When Heidi Frehlich lined up at the start of Desert RATS by UTMB 100K race in Colorado in April, she had no idea that one of her worst fears was about to come true. Frehlich, who has risen through the ranks of the ultra trail community over the last couple of years, was prepared for a standout performance and holding strong in second place when crisis struck: she started to go into anaphylactic shock on the course.
“The 100K was actually going quite well today, I was comfortably in 2nd, slowly closing in on 1st, and feeling solid,” Frehlich wrote on Instagram post-race. “That was, up until I got some water from the aid station around 40K and began projectile vomiting shortly after, which quickly turned into not being able to breathe, with 5K left until the next aid station.”
Frehlich, who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, was forced to use her EpiPen, and said that “trying to hobble 5K in the heat while fighting to breathe and not pass out is actually worse than you could imagine.” While it might seem nearly impossible for Frehlich to have been exposed to nuts after only taking water from an outside source, she says cross-contamination was the likely culprit. “Something as simple as one person handling peanuts or tree nuts and touching my flask or even touching the water jug without washing their hands first. That’s all it takes.”
“Definitely something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but was hoping I’d never have to actually experience,” Frehlich told Canadian Running. “But unfortunately more common than you think. I have a friend who is celiac, and experienced something similar while running an ultra last year.”
Frehlich was a pro triathlete at a young age, but says cross-contamination wasn’t a serious concern in that sport. “It’s definitely an issue I’ve only really experienced in trail/ultra, as the fuel/water stations have way more than just some drink cups and bananas and gels (but even most gels are off limits for me, as many companies either put nuts in them or use a manufacturing facility that isn’t safe),” Frehlich explains. “But a very terrifying thing to have in the back of your mind as you leave an aid station out to a section of trail that is remote, inaccessible and has no service.”
Frehlich has shared her experience because she says that while severe allergies are common, they are often overlooked. “It is terrifying that you can do everything right (pack all your own food and clean your hands frequently), but have your race, let alone potentially your life, end due to something out of your control,” she says.
To learn more about food allergens and safety, check out Food Allergy Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Canadians with food allergies.
