Moments before the start of the Powderface Mountain Marathon, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of runners, all I wanted to do was puke.
Nerves hit me in waves. I remember having the same feeling when I ran my first 100k at Lost Soul. And honestly, I had every reason to be nervous or rattled. This was my first real running test since I tore my glute a year ago in June.
Sure I’ve been running and hiking but I haven’t pushed. Today would be the real test to see how far I’ve come in my long, stubborn, healing journey.
I was happy to snag a last minute bib from the race by cashing in one of my old volunteering shifts. One of the perks of volunteering at any 5 Peaks events, is a free entry to another race. Since it was a local race, I knew I would see runners on the trail and volunteering. That’s definitely a nice perk.
The 42-km route follows four trails (Elbow Valley, Sulphur Springs, Powderface Creek and Prairie Creek) in Kananaskis starting at Station Flats with two creek crossings, two road crossings and some serious elevation gain (1,600+ metres).
Rain was in the forecast (of course), so I started with my heavy rain jacket, which I stupidly ditched after 5 kilometres.
Meet the cutoffs
My overall goal for the race was to finish without trashing my body. Run smart, stay upright, keep moving, and don’t get injured. The first mini-goal was to meet the two race cut offs – 23.5 kilometres by noon and 33 kms by 2 p.m. Normally race cutoffs do not phase me, but I was genuinely concerned about the first cutoff.
Once the race began, I tried to think happy thoughts. I didn’t have my earbuds in so all I heard was silence, footsteps and the huffing and puffing of runners around me. It’s always awkward being so close to other runners. Thankfully that didn’t last long, and I was soon on my own with runners ahead of me within my view.
My nerves quickly settled in and I began enjoying the run. I was looking forward to the creek crossing around the 7k-mark. Weeks ago the water had been up to my knees so I didn’t know what to expect. The water level was low so I gleefully splashed through and carried on.
Seeing familiar faces at the aid stations was a nice boost. Around the 13-14 kilometre mark, my glute began screaming bloody murder. Of course it was on a flat section that I should have been running. I slowed down to a determined walk, and let my glue relax. Reaching the Powderface Saddle never felt harder. After I crawled myself to the saddle, I enjoyed the mostly flat and downhill sections. Strangely my glute settled down – all the climbing must have done a number on it.
I reached the first cut off (23.5 kim) with over an hour to spare. I was so relieved and happy. I knew I would make the next cutoff, and finish the race.
Rainy Powderface
It started to rain when I reached 36 kilometres. I’d been super cautious on the downhills all day. I could have run a lot more faster but I’m scared of tripping. My anxiety is improving but it is a slow process. The rain made things trickier because slippery rocks and mud are not kind to runners. Only once I slid in the mud and landed on my butt just before the second creek crossing. I’m calling that a big win!
My legs felt surprisingly good in the last three or four kilometres of the race. I was wet, cold and absolutely ready to be done. Crossing the finish line and seeing familiar faces was a relief.
It’s a fast race, and I was not fast. I was super happy with my effort and time. Garmin had predicted a 6:30 finish, and I came in at 7 hours. While I’m usually a mid-pack runner, I finish every close to the back. For a long run and a real test of where I’m at, I am happy. It could have gone really bad. Patience does really pay off.
While my glute was giving me serious grief mid-race, I think it was good stress – the kind that nudges you forward instead of backward. It’s two days later and I’m a little tired but I feel fine. Maybe, I’ve finally turned a corner in this stubborn recovery journey.
(PS. Powderface boasts a beautiful, challenging course. Sign up for 2027 when it opens because it sells out fast. I’ll be back.)