Each Day Is a Gift

I signed up for this race back in Dec. thinking it'd be a great training run and talked Karen into signing up as well.  Have never run this course before and was very concerned about the technical/difficulty of this.  Kelli gave me very good tips and answered lots of my questions which helped tremendously. 

Well, things have changed the last couple months.  Since my stress fracture 6 weeks ago at the Huntsville (Orphan Hope) Trail Marathon, the longest distance I've done was 12 miles.  I debated whether I should run it...but with 3 weeks to go before Boston, I feel that I need to get a 16 miler in if I were to finish Boston at all.  Every single run in the last 3 weeks have been tough...although there is no pain at the sf site...I was running very slow and out of breath.

Kelli texted me last night and helped me so much to decide on what shoes (my old old Inspire) to wear and what to carry (handheld bottle and Gu).  I also carried bandaid and inhaler. 

Picked up Karen at 6 and RAD at 6:15.  So glad hubby was driving cause I was so tired...should not have taken the inhaler at bedtime!  Got to packet pick up just before the line got super long.  After using the pop at the start, the 50K runners started their race, we went inside the tent to stay warm.  The winner of the 100 miler, Carl M (I think) just finished!  WOW!!!!  It was so fun to talk to him!  There is such a laidback easy going and happy atmosphere at trail races that you don't see in road races.  I LOVE IT!!!

With 5 min before start we went back to the pop lines where the RD gave us briefing...made one more trip to the pop (the tummy issue persisted from yesterday to this morning, nice!)...then went to line up at the start.  The temp was perfect in the low 50s, partly cloudy and just a light breeze...perfect running condition.

The first 3 miles is a steady climb.  I walked A LOT.  It was fun cheering the 100 milers and a few 50Kers coming the opposite direction.  Fritz was the first 50K runner.  He was running so strong and fast!  WOW!!!  Very exciting!  :)  Mile 4 level out and some downhill with good footing so I ran a little but had to walk when I could not get enough air.  I took 3 puffs (the 1st puff could not hold it in, have got to learn how to inhale that darn thing).  Karen got quite a bit ahead.  Mile 5 was another climb before reaching our first aid station where I took a GU.  Maurine working feverishly at the aid station, called out my name! :) It was SO GREAT to see her!  She had run the 50K the night before and without sleeping a wink now working at the aid station.  What an AWESOME girl!  Karen waited for me.  I ate one GU, Karen filled her water bottle, then we left the aid station. 

The next mile plus are switch backs where we walked a lot and I visited with couple of ladies in my AG.  One of them, Clea, seems to know everybody as she cheered on the ladies down below us.  It was great fun, beautiful scenery.  Every time I tried to run, my breathing would get labored.  I must've blown at least a cup of snot.  My ears were so plucked up from the congestion that it was messing with my equilibrium.   Took 2 puffs of albuterol after 2+ hours into the running (err walking)!

I must've swallowed a lot of air as my guts were getting distended and a side ache up and down my left ribs.  Karen's talking to me helped distract the discomfort.  My feet were getting achy but NOT the same pain I felt at the forest trail marathon 6 week ago, HOORAY!!!

We passed by a few mountain bikers and group of equestrian riders.  We stopped to read a sign explaining the raising of wild horses on the island back in the days of the pioneer settlers, very interesting.  I ran and passed a few runners on the downhill stretch with good footings for a little before the breathing or lack thereof forced me to walk again.  Very discouraging...Karen even walked back to get me...she is such a great friend! :)  We ran passed a group of scouts who stood by to let us pass...such courteous boys and leaders! :)

Somewhere with about a mile to go (I lost track of mileage or time as I didn't dare see how slow I was going), Fritz came whizzing by on my left to his winning finish of the 50K!!! WOW!!!! :) :) :)  SO AWESOME!!!! :)  That motivated me to keep running passing a few runners.  Karen was a good 2 min ahead. 

I was hoping to run all the way to the finish when I saw a tent where a group of people were cheering, among them my hubby and RAD.  To my disappointment, we had to turn right and run on an incline into a headwind...I don't know how far...but I was SO SO SO SO GRATEFUL RAD was there running alongside me.  I started to have an asthmatic attack,  I could not get any air in or out!  It was as if I was drowning...very frightening!  RAD's presence gave me comfort, I walked a bit and regained enough strength to run with the help and guide of RAD to the finish.  Upon crossing the finish, I took 2 puffs of the albuterol and got inside the big tent.  A very kind lady named Brooke who I found out later was a doctor told me to take another puff of the albuterol.  I was feeling dizzy, shaky, tingly fingers and toes but did not dare to sit down for fear of cramping up.  Finally got my breathing under control and went to get something to eat.  The buffalo stew was YUMMY!!!!  It was GREAT to see ScottW and jun whose mother was running the 25K.  Got to congratulate Fritz!  I think it was Jim Kern who handed me my finisher mug (with a carton of chocolate milk in it).  I had hoped to see Huans32 or Maynard...but no such luck! :(

It was a hard but great workout!  I had fun.  The scenery is SPECTACULAR!!!  I couldn't have done it without Karen and Rachel.  I would run this again hopefully on a day with no asthma/breathing issue. 

Now 4 hrs after the race, I am feeling spent, my ribs hurt from the labored breathing and coughing.  I cannot sleep as my heart rate is still up.  Feeling some dizziness...not sure what it is from.  My left ITB is bugging...need to stretch.  My feet are just a little sore.  So glad tomorrow is Sabbath and I can REST!  :) 

THANKS again Rachel and Karen and Kelli!