Land Between the Lakes 60K - 3/14/09

Steve, Race Director

Terri (SC)

Norman (IL)

Tiger

Jim (CA) and Frank (MN)

The LBL 60K is one of my favorite races. I missed it last year, after a freak snow storm in the middle of March prevented me from making the 2 hour drive to Grand Rivers, KY. Steve, the race director, is one of the nicest (and fastest) guys you will ever meet. Since a lot of his runners could not make it to the race last year, he offered to either send them their goody bags or allow them to register for the 2009 race with a 50% discount on the entry fee. I took the 50% discount and crossed my fingers for no snow storm this year. Well . . . there wasn't any snow, but the heavy rain the morning of the race was the issue. Granted, by the time we started, the rain had slacked off and the temperature was pretty comfortable, but the mud was unbelievable!

My friend Terri (SC), who is also a race director for a great 4 race series of ultramarathons in SC, drove to my house on Friday. We awoke early Saturday morning to drive up to KY for the race. It rained the whole time, and all we could think about was that the trail was going to be messy. This trail is very runnable, a few ups and downs to keep it interesting, very few rocks or roots, and no stream crossings, even with the heavy rain. When dry, the trail is so soft it's like running on cotton. So you know if it rains, it just turns into glue, sucking the shoes right off your feet.

A whole slew of my running buddies were there: Frank (MN), Bonnie (MN), Larry (TX), Gene (IL), Norman and Joyce (IL), Meg (KY), Danny (KY), Jim (CA), Houston (TN), Diane (TN), and Kevin (TN). There are four distances to choose from: 23K, marathon, 60K, and 50 Mile, corresponding to 1, 2, 3 or 4 loops of the 11 mile course. Everybody does the 2 mile out-n-back on the highway at the beginning and end of their chosen race. There were about 367 runners over the 4 distances. All those feet, running those multi-loops, in all of that mud . . . sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

And I loved every minute of it! It was one of my better races for the year so far. I felt great all day. The rain did not bother me, and the mud only gave me more opportunities for walk breaks. Even on such a gloomy day, the views of Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake were still amazing. I felt like a kid, just as happy as could be, slipping and sliding (not falling . . . wahoo!), playing in the mud, like a pig wallowing in the mud sty. It could not have been a better day.

On the first loop, I mainly ran with Danny and Frank. By the 2nd loop, Frank was feeling good, so he went on ahead, and Danny was enjoying the trail a little more than I was, so he dropped back. But I was never lonely. There were mountain bikers out on the course, and they were very courteous, pulling off to the side and allowing us to pass on the trail. The volunteers were wonderful, and the food . . . ahh . . . trail mix, brownies, bean and cheese wraps. Delicious!

My third loop was humbling as the 50 Milers passed by, finishing their 4th loop. It was amazing that they were a good 11 miles ahead of me. I was happy for them, but I secretly wished that I was fast enough to make the 11 hour cut-off to run this beautiful loop a 4th time.

I checked the results, and all of my running buddies finished their chosen distance. Congratulations, my friends! I finished in 10:38:45, not bad for 37 miles on a muddy course. I'm happy with it. In 2006, I ran 9:32:31 at this race, but I can't even compare the two times. Steve gives out beautiful buckles to the 60K'ers and 50 Milers. I now have a matching set! The red technical tank top, tan and white hat, and red drop bag are very nice additions. I need to put this race on my schedule every year. Maybe one day I'll be fast enough to run the 50 Miler here, lol!

Lower Potomac River Marathon - 3/8/09

It seems like a lifetime ago, but I ran this marathon in 2005, its inaugural year. That year, I was the 10th female out of 23 female finishers, with a finish time of 4:30:27. This year, my finish time was 5:42:46, placing me at 158 out of 159 total finishers. I finished just minutes before the official cut-off of 5:45. I was stressed the entire race! I still have my RR100 DNF looming over my head, and I couldn't stomach another DNF so soon. I pushed and pushed and pushed some more, coming close to tears during some portions of the race, constantly looking at my watch, re-evaluating, and trying to make the math work out in my favor. This was definitely not fun.

I saw my running buddies Larry (TX), Lauri (PA), and Tammy (VA). Even though Larry and Lauri had run the Greenway Trail Marathon in Damascus, MD the day before, I couldn't keep up with either one of them. Larry was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2008 for completing the most (105) marathons/ultramarathons in one year. If you're counting, you'll notice that he had to run some triples on a few weekends to accomplish that many in a year. He's a remarkable man and is as humble as they come. Lauri is a tough cookie as well. She completed 65 marathons/ultramarathons last year. She was in a car accident on Friday, wrenching her back, and had been on bed rest all week for a kidney infection, but she completed a double this weekend. Amazing woman! Tammy set a new PR last month at the Rocky Raccoon 50 Mile. Although we started out running together (see photo above), she soon pulled away, posting a sub-5 hour finish.

Piney Point, MD is about a 2 hour drive from Baltimore. There's not much main highway between the two cities, so driving there from the airport took longer than it should have. This weekend, the clocks went back an hour for Daylight Savings Time, and being on the east coast, I lost an additional hour. Come morning, I was a little out of it, to say the least, lol.

Piney Point is a quaint, little town. The course is relatively flat. We did 3 different out-n-backs, 2 of which were pretty scenic. The last and longest out-n-back is along the local highway, which is not scenic at all. After my brief running stint with Tammy, I was pretty much alone for the remainder of the race. When I got to the last out-n-back, I suddenly saw a lady walking just ahead of me. I let her be my target and finally caught her. She was walking, but I knew that walk. I call it "dead (wo)man walking." She said her legs were bothering her and that she was dropping from the race. She was hoping that her husband would be at the next aid station to take her back to the start/finish. I felt bad for her and invited her to run with me, since I wasn't moving all that fast either. I would have enjoyed her company, but she told me to go on. She would not make it. I reluctantly left. I've had days like that. She had made up her mind, and there was no amount of coaxing on that day that would have changed it.

Maybe a mile or two from the turn around, I saw two ladies on the the other side of the highway. They looked like they were moving well, but at the next aid station I found out that they had also dropped from the race once they made it to the turn around. I was now in last place. I heard the "sag wagon" behind me before I saw the big, black truck of death. The driver asked if I was okay. "Oh, yes," I responded. "I'm just slow."

"Do you want to get into the truck?" he asked. Is he pulling me from the race? Impossible! Oh, no . . . I can't be pulled from the race. I try not to argue with the volunteers, because I know that they are only doing their jobs and looking out for us on the course. But I was determined not to be pulled from this race!

"Am I over cut-off?" He told me that I was way over cut-off for the last aid station that I had passed. I looked at my watch, doing the math, and then looked at him. I never stopped power-walking. I didn't want to give him any reason to force me into the truck. Think, girl, think!

"I have one hour and 20 minutes to finish the last 6 miles. If you let me go, I really think I can make it. Will that be okay?"

He looked at me, hesitating, it seemed, for far too long, and then he asked again, "Are you sure you're okay?" I assured him that I was. He then told me to enjoy the rest of my run. He was going to allow me to keep going! But he was also going to follow me into the finish . . . ugh! This is so nerve wracking! I was now motivated to actually run!

I ran hard, and by this time, it was freaking HOT! I was drinking a couple of cups of water at each aid station and sucking down Honey Stinger Gel and M&Ms every chance I got. I gave up on the Ultima Electrolyte Replacement Drink early in the race. I really do hate the taste of Ultima, and after a while, it just upsets my tummy. I prefer Gatorade or Powerade, but in absence of that, water and as much sugary foods as I could get would have to do.

I kept running and taking a couple of walking breaks here and there, but I was determined now to make the finish line cut-off. Lo and behold, I was actually catching up to another lady. She was doing the infamous walk that I talked about earlier. As I passed, neither one of us said a word, but inside, I wanted her to keep going. Neither one of us could afford to expend the energy, telling each other "you're looking good" when we both looked like a disaster waiting to happen, lol. Once I passed her, of course, I was no longer in last place, and best of all, the sag wagon was off my A$$!

About a half mile down the road, something did not feel right. I try not to look behind me in races, but I had to make sure that the lady that I had passed was still behind me. She was crossing the street, headed for the truck.

"Oh, no . . . don't get in the truck! Please . . . don't get in the truck!" Did I just say that out loud? It definitely sounded like my voice. I was losing it! Did she hear me? No, she could not have heard me, because she was now in the truck. Tears were building up in my eyes. I was again in last place, and I was afraid that the sag wagon would sweep me from the course. How many miles were left? How much time did I have?

The truck passed me, taking the lady that I had passed back to the start/finish. I ran some more. I could see a man in front of me, and I could see Lauri a good little ways in front of him. I couldn't catch Lauri, but I could catch the man if I put some fire under my feet. I finally caught up to him and asked if he could tell me how much time we had left. We were just passing Mile 22. I needed some assurance that we would make it. He confirmed that we had less than 55 minutes to run 4.2 miles. At this point, I really needed a whole hour, but I would just have to work with what I got. I told him we would make it, and I took off running. Push, girl, push!

When I saw the Mile 25 marker, I was spent. How much time did I have now? Dejected and panic-stricken, I saw Tammy approaching Lauri ahead of me. She had finished, was wearing her medal, and was coming back out onto the course to check up on us. She said something to Lauri, and then she came toward me. She walked and ran with me that last 1.2 miles. And she assured me, as I had tried to assure the guy directly behind me, "you're going to make it. The finish is just around the corner." Thank you, Tammy. That meant a lot to me.

I've decided that, until I can figure out how to get some "speed" back, I'm only doing marathons that have an early start or have at least a 6 hour cut-off. The Lower Potomac River Marathon is definitely off the list for now. This race was too stressful for me. It doesn't bother me to battle the course or my own insecurities, but it does bother me if I'm battling time.

Cowtown 50K - 2/28/09

The Cowtown in Fort Worth, TX was this year's annual reunion run for the National Black Marathoners' Association (NBMA). The Cowtown offers a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and 50K - essentially a run for everyone. Tony (TX) and Charlotte (GA), the founders and directors of the NBMA, choose races that offer multiple distances so that everyone in the club can run. It is not a requirement to actually run a marathon to be a member of the NBMA. Those who walk 5K's are welcome.

Even though I've been a member for years, I had missed every reunion run. I decided last year that no matter what I'd participate in the 2009 reunion run. The NBMA has previously gathered at the Cleveland Marathon, Lewis and Clark Marathon, New Jersey Marathon, and Lost Dutchman Marathon. Next year the reunion run will be held at the ING Atlanta Marathon.

When my plane landed at DFW, I picked up my rental car and headed to the Expo. I was going to meet my running buddy, Fred (OH), as he was allowing me to share his suite on Friday night before the race. Fred is such a sweetheart! He gave me the bed, and he slept on the couch. And Fred is tall, so he could not have been too comfortable! When I offered to give him something on the room, he refused. You can't ask for a better buddy than that.

When I arrived at the Expo to pick up my packet, I was told that, yes, I was registered, but no, there was not a packet available for me. With over 17,000 people registered for the various distances, this is bound to happen every now and then, I thought, so there was no need to panic. I was pointed to the "solutions" table to get the issue resolved. On my way there, I saw Fred. Bless his heart, unbeknownst to me, he had already picked up my packet, along with a few of his other running buddies' packets. He and his back pack were loaded up with race numbers, t-shirts, and goody bags. See, I told you he was a sweetheart!

We then proceeded to the NBMA booth to chat with other members. I am not an Expo person. Unless I specifically need something (shoes, new socks, new tights, etc), I do not spend time wandering around the Expo. You can spend so much money at the Expo, which is the whole purpose for the exhibitors. To avoid the temptation, I usually pick up my packet, go get dinner, and take it back to my hotel room. Once I eat, it's usually time for bed. Most of these races start at the crack of dawn, and a few of them will start in the dark, lol. And since I'm out there all day it seems, getting a good night's rest is essential. I also normally don't go to the pasta parties, if they're offered. If the price is not already included in the fee, the price is always more than what I'd normally spend on dinner. But the main reason I don't participate in the pasta parties is that I'm basically a shy person. One-on-one, I may talk your head off, but put me in a room with a bunch of people that I do not know, and I climb back into my shell. It's crazy, I know, but I've never claimed to be of sound or sane mind, lol. Fred, on the other hand, is very social. Since we were staying together, I was basically following his lead. So we go to NBMA booth.

It's been a long time since I've seen Tony. This year's Cowtown Marathon was his 100th marathon. Congratulations, Tony, on a job well done! He's completed the Cowtown Marathon 19 times, and I believe, the Cowtown Marathon was his first marathon. So, he's come full circle, so to speak. Tony is also the first black person to complete a marathon on all 7 continents, a very elite group, I might add. Another special thing about Tony is that he has basically cured himself of diabetes through his running. He's been featured in Runner's World magazine, owns his on CPA firm, written several books, and is a professional speaker. A truly remarkable man in my eyes!

Tony contacted me a few years ago after we ran the Eisenhower Marathon in Abilene, KS. We were the only 2 black people there if I remember correctly, and the internet makes it so easy to find anyone these days that, even though we didn't have the opportunity to talk during the marathon (we were on slightly different paces), he found me and told me about the NBMA. I've been a member ever since.

I also finally met Charlotte. My first thoughts - wow, she's tall and thin, a beautiful sister. We chatted for a while and I found out that she's a triathlete. Not being a swimmer, I admire anyone that can balance three sports and still have a life. I also met her husband, and I even ran a little with him during the race. He's tall and thin as well. They are a wonderful set of bookends, lol. Marvin (I hope I remembered his name correctly) admitted that Charlotte's the speedster in the family. She certainly sped by me during the race, lol, asking if I'd seen her husband. He was slightly ahead of me after he continued to run, while I took a walk break. I told her that he was ahead of us, but I'm sure she caught up to him in no time. I look forward to seeing them next year at the NBMA's reunion run in GA.

I had met Gillis (OH) at the Tupelo Marathon in MS a couple of years ago. Gillis is a speedster as well. We checked into our hotel in Tupelo at the same time, and I introduced myself. Tony had told me previously to look for him at the race. Even if we hadn't met at the hotel, the Tupelo Marathon is small enough that we would have eventually seen each other. It was good to see him again at Cowtown. He sped past me during the race on his way to a 4:08:46 marathon finish. Nice work, Gillis!

I had not seen Lillard (KS) for a while. We ran a lot of the same races when we were both pursuing the States. He told me that he broke his ankle(?) during the NYC Marathon(?) and had been out of commission until it healed. It was good to see him out on the roads again. We ran together a little at the start of the race, but I had to drop back before his pace killed me, lol. He went on to finish the marathon in 5:26:53. Way to go, my friend!

I met several other members, notably Gerald (TX) and Nancy (TX), whose also Fred's running buddy. All in all, hanging out at the NBMA booth was a good idea.

We then proceeded to the Jubilee Theatre, about a block from the Expo, for the NBMA's "meet-and-greet". There were probably about a 100 members seated in the theatre, an awesome sight for my sore eyes. I was so proud to sit with so many of my running sisters and brothers, all ready for the challenge of running their chosen distance.

Tony made his opening remarks, introduced the board members (Tony, Charlotte, Gillis, and Gerald), and told us that we had "celebrities" among us. First, he introduced us to another black male who had also completed a marathon on all 7 continents. It just so happens that he and Tony have the same birthday. How cool is that!

Next up was a guy I've seen before, but had never met, who runs with the Achilles Track Club. I had seen him with my running buddy, Cathy (NY), but what I did not know about Don (NY) was that he had run 35 marathons AFTER his heart transplant. Good grief! If anyone ever gives me a lame excuse about why they don't exercise, I will point them in the direction of Don. Don took an early start to complete the marathon. About 2 miles from the finish line, I passed him giving him some encouragement. He said he was ready for this to be over! The cold wind had taken a lot out of all of us, so I understood the feeling. Don finished the marathon in 7:52:19. Congratulations on a wonderful performance!

And then Tony started telling the story of the Eisenhower Marathon. My heart started beating really fast. Oh, no! He was going to introduce me. Where's my shell?! He tells them that I've completed 221 marathons/ultramarathons, that I've finished a marathon in every state, that I'm currently pursuing an ultramarathon in every state, and that I've done a few 100 mile races. He then asks me what's the most marathons/ultramarathons that I've completed in a year. I have to speak? In front of everybody? Can't we talk about this one-on-one, in private, lol? I tell him that the most I've completed in one year is 52. The guy next to me jokingly asks, "why?" A little laugh from me eased the pressure around my heart just a tad, but all I wanted to do was hide. I wanted to point to Fred sitting next to me and say: "no, look at Fred. He's a much more accomplished runner than I'll ever be. He's run 358 marathons/ultramarathons and the majority of his runs were ultras. He's done several 100 milers, 48-Hour and 72-Hour races, and even 6- and 10-Day races. So please, I don't deserve to be in the same category as the other 'celebrities'." But everyone was looking at me, smiling, clapping, and welcoming me into the circle. I was so freaked out, and so uncomfortable with the attention. I'm a nobody in this sport. I can list 10,000 reasons why I'm no one special. But yet, this love from my sisters and brothers was drawing me in. I wish I had done something spectacular to deserve it.

Finally, Tony moved on to Fred. Phew! Wipe off the brow; the heat is off, lol. After Tony told everyone of Fred's many accomplishments, the guy next to me told me to ask Fred the same question he had asked me earlier, "why?", lol.

Tony then moved on to several door prizes. I even lucked up and got one, a $130 gift certificate for Spira running shoes. The guy next to me said, "As much as you run, you need those." I laughed again and agreed with him.

Another winner of one of the door prizes was a guy who was pursuing the states but was doing it a little differently. He was taking his family with him (wife and 2 sons) to all of the states, and I believe the whole family was running some of the shorter distance races on his trips. That is so cool! This brother is a celebrity to me.

Next we gathered for the group photo above (last photo). What a beautiful bunch!

We mingled some more, and then it was over. Fred and I headed to his suite in Irving, about 30 minutes from Fort Worth. Thank you, Fred, for pulling me out of my comfort zone. I'm so happy to be a part of such a wonderful group of sisters and brothers.

The next morning, prior to the start of the race, we gathered at the Jubilee Theatre for another group photo (3rd photo above). We all ran in red tops and black bottoms with our "Free to Run" bibs attached to show our unity. Very cool!

It was windy . . . and cold at the start. I hung out in the theatre up until the last possible minute. I talked with Maurice (OK). He's a fascinating and fast brother. He talked about the Boston Marathon which, of course, I've never run because I'm not fast enough to qualify, lol. But it turns out that he ran the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile in February, and that it was his first 100 mile race. I must have been completely out of it at RR100 to miss another person of color, but I did. He also paced someone at the Mother Road 100 Mile last November, but since that's a point-to-point race and he was pacing someone a lot faster than I was running, I never saw him there either. I need to start paying more attention at my races. I can't be missing any brothers and sisters, lol.

The Cowtown is a nice race. There are some hills, but nothing impossible. I started out running with Lillard, and then I ran some with Marvin. A little while later, I hooked up with Karen (TX). Karen is another one of Fred's running buddies. I met her at the Burning River 100 Mile Race a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, we both DNF'd that year, but we've run some of the same races since then. Soon Laura (TX) joined us. Laura owns a business selling marathon charms and gifts. I've run with her in quite a few races as well. Tony also joined us, making it a foursome. Laura and Tony were running the marathon, and Karen and I were running the 50K. Both races follow the same route up until Mile 23, where the 50K'ers take a 4.8 mile out-n-back along the river, on a crushed gravel, dirt path, before rejoining the remainder of the marathon course. This 4.8 mile section was my favorite, even though I ran it alone. Tony and I parted company at Mile 23, after running and talking for several miles. He went on to finish in 5:34:05. His wife, Debra (TX), ran her first half-marathon at the Cowtown. They definitely had a lot to celebrate at the finish.

I saw Fred on the out-n-back. He was a good hour in front in me and looking strong. Fred finished the 50K in 5:42:47, winning his age group. Congratulations, my friend! Fred even had enough energy left over, and waited for me at the finish line. He gave me a hug, welcoming me back. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

I felt good all day, finishing in 6:41:57. This was one of my faster road 50K's within the last couple of years. I credit my finish to all of those good vibes from the NBMA. I hope all of the members enjoyed their Cowtown experience as much as I did.

Note: I'm still slowly learning how to format my Blogger posts, and adding photo captions is not one of my skills yet, lol. The first photo above, from left to right, is the brother who has also finished the 7 continents (sorry, I can not remember his name), Charlotte, Fred, Don, Me, Tony, and Gillis (kneeling). The second photo shows Fred and me actively recruiting, lol. Cowtown would be this sister's first half-marathon, and her two sons were running also. That's what I'm talking about - make it a family affair!

Black Warrior 50K - 2/21/09

It is so nice to run and not have a tight cut-off looming over my head. I finished my 4th Black Warrior 50K in 8:21:38 in Moulton, AL at the Bankhead National Forest. I felt great all day. I love it when that happens! I love this course, and more importantly, this course loves me, lol. As long as Keith, the race director, puts on this race, I'm there. It's my streak race. I'm 4 for 4, coming there every year that it's been held. My previous finish times at the BW50K are 8:10:34, 7:32:39, and 8:05:31, so I am very happy with my finish this year.

It was cold at the start, but quickly warmed up to comfortable. The stream crossings were low this year, just covering the shoes. The first year I did this race, the biggest stream crossing brought water up to my thighs, and it was a lot colder that year than the last two years or this year. The mud was still there on various portions of the trail, but it wasn't as bad this year either. The race is majority single track horse trails, so you're really not sure if you're stepping in mud or horse poop. Keith says in his race instructions that if you're not stepping in horse poop, you're probably off-course. I agree!

We start on a 3 mile mostly uphill gravel/dirt road, and then we're on trails for the next 25 miles, before returning to the mostly downhill gravel/dirt road. There's plenty of pine needles on the trail, a few roots, a few rocks, little ups and downs, but all very runnable. We pass a few water falls, which are very pretty and soothing. Another runner commented during the race that he didn't realize he'd be sightseeing during his run. It's just that beautiful! That same runner also helped to pull me out of the mud, when one foot got stuck. I'm struggling to pull my foot out without losing my shoe, and this kind runner stops to give me a hand. By the next stream crossing, however, my muddy shoes get a good washing, lol.

My favorite running couple, Walt and Kendel from GA, were there. We ran a lot of the course together. Andy from FL was also there. It turns out that he was also at the Pensacola Marathon last weekend, and we just missed each other. I saw Diann and Graham there who are also BW50K streakers. Graham told me that he was taking it easy today, not wanting to burn himself out for the Mt Cheaha 50K the following weekend. He and Diann still finished a long time before I did, lol. Mona ran the 25K race as a last training run for the Mt Cheaha 50K also. Mona was the trail sweep the first year that I ran this race. Since I was the last person that year, she ran and talked with me, helping me to finish. We've been buddies ever since.

There's a portion of the course that we run twice, and the faster runners will loop the back of the packers on this portion. Walt, Kendel, and I were still running together when a runner came along and told us that we had missed a turn about 1.5 miles back. I knew that couldn't be right. If we had turned off the trail, we would have had flags on our left. From the race instructions, the flags are always on the right, and where the course overlaps and there are flags on the left and right, we were instructed to always follow the flags on the right. So, I knew we had not missed a turn, but I doubted myself for several miles afterward. All I could think about was that I could have been mistaken, and I had led two other runners off-course. My fears turned out to be unwarranted. We were definitely right where we should have been. Whew!

There had been controlled burns in the forest recently. We even passed a tree that was still on fire! I'm sure controlled burns are necessary for the health of the forest, but it's so sad to see the forest floor black as tar, with very few trees remaining in the area. The smoke aggravated my breathing and made it difficult to run in some sections, but I made it through okay.

At the finish, I ate a veggie burger and two brownies. A perfect ending to a perfect day, lol.

Pensacola Marathon - 2/15/09

It's been a long time since I've been to a race and didn't see anyone that I knew. So there were long stretches of talking and listening to only the voices in my head, lol. I felt lost, like I wasn't meant to be there, lol.

My first running of the Pensacola Marathon was not that bad, however. My finishing time was typical - 5:41:11, and I was so elated to beat the 6 hour cut-off. But I don't think I would have made it, if it had not been for Walter.

For some strange reason, I thought that the entire race course would run along the bay, but the water was only visible along very short portions of Bayfront Parkway and Scenic Highway. Water is so calming to me, and it really would have lifted my spirits if I could have seen a little more of the Bay during the run. Other than the short sections of water and the downtown section towards the end of the loop, this course is not very scenic.

There were some neighborhood sections, but hardly any spectators, which was strange. Usually when a race runs through a neighborhood, at least a few of the residents come out and cheer us along. Other than the cops and volunteers manning the intersections and street crossings, the streets of Pensacola were pretty quiet. Granted, there was light rain for the majority of the race, but I would have thought that the relatively warm temperatures (60-70 degrees) would have brought out a few spectators. Oh, well . . . .

The course is a double loop, with a half-marathon taking off at the same time as the marathon. Because there are always more half-marathoners than marathoners in a multi-distance race, needless to say, the second loop was very lonely. I only talked briefly with one person during the first loop. I had seen him at the Tallahassee Marathon a few weeks ago, and that's basically how I started the conversation. Before long, however, we were leap-frogging each other, with him eventually getting and staying ahead of me for a long time. I used him as my rabbit, trying to run fast enough to keep him in sight as long as I could, lol. He had his 50 States and DC Marathon Group shirt on, so he was easy to spot. Some how within the last few miles of the race, I caught up and passed him, finishing a few minutes before he did. I never feel good when that happens and it's never intentional, but we all have to run our own race. My race is always against the course and the clock and not ever against another runner.

The second loop is where I met Walter. He had taken a half-hour early start. I remarked to him that I wasn't aware that the race had an early start, and he told me he had to request it. He said he was the only one who took the early start, however. Walter is from NY and also a fellow 50 Stater. He's getting very close to finishing and says he probably won't attempt a second go around. I'm not holding him to that statement, because I said the same thing when I finished the States in 2006, lol. I am now 6 states away from finishing my second go around, lol.

When I came upon Walter, I was dragging, looking at my watch every 5 minutes, trying to do math on the run, and worrying about the 6-hour cut-off. It didn't look like I would make it, but I had to put in enough effort to at least try. I couldn't take another DNF 2 weekends in a row. Walter seemed to be moving along well at a brisk, race-walking pace. I fell in line with him, and we started chatting. We must have talked and walked for a good 4 miles. Lo and behold, I was swinging my arms, thrusting my hips forward, head held high, laughing, talking, and enjoying Walter's company. I had been so lonely during the majority of the race, and Walter put some pep back into my step.

I felt like running, but I didn't want to leave my newly found running buddy. He commented a couple of times that I was helping him to push a little faster and he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to keep up with me. Wow! And here I was thinking the same thing about him! But at last, as it happens in races, it gets to a point when two runners have to part company. We said our good-byes and Walter asks me to turn around and smile so that he could take my picture. Goodness, I hope I didn't break this nice man's camera, lol.

So, I was wrong. I may have been lost, but Walter found me. And I was exactly where I was meant to be. Thanks, Walter, for making my Pensacola Marathon a memorable experience.

DNF at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Race - 2/7/09

I absolutely hate not finishing a race! I pulled myself from the RR100 at mile 72 at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Dam Road Aid Station. I had to "run" 8 miles in 2.5 hours to make the 6:00 a.m. cut-off to start the last 20 mile loop. Most people can walk 4 miles an hour. How easy it sounds now! But, at the time, I knew I couldn't do it . . . on trails, in the dark, tired, 72 miles on my feet, and getting slower. I was moving about 3 to 3.5 miles an hour. I kept checking my watch, trying to do math on the run. Maybe, I kept telling myself. Run a little more, walk a little less, but my running pace was as slow as my walking pace. Frustration and reality set in, and I started crying, using my outside voice. If anyone was near me in the woods, they would have thought I was in pain, that I had tripped and fallen on one of those darn roots, or was dying. It hurts my heart so much to give up, to quit. I've finished four 100 Mile races, 2 of them were at the RR100, so I know how to finish these races. But I couldn't make up time that I had been losing all day since the first 20 mile loop. I could not make myself go any faster than I was going. And I tried. I tried so, so very hard.

It's just a race. That's what a fellow runner told me afterwards. She had also DNF'd due to stomach problems from the heat. In my mind, she had a legitimate reason for not finishing. I, on the other hand, did not have a good reason for quitting. It was hot, reaching a high of 78, one of the volunteers said. Although I don't like extreme temperatures, I handled the heat pretty well. I had no stomach issues and no blister problems, the 2 most common reasons I heard from others who also did not finish. I ate and drank well, moving efficiently through the aid stations. I was just slow on the run, which has always been a problem for me. I need to lose weight. I need to do speed work and strength training. I need to run more trails during the week. I need to eat better. I need to get more sleep. I need to race less. I need to re-evaluate what I'm doing wrong and capitalize on the few things that I'm doing right. I need to stop crying, stop wallowing in my sadness, stop feeling sorry for myself. Only a fool continues to do the same things over and over and expects a different outcome (or something to that effect).

I have to disagree with my running buddy, however. For me, it's not just a race. It's part of my life. It's a challenge, an experience. I feel awesome when I overcome something that's difficult. It's like figuring out the solution to a problem, working a 1000 piece puzzle for countless hours, and ending up with a beautiful picture. If it was just a race, I would not care how I did. In fact, I probably wouldn't race. It's expensive, time-consuming, self-absorbed, and unpredictable. DNFs are expensive a$$ training runs! I could run day in and day out for free and never race, but that would be easy. My running is only important to me, totally selfish, and I realize that. It has no impact on the world. But without the racing aspect, socializing with other runners, running in beautiful places that I probably would otherwise never experience, and testing myself, my running would not hold the special place in my heart that it does.

Mentally, DNF's are difficult for me. I don't handle them well. I cry as if I've lost my best friend. I am upset, angry with myself. It screws up the little confidence that I do have. It takes away from one of the things in my life that I love. I have no husband, no kids of my own, and no pets or plants to take care of. I do have my family and friends that I'm grateful for. I have a job that allows me to attend my races, both financially and timewise. I have a decent home and a car that has way too many miles on it from travelling to races but still drives like new. My health is not the greatest, but I'm still blessed with more than I deserve. And believe me, I thank my higher power for allowing me to be able to do what I can do.

But I'm greedy. I want my running to go well all of the time. And that's a flaw in my character. Being a runner defines who I am and if it's not perfect in my eyes, then I feel inadequate, unworthy, less than human. I feel that there's no meaning to my life. It's aweful. Running . . . my love, my obsession, my addiction is about as bad as drugs, alcohol, and fine men. But if I give up what makes me feel good sometimes and bad at other times, then what do I do? What if running is taken away from me? Could I "live" without it? The thought makes me queasy to my stomach.

My momma, who is not a runner, sent an e-mail to me this morning, asking how my trip was this weekend. I e-mailed her back, telling her about my DNF. And do you know what she replied? "72 miles is a finisher to me. Go girl go!!! Love ya too!!" My momma, bless her heart, sees something that I'll probably never be able to see. Maybe she saw it as just a race, just as my running buddy did. Maybe she feels that nothing has changed. I'm still her daughter, and she still loves me. After such a disappointing weekend, my momma, in very simple terms, gave me something I needed and something to hold close to my heart. She didn't tell me to suck it up and stop whining. She didn't tell me that there will be other races. She didn't tell me how happy I should be to be able to run 72 miles. She just let me know that everything is okay. I love her for that.

Tallahassee Marathon - 2/1/09

What a difference a week makes! I had my fastest (although still slow) marathon in almost a year. I was smoking - 5:12:12, lol! At one point, I was thinking that I could even break 5 hours. Silly me!

I felt great all day. It could have been the very flat course, the wonderful weather, the pressure of a 6 hour cut-off, or just luck. Whatever it was, I'd like to bottle it up and save it for my next marathon.

This was my first time running the Tallahassee Marathon in sunny Florida. About 22 miles of the race is on a bike path. The local cyclists were very courteous and encouraging. It's an out-n-back course, starting and finishing on the campus of Florida State University, home of the Seminoles. The 2 miles to and from the bike path are not the most scenic areas of Tallahassee, but the bike path makes up for that.

I lived in Tallahassee for about 3 months in 1993 during a summer internship at Florida A&M University. Not having "free" access to a gym, I took up walking outside. And more walking. And even more walking. I would walk about 10 miles a day, every day. But since it was taking up so much time (time away from my research), I decided that I needed to throw in some "run" breaks to shorten my workout time. I slowly increased the running time but probably never ran more than 2 or 3 miles within each 10 mile session.

I had never been a runner. I tried out for the track team in Junior High School because one of my friends was trying out, and I was promptly cut on the first day. My friend, however, went on to make the team. And up until Tallahassee, some 10 plus years later, I had not run. But I have been running ever since that stay in Tallahassee. So I've come full circle, so to speak, running the Tallahassee Marathon.

There are pros and cons to running an out-n-back course. I love to see all of the elite runners coming toward me on their way to the finish. The guy that won was all alone. The second place guy was a good 10 minutes behind. I saw a couple of my running buddies ahead of me. Peter from NY was way out in front. Phil from AL and Andy from FL were also ahead and looking strong. Not only do you see who's in front, you get to see whose behind. Vicki Sue from FL was race walking at a blazing pace. I really do need to learn how to do that!

And the cons . . . you realize how many people are in front of you and how few people are behind, lol. It's a humbling thing, I tell you.

The finisher's medal is nice, but the pizza was all gone by the time I finished. Oh, well . . . I still have my 5:12:12!