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Rocky Mountain High 100 #25

Writer's picture: Rosie Nanette GagnonRosie Nanette Gagnon

"Rise from the blood of your heroes, you are the ones who refused to surrender" -sabaton If there was ever an ultra to surrender to, it was this one. Met with obstacle after obstacle, I am so deeply humbled and grateful for the many ways God intervened to help me get to #25, a quarter of the way through to my 1hundred100s4dexter & veteran suicide awareness.


My training was on track to run Ute 100 mid August, a race I've been training for the last 2 years, run at high altitude in the Utah LaSalle mountain range from 9-12k elevation. A few weeks before the race, a huge wildfire burned down the course so the race was cancelled for this year. I was disappointed to say the least. We'd already paid for 2 weeks in a condo in Silverthorne area of the Colorado Rockies so that I could get acclimated for the altitude. With that trip already in place, I immediately switched gears to plan an equally difficult course that I would run solo during our stay in Colorado. With a ton of advice from my friend Linton who is a 14k sumitting expert, I laid out a plan to run the Leadville 100 course, a difficult high altitude race that was taking place a few weeks later. Felt very intimidated by the remote mountain access and distance from our condo and Jason wasn't thrilled about the idea, but agreed if I got someone to run with me and some extra crew help we could make it happen. I was out doing some steep training miles on the AT early in the morning and like a light bulb, the spirit said, ask Rhonda! My awesome LDS running friend who paced and ran with me for Moms memorial run and my Swammie Shuffle 200 miler...she lives in St George and I thought, well, maybe Colorado isn't too far away if shes up for an adventure! She's a crazy impulsive gal like me, and she was immediately in! No question! Haha She even got her amazing friend and crew guy Richard on board, willing to drive out and meet us at all the road points on the Leadville course for crewing. I was sooo sooo excited, and definitely felt way more comfortable doing a high mountain adventure with a companion. With 2 weeks to get ready to summit Hopes Pass, I was hitting the trails hard and stumbled, tearing my meniscus. At least that's what I think happened. It bothered me for a few days so I was resting it, just doing some light swimming when the wrong step out of the pool completely disabled me. I fell on the ground and literally could put zero weight on my leg. It was SO painful! I managed to get to the house on my own but Jason and my boys had to practically carry me to the car. I was in so much pain. We went to the doctors for xrays and though the xrays were clear, I was put on crutches and had to wait for an MRI for a diagnosis. I was in so much pain & I was 100% certain I could not only not run with Rhonda, but that I'd be on crutches for 6 weeks and lose all my training before Tuscazoar and Grindstone 100. I was literally bawling in the doctors office.


I spent the next 2 days on the couch sulking, crying and elevating my knee, heat and ice packs. The Dr gave me Percocet but I didn't take any. I didn't want to mask any pain in case I might overdo getting around the house and making it worse. For 2 days my family had to help me get up and down from the couch, I couldn't get up the stairs to my bedroom so I slept on the couch. I started googling my injury and doing a self diagnosis - from youtube physical therapy videos- and judging from the pain, thought for sure the meniscus & acl were damaged. Jason wanted to try and cancel our condo, with our Leadville run less than 2 weeks away, he thought I needed to tell Rhonda that we weren't going to make it. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I asked him to give me a blessing so he called the LDS missionaries and they came and administered to me. In the blessing I was told to trust my body and to listen to it, and to trust and have faith in the healing power of Christ. After that blessing I told Jason, I am going to try and believe that God can give me a miracle, because I want to help Rhonda get her first 100 miles, as well as run for our heroes. I felt that because my motives were for others and not myself, that God could heal me. .... It was ...difficult....to keep that faith. My knee was SO weak. I spent 4 days on the couch using crutches to get around. Couldn't take care of my plants or the livestock. I was reading everything I could read about my possible injury...even a strain would likely take 3-6 weeks to heal :( At some point I shut my laptop and thought, I am NOT going to read any more diagnosis crap. I'm going to trust Christ, the master healer, to help me recover enough to do this 100 miles. By Friday that week, one week out from our run, I could carefully hobble to the car using a cane as long as I kept most of the weight off my right leg. We had an uneventful drive from Virginia to Colorado, I sat in the backseat and elevated my leg the entire 27 hour trip.

We met my daughter Hannah and her family, Ben & Ellie, at our condo and I knew even if I couldn't make the run it was worth the drive to see these kiddos! Everyone expected that I would cancel this run. After we went to church on Sunday I was feeling a little stronger so we went for a 2.5 mile walk, and I was hobbling and limping in pain at the end of it. It was a beautiful day and I was so hungry to do this run. :( I was using Ellie's stroller as an old lady walker. :-P

Only 5 days until our 100. Finally after this walk I gave in and texted Rhonda and told her how bad my knee was and thought maybe we should change courses and told her I may not even be able to finish at all. That thought of a different just came into my head so clearly. I hadn't even considered it. To me it was the Leadville course, or nothing! But God gently led me to realize we could still accomplish 100 miles if I was smart about it. Rhonda, the amazing friend that she is, planned to come out anyway to go as far as we possibly could, even if we didn't make 100 miles. We switched from the Leadville course to a 50 mile out and back on roads and bike trails to Leadville & Turquoise lake & back to Dillon. I didn't want to risk turning my knee on a rock and making things worse. She and I both felt God very strongly tell us this was the right change to make and that He would help us. Her crewman Richard couldn't come out because I70 was closed to a mudslide (another bizarre setback) so Rhonda bought a plane ticket to fly into Denver. I asked Jason and Ben to give me another blessing Sunday night. I was searching for words of affirmation as they prayed and just wasn't getting them...that I would be ok to run. Then right at the end of the prayer, Jason hastily said "You will recover." Realizing that could have meant anything, the spirit witnessed to my heart that if I kept my faith strong I'd be healed enough to complete our run. So every day, I prayed as hard as I could for God to heal my knee so that I could help Rhonda get her 100 miles, and so that I could honor Dexter, Taylor, Jacob and Nate in this beautiful mountain country. Sunday night, I still could not go up a flight of stairs without help. On Monday, I was able to walk a slow 3 miles with hills, though the downs really started to hurt and I was limping by the time I finished. Tuesday, I jogged 4 slow miles with Jason with no pain, and walked 4 miles with Hannah without pain. On Wednesday I was able to do a 10 mile run & 15 minute mile with no pain. Took Thursday off to heal up. The explanation that kinda came to my heart was that I was experiencing basically a weeks worth of healing every single day. So from Sunday to Wednesday had the equivalent of 4 weeks of healing. This may sound hokey to some but for my family who witnessed the incredibly quick recovery, it was nothing short of a miracle.


I picked up Rhonda at the Denver airport and we had such a blast catching up and giggling like schoolgirls! She is just the most fun person. I am usually a very introverted runner and don't like more than a few minutes of conversation while I'm doing an ultra, but this would be my 3rd super long distance with her and it didn't give me any anxiety haha. We have so much fun together but she also understands crying and pain caves and such, so I knew I could just be myself and we would finish this, even if we walked the whole way. We hit up walmart and bought enough food for 10 runners, and spent the next 18 hrs resting and preparing for the journey. Started right at 3pm on Friday in the parking lot of our condo.






The first mile or so my knee had a painful little pull in it, but it soon disappeared as we headed towards the bike path Dillon reservoir. The views of the reservoir were absolutely breathtaking! We stopped for some victory pics with the Eagle statue overlooking the lake <3 It was the perfect way to start out our run for these fallen heroes.



Running with a full pack was breath- taking. literally. :P Really feeling the elevation, My heart rate skyrocketed and was 20-30 points above where it should be, so we slowed things up...still struggling with it being high, my fingers and hands started to tingle and I wondered if it was from lack of oxygen. I was getting pretty concerned so just slowed the pace a bit, trying to catch my breath and take in the scenery while on the phone with Jason asking how much I should worry about tingling hands!




When we reached our first fairly steep climb we decided to walk and finally it settled out. the smell of pine trees and cool earth was intoxicating and exhilarating. there were brilliant purple, orange, and yellow wildflowers everywhere! I felt like I could walk 200 miles! At the top of the climb we had beautiful lake views and stopped to watch a big deer casually eating by the trail. Rhonda and I both decided we wanted to take this easy, enjoy every mile, take lots of pictures and appreciate being out in the mountains. Had a big stone heart right at the top of our first climb. <3





The afternoon was fairly warm, we took our first downhill slow and I had no knee trouble at all so I got confidence restored that we could cover the miles. after about 10 miles we were both hot and thirsty. Came to a big river and Rhonda hiked down to refill our water bottles so I didn't risk my knee on the rocks. I brought some water purification tablets that we could use for just this purpose.

In the next stretch we passed through some coyote country and got a little spooked, but we only saw one big fat gopher. Rhonda took some pics of me up ahead, which I love because it shows the boys I'm running for being carried through beautiful country. <3 I feel them all along my journey.







We made it around the lake and to the town of Frisco where we met Jason at 13 miles before starting a bike trail up to copper mountain. Jason went to taco bell and bought a huge family pack of tacos so we pounded down the calories when we met him, haha. I had 3 tacos with lots of salt, a cherry fruit pie, a kind bar, and drank a strawberry ensure drink. We were both so happy and having a great time and the views were breathtaking. We resupplied and got our jackets, headlamps, and hot hands and Jason busily refilled our bottles with electrolytes for the next 6 miles where we would hit a drop bag he would leave for us behind a gas station.


I love this pic above because Rhonda looks like a supermodel and I look like I've already run 20 miles lol. The sun went down, the start started coming out, and we realized it was basically uphill that whole stretch but we kept a good pace. With cooler temps my heart rate was doing much better. At the Copper Mountain gas station we met a friendly fox...a little too friendly, who wanted to come up to us. Rhonda waved her poles in the air and ran at him, shouting to chase him away. With my luck it would have been rabid, lol. Jason had found a milk crate and was able to put it over our drop bag so no animals touched it. We refilled on water, candy & snacks and I drank another ensure and we turned south to head up towards Fremont Pass which would take us to 11300 elevation approx at the summit, mile 33.


We planned to meet Hannah up at the top to resupply before heading down the mountain towards Leadville. I was impressed, we didn't realize just how solid and steep that climb up the mountain was, we just kept a steady pace and made our way along. Had a little drizzle so we put on a poncho and rain jacket. After about a mile we found we were on "Fallen Heroes Highway" named in memory of a US Marine. I just felt this rush of strength and assurance, that we would finish our miles and that my Marines were with us on this dark stretch of mountain highway and that God had indeed helped us plan this route in memory and for awareness of our veterans and heroes who have fallen. I am just constantly amazed that what the world may call a cooincidence, are signs of love from a personal Heavenly Father. <3




As we were climbing, the air got thinner and soon despite slowing down, we were both having a hard time breathing. We called and asked Hannah to bring us some canned oxygen. While we hiked feeling a bit worried, we said a prayer that Hannah would make it safely and that we would be ok. A few minutes later she pulled up and we guzzled the air like thirsty wanderers in the desert lol. we spent a few minutes recovering and chatting with Hannah and preparing for our next stretch. It started to get cold and really drizzle heavily but we stayed quick enough that we kept fairly warm. The rest of the summit was fairly manageable with the oxygen cans. It was so great to see Hannah's smiling face. Shes such a trooper and such a cheerleader! Shes got little Ellie and a baby on the way, yet she fearlessly meets us on a desolate highway in the middle of the night to crew us! Shes the best!


After awhile the rain let up and we had the most beautiful view of the stars and the milky way. I lost count of how many falling stars I saw at the top of the mountain. I had decided to dub this run "Rocky Mountain High 100" recalling all the times we drove through the Rockies with my kids when they were younger, listening to John Denver's music. Watching the falling stars of the beginning of the Perseid meteor showers, it was aptly named. We were elated to finally reach the summit!

"Colorado Rocky Mountain high,

I've seen it raining fire in the sky,

Talk to God and listen to the casual reply,

Rocky Mountain high"





Descent from Fremont Pass was a bit difficult for both of us. Still winded, the downhill was hard on the quads. Crazily after a 2 weeks of little running, none of my other niggles had healed up and were starting to bother me, little hip and foot and shin strains, but my knee felt 100% We started seeing what I guess are called "trails" that are usually drug induced haha, we figured it was lack of oxygen causing them. We were jogging down the road giggling as we waved our hands and poles in front of our faces to see the trails. :-D

We were so glad when the road finally leveled out and dawn was approaching. We were almost 45 miles in and Rhonda was starting to feel bad. Probably due to lack of oxygen and some hydration issues. I'd read we need 3x the amount of fluid and electrolytes and I don't think either of us were drinking enough. She sat in the car to kind of reset and we took some time to use the bathroom (next to the car on the highway lol) refuel, and restock. I accidentally hit my shin on the car and got a huge goose egg on my leg! Jason made us some hot cup of noodles. My stomach was a little off but I managed to eat all the noodles, Rhonda was able to drink the broth but didn't eat much. I was worried she wasn't getting enough calories but hoped with daylight kicking in we would both reset and be able to move strongly through the day.


For some reason I kept calling Rhonda "Brenda" all night. After a few times it occured to me that maybe it was Jacob telling me I needed to pray for his mamma, Brenda. I did and after a little while I didn't say it again. It was kindof wierd and special. <3 We had to stop at a couple gas stations trying to get an internet connection so that I could get gps working to find Turquoise Lake. We both felt pretty good for awhile and headed through the neighborhoods of Leadville & houses set back in the pine trees, making our way to the lake. Rhonda made the lucky find of a porta potty, and I found .75 cents making a pit stop. Right around 50 miles as we approached the dam and for the next 5 miles or so, Rhonda hit a wall and started throwing up. We slowed down to take it easy. I stopped while she was puking her guts out and popped a blister on my heel that was growing as big as a goose egg. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the views of the lake and surrounding mountains was breathtaking. Rhonda stayed bundled up with the shivers. At one point we stopped and I had her try my anti puke trick, lay on the ground with feet in the air. It was funny and miserable at the same time! She was still cold so we bundled her up in my straight jacket style that seemed to fit our insanity.





Jason met us along the road and resupplied us, we got our sun hats & put on sunscreen. Jason gave Rhonda a blessing and promised she could finish 100 miles. Rhonda still had chills, I was getting hot. We did a couple strong miles after that, but we realized we'd taken a wrong turn and would either have to backtrack or get onto the Turquoise Lake trail. I was hesitant because of my knee...it was kindof exciting though because this was a portion of the Leadville 100 trail and it felt like a gift that we'd be able to do a few of our planned miles. I had to hop a fence to ask someone directions and fell and landed straight on my bad knee. Luckily did no damage but for a second I thought I was done for. At heart I think I'm a trail runner. Once we hit the dirt it felt like all my pain disappeared and energy returned and we made some quick miles on the trail...











It soon got very rocky and took its toll on Rhonda. She hasn't done as much trail training but especially not on rocks and above 10,000 elevation. At this point she was in so much pain that she had to call it. She couldn't move her neck, her quads were shot and the thought of having to summit again was too much. That was a low point for her which turned into my low point. I called Jason to arrange for him to meet us when the trail portion ended. I ended up crying on the phone because I felt like I'd let Rhonda down not being able to help her get to 100, knowing how much it hurt to have to stop. Wondering if I could finish on my own, hoping I could keep her going but really, knowing she was done. We walked quietly and slowly single file without talking much until we reached the road, then I felt like the Lord reminded me what a gift I had, to be out there, having covered 60 miles so far with zero problems with my knee and having a truly amazing friend who would put her health and all she had on the line to run with me. I felt guilty for sulking and I decided to make the most of the little time we'd spend together while we waited for Jason. We played an 'ABC name the prophet game,' and a '2 truths and 1 lie' game while we walked slowly down the road in the sun and I hoped it was taking the edge off her misery. We ended up laughing a lot and actually learned some stuff about each other through the lie game haha! Finally Jason pulled up just slightly under 100k and I was super proud of Rhonda for making it that far, not having trained for this at all, just jumping in to support me and my heroes. We got her into the car and I rehydrated, restocked my pack and hydration, rubbed some pain cream into my legs and they drove off.I felt kindof...desolate. It was just after noon and the sun was getting hot and there was no shade on the road. I spent the next few hours making my way from Leadville to the beginning of highway 91 which would take me to the summit. I quickly ran out of water in the heat but luckily right about then hit a river. I ended up hiking down to the river and filling my bottles & getting my hat and arm sleeves wet. Did a few miles on a sketchy dirt road which had an even sketchier trailer park, was very glad to finally hit the highway.


Jason left me out a drop bag so I was able to finally refill my bottles, drink an ensure and take a gel, get my hat & sleeves wet again and start towards the summit. Traffic was really heavy so it made this part of the run kinda miserable. About 4 miles to the pass I noticed my lungs were starting to hurt. I had a canister of oxygen but it ran out after a couple breaths. My lungs had been aching a bit from the cold the previous night but as the air got thin they were more aggravated. I felt short of breath so called Jason and he sent Hannah out to meet me with another canister of oxygen and supplies.. I tried to focus on my music and breathing but it was hard to hear with the noisy cars. Finally as I approached the steepest part of the climb I saw my orange car 2 miles away at the top of the mountain and was so happy and relieved! I was so happy to see my sweet Hannahs smiling face! Shes got crewing down and helped me quickly refresh on oxygen and get everything I needed, even helped me take off my sweaty shoes and socks to apply some pain cream to my feet which were sharply aching. Got my bottles refilled and with a big hug said goodbye and started the big climb to the summit.




Getting to the summit went really well! My stomach was strong, since noon I'd only fueled on gel, electrolytes, liquid calories, ensure and baby applesauce. All pretty gentle on my stomach and easily digested. The climb was actually quite exhilarating and beautiful. I would find a landmark about a quarter mile ahead and hike to it, take a couple breaths of oxygen, and repeat until I reached the summit. From the summit I had less than 25 miles to the finish!



After meeting Hannah I knew Id be doing about 15 miles with no crew, started downhill and was feeling pretty strong, except slightly dehydrated so was making pit stops every 30 minutes. I ran out of water but found an unopened water bottle by the side of the road, heaven sent! No creeks close by to refill. After the summit I started to feel numb and exhausted, roughly 75 miles in with 25 to go. I felt so close to heaven that I wanted to just reach up into the sky and talk to my son and to God. I couldn't focus my brain to speak any kind of words, so I decided to just put on some church music and let my heart do the talking. I felt a lot of my discomfort lift and I just tried to soak up the beauty of the moment and feel close to the boys and Dexter. It was still hard to hear with all the traffic, then in a really funny way I felt like Ssgt Taylor Wilson who always seems to remind me of things I've forgotten, reminded me I had an old pair of headphones with wires at the bottom of my pack. I pulled them out and suddenly I could get lost in music and beauty and forget traffic and make my way down the mountain. My heart would swell in gratitude for the beauty around me, the endurance of the body and the healing power of the Savior. "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation! Oh, my soul praise Him for He is my help and salvation!"



This was a 12 mile descent and after 3 miles or so I was in a lot of pain and hobbling/limping along. Because my pace was so slow and the sun had set, I started getting cold. I put hot hands down my shirt and in my gloves, zipped up my jacket but I was still shivering. I started searching the side of the road just in case someone maybe had tossed a coat or towel or something I could use to help me stay warm. I'd emptied most of my pack back with Hannah so I didn't have to carry it to the summit, including my emergency blanket. Dumb move. I started praying that I would warm up, that maybe Dexter and mom could come along with me on each side and keep me warm. My lungs were burning so I prayed for my lungs, and then my legs, and then for Rhonda who I knew would be suffering differently back at the condo, and then my heart and brain finally spilled open and I found the words to pray for all my children, especially the ones who are lost right now, for Brenda and Sally and Nina and Gabe, the closest family to the boys I was running for...prayed for everything I could find in the nooks & crannies of my heart. I found after a little while, I wasn't shivering anymore and as the downward grade softened I was able to start up a slow jog again. Finally arrived at the Copper Mountain gas station with half marathon to go! I got my warm puffy coat and Jason helped me refuel and get back on the bike trail going down to Frisco. This was pretty much all downhill but luckily a gentle incline so I was able to move along ...slowly but faster than a walk. It was a bit spooky alone in the dark. I took out my knife and pepper spray and kept them close at hand. The trail runs between a swift river and the mountain and was quite beautiful in the dark, if solitary. I kept hearing voices... it sounded like a woman off in the trees talking and it kinda scared me so I moved a bit quicker...after a few miles I realized it was the raspy sound coming from my lungs! The cold air hurt to breath so I'd picked up a covid mask and wore it which helped ease some of the lung discomfort. I mildly hallucinated a coven of witches along here haha...it was an open meadow with baby pine trees and mist covering the ground. The pointed tops of the trees looked like witches hats and it was kindof funny and unsettling at the same time. Was cranking Sabaton music and I asked for my warrior angel companions to keep me safe until Jason met me one last time in Frisco. I don't even remember what I needed from him, all I knew was I was down to the last 6 miles. They took me a little over an hour and a half I think to complete. I ran through the deserted streets of Frisco at 1:30 am and onto the Dillon Dam road.




The reservoir road was dark and quiet and I grinded out the remaining miles. It was along this stretch when my knee finally had enough. I had to use my treking poles like crutches with each step. There was no moon but the lights of town reflecting off the hazy sky put an eerie cast of light on the waves of the lake which was beautiful and melancholy. As I was watching the waves I was thinking of the song "Come Sail Away" from Styx.... "reflections in the waves, spark my memories, some happy, some sad".... When I calculated out the distance remaining I was pretty sure I was going to end up at the sailboat and boy statue. It just seemed absolutely fitting. I thought I'd never get there, I was in so much pain at this point. I put on some LDS 80s music "afterglow" (for any other Utah nerds out there... ) and just kind of mentally gave all my pain to God and asked him to help me get to the end. I finished up 1/10 of a mile from the statue, and as soon as I got to it I laid down on a bench and cried. Listening to "Captain of my soul"

"They say you gotta fight to gain the glory

They say you gotta strive to win the prize

but one whose name I've heard in Bible stories

stands waiting there with victory in his eyes.

He's the captain of my soul"


I truly believe I finished these 100 miles because Jesus is a Master Healer who knows me personally, knows my mission, and loves me, and if I turn to Him for help, He will always be there.









Jason, Hannah and Peter found me on the bench a few minutes later. They had to help me to stand and limp back to the car because I literally could put no weight on my knee. We got back to the condo and a hot bath never felt so good. I couldn t sleep though, I was still wound up and worried about Rhonda. When I got up she was in her running clothes and told me she was going out for awhile to recover some miles. I didn't think much of it as I hobbled around on crutches trying to help Hannah and Ben pack up to go home. Hannah made the most exquisite blackberry cobbler from Virginia blackberries Id brought from home and it was an amazing award for finishing the miles!


As Hannah was leaving she mentioned that Rhonda was out finishing all 39 miles so that she could get to 100. I hadn't realized that! I literally started crying because I was so so happy for her and so proud of her grit, knowing the heart, courage, and determination it took to not get beaten down, but to fight for the finish! I was absolutely elated! Jason called her to find out where she was and for the first time I had the wonderful joyful opportunity to crew someone in their final 50k...and that someone is my amazing friend Rhonda! We met her with ice, yoohoo, sunscreen, mashed potatoes and water and were there when she hit 101 miles!










It felt so miraculous, God promised both of us a 100 mile finish this weekend and it happened for both of us. I was kind of glad Rhonda got the experience to tough out last miles on her own. Ultimately a 100 miler is a deeply personal experience where we are conquering ourselves, and she had the chance to draw on her own fortitude. I'm so proud of her. We did whatever it took to execute it and I think the effort, journey, beautiful epic scenery, grit and pain, spirit, sweat and miracles, were all gifts from heaven meant to honor Dexter, SSgt Wilson, Sgt Gray and my sweet friends brother Nate. I felt love and and appreciation throughout and I hope and pray their lives will help lift someone else as I continue to honor them with my heart and my legs. I'm grateful I had a truly special friend with me for this journey, Thank you Rhonda!









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Steven Crisp
Steven Crisp
2021年9月01日

Holy Smokes Rosie, you have some amazing stories! I think I see a book in your future 😬. Thank you for sharing your heart-felt and inspirational race reports ❤️, and for all that you are doing for Dexter, Jacob, Taylor, and 22 Too Many. Also a big Hallelujah to your family that is always there to support you 🙏🏻.

いいね!
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