Meeting a Challenge

This is a topic harder to write about than I thought it would be. I've been pondering on this and trying to figure out the proper approach to write about my latest successful challenge, what it meant to me and what I learned about myself.

This challenge, was a challenge that I publicly committed myself to, about a year ago and a challenge that made me anxious just thinking about it from that point on. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't concur this quest, but it was the unknown that tugged at my innards. I researched what I was getting myself into and knew distances and the terrain that I was engaging into through this race, but I knew that I'd never truly know what I was up against until it was under my feet.

I was right.... and I was anxious for a reason. When Sharida passed my the coin and timing stick (a couple tools needed to successfully complete this race, which were passed from relay runner to relay runner), it had begun! At that point, I was in the race before I even had a chance to realize it...I was off and running; until the climbing of Mount Hamel, at this point it became a very grueling stretched out strong walk up a 13km mountain face with switchbacks and challenging surface terrain. But it was a matter of mind over matter, I took the time to breath the fresh mountain area, smell the foliage of the spruce and pine, I took the time to speak to the others on the trail and to make sure they were alright when stopped or resting. At some points on the trail, I was reminded of some terrain that I had walked through looking for wellsites through my previous years in the oilfield, so in the back of my mind I held those thoughts and was saying to myself "where in the heck is that wellsite?". What you need to understand is that when I worked the environmental end, if you didn't find the site that you were supposed to assess, they were very hesitant on paying you for that day, so you had to push on if you wanted to get compensated for your what seemed to be wasted day.....no turning back! So, the search for the wellsite was part of what kept my mind engaged threw the first portion of my hike.

I made the mistake of looking up once during the climb when I was coming out of a fully tree enclosed portion of the trail....it was a daunting site, I thought I was going to meeting jack at the top of his beanstalk! Shortly there after, I had a visual of where I had come from and how tiny the river looked down below....I was in awe...I was still feeling great physically and mentally and to see the already achieved accomplishment, it was so uplifting and just made my want to reach the forestry tower all that much more. I reached the peak, it was amazing....it was unbelievable, I can't begin to express in words the feeling...the view....or the comradery from the runners as we ran the ridge at the top. It was the best!

The descend....13km to the top which seemed to take all I had through the last 4 km or so, now another 25km to the finish. After I completed my race requirements on the top of Hamel, without a second thought, I was off and heading down the back side; but did not forget my nutrition, I grabbed a power bar and ate as I ran. For some, eating and running just wouldn't work...running and talking doesn't work for most; maybe this is something that takes practice, which I did a fair bit of. People who have run with me, realize that I talk more when running than I do during a sit down meeting!

For those of you who quad or hike the mountains, you know what the terrain is like! It is challenging enough on a quad or just trying to walk down, the best term to use is, technical. These areas were taken on the run, which required good footing and agility. There were a few moments of uncertainty through my footing while on descend, then out of know where, I heard "progress wisely", "if you wipe out at this stage, you are done and so if your team". As stubborn as I can be, I still pushed and challenged myself, but to a point of comfort and assurance that I was doing the best I could in all aspects of the race. I was eating, drinking lots of fluids, pacing myself, pushing myself through the varying terrain and constantly assessing myself and most of all enjoying the race.

The last 15km of my leg was what I call a gift, it was about a 4% grade descend which took me to within 2.5km of my finish point. I felt good, I put my head back and just let my legs go. At least I thought it was a gift, until the spasms and cramps in my legs were so bad that my feet were being redirected outward at a 45 degree angle, not good! I had leg cramps earlier and just popped salt pills, downed more water and walked them out. But this time...I came to realize that I ran out of the muchly required salt tablets. As a runner approached me, I think she could see the agony in my face as I tried not to move my spasming leg to much, she asked "are you all right", so I said, "I ran out of salt tablets" and she so kindly left me with three tablets, smiled said, "good luck" and ran off. She was my Knightress in shining running gear! The salt tablets kicked in, in about 2 minutes, I gradually got back into a pace of a young thoroughbred and knew I was on the home stretch.

It was near 10:15, starting to get dark and I knew I had only the last 2km to go. As, I approached the end of my leg I met Vince, Brandon and Kayden...what a reward! I ran past them to my relay point and passed the required items on to Matt, our final runner, he was off with a huge smile!

At this point, it was hard to believe it was over. It was great to reach my destination but it was the 5.5 hour journey through the last 38km that was most invigorating.

All I can say is, it was nothing like I have ever experienced before! It's the hardest things in life, that are the best and most rewarding. Until next year...............

Darcy Regier