My Favorite DNF or My Almost Favorite Training Run or...

Be careful What You Ask For or....There are so many titles for this post running through my head.  It really isn't important.

So, I haven't been keeping up on posting, mainly because of working way too much.  It's a good thing I like my job, but it is cutting in to running a little too much.  I think it was two weekends in a row I kept promising the Squirrel that I just needed another hour, which turned into another hour, and another before we could meet up to run.  Finally, I knew we really needed to get our long run in so left work at 10am on Sunday to meet up with Mindy.  Rick also met us there.  I had given him instructions to head out with Mindy if I wasn't in the parking lot by 10:30.  As it was she'd waited for me till late afternoon the day before.  I think I got in 7.5 starting just after 4pm.   I really appreciate that the Squirrel waited for me.  It made it a hotter run for her.  We enjoyed Rick's company for 7 miles, then said bye as we continued on a loop of the BBU.  I think I started us out a little fast - running off the stress of work.  The Squirrel was not feeling it early on, but that's pretty normal; she has trouble getting started, but I know she'll recover later.  After a loop of the BBU, I think she really was dragging.  I said not to worry, I would make sure we got in our run cause I'd feel too guilty about leaving work otherwise.  Well, by the time we were at 23 miles, I started to bonk.  I don't know if it was the heat, the lack of sleep, my GI trouble, or work stress, but I felt like shit.  Not to worry, the Squirrel talked me through.  We'd just take our time.  She'd totally recovered and pulled me through.

The next weekend was our taper.  Squirrel went to Acadia with a TM group for camping/running fun.  I worked Saturday till about 2, then headed to Brad for 13 miles.  Sunday I did not work.  Mmmmm.  I did not work.  Rick and I went to the Brad for 7. 

Oh, yeah, this was supposed to be about Wapack.  Well, Rick did most of the prep for me.  He made a spreadsheet with times at the aid stations for different paces.  He got directions to each.  He packed up most of the stuff and took all of Friday off to pack up.  I left work at 3pm.  Wow, I was going to have a full weekend off.  It seems like the cubes are always with me though.  Most nights I dream of work.

When Rick and I got near the hotel I texted the Squirrel, "WTF?!  It's 79 degrees.  Rain sounds good."  Rick and I got to the hotel about 1/2 hr before Pete, Mindy, and Ben.  It was enough time to research the local restaurants to find an Italian option.  Not long after they got in, we all piled in our car to head to dinner.  It was the perfect place for carbo loading.  The only thing was it was very laid back so it took a long time to eat and get out.  I think it was after 9 by the time we got back to the hotel.  That doesn't sound late, but I hadn't slept well (big surprise) in a few nights and we were setting the alarm for 3:30am.  We all had agreed to meet in the hall for 4,

Ben wanted to do a quick get-to-know-you interview before the race.  We'd never met before, but he'd planned to do a documentary about the S&S Haliburton adventure almost as soon as we'd decided to take it on.  He did the interview as I packed my drop bags.  By the time Rick and I turned out the lights, I think it was 10:30.

We were all in the hall just before 4am.  I imagined that there would be a Dunkin' Donuts on the way because we were in Massachusetts.  Nope.  So I only had a banana.  Well, I wouldn't normally eat at this hour anyway.  S&S were going to eat early and often.  Well, at least, we were going to work on our hydration and fuel.  The start of the race was pretty low key; there were only 35 of us, after all.  Wearing our headlamps, we pick up our numbers, tech shirts, and finished getting ready.  The pre-race  briefing was just that - brief.  We were off!  Was it just after or just before that we felt the first rain drops? 

We were almost immediately climbing.  I knew there was an early up, but I didn't know it'd be right away.  One of the Squirrel's goals was to start slowly.  This hill would certainly help.  The drops became a steady, light drizzle.

That's the first installment.