Let's start by talking about mistakes. Number one, I was at Mike's company Christmas party the night beforehand. Until 1 in the morning. Wearing heels. Not smart. I was tired, and the balls of my feet were killing me after mile 3. Number two, I did not fully think through the details of getting myself 1/3 of the way down the course until the morning of the race. So I spent an hour looking, and ultimately finding, a ride to mile 6. For some reason, I thought this was a triple loop course, just like the 25K we did several weeks ago. It is, in fact, a triple loop course, but first you run about 3 miles to get to the triple loop area, and at the end, you run about 3 miles to get back to the finish. So arriving exactly 1/3 of the way in proved a bit challenging to say the least. Many thanks to Gerry for being such a good sport and giving me a lift! We'll get to mistake number three in a bit.
So, let's talk about the weather. Cold, a bit windy, but sunny and clear. Since I'd decided to carry my cell phone in my hydration belt this time, I didn't have room for all my Gu packets, so I wound up pinning them to the front of my pants. When I tried to pin them to the inside of my pants, they started falling down (which is kind of a good thing considering I bought them a month ago. It's a bad thing because they were $57). So, on the outside they went. And I learned, 6 miles in, that Gu pinned on your pants gets really annoying, because every step you take it is slapping on your leg. I'm really glad that I somehow ended up running all of the Warm Up Series races this year, despite the fact that I'm only a halfer. I seem to learn a bit more at each and every race!
I love this pic - the look on my face is priceless - I love running!
And now, let's talk about the race. The Sugarland FLS 30K is a bit different. Since it's not a straight course, and a triple loop, you are literally getting passed by faster runners throughout the entire race. Usually, you might have a period where runners are passing you, but then it fades. And if you run a negative split, you usually have a period of time where you are passing other runners at the end of the race. But during the 30K there are runners passing you all the time. And that's ok! You just have to stay focused on your race. The only difference is, when the really, really fast runners go by, they yell "elite runner going through." Normally, that doesn't happen, but the 30K is not a closed course. The outside lane of Sweetwater Drive is still open, and the elite runners run on the right (which is not normal - normally a faster runner passes on the left), which basically puts them in the flow of vehicular traffic. In addition, since you are running a loop 3 times, you see everyone at least 6 times. It's a good time to observe other runners, and to cheer each other on!
Look at my pinned on gloves . . . it was cold for a mile or two, but after that I was done with them!
When I jumped in at mile 6.2, Elle was already running a 10/1 interval. This means we run for 10 minutes, and we walk for 1 minute. I'm normally a continuous runner, but I run at a bit slower pace than Elle does. If we run a 10/1 split, I'm able to keep up with her faster pace since I get a minute of rest. We ran approximately 10 minute miles for about the first 7 miles I was on the course. At my mile 7, and Elle's mile 13, she was hurting badly due to the development of several blisters, and she wanted to walk. We walked for approximately 5 minutes, and I convinced Elle to run again by telling her we only had to run 5 more times, and then we could be done. We took off again, passing several runners who had passed us while we were walking. I vividly remember hearing them call out, "Go Girls!" while we ran past. That certainly felt good, but again, I was only at mile 8 or 9 by this point, and Elle was starting on mile 15. At that point, she had to walk. I tried in vain to convince her to run again, but she was in too much pain. I remember trying to yell at her to pick up her feet, and she told me just to go on. I told her it wasn't my race, and I wouldn't leave her. I'm glad I didn't - I've never experienced running on blisters, but I imagine it must be pretty painful.
We finally left the Sweetwater loop and headed back towards the finish line. As I mentioned before, we still had about two miles to go in order to finish. I kept trying to convince her to run, but it was to no avail. We saw a guy in a kilt at about mile 16.5. He was on the side of the road, playing bagpipes. I remember laughing and asking other runners around me if they thought the kilt wearer was wearing underwear. We all laughed about that for a bit, and one of the runners actually asked the kilt man about his underwear. Apparently, he wasn't wearing any. That was so funny - and it was enough comedic relief to give those runners the boost they needed to start in to the finish line. Elle still hadn't gotten her boost yet. I'd tried singing, like I did at the 25K, but it just wasn't enough.
We were about a mile out from the finish line when the Black Eyed Peas song, "I've Got a Feeling," came up on my iPod. We were walking, and there was a man walking in front of us who we were starting to gain on. When we got next to him, he started to walk faster to keep up with us. I turned to Elle and started singing the words . . . I gotta feeling . . . that tonight's gonna be a good night . . . yeah tonight's gonna be a good good night . . . Elle chimed in, and the man with us turned and his ears perked up. He said, "Hey! That's my running song!" Elle laughed and said, "Then let's run!" and we all took off! The walking man smoked us. He was gone. I'm glad I helped him finish!
Elle and I, with another runner to the right
And I'm glad I got Elle to run again as well. Because when we turned the next corner, there was her husband and her kids, waiting to cheer her on. I'm so glad - I know she wouldn't have wanted them to see her hurting the way that she was. When we ran in and crossed the finish line, Elle had such a grin of accomplishment on her face. I'm so proud of her - 18.6 miles is no small feat, for sure. And for me, 12.4 was the farthest I'd run. True, I felt a bit cheated when they gave me a medal and a finisher's shirt, but I'll wear it proudly because I know that God had me at that race for a reason. Otherwise, the kilt asker, the walking man, and my friend Elle might not have finished . . .
So proud of you, Elle! You are my hero!
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