Blog 3: The Bigfoot 200

Recovery is just as important as training, and Rachel is taking the time her body and mind need to heal, rebuild, and reflect. In her final blog, she opens up about the physical and emotional aftermath of competing in such an extreme event. From muscle fatigue and sleep debt to moments of gratitude and growth, Rachel shares what recovery really looks like after pushing beyond the edge of endurance.

Bigfoot Recovery

By Rachel Fadeley

Physically, the process of recovering from the Bigfoot 200 has been slow and steady. Immediately after the event I had a hard time mobilizing due to the pain in my leg and the eventual soreness and stiffness that settled in everywhere else. The amount of swelling in my lower extremities was unlike anything I had experienced before and took multiple days to subside. It also took a few days for my digestion and sleep patterns to even back out. Luckily, I was able to spend this time with family and there was no shortage of people willing to tow me around on a lake, play cards, and listen to my trail stories. Following the immediate post-event stage, I am continuing to focus on resting, eating well, and have started to slowly increase activity. I am also continuing to work with Aidan during this recovery process and while I build my strength and endurance back up.

Mentally and emotionally the process has been surprisingly smooth. It took me a few days to talk about the DNF without crying, but I remain unwavering in my determination to not allow sadness or disappointment detract from the amazing experience that I had. The cookie didn’t crumble in a way that saw me crossing the finish line this time, but when I consider the entire experience and dig into why I wanted to do this in the first place and what I had hoped to get out of it, I am so incredibly fulfilled. Looking forward, I want to continue to do endurance events like the Bigfoot 200. I am still reflecting on what I liked about this distance and event, what I would change, and how I can go further next time.

Unfortunately, I dropped before I could do a lengthy (50+ mile) segment with my sister. She is not one to let me get away with things and we are currently making plans for another run with no shortage of suffering; something I am looking forward to immensely.

Although I alone chose to participate in this event, there was no point in the entire process where I ever felt alone. So many people cheered me on and supported me throughout this endeavor, and I am forever grateful.

My rough stats (I didn’t track the run on my watch):

Distance: 132ish miles

Ascended: 32,000ish feet

Descended: 30,000ish feet

Time: Noon on Friday to sometime in the morning after sunrise but before it got too hot on Monday