Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear Recap Part 2- The Aftermath
First things first- thank you SO MUCH for all the kind comments yesterday! I thought about my blogging friends often during the race- I don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable if I couldn’t share it. So thanks for reading!!! When I left off yesterday, I had just crossed the finish line. I chatted a little with the woman in the yellow hat (who ran ahead of me for the latter part of the race) and we took pictures of each other. And then we both started to wonder how Mark was doing, or, as she said, “Where’s that guy with the bottle of Dr. Pepper?” I was feeling a little bad about the way our “relationship” had ended. Yes, he made some weird comments, but he also ran with me through a part of the race that can be mentally tough- miles 10-18, where you might be starting to get tired but the end is nowhere in sight. I was hoping to see him at the finish. I hung around for a little, but then reluctantly went to my car for fresh clothes. I needed to get changed and cleaned up… because I had to drive the four hours home. WHY. Why did I do that to myself? Ultimately, I was glad once I got home and could sleep in my own bed. But at that moment, the drive felt daunting. I had been up since 4 am and just ran a 50K. What I really wanted was a nap, but instead I washed off my feet, wiped down the rest of my body, changed, and got in the car. SIGH. Before I got on the highway, I stopped at a Publix and got a Vegan Turkey Club! A footlong sub with vegan cold cuts, vegan cheese, vegan ranch, and all the vegetables. I don’t usually eat this, so it was a real treat. Here’s my car feast: The Pub sub, Fritos, and- the best part- a large Coke Zero. YUM. The car ride wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated- I was on the Florida Turnpike, which is a pleasant road. I did have to stop for the bathroom several times, and this was a bit of a problem, because my sore calf, which had thankfully made it through the entire race, decided it was done for the day. Every time I got out of the car I had to kind of shuffle that leg along- I can only imagine what I looked like. At one point I texted my husband “Just leaving the Port St. Lucie aid station!” ER- service plaza. Not aid station. My mind was still back on the race. I finally got home, showered and WENT TO BED. Luckily I slept well… because Monday I had to work. YUCK! I didn’t request the day off because we’re always super busy on Memorial Day, so I just decided to suck it up. It probably wasn’t such a bad thing- it was good to be active. My calf is still sore, and I have various other aches and pains, which is to be expected. But the weirdest problem is a… rash? on my legs. It’s in little patches all over, but I’m going to show you the worst part, and I’m giving a warning, in case anyone is reading this while innocently eating breakfast. I don’t want you to scream, or choke and spew coffee all over the place. I KNOW. WHAT IS THAT. An allergic reaction to one of the plants on the trail? But it’s not itchy. It’s not bumpy or irritated. I wouldn’t even know it was there if it didn’t look so… disgusting. The worst part is, I really wanted to get a massage this week and now I can’t. I don’t THINK this is contagious, but since I don’t know what it is, I can’t ask anyone else to touch it. BUMMER. Sooooo…. what’s next? First the calf has to heal up. I’m not worried about it- I’ve been going for walks and it’s slowly getting better. Soon I’ll be lurking on Ultrasignup, looking for another race. Possibly a 50K in the fall? And… the 50 mile distance and I have some unfinished business. One final note- Mark finished the race about an hour after me. I’m very glad he finished, sorry that I didn’t see him, and ultimately glad that I started my drive when I did. But I’m hoping to see him again at a future race. Anyone a skin expert with an opinion on my leg “rash?” What’s your favorite treat meal?
Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear Race Recap- Trading Expectations for Appreciation
On Sunday, I ran the Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear 50K in Inverness, Florida. My goals for this race were to 1) FINISH, and 2) not complain about the heat. I’ll tell you right now that I achieved both of them. WOOHOO! Was there sweating? Yes, about 20 gallons worth. Was there swatting? No! Either the bug spray I used worked, or the flies weren’t out that day. Was there swearing? Read on to find out! Inverness is a four hour drive from where I live. I drove up there on Saturday afternoon, and on the way I listened to this episode of the Everyday Ultra podcast with Joe Corcione, “How to Destroy Race Day Anxiety.” His #1 tip was “Trade expectations for appreciation.” I decided to make that the theme of my race. The race started at 6:30 am, at the Mutual Mine Campground. I was there nice and early, and as I was doing some ankle mobility exercises, I let it all soak in- three months ago I couldn’t even walk on my left ankle, let alone run. Now here I was ready to start a 50K race and honestly- I couldn’t even tell which ankle was the one I sprained. Time- and a lot of hard work- really does heal all wounds. The race started, and we were running on some nice single track trails. The weather was beautiful! It wasn’t hot yet, and I was feeling good. After a few miles, I noticed something puzzling. There would be times when I felt like I was working harder than usual, and then times where running felt very easy. Finally I figured out- these are HILLS. Very gentle, rolling hills. We don’t have these things in South Florida! It didn’t bother me- I was just happy to know why my effort seemed to vary so much. As a matter of fact, I was cruising along feeling really good until at mile eight… I suddenly felt a sharp, pulling sensation in my right calf. WHAT IN THE WORLD. Is this a cramp? I walked a little and tried to massage it, but it wouldn’t go away. Remember Calf Guy from my Dunes 50K race recap?? The poor guy had a terrible cramp in his calf and had to hobble through most of the race. Oh NO! Had I become Calf Guy??? I didn’t really know if this was a cramp, or a strained muscle- I’ve never had this happen before (but what better time to start than mile 8 of a 31 mile race?) I just continued on. The calf hurt with every step, but the good news was, it didn’t seem to be getting any worse. I left the 10 mile aid station the same time as another runner, and as we were running about the same pace we ran together for a while. His name was Mark, and we talked about various races we’ve done. I told him my sob story about the Forgotten Florida, and he said he’s done numerous 50k’s, some 50 miles races and one 100 mile race. As we ran on together, I noticed something extraordinary. Mark wasn’t wearing a hydration vest or any kind of waist pack. The only thing he had with him was… a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Sometimes he would hold it, and sometimes he would put it in the pocket of his shorts. WAIT A MINUTE! Is that really Dr. Pepper in your bottle? Yep. Is that all the fuel you’re carrying? Yep. He said he’s a “minimalist,” and drinks water and eats a little of whatever they have at the aid stations, but otherwise he just carries a bottle of soda. Sure enough, when we got to the 14 mile aid station, he drank some water while the aid station workers filled his bottle with Coke. And speaking of that aid station… while I was grateful for every aid station and every volunteer that day, Mile 14 aid station won first prize. They were making WATERMELON SLUSHIES. Did I want one? OH YES I DID! Wow, that tasted good. We continued on our way- me with my flasks filled with water, and Mark with his bottle of Coke. We ran together for about four more miles, and I started to notice Mark’s pace was getting a little erratic. When he was running it was great, but then he would take walking breaks. Now, walking breaks are fine- actually, necessary- but his were getting a little meandering. At mile 18 I decided I would do better on my own. I told him I was going to put some music on and run ahead for a little. He said “Oh, my company isn’t good enough for you?” and… it was a little awkward. I mean, I think he was kidding but I wasn’t entirely sure. I assured him that I had planned all along to listen to music at mile 18 and he said, again, I hope jokingly, “Oh, so you’re one of those runners.” Again… awkward. I felt bad, but with all due respect- did I really want to tie my fate to a guy running with a bottle of Dr. Pepper in his pocket? It was time to run alone. I did think I would see Mark again later, and as a matter of fact I told him that as I ran off- but unfortunately I didn’t see him again. My music really did pep me up, and I was feeling pretty great. Compared to the 20 mile run I had done the week before, which wiped me out, I now had a ton of energy. Yes, it was hot, but there was a LOT of shade on this course, which we don’t have in South Florida, and that helped tremendously. I got to the 21 mile aid station feeling good. Now once again- I’m grateful to ALL the aid station workers that day (and I made it a point to tell them all) but if Mile 14 won
Weekly Rundown- RACE WEEK!
Hey hey!!! It’s race week! To go along with my “relaxed” buildup to this race, I also had a relaxed taper. Just a few short runs, minimal lower body strength, and guess what- I had no major aches or pains. Unlike previous tapers, where I was convinced my foot was broken or that I had serious shin splints, this one was uneventful! I’m starting to think this is the way to go. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s get right into it. Monday 4 mile run! This run felt extra good for some mysterious reason. Tuesday A full body strength workout from Sally McRae’s app. Good workout- a little bit of lower body but nothing too heavy. Wednesday I started the day with the Caroline Girvan Deadbug Workout, then after I dropped my daughter at school, continued on to the park for a 4 mile run on the cross country course. Thursday I did a Sally McRae upper body workout, followed by the CG deadbug workout again. Friday Last run before the race! This one, of course, felt horrible. My right hip was really tight and my feet were achy. That’s okay- I knew I couldn’t get through the week without something acting up. I didn’t do the whole Caroline Girvan workout, but did a few sets of deadbugs for good luck (What? That’s not a thing? Hrumph.) Saturday Off- slept in until 7, packed, went to work, and then BLASTED OFF TO INVERNESS, woohoo!!! Sunday RACE DAY! Funny thing- I was reading over my recap from the race I DNF’d in February, and in it I said “I’ll never complain about the heat again!” Oh, REALLY????? So I’m making that a goal for the day- I WILL NOT complain about the heat! That’s goal #1; goal #2 is to finish the race. Recap will be up on Tuesday!!! Are you racing this weekend? If so, good luck!
Friday Coffee Date- Managing Expectations
Hi there! Guess what I would talk about over coffee this week- my race! Tomorrow after work I’ll drive up to Inverness, about four hours away. I’ll spend the night up there and then Sunday, run my 50K. I’m excited! But, it’s interesting to compare this excitement to how I felt before my 50 mile race in February. I was looking forward to it so much, I could barely contain myself for the entire two weeks beforehand. Looking back, I did have certain expectations about that race. I trained for so long- it felt like forever- and did so many long runs, I absolutely expected to finish that race. I also wanted to finish before dark. As a matter of fact, I bought a cheap, inferior headlamp, thinking (hoping) that I probably wouldn’t have to use it. So I did have an expectation of how long it would take, or more accurately, I had a time goal. This time, due to circumstances, I signed up for the race almost on a whim. At the time I signed up, my ankle was still sore and there was no guarantee I would even be able to run it. I threw myself into an abbreviated training program, topped out at one 20 mile long run, and said “Good enough!” Honestly, I’m kind of enjoying this more laid-back attitude. Hey, whatever happens, happens! I’ll run it as fast as I can (or, as slowly.) I’ve already completed a 50K, so I’m not afraid of the distance. I’m just going to get out there and enjoy myself. It’s nice to have lowered expectations. Isn’t that one of the keys to happiness- expect less? I’ve mastered it here. Yesterday during my run I listened to this episode of Trail to 100 podcast. Kathleen Hanley was the guest, and she talked about different ultras she’s run. Her main advice for running a race is: Experience it, and be present with whatever experience you’re having. Looking back on my 50 mile race- yes, it was a huge disappointment, but it was still an experience. I got to see half the course; I got to see what goes on behind the scenes at an aid station; I found out what it feels like to DNF a race. Not all experiences are rainbows and sunshine, but they all make up our lives. I think that’s why it was so easy for me to write that race recap. If I had thought “ugh, I wish that day had never happened,” well- I wouldn’t have had much to say. But there was actually a LOT to say- I had an incredible experience to share, even though it wasn’t the experience I expected to have. Do I have any expectations for this race? Well, I would like to make it to the start line intact, and I would like to get through the race with no injuries. But there are no guarantees! I’ll try my best to make it happen, and take whatever the day gives me. What would you tell me over coffee? Have you ever thought about how your expectations affect your happiness? Top photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash