{"id":352,"date":"2009-08-07T10:16:40","date_gmt":"2009-08-07T17:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/?p=352"},"modified":"2009-08-07T10:16:40","modified_gmt":"2009-08-07T17:16:40","slug":"babys-first-dnfs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/?p=352","title":{"rendered":"Baby’s first DNF(s)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s said bad things can happen to good people.\u00a0 But why, oh why, did it have to happen to me?\u00a0 After all, I consider myself an ambassador of the running community.\u00a0 I train well, backing off when I’m on the verge of injury.\u00a0 I serve as a mentor to new runners, encouraging them to challenge themselves and do their best.\u00a0 I thank all the volunteers and spectators who come to cheer us on.\u00a0 I discretely launch my snot rockets.\u00a0 I don’t pee in people’s yards (okay, so just once).<\/p>\n

So how could such tragedy befall me?<\/p>\n

Oh, who am I kidding?\u00a0 Even though I technically DNF’d from the Crescent Forest Marathon, I don’t consider it a “real” DNF.\u00a0 It’s not like I had been training for this race for months; rather, I decided about three days prior I’d run it.\u00a0 In addition, we didn’t shell out a ton in race fees — it was free, although we did pony up $20 as a donation.\u00a0 But considering I started the race fully intent on finishing it, I suppose it counts.<\/p>\n

Knowing I’d be in need of some serious recovery time after my Monster Month, I vowed not to run any marathons in July and August.\u00a0 My resolve was short-lived, as I was soon signing up for the Wild Thing Summer Fling that required each participant to wear a dress on their first 2.6-mile lap around Lake Padden (extra points for wearing red lipstick).\u00a0 Eager to run his first double, my darling signed up for Crescent Forest the day before.\u00a0 While tempted to run the entire thing, I decided I’d run just a couple of laps (the course is four laps) and then cheer my darling on.\u00a0 But as the weekend neared I began jonesing for another double (call me a masochist), so I emailed the race director to let him know I’d be joining in on the fun.<\/p>\n

Despite starting in a residential area of Gig Harbor, the course is primarily on single-track trails.\u00a0 As our group gathered at the start the RD warned us someone falls each year and seriously hurts themselves.\u00a0 My darling immediately raised his hand, claiming that would be him.\u00a0 Knowing his predilection for rolling his ankle, I quickly shushed him, fearing he was taunting the running gods.<\/p>\n

From the get-go, I knew this race would be tougher than what I’m used to.\u00a0 Although I lined up toward the back, I still had several runners nipping at my heels.\u00a0 But fortunately the trail opened up after a half mile and I let all of them pass me.\u00a0 While the weather threatened to get quite toasty, the trail was nicely covered by trees and the temp was perfect.\u00a0 The trail itself wasn’t too terribly technical, but I knew if would take more effort to run than a road marathon.<\/p>\n

Even though I was thoroughly enjoying the experience, a little over halfway through my first lap I started thinking about pulling out.\u00a0 I had nothing to prove with this race, and I feared aggravating my my groin pain should I continue.\u00a0 Knowing I’d be running this same course again in November, I at least wanted to run a couple of laps to familiarize myself with it.\u00a0 It was actually quite liberating once I made my decision and I was able to pick up my pace.<\/p>\n

However, once I reached the aid station at the start I heard a familiar voice — my darling’s.\u00a0 I looked up the hill to see him limping toward me \ud83d\ude41\u00a0 Turns out his prediction came true — within the first mile.\u00a0 He had been in the lead, but when he let the runner behind him pass he stepped on a root and rolled his ankle.\u00a0 I thought about pulling out then, but he encouraged me to run on.\u00a0 I begrudgingly ran another lap, for a total of just over 13 miles.
\n\"Matt's<\/p>\n

\n

While disappointed about not finishing, I knew I made the right decision.\u00a0 My legs and mind were fresh for the next day, and my darling didn’t have to sit around waiting for me.\u00a0 Plus,\u00a0I figured I’d appeased the running gods with a DNF (doesn’t everyone experience that some time in their running career?)\u00a0 The only bummer was missing out on the medal, hand-made from one of the downed trees.
\n\"cfmedal\"<\/p>\n

\n

Well, turns out the running gods weren’t through with me yet.<\/p>\n

Last weekend my darling signed up for yet another double — a couple of “fat ass” training runs along portions of the Cascade Crest Century course.\u00a0 The first day was 28 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail; the second was a little over 30 up to Thorpe Mountain.\u00a0 Again, I knew I wouldn’t be up for a double, but I decided I’d run the first day, which apparently was “easier.”\u00a0 There also would be an option to drop out early, whereas on day 2 you’d be committed to the end.<\/p>\n

As this would be my first “real” trail race, my anxiety grew as race day neared.\u00a0 My darling’s ankle still wasn’t fully healed, so there was a chance he would have to bail.\u00a0 We planned on running together the first day, but I also asked a fellow ultra-running Maniac if I could join her in case my darling couldn’t run.\u00a0 She was planning on running the course in 6-7 hours, which was the pace I was hoping for.<\/p>\n

In the week leading up to the race Seattle melted under the hottest temps ever recorded.\u00a0 Some may call us weenies, but when it’s in the high 90s\/low 100s, the air is stagnant and hardly anyone has air conditioning, it leads to some miserable days.\u00a0 I managed to get in my runs in the early morning, but felt lethargic the entire week.\u00a0 While the forecast called for “cooler” temperatures on the weekend, we’d still be dealing with temps in the high 80s\/low 90s.\u00a0 NOT my idea of fun running weather.
\n\"pcfarainier\"<\/p>\n

\n

From the get-go I knew my goal of a 6-7 hour day would be ludicrous.\u00a0 The trail started with a 3\/4-mile uphill with more than 500 feet of elevation gain.\u00a0 We basically hiked the uphills, but I found I could barely keep up even on the downhill portions.\u00a0 I was tailed only by the “sweeper,” whose job was to ensure no one got behind him.\u00a0 I was thrilled to see my darling was doing well, but I began sweating profusely and huffing & puffing.\u00a0 Fortunately I was well-stocked with water (I carried a hydration pack with a 64-ounce bladder), plus I carried a hand-held bottle of Heed.\u00a0 I also had several gels, Clif ShotBlocks and salt tabs.<\/p>\n

After taking almost an hour to run the first three miles, I began to wonder if I’d be able to make the full 28.\u00a0 Although there was some shade, many portions of the course were in open fields and the day would only get hotter.\u00a0 By mile 6 I decided it would be best to bail at the aid station just past mile 10, where we’d be able to get a ride back to the finish.\u00a0 I felt bad for my darling since I could tell he was eager to go on, but he too decided it would be best to stop.<\/p>\n

As we neared the 10-mile mark we saw some folks picking blueberries, and they said the aid station was less than a half a mile away.\u00a0 This news picked my spirits up and I started running again.\u00a0 Then, WHAM!\u00a0 I tripped on a root and took a header into the trail.\u00a0 Fortunately I picked the softest spot to fall; my left knee got banged up a bit but nothing too major.\u00a0 But that sealed the deal — there was no way I’d be continuing on.\u00a0 When we got to the aid station the RD gave us the keys to his car and continued on with the sweeper.<\/p>\n

\"pcfaicing\"<\/p>\n

\n

Back at the finish we grabbed our sandwiches and beer and headed down to the creek to ice our legs.\u00a0 It was pure heaven.\u00a0 We figured the lead runners would be coming along soon, so we decided to hang out.\u00a0 An hour went by and still no one.\u00a0 Finally we saw a couple of runners making their way down the trail, more than six hours after the race started.\u00a0 I thanked god I didn’t continue, since if it took these guys six hours to finish, I would have been looking at an 8 1\/2 to 9-hour finish.<\/p>\n

While it was disappointing to not finish either of these races, the experience merely showed me how much I have yet to learn about trail running.\u00a0 But I’m now the proud owner of a pair of Brooks Cascadia trail running shoes, and am looking forward to getting more practice on the trails.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s said bad things can happen to good people.\u00a0 But why, oh why, did it have to happen to me?\u00a0 After all, I consider myself an ambassador of the running community.\u00a0 I train well, backing off when I’m on the verge of injury.\u00a0 I serve as a mentor to new runners, encouraging them to challenge […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[117,116],"class_list":["post-352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness-musings","tag-dnf","tag-trail-running"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=352"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":359,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352\/revisions\/359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eatdrinkrunwoman.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}