Cocodona 250 is a 249.4 mile point to point trail race from Black Canyon, Arizona (just north of Phoenix) to Flagstaff, Arizona with an elevation gain of 40,143’ and loss of 34,907’.  The race started on Monday, May 6 at 5am with a cutoff time of 125 hours.  Last year, 2023, I ran Cocodona 250 (2023 Race Report).  The 2023 race was such a great experience that I signed up to go back within a week of finishing.  

At Cocodona 250, every day is different.  From the rugged, rocky climbs under the Arizona sun with limited water on day one to freezing temps and snow on the peak of Mt. Elden.  In between, we cross deserts, navigate forests, and run down main streets in multiple towns.  With all these different environments, runners need to be prepared for just about anything.  

As I have done with many of my other races, I ran it without a crew or pacers.  This year, I finished in 92 hours 29 minutes 32 seconds, an almost 9 hour improvement over last year.  During those 92+ hours, I lost 11 pounds, slept less than 6 hours, wore one pair of shoes, experienced one of the most confusing moments of my life, lost my vision, and thought an old man from the Chinese mafia was running behind me.  Most importantly, I had an amazing, unique adventure that I am incredibly thankful for.

Going into this year’s race, I had a goal of beating my time from last year, 101 hours 23 minutes, and a stretch goal of finishing in under 96 hours (4 days).  I not only beat my stretch goal, but I also kind of killed it.  Initially, I did not understand why.  As I wrote my race report and reflected on the experience, the same word and theme repeated: Focus.  During every part of the race, I had a goal that I was focused on.  When I achieved one goal, I immediately had a new one.

As I wrote last year, Cocodona 250 is greater than the sum of its parts.  If you are reading this report because you are considering signing up for Cocodona 250, do yourself a favor and sign up.  It is worth it.  FYI: The 2025 Cocodona 250 sold out within 10 days.

Like many of my other race reports, this will be about my view point and experience.  If you are looking for specific details on the trails, check out the Runner’s Manual and the Cocodona 250 site.  Those will give you much better, more detailed information than I could. If you plan to run Cocodona 250 and have questions or looking for tips, feel free to reach out to me.

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A Couple of Quick Race Stats

Cocodona 250 started in 2021 run by Aravaipa Running.  It describes itself as

Cocodona 250 takes runners from Black Canyon City up into the Bradshaw Mountains – an area steeped in gold mining lore – to the historic town of Crown King. The course then traverses more of the Bradshaws, up and over Mount Union, and snakes down into Prescott where it cuts straight through town on Whiskey Row and out into the iconic Granite Dells.

From Prescott the course heads up and over Mingus Mountain into the town of Jerome and onward through Sedona, experiencing a mix of stunning red rock formations and high desert vistas. As runners leave Sedona, the course starts to get into the pines of Flagstaff, finishing up and over Mt Elden and into downtown Flagstaff. It is an extraordinary undertaking and gives runners an incredible point-to-point experience through some of the best landscapes that Arizona has to offer.

• 249.4 Miles
• 125 hour cutoff
• Elevation Gain: 40,143′
• Elevation Loss: 34,907′
• Surface Distribution: 42% Single Track, 48% Double Track, 10% Pavement
• 20 Aid Stations
  • 11 with Drop Bags
  • 8 with Sleep Areas

Preparation: Training, Spreadsheets, Notes, etc.

As I mentioned, I ran Cocodona 250 in 2023.  My first-hand experience of the race impacted my goals, training, and preparation.  

Goals:

I had 4 tiered goals for this race:

1. Finish in under 96 hours (4 days).
2. Finish in under 101 hours 23 minutes (my 2023 time).
3. Finish before Friday 12pm – When the Shuttle leaves (103 hours).
4. Finish the race

Training:

Based on my 2023 experience, I was determined to make 2 big changes to my training plan.

1. Figure out a way to incorporate heat training.
   • While heat training is generally not an issue living in Central Texas, Cocodona 250 takes place before it is consistently hot in my area.
2. Increase my hill training.
   • There is a lot of climbing (elevation gain over 40K) on single-tracks during Cocodona, especially the first day.

That was my plan.  My reality turned out to be very different from my original plans and ideas.

What Went “Wrong”:

First, I had a 100 mile ultra race scheduled for the beginning of December 2023.  My plan was to run that race, take about a week off to recover, then start Cocodona specific training.  The week of the race, it was delayed until January.  I had just taken 2 weeks off to taper for the race and now I would have to take more time to taper closer to the race start.

I decided that I would taper less and get back to training faster after the race.  The race ended up taking place on a sand-filled course.  Unfortunately, I got back to training too hard and fast after the race which led to an injury.  I had to take most of January off from running to recover.

Second, once I was able to train properly again, I investigated ways I could start heat training and decided to give HotWorx, a fitness studio franchise that offers “virtually instructed, infrared sauna workouts.”  I found a local location and decided to give it a try.  While I enjoyed the workout I did in the sauna heat, the pre-set workouts plus the cost, required purchases, and restrictions on how/when you can quit did not work for me.  I decided I would get more benefit from more running than the workouts there.

Lastly, I was unable to get in the hill climbing training I wanted.  Most trails with climbing around me require travel.  This past year, I needed to stay closer to home or had shorter time blocks for running because of the number of activities my girls were involved in (dance, band, etc.).

What Went “Right”:

Based on the changes above, I decided to take a slightly different approach in how I was training.  Once I was healed after my injury, I ran more miles per week than I did in weeks leading up to Cocodona 2023.  The plan was to do longer runs on Saturday and Sunday.  My goal was to run more miles from the start of the year until Cocodona.  I ran about 8% more miles than last year.  The big difference was the consistency of the miles that I ran.  I also incorporated more lifting and leg exercises into my weekly and daily exercises.  I feel this helped a lot with climbing during the race.  

For 2024, I decided to cut out alcohol starting in January.  While I do not drink a lot, I would usually have an interesting craft beer on a Friday and/or Saturday night.  If you know craft beers, interesting usually means a strong taste, lots of calories, and a high ABV.  I decided to cut this out for two main reasons.  First, I wanted to cut the additional calories and get leaner before the race.  Since most of the time I accompanied the beer with (too many) pretzels, it would end up being a lot of non-beneficial calories each weekend.  Second, I noticed that the beers on Friday and Saturday nights would sometimes negatively affect my running performance the next morning.  This was likely due to a couple of factors: staying up late on nights that I would have beer (reduced sleep), the high alcohol content, and/or all the additional late night calories.

Confidence Was Lacking:

In the months leading up to Cocodona 250, my runs felt slower than last year.  Not only was my average pace per run slower, but also I felt just as tired post run.  There were numerous runs where my legs could not run faster than they were going.  It felt like something was restricting the speed in my legs even though the rest of me wanted to.  I tried to put all that out of my head and focus on my training and logging my miles, but that doubt and fear that I was in a worse condition than the previous year lingered.

Preparation:

In preparation for Cocodona, I printed out the runner’s manual, made it into a nice notebook/folder, and copied all my spreadsheets from Cocodone 250 2023.  This made life a lot easier in terms of preparation and planning, except that I could not remember what I did not use and could cut from the plan.  Based on the information and my experience from 2023, here was my basic race plan.

Race Plan:

• Bag Strategy:
  • 10 Drop Bags (1 moving between 2 aid stations) + 1 Finish Line Drop Bag
  • All Bags had:
    • Change of socks
    • Blister Kit
    • Batteries
    • Buffs
    • Various food & fuel
    • Disposable toothbrush
    • Shorts
  • Caffeine options and Red Bull starting at Mingus Mountain (mile ~108)
• Sleep Plan:
  • Kamp Kipa: Mile 62
  • Mingus Mountain: Mile 108
  • Sedona – Posse Grounds: Mile 161
  • Fort Tuthill: Mile 209

I knew there were a few runners from the area running one of the Cocodona races. I set up a meet-and-greet so we could get to know each other, share tips, and answer any questions.  We had 2 runners in the 250 (including myself), 1 in the 125, and 1 in the 38.  It was nice to know other people that would be at the race in case anything came up or someone to cheer on if we saw each other.

The 4L Water Carry Requirement for Section 1:

The first section of the race, which is about 50k, is arguably the most difficult in the race; it is very technical, roughly 5,000’ of climbing, and is completely exposed to the sun all day. For this section, every racer is required to have a minimum of 4L of water carrying capacity.  There is a full aid station at 7.5 miles where you are required to fill your 4L of water, followed by 2 water stations at mile 10.5 and 25 where you a limited to just 1L of water, and then another full aid station, Lane Mtn, at mile 32.4 which represents the end of the difficult first section.  Drop bags are available at the Crown King aid station, mile 36.7.

Last year, this section nearly destroyed me and I hardly had any water left when I reached Lane Mtn.  This year, I decided to take a different approach to the water carry.  My plan was to wear one pack with two water bladders, a 2L and 3L, an additional 500mL bottle plus my fuel/calories, glasses, ID, poles, phone, and nothing else.  In my Crown King drop bag, I would have an additional running vest/pack set up and ready to go with all the required gear.  I would only need to transfer my glasses, ID, and phone to the new vest and fill up its bladder.  This approach would allow me to:

• Reduce the weight of the pack in the first section
• Allow me to carry an additional 1L of water since I had the extra space
• Shorten the time required to set up my pack for the rest of the race

I liked this plan a lot.  I had to run different tests and configurations on the 5L water carry set up to find one that was comfortable, or not uncomfortable.  After about 3 test runs and configurations, I found one that worked.

Pre-Race

I arrived in Phoenix, AZ the Saturday before the race.  I went shopping for supplies and had plenty of extra time in case there were any last minute issues or delays.  

On Sunday, I checked in for the race.  While checking in, one of the volunteers and I recognized each other.  It was Jason, the guy I ran with from Fain Ranch to the start of the Mingus climb.  It was his pacer, Erin, who was critical in helping us navigate through the fields to the road.  We briefly exchanged pleasantries and he shared that he was volunteering throughout the race and we might see each other again.

After taking my pre-race mugshots, I decided to walk the start of the course to get a better sense of what it would be like since the starting location had changed from last year.  Just my luck, while walking the course, I tripped on some prickly brush and scratched up my foot and leg just below my ankle.  

Next, I gathered my drop bags to drop them off.  The guy in the car next to me saw my bib and asked what part of Texas I am from.  I told him, “just North of Austin, Texas.”  He replied, “I am from Austin.”  He chatted for a little bit.  His name is Colin and this was his third Cocodona.  It is always funny to me how often I meet people by chance that live near me during the ultra runs.

I decided to head back to the hotel after dropping off my bags, so I could have an early dinner and be in bed early.

Part 1: “It destroyed me, but a little less.”

I arrived at the race at 3:45am when the gear check and SPOT tracker pickup was scheduled to start.  I dropped off my Flagstaff (finish line) drop bag and got in line for my SPOT tracker.  It was a little chilly, but I fought the urge to put some warmer clothes on since I knew how hot it was going to get once the sun rose.  After a short delay, the SPOT trackers were assigned.

While waiting for the race to start, Brandon found me.  Brandon is a friend and fellow trail runner from North Austin area.  Over the last year, we have chatted about Cocodona, sharing training tips, and ran Ragnar Trail Texas together on the same team.  He arrived in Phoenix early Sunday evening, so I was glad when he found me before the race started.  He introduced me to his crew: Zach and his dad.

There was a lot of excitement and energy in the air at the starting line.  I did not want to be in the front of the starting line, knowing how many elite runners were in this year’s race. (I did not want to get in their way.)  I miscalculated my placement and ended up further back than I would have liked.  

At 5:10am, we were off.  As I mentioned, I started further back than I would have liked.  I spent the first couple of miles at a slow pace, passing folks when safe.  After about 3 or 4 miles, I saw Brandon.  The group he was with was going at my desired pace, but I really wanted to pass him.  It was not to “beat” him, more to let him know I was there and to run with him for a bit.

I saw my opportunity and made a move.  I made sure to yell out “on your left” loudly right when I was about to pass him.  I smiled and gave him a wave after I passed to which he responded, “Pass me again and I am going to whack you with my pole!”

I stayed with this group until the aid station.  One of the lessons I learned from last year was to drink more water in that section before the first aid station to help with hydration.  We hit the aid station, I topped off my 3L bladder, filled 2L bladder, and filled up my 500mL with water and mixed in my powder Gatorade.  I decided on Gatorade over Tailwind because the last couple of times I ran with Tailwind I had a bit of an upset stomach and did not want to risk it.  The aid station stop took longer than I thought it would take.  Brandon left before me but I caught up to him within about a quarter mile.

The trek to the first water station went by quickly.  I finished my bottle of Gatorade right before the water station and stopped there to make another.  We were limited to 1L of water, but I only needed 500mL. 

I knew the next section was the gnarly one and I was mentally prepared.  I attacked it at a slower pace.  Brandon took off ahead. I felt much better about how I was doing than last year.  While I don’t know for certain, this year felt a little cooler and there was an occasional breeze.  I noticed that I did not have to stop and rest as I did the previous year. 

Like last year though, I was having an incredibly hard time consuming calories.  I was able to eat the Salt-Stick tabs for the sodium and electrolytes, but anything else was difficult.  I decided to try one of my birthday cake flavored gels, which I use regularly during training.  Before I could even open it, the thought of eating it made me physically gag.  “This is not good,” I told myself.  I needed to figure out a solution or I was likely to crash hard.  I was pushing myself and sweating a huge amount.  I tried to eat one of the mini-Cliff bars I had.  It did not make me gag.  “Yey! Progress!” I thought to myself.  Unfortunately, I could not swallow it and had to spit it out.  I drank some water and decided to try again in about a half mile.

Next, I tried the Maurten gel I brought.  I had high hopes for this one.  The consistency is lighter than gus/gels and the taste is super mild; basically, it is unflavored.  While it did take longer to eat than usual, I was able to consume the whole thing.  It was the only one I brought on this first section.   It helped delay the calorie consumption issue, but it would still be an issue in the future.

I kept pushing forward.  I told myself, “This would only be over at Lane Mtn Aid Station.  The downhills and flat areas are nothing more than a short break.”

It was working great for me.  I was still getting destroyed by the trail, but a little less this year.  Most of this section was uneventful, except for a tumble I took on a downhill section.  I lost balance and started to dive forward.  Everything starts playing out in slow motion.  I jammed the pole into the ground in front of me to stabilize myself, but then I saw it start to bend.  Having broken a pole at Tahoe 2 years earlier, I did not want to break another, especially this early in the race.  As the pole started to bend, I shifted my weight away from the pole and hit the ground on my side and rolled several times down the hill.  It hurt, but I was not injured, just a little banged up.  I got up, brushed myself off, and checked my gear.  My pole was bent, but still usable and foldable.  I consider that a win.

Dehydration is one of the biggest risks in this section.  My plan was to finish the 2L bladder before the water station, but not more unless I really needed it.  I was hot and tired, but did not feel dehydrated.  Since I did not have to pee, I knew I was not drinking too much.  My hope was that I hit a good equilibrium, where I was replenishing what I was losing in sweat but not over doing it.

Eventually, I saw the water station coming up.  I finished the little water left in my 2L bladder.  At the water station, the volunteer was telling everyone that someone stole about half of their water jugs and the water ration was reduced to 0.5L from 1L.  I was so thankful I had decided to go with 5L of water over 4L.  

As I left the water station, I looked through my fuel options to see if I had anything else with calories that I could consume.  I had a Gu Tastefully Nude.  I decided to give it a try.  While difficult to eat, I was able to finish it without much of a problem.  After I finished, I saw it was caffeinated which I did not realize beforehand.  With the Gu, I estimated that I had consumed less that 400 calories so far.

The next part was still a climb, but it was less exposed to the sun.  I was struggling and did have to stop a couple of times.  I was feeling it in my quads, but kept pushing forward, knowing it was not over until the Lane Mtn aid station.  One of the runners I came across in this section recognized my name and let me know he had read my race reports.  Unfortunately, I was too tired to mutter much more than “Cool.  Thanks.”

Of course, I was not the only one out there struggling.  Plenty of other runners were having a rough time and pushing through it.  One woman I came across was cursing the people that stole the water.  To be clear, I think she was trying to put a curse on them.

When I saw and heard the aid station, I was excited.  Even though I was tired, I knew I could make the stop a quick one.  I ended up just having several slices of salted watermelon before filling my bladder with enough water to make it to the Crown King aid station.  

My focus was on my goal of beating my previous year’s time.  I took that goal one step at a time.  The first step was to get out of Crown King earlier than last year.  The earlier the better.  Last year, I left Crown King around 6:30pm.  Looking at my watch, I was making good time but wanted to do better.  I picked up my pace, but decided not to run.  There was still a lot of race ahead of me.  It is easy to get caught up in the moment and run with the other runners flying down the hill, but I reminded myself, “Run your own race.”

I turned into Crown King at about 4:30pm.  I had made good time, but I needed to stay focused on what I needed to do.  As I was looking for where the aid station and drop bags were located, Zach came up to me and said, “Hi Ed, do you need anything?  The aid station is this way.”  I did not recognize Zach at first.  I had only met him once about 12 hours earlier in the dark.  He showed me a spot where I could sit down and brought me my drop bag.  He asked, “Did you see Brandon?”  That was when it clicked that this was Zach, from Brandon’s crew.  

I replied, “Brandon should have come in a while ago.  He pulled ahead of me a long time ago.”  I was concerned because I definitely did not pass Brandon.  I hoped that maybe they just missed each other at the aid station.  Assuming his SPOT tracker was working, they should be able to figure out where he was.  Zach went back to the entrance area to meet Brandon’s dad.  

Crown King aid station stop would be the most important stop of my race.  There was so much to do and I needed to make it relatively quick.  I ran through my mental “To Do” list.

• Order food:
  • I asked a volunteer for a vegan black bean burger, potato soup, and a smoothie that the Spring team was making.
  • I drank one smoothie and ordered another.
• Switch my vests:
  • While waiting for my food, I pulled out my vest from my drop bag.  Before adding my vest to the drop bag, I put a piece of tape on the vest with a list of the items to transfer from my section 1 pack.
  • I transferred the items and pulled out the bladders to dump the water.
  • After I dumped the water, a volunteer called out and asked, “Are you Ed Shelton, who writes the race reports?”  “I am,” I responded.  “I love your race reports.,” she said along with other compliments on my reports and writing.  “Thank you so much.  It is great to hear that you like them,” I let her know.  I am always grateful to hear that people read and enjoy my race reports.  
• Change my socks:
  • I quickly changed my socks.  Checked my foot tape.  Everything looked great, so I just put on a new set of socks and stored the used ones in a ziplock bag in my drop bag.
• Use the bathroom and take out my contacts:
  • Crown King has a real bathroom with a sink which makes taking out my contacts much cleaner and easier. 
  • While waiting for the bathroom, I chatted with the other people in line.  I ran into Andrew Marvin.  Andrew is a fellow ultra runner from Texas.  We have many mutual friends and have been connected virtually for a while, but this was the first time we met in person.
  • Eventually the bathroom freed up.  I was able to pee and everything looked good.  I washed my hands, removed my contacts and put on my glasses.
• Eat:
  • I had another smoothie and had some bites of the black bean burger.  It was pretty overcooked and dried out, so I only had a little.

While I was eating, Brandon came into the aid station.  I dropped my drop bag in the used drop bag area and stopped by to quickly chat with Brandon.  He was doing pretty well.  It turns out he started vomiting before the last aid station and the medics kept him there for about an hour.  I was happy to see that he was alright and feeling better.  He asked how I was doing.  I told him, “Last year, that first section destroyed me.  This year, it destroyed me a little less.”  Then I wished him well, did the mandatory check-out, and was on my way.  I left the aid station about 5:30pm, roughly one hour earlier than last year.  I was on my way to beat my previous time.

At sunset, the horizon was filled with an amazing collection of colors.  I enjoyed the quiet and peacefulness that surrounded me.  That is until I started hiccuping.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, those hiccups would stay with me until the finish.  

Eventually, the course switched from a fire road to single-track.  I had forgotten how technical the climb was to the Kamp Kipa aid station and I was getting tired.  Another runner, Henry, and I came into the aid station together and were both looking for a place to sleep.  The aid station was “upgraded” from last year.  This year, it had a fully working bathroom with running water and heated cabins for sleeping.  When we entered the aid station, we asked for a place to sleep.  The volunteer told us she had 2 upper bunks available.  We were both pretty exhausted and willing to take the top bunks.  

In any other situation, the scene of Henry and I, two 6+ feet tall men, climbing into top bunks after running for like 20 hours would be pure comedy.  Once in bed, I set my alarm.  Henry asked how long I planned to sleep. I told him I set my alarm for 2 hours. He asked me to wake him up if he is still sleeping when I get up.  I laid down like Dracula, arms folded on my chest and fell asleep quickly.  

I woke up about 15 minutes before my alarm went off.  Henry had already left.  If I thought getting into the top bunk was difficult, it was nothing compared to climbing down.  I ended up getting stuck between the bunk and the door.  I had to climb back up and move the door in order to get down.

Before leaving, I stopped back at the aid station area to top off my water and have some tofu scramble for breakfast.  I was able to leave the aid station and get back on the trail by 5:15am, as planned.  While I knew I was still ahead of my previous year’s time, I was not sure by how much.

Part 2: The Target is Mingus

The section to Camp Wamatochick was quick.  I stopped at Wamatochick to change my socks and shorts, restock my fuel, and have more food, then was on my way. Brandon had caught up with me and we ran together for a little while.  My hiccups continued, but they did not get worse.  Eventually, I pulled ahead.  

Before long, I made it to Whiskey Row.  It is always a cool sight coming into this aid station in the middle of town, with all the crews and campers/RVs parked along the way.  As I was getting close, I saw Christa and Brian.  Christa and Brian are from the Austin area; I have known them for several years.  Brian was running the Elden Crest 38 and they were volunteering at various Cocodona aid stations.  They arrived at Whiskey Row before their volunteer shift to help me out if I needed it.  While I run many of these races without crew, I am always grateful for and accepting of help anyone is willing to provide.

I had a lot to do at Whiskey Row.  With Brian and Christa’s help, I was able to eat, put in my contacts, change my socks, fill my water, and resupply from my drop bag relatively quickly and be on my way.  On the way out, I saw Brandon had arrived and was with his crew.

There is an abundance of cool scenery during Cocodona.  Between Whiskey Row and Iron King aid stations is one of my favorites, named the Granite Dells.  The landscape in this area feels like it is from another world.

I remembered how to navigate the Dells from last year which helped me get through quickly and easily.  When I hit Iron King, I just stopped to fill my water and have a few slices of salted watermelon.  

I was seeing more racers on the course than I had seen since the beginning of the race.  My plan for Fain Ranch was to prepare for the hike up Mingus.  As I was getting ready to leave, I saw Henry (the runner from the first night).  Between my hiccups, I checked in with him.  He was doing well, a little tired.

I asked him, “Do you mind if we go out on this next part together?  Navigating through the field and following the flags can be difficult.  It would be great to have a second set of eyes.”  He agreed and we were on our way.  

Last year, the sun was starting to set as I left Fain Ranch.  This year, sunset was still a couple of hours away.  I was feeling great about my time and that I would not have to navigate the field in the dark, like I had to last year.

Soon we caught up to another runner, Alyson, and her pacer.  (I did not catch the pacers name.)  We decided to group up.  I was in the lead, setting the pace at a fast walk.  Things were going really well and I felt super lucky to have 3 other people that could help navigate this part of the course.

When we reached the section of the course that veers away from the road, I lost the path, as expected.  Thanks to Alyson, her pacer, and Henry, we were able to get back on track.  I thanked them so much for their help.  Pretty soon, we were on the dirt road.  I started to pull ahead; Henry was not too far back, and Alyson and her pacer had slowed their pace.  

I turned off the road onto the trail leading to Mingus.  I let Henry know I was going to pick up the pace to Mingus.  We wished each other good luck and I was off. 

The climb up Mingus definitely felt faster than last year.  When I got to Mingus, the first thing I did was get my drop bag and find a bed to sleep in.  I had planned to sleep for 2 hours, but woke up wide awake in just 90 minutes.  After a quick change of shorts, I went back to the aid station for some hot food and resupply from my drop bag.  This year, Mingus had lemonade, regular lemonade, not an electrolyte drink.  I grabbed my little reusable cup and had some.  It was awesome.  After a plate of pasta, I geared up and was off at around 11:45pm.

Part 3: Super Hot and Super Focused

Even though I was able to get some sleep, I knew I would struggle on this section to Jerome.  The technical downhill went well.  I had a couple of small trip ups, but nothing too bad.

After the technical section, the fatigue hit me in waves but I was convinced it was not a problem.  I passed another runner who was also struggling to maintain a consistent pace.  After a brief exchange, she was doing well and I kept going.

The fatigue was worse than I thought.  I was starting to sleepwalk and slow down.  Pretty soon, the runner I passed caught up to me.  I was pretty sure she was also drifting in and out of sleepwalking, so I decided to strike up a conversation with her.  Her name is Anne.  At first, she seemed either hesitant or too tired to talk.  Between hiccups I asked her some questions and talked about my life, including sharing the story of rescuing our cat, Tejas, who we found starving and dehydrated at a trail race.  Anne then told me about her rescue dog, a border collie, and how he came into their life.  He was staying at a working sheep farm, which sounds like an awesome time for a border collie, while she was racing and her husband was crewing.  

Once the sun came out and the trail opened to a fire road, we were both back to our senses and focused on the race.  As I approached the Jerome aid station, I could see the Sedona Canyons 125 runners getting ready to race.  Last year, the 125 runners had already left by the time I passed their start line.  I was doing great on time and it felt great.

I stopped at the Jerome aid station to put in my contacts, eat an avocado on tortilla wrap, and drink the Red Bull I brought from my Mingus drop bag.  I was halfway to the finish, feeling amazing, and caffeinated.  I left the aid station and in my head I started playing “Let’s Go” by Travis Barker,  the song I used on the way to Arizona to amp me up for the trip.

After a short section of road, I was back on the trails.  That’s when the 125 front runners caught up and passed me.  Over the next several miles, I was getting passed by the 125 runners, including Sara, a fellow plant-based trail from Austin. 

As the morning continued, it really started to heat up.  It was going to be very dry, hot, and completely exposed to the sun.  My mind was focused on getting to Sedona – Posse Grounds aid station.  That was my next planned sleep break and I wanted to get there as early as I could. 

The next sections of the course felt the hottest of the race so far.  To ensure that I did not run out of water, yet remained hydrated, I drank a small amount of water every half mile.  I tried to control the hiccups a little, but was unsuccessful.  Despite the heat, I was enjoying my surroundings and the journey.  I started to hear some music play in my head.

Life is like a hurricane
Here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!

DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Every day they're out there making
DuckTales! Woo-hoo!
Tales of derring-do
Bad and good luck tales!

That’s right.  The DuckTales theme songs just start playing in my head … on repeat.  

Why DuckTales?  I told myself, “This is a sign.  Time to pick up the pace.  Become a duck-blur!”

I picked up my pace.  After quick stops at Dead Horse, Deer Pass, and the water station, I was making good time on my way to Sedona-Posse.  This section is another one with amazing scenery and one of the spots where the photographers take photos.  This year, Scott was there.  I tried to smile for the picture but my lips were so dry I knew they would split.  He asked how I was doing.  I said I was doing well and “Sorry for not smiling.  My lips are just super dry.”

“Do you need any chapstick?”  Scott replied.

While I have known Scott for many years through these 200+ mile races, I did not think our relationship had reached the level of sharing chapstick.  I politely declined.

I made it to Sedona-Posse before dark, which was my goal.  My top two priorities were sleeping and eating.  I decided to try to sleep first.  Since it was still early, there were plenty of cots available and even a fleece blanket.  The blanket was more of a small throw blanket that I am guessing was about 4 feet by 4 feet.  The sleep room was not heated.  I was able to cover my upper body and tuck a little of the blanket under me, but it was not enough.  I felt the cold come from under the cot.  I was aiming to get about 2 hours of sleep.  It took me a while to fall asleep and I was only able to sleep for about an hour.  It was time to get up and get going.  I took out my contacts, had some food, changed my socks, resupplied my vest, and was on my way.

I left with another runner, Christian, so we could navigate the path out of the aid station.  I ended up getting ahead of him, but I kept having to stop and figure out the right way.  Multiple times Christian found me trying to figure out the correct path.

Despite all the missteps, I made it to the big water crossing.  The water seemed lower than last year.  I had no difficulty making it across the water.  On the other side, a bunch of runners were changing their socks.  I kept going.  I felt confident that the wet sock and shoes would be fine.  

Then came the climb.  It is a steep and long climb out of Sedona.  It was not until I was on the climb that I remembered that fact.  I told myself, “Don’t be fooled thinking it is over.  It is over when it is over, just keep climbing.”  That is what I did, hiccuping along the way.

I got to the water station and filled my bottle.  I alo did a quick check of the pictures I took last year to try to figure out when I was at the Munds aid station.  I mixed up Schnebly and Munds and thought that I had to make it to Munds around 7:30am.  Munds was roughly 19 miles away.  Looking at the time, I was concerned I would not make it by 7:30.  I started to really hustle.  

When I made it to Schnebly Hill aid station, it was still very dark.  I remembered that last year, I was at this same aid station after sunrise.  I was, in fact, making good time.  I decided to ignore the time I thought I was at Munds focus on my goal of finishing in under 96 hours.  My goal was in reach, but I still had over 70 miles to go.  I could not slack on my pace.  

The sun was coming up.  I made it through the night, but my struggles with sleepwalking were not over.  I saw another runner ahead of me.  It was Andy Blaze.  I caught up with him and asked how he was doing.  He said he was doing okay, then asked me.  “DId you see me stop and sit down on the trail?”
“No, I didn’t. You okay?” I responded.
“Yeah, just struggling a little bit,” Andy replied with a smile.
“Same here,” I replied. 

I continued at my fast walking pace.  I was thinking, “I got this. I am doing really well”.  That’s when I saw the world in front of me was slowly starting to shift to the right then down.  I realized I had drifted to the left and was falling into a ditch on the side of the road.

“Damnit,” I exclaimed as I slid down the ditch and scraped the side of my right thigh.  I got up and quickly examined the spot.  My shorts were fine, but my leg was bloodied with multiple small black rocks stuck to it.  I laughed at my situation and thought, “Guess I am going to see the medic at the next aid station.”

The surprise and pain of the fall woke me up.  I made it to Munds without any additional issues.  The Munds aid station was another “transitional” for me – time to put in my contacts, change socks, eat, resupply, etc. and see the medic about my leg.  The medic cleaned my leg with saline and was about to bandage it up.  I told her not to bother; I was too dirty and sweating too much for anything to stick to me.  Instead, I asked her just to double check that there were no rocks left in my leg.  She did another scan and said I was good.

I took a little longer at the station than I had wanted, mainly because the oatmeal I got was way too hot to eat.  I had about 20 miles and 1 aid station before Fort Tuthill, the next and last sleep station.  My plan for Fort Tuthill was to take a nap, change, and gear up for the final 40+ miles afterwards.

The next sections went pretty quickly.  The landscape was now pine forests.  I stopped and took a pic of the “2 Marathons To Go …” sign.  The end of the race felt within reach.  

I was checking my GPS map to make sure I was on track, I saw a note had come in from Race Command sometime on Wednesday.  It read

Hey all! The fire smoke you may be seeing is a prescribed burn (confirmed by the forest
service ) and just east of Flagstaff.  Smoke is heading northeast currently and we are continuing to monitor.
Keep cranking!

As I got closer to Fort Tuthill, the air was thick and hazy from the smoke.  Luckily, it was not bothering me much, other than a little eye irritation.  I got to Fort Tuthill at about 12:30pm, much earlier than I had expected.  I had to make a decision.  Do I stick to the original plan of taking an extended stop with a nap or do I continue on knowing there are no  more sleep stations until the finish line?

It was in the middle of the day and I was so amped up by how much ahead of schedule I was that I decided to make it a very quick stop.  I knew that I should get something to eat, so I had a bowl of pasta with vegan meat sauce.  As I was shoveling down the pasta as fast as I could, I saw Sara.  Her face looked bloodied and banged up.  She was there with her crew and folks were looking after her.  Since I was in a rush and she had support, I decided to check in with her after the race.  I wanted to get back on the trail as quickly as possible.

After checking out with the medic, I was on the final stretch of trails.  Only 40ish miles left.  I felt good, full of energy and a hope that I would start climbing Elden before sunset.

Part 4: My Mind Decides to Take a Break

I was going at a reasonably quick pace.  It was my fast walking pace with the occasional jog.  It felt good, not too fast to burn myself out, not too slow to fall behind my goal.  I was recognizing parts of the course from last year.  Everything was going well and my confidence was high.

My legs were tired, so I was stumbling and hitting more rocks than usual.  I remember hitting one rock pretty hard with my right foot.  

Overall, my feet were doing really well during Cocodona.  The tape I applied before the race was holding up.  I only developed hot spots on the inside of my right heel and on both little toes.  I applied tape to my heel and additional tap to my little toes.  The hot spots on my little toes eventually turned into blisters, but they were not really bothering me. 

When I hit that rock on the trail from Fort Tuthill, I was surprised to feel a lot of pressure release from my little toe on my right foot.  I realized immediately that the blister had popped.  I stopped and looked at the top of my shoe.  There was a small wet spot.

I continued going forward at a slower pace, assessing my foot.  The wet spot continued to grow.  But after some initial pain, my right foot felt pretty good.  I knew that from this point forward I would not be changing socks until the race was over for fear of degloving my little toe.

I remember looking down and seeing that half of my right shoe’s forefoot was wet with blood and blister juice.  And then, I remember nothing.

I mean that everything goes blank.  I had no idea what was going on or where I was.

I was standing on a trail.  I looked around to assess my surroundings and situation, trying to figure out what was happening. 

I am on trail and I am wearing running clothes and a hydration pack.  I must be on a run, a long run.
I am wearing a bib.  I am running a race.  
But what race? And where am I?
I think I am at Cocodona 250.  But I have run that race before.  Is this a dream and I am remembering that race?  Or am I running Cocodona?
This is an ultra race, so let me check my phone.  
I can read my phone, so this is not a dream.
The GPS Tracks is on my home screen.  I am definitely in an ultra race.
<I open the app.>
I am running Cocodona 250.  I think I am off course.
Where do I need to go?
I see two aid stations.  I think the next one is Walnut Canyon.
That does not make sense, I have been there before.
But was that this year or last, I am not sure.
Is it Fort Tuthill?  I don’t think so, it was dark when I was at Walnut Canyon and it is daytime now.

It was like I could see all the pieces of the puzzle, but I could not put them together.  Not only did nothing seem to “fit” together, but also I did not fully trust my conclusions.  I decided that I would get back on course and head to Walnut Canyon.  I told myself, “Just get to the next aid station.  Then, either all of this will make sense or the walls of this illusion will crumble.”

I was able to get back on the right trail, according to GPS Tracks.  Then I saw an orange flag.  “This is good.  This feels familiar.  This feels right,” I told myself.   As I was jogging on the trail, I saw a woman coming in my direction.

She calls out, “Are you married with three kids?”
I was so confused, but replied, “No. I am married with 2 kids.”
“Okay, you’re not the person I am looking for.  Good luck,” she stated as she ran past me.

“What the hell is going on?” I yelled inside my head.

I continued on the trail, then I saw Jason, the runner I ran with last year and who was volunteering at this year’s race.  He was running on the trail towards me.  

He called out to me, “Hi Ed.  I am just going out for a trail run.  Keep going.  You’re almost at Walnut Canyon.” 

I can’t remember if I replied or not.  I was still so confused.  Nothing seemed to make sense.

I saw the sign for Walnut Canyon Aid Station.  I entered the aid station.  I have not been here before, at least not in the daytime.  “Okay, this is new.  I must be in the right place,” I told myself.  That was when things started to make sense.  “I am running Cocodona 250.  I am going the right way.  I am close to the finish.”

Given the episode I just had, I decided to check in with the medic.  I entered the med tent and found the medic.  “What’s going on?” he asked.

I told him that I was out on the trail and became super disoriented.  I was not sure where I was or where I should go.  “Okay, let’s check your vitals and make sure everything is fine,” he said.

He took my pulse, my temperature, and tested my blood sugar.  “Everything is reading as normal.  At least as normal as you would expect in a race like this.  What happened?”

I told him again how all of sudden, I did not know where I was or what I was doing.  “Do you know where you are now?”  he asked.
“Yes, I am running the Cocodona 250 race” I replied.
“What’s your name?
“Ed Shelton”
“Do you know who the president is?”
“Yes”
“Who is it?”
I blanked on the name for like a second.  “Biden,” I responded.  
“What state are we in?”
“Arizona”
“What’s the name of this aid station?”
“Walnut Creek,” I replied.  “Is it actually Walnut Canyon?” I yelled in my head.
“It is Walnut Canyon, but close enough,” he said.
“Sorry, Walnut Creek is the name of a trail near where I live.”
“So you seem fine.  Maybe take a short break and have some food.  Get some sleep if you can.”

I thanked him and went over to the food area.  I got two avocado and hummus wraps, found my drop bag, and a chair to sit in.

I got back to “work”.  I resupplied my vest which included packing a Red Bull for later.  I now had two Red Bulls in my pack.  One was for the bottom of Elden and the other was for the run down Elden.  I took out my contacts, replaced the batteries in my head lamps, and exchanged my waist light for a new one.  I was ready to go.

I saw Chance and his pacer getting ready to head out.  I asked if I could join them for a bit since I became disoriented on the last trail and I would like to go out with someone else for a bit.  “No problem,” he replied.  “We are planning to go pretty quick.  Our goal is to finish in under 92 hours.”

“No worries,” I replied.  “If you need to take off and leave me behind, go for it.”

We started out.  I was right behind them right opening my maple syrup shot when I heard one of them say, “Let’s go.”  They took off at a fast pace.  I was not ready for that, I was still drinking my maple syrup.  

I did my best to pick up the pace, but they already had some distance on me.  After I was able to finish my maple syrup and stow the wrapper, I picked up my pace and caught up with them as they slowed down.  Then all of sudden, it happened again.

This was not really working for me, but I did have more energy in my legs than I expected.  I increased my pace and was able to maintain it.  It was slower than their fast paces, but faster then their slow paces.  The math was in my favor.  I ended up out ahead of them and I was feeling good.

About a mile out of the aid station, I thought, “Did I pack my glasses case and IDs in my pack?”  Since I asked myself that question, I knew I needed to check.  As I was checking for my gear, Chance and his pacer passed me. 

“Go ahead,” I told them, “I think I left something back at the aid station.”  Sure enough, I did.  I knew I needed to head back.  I could not risk having left my glasses case, contacts, and IDs out somewhere.  I was hoping that I threw them into my drop bag by accident.

I made my way back to the aid station.  The used drop bags were not picked up yet and it was pretty easy to find mine.  I looked inside to find the gear I left behind.  I repacked it into my vest.  Double and triple checked that I had everything and I was back on my way.

I remembered it took a while to get to Elden.  Last year, I ran this section in the predawn hours, reaching Elden just after sunrise.  This year, I would be reaching Elden after sunset and would have to climb it in the dark.  I was not looking forward to that.  At least I had a Red Bull for the climb.

The sun went down and I was feeling the fatigue of not having slept in over 24 hours.  I keep following the trail, checking with GPS Tracks more frequently.  Vision issues had started; things were not as clear anymore.  I could see the path in front of me, but it was difficult for me to determine that it was the trail.  Just when I felt that I was not making progress, I was surprised to realize that I had started the Mt. Elden ascent.  

I cracked open one of my Red Bulls and took a couple of sips before stowing it in my vest.  Every now and then, I would stumble and Red Bull would splash on my face until I finished it.

The climb up Elden was a rough one.  Last year, in the daylight, I had a hard time following the trail.  This year I was struggling to follow the trail.  

FYI: You are about to enter my mind as I climb Mt. Elden after running approximately 245 miles (I had some extra miles from going off course) and sleeping less than 6 hours in the last 80+ hours.  

As I struggled to follow the trail, I realized why that was so hard.  It was because three different people had designed these trails, Joe, Sarah, and another guy whose name I could not figure out.  I knew Joe’s and Sarah’s name because they took pride in their work.  They used the trail and the design of the trail to tell us who they were and to commemorate special moments in their life.  

I found that Sarah’s sections of trail were easier to follow because she wanted to build one that anyone could follow.  Joe, on the other hand, was more interested in telling his story.   

I came across the section where Joe told about his father, who was also named Joe.  Later, I found the section that commemorated his marriage to his husband.  While Joe’s sections were interesting, I had a much easier time following Sarah’s sections.

As I climbed the mountain, I did my best to stay on the trail but would repeatedly find that I was off the trail and was not sure how to get back.  The higher up the mountain I got, the scarier and more dangerous being off the trail felt. 

Each time I went off trail, I would eventually find the trail again.  If it was a Sarah section, I rejoiced.  If it was a Joe section, I would think, “What are you going to tell me about this time Joe?”  For me, it was always easy to tell what direction to go, since the right way was always up.  

The air started to get colder and the trees shorter.  I knew I was getting close to the top.  Like earlier in the race, I knew that it was not over until it was over and I just had to keep going.  Once I came upon some snow, I was convinced the end was near.  I tried not to get too excited.

After the snow, I found a Sarah section, followed by a Joe section, then another Sarah section.  I emerged from the trail and was at the top of the mountain.  I briefly admired the lights in the distance before the cold and wind hit me and I knew I had to get going.

I looked around for the way to go.  This is when I first realized that my vision was not working so well.  I could not tell which way to go, so I tried to go from memory.  I was shuffling pretty quickly looking for a way down the mountain.  After a little bit of time, it felt like I had gone in a circle and was back at the top of Elden.  I could not see any trail markers and was having real difficulty trying to figure out on GPS Tracks where I was and where I should go.  I decided to send Race Command a text:

Ed:
Hey race command
I am at the top of Elden – where am I supposed to go?

Since I was so cold, I did not wait for a response and started to go a little further.  Soon I saw lights and parked cars; I found the aid station.  I checked my phone and saw a response

Race Command:
Keep going in the direction of the course.  You are almost to Elden aid station and Pete’s Meats
…
Best part of the race my friend

Ed:
Found the aid station

Race Command:
Enjoy

I was thankful to get to the aid station but I had no intention of staying very long.  I was ready to be done with the race.  I was tired, having trouble seeing, and was very cold.  It was definitely a low point of the race for me and I was pretty negative.  I think I may have been a bit snarky or impatient with the aid station volunteers.  To any volunteers at Elden, if I was snarky to you, I truly apologize; All of you are awesome!  

I skipped having any food and just filled my water.  The volunteers were great in making sure I knew about the turn off the road onto the trail at the bottom.  I think they may have known that I was not in the best state.  I texted AJ, my wife, to let her know I was leaving the last aid station.  Then I was on my way.

Last year, I felt great on the final 9 miles and I completed them quickly.  I had that same expectation this year.  I started off by running the downhill.  Since it was a wide dirt road, my vision issues were not causing me any problems and it was easy to ignore how bad my vision was.

I saw the turn off the road onto the trail and turned on to it.  Then my headlamp started flashing that it was low on power.  I switched headlamps to my secondary one.  In this section, I tried so hard to follow the trails.  My vision had gotten a lot worse, but I continued to push through.  In addition, the fatigue and cold were also really pulling my mood back down.  

I would try to follow the trail, then realize I took a wrong turn.  I would backtrack to find the right path and keep going.  I was moving slow already, but now I was having to slow down even more just to figure out the trail.  The more I slowed down, the colder I got.  The more I sped up, the harder it was to follow the trail.  Please note, I was still hiccuping this whole time.  Then my second headlamp started to blink, indicating that it is almost out of battery.  I had to stop again and switch out the batteries.

I was shivering from the cold and having some hallucinations.  I kept feeling that there was an older man from the Chinese Mafia, covered in tattoos, in the race a little way behind me.  He was trying to follow me in order to stay on course.  He was also very cold and low on water.  I was getting nervous about his safety and what the Chinese mafia would do to Aravaipa Running if he perished in the race. 

“I can’t think about that now,” I told myself, “I need to worry about myself and how I am going to finish this race.”

Despite my best efforts, my vision had gotten to the point where I could not see the trail markers.  I kept taking the wrong path and had to backtrack.  At one point, I even ended up going in the wrong direction on the trail.  It was then that I saw two other runners.  

“Are you okay?” one of them called out.
“Yes, but I can’t see,”  I replied.  “Do you mind if I run with you guys for a while?”
“Not at all. You seemed pretty disoriented out there.”
“Thanks.  I really can’t see much of anything right now.”
“I read about that happening to runners.”

The runner was Austin Corbett and his pacer, David.  I was so thankful they came along and let me run with them.  I did not tell them about the old Chinese mafia dude behind us because I was not sure if he was real or not.

I tried looking at my GPS Tracks but my eyes had gotten to the point where the phone screen was too bright and I could hardly read it.  Now that I had runners I could follow, my energy levels jumped up a bit.  It was easy to keep up with Austin and David.  It felt like the rest of the time on the trail flew by and we emerged on paved roads.  Thanks to David, we were able to navigate our way on the streets.  

We turned onto North Beaven.  David told us that we stay on this street until we turn left on Birch.  I remembered exactly where we were.  I felt great and I could kind of read the street signs out of the top of my eyes.  I wanted to take off and sprint to the finish.  I could not do that to Austin and David.  Without them, I may have still been wandering the woods.  I told them, “Hey guys.  Thanks so much for letting me tag along.  I’ll stay back a bit when we get to Birch so you two can finish together ahead of me.”

We turned onto Birch.  Then Austin and David turned into the alley with me behind them.  They crossed the finish with me a few feet behind them.  

It was an amazing feeling to cross the finish line.  I stopped and took in the moment.  Austin, David, and I high-fived and congratulated each other.  Before long, the volunteers handed me my buckle, removed the SPOT tracker, and shuttled me to after photo.

Given that it was the middle of the night, the finish line was pretty quiet.  Most of the non-volunteers there were part of Austin’s family, friends, and crew.  Even though the race was over, I could not fully relax; I still had a lot to do.  I needed to deal with my vision, fix up my feet especially after that big blister popped over 30 miles earlier, warm up, eat, and most importantly sleep.

I visited the medic to help with my feet.  She was awesome and was able to remove the tape without tearing any of my skin off.  I got a vegan black bean burger with lettuce, tomato, and avocado.  The only working heater was in the medic tent.  I asked the medic if I could eat in her tent.  She did not mind, especially since it was very quiet.  

After my feet were taken care of and I ate, it was time to get my finish line drop bag and to sleep.  There was a cot and blanket available in the sleep tent.  It was very cold in the sleep tent since none of the heaters were working.  I was able to change into dry clothes.  I put the blanket they provided between me and the cot to protect me from the cold coming from underneath.  I climbed into the cot, covered myself in the blanket from my drop bag, and fell asleep almost instantaneously. 

I sleep until 6am, about 4 hours, when the brightness and the finish line activity work me up.  My vision returned.  While I was tired and sore, I felt incredible.  I almost could not believe that I finished Cocodona 250 a second time and I did it in under 93 hours.

Final Thoughts

Last year, I had an amazing experience running Cocodona 250.  So much so that even though I had planned to take a break from ultra races, I signed up for the race less than a week after finishing it.  In my “Final Thoughts” from last year, I said, “I think it will be an even better experience now that I know what I wish I knew when I was younger (before I ran the race).”

In some ways I was right and in others I was wrong.  I will never be able to recapture all the wonderful first time experiences I had last year.  My experience from last year helped me run a better race.  Knowing what to expect along the way, made planning and pacing much easier.  The confidence I gained when I left the Crown King aid station an hour earlier than last year fueled and motivated me the entire rest of the race. 

One of the biggest changes for me this year was that I was hyper focused.  During the race, I kept setting goals for myself.  When I reached that goal, I immediately set another.  

Looking back at my experience, I was surprised that I had those really dark and negative moments near the end of the race.  I know they were due to fatigue and loss of vision, but I wished I handled them better.  Going into future races, I will take that learning with me.  No matter what, stay positive and be a positive light for others.

I am grateful for the opportunity and ability to run a race like Cocodona 250.  It is as much a gift as it is a challenge.  While I am not going back next year (I have a different big race planned), I will be back for another.  

Thank Yous & Shout Outs

• All the runners I met and ran with along the way.  This is an amazing and supportive community.  It is always a pleasure to run with all of you.
• Special thanks to the runners that helped me:
  • Henry, Alyson, and Alyson’s pacer: Thanks for helping navigate the fields after Fain Ranch.
  • Anne: Thanks for chatting with me on the way down from Mingus.  Our conversation helped me to stay awake and keep going.
  • Austin Corbett and his pacer, David:  Without you guys letting me tag along in the final 5ish miles, I am not sure how long it would have taken me to make it out of the woods and find the finish line.
• Thanks to Christa & Brian Meck for providing support at Whiskey and for helping me out and keeping me company on Friday morning at the finish line.
• Aravaipa Running for putting on such a great race, for planning a route that took us through amazing parts of Arizona and let us see and experience the towns along the way, and for live streaming the race so friends and family could get to see what was going on.
• The aid station volunteers and medics who were always willing and eager to help us in any way they could.  They made running without a crew a lot easier. 
• The photographers (Scott Rokis, Howie Stern, Anastasia Wilde) for capturing all those awesome moments.
• AJ, my wife, for the support, pre-race organization and logistics, and for taking care of the kids, animals, etc. at home while I was running.