The Scuffle

Spot got me up early Sunday, as usual.  I wished for more time to recover from yesterday's depletion, but...I was able to get laundry done and write a blog post before getting ready for the race.

Rick was running even though he hadn't run much in weeks.  He had just shown hints of getting back to form when he pulled a calf muscle.  He certainly hadn't done any hot runs.

As much as I like running, I like the Bradbury Dirt Series almost as much for the non-running parts.  I love getting there early and feeling the race excitement with all the TMs and the other runners we see only at the races.  As we drove in, I was so happy and moved to see Steve Day there.  Rick said he was coming if he felt good.  So, it was doubly good to see him - it meant he felt good.  Not only did he show, but he went out to an aid station to help :D

NJ Dave, s.b.k.a Gator, pulled into Bradbury a sweaty mess; he'd run to the race from Brunswick!  Badass!!!  May have hurt his performance a bit in the race, but he was more looking for a good effort to help with his pacing of Jeremy in the VT100 (!!!!!!!! can't wait!!!!!!).

Speaking of VT, George gave me my instruction sheet for my pacing job.  It was just a few directions on getting to the right place and his and Ann's cell numbers.  I think I've got a cake job as far as pacing someone goes.  We are gonna get him in under his time goal and have fun.  I'm also psyched that Unstrung is riding over with me and has someone to pace who may be on the same page as George.

After a moving tribute to Chris by Ian, the race started.

I had hoped to run the race right out of me yesterday.  I really didn't mean to do such a thorough job of it.  What I mean by that, is that I have a hard time just running a race and not really racing it.  I have a hard time even controlling my pace to not go out full blast.  Last year, I was successful at just running the Breaker cause the Squirrel and I had done the Ultra-Xtreme Badass the day before.  So the Breaker was still work, but I just ran.  Well, yesterday I meant to run a long way and be tired.  I didn't mean to bonk.  Hard.  Still, even though I didn't feel myself at the start, I felt the urge to run a little fast.  George was right with me.  So was Evan Morrison.  We stayed together for a while.  I felt better as I ran till around 2.5 - 3 miles.  Oh, the legs and lungs were there, but I had nothing in the tank.  Nothing.  I hope it didn't worry George too much when his pacer couldn't keep pace.   I'd decided to take way more fluids with me in my Nathan Pack than anyone should ever need in a 6 miler in Maine.  I drank every drop.

So I spent the rest of the miles, running pretty good when I ran, but walking a lot.  At one point I rejoined Evan.  His calves were causing him some trouble; he's transitioning to the Vibrams.  The rest of him was fine though and he was great company for a while.

I came in in something like 1:03:4X, around 7 minutes over my PR, but I can't complain (now, I think I did right after).  I can't even claim not to have been racing.  That was what I had to offer that day.

Rick kind of ended up feeling the way I had the day before.  The only thing that he was happy with, well, the only two things he was happy with were: one - his calf held up, and two - he has one third of the Badass earned.

We went home an rehydrated the rest of the day.