kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2012 Part 2 - CLOSED (Page 184)

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Good luck Karen!

I got my waterproof ipod shuffle and it is loaded up and ready for a swim tonight!!!  Yippie ... maybe it will make my first swim in over a month a little less miserable.

So I gave my hardware to Reagan.  She tried so hard and they gave the kids adult small shirts and didn't have finishers' medals for all the kids, etc.  She was pretty heartbroken, especially since she thought she came in last. 

Things I learned today.  High school track kids are insanely fast and smaller races have no water stations.  Not that it was needed but I think I'll take a flask with me next time.  About mile 2.25 I reallly wanted some water.

Here is a humerous convo between Abby and Cindy that gives you some insight into how my daughter rolls: 

 - Are you going to cheer for Reagan today? 
A - no, only Daddy
- why?
A - Reagan is slow and will lose. 

I finished! Hurt quite a bit, especially my ankles and feet. I think I under estimated the agility required to run trails full of roots & big holes. But I stayed vertical! =)

I finished! Hurt quite a bit, especially my ankles and feet. I think I under estimated the agility required to run trails full of roots & big holes. But I stayed vertical! =)

Congratulations, Karen!!  

Now for the questions.......Was it fun?  Would you do this distance again?  What did you learn from this race?  Best part of the race?

Let's see - it was fun in a sick kind of twisted way.

Would I do it again - if you asked me yesterday after the race I would have said (and did say to my husband) NO!!! But after a hot shower, some food, and a few beers (yes, there were several beers throughout the evening last night) I decided I would do another.

I learned that I really need to train on trails before running 31 miles of trails! My ankles and feet were killing me. My shins and quads were not happy either, but it was really my feet and ankles that were the worst. It must have been from the rough terrain vs. road or boardwalk I usually run on. Today I feel like I have tendonitis on the inside of my ankles. They are swollen and hurt.

But I also learned that it's possible to overcome a sloshy stomach. I'm not sure how, but I went from feeling sick to my stomach to hungry and thirsty at some point during the last half. Once I started eating and drinking again I felt better and could run more.

Best part of race - towards the last 6-7 miles when I was feeling a little better I started to pass people (with my run/walk -ha!) and that totally motivated me to keep going. Also, rounding that last corner and seeing the people at the end excited that someone else was finishing (this was a small race, only 73 people did the full 50k) and they all cheered for me. Tom was there with his hands raised in the air, and my friend who had finished well before me along with her husband were all cheering. It was an incredible moment.

I wrote a lot on my blog if anyone wants to read about it. As much as it hurt, and as much pain as I was in for the moments following the finish (stopping hurt more), it was an awesome experience.

ETA - I also learned that I could totally hang out with ultra runners. They are so laid back, pace is not something they worry or even talk about. I like the no pressure attitude. And they will eat anything!

Let's see - it was fun in a sick kind of twisted way.

Would I do it again - if you asked me yesterday after the race I would have said (and did say to my husband) NO!!! But after a hot shower, some food, and a few beers (yes, there were several beers throughout the evening last night) I decided I would do another.

I learned that I really need to train on trails before running 31 miles of trails! My ankles and feet were killing me. My shins and quads were not happy either, but it was really my feet and ankles that were the worst. It must have been from the rough terrain vs. road or boardwalk I usually run on. Today I feel like I have tendonitis on the inside of my ankles. They are swollen and hurt.

But I also learned that it's possible to overcome a sloshy stomach. I'm not sure how, but I went from feeling sick to my stomach to hungry and thirsty at some point during the last half. Once I started eating and drinking again I felt better and could run more.

Best part of race - towards the last 6-7 miles when I was feeling a little better I started to pass people (with my run/walk -ha!) and that totally motivated me to keep going. Also, rounding that last corner and seeing the people at the end excited that someone else was finishing (this was a small race, only 73 people did the full 50k) and they all cheered for me. Tom was there with his hands raised in the air, and my friend who had finished well before me along with her husband were all cheering. It was an incredible moment.

I wrote a lot on my blog if anyone wants to read about it. As much as it hurt, and as much pain as I was in for the moments following the finish (stopping hurt more), it was an awesome experience.

ETA - I also learned that I could totally hang out with ultra runners. They are so laid back, pace is not something they worry or even talk about. I like the no pressure attitude. And they will eat anything!