It was a cold morning and early start - 7:30. I would like to say that everything went off without a hitch....but that wouldn't be the truth. As I drove into the park, I realized I had forgotten my hand-held water bottle. Thankfully, I had thrown another water bottle in the car and wouldn't be stuck without one - but it wasn't my hand-held. This of course threw my mental game off. I was caught unprepared.
Off to the start line, listen to the safety briefing, pick up race bibs, porta potty stop; we are ready! OH NO! Laura forgot to put on her Garmin. We race back to the car to begin the search. I see things being tossed around in the car, then Laura standing up saying, "It's in my purse on your counter at home! Grrr!" We would have to use a regular watch to clock our time. Hmmm, strike 2.
I know, you non-runners are thinking - all this over having to use a "regular" water bottle and "regular" watch? Yup, we are now going into this race mentally wonky. We have been thrown off from whatever ritual we have in place on race day. We collected ourselves and started the race. Just seconds after crossing the start line, I dropped the car key in the mud. Strike 3....not even a tenth of a mile in. Had we ever run a race before this one??
OK! It was out of our systems and we were sure to have a great race. Bonus side to all of this we didn't start straight up hill! That came a half mile later. Laura and I made our way up a few hills before we rounded a corner and met LORD HILL. These pictures will do no justice to how steep this hill really is. Laura and I had to climb this hill twice!!
After we got over Lord Hill, there was a stretch of flat before we hit the second hill. Laura and I named it baby Lord Hill. It was tough, but not as vertical. We then had the challenge of navigating the backside of the hill. Mud + Downhill = Slipping and Sliding. It was just as much work making our way down. Taking a left into the forest presented dryer trail and some gravel. About 5 miles out was the turn around point and aid station. We topped off our water bottles and had a snack. (Yeah for volunteers!!)
Next, it was time to hit the West Loop. Laura and I had run this portion of the course two weeks ago. We were already dreading it. But to our surprise, it was even harder this time. I cannot tell you how much muck, mud and flowing water was on the trail. It was not only physically challenging, but mentally as well. Constant eyes on the trail and planning the next step. But through all of this, Laura and I had high spirits. We had some good laughs and fun conversation. Yup, we were those runners. Talking and having a good time.....Damn us!
We traversed the next two miles through more mud, up another hill, splashing in more puddles and streams and up one more hill. Hallalujuah, it was a mile down hill to the start/finish line. Laura and I made it 10 miles!! We did this entire route a second time to complete the 20 miles.
All in all, Laura and I couldn't have asked for a better run. We finished in 4:09 - and that included aid stations breaks and a porta potty visit. Placing in 7th & 8th out of 25 women that ran the 20 miles - impressive if I do say so myself!
This picture is our second time up this hill - we owned it!
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