Running for the hat of it...

I've been chasing this race for four long years.  Yes, the first (and only other) time I ran this race was back in 2009.  I'm reminded of the post I wrote at the beginning of that year, excited to try a new adventure and vowing it would be a one shot deal.  Ha! 

That first adventure didn't end well for me.  The HAT course has a lot of tough hills (at least in my mind) and I left the course after 18 miles in a lot of pain (hamstrings felt like they were tearing), but not so much pain that I followed through on my plan to never run anything like this again.  While I struggled with injury off and on, I've never quite slowed down.  In fact, I just keep coming back for more.

Start of the HAT Run

So, why did it take me four years to hit the HAT run course again?  Well, even though I've run 50ks and marathons in the interim, I was never quite healthy enough or home long enough at the beginning of the year to tackle this one again.  Until this year.  At first I was super sad that the race went to a lottery system for entry.  I was certain it wouldn't be my year....but low and behold I got it! 

Then it was a sprained ankle that I was determined not to sideline my efforts to cross the finish line.  And then it was a very late night at work the night before the race.  But with only 3.5 hours of sleep, I dragged myself to that chilly start line (where I ran into Ron Bowman...who helped me achieve my first 50k finish back in 2009...THANKS RON!).

If you've run HAT before, you know that it starts with a pretty easy 3.6 mile loop before heading out to the main show.  You almost have to have that loop to spread runners out, because the vast majority of the race once you head into the woods is all single track trail.  Not a lot of run to pass people. 

This is a pretty course.  All ups and downs, windy trails that plummet down to the Susquehanna River.  Multiple stream crossings.  Wide open fields with views out to the foot hills of the mountains.  Stone walls.  Oh yeah, and mud.

You also never quite know what you are going to find out on the trail...you may run into that pack of horseback riders out enjoying the semi-dry trails.  You may find your foot connecting with many roots and rocks if you're not careful.  But by and large, the dangers and the joys of the trails should be under foot or in front of you (in the case of the logs you may need to maneuver over). 

You shouldn't have to look up, though, right?  Not usually in my experience at any rate.  Wrong.  After another stream crossing, at mile 19ish, I was heading back up a hill when I started to hear a crack.  By instinct I jumped back about a foot, which is good because that is when a tree limb came down about 3 feet in front of me.  That would have hurt if it had hit my head.  And can you believe it wasn't the only falling tree limb I had to deal with?  I guess mother nature is keeping me on my toes.

Through it all...all 31 miles...I had the best support system you could imagine.  With each aid station I came into and multiple early passes in the beginning, I could always count on my husband and the diva being there to cheer me on.  There's something horribly motivating about your four-year old yelling "run faster mommy" to keep you moving.

If that's not enough, I really do need to thank the two women I ran the final five miles with.  I know your names are Deborah and Diana, I know little else about you, but I appreciate the conversation, the compliments and the company.  Thank you, also Diana, for paying me the greatest compliment I could recieve when telling me I'm setting a good example for my daughter.  And to Deborah for recognizing I have the best cheering section you could ask for.  And then there are the HAT run french fries...lord do I love french fries.

As I neared the finish line (which moved slightly since the last time I was at this race), the race director told me "You can stop running now" and I recall telling him "Oh thank God."  It was a great race, and I was thrilled to accept my new hat for finishing the HAT run.  Will I do this one again?   Maybe, but I can think about that later.  Now I need to worry about putting on a dress and wearing heels to a wedding celebration tonight :)  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  31
Time:   7:06:40 (average pace of 13:45 per mile)
Feeling:  my ankle is in a lot of pain, but that is outweighed by my happiness at conquering this course.

Taking it in stroll...

I'm taking it mostly easy this week.  I've got less than two weeks before my next 50k and I've got to get my ankle back up to snuff...or at least not injure it more. 

So life handed me the perfect way to keep it low key and spend time with the best running buddy in the world.  Tonight I had to handle daycare pick up for the diva.  Dad was working late.  And now that the sun is staying out until closer to 7, that means if I do pick up, there is time to play outside.

Thank goodness the diva loves watching her mom run...or at least knowing her mom is running.  When I asked her if she wanted to help me on my run tonight, she willingly jumped into warmer clothes and climbed into the jogging stroller with her fruit snacks gripped tightly in her little hands. 

With that, we headed down Bay Head toward the preserve to do the cloverleaf before heading home.  No major mileage today.  A) my ankle hurts with each step.  B) its super windy so the diva was getting a little cold.  And, C) I was hungry and wanted to make dinner.  But, hey, any mile run is a mile you don't regret missing later on. 

We played a bit as we jogged.  The diva likes swerving around and making car noises with the stroller.  I just like watching her smile and enjoy spending time with me this way, so I will do whatever keeps her happy to be strolling along with me.

As we were finishing, the wind kicked up pretty good and we picked up the pace to get back inside.  It wasn't long, it wasn't speedy, it wasn't artistic, but it was a run with my favorite running buddy.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.26
Time:   22:22 (average pace of 9:54 per mile)
Feeling:  very sore ankle, will have to sort this one out


  

Round and round the mulberry bush...

Traditional pre-race photo

Or rather, round and round Rosaryville State Park...three times.  That's how I reached my private goal to finish a 50k (31 miles) this year and finally put my back injury behind me for good (it wasn't an official resolution because I just couldn't be certain I was healthy enough to do this distance in one fell swoop).  It's been more than two years - two very long years - since I felt healthy enough to mosey up to the starting line for this distance.  It's been a long journey, but the result was very satisfying.



Mosey up to that starting line I did.  It was a cold, crisp fall morning with promises to be absolutely amazing by the end of ten miles.  The setting was beautiful, with just enough colored fall leaves hanging onto the trees to remind you winter is still a ways off.  The race field was reasonable for a narrow trail - 130ish runners started.  And the race committee was enthusiastic enough to rev up even the most reluctant runner attempting the distance.  What shocked me most, however, during the course briefing (standard for trail runs since there are many, many miles of unmanned areas) was that about half the field were first time ultramarathoners.  How's that for motivating?!?

So off we went.  Loop one was the most congested, obviously, but really with a smaller field, we all got some dance space around us to avoid tripping over each other (there were enough tree roots for that...we didn't need people adding to that mix).  Loop one was swift.  I wanted to settle in at around 12 minutes per mile, which would give me enough speed to hit a decent start without blowing too much energy and allow me the flexibility to slow down to a 14 minute pace in the third loop.  Well, too bad, I hit a 9-10 minute pace and just kept cruising.  The trail was much as I remember during my training run for North Face earlier this year, except that the leaf cover was pretty thick, which masked the trail in many areas.  My legs felt great, my morale was high and all was going well.  Except the roots which had it out for me...especially that one that really just about caused a face plant about 500m from the end of the first loop.

The second loop started getting a little lonely.  I was mostly running by myself at this point.  While I had my ipod and minispeaker in my camelbak ready to provide me endless entertainment, I never turned it on.  Don't ask me why....it would have saved me 75 or more repetitions of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" (blast the toddler cds in my car) that kept running through my head over and over.  After that, it was the more appropriate "She'll be coming round the mountain."  Next time?  Bust out the ipod and minispeaker...sanity is worth it.

By the third loop, let's admit, I was tired.  The roots were getting the best of me and I had already tripped no less than six times.  Should it have been a surprise then that I did finally face plant at about mile 21?  Oh no...no surprise there.  Luckily it was not as bad as it could have been.  I went down on my knees (now those did hurt for the rest of the race), but there were no external injuries, and since it was on a flat section, I avoided the possibility of breaking something.  It did slow me down though.  I can't complain, however, because I was still hitting my target pace...a little under in many cases.  I was able to keep a 13-14 minute pace between mile 21 and mile 31.  The slow down also gave me a little more time to pay attention to what was around me.  Now, I know I already ran this loop twice, so things shouldn't be any different in appearance, but I swear that image up there - doll head on a stake with a toaster hanging out in the background - was not there during the first two loops.  Prankster?  Forest goblins?  Who knows.  At least it was sunny and daylight hours.  If you came upon that at dusk it could really freak you out.

Throughout the race, I was texting with my husband...mostly while at aid stations to let him know about my progress.  When I was about 4 miles from the finish he texted to let me know I had a visitor waiting at the final water stop, just less than a mile before the finish.  Its motivating.  I want to set a good example for my daughter to let her know that women can achieve whatever goal they want...and that fitness is something you should engage in your whole life.

Finally, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 42 seconds after I started, I crossed the finish line.  Not only was this a personal triumph over injury, it was a huge new Personal Record (PR).  The last time I completed this distance was in 2009.  At that time it took me more than 8 hours to finish the North Face Endurance Challenge 50k.  It felt good crossing that finish line.  Thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to support this event and the Annapolis Striders.  You really do help push runners to meet and exceed new goals by being on the course providing motivation.

My performance ended with the diva placing my finishers medal around my neck and then her providing entertainment to a pavilion full of recovering runners.  While I didn't make it to the finish in time to get any of the post-race food catered by Chevy's (dang those early runners must have been really hungry....the several dozen folks still behind me didn't get any either), I did instead earn every last one of the seasoned curly fries I downed at Arby's on the way home.  I likely won't be running this race next year because Brie wants to do the Richmond Marathon (same weekend...and I will be doing my 50K earlier in the year), but it was a fun one.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  31
Time:  6:15:42 (average pace of 12:07 per mile)
Location:  Rosaryville State Park
Feeling:  Aside from the knees (darn roots), everything else worked amazingly

Turning over a new leaf...

Well friends, it has been more than one year since my last ramble on this blog. It's not a result of laziness, nor is it a result of lack of interest. I haven't felt inspired. So, I'm turning over a new leaf. While I'm certain to interject a political rant, rave about the glory of being a marine spouse or insert an advertisement to support this or that cause from time to time, the rest of this year will be devoted to journaling about my fitness progress.

That's right, you will be privvy to my workout log (or blog as it were). Between now and December 31, I hope to regain my ability to lay down 50k on trails. Since my sacroiliac joint injury about a year ago I have been unable to race any further than 16 miles. This has been a point of massive frustration and during the Northface Endurance Challenge in early June (where I have previously run in the 50k distance) I have been feeling the need to challenge my body physically once again.

So here I go. I'm starting from the beginning and will rebuild my mileage from scratch. You can cheer, you can jeer, or you can just grimace. You may even choose to join me in a run or two. I appreciate your support and look forward to meeting you on the trails.