Stone Cat and Brad

Rick took Friday off so we could head down to Danvers a little earlier.  We checked into the hotel then went to the running store holding the race number pick up.  We had the time and it entered Rick into a drawing for free trail shoes.  We both bought cheap sleeves.  I like mine; Rick found that one size does not fit all.  He still started the race in them.

Unlike last year, not too many TMs were staying in the race hotel the night before.  Julia and David were so we planned to meet them for dinner at the Italian restaurant across from the hotel.  I made reservations for six in case Kevin and his son could make it.  Pathfinder doubted it, but we saved him seats just in case.  He was right.  Julia, David, Rick and I enjoyed the food and conversation.  It was still raining lightly when we walked back to the hotel.  Turns out, they had the room across from ours!

Rick wanted to try to sleep early.  There was nothing at all on TV and I'd finished my book, so I decided to turn in, too.  I actually fell asleep fairly fast.  Then I woke at midnight, but was able to fall back asleep till just after 2:30 am.  That was it.  I just tossed and turned and waited for the alarm.  4:04am.  Time to shine :)

I dressed to run.  The Squirrel and I were thinking we'd flit about the course, seeing TMs all over.  I just needed to be back at the Start/Finish for Rick's 1/2 way and finish.  I realized I forgot to pack anything to pull over my shorts (it was colder than I had anticipated) so I wore my Hello Kitty pajama bottoms.  

All the TMs running and supporting milled around the gym.  There was an announcement that the race would start a little late.  Next there was an announcement, when the race should have been starting that there would be two starts.  The 50 milers would go 15 minutes before the marathoners.  In and of itself, that would be a good idea, but the marathoners had to wait a full 1/2 hour from the scheduled start.  I know Rick didn't appreciate the wait.  One nice thing was that they practically didn't need their headlamps.  Ann didn't even start with hers!

Snowman had started setting up camp.  He had his grill, chairs, cooler, and Danielle's aid station.  I made the command decision so put Rick's drop bag in the area.  Alison and Frankie were setting up Jeremy's stuff.  At some point, I said to the Squirrel, "Are we running?"  She made a face that was just like I was feeling.  Our Stone Cat experience would be from Snowman's camp.  We had so much fun and excitement cheering for our marathoners, Julia, Ian, Danielle, Ann, George, Nathan, Kevin, and Rick and our 50 milers, Jeremy and Iron Joe.  All the time waiting for our runners was filled with cheering for all the other competitors and enjoying Ryan's yummy pancakes, bacon, brats, and beer.  Francesca also kept everyone smiling with her bulldogness.  No kidding, dragging 50ers would look at her and smile.

Rick came through his first 1/2+ in just 2:10:xx.  I really didn't expect him that soon.  He said he was feeling pretty beat up.  His last loop, he'd suffer for going out too fast.  I started to worry.  I asked the Jedi when he saw Rick last.  He'd passed him around 15 miles.  I stripped off my Hello Kitty pjs, my 3 hoodies, and ran out the course backwards.  I hated having everyone waste their "nice work"s on me.  Yeah, I guess I would be looking pretty strong if I was setting out on my 3rd lap of a 50 considering I hadn't even run 1 mile yet.  I stopped trying to explain and just smiled.  I found two volunteers manning an intersection.  They said right there was a good place to wait; runners approach, head into a ~mile loop, and come out just over there.  I debated whether to keep running backward or wait there.  Had they seen a marathoner, Number 1, yet.  Yeah, he was in the loop.  That was all I needed to know.  I ran back to the finish to wait for his.  He ran it in.  Yay!  It was his first marathon in six years and his first ever trail marathon.  Yay!!!

He peeled off his sweaty shirt and layered on the dry clothes to cheer in the others.  Ryan made sure he got a brat and beer :) Rick said one volunteer out there noticed his trail monster shirt and said, "Trail Monster AND number 1?  Get running!" in a (maybe) Russian accent.  <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">
Julia ran an amazing race.  She blew away the previous course record.  Unfortunately, two other woman took more time off it.  Ian PRed.  Danielle came SO close to breaking 4 hrs.  Nathan took lots of minutes off his time.  Kevin PRed despite having ITB issues since the BBU.  Ann came in smiling as usual (I only actually saw the 1/2 way smile; I missed her actual finish running to the store :(  ).  Jeff, Jeremy's cousin rocked out an amazing marathon.  Jeremy killed the 50.  Amazing.  Joe sprinted the end of his 50 to pick up another place!  

I loved watching all the shapes, sizes, paces, and styles throughout the day.  

Rick and I were asleep really early.  He seemed pretty good upon waking and hasn't seemed hobbled at all :D :D :D

We were back to the house before 10am. (thanks time change).  Oh, yeah, I could see Brad!  I made it there to see the end of the TM TM (Trail Monster trail maintenance).  They did a wonderful job!

I ran up Terrace, to the summit, down South Ridge, up South Ridge, the Boundary to the Reverse Mindy, to the Boundary, up Ski, up Northern Loop to Northern Bluff, down Terrace and then on to the east side.  I finished at about 9 miles.  I felt like I could run all day, but had things to do.