When we started Performance Recovery a little over 18 months ago we thought this would be a fun way to help people recover, make a little money and see some amazing places all at the same time. It did not take long for us to realize we could do that but this was much more than that. It quickly became about the people we would meet along the way. We have had some amazing interactions and made some life long friends along the way. Many of them have inspirational stories or events that have led them to do the race or event. We have been blessed and inspired by each of them and want to share some of their stories along the way.
Lets start with a couple we had the chance to meet at the Transrockies Race in Colorado a few weeks ago.
To start let me preface it with a brief description of this race. It is a five day mountain trail race in Colorado starting in Buena Vista CO and run every day to get to Beaver Creek Colorado near Vail. This race is not for the faint hearted. It is a challenge ever single day. Briefly this is what the days looked like.
Day 1- 18 miles and 1600 feet of elevation
Day 2- 13 miles with 3100 feet or elevation
Day 3- 24 miles with 2300 feet of elevation
Day 4- 14 miles and 2800 feet of elevation
Day5- 23.5 miles with 4000 feet of elevation
Day 6- 22.5 miles with 4500 feet of elevation
This race is a challenge each and every day and watching people accomplish the stages each day was amazing.
Now back to the couple we met. Let me introduce Casey Boren and Sofie Schunk.
These two entered the race as a team. They were to run together and be within one minute of each other at all the checkpoints. They are both amazing athletes. Sofie had just returned from trials for the Olympic team in the marathon and is an elite athlete, a division 1 soccer player for Marquette and has completed many races nd has represented USA in international competition. Casey is a stud as well. He has been in multiple Ironman Events, completed a lot of marathons, and was on the US team at the ITU world Championships.
This race should be easy for these amazing athletes right? Well yes and no. What wasn't told is that they are both type 1 diabetics. Diabetes can make any sporting activity difficult let alone Endurance events, Marathons, Ironman events etc and this race would be hard for them at times as well.
On stage one it would start hard for Casey. Casey had been on a 8 year hiatus from running and this was his first event back to endurance running. Sofie has been running and training so she was in prime conditioning. Well on the first stage Casey and Sofie took off at a pace maybe a little faster than they were ready for and Casey began to struggle with nausea and vomiting with quite a few miles left in the stage. He was dehydrated, a little disoriented and alot nauseous when they finished. The medical team evaluated them and brought them to our tent for hydration. Casye was so dehydrated I was concerned about finding a vein but we were able to get his IV in and begin to hydrate and medicate him. While this is going on it allows us to spend time talking to the person we are treating and I began to talk to Casey, Sofie and Jay (Casey's friend, coach, support). While talking to them they told me that they were diabetics and what that meant for them. Here is where the inspiration comes in for me. When being diagnosed with diabetes one could easily write off harder events or things in life. Casey went to opposite direction. He founded a foundation called the Diabetic Sports Project. This project was established with mentors and coaches that help to educate and train the diabetic community, teaching them that anything be be accomplished with the proper training, education and management. Sofie became one of those athletes and is now a coach and mentor for many others that have diabetes. They strive each day to help others live with an disease that can be debilitating if you allow it to be. They refuse to let their diagnosis run their lives. The have helped many many people live theirs dreams despite and disease that can limit your physically. Amazing amazing things have been accomplished because of them. Check out what they have done and continue to do. https://www.diabetessportsproject.com
After hydrating Casey and getting him medicated for nausea he was able to go and recover completely by eating, hydrating and making a new strategy with Sofie for the rest of the race. They went on to win four out of six stages of the race in the teams category. They had some really good days, a day where the struggled with low blood sugars, and Casey got hydrated a couple more times with us throughout the event but not once, not even close did they think about not racing and trying to win this race. They talked about the trials and hard times and they planned, prepped and ten conquered each and every stage. It was NOT easy. Casey even said this is probably the hardest race he has ever done but they came out with a podium placement.
Each day i became closer to them. I watched for them to cross the finish line, i watched them battle and pull each other throughout the week. Each day we said hello and talked about the stage and how they were feeling. We became much more than two racers and a vendor at the event. We became friends or even family in a way. My life was touched by watching these two world class athletes struggle, fight, love and support each other, i watch Jay a dear friend coach and love his friend. It was something to see and I cherish the time with them.
To Casey and Sofie..... thank you. Thank you teaching me and letting me be part of your journey! I will cherish it forever,
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