The Virgil Crest 50 Mile Fun Run

Running Virgil was definitely a different experience than Peaks.  Mindy and I had carefully trained for Peaks.  We'd done every step that was on our schedule.  It was a big, big event.  During it, even in the hard parts, we were having...well maybe not fun, but the ultra equivalent.  When it was over, it was all we wanted to talk about.  It was epic.  We had evil, fun mantras, conquered the unknown miles, and ran it in strong having defeated the trials of the trail.

We went into Virgil calling it a fun run.  I'd not let my mileage totally drop since Peaks, but I wasn't training for anything.  I think most of my Saturday runs were 15ish.  When the Jedi worked his mind tricks and Mindy and I were on board for the 50 mile fun run, I got in another 18 and then Xar's fatass 50K.  Good enough.

Virgil taught me a lot, but left me with more questions.  I know what I want to put in drop bags now (pretty much everything).  I learned from the equipped Husky that gIANt brought and shared. I know I need to figure out why I can't eat after 35 miles.  It sucks to feel like your going to hurl if you even look at food.  My Happy Tot baby food seemed to go down well, but I didn't pack enough.  I think I'll experiment with putting some extra chia seeds in it just to get more calories in.

After the first time around the Alpine Loop, 14+miles in, Mindy and I were trying not to be too smug but, we definitely had an "that was it?!" feeling going on.  We ran pretty strong going out 25.  Coming back, the trail was more slippery with the rain that fell.  The downed trees were a pain in the ass to step over.  We'd talked to many cool runners on the way out.  Heading back we ran with Scott for a while.  He's the one I took a goose for at the start (you'll have to catch me in person for the entire story).  He was doing the 100 and decided he better turn on the gas; he was worried about where he'd be when the darkness fell.  It was so cool to see how he could just go.

I like when we get to 35+ as far as miles go (but not how my stomach goes).  I know we'll crank it out.  I also like the really late miles cause Scout and Squirrel have some interesting communication skills.  It seems like she can always make sense out of whatever compilation of words that comes out of my mouth.  I know before that I've said that when we start to have to focus hard on the trail and the conversation ends, I'll be thinking our conversation.  What's weird is when I actually start voicing some of the conversation, invariably the Squirrel will say that she'd just been thinking about that.

I know I could run a 50 by myself, but I don't think I'd want to.  I've been spoiled.  S&S have ups and downs, but it seems like mostly when one's not feeling it, the other one is and can pull both through.  In the really hard stretches I want to use the old cliche that misery loves company, but it's more like with the right company the shared misery isn't.

Still, the darkness slowed us even more.   We were getting it done, but slowly.  I wanna be there already.  The light lights!!!  The mean run around the lake was just that...but then there was Rick to run us in the last few hundred yards.  Done.  We wanted to hang out to see the Jedi come in, but were so cold.  Ann said we should go get showers.  OK.  When George finished up he and Ann came to the Love Nest.  George showered and Ann brought out goodies.  Before the only thing I could get down after the race was a beer, but Ann's Spinach Balls were exactly, exactly what I wanted.  Yummmm!  The fun run was done.