Third Time's the Charm

Two weeks from today I will have finished my frantic packing and will hopefully be cruising towards North Carolina.  Wow.  What a difference a year makes.  Last year Umstead was my primary focus, my goal, my point of light.

This year, its more like "wait, what?" It is mid March and I still have a Christmas wreath on my door and snowmen decorating my kitchen.  My spare time is taken up with grading papers and running, and sometimes I even combine the two and grade on my treadmill.

But it is really okay because despite my lack of sleep, my running has been pretty consistent, and I even have cut some time in the past year.  I am banking on the fact that not only have I been training to run, but I certainly have aced going without sleep for 24 hours at a time.  After last year's fiasco with my feet, I went online and purchased the book "Fixing Your Feet" and read the chapters on blister prevention.  It was okay until the chapter with 142 remedies for blisters.  Really I was just looking for one remedy, two tops, because I am not good at making decisions (as I have established numerous times on this blog), so trying to figure out which would work best was pretty mind numbing.  I decided to go with lube, duct tape, and safety pins. Pop it and plug it...that's my strategy.

I am so very lucky to have my same posse from last year all agreeing to crew me again.  These ladies are so knowledgeable about running a 100 that I'm convinced they will get me across the finish line.   I really missed running with them through the night last year so that is what is going to keep me going as the sun goes down.

yeah, we will be that fast!

All in all, I am ready.  I have one last long run and then I'm off, and hoping the third time is really the charm.

But whatever the outcome, I am much more relaxed and that might even work in my benefit!

Slip Sliding Away

"Crampons would be handy."  That is the thought the bounced around my head about 10 feet into the Hashawha Hills 50K.  And the ridiculous thing was that I had them, but left them in my bag.  But I was convinced that since I positioned myself well at the end of the line of runners, a nice compacted path would soon present and I would be in the clear.

Well, that plan might have worked if it was above 15 degrees, but the 8+ inches of snow along with the freezing temps meant that I spent the first 15 miles of this run alternating between making my way through snow so fluffy and deep that it barely retained footprints to losing my balance and crashing down through the crusty snow pack on the side of the trail.  In all  fairness, many other runners with spikes, yak traks and screws really didn't fare much better.  But my trusty trail shoes were no match for the ice and snow, and I found myself on the ground covered in snow more than once.

she's going down (again)

The first loop of the run was a challenge - 96 starters with only 53 deciding to continue on the second loop.  Lucky for me, I had put my crampons in my bag. Unlucky for me that I hadn't brought my bag to the aid station pavilion!  Since I fantasized the entire first half of picking up my spikes, I almost thought of increasing the drop number to 54. But I am not a quitter, and even though it took me a full hour and a half longer to complete the first 15 miles than previous years, I nodded my head when asked if I was going to continue.

It was a beautiful day for a run.  As I have written previously, Hashawha holds such a special place for me and even the less than perfect trail conditions did not deter me from enjoying myself.  Sure, I had snot freezing from my nose to my chin, and tiny snow balls were collecting in double digit numbers along my ankles, but it wasn't going to stop me.  I just kept "plowing" away.  Interestingly enough, the fields, which always present a difficult section of the course with the ankle twisting corn cobs, were a non-issue this year. In fact, they were so beautiful with their views of open snow covered hills and farms far in the distance.  (I would insert pictures here, but my hands were so encased in gloves and hot hands, I dared not take them off)

can't do jazz hands with frostbit fingers

The second 15 mile loop was really much better than the first.  Even though it never got above freezing, the sun was out strong and bright, and really did make a huge difference.  Now the trail was more compact and it made running at least a little more possible.  Downhills were still tough and more than a few times I just threw out my arms, said a Hail Mary and threw myself down the trail.

me going down the butt slide...who needs a stinkin' rope!

The second half, while it took longer time-wise, really seemed to go faster than the first.  All the volunteers were absolutely stellar and so supportive.  Even though they had been out all day, they were so kind and made sure I had everything I  needed to finish the run.  I was so worried because the cut off was 9 hours, and try as I did, I came in at 9:03.  But a raucous cheering section greeted me as I crossed the line and put a fantastic finisher's mug in my hand.  Very cool!!  Hashawha now is the trail where I hold my 50K PR and also the course where I hold my ST (slowest time).  Just goes to show that no two trail runs are the same, even on the same course, and I love that!  RD Coach sums it up best here 
and Jonathan Gowen captures it beautifully here.

so worth it!