Ragnar DC 2016

I went into Ragnar thinking my experience would be a helpful aspect of the 2 day relay event. But it wasn't my experience that led the way; it was my propensity to live up to the reputation I've been trying to build.

I'm sure everyone who runs has this thought, at one point or another. I'm not a real runner. That begs the question then - what is a real runner? This is a thought I've struggled with since I was a teenager. I'm not fast. It's a hobby. It's how I lose/maintain weight. I've never been 'good'.

Well, that's not always true. When I was 14 I placed for my high school cross country team at regional then went on to the final race in Delaware. When I was 18 I got first place in my age group for my 2nd (post high school) 5k.  I placed again when I was 23, then at 24. In my late 20s I started placing in 10Ks. I've placed more times than I can remember now.

The point being, this idea of 'not being good' has remained been in my head. What would happen if I changed my thinking?

#RAGNARDC 2016

Let's first discuss the awkward moment you meet 3 strangers (and one acquaintance) for the van pick up. And they're all women. And it's you and your husband.*

* side note - this was MUCH more awkward last year. I was un-phased this time around, but just try to imagine this from your perspective. For all I care I could end up in a van with martians, leprechauns, elfs and/or god knows what else. If they ran their designated race legs (segments) I would be a happy camper.

Of course I knew within 10 hours these ladies would be my new bffs (or at least, we'd have to pretend so to get through the next 36-48 hours). It's all smiles, hugs, laughter... mostly because these women had never done a Ragnar. You go through every emotion a human being can possibly feel within 2 days during Ragnar.

So, Joel (my husband), Heather, Jen, Julie, and Larissa joined forces.

#Yabadabadoo Van 1. Within 10 minutes of exchanging hugs/names.

I had just left work and got my hair done in some awesome side french braids that met as a bow in the back. It lasted through the entire event :)

Unbeknownst (until the day prior) to my husband and I, Ramada decided they were overbooked and 'cancelled' our hotel reservation. So as we made the trek to Cumberland, MD, for race check in, with a van full of brand new friends, we were also scrambling to locate a vacant room. So I found good ole Charlie's Motel.

It was the only hotel with a vacancy within 30 minutes of the start. Maybe it was the country twang the hotel attendant had over the phone, or the fact he told me to meet him at the tavern to pick up my room key...but I knew this would be an interesting side story to the Ragnar adventure. Reviewers on Yelp also complained that 'Charlie didn't provide coffee in the rooms'. This was a HUGE problem for me, especially when we had to wake up around 3:30 AM on Friday. 

Thursday Night

Check in was a breeze. We arrived at Rocky Gap Casino (race start) close to 9 PM. We filled out waivers, checked in our safety gear (head lamps, reflective vests, etc.), and watched a brief safety video on how not to get disqualified/ pulled off the course (apparently I missed some of this info :) ). 

We all wanted to have dinner, a few beers, and get to know each other. However, the casino was not accommodating. After wasting an hour walking through each and every hallway and looking over menus with over priced entrees (and my husband wasted $40 on black jack) we gave up and decided on Chick Fila. Joel and I dropped the ladies off at Ramada Inn around 10:30. Pretty uneventful as pre race evenings go.

By now I was panicking about not have my morning brew. I had bought a small (4 cup) coffee maker just in case this situation occurred, but now I was in need of coffee and filters. So, at 10 PM, I was inside a Sheetz buying coffee, creamer, splenda, and creating make shift filters from large paper towels. I don't play around when it comes to pre race coffee.

About 20 minutes later we arrived at Charlies, the home of the Hurry Back Tavern...

I walked in to the bar and I was instantly teleport-ed to a 1970s' movie; the record stopped. Everyone turned around to gaze at these loathsome outsiders (me and Joel).  A few gentlemen stood up to offer me their seats at the completely packed bar. This was the locals hangout. And, with $1.50 beers on tap, it was understandable. The woman who operated the motel  also was the bar tender, cook, maid, and every other job title you could fit into a 2-person run motel. Charlie had already 'retired for the evening'.  She assigned me my room number while pouring Joel and I double miller lites. This place was alright in my book. 

The room wasn't much, but for $60 I didn't expect much. No bed bugs. But the crowd from the bar continued to rage on into the night. Loud pick up trucks were blaring music and I could hear shrill laughter from bar wenches well past 2 AM. When my alarm went off at 3:15 I was not prepared.

Friday Morning

Coffee was imperative. Coffee was also a disaster. I fumbled around in the dark while trying to fit over sized paper towels into a coffee pot the size a pickle jar. Whatever. I had my coffee, no mater how many coffee grinds were in my cup. I was running on less than 3.5 hours of sleep; that coffee was fucking awesome. 

We drove to Ramada, picked up the girls, and re-packed the van. This was it - no more beds, hot showers, or home cooked meals until Saturday night.

Since I had taken over the passenger seat (and Joel was the 'driver'), I was given the title of 'safety officer' (which is just as ridiculous as it sounds). I could 'issue safety infractions', but really who is that big of a dick ? Not me.

Julie was our first runner. With a start time of 5:45, she had to suit up in a reflective vest, head lamp, and blinking buttons. It was cold and dark, but that didn't stop any of the Ragnar competitors from having a good time.

*Side note - This was Julie's first real running event! She had walked a few 5Ks beforehand, but never anything like this! So hats off to her for taking on the challenge of a lifetime. 

Julie had a 5 mile run through the trails surrounding the lake at Rocky Gap. Beautiful course! She finished, but not without a brag-worthy injury. Those trails in the dark are dangerous!

Larissa on Leg 2

After Larissa left exchange 1, I had to start mentally preparing for my leg (run). Originally I was going to run leg 6, and Joel would do leg 3. But, after looking at the course descriptions, we swapped our first run. Leg 3 was deemed the most difficult run of Ragnar DC. With a nearly 1300 foot climb which covered the better part of 8 miles, Joel decided I was better equipped to handle the challenge. And I wasn't complaining. Leg 3 came with it's own finisher's medal; I love the bling. And it was good preparation for the #BRM.

Of course, while waiting for Larissa at exchange 2, I started to have those anticipatory butterflies that cause painful adrenaline to flood your veins. I started listening (blaring) to headphones to get mentally prepared. 

When I saw Larissa approaching, I took off like a thief in the night. Here I come mountain - fuck yeah!!!*

* Side note: When ever you cross the street to make an exchange, one of your team members must carry 2 huge orange flags, indicating to other racers, on coming cars, wild animals etc. that you are crossing a busy road. In my haste, I forgot this rule. As a racer, that is not good. As a safety officer, well, you should lose your position. Someone apparently yelled ' 22! 22!' to indicate team 22 (us) would receive a safety infraction. We never actually did receive the official warning, though. Thank God.

Safety violation in action (about to cross the road)

I ran hard. Let me tell you - I don't think I've ever gone out of the gate like I did for this run. My muscles clench up just remembering it. Less than a mile in the climb started on a long stretch of highway. I remember feeling on top of the world as I passed multiple people already walking. The top kept getting further away, but I was bound and determined to keep moving forward.

It was at this point other runners (not my team members) began to gawk and cheer at me. A van pulled up beside me, and after awhile I realized they were trying to talk to me from the window. 

" you're fucking awesome!!!"

"Number 22!!!"

I put my arms up and high fived a few girls with their windows down. This was beyond real, and it was the boost I needed to keep from walking.

People who were parked across the highway began to cheer me on too. I was a spectacle, passing literally over a dozen people. The course veered right, and once I got across the street I saw an even steeper climb. Around 3.5 miles in I began to walk. But power walk. I was STILL passing everyone in my path. I bent over and swung my arms like I had Parkinsons. 

Around mile 4, when the road narrowed, I felt a van behind me. Most vans would honk, or just pass, this one didn't. Ugh. My team found me during the most difficult part of the run.

I saw Joel and the girls and said hello, and they waited behind as I reached the top of the steepest hill. Then it was time to show off - I took off again down the mountain as they cheered and (I assume) took photos.

  

The remaining 4 miles were a mix of up and down hills that were designed to jostle a runner's innards; it was ROUGH. That being said, I kicked that mountain's ass, and I was only passed by one elite (male) runner during the entire leg.

 

There are no words to capture my pride over this. I forced my body to do an incredibly hard run, and I overcame myself. You never forget that emotional rush of astonishment and bliss. 

Things get a little blurry here. I met Jen at the exchange and she took off. We had to quickly get in the van so we could meet for Heather's exchange up ahead. I mastered the skill of changing my soaking wet clothes underneath a towel, and managed to get in a long sleeve shirt and sweats (heaven). 

After waiting for about 15 min, we saw Jen coming up to the exchange. Heather left the starting point, but it was unclear where the next exchange was. Her run was all on the trail, with no areas for vans or runners to gather; everyone had to keep moving. Because of the road conditions, the exchange was roughly a mile long. It was up to runner 6 (Joel) to decide where he wanted to begin his leg. His run could vary from 5.5 to almost 7 miles (or so we were told). Of course, Joel wanted to do closer to the 5 mile run.

 At this point I took over the driver position. A lack of trail markings left all of us in the dark as to where we would drop Joel off. The road was narrow, which complicated the exchange for all vans and race participants. After enduring evil glares from frustrated drivers and runners, I found (what appeared to be) a space on the side of trail/road where we could safely make the runner exchange. 

Heather approach the van

Joel began the run there. After we all collected ourselves, and the trail was clear, I began driving the van down to the next exchange. About  .75 of a mile or so down the road, we saw the official 'exchange 5 begins here' sign. Whoops.*

* Side note: Joel began his run around 1.5 miles before he had wanted to. Instead of running 5.5 - 6 miles, he ran 7.5 miles ( more than he had an over 2 years). Don't designate me as the driver. Heather, who was supposed to run just over 4 miles, ran just shy of 3. 

The next exchange, exchange 6, was a major mile stone for the event. This is where we met Van 2 of Yabadabadoo for the first time. This is where, once Joel finished, we would be 'off the road' for 6 legs, which allowed us to eat, rest, and shower if we wanted. This exchange was great because they were also handing out Dunkin Doughnuts green teas and iced coffees (heaven).

I finally met up with Kenny, Jeff, Lindsey, Jessica, and Karen. They were all refreshed, as they had the luxury of sleeping in well past 3:30 AM :) I exchanged more, albeit, sweaty hugs with my new best friends. 

I finally saw Joel approaching the exchange, where Karen would start the runs for Van 2.

I am so proud of him for running the extra distance!* It was time for Van 2 to get on the road, and time for Van 1 to get some grub.

*Side Note: If you look closely at his shorts, something may seem off....

Lunch

We pulled off the highway some 20 minutes up the road for lunch. It was a quaint MD town. The food was nothing to write about (at least I didn't think so), but the conversation was.

Thanks to Jen, I now know what a 'whores' bath' is. And since you only had to wash a few vital parts of the body, this was the plan for Ragnar, I suppose :-) 

As we were paying for our lunches up front, another group of Ragnar participants came in. They recognized me from running leg 3 ( they were one of the vans that had cheered me on).

One of the girls asked me if I was on an ultra team (an ultra consists of 6 total members, not 12, and only 1 van, not 2). When I told her I wasn't, she exclaimed " Well you could be! You run like you are!"

This brings me back to my initial thoughts...who could I be if I didn't define my limits? Maybe I could run 6 instead of only 3 legs. Hell,that's it, next year I'm running the damn ultra.

I smiled really hard when I received their praise; they were the most important compliments I'd received in a long time. If I had had more time, I would've mentioned my blog, or that I was a  Blue Ridge Marathon ambassador, but we were in a hurry. 

School

We drove the van to exchange 12, where we would wait for Van 2 to complete their 6 runs. Exchange 12 was held at a high school. Showers were $1, and spaghetti dinners were $6. I decided against both, and instead helped Joel set up our mini tent so I could get some rest. 

Surprisingly, I fell asleep within 30 minutes of lounging half in/ half out of the tent. We were on a grassy hillside in the parking lot. The temps were mild, in the low 70s, and the exhaustion of the day caught up with me. I slept for the better part of an hour, before waking up to my teammates packing their bags and coolers - van 2 would be at the exchange within the hour. 

 

Sights of Ragnar

Friday Night

We waited at the exchange for Jeff to make the hand off to Julie. Once again, we all were wearing reflective gear and lights ( as mandatory). Around 7:30 Julie began leg 13. Van 1 said farewell to Van 2, and we began our second round of runs that would last late into the night.

Ragnar at night is a different animal. I again relied heavily on caffeine to prepare me for the evening ahead.

Looking festive with a pumpkin latte

With each exchange I could feel my energy waning. Joel and I reverted back to our initial running placement, which meant I would be last for Van 1. They anticipated my start time somewhere after midnight. I continued to drink coffee and diet coke until I had pee at ever exchange. 

Runners all blurred together in lines of red blinking lights on the roads. I thought I was way too tired to be driving, let alone preparing to run. But I watched each of my teammates victoriously cross their finish lines, and I knew I'd have to maintain my stamina for my portion.

Joel getting ready for leg 15

I waited at exchange 17 for Heather to come through. It was slightly after midnight, and the temperature had dropped the mid 50s. I felt that panic again; the nervous ache of debilitating fear. I reminded myself that next year I was going to an ultra (laughable at that moment) and this was nothing in comparison. Then I saw the moon...

I suddenly felt a peace, and it wasn't so cold anymore. I reminded myself that I was a viking warrior who could handle anything this course threw my way, like the bad ass I was. And I did.

Leg 18 was only 3.5 miles. However, leg 18 was straight up, then straight down, a steep mountain. After midnight, this felt much higher than the run I completed that prior morning.  I had done leg 18 last year, so I knew what to expect. Last year I had walked the majority of it, barely completing the run without having a heart attack. 

This year, however, I was prepared. When Heather came through the exchange I again took off down the road like a track star. The first half of a mile was flat, then the climb began. I wasn't going to kid myself here; I was walking this bad boy. But I wasn't taking a leisurely stroll. Once again I took my crazy man hiking stance; bent over, arms flaring, legs marching. 

I saw more lights up ahead and I knew I closing in on other race participants. I was power walking the shit out of that hill. I passed 3 people within the first 10 minutes . The hill had no end (and in the dark this was literal; you couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of your shoes). My calves burned with battery acid, but I refused to slow down. Once I reached the top it was all downhill. A long, steep decline.  I let my body naturally glide down the hill. Running became effortless . As I continued to pass other runners, I wondered why they weren't doing the same. Going down hill is really a matter of trusting your body not to fall. Granted, in the dark that can be difficult. But I was so hungry and tired I didn't care. I just wanted to reach the bottom. 

 

As you can see, Ragnar on Ragnar, I made a vast improvement for this leg of the race!

At the bottom of the hill was the Creamery, or exchange 18. I came through the exchange around 12:40 AM to let Van 2 take back over. This is where I met Carrie, who joined our team last minute due to a drop out. She literally met 11 strangers in the middle of the night to complete 2/3 of a Ragnar. Rockstar status!!

We all got soggy fries and horrible sandwiches or fajitas at the exchange. Whatever, I was starving. 

Around 1:20 we hit the road in search of 'Adventure Park', or exchange 24, where we could crash for a few hours before sunrise. While Van 2 was on the road all for the next 5-6 hours, we all set up tents and air mattresses under the stars at the camp ground. 

Although, since this was a major exchange point, the non-soothing sounds of cheering teammates, accidental car alarms from people who had just driven their rented vans for the first time, and lively conversations made a sleep an improbable possibility. I still managed to get almost 3 hours of shut eye, though. Around 6:30 AM we all received a message that Jeff would coming through the exchange in just over an hour. 

Saturday

It's like waking up with the worst hang over, except you didn't drink. You didn't even eat very much. You slept on a hard ground in cold air for a few hours. It's the ' pre-sick' feeling. That's the Saturday morning of a Ragnar. The exchange had a 'coffee' station, but the coffee was out. The porta potties had a line around the parking lot. Fruit and nut bars were not going to cut it.

I was less cheerful meeting up with Van 2 around 7 AM than I had been the day before. They had just pulled an all nighter running, so I assume they understood. As soon and Jeff made it to the exchange and Julie began leg 25, my van was ready to go to McDonalds.

We stocked up on breakfast sandwiches and coffees. Most everyone had a shorter run this morning; 2 miles, 3 miles, almost 5. I had a 9 mile run downtown for leg 30 to finish the race for Van 1. I did this same run last year, so knew the challenge I faced. Mostly flat, but a few killer sized hills at the beginning and end of the course. Whatever, I was ready to get it over with.

I became envious as I watched each team member finish their last run - they were all done!!! Julie finished her run with tears in her eyes - her first Ragnar. Hell her first real racing event! I watched friends hug each other at final exchanges. Husbands and wives exchange kisses. It's all emotional, and it's all a part of what makes this such a powerful event. If you haven't done a Ragnar you need to sign up right now. 

Joel finished his last 3 miles, then Jen, then we waited for Heather. Exchange 29 was at another school parking lot. With only hours of sleep and little nutritional sustenance, I tried to use positive self talk to mentally prepare for my remaining miles. Heather called us. She had actually taken a wrong turn, and added about a mile to her run ( in all fairness, she deserved it for cutting her run short the day prior :) ).  

I was ready to be done. 9 miles and it was over. Heather came through the exchange and I was off. I tried to mentally pace myself, but it was impossible. Within .25 miles of the leg the rolling hills started. My legs were like springs from the previous runs so I climbed these neighborhood hills with ease. 

This was a pretty run; it crossed through several trails and by bodies of water. Around mile 3 I started pacing with a guy ahead of me. He and I passed each other multiple times over the next few miles. When I was behind him he would periodically check back to see where I was. Together we passed 20 or so runners; I made it a personal goal to stay with him. 

I also liked this run because they set out water stops approximately every 2-3 miles, which was a life saver considering the heat was rising and the sun was unrelenting. About 1.5 miles from my final exchange  I came to another daunting hill. This was in a residential area, and the hill went straight up. I caved, and began my power walk for one final time. It was here that the gentleman I had been pacing with decided to become a gazelle and leave me behind. I didn't see him again.

The 1 mile to go sign was at the top of the hill. The last mile went through the city; sidewalks, buses, and coffee shops illuminated my path to the finish. The run finished on a large decline, where I met Karen through the exchange.

And that was it. Van 1 was done!!!  For comparison purposes, here is my Ragnar year on year stats:

Once again, I vastly improved my overall pace on a challenging leg with minimal sleep. #Rockstarstatus

I was so proud of my team in these photos. We rocked the Ragnar this year! I would gladly run with any one of these ladies again.

Once we got in the car, I opened a (well deserved) beer, and we drove to the Lifetime Fitness to use the shower facilities and luxurious locker rooms.  Taking a shower was magical; I felt like I was in a hot springs bath, lit by rainbows, and fairies were handing me soap and shampoo. I took the longest shower of my life that afternoon.

After Party

After unpacking the van and reorganizing all of our race gear, the team piled in for a ride to the finish line in DC. Julie brought champagne, and we began the celebration in route to Gorden Birsch. 

Kenny, Lindsey, Jessica, Karen, and Cassie met us at the restaurant. Jeff was still running his last leg (11 miles) and he was going to text us when he was a mile from the finish. I looked over the menu and asked for ' the biggest beer' they had. I was not disappointed :-)

 

Finish Line

Ragnar also happened to be held during a binge-drinking event in downtown DC (not post Ragnar festivities). The number of drunk people was astonishing...and wildly entertaining.  One drunk girl insisted on hugging every member of our team ( she liked the orange tutus) and said she wanted to take us all home. We passed...but she probably would have done it. 

Jeff texted us when he was a mile out, and my team waited on the bridge for him to cross over. We were all going to run the last .10 miles together. We were surrounded by other teams also waiting for their final runner to come through. The event carried the sensation of ' we are all in this together'; we were all part of the unique Ragnar family. 

When Jeff came across the bridge we all took our positions. Running in flip flops was surprisingly difficult, especially when you already had sore ankles and feet, and you just drank the equivalent of 4 beers. But, as a team, we crossed the final finish line together. 

After our final photos, we enjoyed free post race pizza and had a couple more beers at the after party tent. It was great to finally sit down as an entire team and discuss our ambitions, past race accomplishments, and get to know more about each other then just our running pace/stride. 

I told all of my team members about this blog (and I know this is a very late post, but hey, I was on vacation from life) and they seemed interested in reading. I hope to stay in contact with everyone- I really hope we all do another Ragnar (and potentially sign up for that Ultra with some of them). 

That is the beauty of Ragnar - I now have a new set of friends after only 36-40 hours of suffering. 

Like I said, don't think about it. Just sign up. Ragnar is one of the best, most unique, running experiences you can be a part of.

And if you've made it this far....

BRMFRIENDS

Yup, that is my first discount code for the Blue Ridge Marathon - 15% off any of the races (full marathon, half, or the 10K).  I will be posting more information on social media in the upcoming months about this event - so please keep following.

Cheers everyone - Happy running!!

The Phoenix Must Burn to Emerge

A Week Off...

Or more. I just took a week off from my life. It was...OK. I'm not complaining; it was nice to veg out and mentally free myself from the burden of work, social formalities, and everyday constraints. But, I'm surprised  by how I counted the days until my return. I anxiously wanted to come back to my life...each day I felt more and more detached. It's an odd feeling to long for your life; it's when you know you truly love it.

Of course, even in my week off, I still found time to run. Running is my religion. It's difficult to explain. The closest I've ever felt to God is a clear blue sky and the quiet still earth being pounded by my running shoes. 

Ragnar

I want to write a post about the adventure known as Ragnar, but I'm still collecting my notes, thoughts, photos (and my teammates thought I was playing on my phone the entire time :-) ). I didn't merely survive - I excelled. Compared to the person I was who ran the course last year, I improved by 150%. 

I'm a highly motivated person; I would never have made it to where I am in life without a strong sense of discipline and a fire in my belly. But, I've run mostly for myself. When I perform poorly on a training run or even during a race, I've only had to answer to myself. Having  2 vans full of people, waiting on you to complete a 9 mile run, will give you an extra stride (or 3) in your step. You are not going to walk; you will ignore the nagging pain in your foot or the swooshing in your bladder when you need to pee. It's not about you. More so when you are the LAST runner in the van - the people in that van are waiting on you so they can eat, sleep, and get off the road. 

This year I felt a complete brain and body connection. I did whatever I told myself to. I ran a mile up the side of a mountain, maintaining a 7:41 per/mile pace. I can do anything. I've never felt stronger. It trickles into every area of my life - I can do anything I really want to. There will be no more thoughts surrounding my inadequacy. 

Shapes

A week off also meant a week off from social ideologies. Have you ever looked at your body for so long in the mirror it just became shapes...not something measured by society, or your own insecurities, or a number in height or weight or clothing sizes?   The infinite tool you can use however you want...the most important tool you'll ever possess. And we choose to continuously pick at our faults; to demean who we are. 

I have to start from the beginning to understand the end.

I wish I could talk to my 15 year old self. She so desperately wanted to be anyone other than who she was. She tried to emulate other girls (the wrong girls) to distance herself from who she was. She sought attention in the wrong ways...from the wrong boys... The insults people hurled at her about her weight, shape, looks, and general disposition were appalling. 

I grew up, and while the insults no longer  keep me awake at night, they've never completely dissipated from my memory. 

A girl's mistakes are different from those a woman. As a girl you navigate life by trial and error; as a woman your choices are dependent on your traits. I stand confidently in my mistakes. I still struggle to find courage, but I no longer cower to anyone, or beg for acceptance. While I can't rewrite my past, I'm constantly creating my future. I'm shaping my life each day into something I am proud of.  Every time I go for a run I am uncovering a buried piece of my soul- I am defining my inner strength. It has brought me to be who I am today. I've walked through hell and come back swinging. The phoenix must burn to emerge. 

Life is funny; the people who were once so impressionable to me have now faded to static; low background noise. They aren't worthy of a head nod in their direction, nor will they receive one. 

These are the thoughts that cradle my mind as I begin to drift away from my life. I'm proud of my strength. My tenacity. My drive to continue. I'm a viking; I'll go into battle without armor for the flush and blood of it... and I won't be stopped. I will use this tool, my body that I love, to continue fighting and growing every single day. Running has brought me closer to the person I have always been - to the person I'm supposed to be. Who else is lucky enough to have found something so powerful right at their feet? 

Ragnar post to follow...just a few thoughts I've needed to get out.

India

HERE WE GO!!! #RagnarDC

It's Finally Here!

About 9 months ago, I received a text that brings me to where I am today- " Hey do you wanna do Ragnar this fall?"

My reply: " Yes!"  Followed by " Who is this?"

I'm probably one of the only people who would agree to a 48 hour relay first, ask questions later :-)

But Ragnar pushes the boundaries of racing events, personal space, sleep deprivation, starvation, and mental tenacity. It's an experience that you carry for a lifetime. You meet all kinds of people - novice racers through dedicated athletes run to test their grit. 

Since this is the EXACT same course as last year, I have the advantage of experience. I know that I will be tired,cramped, hungry etc. I know where to plot our rest stops and meals, and I know how to pace so I will be alert for all three legs of my runs.  I'll be running close to 20 miles total; pacing is everything.

Knowing all this - I'm ready. I have felt incredibly strong lately ( which is great coming off of nearly going to the hospital last Saturday). I've been logging sub 8 minute miles this week, which I haven't done in a very long time. Hemlock was the ass-kicking I needed to step up my effort. 

I caught myself in the mirror last night at the gym. I was doing the elliptical(giving my legs a running break) and I was surprised by my reflection. Strong arms and shoulders, muscular thighs, a tight core. I look strong and healthy - which is the reflection of the hard work I have been putting in day in and day out. I'm allowed to stop criticizing every now and then, and just pause for a moment to feel proud.

 Hell yea, I'm ready to Ragnar - let's do this!!!!

#RagnarDC

#TeamYabadabadoo

Cheers and happy running! Advanced warning- I will be posting it all on social media :-)

India

Fall Down 7 Times - Get Up 8

Ahhh.. The Half Marathon

I believe in my last post I said something along the lines of ' the half marathon is my favorite distance. Not long enough to hit the wall...". I'm pretty funny some days.

Actually, I felt pretty freaking fantastic until around mile 8 of this race. Which makes sense, most of my training runs have been around 8 miles (your body does what you train it to do). If this had been a 10 mile race, I would be writing a pretty uneventful blog post. Yes, the terrain was rugged (hilly, steep, through rivers, rocks, roots, etc.), and yes it was hot (around 102* by noon). But, this was not a 10 mile race; it was a half marathon + some (13.5 to be exact) and around mile 10 all hell broke loose. 

The Positive

I could focus on my piss poor performance, or that I became ill, or the dozens of other factors that completely turned my day upside down (which I will explain). But I'd like to focus on my new friend, Chateau, for a minute. Not all angels wear wings; thank the lord for this woman. She saw me struggle, used reinforcing - positive words when shit got real, gave me the water off of her back (camelback) and even lent a soothing hand when I vomited all of it back up. She waited with me when the EMTs were checking my vitals, she continued to bring me water, food, Cokes, and she waited while my husband made the nearly an hour drive to race course to pick me up. I cannot express my gratitude here, (and I certainly didn't with my bitchy attitude while these events unfolded), but without her I don't know if I would've seen the finish line for this course. For that I am eternally thankful. 

Race Day

Pre-race day. So many factors almost prevented me from making this race. My friend who was going to do the 10K was unable to run, and my husband's daughter had a volleyball game scheduled for Saturday morning. This meat I was driving over 40 minutes away alone, to complete a highly difficult, technical course without any familiar support. I decided I would go anyway.

Race Morning. I woke up 30 min later than planned Saturday morning (alarm scheduled for 5:30, but I hit snooze and didn't wake up until 5:59). My husband threw his arm over me as I tried to get out of bed. He asked me to please stay, and proceeded to kiss my neck several times... Had I been getting up for work, or just a regular run, (or really, anything else other than a race I just dropped $80 for a week ago) I most likely would've stayed. But I got up anyway. 

Driving. Despite hastily brushing my teeth, pouring a cup of coffee, lacing my shoes, and packing my gym bag in record time, I knew I was running late. My GPS had an ETA of 7:41 AM (with an 8 AM race start). I was cutting this too close. Once I made a wrong turn down a winding road in Clifton, my GPS changed to a 7:58 arrival time. I knew I would likely miss the start. I could've turned around, or just gone to my friends house for a day of winery hopping a little early (as we planned later than afternoon). But I had just drove 40 minutes away for a race; I decided I'd go to the event anyway.

Parking. I drove down to the end of a no outlet, dead-end, narrow road at the bottom of a steep hill. It was 7:56 AM (I beat the clock!) when I saw race volunteers directing traffic. I explained I got lost ( a partial truth) and I was there for the half. The pointed to a narrow road on the left that looked like a long drive way. The volunteer said " you're gonna have to book it back here and down that road to get to check in and the race start, but you'll need to stay to the right because the race is starting in 3 minutes". Great. As i parked and began the .6 mile power walk to check in, I heard the race director  shouting the famous words - Ready, Set, Go (gun shot). I veered to the right as a large pack of half marathoners sped down the gravel road. All body types were present; the tall lean built men were leading the pack, followed by the women you'd see displayed on the covers of 'Runner's World' or "Muscle and Fitness Hers". The pack continued to thin out as the more novice runners finished off the back of the pack. Feeling emotionally defeated, I slowly walked the the check in table. I sadly described to the women at the table that I had gotten lost, but I was there for the half marathon. They explained that I was about 8 minutes behind already, and by the time I got out there it would be time for the 10K to start. Both women encouraged me to downgrade to the 10K and start at 8:20. I highly considered it. A 10K on rugged terrain is still bad ass, plus I haven't really trained for a half marathon distance (not the way I normally would). It was really hot at almost 90* already, who would it hurt? But, I knew I wouldn't be happy. In fact I'd be down right depressed/pissed all day. I told them I would start the half now. They both looked surprised. The woman picked up her walkie talkie and said " We have one more half marathoner, don't clear the course yet". They wished me luck and sent me on my way.

The Race

The EX2 staff were beyond accommodating. They kept the first 3 volunteers along the race route to ensure I made it through the first major obstacles- a rocky creek and rugged hill all within the first .75 miles. I was testing out a new hydration belt for this race. No matter how I adjusted it, it continued to bounce on my hips and belly. Less than a mile in I wanted to ditch the thing, but since I was alone I needed it for my car keys and phone, so I was stuck with the burden for a full 13 + miles. 

I felt amazing. Really. The course was so perfect; lush green bushes, trees, an awesome view of the river to my right. Blue and violet flowers illuminated the running trail. I kept repeating a mantra over and over " This is why you do this. This is what makes life worth living". I thought about how I almost didn't go, how I almost turned back when I knew I was late, and how I usually try to talk myself out of races when I have trouble waking up on the weekends. But then you start, and you remember why you do it. I love running, and I felt so alive.

I also thought that if I ever sign up for another trail run, maybe I would ' get lost' again. With trail runs, I always have overwhelming anxiety when I share narrow, difficult paths with other runners. Starting late gave me an advantage; I was hauling ass without anyone else in my way or trying to run me over. This was great! Maybe I'd start running trails for my training runs on the weekends. Around mile 4 I felt like I was flying; there was nothing I couldn't accomplish today.

Despite starting 18 minutes behind the racers, I quickly started passing people in the back of the pack. 1,2,3, 4&5, 6, 7, 8, etc. I stopped counting after I passed the 9th person. I practiced humility, and told everyone I ran into 'great job' or 'you've got this'. I also stopped at every aid station (there were 7 total, which is a lot considering the layout for this course) to chat with race volunteers and to refuel on Gatorade. 

When I got to mile 7, I started to feel hot. Not sweaty hot, but my head felt like my brain was burning. I can't really describe it too well - I knew I was over heating. My heart rate was erratic, not just fast from running, but up and down. I drank 3 cups of water at this next aid station, which in hindsight wasn't a great decision. With every stride I made I could hear water whooshing in my belly. 

The Turning Point

I came to a huge incline. I didn't bother to read the course map before the race (another mistake) so I had no idea what elevation levels I was facing. As I began hiking upwards, I saw a yellow sign that read " only 2 miles to go". I wasn't wearing a tracking device, and mile markers were sporadic, but I knew that couldn't be accurate. By my estimate I had around 5 to go. But hey, maybe I was wrong, maybe I got caught up in the race excitement and just cruised though the last 3 miles. This hill was a monster, covered in roots and rocks that would make even the most gifted runner stop in their tracks. I was using my hands to grab trees, roots - anything that would keep me from losing my balance and tumbling to a gory death on the rocks below.

Once I reached the top my soul was crushed. 2 signs read " 8.4 mile" and ''11.8 mile". This meant I was at 8.4 miles, and in order to finish this course I had to make this climb again in 3 miles. So, for the second time around, you would only have ' 2 miles to go'. I really lost my motivation. I wanted to be done. 

There was a small downhill that followed the mountain upwards. As I began to run again, I heard people behind me. I was being lapped by the elite runners at the front of the pack. They only had 2 miles (or 1.5 by now) to go. For their second time around these guys were flying. This was only slightly soul-crushing after realizing I had to do all of this for a second time.

The heat was becoming intolerable; by now it was after 10 AM and it was near 100*. I continued down the course until I came to another yellow sign that said ' 1 mile to go'. Right. So, slightly over 4 miles for me. I continued up and down the hills, where off in the distance I saw a sign that read ' FINISH' and an arrow pointing to the left. Next to it, another sign read 9.9. I really considered veering left. The volunteers wouldn't remember if this was the first or second time they saw me. I was struggling, it was hot; the thought of going another 3.5 miles was unrealistic. I approached the turn, ready to call it quits. But, I decided to proceed to the 9.9 mile route and finish the course, anyway.

And Then, it all Fell Apart

At this point, 2 of the people I had passed early on caught up to me. They BOTH went left to finish. I don't know why that upset me as much as it did; they have to live with that decision, not me. But I really got angry. I hope they told the timers they both cheated, or at least that they couldn't complete the full course. Maybe because I wanted to do what they did so badly, but I'd never let myself live it down.  

I became slightly delirious. My mouth was completely dry; both of the water bottles in my hydration belt had bounced out of their holders during the run. I missed the turn onto the path in the forest and ended up running down the gravel road looking for the course markings. 4-5 minutes later I realized I must've done something wrong and I turned back. This easily added a half mile to the run. I came back to the 9.9 mile marker and began asking people where I supposed to go. I considered just going to my car and calling it a day. This was going south fast. 

Someone directed me to the correct race route, which was clearly marked. This should've been an early warning sign I wasn't thinking clearly. As I followed the path, suddenly I wasn't alone anymore. A woman I had passed very early in the course appeared. I was still slightly confused, and I asked her if we were following the right path. Together we began walking, discussing the immense heat, and started navigating the markings on the course.

An Angel Among Us

Her name was Chateau. Chateau explained that she really wasn't out on the course to get a good time today, but she was practicing being on her feet for long periods of time. In fact, she had a half marathon tomorrow morning that she wanted to stay agile for. Her main goal was an upcoming 50 mile race. Yes, she's done Ragnar. Yes, she's completed multiple marathons. Ya, she just did a race last weekend and the one before that. Holy cow. Go figure. I just met a kindred spirit in a moment of despair.

She told me she remembered me from earlier, and she instinctively knew I must've started late by how fast I was tackling the course. Well, yea, a lot of good it did me now. Here we both were, walking at 10.5 miles in. It was right about this time I stepped on a HUGE black snake that slithered off the path. I screamed, she jumped, and for a moment I just stood there like a deer in headlights. "well, keep going" she blurted out. I was fading, fast. I told her I was so thirsty, and my head was hurting.  She offered me water from her camelback, which I refused. After all, once we got to the top of the huge climb there would be another water stop. 

Chateau did a great job of keeping my mind active. She told me stories about her past races; I learned about her boyfriend's ambitions, her boyfriend's kids, her diet, her family quarrels. I wondered if she thought I was a bitch or just uninterested, because I was not saying much. I was just trying to focus on staying upright and getting to more water. But really, it helped. Whenever we got to a flat patch of land she encouraged me to run. Unlike me, she had studied the course map, and she knew when we were going to approach hills. 

After an eternity of run/walking, we finally came to the mountain like, rugged climb, for the second time around. We saw a man stuck half way up the hill. He said he was done and was not going to complete the course. Chateau explained to him we were walking the remaining 2 miles if he wanted to join us. He declined and said he was having the medic truck pick him up. I secretly wanted to catch the truck with him. 

I continued to climb; that's when it hit me. Colors became lighter... I was losing my sight. I became so dizzy I had to sit down. I finally drank from Chateau's camelback and it was delicious. She asked me if my heart was racing, and it wasn't more than normal (or so I thought). I stood up, wavering back and forth, but continuing to climb, more slowly than before, and still grabbing branches and roots for support. Thankfully the water stop was still at the top of the climb. Mile 11.8. 1.5 to go.

I inhaled 4 cups of Gatorade. No matter how much I drank the thirst wouldn't stop. I took another cup as we continued walking down the trail. My stomach immediately started flipping, and I regretted drinking so much so fast. I looked at Chateau and told her I had to stop- I was going to be sick. Just then I turned to the right and began puking. Violently. I hadn't had breakfast. This was all of the water I had had all day, coming out in full force. I couldn't talk, stop, or even stand up. I apologized profusely. I was so embarrassed. The entire time I was ill Chateau  had her hand on my back, telling me 'it was OK.' 'Even elite athletes have a difficult time in high heat and humidity.' 'That this was just going to make Ragnar next week even easier.' How can someone you just met know exactly the right things to say? How can someone be so understanding? I urged her to go on without me, and she absolutely refused to hear it. " And what, let something happen to you? How would that be worth it? I'm not placing in this series."   So we walked on together, with me stopping every so often to bend at the waist. Why I'm not sure - to pray? Admire the ground?  Not die? I couldn't tell you. 

I'd be lying if I wrote about what happened between then and the finish line; I don't know. It's gone from my mind. I know about a quarter mile from the finish line I fell for the first time. I do remember losing my sight and hitting the ground. Chateau told me to wait while she got help, but I could see the finish banner. If I had to crawl I was getting across that line. She helped me up, and I power walked to the finish. Then I collapsed.

Waking Up

I guess at some point after I fell I called my husband and just puked while he was on the phone; I don't remember. The medics told me I was throwing up on the ground, so they moved me to the shade. I had a cold towel on my head, a cuff on my arm for blood pressure, someone pricking my finger for blood sugar levels, a thermometer in my ear,  several wires tapped to my chest, arms, and legs (and someone kept yelling "she's too sweaty for the wires to stay on"), and then someone prepping my arm for an IV.  I reached for a cup of water and downed it, which was a mistake. I immediately started throwing up again, and I nearly hit one of the medics trying to get a wire on my ankle. Once I realized they were getting a needle out I lost it. I started begging them not to put a needle in my arm. The medic said " you can have this or 2 needles at the hospital - your choice". I again refused and begged him not to put a needle in my arm. Once they saw I was coherent they listened to me, but I really had to convince them I was self-aware.

What's your name?

What's your address?

What day is it?

Do you know where you are?

Who is Tassha?

Huh?

You said Tassha was here.

Uh, well no. She's not. I was planning on meeting Tassha after the race. Did I call her name out in delirium? No clue. 

Dehydration is one serious mind fuck. What the hell happened to me? 

The medics insisted I go get checked out at the hospital. Apparently I was very pale, running a high temperature, and I was talking non-sense before being carried to the shade. But, now I was starting to feel normal. The entire time this exchange carried on Chateau was bringing me water, Gatorade, M&Ms, a breakfast burrito, trail mix, really anything that they were offering from the finisher's table. I couldn't even look at food, then she brought me a Coke. A regular Coke, not the diet crap I usually drink. I can't even remember the last time I had a regular Coke,but for some reason that was all I wanted at that moment. It was delicious! My God why did I ever give it up... And it was the first beverage my body didn't expel - must be a good sign. 

The medics made me sign a wavier indicating that I refused to go to the hospital. They said under no circumstances was I to drive home; one of the medics lived in Brambleton and offered to take me. Chateau, who lives in Crystal City (completely out of the way) offered multiple times to drive me home. I called my husband, who reluctantly agreed to come pick me up. He didn't understand the severity of my situation; this was no normal race fatigue. I didn't want to burden anyone anymore than I already had. The deputy told me my color was returning and I looked much better than I had. I was so embarrassed; what a scene I caused at this event. Joel did drive out to get me and Chateau waited with me the entire time until he arrived. 

Despite all of this, I still managed to not finish dead last. Not that that is the most important thing, but it lessened the blow to my ego slightly All in all I was out there for about 4 hours. Not sure how I finished before anyone, but people did come in after me. 12 people dropped from the course and did not finish (DNF). It took me over an hour to do the last 3 miles; I'm just glad I did them. The race director of EX2 Adventures, Jim Harmon, said he would be contacting me over the next few days to ensure I was doing alright. I could tell he was really concerned, which made this experience special to my heart. 

Humbled

The entire staff for EX2 was amazing; thank god for your volunteers and the amazing people who participate in your events. Without everyone's help, I don't know that I would've made it across that finish line yesterday. I don't even know if I'd be home, instead of laid up in a hospital. Yes it was hot, yes it was the most difficult trail run course I've ever seen, and yes I gave a horrible race performance. But I don't feel like I failed. If racing is only about your final time on the clock, then you are missing the point. I run for the medals, for placing, for weight loss, etc. I run for all of those reasons - but if they were the only reasons I ran it wouldn't be enough to keep me motivated race after race, year after year. I run to fail, to fall, to find myself, to make new friends, to get better, to get stronger, get more courageous, and become more humble.  These are the things, my friends, people often forget to express. But they are, by a long shot, the most important aspects of this lifestyle. 

Cheers, happy running, and stay healthy, happy, and hungry for all life throws your way!

India

Don't Wish for it - Work for it

Cheers!

On Friday September 2nd, I received the following email:

Hello Ambassadors!

If you are reading this email then it means you have officially been selected to join the elite crew of 2017 Blue Ridge Marathon ambassadors!  We had an overwhelming number of applications this year and it was SOOOO hard to decide, but after careful consideration and time spent snooping around on your blogs and social media accounts we felt like this crew was the crème de la crème.

In the coming weeks we will be sending out your full Blue Ridge Marathon ambassador package which will include the following:

·         One unique code for a free entry in the race of your choice

·         Images for your use on social media or blogs

·         Discount codes to share with followers

·         Marathon logos for your use

·         Official Ambassador Digital Badge

·         2017 Official Instructions (Including talking points you can use for fun facts about the race, expectations, info on how to request swag and entries to giveaway online, and more)

This will arrive via email within the next 14 days.  If you have any questions in the meantime please feel free to reach out to me personally.  I will be your contact moving forward (although I will be on maternity leave for about 6 weeks starting in mid-September).

Welcome to the team and have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Julia

!!!!&*&^($#@!#$%^

So, I'm officially a Blue Ridge Marathon Ambassador. What does this mean? A lot more blogging for one. More dedication to training routines, two. And several chances for my followers to win race entries, gear giveaways, and much more. If you enjoy reading my blog please share and spread the word!

Blue Ridge Marathon Finish - 2014

Hard Work Pays Off

I am so very excited and blessed to have this opportunity. I never imagined I'd be selected - I'm beyond honored to be an ambassador for this event. It is, without a doubt, the most challenging and rewarding course I've ever completed (twice!). I can't wait to go back to Roanoke in April for a third time. 

Cheers again everyone - and keep pursuing your dreams <3

India