When Heidi Frehlich lined up at first of Desert RATS by UTMB 100K race in Colorado in April, she had no concept that one in every of her worst fears was about to return true. Frehlich, who has risen by the ranks of the extremely path neighborhood over the past couple of years, was ready for a standout efficiency and holding sturdy in second place when disaster struck: she began to enter anaphylactic shock on the course.
“The 100K was truly going fairly nicely at the moment, I used to be comfortably in 2nd, slowly closing in on 1st, and feeling strong,” Frehlich wrote on Instagram post-race. “That was, up till I acquired some water from the help station round 40K and commenced projectile vomiting shortly after, which shortly changed into not with the ability to breathe, with 5K left till the following assist station.”
Frehlich, who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, was compelled to make use of her EpiPen, and stated that “attempting to hobble 5K within the warmth whereas preventing to breathe and never cross out is definitely worse than you could possibly think about.” Whereas it might sound practically unattainable for Frehlich to have been uncovered to nuts after solely taking water from an outdoor supply, she says cross-contamination was the seemingly perpetrator. “One thing so simple as one particular person dealing with peanuts or tree nuts and touching my flask and even touching the water jug with out washing their arms first. That’s all it takes.”
“Undoubtedly one thing that’s all the time been behind my thoughts, however hoped I’d by no means have to truly expertise,” Frehlich informed Canadian Operating. “However sadly extra frequent than you suppose. I’ve a good friend who’s celiac, and skilled one thing related whereas operating an extremely final 12 months.”
Frehlich was a professional triathlete at a younger age, however says cross-contamination wasn’t a critical concern in that sport. “It’s undoubtedly a problem I’ve solely actually skilled in path/extremely, because the gasoline/water stations have far more than simply some drink cups and bananas and gels (however even most gels are off limits for me, as many corporations both put nuts in them or use a producing facility that isn’t secure),” Frehlich explains. “However a really terrifying factor to have behind your thoughts as you permit an assist station out to a bit of path that’s distant, inaccessible and has no service.”
Meet Canada’s latest ultrarunning champ, Heidi Frehlich
Frehlich has shared her expertise as a result of she says that whereas extreme allergy symptoms are frequent, they’re typically ignored. “It’s terrifying that you are able to do all the pieces proper (pack all your individual meals and clear your arms ceaselessly), however have your race, not to mention probably your life, finish attributable to one thing out of your management,” she says.
To be taught extra about meals allergens and security, take a look at Meals Allergy Canada, a non-profit group devoted to serving to Canadians with meals allergy symptoms.
