Prelude to an Autumn Ultra

This weekend I completed a whirlwind 24-hour trip from my home in Calgary to Washington State and back for the running of the Mt. Spokane 50K Ultramarathon. Race day offered beautiful autumn weather, with crisp temperatures, golden colours, and amazing trails. The cruiser dirt path descents, complete with three-minute-kilometres and flying hair, was only overshadowed by the gnarly and unrelenting 29K of uphill climbing over the peaks of Day Mountain, Mount Kit Carson and Mount Spokane. Though the race was one I will not soon forget, meeting great friends both new and old, and conjuring up a healthy mix of exhilaration and demoralizing pain on the trail, my favourite moment of my brief adventure came during my trip down across the border.

Arriving at the Kingsgate, BC border, a little bored of my identity as an environmental consultant, I thought I’d try out my new hat for change of pace…

As I rolled to a stop, a mammoth of a man sporting a fresh clean-cut and dressed in fatigues, tall boots and bullet-proof vest waved me forward.

Border Guard: (taking my passport) Where you headed?
Ian: Spokane, Washington.
Guard: Why are you going there?
Ian: I’m going to race.
Guard: What kind of race?
Ian: A trail ultra.
Guard: Trail ultra? What’s that?
Ian: It’s a running race, (mimicking a fast running motion with arms while seated in the car) like a marathon, y’know?
Guard: Huh. Where are you from?
Ian: Calgary, Alberta.
Guard: What do you do?
Ian: I’m a runner.
Guard: (leaning down and out of the booth window) what do you mean?
Ian: Well, I get some help to run in wild places –mountains, forests, deserts, y’know?
Guard: (squinting)Some help?Who pays you?
Ian: Um, an oatmeal company…
Guard: (Beginning to glare and furrow his brow)
Ian: …and a couple mountain equipment outfitters!
Guard: Are you having me on?
Ian: No! You must know The North Face. They make jackets and tents and…
Guard: Huh, yeah (turns away to focus on his computer).
[A couple minutes pass with the guard rapping away on his computer and consulting it intently]
Guard: (Looking inquisitive and interested)What’s all this ice on your face?
Ian: Come again?
Guard: (Referring to his screen) This photo with snow and ice everywhere, where is that from?
Ian: Ah, that must’ve been from this past winter in Kananaskis or the Bow Valley near home in Calgary. It’s almost like that there now! Where did you find that?
Guard: (Ignoring my question, and half speaking to his computer) Canadian Running Magazine… Globe & Mail… The Death Race… You’re all over here! What’s 100 Miles of Wild?
Ian: (A little dazed that within a minute or two, the guard seemed to have caught up on some of my recent escapades) Oh, yeah! That was a running exploration in North Dakota that I participated in this past spring.
Guard: Hmm… cool. So you’re pretty into this stuff, hey?
Ian: Definitely. I love running through the woods and in the mountains. There’s something about it that is so enthralling–
Guard: (The guard stepped out of his booth and crouched down beside the car window, his expression softened, his words more expressive) I’m an adrenalin junkie myself. An ex-Marine. I was injured in the line of duty. Now I ride bikes a lot.
Ian: Oh yeah, I hear ya. Some fast turns on single-track will set you straight!
Guard: Motorcycles. I love going fast.
Ian: Oh… I just have a bicycle. I’ve always wanted a motorcycle.
Guard: No, you don’t. They’re too dangerous. Stick with the mountains. I don’t know how you can do it, all that running. Stay with it if you can.
Ian: Something about it draws me in, for sure. It’s more than just adrenalin. It’s…
Guard: So, you are going to compete tomorrow? Where are you going?
Ian: Mt. Spokane State Park.
Guard: How far is the race?
Ian: Oh, this one is just 31 miles. I’ll be back by this time tomorrow.
Guard: Holy jeez! ‘Just’ 31 miles?! That’s insane. I’ve got to share this with the guys here.
Ian: Of course. Take these (passing on my current issues of Canadian Running Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine and UltraRunning Magazine).
Guard: Thanks. So, I’ve got to ask, do you have any alcohol or tobacco?
Ian: No.
Guard: Fruits or vegetables? Firearms?
Ian: No and no.
Guard: Do you have any drugs?
Ian: No.
Guard: Are you sure? With all this news I pulled up on my computer, I wouldn’t want to see news saying, “Ian MacNairn gets caught smuggling drugs into the US.”
Ian: (Laughs) No, no drugs. Not even any steroids or EPO!
Guard: (Hands back my passport) Well, have a good night. I’m going to check this ultrarunning stuff out and share it with the gang.
Ian: Awesome!
Guard: Let ‘em have it out there tomorrow!
Ian: Thanks. Will do!

And then, before I pulled away from the border crossing, I extended my hand to the guard. He extended his in return and we connected in a solid ‘bro shake.’ I drove off feeling more excited for the race, the mountains and my running community than before. I had a euphoric moment of realization that this hat I’m trying on is not solely based on speedy legs and the willingness to suffering unreasonably so. I am also an ambassador for the sport, the trail-runners, ultrarunners and greater mountain-going community and for connecting with the wild within ourselves and our environment. This evening I had found a way to alter the border crossing from barricade to connection using running as my vehicle. And, in turn, I shared with this fellow the fascinating world of miles, mountains, ecstasy and agony. Each one teach one!