Friday, November 26, 2010

Glenn Thrift Challenge - 23mi trail run/hike




Woke up at 3:50am and thought "what in the world am I doing." The night before, when I got home from work at oh, about midnight I finished getting together the last minute necessities. So, thankfully I was all packed and ready to go. The event didn't actually start till6am, but we had to drive to the finish and drop a car off first. We left the house at about 4:30 and headed towards the mountains.

I had never done this event before, and was getting excited. I kept thinking, "boy, if I survive, I'm going to have some awesome bragging rights!" Well, it was about 6:15
and we were off. Turns out we all walk up the gravel trail together (so we don't get lost) for about 45-50ish minutes until sun rises and we get to the trail head. And then, ... let the fun begin!

We crossed several creeks in the first few miles. There were rocks to cross over at first, then I fell in. Yeah, I was like "watch, this is how it's done" and then .. BOOM, I went in! Since I was already wet I ended up giving Nicole a piggy back over one of them (& earning a latte!) and then I said no more!

There were some beautiful views, some awesome wipe-outs, lots of rolled ankles, several series of
steps that seemed to go straight up for-ev-er!! & then some really nice run-able (i think I just made a word) passes.

I guess I didn't eat a correct breakfast b/c about 2.5 hrs into it I bonked & almost passed out. That wasn't good. Thankfully I had a PowerBar and that definitely helped revive me.

We finished in about 5hr 45min ... and that's with our 15min lunch break, picture breaks and of course our time spent at every creek trying to find a rocky passage way.

Thank you Nicole for dragging me out there! It was a great day full of laughter ... and maybe just a little complaining on my part. =)

First Time for Everything!


#1. My biggest fear came true ... I was supposed to be at the Parris Mountain Trail Run Race at 7:15. That meant wake up at 6am to get ready and travel the 30min to the start. I woke up and ... OH NO! It's 9:45. I slept through, what was supposed to be, my first trail run race.

This is why I love traveling to races with friends. It gives me a safety net b/c I'm horrible at waking up on my own ... just ask my morning classmates at school ... i'm always late. =(

#2. Camp Croft Half-Marathon Trail Run (11-13-10)
This was great! It was an automatic PR b/c I had never done a just a half marathon (it's always been at the end of a 70.3) & I had never done a trail run.

Everyone needs to do a trail run at least once to see how much different it is from road running. Falling & rolling of the ankles was inevitable. I crossed the finish line with a bloody knee. It seemed like everyone ended w/ at least dirt if not blood on them.

I started out feeling pretty well, and then I quickly faded to shear exhaustion. I had no life/energy going up the climbs. At about mile 3 I lost the group i was running with. Just could keep up w/ them on the climbs. I ended up running by myself for a good bit of the middle part. This is where it was hard to keep going at a faster pace than just to getter done. But I tried. I kept having flash backs to Macon 70.3, where I stood in T2 & cried b/c I was so physically & mentally done. I just kept telling myself it was a race, it's supposed to hurt.

At mile 9, I started running with a girl. All I know her as was the brunet girl w/ a maroon long sleeve shirt on. We kept switching the lead and pushed each other. Running with her really helped me. She was my carrot, & I'm not sure if I would have finished if it wasn't for her. I ended with not the greatest time, but I finished and was soo happy for that!

All in all ... lots of woods, roots and dirt & a great day with friends.