"When the Grind Outlasts the Glory"

In that last blog, I shared the beginning of my AZ Monster 300 attempt. How stepping far outside my comfort zone – into the unknown, into the heat, into the grind – brought me face to face with a different kind of growth. One that doesn’t always feel like progress in the moment. But that story was just getting started. Because once the sun went down and I headed into Leg 3, the real challenge began. The one that tested not just my stomach, but my resolve.

Leg #3 - Gila River to Grand Enchantment - 26.9km

This should have been fun. It was night (my favorite time to run), temps were dropping, the field was spreading out a bit, and the climbs were manageable.

I just couldn't shake the gut ache and felt so hot. Nausea still lingering.

There was a series of climbs that went well. Mostly power hiking, runners were moving in packs. Catching the odd person and being caught as well. Conversations with fellow adventurers helped distract the mind and pass the time.

As we moved through the night, I popped a TUMS to see if that would ease my gut. I felt a bit better for about 20 minutes and managed to get in some calories.

Dropping down between the climbs the lower trails were very smooth but were also so dusty it was like fog.

You paid a price either way. Beat up your legs or suck in dirt.

Around 5 km into this leg my gut had had it, and the first purge took place. I felt better after, but it was short-lived.

This would have been a prime spot to take a rest, settle, drink, eat and regroup. Instead, I just plowed on.

Big mistake.

Around 2am, I was feeling very nauseous again. I really needed downtime. I hadn't planned for sleep just yet, but the body was pushing back hard. This time I listened.

View of runners in the distance as I tried to settle down for a break.

Approximately 73 km in, I arrived at Aid Station #3 - Grand Enchantment. Nothing felt grand. And I was far from enchanted…

I found my drop bag and the sleeping tents. Again, I changed my shirt for a dry layer, grabbed a sleeping pad, dug out my bivy liner, puffy jacket and wedged in with 4 other runners.

I managed to snag a wool blanket which kept the chill off and while I was there for 1-1/2 hours, I only managed maybe 20 minutes of sleep.

Mentally I felt better, but my stomach was still refusing to settle. I decided to move on, take it easy, and felt I could eat something now.

Somewhat rested, I geared up and went to find some grub. Again, the aid station had limited options: a heavy breakfast burrito, sweets or bananas. Soup was long gone. I was not happy as that would have really hit the spot for me.

I don’t consider myself a complainer, but as a race director and someone who has volunteered at many aid stations, the lack of organization at this point of the race was super disappointing.

So, I downed some hot chocolate, and a few slices of orange. I was back on trail by 4am.

Leg #4 - Grand Enchantment to Tortilla - 21.2km

With a long continuous climb, I felt I was moving well, pacing felt right. Mostly power hiking, I caught 4-5 folks just before the steepest part.

At 5:45am I took a quick 10-minute dirt nap at the base of the next climb. Just as the sun was about to pop up, I carried on. I listened to the birds, trying to appreciate their effort. With my stomach still feeling knotted, and a sense of mild nausea, my taste buds were long gone. (Later discovered my tongue was black from all the dust we had been inhaling.)

Climbed for another hour, already feeling warm in the sun, and it was not even 7am! I was able to text Paula on-off throughout the night. Doing so really helped me stay motivated and her gentle (and maybe not so gentle) reminders to try and eat/drink spurred me on.

Hiking the ridge lines at sunrise, I should have been in my glory. I should have been in awe of the great views. But, ugh! My gut was ruining things. At this point, I was pretty much fueling on ginger ale. Anything with flavor or texture would induce the feeling to hurl.

Around 7am I tried taking in some electrolyte tabs...body rejected them, and I purged. Hard.

This gave me an opportunity for a 5-minute dirt nap in the fetal position. Wow, good times.

Another missed opportunity to rest more. Maybe if I tried to use some gravel, I could have potentially eaten and maybe gotten some fluids back in.

Nope. I was too impatient…

While I felt slightly recovered, I was now out of ginger ale. Small sips of water were still ok, and over the next couple of hours I moved at a pace I felt was decent. Fast walking and small sips of water got me into the next Aid Station.

I arrived at Aid Station #4 - Tortilla, at approximately 9am.

At this point I was several hours off pace and my plan. I was feeling spent.

Tortilla was a R&R Aid Station, with minimal support and water. I had an unplanned dirt nap and then chatted with Catra who gave me some Pepto for my stomach. She just dropped due to a knee issue but was in good spirits chatting us all up, encouraging us all.

I tried to stomach some ramen and managed to get down maybe a 1/4 cup. I was feeling pretty low, knowing there was only one way out. But I also knew I would be able to see my crew (Paula) for the first time since I started, at the next aid station. That gave me some motivation to move.

I filled up on water and headed out just before 10am.

The next 5 hours were beyond a grind for me. I was not only suffering from the heat, but now completely unable to stomach food. That combined with two of my flasks that were tainted with the taste of the electrolytes also made me want to hurl. So this left me with 2.5L of plain water and a 5 hour ETA to Freeman.

Point of no return.

Stay tuned for the last leg of this adventure in suffering. I will share some lessons I learned. And why this attempt won't be my last...