Who wouldn't want to run Epic again??
In case you forgot...
Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
12 runners. 2 vehicles. 36 hours. 205 miles.
It was fun (and a little rough) last year, but I was toting around a nursing 4-month-old...
how hard could it really be this year??
Well, honestly it shouldn't have been too bad, runners are ranked in difficulty 1-12. When the original "leg" assignments came out, I think I was like 10th in difficulty, or something awesome like that. I saw the email just as I headed out the door to run some errands. When I came home two hours later I had been thrown under the bus by my two lovely sisters, who felt I needed "more of a challenge".
I now had the opportunity to be number ONE in difficulty, Runner 7.
Punch me.
Worst case? I die.
My first leg was Friday, I was a little worried about running in the heat - but totally lucked out when some awesome-heaven-sent clouds came out just in time to run. I also scored a sweet wind at my back. I was s.h.o.c.k.e.d to finish 7.08 miles in 1:03.
For me, that is A.MA.ZING.
(Not to worry...that was as good as it got for me this weekend!)
Ah, the second leg...I really don't know what time it was. Dark time? After torrential-downpour-violent-thunder-and-lightening-storm time? It was dark. I'm not necessarily a fan of dark, lonely, dirt, country roads...in case you were wondering. Especially when my headlamp decided to die on me (yea for support van!). The road was all washboard-y like, so rolled ankles were inevitable. What did surprise me were the freakish amounts of LIZARDS on the road! What the??
I know this run was only 8.44 miles, but it seriously went on for.ever. I was positive I started running in slow motion the last mile or so! 1:28...yep, I was slowing down.
Although we were supposed to get some sweet sleep after our late night runs, the rain put a wrench in our plans and well...who needs sleep?
24 hours after my first run, my last run began. Or should we call it the DEATH March. I really freaked myself out before the run, something about the 8-9% grade for the first two miles. I think I would have been better off to never look at the elevation map! I could list off about a hundred more excuses...
dirt/loose gravel roads. tired. one toenail already gone.
blazing sun. tired. hills. hot.
blah blah blah.
blazing sun. tired. hills. hot.
blah blah blah.
Really, it wasn't THAT bad. I might have had to walk a little, and tears may have been shed when I finally finished.
(Sorry team, for telling you to "leave me alone" half-way through...I didn't need witnesses of my death!)
But, I survived.
5.26 miles in 1:02 - (yes, I am aware that I ran 7 miles the day before in practically the same amount of time...details).
Really? All in all, it was a total blast, and without a doubt I will do it again....and again...and again! I even want to tackle the same legs next year.
Best of all, I ran with family, cousins, friends and my sisters (Mollie ended up in the other van, so no pics of her sweetness), but Karen and I were together, and well...you know how we can be.
