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.

Finding the balance...

I'm a mother.  I'm a spouse.  I'm a friend.  I'm a runner.  I'm a volunteer.  I'm an employee.  I'm a lot of things and I often wonder how I keep it all together and not lose my mind.  Some days I do, but most of the time I find ways to keep balanced. 

The two best ways I can find to keep the balance are spending time with my family and running.  Today I did the latter, taking 36 minutes out of a crazy busy day to go into my own thoughts and feel my feet beneath me on the pavement. 

On those days that feel like I'm diving off the deep end, I just remember what keeps me balanced and take a healthy dose.  Happy trails!!!

P.S.  next miles on the blog will be HAT 50k miles....

Stats -
Miles:  4.2
Time:   35:58 (average pace of 8:33  per mile)
Feeling:  the ankle is hanging in there and should be fine Saturday

Hill walker hurdling...

Hill walking is a time honored tradition for grassroots advocacy organizations.  Once a year, these organizations invite their membership to Washington, DC for a conference and then, armed with a folder of information, the membership visits their members of Congress walking from one Congressional office on Capitol Hill to another...aka hill walking. 

This tradition usually occurs en force about one month or so after the President submits his budget, so its the busy season.  That means us innocent, health-seeking runners have to squeeze by on the sidewalk in search of a mile or two over lunch time.  In fact, this week the sidewalks are so packed with Hill walkers, it was a veritable obstacle course, weaving from one side of the sidewalk to another, dodging well-meaning advocates....and a slew of Delta Sigma Theta members celebrating one hundred years of existence in their bright red suits.

So, by the time I reached the less crowded sidewalks of Eastern Market, I was finally getting into my groove for a comfortable, quiet backstretch.  The solitude of two laps around Lincoln Park is just what the rhythm doctor ordered.

I finally also seemed to find my speed again, mostly.  It's been a while since I've moved quickly.  Hopefully it lasts.  That said, I'm still feeling some pain where the hamstring joins near the knee.  I would really like this to go away before HAT in a couple weeks.  All I can do is beg the trail running gods to keep me whole until the finish line.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  5.51
Time:  47:14 (average pace of 8:34 per mile)
Feeling:  it's nice to stretch the legs, but I want my hamstring back and healthy