Mostracesend with medals, snack bags, and photo opps.
The Red Bull 400 ends with oxygen masks and a team of volunteers ready to catch careening participants.
It was very surreal.
Ryan Taylor/Red Bull Content Pool
Participants ascend 40 stories in 400 meters in what is arguably the worlds toughest shortest race.
The competition featured 18 preliminary heats, each with 25 racers.
Then the climbing began.
Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool
This was really handy, says Mooi of the light blue netting.
And thats what I did.
Both times, her lungs had a different idea.
Mike Tittel / Red Bull Content Pool
The thing that hurt the worst for memore thanleg crampswas my lungs, says Mooi.
As for the second go-around: I was dreading it, says Mooi.
I really didnt want to do it a second time.
All of us [in the final heat] were like,We have to do this again?!
It was very unlike me to nap, but I needed it, says Mooi.
And when it came time to race again, Mooi overcame her fear and dug deep.
Im pretty competitive, says Moi, who was in fifth place at the mid-way mark.
She finished in 7 minutes and 15 seconds, which was 45 seconds faster than her prelim time.
Even though I was dreading it, the second time felt easier, says Mooi.
It was like a tickle was trapped in my chest, she says.
A former competitive swimmer, Mooi started running andcross-country skiingfor fitness three years ago when she moved to Ironwood.
I also like to bike, hike, backpack, and canoe, she says.
Im very active to begin with, and pretty much never follow a strict training plan of any sort.
Im all about cross-training.
This year, her cross-training involved cross-country skiing and long-distancerunning.
Mooi was planning to run a marathonuntil she strained her IT band.
The one thing she didnt do: train on the mountain itself.
I wanted it to be a surprise, says Mooi.
And besides, how do you even prepare for something like that?
Its such a different race.
So whats next for this badass athlete?
Well, I have to defend my title, Mooi says with a laugh.
Give me a little time and I would be ready for it again.
Somehow, we have a hunch that Mooi wont need much time at all.
