I have been remiss in my duty to post here on my running adventures this summer so i will do a quick
run down on the summer.
I gave Old Domion my best shot and enjoyed running in the Massanuttens immensly. Thing is i really REALLY slowed down once i hit the long slow uphill at Duncan Hollow. I was not able to go very fast after Duncan Hollow. I kept on going to 47 and to 54 and even though i knew i would not be able to make the cutoff at Elizabeths Furnace at 75 miles i kept on going to 64 mile to Little Fort. The experience of running through that countryside with all the flowers was unforgetable. The last bit of my run which was through the ATV trail was the slowest and best. The mountain Laurel was everywhere and i got to see the sun set. Running on that trail/road through the darkness was mesmerizing.
Vermont was wonderful, no it was amazing. Except for renting a car because our car is really really old and beat up, we did it on a very tight budget. We camped and brought most of the food we would eat over the weekend. We napped in the car driving the way up and on the way back.
The race went so so well. The strategy i planned worked to a T, though i got a little slow in the 45-55 mile part of the race. My pacer, Mellissa was the best. I could not hope for a better companion and helper for the last 30 miles of the run. Melissa, if you are reading this - i am forever greatful.
I planned to finish just under 30 hours and to do the last 30 miles in about 10 hours. I finished in 29:46 and did the last 30 miles in a little under 10 hours. I finished next to last. The most memorable things about Vermont were running with Melissa as a pacer, running with Tammie Massie and Tammie Bagdasarian for good bits, the lovely sweet berries and running on a moonlight night with lights turned off.
I was sore the week after the race but the next weekend i was back to doing long (20 mile runs slowly).
2 weeks later i was back at Maryland Heights doing lovely mountain repeats ;-)
Soon after the Vermont 100 i made up my mind to try Grindstone. I figured that with trails smoother than Massanutten and a 38 hour time limit i might have a shadow of a chance to finish the run. Even if i did not finish i would have a great time on Shenandoah trails. I love Shenandoah trails.
Later in August my partner and i drove down to Swoope VA for me to run the Grindstone training run. For the first day i ran with Jennifer Broton who knew Karen Taber from running Cheat mountain. I truly enjoyed running that day with her. The run was supposed to be about 50K but we got in a few bonus miles.
The next day which was about 22 miles i ran alone. The run was sweet, well it was sweet until the skies broke open with torrential rain. The lightning and thunder served as amusement while i trudged through water sometimes up to my ankles. ...It was a good day but i was greatful to get to the car. I called Clark from the car to tell him i was safe as i was the last person in.
The most memorable things about the Grindstone Training run were meeting Clark Zeeland and David Horton, Running with Jennifer Broton, the amazing trails, camping and the hair raising pickup ride to the peak North of Briary Gap in Clark Zeelands truck. I think the ride was more difficult than the run ;-)
Training went well for the weeks after the Grindstone training run.
My next adventure was to attempt to run the Massanutten Ring. I begged into the ring at the last minute. I really enjoyed running with Kim for the first miles of the Ring and with Keith and his wife for a few more miles. A few miles before Camp Roosevelt i ran through a bit of grass and thought there were nettles. My right leg stung and itched pretty fiercely for the next few hours. I slowed down at about that point. When i got to Camp Roos i got food and enjoyed hanging with Gary Knipling and other VHTRC people. After Camp Roos you hit Duncan Hollow. Unlike Massanutten where you turn off at the gap creek trail or Old Dominion where you turn off at the Scothorn Gap trail in the Ring you go up to the top, then down and then up the very steep Waterfall mountain. For some reason every time i have been in Duncan Hollow i have slowed down, a lot. This was no exception. I enjoyed it a lot. I especially enjoyed the steep climb up Waterfall Mountain. The climb up Waterfall brings you to Chrissman Hollow Rd where there is an aid station. I spent a good amount of time at that aid station eating and fixing the blisters on my feet. I had 3 hours or so to go the next 6.4 miles over Kerns Mountain. I got to see the sun set up there and i was left in the dark on Kerns Mt. It felt like i was going fast but i was not. I would periodically see what looked like little gems - when i investigated a couple of these gems i found that they were drops of water held in the jaws of pretty big black or brown spiders. There were lots of them. Though it felt like i was going fast over K. Mt, i was not. I was in a reverie enjoying the place. When i got to Moorland Gap, Laura was there and i was told i had timed out. They said if i had a crew i could go on but Laura was diving the next day so we went home. ....Another great day in the Massanuttens !
The bite on my leg continued to get bigger and my leg swelled up a lot. I almost went to the Dr but it improved. Its about 2 weeks later and i have a red spot and an area that is hard around the bite. Not sure what bit me but i am thinking it might have been one of the many spiders i saw.
This past weekend i did another last minute run entry. I entered Stumpy's Xtreme trail marathon, which is a Trail Dawgs event. I had a gas ! We ran over nice rolling trails. We ran through a river. We bushwhacked a bit. We ran through streams and mud. At the end i got to run 5 miles or so with Greta Dobe. A great Day.
That brings us up to today. ...Well it's 5 days after the Marathon and i am doing great ;-)
---- Marina
