Because I do get excited about things other than running…
A month ago I planted two Knockout Rose Trees on our deck. They weren’t much to look at.
4-30-2013: Check Out My Stick
One month later, they (and my petunias) have really taken off.
5-31-2013: We Have Growth
I’m looking forward to them filling out and blooming this summer.
Last week I had the pleasure of crewing and pacing runners at MMT100. I could skip to the end and tell you that my runner finished, but that wouldn’t tell the whole story. Running is just a small part of the story. What I learned is that you end up investing so much of yourself in the fate of the runners you know, especially the ones who you know are counting on you. Their struggles become yours. You celebrate their successes – even if it’s as small as keeping food down. You form a bond with them, regardless of what your relationship prior to the race was. So to understand the full story, I’ll have to start from the early miles on Saturday.
Most everyone I knew who was running came into the Shawl Gap aid station where I was volunteering in good spirits. My runner, KC, came into the aid station 30 minutes before the cutoff. She said that she hadn’t eaten anything and was really fatigued even though it was only 38 miles into the race. Her boyfriend and brother who where crewing for her convinced her to eat a sandwich and chips. I was worried about her because it was so early in the race for her to be feeling the way she did.
KC Coming Into Shawl Gap (photo attributed to Rob Dolan)
This weekend I’ll be on the other side of a 100 miler at MMT. After being on the receiving end of all the great support from volunteers at races, I’ll be doing my share of “giving back” to the ultrarunning community.
First, I’ll be volunteering at the mile 38 (Shawl Gap) aid station. There’s a crapload of prep that goes into volunteering. Like cooking 10 pounds of bacon.
Before
After
I was originally going to call this post, “The Year I Lost My Sh*t”, but decided I’d try to take the positive route. Even though it’s only been about a month since I finished Umstead, I’ve been feeling a bit lost as to what’s next.
Sure, I’m planning to run a marathon in the fall and there are a handful of contenders. I’ve been wanting to run Richmond for years, but it falls on the same day as the Stone Mill 50 miler which is on my sweatbucket list. Steamtown and Baltimore are both in October so they’d allow me to run Stone Mill. Steve was sick when I ran the Philly marathon so he’d like to go back there so he could actually run the race.
Caroline, the lady I met at Umstead, asked me if I’d be interested in running the Cajun Coyote, a 100 miler in December. Although it looks like it’d be fun, I wasn’t sure about the cost to travel to Louisiana, plus it’s around Steve’s birthday.
The Short Version: I finished! It took me 26 hours and 29 minutes, but I got my finisher’s buckle.
Taadaa!
“Good job! That’s it.” Mandy, my crew member and pacer for the 7th loop, was cheering me on in the pitch darkness while I bent over for the umpteenth time trying to throw up.
All I want to do is hurl. Jog a bit. Why won’t that burger come up?! Walk up the hill. Think disgusting thoughts. Would you rather eat throw up, or lick a port-o-pot? More dry heaving. I am not leaving without a buckle. Gag, drool, spit. I. Will. Finish.
Now don’t get me wrong. There were some fun times; this just wasn’t one of them.
Recent Comments