Finlayson Arm 50 Miler 2024 — Charlene Waldner RMT

Finlayson arm 50 miler, using this as more of a “training race “for another event I have coming up on my birthday weekend end of September. I felt emotional picking up my race bib, # 955. Turning 55, on the ninth month of this year. Was this a coincidence?

I coloured my hair purple this month , as it’s my favourite colour and like to be coordinated with my race outfit , “ purple power “ . I have read, the colour purple is associated with power and creativity, and can have a calming effect on mind and nervous system.

Doing a race on home turf has advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the course and what’s ahead as we know these trails well, when you string them all together its one heck of a technical course.

Overall the day went well. I didn’t set a time goal, make the cutoffs but only to finish strong. I had planned to use my poles, but only used them from Ross / Durrance second time through to the finish. Good point in the race when the legs are tired and knees feel like “ weebles wobble but they don’t fall down “.

I hiked the climbs like a BOSS and enjoyed the runnable smooth sections where I could. The heat wasn’t really a factor for me, as I hydrated well and managed the humidity. I think the cooling sleeves and buff really help keep me cool.

I only fell once coming down mount work where I tripped over a root and fell on my knee, and then blew through Munns road aid station as I was trying to stay with Pauline Nielsen. I later found out that she had taken a detour. I was happy I had the route on my Fenix 7, reassurance I’m on course.

The nicest Badass cow you'd ever meat Nikki .

A low was when my Ultraspire waist belt light decided to fail after working fine in the am that was frustrating. I was glad I brought my headlight as a backup but prefer the waist light belt visibility for technical terrain as the light is lower to the ground. Sometimes you just have to roll with it.

One of highlights of the race for me was hearing AC/DC “thunderstruck” just before the water crossing at Gold Stream, seeing so many friendly and familiar faces in the aid stations and leap frogging with other 50 mile runners, fuels motivation to push when you might not feel like it.

Overall I’m happy to have finished in just over 16 hrs 3 mins for 83 km course, placing second in my age group. I’m always grateful to get the start line and finish line in any race, I’d call that a win.

As much as I had “Double FOMO”, that wasn’t my plan. Instead, the day after, hiking up Finny with the for a summit party with Bad Ass chicks, dressing up as a hot dog blowing bubbles and cheering on the 28 km racers was even more FUN than the race itself.

Relishing the experience of being a Hot Dog .

Thank you to Matt Cecil for amazing coaching and capturing the moment race photography, race director Myke Labelle, Coastline Endurance volunteer crew who devote many hours of their time, labour of love to make these events a real “trail family reunion“ every year. I feel grateful to be part of this amazing community. Congrats to everyone who competed.

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