on the ground, but mostly rocks.  But it was still beautiful in a lonely, isolated sort of way.  I was walking so slowly--like I was in space.  I seriously couldn't walk any faster.  I imagine it was the lack of oxygen getting to my muscles.  I would pass someone literally at 0.1 miles per hour.  I had my ipod and was listening to U2 and the song Elevation which made me crack a smile and push on.  Whenever an inspirational song came on, I would get choked up both for wondering why the heck I was doing this, and also for experiencing this very physical test in such awesome beauty.  It got pretty cold and windy, but luckily there was no snow.  When I finally made it to the top, I couldn't believe I had made it.  There were lots of people cheering us on and congratulating us at making it through the toughest part.  I was very much afraid that my legs would not tolerate the 6 miles down to the end.  The nicest surprise was that my legs for down hill were in great shape!  I pretty much ran down those last 6 miles (carefully because the trail was full of rocks and places to twist an ankle or trip on)  I am proud to say I had no wipe outs or serious injuries 5 hours and 41 minutes later.  The run ends down a little street in Telluride where people were cheering us on.  I had a little race to the finish with one guy who had been pacing with me for several miles.   I beat him--more out of sheer determination to be done with it than to try to beat him.  That night it rained, and the next day there was snow on the very same pass I had walked on the day before.  We were so lucky with the weather!   Would I do it again?  Yes.  In a sick and twisted way, I have to see if I can do better.  Plus I want to see that landscape again.  Next time I'll be more organized with my gear, and I'll have trained more for uphill movements.  I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this sort of thing. 

I am attaching the best pics--I'll have to send in several batches!  The professional pic I got taken at the top won't come in for a few weeks, but I did the Crossfit pose for that one.

Daniela

WOD

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 reps of

135/95  pound Ground to overhead

Handstand push-ups

Burpees

Post time to comments.

Endurance WOD

30:20 x 8 rounds, 30 seconds on 20 seconds off, all out effort! 

Swim: Use pool or open water Bike: Use a Monarch ERG, stationary bike with wattage tool or something similar that can hold a load of 200+ watts

Run: Use a treadmill, set at 12% grade at 0-30 sec slower pace per mile than best 5k pace. Do not reduce the speed!

C2:Row 30:20x8

Post distances to comments.

Comments

[M Moseley]

Wow Daniela what an awesome job. Thanks for sharing that with us. Way to step it up and represent yourself so well. You are an inspiration!

[Kim Wall]

Jen, are you crying again? Daniela, amazing story, great job pushing your limits and conquering your fears! Can't wait to see more pics.

[katie]

Daniela, did you ever know that youre my hero?

[Wayne Richard]

Daniela...you are a rockstar! Doing anything for over 5 and a 1/2 hours takes strength, discipline, mental toughness, smarts, and desire...many of the great qualities we see in you every WOD! Glad that the folks of Telluride got to witness a bit of it too! Be proud, as you stepped up to a challenge, put in the training and gutted it through!

[Heather]

Daniela, you must be so proud of yourself! Great job!

[Tammie Senn]

Daniela way to go girl. Just reading your post gave me goose bumps. I usually only get to do a WOD with you on Saturdays but when we have worked out together the energy and confidence you have makes me push myself even farther... Looks like a breath taking place..

[Mark Pepe]

That was Totally Awesome Daniela! Proud of you! (feel free to bring back some cool CO weather too :-)

[Daniela]

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes. I couldn't have gotten through it without knowing that I have the best group of people behind me that a person could have. At the particularly difficult places I remembered my Crossfit friends which really helped me get to the top (and bottom).

The workout today was great! I am flattered to have a WOD named after me (not sure it's warranted, but all the same...)--I really enjoyed it.

[Greg Walker]

Daniela was a great WOD. Named after a great crossfitter! Great job Daniela!!
I used 115lb and finished in 19:26. HSPU's felt real good. Burpees too.
We are looking for a big turn out Saturday, hope everyone will be there.

[M Moseley]

Rx'd with power snatches 20:28.

[Jaime G.]

Not enough weight today (43#), could have done more, but am never very confident with olympic movements. I did the clean and jerks, HSPU's with 1 ab mat and normal burpees; 29:51.

[Jennifer Lawrence]

Oh my dear girl! I'm so super proud of you! You did it! Awesome job and your story is so inspiring to me. Who would have thought, when we were pushing our babies around Lambert Park...that we would be where we are today and doing the things we are today. If you would have told me then where we would be...I honestly think I would have laughed. Way to go girlfriend!

95lb power clean&jerks, assisted HSPU's: 29:38

[Becky Walker]

Daniela great job. I totally agree with what everyone else has said, you definitely are an inspiration. To see how far you've come this past year, from baby boot camp, working out in Jennifer and Kevin's back yard, the Tucson marathon, wow it's amazing. And especially to be at our favorite place Quary and Telluride, the Swiss Alps of America. I was so bummed I couldn't do the WOD last night, I tried but my pulled my calf muscle again. I'm going back to Omaha this week and I can't be limping around, so I guess I'll be resting for a few days and then hit the gym in Omaha. Good luck to everyone on Fight Gone Bad, I did the WOD on Sunday and improved. I'll be thinking of you on Saturday, have fun.

[Daniela]

Jennifer, believe me, I had no doubt in my mind that you were destined for greatness! Baby Bootcamp was lots of fun, but you were WAY too good for them! Crossfit is so lucky to have you and Kevin as a team. I certainly wouldn't have had the courage or inclination of finishing that race, or any other races I've done, without your encouragement and expertise!

Thank you!!!

[Meighan]

Way to go Daniela! LOVE the story! Almost feel like I was right along side you with the description you gave. Congratulations! :)