Run for Regis recap

Sunday, I ran the eighth annual Run for Regis (check out my race preview here!)

The race is a half, full marathon and 50K and runners can change distances during the race. It runs two loops: one 5.1 mile loop (green) and one 8 mile loop (orange) and repeat over and over until you are done.

I was on my own for this one (or at least without Erin. A few people I knew even asked me where she was!), but luckily I had Kirsten and her sister, bro-in-law and friend, Brian, to run with.

It snowed most of Friday and Saturday and Sunday morning, temps were in the low teens. . When I got out of the car, I kicked myself for running this race and not going to the Road Race Series awards brunch so I could get my last RRS first place female AG award (damn).

Shortly after 7:30, 200 or so of my closest friends and I were off into a big, snowy field (which later became a big muddy field):

I’m going to be honest, I don’t remember much from the loops at all. I do remember my hands being cold a lot… especially every time after we stopped and started again. I ran a lot with my hands balled up in a fist inside my glove. Case in point:

At least I’m still smiling?

The first two loops went well. I was feeling pretty good, nothing hurt, nothing was cold other than my hands and the only thing that really sucked was when my handheld froze and I couldn’t get it open. Luckily, the aid stations had hot water and I started filling my bottle with mostly warm water and a little cold to keep it from happening again.

The trails weren’t too bad at all. It was cold enough that the snow was packed, but not icy (yet) and we were moving along. We took a lot of photos, my hair was frozen:

After 13.1, Kirsten’s sister, Kelly, was done and finished with her first trail half! The rest of us lucky ones went out for more. The third loop (or second 5.1 mile loop) went by rather quickly. I don’t remember much about it either other than seeing Vince from Vertical Runner and some of the really fast guys coming through and finishing off the 50K. Oh and at mile 18.62, we saw a guy with a completely frosty and snowy beard.

About three-quarters of a mile into the last 8 mile loop (right by the ledges), we were going down a hill and I started talking to some guy walking up it with a dog. I was leading the pack (at this point, it was just myself, Kirsten and Brian. Mike had ditched us). And of course, next thing I know, I’m half on the ground, holding myself up with my arms. My left knee had crashed on the rock next to me and I don’t know what happened to my right leg, but it was OK. I passed it off like it was nothing and said it was about time one of us fell, brushed off the snow and kept going.

But pretty soon, I was in a world of hurt and so very badly wanted to stop. I decided that after the loop was over, so was my race and Run for Regis would become my third marathon/first trail marathon. I went back and forth in my head, telling myself that if I were feeling OK, I should change my mind and that if Erin were running with me, she wouldn’t let me quit (that and I don’t think I would have complained as much, ha). I became kinda bitchy and snippy and tried to push the pace a little because I wanted to finish the race and go home.

Of course, I fell again a few miles later. This time I didn’t hit anything, but again, caught myself with my hands and yelled some obscenities and nearly started crying in public. Fail. My knee hurt more and more and was just becoming an all over pain.

I started counting down the miles, but did my best to keep up and not completely just give up on it. After coming back up to the Ledges and seeing the open field again to the start/finish, I did what I do best and started kicking. At that point, I was on pure heart. My right leg was sore and my left just radiated in pain. With some words of encouragement from Brian, I pushed as hard as I could to the finish.

And then I crossed the line of my first trail marathon in 6:20:37. Mike, Kirsten and Brian all finished the 50K (so proud!) a little later. I stuck around long enough to eat some food and get my finisher’s gift:

Yes, that’s what you get in small races (especially trail ones). Though the race didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted, I’ll wear it proudly.