Team Name: "Don't Punch My Car" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80entLldZOg)
Van 1:
Leg 6: 6.9 miles (58:48:00) - elevation change (-1119 ft)
Leg 18: 8.1 (1:23:00) - elevation change (604 ft)
Leg 30: 3.1 Miles (27:25) - elevation change (-63 ft) Wow...what an experience! We left American Fork about 6:30am to get to Logan. Our scheduled start was 11:00am. We had a couple pull out last minute, so we had 2 replacements. Jason (aka Rocket Man) ran in college, so he dramatically changed all of our exchange times. We had a lot of fun riding up to Logan! We got there in plenty of time, went through our safety seminar, shopped at the Ragnar tent and laughed at all the other team vans (a few favorites were Angry Birds, Jack Bauer for President, Bringing Sweaty Back, and Sofa King Tired). Then I got a phone call that my mom had been admitted to the hospital. Tim and I were trying to find a way to get back to American Fork to get a car (we didn't drive) and if we were even allowed to see her. We finally decided to run our first few legs (which would also bring us closer to home) and see what was going on (it ended up we weren't allowed to visit till Saturday evening, so it was a good distraction). It was fun cheering all the runners in and taking pictures. The Garmin didn't charge the night before (must have slipped off the cradle), so I was a bit distrubed that I wouldn't know how far I had gone. I started my first leg around 3:45pm. I was getting nervous as we drove up Avon Pass...the uneveness of the dirt road, all the dust, etc.... I got my slap bracelet and took off. That first mile was beast! I finished the Avon Pass incline....I really seemed to be effected by the elevation. I was huffing and puffing and it was hot! Once I hit the downhill, I realized how uneven the road was (and rocky). The downhill started to take a toll on my legs and I was really excited to see the "one mile to go". I got a Sombero hat and a free meal to Cafe Rio. But I had to carry the hat a good half mile :( Ben (runner #3) had an old co-worker that lived one street over, so we went to her house to take a shower and eat. Ohhhh....that felt good! I was starting get tired. I started my second leg around 11:45pm. I knew it was going to be a climb and was grateful it would be dark so I couldn't see it. It was cold out, so I wore a long sleeve jacket and compression socks. This was an emotional run for me. I was beyond tired (considering I usually go to bed around 10:00pm), it was COLD, it was my longest and hardest run. I didn't turn on my music which is really out of the ordinary for me. I'm not sure if my senses were off.....It was dark and I couldn't see well, so I was relying more on my hearing. But it was very comforting to hear my own breathing and the stream running along side the road. The van pulled up around mile 3 and gave me some water. It is so comforting to have them support you! I saw them again around mile 5. After that they stopped every mile to make sure I was ok. I was so grateful to see a familar face!
This is where it started to get hard for me. The wind was starting to pick up. The hills were getting bigger and longer. My legs were ON FIRE!!!! I passed a lady in a pink jacket. I told her to come run with run (thinking to myself I won't be able to do this alone). I have no idea who she was, but I was really grateful for her presence. This is where I really had to go past the physical pain and focus on the mental aspect of the run. I kept saying "one foot in front of the other".... "Just run to that tree"...."One more hill". I was so cold and so tired and so in pain. It was the hardest run I've ever done. I could see the lights to the exchange and just wanted to be finished. I took off and found my teammate. I told him, he was the most favorite person I had see all day. Then I found the pink jacket lady and told her thanks. It is amazing the kind of connection you can have with someone without even talking. It took me awhile to find Tim. I was really starting to shake because I was SO cold. We got a hotel room to shower and sleep for a few hours. Best money spent on the whole trip! We left the hotel at 4:30am and I felt like a zombie. My legs were so thrashed that I thought I wouldn't be able to walk much less run another 3.1 miles! I slept a bunch during the morning. I started my last leg around 9:45am. My legs felt like lead. I felt like I was going so fast, but when I came to the "One more mile" sign I looked at my watch and saw 19:18.....so so so slow!! I was so glad to be done! I was so physically and emotional exhausted. We took showers at the middle school. Hooray for showers! We got some real food and then took off to Park City. We had to wait an hour till our final runner came it. She was running WAY TO FAST that last 100 M. Her hubby called out to slow down.....none of us could keep up. So all in all......it was fun but I'm not sure if I want to do it again. My legs are throbbing today (Sunday) and I still feel out-of-whack. (I haven't even proof read this.....too tired)!
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