31 miles the hard way
The Rocky Raccoon 50K was quite an experience. I covered the double loop 15.5 mile course in 5 hours and 25 seconds. I fell 6 times and nearly fell about 4 times. I stubbed my toes, twisted my ankles, bruised the ball of my right foot, and got a nice blister on my left foot. I had plenty of energy and only walked a couple of times for about one minute. I ran almost the whole thing.
A trail run is a lot different from a road marathon. There were ruts, drop offs, zillions of roots, rocks, hills, and constant turns. There were very few straight stretches. I was running through the woods like a chase scene in the fugative. I do not usually use my poor eyesight as an excuse, but this event requires good vision. I could not negotiate the subtle changes in elevation, or see the roots well enough to run smoothly. I was jarring my back landing straight legged and stubbing my toe on roots sometimes sending me sprawling headlong. The first time I fell was about the 10 mile mark. I had just started up a hill and my left foot hit a root. I sailed off to the left plowing a furrough in the pine needles. The runner behind me just passed me by as I was making it to a standing position. My instinct was to keep running. The runner's disinterest was if to say, "welcome to trail running kid."
The trail was narrow and most of the time it was single file. I was getting discouraged. I was telling myself that I made a mistake. I was good at marathons, but this kind of event was out of my league because I couldn't see well enough. I was planning on stopping after the first loop. I told myself I would turn in my number to a race official then finish the distance on the road.
Then I thought about Ellen. She is in a race for her very life and has not quit. I am sure there are all sorts of things that are not fair in her race. Then I thought about Ben. What kind of example would I be for him when he is going through hell at BUD/S? I thought about how I would write about it on the blog and I couldn't think of how to do it without feeling like a quitter.
So I started talking to myself again. I told myself it is a beautiful day and all I have to do is slow down. Who cares what my time is as long as I finish the race? There were a lot of people behind me and I would still place well. About that time, a runner in front of me fell down hard. Just as he hit the ground I heard him say mother f!%$#r. It cracked me up the way he said it especially since I could identify with the sentiment. I asked him if he was OK and he said, "Yeah, I'll walk it off. . .those f*%#ing roots." He said the roots seem to get bigger as the day goes on and even bigger in the dark.
That guy falling made up my mind. With only 2 miles left in the first lap, I knew I wasn't the only one skidding across the forest floor. I still laugh when I see him flying through the air and voicing his discontent. I like to hear a good cursing out by a true artist. See Big Dick's Place for examples.
I was amazed how I was holding up. I was jumping over things, pushing off in different directions with my feet, tripping, stumbling, and sometimes hitting the deck, but the miles ticked by. I came upon a guy and ran with him for about 10 miles. His name was Andy and he had been at the Superdome in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina doing his duty as a National Guardsman. I told Andy about my vision problem and he tried to help me with warnings, but it is almost impossible, because there are so many places to twist anlkes and fall.
The last mile was a slow grade much of the way on a broken up asphault path. I fell twice on that darn thing. I was still clipping along at a decent pace and eventually I stumbled across the finish line. Yes Ellen, Barb videoed the event, but she needs a lot of work on her cinamatography skills.
I walked some, then sat down. I tightened up like Dick's hat band and I am walking like a guy who ran 31 miles the hard way. I am so glad I did not quit, but there for a minute, I was close. That is what I like about running. It will take you to your limit and you can see if you pass the test or not. If I had failed the test, I would be motivated to redeem myself, but I don't have to do that this time. I just have to enjoy the sweet feeling of achievement.
I think I will liimp over to my ice chest and crack open a brew.
Until the next time
John Strain