The journey through Telluride involves intense physical struggles and moments of doubt. Climbing the mountain reveals both the beauty and risks of navigating icy terrain. Reaching aid stations becomes a crucial aspect of survival and recovery in the race. Despite difficulties, there are small victories, including connection with aid workers and moments of reflection on personal health challenges. A knee injury diagnosis foreshadows the ongoing battle with physical limitations that impact the endurance experience.
The operating system in my brain seemed to have given up as well. I let them go and went back to slogging. I hadn't given up entirely. I kept moving, but slowly.
I crested the saddle and scoped out the frozen snowfield before me. Spotting some tracks, I started making my way across. Very quickly, I felt sketched out, each step a game of Russian Roulette on ice.
At KT, I chatted with the friendly aid station workers and ate some food, mostly potato soup. They filled my flask with ginger ale, packed me a sandwich, and sent me off.
Months earlier, I sat in a doctor's office awaiting the results of a knee x-ray. I'd had pain for months, but hadn't known why. The physician assistant came in with the report.
Collection
[
|
...
]