Run Rabbit Run Wrap Up

 After my finish-line hug with Rick, I really don't remember how I was ushered to a chair they'd readied for me. What do you want to eat? I really don't want to eat. I'd love a beer. Fortunately for me, the Brewery we ate at for our pre-race dinner was providing beers at the finish. I got the same beer at the finish as at the start of it all. A second beer and I was ready to enjoy the finish festivities. Jedi was stretched out on the other side of the finish. Tammy and Kenny saw him to all the miles that were in him given his rib injury early on. 

Rick asked if I was good to walk or if he should get the vehicle. I totally misunderstood. Of course I was able to walk to the car...but he meant the condo. Yup, I guess I was okay to walk the mile mostly uphill cause we got there! I still didn't feel like eating. The shower was joyous. I couldn't get all the dirt off; it was deeply imbedded, but I got as much off as I could.

I didn't get my usual 100 mile sleep. I don't know why; Rick and I had a great bed. Bucky was up first of the others. We talked about the race some and tried to make coffee. There were issues with our coffee maker. Everyone was up in time to meet our whole TMR gang for breakfast. It was everything a post ultra breakfast should be: over the top breakfasts that could feed an army, breakfast beverages, and stories and love from the trail. We said bye to Tammy, Kenny, Jedi, and Ann, but the rest of us continued the fun at our condo with football, munchies, beers, and take out. It was a great post-race way to end it.

Then it was all about getting home and back to "normal." The post 100 let down is interesting. You've bonded harder with your people than most can imagine. You've completed what you've been working for months and months. You're super happy, but there's this void. And fog. I am so happy to have finished. I am officially the oldest woman to have ever finished Run Rabbit Run. I didn't need the extra time that they give women over 50 and men over 60. No other women over 60 started this year. Of the seven 50 year olds, 3 dropped, and two finished behind me. The two that finished ahead of me were 50 and 53. 53 is the age I was when I finished my first 100. I felt good being done.

Since then, I have had a hip issue. Well, that's not totally correct; I've had a hip issue for years. It hurt enough for me to finally see someone. We'll see if we can get it corrected! 

I love the 100 because of what it does to and for you. So the last thing I want to talk about is what worked and what didn't. First and foremost, what worked for me was my amazing husband and friends. Rick has been okay with our vacations for the last 10 or more years being mainly about my races. And that doesn't even count all the days that were about my training.

Then there's Tanya, Mindy, and Bucky. Tanya and Mindy were back for 3rd times the charm. Neither of them got to do anything on the 2022 RRR try. Mindy was going to do miles 44 -70 and Tanya was going to bring me home. But that year, Bucky and I both went south together very early. By the time we got to Mindy at Dry Lake, we'd both quit. We didn't even try to recover. Regretting that decision, Bucky and I both signed up for 2023. Mindy and Tanya were both in for the same miles. Well, Bucky found out that altitude was really his enemy and dropped earlier than in 2022. Mindy got me to Tanya, who dealt with my folded body until the final aid station before the finish. Sigh,

These three amazing, wonderful, best of friends agreed to come back again. Three years, my race dictated their vacations. How blessed am I? I learned weeks after, that Bucky paid the price for heading up to Werner to see me to the finish. Upon getting me to my buckle, he proceeded to throw up profusely. He gets to be my favorite trail kid for a long time. 

The random things that were my friend during the race....So, Tailwind is the reason I can get through an ultra. Turns out, I can't stomach just any flavor though. I'd say 3/4 or more of the calories I took in during were from Tailwind. The rest were pancakes and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate, if you can get it not to b brown water, is an amazing resource. Coffee saved me for a third time in the three 100s that I've finished. The first, Haliburton, and this one might have been the most dramatic saves. 

The Solomon quiver that Todd lent me was a definite win. The new gloves that I bought in Breckenridge were very handy (snicker, snicker!), as was the fleece headband that Squirrel picked up for me at REI in Silverthorne (I was shocked to find I hadn't packed a headband when I was doing my drop bags). It was so warm, I mostly pulled it down around my neck, but pulled it up at aid stations when the cold air made it presence known. Motion, especially climbing, keeps you warm.

The other things that worked, and I have no idea in what ratio, were yoga, core work, and more hill repeats. Oh, and maybe going slower. I think in 2023 I was ahead of my times at most of the aid stations until 60 something miles. I'm sure all of those things contributed, but I really have no idea in what propotion. 

Today was the first day I said what if I wanted to do another 100. Rick had no comment. I don't know if I really do, but Ghost Train just happened and it might have made me miss the ultra community. I know I get my share at Riverlands where I feel all the feels of our runners...but it's not the same. We'll see. I still like feeling like I'm done.