Heyooo!

So, I have been away for a while (family, work, running, travel, pure laziness ) but I realllly wanted to share a RR of my last race...

This is the first year this race was organized, if not for random ''suggested event'' ad in FB, I would know nothing about it. But it looked fun (and challenging) from videos and description, so I saw it as great addition to Michigan training.

It was raining the entire morning and our way there (1.5h drive), so I couldn't decide whether to take the water belt or not. If not for the pocket carrying Isostar gels, most probably the decision would be ''no'', but I didn't want to risk not taking them (and turned out to be right). Compared to other trail races here (well, the only other summer trail race series we have ) it was very small scale - only approx 35 runners in my distance (14mi). Every distance (7.5, 15.3, 23, 30.6km) had separate start, which made it feel even less crowded.

I immediately (few seconds after the start) realized I am waaay out of my league in this race, so just tried to keep up w the ''tail end''. Those 3 people (two guys and a woman) ran just slightly faster than I would if I was running alone, so I thought - why not. So, our little group of 4 fell back from rest of the runners quite fast, but I didn't mind. It was a fun company, friendly people, lots of jokes. Soon there was a river w a tree over it and I was like - we are supposed to get over on THAT!? It looked really unsafe and I didn't want to get an early swim That's where the teamwork helped - guys got us over. Right after that we got lost. In mile 2. Got lost in mile 2 Not sure how we managed that, the course was well marked, we probably just missed one sign/arrow and it was enough. So, the ''slogan'' of first third of the race was ''That arrow showed ''right'', didn't it!??'' With the help of guys' logic we somehow got back on the course, confusing the volunteer, as we approached her from totally opposite direction than we would have if we hadn't got lost Then came the coal mine section, which was so beautiful that I really wanted to take photos, but there were so many near-fall situations on those ups and downs that it was impossible. Those mines were followed by rather uneventful/easy part of course (dirt road, rolling hills in forest, some nasty climbs, but all in all - nothing too tough). And THEN it started. Warning sign of upcoming ''fun'' was a glade (? I trust GoogleTranslate on this) w lots of branches, slippery after all the rain, so it took lots of focus. And then - the first swamp. Omg. The biggest nightmare of my barely functioning, 100x injured ankle, which was turning in all the right and wrong angles there. True strength workout too, w legs soaking in (thanks again, rain) on every step, shoes getting very heavy etc. A little rest after that w rather flat segment, then ANOTHER swamp, this time shorter section. But the legs had already suffered, so the cumulative fatigue became a factor. Soon after that was a climb so vertical they had tied a rope there to help us out. There was literally no other way to get up there unless you're an alpine climber. Seriously. So, from leg workout we got to arm workout I think that was the moment (around mile 8), at which I said ''my legs are dead, screw the pace or placement, I just want to get to the finish line, I will walk every remaining climb if I have to''. Partially because of swamps/mines, but other important thing was that there were waaay less/shorter flat segments than I am used to in trail races, and those hills were, even if approximately in the same frequency if you count them, but every single one of them was a lot tougher than your average climb in a Latvian trail race. So it all added up and my legs were in panic mode very fast. At mile 9 we got to aid station, which had everything - gummy bears, watermelon, chocolate, water, Coke etc. I was so tired that I took a bit from everything + Isostar gel The remaining distance was repeat of 2nd part of the 1st lap - meaning swamps, vertical rope climb etc etc. Basically, hey - you have only 5mi left, but those are the repeat of toughest part of the course! Omg.

After I got to the finish line w legs all in mud and shirt soaked in mixture of sweat, rain and mud, all I could do was hug DH, mom (she decided to, quote, ''take a look at those suicidal people running this race, including you''), sit down (w lots of ''sound effects'') at the nearest table and ask for a beer. DH is rarely openly showing emotions, he’s the – pat on the shoulder / you did well – type of person and you can only read the “I am proud of you” part in the eyes, but this time there was a big hug that felt like “I thought I would never see you again”

They ran out of beer few moments after I finished (!!!!!!), but we drove to our friends who live nearby and had invited us over, so I got my beer there and passed out in a chair

.

Elina, great job on your race!

Elina that race sounds super hard but it appears you enjoyed it. Congratulations!!!!!! But not cool that the beer ran out. I hate when that happens.

A bit of a race recap, then try to catch up later since I am at work.

Drove up Friday night and Diane and I pulled into the hotel at virtually the same time.  Dropped our stuff off and headed to the race start, a whopping 6 minutes away!  Got our stuff (including a hideously ugly race shirt - a possum riding a unicorn over a rainbow on fire...)  Went and got some pizza and I crashed about 7pm.  Not sure about Diane as I was sound asleep.

Got up at 5am, headed to the race at 6 and got one of the last spots my car could fit in.  Hung out and headed to the start, in the same parking lot, about 6:40.

Started the race, walking of course which was the plan.  Ended up walking with another woman for the first 4 miles or so.  The footing was bad, so it slowed Diane and I down and we lost her.  About mile 7.5 Diane and I split up.  We decided it wouldn't be safe for her to do the course at night due to the rocky footing so I trudged on.  At the mile 10 aid station she messaged me saying she dropped with a migraine. 

The first loop was not horrible temp wise, though getting a bit warm.  I had on a cami and skirt with my hydration vest packed with pizza, nuts, turkey, and pumpkin loaf.  The second loop, it was really getting bad.  Each aid station I stopped for ice in my arm sleeves and bra.  "Boob Ice" as one volunteer said.  It did cool down enough at sunset to be comfy.  At some points early in the second loop I was overheating, but kept drinking ice water and improved.

I kept going to the start/finish - 17.5 miles by my Garmin.  Met Diane and chatted for a bit and I contemplated going back out.  I messaged Lisa and another GF and they both encouraged me to head out.  I told the race director I was indeed going out.  It was funny.  He said you look too damn good not to go back out.  I whined my feet hurt, and he told me to get the F back out there.  Pretty much his style!!!

So I started on the second on my own.  It was sandy through the first part, then turned rocky.  Really rocky.  Not huge boulders for the most part, but big enough and stuck in the ground enough to be a major pain.  About 3-4 miles into my second loop I caught back up with woman Diane and I started with!!!  It was awesome to have company, especially in our misery.  We were pretty equal in speed and pain.  I started the second loop with a blister on my outer foot, and finished the race with about 4-5 more.  That REALLY slowed me down.  Blisters while stumbling over rocks really sucked.

We both really struggled the second lap, my feet more than my legs.  Lisa was a rock star at pushing me through.  I lost her near the end, but I think she fell asleep waiting so long for me.

SO, I finished.  It wasn't pretty, it sucked at the end, but I did it and am indeed proud of it.

Ok, I should quit here before I lose you all and lose my post since I am at work.

Later!!!

K

DHuff, I'm sorry that it was not your day today.  Darn migraine.

Kilmisters, WOOO, that's my kind of race!  Getting lost sucks but it's great that you and the others figured it out and kept going.  The "obstacle course" effect with the swamps, ropes and climbing sounds fun (to me, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea).  When you're working that hard, you need to eat all the things at the aid stations.  And that beer was well earned for sure!

WTG Kat!  So much to love about your RR: your snacks, the joy of boob ice (I first discovered it at Missoula), rallying to get yourself out for the second loop, remote support from Lisa and others, having company for the final loop of misery, and GETTING IT DONE!  Yeah blisters suck but they'll go away... the accomplishment will not!  Nice job.

CrazySue, nice AG win!  Not your problem if the other ladies in your AG were too chicken to do the race.  

Karen, enjoy the BBQ and have a good race tomorrow.  Hope the temps aren't too bad.

Damaris, enjoy the 5 today.

HCK, nice 5 for you too.  Ick on hot temps.

Carol, kayaking sounds like fun.  How far north is "up north" for you?

Lizzie, yikes on the fire at one of your sites!  Do you have to deal with the insurance cos. and other stuff post-fire?  Guessing that they'll be some kind of investigation by the fire department.

Lori, sounds like everyone had a tough day out there.  39 miles is a great accomplishment.

I did kettlebell class this morning and then 5 easy miles around the neighborhood.  My head is still stuffed up but it's just annoying, not terrible.  Taking it easy for the next few days, have a 100k on Sat.

Lisa, so curling with no ice and with feathers?

Kat, you rock! Good job.

Just lost a large post and too tired to type it all again, sorry. Congrats to Diane, Elina, and others. Good night.