JFK50 Mile Recap Part II-Race Day!

November 24, 2015–50 Miles

Race Day- November 21, 2015. I awoke at the hour of 3:30am as I could already her the petter patter of fellow runners leaving the hotel for there 5am start. My start was 7am. But I awoke with such a peace. It’s indescribable. There was no more of the giddiness but a more of a concentrated state in which I knew this was my day and I was going to complete this. As I awoke I tried to be extremely quiet as I wanted the boys to sleep. I wanted to just jump in a quick bath and just let my muscles enjoy there peace for now as they were going to be battered for the next few hours. As I laid there I thought of strategy how slow would I go where would I pick it up. Will my body be able to handle the pressure. You can imagine everything went through my mind. But remember my longest run to date was of 39 miles so I have been through two 60k’s before. I just thought to myself I had a goal of finishing by 9:15:00–9:30:00 but if I surpassed that who cares the goal was to finish. I soon got out and started to get ready. I woke hub up to make my coffee in the room coffee maker. I took him a second with his one eye open. Then it’s like it all hit him at once it is your day. He won’t say it but I know he was a wreck with the unknown and not knowing where he was to meet me. I was in such a calm and then sat down with my coffee and gave him my directives of all I wanted, were I wanted him, what would be my process, etc. Soon then after baby awoke. I was completely ready. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought. Wow, ultra runner. This is awesome. He looks and me, “You look beautiful!” Slaps me on the butt, “Go kick ass.” Then I was off. Beautiful friend Sue Malone was to take me to the morning preparation meeting and to start line. As I headed to the elevator at 5:45am my phone pings, “I’m downstairs.” I get there she is awaiting in the car and I ask her if she wanted coffee as the coffee by hotel was already prepared so she grabbed some in lobby. And so did I cup #2. Didn’t know if that was a smart move but did it anyway. We shall see won’t we. The drive was quick. We got to the Boonsboro Educational Complex within 15 minutes. I was like wow that was fast. We park the car and yes it was cold but I dressed perfectly. It was about 28 degrees at start. We enter the gymnasium and there were all the athletes. I was just so thrilled to have Sue with me. She has been through this process a few times I just felt so at home with her. The presentation started off with the Director of the Race. We heard our rules and regulations and they asked all the military personnel to stand up. It was awesome and we applauded them. We then were presented with runners who were running and different paces and if we wanted to follow them they knew what to there way through the trails. Then it was over. 15 minutes until the countdown to start. Bathroom break. Got out quickly luckily and off we went on the walk to the starting line. 5 minutes to go. Sue gave me the biggest hug. Snaps a shot of me to send to her daughter and off she went. It was now my moment in which I worked 16 weeks for and 15 months after having my baby. 7am and we are off.

The RACE:

We were headed uphill for the first 5.5 miles from mile 2.5 to 15.5 which was the Appalachian Trail. From Mile 1 to 2.5 it was paved uphill road. I mean uphill. Once you hit the top of the hill the sunrise hits you right in the face. Well, “Good Morning World,” I told myself. You can run the hill somewhat but then there is a point you want to save you legs so you begin a run/walk method. Once on the Appalachian Trial. There are certain points that it is extremely rocky to the point you mind is telling you just walk but I’m saying run. It takes some getting used to in the beginning but once you got it. You can of leap and hop and you hopefully land in the right direction. I say it took me about a half an hour to get comfortable. Trails can be scary sometimes but as I say practice makes perfect. Well some what. At about 3.5–5.5 miles it is a steep uphill paved road. For me it was a run/walk. I could feel my hamstrings already on fire. Honestly I would say it was the only time I felt my hamstrings. Not bad pain but pain that they are working hard. As I am running on the toe path a young lady looks at me are you the girl that writes the blog. I look at her yes thats me. I just smiled. We wished each other luck and move forward. Once you hit the top you are turned right back into the trail. It is quite something. One thing I remembered Sue telling me was to let the others pass you by and don’t lose your race. What great advice. I let them pass and I did the same to others. When I passed them I would shout out to the left as we were told to do. I soon got very comfortable to comfortable at one point we had some downhill stretch I felt l was flying. Well for me anyway. At certain point your mind just wanders and you want to just look around. But then you tell yourself keep watch of the ground. You want no injuries. Well at about Mile 8. I fall. Yes fall straight towards my side. I hit the pavement with my left hip on the side of a massive rock and I felt the peeling of my left elbow. As fast as I fell I jumped right back up with the help of two gentlemen. I had no time to scream yell or cry. Just move forward and I did. Emotionally when anyone has a boom you feel well me like crying. Here you don’t have a moment suck it up check it later. And so it was. This was the very rocky part of the trail. If I only had a photograph to show you you would understand. Then I got to the 9.3 Gathland Gap. There was an aid station with some goodies. I actually passed this one by as I was still full. The Mexican food luckily worked for the best from last night. I had my water in my Camelback Hydrobak but it was a definite restroom break for me. Then I was off again. I felt great, not hungry one bit, had not even taken a gel yet and well hydrated so far. Here I go! I honestly was so looking forward to seeing my family at 13.5 miles. Something to look forward to. No words can express how beautiful the trails are at this time of the year. The leaves are all fallen all you see are branches and all the leaves on the ground. Which makes the trail running even harder as you do not see what is under you feet. My ankles now begin to get clipped by the rocks first my left then my right continuously. You just going ouch, dame, oh, oh, that was close, etc. You see everyone in front of you having the same issues so your not alone. I actually thought by the time I was off the trail my right ankle would have to be wrapped but luckily I was wrong. At about 12.5 the course drops 1,000 ft in a series of steep switchbacks that then crosses under route 340 and connect with the C & O Canal Towpath. For a girl that scared of heights I just told myself don’t look down just do your thing and I did. By now you are hearing the crowds from a distance. In my mind I’m telling myself I get to see my baby. Once there I see hubby and baby going nuts. Sue with her camera in hand waving me down.

The cutest thing ever. I run up to hub he ask me if I need anything. I say no. Give them all hugs and kisses and I’m off that quickly again.

It was awesome. You need that at this point. Remember I’m still on no intake of food. Just my water. I still felt great. Just worked! My legs still felt strong. Now to continue on the trails until I reached Weverton Cliffs at 15 miles. This time I went straight to the table to see what they had I grabbed the chips. My body at this point must of been craving salt because I took a hand full and they were so dame good. Then I’m off again. You cross a train track at this point and luckily no train this time. Looked both ways and crossed. I kept thinking dame that was good. By now I also had taken a gel. Who knows how the two together would react so far so good. Here I go! I now hit the C & O Canal section it is a little over 26 miles from miles 15.5–41.8 miles. It is a dirt and gravel surface that is free of all automotive traffic so you just run. This part is all mental. But I’m not sure it was me but I felt like there was a slight uphill to it. Well after all the dodging of rocks it could of been my sight or mental. Lets move on. I began to take my gels every 45 minutes to stay strong. Every time I would pass someone else I always said hello and was cordial and told them they looked good. I knew we all need that at this point. I spoke to a few gents as I went by. A bit of conversation was always a good break from it all. As I ran I just enjoyed the beauty of it all. I had not even thought of the cut off times until I spoke to one of the gentlemen in which I told him that this was my first 50 miler and he shouted out if you continue at this pace you will get in at about 9:15–9:30 exactly where I wanted to be. At one point on the path I was all alone. I had not one bad thought in mind. But thought how much I loved my family. I mean it was an intense feeling. I can’t explain it but it was a great feeling. Then I found myself fully singing the numbers as I would sing with my son. I was smiling and singing out loud. It just felt liberating to just be in nature and all it’s simplicity then the hectic world of the concrete jungle of NYC. I also felt at this point my mind was putting so much perspective of so many things. My charity Every Mother Counts in which I am ambassador and running this for, why I live in NY, do I see myself staying, do I want to move back to Northern California, my kids, husband, etc. Things like that. It felt great all great thoughts. I guess this is where the mind goes if not negative. On the toe path of course I incorporated a walk/run method. I had something down. It was working. Another gentlemen behind me was like did you work on this. I was like no I just came up with it. I would walk for like 30–60 seconds. Then I would run at a pace of 9:30–10:15. I felt good! I was honestly getting a lot of compliments on my way that made me feel even better as if I was doing it right. A lot of “you go girl!” It kept me thriving. I then hit a couple of aid stations in between 22.4 and the next would be at another 2.4 miles. So I continued to grab those chips and my had gels available. This gel/chip thing was working! Remember as I discussed yesterday on my intake of chips two days prior which I never do. It now working grand for me. Little did I know I was eating for success. I hit again the next station the same routine gel, chip, a small sip of Gatorade and move on. As I am almost ending my towpath venture I hear behind me. That is “Sue Malone’s daughter.” I’m caught off guard and start waving and laughing. It was the older gents whom I met at the expo with Sue who have run this race 20–25 times who misunderstood Sue when she said this is my daughters friend. Well now I have a new mom. Good for me! They were like your looking good girl for your first 50 miler. I waved and shouted thank you. Soon it came to Mile 38 Taylor’s Landing I honestly had no clue of the miles only until I saw the markers. I see my husband with a great big smile and there is Sue taking continuous pictures.

Hub was like what you need. I dropped the Camelbak Hydrobak, he gave me my Fitletic waist belt, water, grabbed my phone as I loved hearing the pings from everyone sending support but what I didn’t even think about were my gels I forgot those. Didn’t realize it until a few miles deep. Kissed and hugged them see you at the finish line. Restroom break, more chips, and water. I’m off yet again. It felt oh so quick! I’m really going to do this. I’m really really going to do this. Of course my legs felt heavy and my shoes were chaffing the crap out of me cause of the socks I wore but I was to survive. Then at about Mile 39 my Garmin dies. Everything I was keeping track off to this point was gone. I had to go on my flow. So be it. If I had to ask time I would ask another or not at all. So it was. At about 41.2 you were about to hit another aid station and at this moment the volunteers place a vest on you to be seen in the dark by traffic. At this point I knew I had hit all your cut off times. This is my very moment another 9 to go. The route now heads off the C & O Canal Path and follows with rolling paved country hills for about 8.4 miles in Downsville. The beauty is indescribable. I enjoyed every moment, minute, everything. Remember now I have no time, no pace. I just knew I was almost done. 48.7 miles I hit another aid station. It is all really hitting me not to far. More chips for mama and so be it I grabbed some M & M’s too. Your tired of course at this point. Some are walking, some are speeding up, others are just running this is the end. 1.5 miles to go! I was so beyond happy. There was officers out providing direction to us and the vehicles to where we should go. And there was that moment when one officer says take your right the finish line is ahead. The emotion in me is undescribable. Another gentlemen reaches out to me get picture ready here we come. At this point no more words. I was breathless. I see my moment ahead and there was a total silence in my soul which I will never possibly be able to explain. Everything went silent. I later found out they called my name as I went through. I actually don’t remember anything. Just remember the bright lights and seeing all the activity around me and being given my medal and looking up and seeing my family and Sue running up on the hill waving. This long awaiting moment it now complete. I am a finisher! A JFK50Mile finisher! I get hugs, squeezes, kisses, everything. All I hear are you okay, you need to eat, lets get you warm. But I was still numb. It was my very moment, a mom who just gave birth to a baby 15 months ago and came back and got right back into shape and trained. “I did it!” My dream just came true!