I was not expecting that the Quebec Mega Trail (QMT) would make me consider dropping out of a race for the first time ever, when I signed up for it in early 2019. I ran the QMT 110km race in Mont Ste. Anne, Quebec at the end of June, 2019. I spent a lot of time planning for QMT because I had heard from friends that the race was really tough. I planned on running the race in 16 hours since I ran the Sulphur Springs 50k race in 5h28m on May, 2019. I knew that QMT had a 24 hour cut off but thought that I would be done well before that.
I had been listening to a book called You Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins while I was training for QMT. I have around 110 audio books and have listened to them while running and driving. I use the Audible app which is a great way to read on a busy schedule. Goggins talks a lot about using visualization before races. He spent a lot of time visualizing before he ran the famous Badwater 135 race. He visualized the start of the race, parts of the race where he would be feeling good, parts of the race where he would be feeling bad and the end of the race. He also researched the race as much as he could, which included watching all of the videos that he could find on Youtube. I took this advice to heart and did my own research for the QMT. I studied the race course in depth and wrote out detailed notes. I also watched a number of Youtube videos. I wrote out a detailed visualization about how I was going to approach the different sections of the course and how I was going to feel. I did all of this visualization with the 16 hour time frame that I had envisioned for the course. The visualization helped build confidence for the race and I was feeling good about the race when I left to Quebec.
My friend Matt met me in Mont Ste. Anne late on Thursday night and we spent the next day scoping out the area and getting ready for the race. We went to bed early on Friday night and before I knew it, it was 4am and time to wake up. Matt was going to meet me at the half way mark aid station and then again at the 80k mark where he would pace me for the last 30km.
We started the race in light rain on the water near le Massif, one of the largest ski mountains in Quebec in a town called Petit Rivière St Francois. The song Xanadu by Rush was played over the PA system and the race directors timed it perfectly so that the race started when the song reached a crescendo. The race director mentioned this song in the race briefing and I remember thinking that this sounded cheesy. Boy, was I wrong. It made an awesome impression and created excitement as all of the runners ran through the starting arch. We ran on road through the town for about 3km and then started climbing up the mountains. It was pretty easy going to the first aid station on the summit of le Massif.
I ran another easy 10k to aid station 2. I was greeted at this aid station by a group of screaming volunteers. They were chanting “Joe, Joe, Joe” as I approached. I realized that they were making up names for all of the runners. I left aid station 2 thinking that I was in for more of the same terrain. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I immediately encountered super technical terrain with a ton of mud, rocks and roots. I had to hike most of this section of the course but I was still making good progress. I passed several racers on my way in to aid station 3. I overheard three runners who decided to drop out of the race at this aid station. Like me, these runners were feeling overwhelmed by the technical terrain. The race was taking me a lot longer than I had anticipated but I was still feeling pretty good.
I left the aid station and ran a technical descent for about 4k. I came out on to a dirt road and was so grateful to stretch my legs and to give my mind a break from the technical running. I had not trained on any technical terrain and this was taking its toll on me. I had to pay constant attention to every foot plant so that I didn’t fall. This was exhausting on my body and also on my mind. I was starting to realize that the race was going to take me a lot longer than 16 hours.
I ran on dirt roads for another 4k and then reached a really funny water crossing to get to the Sainte Tite de Cap aid station, where Matt was waiting for me. I climbed down a small hill and then got up to my waist in water. I crossed through cool water beneath a bridge. I made it through the water crossing without falling and ran to the aid station. I felt beat up from the technical terrain but got re-energized from sitting down and talking with Matt. I reluctantly told Matt that the race would take over 20 hours and that we would have to run all night. Matt was super supportive and was ready to run all night with me. I left Matt and started the 20km that I had left before the Mont Ste. Anne aid station where Matt would join me as a pacer.
I started the beautiful and difficult Mestachibo section. Mestachibo had tall cliffs on both sides, beautiful rapids and lush green forest. There was no denying that it was beautiful but is was also an absolute nightmare to navigate. The ascents and descents were never ending with super slick mud and huge rocks. Mestachibo was only around 10k but I spent well over 2 hours getting through it.
I arrived at the Mont Ste Anne Aid Station at around 9pm and met Matt there. I was super glad to see Matt but I was completely spent from Mestachibo. I told Matt that I was considering dropping out of the race. Matt encouraged me to eat a burger and to think about it. I refused the burger at first but decided to eat it in the end. I started feeling better immediately. I had been eating gels and banana bread for the last 5 hours and it felt great to have something substantial in my stomach. Matt and I also heard from the race staff that the last 30k was not very technical which is exactly what I needed to hear.
Matt and I started by hiking straight uphill on a ski run called La Crête (the Ridge in english). I had skied this run as a kid – it’s super challenging and steep and my sister and I loved it. On a family ski trip, we brought my Dad to ski it with us. My sister and I were dare devils but my Dad was a conservative skier. He was pretty mad at us and my sister and I but we thought it was hilarious. I was struggling to move quickly up the hill and Matt suggested that I use smaller steps. It worked like a charm and we eventually summitted Mont Ste. Anne. We were greeted with a stunning view, the sun was setting and it gave a faint glow to the light fog along valley below. This view was definitely one of the highlights of the race.
We reached the summit aid station with excitement, we only had 21k left. We covered the 18 of the 21k fairly quickly but. We were surprised on the last 3k by a water crossing through a knee deep river. We finished this water crossing and were surprised by yet another water crossing. We ran on road for the last 2k and we could hear the music from the finish line. Matt and I ran through the finish together and were thrilled to be done, I finished in 22h59m. Matt and I decided to have the post-race meal and beer in the Mont Ste. Anne chalet. It was funny to be eating and drinking at 4am but we didn’t care.
