Easy spin with me Julie

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T-21h

Well well well, did not expect this to end up being my most painful race/run ever. Made a mistake at around 14.3 km into the race and rolled my right ankle quite bad on a technical downhill trail section, first time ever injuring myself like this running. Stopped and thought about going down the mountain straight to home, started moving in that direction, but then realized that my foot would still be injured and I would just be at home without having accomplished much, so I decided to keep going, cause it seemed like I could still move. Of course finishing in 5-6 hours wasn't going to happen, but I figured I could still get it over with in 7-8 at least. So I kept going, flat parts were tough and downhills were even tougher, but uphills were fine. At the 26 km aid station I got cold spray from the medic and explained that I needed some tape to wrap my ankle, at first they said they don't have it, but then managed to find some sticky self-adherent wrap, so I wrapped my ankle, and the cold spray helped a ton too, felt much better and kept going. There was plenty of uphill, so I could keep a decent enough pace with small sections of flat and downhill and technical parts in between. Managed to get some cold spray also in the next aid station, but it didn't help as much anymore. Then the last 15 km of mostly very technical trail downhill gauntlet started, and I just could not move at any respectable pace at all, every step hurt so bad, basically reduced to walking downhill for the most part, also having to be super careful not to make another mistake as my foot was so compromised, I did roll that ankle a few more times, but luckily just a tiny roll that I managed to save quickly. Having good LEKI poles saved me probably as well, used them to the max. Met a lot of great people along the way -- apologies for pushing past you on the uphills only to get in your way again on the downhills! The last downhill was the most demoralizing, but somehow I finished. Now.. recovery.

PS: I might post some pics of the race here later if/when I find some, also some pics of my swollen ankle, so please check back if you're interested.

PPS: The Kailas FUGA EX330 shoes have a lot of stack height and soft cushion rubber ("supercritical foam midsole") for ultra racing, but this can also lead to ankle rolling, this is exactly what happened to me, I've never rolled my ankles sooo much with other shoes. Also, the Kailas shoes have a weird lacing system that just doesn't seem to work for me (nothing like the Salomon S-LAB in principle similar looking system that I've never had any issues with) and an uncomfortable rough inner toe box and tongue area (and debris gets into the shoe easily too). I might try to modify the lacing and tongue/toe box somehow, to see if I can make them fit for me, but I probably won't run technical trails in these shoes again ever anyhow. Honestly, I hate these shoes right now :)

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Easy spin with me Julie

UTMB HMONG 50

Warming up

Warmup

T-21h

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