Where do I began??? Many terrible life decisions got me to the point of running as a way to find who I am. Many more wonderful people stepped in and inspired me to live a better and fuller life. My friend Janet got me off my butt in January and got me to run again. Nikki Davis and all the Dallas Dirt Runners group helped me along and still do. The trip to Jemez I bonded with Steven Monte and he has been my sounding board for months. Jennifer Kimble took me on as a student and her coaching has pushed me further than I've ever dreamed. My move to Odessa was tough on my training but good for my soul. I still got my miles in and have met even more great friends.
My friend, Pam from Midland agreed to go to the race with me as support as well as my baby brother Max. I wanted 2 people to help me when it got tough. The race began and as usual I went to the back and kinda just felt myself out and got lost in my thoughts. The race set up was 4 25 mile loops but changing directions each time. I knew the last 10 was dang tough and I immediately had to do it again on loop 2. My goal of 7:30 per loop was fine and I conserved as much as possible. I had my calories and hydration spot on but I knew it was going to get hot later. My 1st loop was 7:10 and I was okay with that but decided to power hike throughout the hottest part of the day. That worked fine til mile 40. I had a minor foot pain so I decided to change shoes to a new pair of Hoka Tarmac and get through the easier part of the course. That was fine for 15 miles til I felt a large blister burst and then the balls of my feet started throbbing. I finished loop 2 in 9hrs and knew I was going to have to push things on loop 3 without a pacer. When I got to the start line there was a man waiting to pace me-Sean Broadbent. He was there to pace someone else and when she got hurt he graciously stepped in and helped out. Him and John Sharp got my blisters taken care of. We started loop 3 and I was ok for awhile but the further we went the less I could walk, much less run. We picked up my friend Ben at mile 54 who Id been with all day and the 3 of us trudged on. At 60 Ben was done but he gave me a Coke and that got me a couple of miles and we were chasing the clock on the cut off for loop 4. At mile 65 I had 2.5 hrs to get through the 10 toughest miles that Cactus Rose had to offer and then Id hafta do it again. I knew I was done and after apologizing to Sean I called it for me. Pam and Max were instrumental in getting me that far. My legs and heart were fine but the balls of my feet couldn't hold up to the pounding of the rocks. I got to the 100k distance in time to make the cutoff if it was Bandera 100k so I walk away happy. My mind, heart and legs were ready but the rocks kicked the bottom of my feet pretty hard. I loved the course and i think it'll be a must do in 2015. Reflecting now on it, I'm taking away that I just had one hellacious training run. Everyone says that a mile walking or running is the same distance. It is but this was pretty brutal. I see a easier 100 miler in my VERY near future......
Monday, October 27, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
T Minus 14 days......
Wow! I just realized this morning as I was putting in my miles that Cactus Rose 100 is here! My mind quickly went back to April 30,2013 and all the events that have led me to today. Some have been negative but many positive things have happened to transform me into hopefully a better person. Hell I'm not a angel and I don't really recall at any point aspiring to be one. The move to Odessa sort of rounded out the changes I feel I needed to make. It's been great! A new town, new friends, and a new career always does a gypsy soul like mine good! A little over 17 months ago I NEVER dreamed I'd be here today with my career OR my running. Running wasn't on my radar then. My significant other at the time had tried to get me to but I was pretty much stuck in my dark little world of drinking and self misery. It's been a long damn road.... about twice during every run I get lyrics stuck in my head from Dierks Bentley's Long Trip Alone....
It's a long trip alone over sand and stone
That lie along the road that we all must travel down
So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold
'Cause it's a long trip alone
It's a short piece of time but just enough to find
A little peace of mind under the sun somewhere
So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile
You know we can't afford to let one moment pass us by
'Cause it's a short piece of time
This has been a long trip alone for me and 75 miles of Cactus Rose will be alone but I kinda like who I've become so I don't mind the company now! So many people have helped get me to where I'm at today and I'm grateful to every single one of them. My family has stuck beside me, my friends (runner & non-runners alike) have inspired me to keep pushing not only my body but my mind as well. I'm taking my baby brother Max to crew me. Nope he's never ran a race or been to one but I trust him and I know he will be there at the aid stations when I come stumbling in. I'm sure there will be plenty of others there to help so no worries there. My pacer from mile 75 on is one tough dude. He's been through the battles and there is no quit in him and the man will get me to the buckle..... Most of the work is done and now it's getting stuff together. Gu,Tailwind,Bonk Bars,Duct tape,coke,oreos, n etc plus a few beers for when I finish.............
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