So this week came and went pretty fast, numerous texts about how do you feel? Can you even walk, I can’t even imagine how wrecked your body is! And my absolute favorite “I hate driving 65 miles” you are insane, like you slept right?
Yes I did sleep, that night after I finished the race. Did I wreck my body? NO, my body was trained for this, it actually felt great. I got out of my Jeep that Sunday morning with a stiff neck because I slept in said vehicle, not because I just traversed 64.7 miles. I watched as tents unzipped, zombies crawled out and limped up to the pisser up the road. I bounced around and shook hands and congratulated everyone because basically if you’re here Sunday morning you finished this bitch!
Friends, crew, and pacers came up and said, how do you feel? My back was sore from carrying my bottles and shit for 65 miles, legs tired and mentally fatigued and hungry as fuck. I wasn’t one of the walking dead! I trained my balls off for this, this race wasn’t bigger than me, I was bigger than this race. I owned this race, it was an epic day, not magical, because my stomach showed up at mile 55. If that didn’t happen, this would have been a magical day. That day is coming and coming very soon! I know what went wrong, owned this as my fault and only my fault and this will never be repeated.
So this week, Tuesday, I jogged up and down my driveway, nothing was sore or broke and my $3.00 socks gave me no blisters at all, even with all that rain and mud, people spend $20.00 a pair, blows my mind. Maybe my feet are as tough as my gut and will power I guess. I don’t need expensive shit to do this, I never was about being flashy or money, I am dead broke and do what I can to run these with what I have.
11 days without a beer or alcohol, DAMN that is a new record that I am proud of, I could’ve drank Monday after the antibiotics finished but I didn’t care or want it. Got so much finished at the house and was looking for the next big race this year.
Thursday rolls around and I meet one of my best friends TJ for a beer! He wants to hear this shit show in person! Beer tasted bitter but oh well. Not ever drinking before a race, no matter the distance. I felt awesome and hydrated so 8 days before is the new policy. Had a great chat with TJ and food and then decided that a easy 5 miles was smart instead of 14 with Todd and Ralph as much as I missed Todd, I need to ease back. I will run soon with this beast and share this story.
Saturday morning road running!! Met at the creek side and of course I get razed, you know this isn’t a trail, this is pavement etc.. I love it, these are great friends and so much fun. Joe and Tim come up and shake my hand and say damn dude 65 miles. Tracy and Lisa and Hope are there, this is going to be a fun easy run. Everyone talks about their longest run to date. Think Joe said he did 20 max. Everyone laughs and looks at me as I said, well last weekend I did like 65 haha. All great friends.
We take off and it’s so easy, I can lead this group easily, this isn’t my run, I want to run and catch up with Hope, she is such an amazing friend, her and her husband Craig are some of my closest friends. We get about 2 miles out and Hope says, well I and heading off this way and back for 5. I will never let anyone run alone especially a female, not because they can’t handle themselves but this world is a messed up place and I always want to protect my friends.
Hope and I head off and do a little climb and chat about races, Hope tells me that she knows I can do MMTR 50 in under 12 hours. She did it, well Hope is one hell of a runner, I ask all questions about it. It’s on my radar! We have a great run and and do about 5 miles. Miss running with her and Craig, two of the most honest and amazing people God ever built.
Later that night we head to Kayla’s! For a food truck event, this year they had more and I had some great food. Big group and then we headed back to Kayla’s for a fire and fun. What an amazing Saturday with the most amazing friends a guy could ask for. I am truly blessed. I am off for a trail run around Canoe Creek tomorrow!
JustRunTrails 