June 17-18
Wasatch Back
Run. Drive. Sleep? Repeat.
12 (crazy) people, 2 stinky van, 192 miles.
______________________
The Todd hooked us up with a sponsor for our team.
*Team REDCLOVER*
We each got running shirts, cash for fees, decals for our vans (sorry, I have no pictures of our awesome vans) and watches. Yea, we a sort of a big deal.
Van #1 members;
Merlin & Lezlie, Aaron & Amy, Todd & Amy
Van #2 members; Katie, Desi, DJ, MeLisa, Jon, Alisa
Our best friend, the Honey Buckets
We got up Friday morning at 3:30ish to go to the orientation/safety briefing that was mandatory before we could start the race at 5am. It was so so so cold, and the wind was blowing like crazy. Poor Aaron, he had the first leg in the dark, in the freezing cold.
We were a little late and started at 5:14. It was pretty crowded those first few hours, but we were so fast we got out ahead of the group ;)
My first leg was at about 7am. 5 miles. It was kinda hard for me, because I am not a runner, but it had warmed up and turned out to be a nice day and I had nice scenery to look at. I ran through a little country town and the road/path I was on paralleled a little stream.
My second leg started at about 5pm. 4 miles. It was good. I felt really good. I didn't feel tired. Don't get me wrong, I was still really slow. All the teams that Amy Woff passed during her turn right before me passed me up easily. It didn't bother me until the pregnant girl passed me. *shrug* Oh well. With about half a mile left in my second leg I started to notice that I had a blister on my left foot.
I have known my teammates on van #1 for a very long time. Amy Woff, I have known since, well before I can remember. Our parents were friends before we were born. The boys Aaron & Todd, I have known since grade school. Amy Stoddard I have know since middle school. And Merlin, well, I'm married to him. Anyway, I thought I knew them. By the time we finished our second leg at about 8pm, I knew them and they knew me better than anyone would want to know a person.
We drove to our next van exchange, which was in Kamas. We pulled into town and 9:45pm hungry and tired. We found a pizza place that closed at 10:00. We ate, then headed over to the high school for a hot shower and hopefully a few hours of sleep. I went to the locker room and took my first locker room shower EVER. (Which is kinda ironic, with all the sports I played in high school & college) At that point I was so tired and stinky, I didn't care. I did however keep my eyes closed the whole time and hoped the others did the same. By the time we got showered and settled, it was about midnight. Merlin and I slept in the van. The other were in the high school gym. I was pretty cozy and slept relatively well, until 2am, when it was time to start running again. With a quick trip to the first aid tent to get my blister taped up, we were ready to go.
My third and final leg started at about 5am. 4 miles. I was running on a slight downhill in to Heber Valley. I felt really good. I didn't feel tired. My muscles were not sore. And the downhill was just enough that I didn't have to put forth to much effort to keep going. I was thinking, "my team is going to be so surprised. I am going to have a great time. I will probably be able to run the whole way." (My other legs were run, walk, run, walk)
It was at that point, .8 of the first mile to be exact when I rolled my right ankle and fell. Why I don't know. It was dark, I don't know if I stepped on a rock or if my body was more tired than I thought. The pain was immediate. And so were the tears. My team didn't see me fall. They were waiting for me .2 miles up the road. The runner behind me helped me up. I didn't know if I would be able to walk, let alone run 3 more miles. I started to limp along. I looked at the stars and the moon and thought about my dad. I started to go a little faster and began to think I might be able to finish my leg. Yes, it was hurting but I decided that I would be able to finish. I started to go a little faster and that is when my blister popped. Awesome. Left foot blister, right foot twisted ankle. Both Amy's offered to run my miles, but I was too stubborn. I was going to finish and I did.
Merlin was the next runner. His final leg of the race ended right in front of the cemetery where my dad is buried. I could see all his flowers from the road. It had only been 9 days since the funeral.
It was bitter-sweet.
We showered and crashed for a few hours until it was time to meet van #2 at the finish line. Our total time was 31:16:10.
Here are a few pictures from our adventure---
Merlin pretending to run as I walk next to him to give him water.
Merlin & Todd at one of the exchanges.
Amy Woff. Wow, she is a running machine.
Almost there.
We did it! Wahoo!
Finish line photo.
Team REDCLOVER
It was fun!
12 (crazy) people, 2 stinky van, 192 miles.
______________________
The Todd hooked us up with a sponsor for our team.
*Team REDCLOVER*
We each got running shirts, cash for fees, decals for our vans (sorry, I have no pictures of our awesome vans) and watches. Yea, we a sort of a big deal.
Van #1 members;
Merlin & Lezlie, Aaron & Amy, Todd & Amy
Van #2 members; Katie, Desi, DJ, MeLisa, Jon, Alisa
Our best friend, the Honey Buckets
We got up Friday morning at 3:30ish to go to the orientation/safety briefing that was mandatory before we could start the race at 5am. It was so so so cold, and the wind was blowing like crazy. Poor Aaron, he had the first leg in the dark, in the freezing cold.
We were a little late and started at 5:14. It was pretty crowded those first few hours, but we were so fast we got out ahead of the group ;)
My first leg was at about 7am. 5 miles. It was kinda hard for me, because I am not a runner, but it had warmed up and turned out to be a nice day and I had nice scenery to look at. I ran through a little country town and the road/path I was on paralleled a little stream.
My second leg started at about 5pm. 4 miles. It was good. I felt really good. I didn't feel tired. Don't get me wrong, I was still really slow. All the teams that Amy Woff passed during her turn right before me passed me up easily. It didn't bother me until the pregnant girl passed me. *shrug* Oh well. With about half a mile left in my second leg I started to notice that I had a blister on my left foot.
I have known my teammates on van #1 for a very long time. Amy Woff, I have known since, well before I can remember. Our parents were friends before we were born. The boys Aaron & Todd, I have known since grade school. Amy Stoddard I have know since middle school. And Merlin, well, I'm married to him. Anyway, I thought I knew them. By the time we finished our second leg at about 8pm, I knew them and they knew me better than anyone would want to know a person.
We drove to our next van exchange, which was in Kamas. We pulled into town and 9:45pm hungry and tired. We found a pizza place that closed at 10:00. We ate, then headed over to the high school for a hot shower and hopefully a few hours of sleep. I went to the locker room and took my first locker room shower EVER. (Which is kinda ironic, with all the sports I played in high school & college) At that point I was so tired and stinky, I didn't care. I did however keep my eyes closed the whole time and hoped the others did the same. By the time we got showered and settled, it was about midnight. Merlin and I slept in the van. The other were in the high school gym. I was pretty cozy and slept relatively well, until 2am, when it was time to start running again. With a quick trip to the first aid tent to get my blister taped up, we were ready to go.
My third and final leg started at about 5am. 4 miles. I was running on a slight downhill in to Heber Valley. I felt really good. I didn't feel tired. My muscles were not sore. And the downhill was just enough that I didn't have to put forth to much effort to keep going. I was thinking, "my team is going to be so surprised. I am going to have a great time. I will probably be able to run the whole way." (My other legs were run, walk, run, walk)
It was at that point, .8 of the first mile to be exact when I rolled my right ankle and fell. Why I don't know. It was dark, I don't know if I stepped on a rock or if my body was more tired than I thought. The pain was immediate. And so were the tears. My team didn't see me fall. They were waiting for me .2 miles up the road. The runner behind me helped me up. I didn't know if I would be able to walk, let alone run 3 more miles. I started to limp along. I looked at the stars and the moon and thought about my dad. I started to go a little faster and began to think I might be able to finish my leg. Yes, it was hurting but I decided that I would be able to finish. I started to go a little faster and that is when my blister popped. Awesome. Left foot blister, right foot twisted ankle. Both Amy's offered to run my miles, but I was too stubborn. I was going to finish and I did.
Merlin was the next runner. His final leg of the race ended right in front of the cemetery where my dad is buried. I could see all his flowers from the road. It had only been 9 days since the funeral.
It was bitter-sweet.
We showered and crashed for a few hours until it was time to meet van #2 at the finish line. Our total time was 31:16:10.
Here are a few pictures from our adventure---
Merlin pretending to run as I walk next to him to give him water.
Merlin & Todd at one of the exchanges.
Amy Woff. Wow, she is a running machine.
Almost there.
We did it! Wahoo!
Finish line photo.
Team REDCLOVER
It was fun!
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