WC-50... more like to 52!

It seemed like I had just closed my eye moments before but my alarm was going off and even though it was 3AM it was time to get up and get ready to run 50 miles! I had kicked Jim out of our bedroom for the night so could fully take over the room turning on lights and not worrying about noise.

I showered, got dressed, ate breakfast, loaded the car, got a groggy good luck smooch and headed out. I turned on Google Maps just to be safe but the last thing I thought would be an issue at 4AM was traffic. I was more concerned with zoning out and driving on auto pilot somewhere else. Well a sea of break lights quickly snapped me into focus! 277 was CLOSED! Don't panic Ashley, you've got time. I calmly left my parked car and walked towards the truck blocking the lanes and politely asked what was going on and about how long could I expect it to take. I'll save my imitation for anyone in person but needless to say they were not very helpful. After maybe 10 minutes, another gentleman addressed the workman taking a totally different approach causing a cop to join the conversation. Ok the panic officially started to sink in and I had to do something. I somehow managed to back myself down an onramp to a city street and then got back onto the highway two exits down.

Cutting it entire too close for comfort, I pulled into the USNWC parking lot around 4:35 AM. I sprinted the best I could while carrying a laundry basket of All. The. Things! The prerace meeting was in 10 minutes and I still had to get my bib, set up some sort of base camp, use the rest room and drop off nuun samples.

At 4:45AM the race director held a meeting giving us a rundown on logistics, reminders and notes a couple of changes to the route. Hardly a word he said was registering. All I cared was that I had made it, my hydration vest was fully stocked and while it was humid all the rain that was in the forecast earlier that week was gone. I go to pull on my head lamp and it wont turn on! What the hell?! I charged it fully last night and made sure it worked. You've got to be kidding me?! 

Another racer immediately sheds his vest and pulls out a back up head lamp for me. I had no words and couldn't grab it! As he is explaining it I get mine to come on and in the next breath people were taking off - the race had begun! That selfless runner told me to just go & get up to the front and that was the last time I saw him.

It was only about 100 yards and then immediately dropped in the woods onto some technical single track. It took just a few minutes to be immersed in the sort of pitch black that can only be found totally away from civilization. Wow, so peaceful!

In a road race it would have bothered me to be "stuck behind slower runners". I knew there would be some egos in the front pack and I attempted to check my own. If I can claim a race plan it was to take the first lap slower then I wanted. With that in the back of my mind, I wasn't anxious and tried to just settle in behind a group and relax. That only lasted about 10 minutes before I decided the altered stride was worse then speeding up. Runners were happy to step aside and even cheered me on as I passed. I caught up to a small middle pack still going slower then I would have but weren't making me take choppy steps. I tucked in behind 2 guys and just quietly ran listening to them list off their career and physical resumes. Here are the cliff notes:

Runner 1 - 27, in the Navy, runs 24 hours races all the time.
Runner 2 - 28, D1 collegiate swimmer, ex-cross fitter and works in Treasury at the bank.

It comes to me... I'll be 40 next year, have 2 kids, stay at home mom and I teach a group ex class at The Y. That clearly only translated to old lady because the BOY directly in front of me responds "oh you must feel really good about yourself to be hanging with 2 young guys". Oh really?! We have a long way to go, (I mean the sun wasn't due to rise for another 2hrs!), and if anyone knows perseverance and how to handle pain it is a mother runner! So many things could have been said but I just rolled my eyes and held my tongue. I was going to feel real good about myself when I busted the mold that I had obviously just been placed in.

The first stop was around mile 4.5. You were required to check in at every aid station for safety so did that, took a quick swig of water and continued on planning to leave the boys. From this point on I did take control of my race but also gained a shadow, Runner 2. His chatter kept me entertained, trying to help advise him kept my mind busy while his hand held flashlight drove me nuts casting shadows I wasn't sure of. I just maintained a comfortable pace and focused on keeping myself upright - light feet, good posture and not falling! A goal I maintained for most of the day. I did not trip once in the pre dawn darkness or over tired feet at the end which is where I would have expected to. All my moments with the ground came in Lap 2 - mile 22, 26 and 32! ADVISE: If you look up or back on a trail you are going down, so don't.

I lost my naive buddy around mile 14, and was by myself until the start of Lap 3. Therefore I could argue all my falls were dainty since nobody actually was there to witness anything but I assure you they were not! The second fall was hard and I laid on the ground for a good breather until was able to walk it off.

The reason I wasn't alone during the final lap was because an amazing friend offered to pace me during it. I didn't want to ask for help or even know what would want during such an endurance event. I wasn't comfortable asking for such a time commitment from someone. Lisa, who had run this event previously wouldn't let me tell her no and I am so thankful for that! We chatted the entire final 3.5 hours like were on a casual training run. By keeping my mind busy the miles flew by and I didn't have time to think about how long had been out there or how tired I easily would have convinced myself my legs were. I would not say it was easy but I am still surprised how strong I felt the entire time! When I hit the final stretch, The Channel Loop had never felt so long! As I rounded the final turn and the finish area came into sight I lost all my senses for a second. I did start to recognize one noise... it was husband's whistle and I immediately got choked up. A cry being stuck in your throat is not a good when you are already out of breath. I just tucked my head, shut the world out, got my breathing under control and ran!!! (I JITFO'ed for my BRR friends!) I even denied my own kids high fives during that final 100 yards to the finish line. Can you say tunnel vison?!

I am not a loud celebrator but I have to say I was pretty damn happy with myself as ran towards that red banner crossing the finish line in 10 hours and 45 minutes! (It would be 2 hours before there were three females to fill a podium and there was no way I was leaving before I stoop atop it!) It took all that time for my performance to sink in. I had been transformed and I already wanted more.

This post is already long enough but here is a quick list of pros & cons about this event. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would recommend it!

Pros: Location and proximity to my house allowed for friends to come out and my family to see me finish. The volunteers and staff were great! Aid Stations were well stocked (even a full meal at the end). The course was well marked. Love the Icebreaker race shirt, the awards were cool and while I am not sure will ever wear it the finishers belt buckle is also fun.
Cons: I was not thrilled with having to deal with mountain bikers and their inability to announce their arrival. A simple coming up behind you and let me know if you are solo or if should expect 3 more of you would be great. I actually didn't mind running laps as it allowed me to return to a home base, go to the bathroom/wash my hands & face, and restock my vest but I do think I wasted time here because of chatty folks.

New Challenges

So I did a thing today! I actually did plenty of things, but I did one particular THING I want to mention! I took my emotions about not going to Boston and registered for a race today. I can hear the reaction... "So what?! She races plenty so why is that a big deal?!"

If you think I am crazy now, I guess just wait! I signed up to compete in my first ever FIFTY MILER! The WC-50 Ultra Trail Marathon to be exact. So what exactly in an Ultra Marathon? Any footrace over the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles is considered an ultramarathon. Typically they range between 50 kilometers (~31 miles) and 100 kilometers (~62 miles) though races go up to 100 miles. 

I have completed three 50k events over the past two years and in that short time I can tell you no two ultras are the same. (One was lake loops and one was actually 42 miles.) Talking splits, pace, even finish times is completely irrelative and totally specific to the event. What I do know, running is about perseverance and that will certainly be the case in 4 short weeks! Not ideal timing as will not have had the time to put in much training but this race fits with my family's schedule.  #MotherRunnerProblems 

Opting Out

I feel the need to make a confession. I did NOT register for the 2020 Boston Marathon. Whew, there I said it but honestly it still doesn't fully sit well with me. I love the marathon, I identify as a marathoner and I love The Boston Marathon & identify as a Boston Marathoner!

I worked hard, persevered through the humidity to run a personal best, 3:15:22. This gave me a qualifying time of over 20 minutes! I am proud of this and was excited to learn I could have been in and done on the first day registration opened. Today The Boston Athletic Association announced the official conclusion for entry into the 2020 race. The B.A.A. added 1,500 qualifying spots but still shut out over 3,000 who met the new, faster Qualifying Standard. The cut off for next year's race came down to 1 minute and 39 seconds... meaning if you ran 1:38 faster then what you needed for your age/gender, you still did not get in. {More on the registration process for my non road runner friends.}

Congrats and Good Luck to all that made it in! Enjoy this world class iconic event. It is hard to believe I won't be a part of it next year. I will absolutely be back but I am choosing to shift my focus from Boyston and looking towards some new challenges.

Boston Marathon Expo 2018

My first and not last BRR

This weekend I took part in one of the most physically & mentally challenging of my run career and it was SO MUCH FUN! I have been asked in a few times in the past by teams but it was never good timing. With no race focus on the horizon, I accepted the challenge to run the Blue Ridge Relay. This 208 mile relay race starts in Grayson Highland State Park, VA, runs along the Blue Ridge Parkway and finishes in Asheville, NC. There were over 180 teams all living in vans for 2 days (running through the night, snacking to stay fueled & awake and hustling to each exchange point to drop off the next runner). Every team shared the same challenges... grueling hills, complete darkness, multiple running surfaces and sleep deprivation. I jumped onto the shoulder to dodge a car on a narrow mountain road, held my pepper spray at the ready to attack the local idiot we heard was jumping out of hiding spots to scare females and moving to the opposite side of the road when saw stray dogs all while being worried I'd miss a turn. I was on a 12 person team so "only ran" a total of 14.6 miles over 3 legs but were all difficult in their own way.

My first leg was short but at 4pm and in full sun! I had been awake since around 5am and been in and out of a van since 6:30am so it was a great way to get the jitters out and finally turn my legs over. I ran again at midnight. The teammate in front of me got lost and I became anxious with every passing minute past when she was expected. I have never been anywhere more dark and while I loved the freedom of that night run it was hard to open up because was scared would trip! I finally slept for maybe two hours around 4am before my biggest contribution at 8am.

Leg 31, simply referred to as "The Goat", is arguable the toughest of the 36 legs. I was nervous but chalked it up to "new kid draws the short straw" and didn't overthink it. It eased in with a flat half mile before a grueling 6 miles of mountain switch backs and an elevation gain of 1398 ft. I was able to average an 8 min/mile which turned out to be the fastest (female) of the day! I was thrilled to put up a good time and was happy knowing I didn't have to try and race again on my tired legs.

The views were breathtaking, the running was an awesome challenge and the camaraderie was uplifting! It was impressive to watch elite runners beast it and very beginners push themselves. Howard Schultz said, When you run a race as a team, you'll discover that much of the reward comes from hitting the tape together. You want to be surrounded not just by cheering onlookers but by a crowd of winners, celebrating as one. I’m beyond exhausted but canNOT wait to do it again and with these people! #TeamStacheFO

Gobbling, Wobbling & Earning Dessert

This might be the only race we have ever run together! {Not competitive at all.}