I was itching to get some solid time in the woods (and maybe a little break from the three very cool men I live with), so I emailed Mo and asked if she may want to head to Ellijay for a last minute ride/run trip. She already had plans to do a 40 mile trail running race, put on by
GUTS, at Pine Mountain and she invited me to come along. She had a room reserved at the lodge with a
jacuzzi tub and everything!
Hmmm, heading south AWAY from the mountains.....I dunno.
Well, I took her up on her offer and though I didn't leave my house until much later on Saturday than I had planned, I still got in a quick run at Dauset along the way. It was right before dark, so I kept sprinting the same section that was right near the parking lot, in case the guy came to close the entrance gate. (it would just be my luck to get locked in and spend the night in my car...) The Christmas lights were pretty cool along the drive down to FDR Park.
I found the lodge without a hitch, but was completely speechless when I walked into the room. Molly just started laughing as I was trying to figure out the decor..... right beside the bed was a jacuzzi, alright.....a giant-candy apple red-heart shaped-jacuzzi, with mirrors around it. It was HILARIOUS!!!!!
Molly packed for the race and shared her pizza with me, then we got to bed at a decent time and slept really well.
The next morning, the car said it was 19 degrees and I didn't think it was supposed to get much warmer than the mid 30's for the day. The wind was crazy, but we would be in the woods, so no worries. I think I ended up wearing 6 layers on my core, then would strip down to 3 when I ran.
I had actually come up with a plan to ride my bike from aid station to aid station, since the race director had said there was very little parking. But, truth be told, I couldn't fit Molly's huge container of cookies in my backpack, so I had to come up with an alternate plan. :>)
The start was cold, freakin' cold, and early and dark and did I mention COLD?!?!
But the runners would warm up, soon enough.
As soon as they were off, I high-tailed it to the first aid station and went for my own short run, then cheered for Mo as she came through. She was running very steady and in the top 1/4 of the crowd, but I have not been with her for an endurance running event, and didn't give too much info/excitement away, as I wasn't sure how her next 30+ miles would be.
2nd aid station: named MOLLY HUGGER HILL. What a great name for a trail! She didn't get a hug, but I did mock-sprint her to her cookies (and I won, I must say). Molly is able to put away a huge amount of cookies during her races, which I find interesting.
I got to hang out with my new buddies at the aid stations. I need one of those hats!
3rd aid station: This area has beautiful views, which means we are high and the runners have had to climb up to this point. I can tell Molly is worried about her pace, as this leg was a little slower, but so was everyone else. There must have been a good bit of climbing and Molly is holding a great position in the top ten for the women. I start giving splits.
4th aid station: I run for a bit on the trail as I wait for Molly and the guys start to tease me about my own little aid station set-up. It looks like a picnic. So much time can be lost in transition/aid, so we have everything laid out and easy to get to. As I run down the trail I come across this crazy rocky ledge that the racers have to scramble up. (after running 18 miles at race pace) The leaves on the trail are beautiful, but you never know what is underneath them. (I run some more)
Me and FDR became good buddies.......
I don't go to the 5th aid station, as it is the turn-around point and I might not make it back to this station in time, so I stay here. I go for another run, then I park the car where I can see the trail and I sit in the car and wait......then fell asleep..then wake up and wait and wait and wait for Molly......then called Anet and said, "hey, I think I lost Molly and there are snow flurries here". Anet says, "hey, snow flurries are cool.....maybe you should go find Molly!"
Ah, the trail does not come back exactly the same way, so I bust it to the next aid station and wait until I recognize the runners who were around Mo. Here I am met by a large, stray Rottweiler. He is desperate for Molly's cookies and anything else I will give him. He snorts and sniffs and shuffles my containers away into the woods, where I have to chase him down and bring them back. He is very funny. (but sadly too thin) We share a pay-day, clif bar, cookie and a couple shot blocks.
Molly comes through and is still going strong. She looks confident and surprised at how good she feels. The hand-off is smooth and she keeps on truckin' (I run)
Aid station 8: I get the scoop that the top lady had fallen and is out of the race, at the last aid station there was a change of positions and I am able to give the splits, now. Molly has a very steady chance at top 5, but there are two ladies that are close behind. A lot can happen over the next 8 miles. I obviously put too much electrolyte fluid in Molly's water and now the world knows it and she shouts through the woods, "WOW, you made that really STRONG!!" (I run)
Aid station 9: I have the best songs EVER picked out on my ipod for Molly to listen to on the last leg. But, she is feeling very strong and blows off the ipod, my feelings are crushed and I think to myself in a nasty voice, "well fine, if she doesn't have the best last leg of her life, it's because she doesn't have MY music to listen to". (I run)
Molly finishes a strong 5th and gets a super cool handmade mug. We see a couple friends and visit for a bit, then we head back to room to clean up and I decide to head home to Shey and the boys and sleep in my own bed. I am sure Molly thoroughly enjoyed her heart shaped jacuzzi!
It was a great race and Molly was walking on air with her really, really strong run!! Huge congrats, girlie!!!
